JPH04205614A - Input device for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To solve the response feeling on hands and fingers, inferior operation and fatigue peculiar to the keyboard of a touch-system and to make a device portable by mounting a key pannel on the mainbody of a device. CONSTITUTION:The keyboard 13 is that of the touch-system and plural touch- keys 14 without a key-stroke are arrayed on the keyboard 13. The key pannel 21 is freely, attachably and detattchably mounted on the touch-system keyboard 13 and the certain push-down feeling of the key is obtained when data is inputted through a push key 22 on the key pannel 21. Thus, the response feeling on hands and fingers, inferior operation and fatigue peculiar to the touch key without the key-stroke are solved and the device is made portable.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an input device used in an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor,
In particular, the present invention relates to portable type input devices designed to be light, thin, short, and small, and input devices for multiple languages and applications.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and word processors, "keyboards" are often used as data input devices. This keyboard is based on a traditional typewriter, and most people operate it by pressing down on the desired key. The operability of keys is a very important factor in terms of the sensitivity of human hands and fingers. In other words, a reliable feeling of pressing the key,
Key factors include a quick response and fatigue in the hands and fingers, and the keyboard design is designed to satisfy these factors.

On the other hand, in recent years, information processing devices have become lighter, thinner, and smaller due to technological innovations in electronics such as the advent of LSI, and conventionally stationary devices are now becoming portable. However, since the keyboard is an interface with humans,
The decrease in operability due to the miniaturization can be ignored, and its improvement is delayed.

A type of keyboard that was developed under these circumstances is what is commonly called a touch-type keyboard. This touch-type keyboard is not operated by pressing down on a key, but by touching the surface of the key with a finger. That is, a normal keyboard has a predetermined keystroke, whereas a touch keyboard does not have this keystroke.

Therefore, although the pressing sensation of the key is inferior, it can be made thinner to that extent.

In addition, in the past, when it was necessary to distinguish between characters in each country, or when executing functions corresponding to various application software, multiple keyboards were prepared for each purpose,
A template was placed on the keyboard.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, compared to a normal button-type keyboard, the above-mentioned touch-type keyboard does not have a feeling of pressing a key down, so the responsiveness of the fingers is inferior, and it is easy to forget to press a key. In addition to being prone to erroneous operations such as double-pressing, there are other problems such as a decrease in operation speed and severe fatigue in the hands and fingers.

Furthermore, preparing multiple keyboards for different purposes or placing templates on the keyboards poses problems in terms of increased costs and complexity of use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and is an input device for an information processing device that can be made portable without impairing the responsiveness of hands and fingers, and that can be operated inexpensively and efficiently for different purposes. Our goal is to provide equipment.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problem) The input device of the information processing device according to the present invention is arranged with a first key having no key stroke, and a part of the input device is arranged with a first key having no keystroke. A second key having a keystroke is arranged in an input device main body having a function key corresponding to the first key, and a part of the second key selects the function key when attached to the input device main body. A key panel with selection keys for this purpose is detachably attached.

(Function) According to the above configuration, by attaching the key panel,
It is possible to solve the problems of the responsiveness of the hands and fingers, poor operability, fatigue, etc. peculiar to the first key (touch key) that does not require a key stroke, and to achieve portability.

Furthermore, by attaching the key panel, the meaning of the keys on the input device main body can be easily changed depending on the purpose, such as country or function.

(Embodiment) An input device for an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to two drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of, for example, a laptop-type word processor. In this laptop-type word processor, a thin display device 1 consisting of, for example, a liquid crystal display device is attached to a device main body 11 so as to be openable and closable.
It is structured to be used by triggering 2. When the display device 12 is raised, a keyboard 13 as an input device appears.

The keyboard 13 is a touch-type keyboard, and a plurality of touch keys 14 without key strokes are arranged on the keyboard 13, and some of them have a function key 1.4a for instructing a specific function. . Note that since the structure of the touch keyboard is well known, its explanation will be omitted here.

In this embodiment, a key panel 2 as shown in FIG. 2 is detachably attached to such a touch-type keyboard 13. Fig. 3 shows its installed state. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the key panel 21 is constructed to cover the keyboard 13. In this case, the key panel 21 is integrally formed with a holding part 21a for holding the keyboard 13.

The key panel 21 is fixed to the keyboard 13 by this holding portion 21a.

Regarding the configuration of such an attachment/detachment mechanism, for example, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. Various methods can be used for the configuration in which the pins are fitted.

However, since the method of making a hole on the keyboard 13 looks bad, it is actually preferable to use the method shown in FIG. 3.

On the key panel 21, a plurality of push keys 22 having keystrokes are arranged corresponding to the touch keys 14 of the keyboard 13. The button key 22 includes a key top 23, a contact pin 24 and a spring 2, as shown in FIG.
5, and is used by pressing down on the key top 23. When the key top 23 is pressed down, the contact pin 24 and the spring 25
The conductive rubber 15 on the touch key 14 side is pressed against the urging force of. This causes the conductive rubber 15 to connect to the metal contact 16.
, and the touch key 14 corresponding to the button key 22 is operated.

The key panel 21 is also provided with a selection key 22a for selecting the function key 14a on the keyboard 13. This selection key 22a is connected to its contact pin 24a.
is formed longer than other keys. This results in
When the key panel 21 is attached to the keyboard 13, the conductive rubber 15 connects to the metal contact 16a via the contact pin 24a.
, and the function key 14a is in a constantly operated state.

The key panel 21 constructed in this manner is attached to the keyboard 13, and the button keys 2 on the key panel 21 are
If you enter data through 2, you will get a reliable feeling when pressing a key, which will prevent erroneous operations that are typical of touch keys, such as forgetting to press a key or pressing it twice, and will improve operation speed and reduce finger fatigue. .

Further, by attaching the key panel 21, the function keys 14a on the keyboard 13 are automatically operated, and a certain specific function is selected. Therefore, there is no need to prepare multiple keyboards 13 according to various application software or to place templates on the keyboard 1B.
It is inexpensive and can be operated efficiently. In addition, even if it is necessary to distinguish between characters for each country, if the character stamps on the key panel 2 are made according to the country where they will be used, it will be cheaper and more efficient than the above, instead of requiring multiple keyboards 13 and templates. can be operated on.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by attaching a key panel, it is possible to solve problems such as poor responsiveness of hands and fingers, poor operability, and fatigue that are peculiar to touch-type keyboards. Therefore, for example, by using a thin touch-type keyboard on an information processing device such as a word processor or a personal computer,
It is possible to make it into a portaple.

Furthermore, by devising the key panel, one touch keyboard can be operated inexpensively and efficiently for different purposes, such as by country or by function.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure S1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a word processor using an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a key panel of the same embodiment, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the key panel. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the installed state, and is a diagram showing the correspondence relationship between the PU and SONY keys provided on the key panel and the touch keys provided on the keyboard of the same embodiment. 1]... Device body, 12... Display device, ]3... Keyboard, 14... Touch key, 1.4 a... Function key, ]5... Conductive rubber, 16, 16a...・Metal contact, 21...Key panel, 22...Butush key, 22
a...Selection key, 23...Key top, 24.24a...
・Contact pin, 25... Spring. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue -10 -

Claims (1)

[Claims] An input device body in which first keys without key strokes are arranged, and a part of which has a function key for instructing a specific function, and the input device body is detachably attached to the input device body. A key panel, in which a second key having a keystroke is arranged corresponding to the first key, and a selection for selecting the function key when attached to the input device main body as a part thereof. An input device for an information processing device, comprising: a key panel having keys.