JPH04127218A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an erroneous inputting by attaching a liquid crystal panel to each key for display of a proper character or numeric character, providing a drive circuit for the liquid crystal panel and a control part which transmits the signal to the drive circuit, transmitting another converted signal to the control part, and transmitting a new signal to the drive circuit to change the display of the liquid crystal panel. CONSTITUTION:A panel main body 2 includes a key input part 1a containing a change key like a shift key, etc., and a storage element 4 which stores the fixed signal data corresponding to each key. Then, a control circuit 3 is added to process the signal inputted from the part 1a and the fixed signal data corre sponding to each key and outputs the new signal data together with a liquid crystal display part 1b which is driven by a drive circuit 7. Thus, the fixed signal data are sent to the circuit 7 from a control circuit 4 and displayed on a liquid crystal panel 8 in a normal input power supply state. Meanwhile, a signal is inputted to the circuit 4 from the part 1a with push of a shift key. Thus, the fixed signal is changed and the new corresponding signal data is sent to the circuit 7 and displayed on the panel 8. In such a constitution, the erroneous inputting can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a keyboard used for inputting instructions and data into a computer.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of keyboard was used to input data into computers, word processors, etc., and the keys to be pressed had a number of unique commands, and there were also scattered keys that allowed users to select these commands.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional keyboard, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the keys in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this keyboard, a large number of keys 1 are arranged vertically and horizontally on a flat panel main body 2, and the key 1 is the 45th! On its surface, like the letter I, are written multiple unique characters or numbers that can be input by tapping.

In addition, this key 1 has a built-in switch, and this key 1
By hitting , the switch turns on and generates a signal, which is sent to the CPU.

When operating this keyboard, for example, if the key shown in FIG. 4 is hit in the normal state, the number 2 is displayed on the display via the CPU.

Further, when a key that generates a conversion signal such as a shift key is pressed and this key is hit, a is displayed on the display.

In this way, several commands could be manually executed using one key.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional keyboard described above, one key is provided with the function of inputting several characters or numbers, and these selections are made by pressing another key. This has the disadvantage that it is not known which command has been selected until it is displayed on the display, which may lead to incorrect input.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard that overcomes these drawbacks.

[Means to solve the problem]

The keyboard of the present invention is a keyboard in which keys with built-in switches are arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of a panel main body, and includes a liquid crystal display section attached to these keys with a liquid crystal display surface exposed, and a device for driving the liquid crystal display section. It includes a drive circuit and a control circuit that sends a signal to the drive circuit, and normally displays either a letter or a number corresponding to the key on each of the liquid crystal display boards of the keys, and sends a conversion signal to the control circuit. The present invention is characterized in that when inputting , a display different from the above display is displayed on the liquid crystal display board.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the conventional example shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard according to the embodiment of the present invention has keys with built-in sui-sochi arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of the panel body 2, and keys with built-in keys are arranged vertically and horizontally in the panel body 2. As shown in Figure 1, there is a key input section 1a using a change key such as a shift key or a kana/kanji change key, a memory element 4 that stores fixed signal data corresponding to each key, and a signal input from the key input section 1a. and fixed signal data corresponding to each key, and outputs new signal data; a drive circuit 7 that inputs the new signal outputted by this control circuit 4 or the fixed signal; An input power source (not shown) for a drive circuit and a liquid crystal display section 1 driven by this drive circuit 7
b, and an external connection mechanism 5 for sending the fixed signal data or the new signal data to an external connection unit, for example, a CPU.
It is equipped with

2(a) and 2(b) are perspective views showing the keys of the keyboard of FIG. 1. FIG. In addition, the display board of the liquid crystal display section 1b described above has a key 1 as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b).
The liquid crystal plate 8 of the liquid crystal display section is attached to the center of the screen. In this way, if the input power is normally turned on, the control circuit 4 in FIG.
Fixed signal data corresponding to is sent to the drive circuit 7, and the drive circuit 7 causes the liquid crystal panel 8 to display [2].

Also, by pressing the shift key, a signal is input from the key operator 1a to the control circuit 4, and the fixed signal is changed.
New signal data corresponding to Ca) is sent to the drive circuit 7, and [a] is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention includes a liquid crystal plate that displays unique characters or numbers attached to each key, a drive circuit that drives this liquid crystal plate, and a control unit that sends signals to this drive circuit. The conversion signal is sent to the control section, and this control section sends a new signal to the drive circuit to change the display on the liquid crystal panel, so you can always check the display of the key you are trying to hit. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a keyboard that does not cause erroneous input.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2(a) and (b) are perspective views showing keys of the keyboard in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an example of a conventional keyboard. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the keys in FIG. 3. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Key, 1a... Key manual part, 1b... Liquid crystal display part, 2... Panel main body, 3... Control circuit, 4...
...Storage element, 5.External connection mechanism, 6.External connection section, 7.Drive circuit, 8.Liquid crystal plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a keyboard in which keys with built-in switches are arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of the panel body, there is a liquid crystal display section that is attached to these keys with the liquid crystal display surface exposed, a drive circuit that drives this liquid crystal display section, and a drive circuit that drives this liquid crystal display section. a control circuit that sends a signal to the circuit, normally displaying either a letter or a number corresponding to the key on each of the liquid crystal display boards of the keys, and when inputting a conversion signal to the control circuit; A keyboard characterized by displaying a different display from the above display on a liquid crystal display board.