JPH04250516A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To freely alter a key array and key codes corresponding to the array positions of keys. CONSTITUTION:The keyboard whose key array or key codes can be altered is equipped with a key unit fitting substrate 5 where key units consisting of key tops 3 and key switches 6 are attachable and detachable and each key unit 1 is equipped with a serial code output circuit 4 which outputs a code specifying the key unit 1 in serial signal form. The key unit fitting substrate 5 is provided with fitting parts for the key units arrayed in matrix and each fitting part is equipped with a connection mechanism for electric connection with the terminal of the key unit 1 to optionally alter the key array and key codes.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard in which a key arrangement and a key code at a key arrangement position can be changed. In the past, there were keyboards that allowed you to change the key arrangement, but it was not possible to change the key code corresponding to the key arrangement position.

[0002] The present invention provides a key unit consisting of a key top and a key switch with a circuit that outputs the code of the key unit in serial format, and furthermore, the key unit can be attached to or detached from the keyboard at any position on the keyboard. made possible. In this way, it is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard in which the key arrangement and the key code corresponding to the key arrangement position can be freely changed.

0003

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a conventional keyboard. Figure (a
) shows the top view of the keyboard. In the figure, 80 is a keyboard, and 81 is a matrix coordinate, each of which corresponds to a key position. An output code is determined for each coordinate of the matrix. With conventional keyboards, it was possible to change the key tops. For example, the key tops of 1×2 size are placed at the positions of keys 33, 34 and 42, 43 in the figure, and the key tops of 1×2 size are placed at positions of 35, 36, 44, and 45.
It was possible to attach x2 key tops. However, the output code at each coordinate could not be changed.

Figure (b) shows a cross-sectional view of the keyboard. In the figure, 90 is a 1×1 key top, and 91 is a 1×2 key top.
key top, 92 is the key switch of key top 90,
93 is a key switch of the key top 91, 94 is a push-down spring of the key switch 92, 95 is a push-down spring of the key switch 93, and 96 is a housing of the keyboard. As shown in the figure, when changing to a larger key top such as 1×2, leave only the push-down spring of the key switch 93 and remove the push-down spring that is pressed by the other key switch 93'.

The operations of the illustrated keys are as follows. The key tops 90 and 91 are each pushed up by a spring. Then, when the key tops 90 and 91 are pressed down,
The key switches are closed by push-down springs 94 and 95, respectively. When the key top 91 is pressed, the key switch 9
Only 3 is pressed and the key switch 93' is not pressed.

FIG. 7 shows the circuit configuration of a conventional keyboard. In the figure, 100 is the coordinate of the matrix, 1
01 is a key switch, which is provided for each switch matrix unit. 102 is a microprocessor (MPU), A0 to A7 are outputs to the address bus, and D0 to D7 are inputs from the data bus.

The operation of the figure will be explained. Addresses in the vertical direction of the coordinates 100 of the matrix are scanned by scanning signals output from the address bus (A0 to A7) of the microprocessor 102. Of the keyswitches connected to the line that is scanned in the vertical direction, the signals generated by the keyswitches that are pressed down and closed and the keyswitches that are open are the addresses that indicate the coordinates of the closed keyswitch. Microprocessor 102 as data
data buses D0 to D7. The microprocessor 102 then determines the position of the pressed key and performs processing based on the code determined for the coordinates.

[0008]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In conventional keyboards, the key tops could be removed and rearranged, but the codes corresponding to the coordinates where the key tops are attached are fixedly determined. It was not possible to change the key code. For example, if the key to input "A" is at coordinate position 1, the key "A" is input at coordinate position 1.
Even if the key is rearranged to 0, the output code at coordinate position 10 is fixed, so even if key "A" is placed at coordinate position 10, the code "A" cannot be output from coordinate position 10. There wasn't. Then, from coordinate position 10, “A”
In the past, it was not easy to change the key layout and associated key codes because the software had to be changed in order to output the code.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide a keyboard in which the key arrangement and associated key codes can be easily changed.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a key unit consisting of a key top and a key switch with a circuit that generates a serial code for identifying the key unit.
It is removable from the keyboard and can be attached to any position on the keyboard matrix.

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the present invention. Diagram (a)
indicates the keyboard configuration. In the figure, 1 is the key unit 1, 2 is the key unit 2, 3 is the key top, 3'
is a spring that pushes up key top 3,
4 is a serial code output circuit consisting of an IC, 5 is a key unit mounting board, 5' is a keyboard housing, 6 is a key switch, 6' is a key switch pressing spring, 7 is a printed circuit board, and 8 is a connection contact. 9 is a key signal scanning circuit that sequentially generates scanning signals to the key units arranged in a matrix. It is.

Figure (b) shows the circuit configuration of the keyboard. In Figure (b), the same numbers as in Figure (a) indicate the same parts. In figure (b), 1 is key unit 1,
2 is the key unit 2, 4 is the serial code output circuit, 6
1 is a key switch, 9 is a key signal scanning circuit, 11 is a key switch depression detection circuit, 12 is a key unit control circuit, and 13 is a priority control circuit, which determines the scanning order for each key.

[0013]

[Operation] The operation of the configuration shown in Figure (a) will be explained. When the key top 3 of the key unit 1 is pressed, pressing force is applied to the key switch 6 by the key switch pressing spring 6'.
Key switch 6 closes. As a result, the serial code output circuit 4 starts operating. In this state, when the key signal scanning circuit 9 selects the key unit 1 and the key scanning signal is input to the serial code output circuit 4 via the connection contact 8, the serial code output circuit 4 selects the key unit 1. Output a unique serial code.

