JPH0388017A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively utilize a display device without replacing a function guide label by providing the input device with a means for indicating function allocated to respective function keys correspondingly to software to be used. CONSTITUTION:A keyboard 7 is provided with function keys allocated to respective specific functions. In addition, a liquid crystal display type display 10 for displaying function guide labels corresponding to the software to be used is arranged in the vicinity of the function keys 9 so as to be optionally rotated in both the (a) and (b) directions. When the display part 10 is rotated in the (a) or (b) direction, its visual angle can be adjusted. The display part 10 can be stored in a storage groove 11 when it is not being used. On the other hand, a liquid crystal display device 13 is attached to a computer body 1 so as to be optionally opened/closed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is directed to a system that is provided integrally or separately in a computer, and that stores characters or control command codes corresponding to function keys and other keys. This relates to input devices such as keyboards.

(Prior Art) For example, a personal computer, which is a small personal computer, is composed of a microcomputer, a keyboard, a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal, and has a desktop size, a calculator size, a disk size, etc.

As an auxiliary storage device, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a cassette magnetic tape, etc. are used, and a printer etc. are provided as a peripheral device.

As a software, as a program development function, R
ASIC is most commonly used, as well as Pa5cal.

There are programming languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL that can be executed on disk operating systems.

FIG. 4 shows the above-mentioned desktop-sized laptop computer, in which a keyboard 3 on the front side of the computer body 1 has funxian keys 2, 2, . . . to which special functions are assigned by software. are integrated.

Near the function keys 2 of the keyboard 3, a function guide label 4 is removably attached, specifying the functions corresponding to these function keys 2.

A liquid crystal display device 6 having a display section 5 is attached to the upper side of the computer main body 1 so as to be openable and closable, and covers the keyboard 3 when not in use.

When operating the function key 2 while inputting information using the keyboard 3, a desired command is input by manually pressing a key corresponding to the function specified on the function guide label 4.

However, depending on the software used, the correspondence of the functions specified on the function guide label 4 may differ, and in such a case, it is necessary to replace the function guide label with one corresponding to the software to be used.

Therefore, there is a problem that it is troublesome to replace the function guide label.

On the other hand, some personal computers can display function guide labels on the bottom line (for example, the 25th line) of the display section 5 of the liquid crystal display device 6 for each software used.

However, when the function guide label is displayed on the display section 5 of the liquid crystal display device 6 in this way, there is a problem that the entire display section 5 cannot be effectively utilized.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional computers described above, if the function guide label is replaceable, depending on the software used, it is necessary to replace the function guide label with a function guide label compatible with the software. Therefore, there is a problem that replacement is troublesome.

On the other hand, if a function guide label can be displayed on the display section of a liquid crystal display device for each software used, there is a problem that the entire display section cannot be used effectively.

The present invention was made in response to these circumstances, and
To provide a human-powered device that does not require replacement of a function guide label and can effectively utilize a display device.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, an input device of the present invention has a plurality of function keys that can input special commands by software. In a human-powered device that generates characters or control command codes corresponding to other keys, when a program of the software to be used is executed, a function corresponding to the software to be used and indicating the given function of each function key is displayed. It is equipped with a display means for displaying a guide label.

(Function) The input device of the present invention is equipped with a dedicated display means for displaying a function guide label that corresponds to the software to be used and indicates the function given to each function key, so the function guide label can be replaced easily. Moreover, H efficiency of the display device can be utilized.

(Example) Hereinafter, details of an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the input device of the present invention is applied to a keyboard.

As shown in the figure, the keyboard 7 is integrally provided on the front side of the computer main body 8.

The keyboard 7 is provided with function keys 9, 9, . . . to which special functions are assigned by software. Also, function key 9 of keyboard 7
A function guide label display unit 10 using a liquid crystal display system is arranged near the display unit 10 so as to be rotatable in the directions of arrows a and b, which displays a function guide label corresponding to the software to be used.

The viewing angle can be adjusted by rotating the function guide label display section 10 in the direction of arrow a or b, and it is stored in the storage groove 11 when not in use. ing.

On the other hand, the computer main body 1 has a display section 12 on the upper side.
A liquid crystal display device 13 is mounted so as to be openable and closable, and covers the keyboard 7 when not in use.

FIG. 2 shows a system block diagram of the laptop computer of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, the laptop computer has C
A PU 14 is provided, and the CPU 14 is connected via a system bus 15 to a hard disk device 16, a hard disk controller (IIDc) 17, a floppy disk device 18, and a floppy disk controller 19.
, CR7 display device 20, function guide label display section 10, l? A) 4 and a display controller 21 having ROM are connected.

Next, the operation of the keyboard having such a configuration will be explained using FIG. 3.

Note that the software to be used here includes display driver software for displaying the function guide label on the function guide label display section 10, software for accessing the display controller 21 to display the function guide label, and software for displaying the function guide label on the display controller 21. Software with an ink face for the controller 21 is included.

First, a function guide label display program of the application software to be used is executed (step 301).

Subsequently, the application software program to be used is executed (step 302).

Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether the execution of the program in step 302 has ended (step 303), and if it is determined that the program has ended, the execution of the program of the application software to be used is terminated (step 304), and then the function Execution of the guide label display program ends (step 305).

In this way, this embodiment has a dedicated display section that displays function guide labels that correspond to the software to be used and indicate the functions given to each function key, so there is no need to replace the function guide labels. Moreover, the liquid crystal display device can be used effectively.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to a keyboard provided integrally with a computer main body, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and may be applied to a keyboard separate from the computer main body.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the human power device of the present invention is equipped with a dedicated display means for displaying function guide labels indicating the assigned functions of each function key. Moreover, the display device can be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the human power device of the present invention is applied to a keyboard integrated into a computer body, and FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the laptop computer shown in FIG. 1. , Figure 3 is the first
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the keyboard shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional laptop computer. 7...Keyboard, 8...Computer body, 9.
...Function key 10...Function guide label display area, 11...Storage groove.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) The software program to be used in an input device that has multiple function keys that can input special commands using software and that generates characters or control command codes that correspond to these function keys and other keys. An input device characterized by comprising display means for displaying a function guide label corresponding to the software to be used and indicating the function given to each of the function keys at the time of execution.