Next, the operation of the circuit configuration of the keyboard shown in FIG. 3(b) will be explained. When the contacts of the key switch 6 close,
A press detection circuit 11 detects the press of a key. As a result, a key press detection signal is input to the serial code output circuit 4, and the serial code output circuit 4 starts operating. Then, it waits for the key signal scanning signal to be input. In this state, when the key unit 1 is selected by the key signal scanning circuit 9 and a scanning signal is input, the serial code output circuit 4 outputs the code of the key unit 1.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the scanning signal and the serial code output according to the present invention. In the figure, figure (a) shows the scanning signal of the key unit 1, and figure (b) shows the serial code output of the key unit 1. Similarly, figure (c) is the scanning signal of key unit 2, figure (d) is the serial code output of key unit 2, and figure (e) is the key unit 3.
Figure (f) shows the serial code output of the key unit 3, respectively. For example, when the key switch of key unit 1 is pressed down and closed, and the scanning signal shown in figure (a) is input to the serial code output circuit of key unit 1, the serial code output circuit will output the signal shown in figure (b). ) Outputs the serial code as shown in .

Similarly, in the key unit 2, when the scanning signal shown in Figure (c) is input while the key switch of the key unit 2 is pressed down, the scanning signal shown in Figure (d) Output the serial code. Similarly, the key unit 3 outputs a serial code as shown in Figure (f) in synchronization with the scanning signal in Figure (e).

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the key unit and serial code output circuit of the present invention. Figure (a) shows an example of a key unit, and Figure (b) shows an example of a serial code output circuit. In figure (a), 30 is a key unit;
31 is a key unit control circuit, 32 is a serial code output circuit, 33 is a key switch, 34 is a push-down detection circuit, 35 is a 5V voltage supply terminal, and 36 is an input terminal for inputting a scanning signal to the serial code output circuit 32. ,37
3 is a code output terminal for outputting a serial code, and 38 is a ground terminal (GND).

In Figure (b), 40 is a serial code output circuit, and 41 is a ring counter, which starts operating in response to a push-down detection signal and starts code output in response to a scanning signal. 42 is an OR circuit, 43 is an RO
M, which determines the code of the key unit.

The operation shown in Figure (a) will be explained. When the key unit 30 is attached to the key unit mounting board (not shown), the terminals 35 to 38 are connected to the key unit, and a voltage of 5V is supplied to the serial code output circuit 32 and the press detection circuit 34 (press The voltage supply line to the detection circuit 34 is not shown). Then, when the key top (not shown) is pressed down and the key switch 33 is closed, a trigger signal is output from the press detection circuit 34 and input to the serial code output circuit 32. Then, the serial code output circuit 32 starts operating. In this state, the key signal scanning circuit 39
When 0 is selected, the key signal scanning signal is input to the serial code output circuit 32 via the terminal 36. the result,
A serial code is output from the terminal 37 and input to the key unit control circuit 31.

The operation shown in FIG. (b) will be explained. When a detection signal is input from the push-down detection circuit 34, the ring counter 41 starts operating. Then, counting is started from count 0 at the timing of inputting the scanning signal, and pulse signals are sequentially outputted to each terminal of the ring counter at a predetermined period. Then, each pulse signal is input to the ROM 43, becomes a code signal, and is input to the OR circuit 42, and a code output is obtained from the OR circuit 42.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the key arrangement on the keyboard of the present invention. In the figure, 50 is a keyboard;
51 is a 1×1 key unit, 52 is a 1×2 key unit, and 53 is a 3×3 key unit.

In the present invention, it is possible to lay out key units having a size that is an arbitrary integral multiple of the 1×1 key in the vertical and horizontal directions at any arbitrary position on the keyboard. Figure 5 shows
An embodiment of a key unit mounting board and a key unit in the present invention is shown. Figure (a) shows the key unit mounting board.

In the figure, 60 is a key unit mounting board, 61 is a key unit mounting hole, 62 is a 5V contact, 63 is a GND contact, 64 is a scanning signal input contact, and 65 is a code signal output contact. Figure (b) shows a 1×1 key unit. Figure (c) shows an n×n key unit. In the figure, 70 is a key top, 71 is a spring that pushes up the key top, 72 is a key switch, 72' is a spring that pushes down the key switch, 73 is a printed circuit board, 7474' is a +5V contact, 75 is a GND contact, 76 and 76' are This is a mounting terminal that is fixed to the key unit mounting board by inserting it into the key unit mounting hole when the key unit is mounted. In the figure, an IC equipped with a serial signal output circuit mounted on the printed circuit board 73 is omitted.

[0024] In the n×n key unit shown in Figure (c), the key switch is one
Only one. The distance between the key unit mounting terminal 76' of the n×n key unit and the other mounting terminal is made equal to an integral multiple of the distance between adjacent key unit mounting holes in the key unit mounting board. Therefore, the key units shown in Figures (b) and (c) can be attached to any position on the key unit mounting board.

When the key unit is attached to the key unit mounting board, the 5V contact 74 on the key unit is connected to the 5V contact 62 on the key unit mounting board, and the GN on the key unit is connected to the 5V contact 62 on the key unit mounting board.
D contact 75 is the GND on the key unit mounting board.
Connected to contact 63. Note that in the above embodiment, the serial code output circuit is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0026]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the key arrangement can be freely arranged at any position on the keyboard depending on the type of letters, numbers, etc. represented by the keys and the size of the keys, and the key code can also be arranged. Accordingly, the positions are changed accordingly, making it possible to obtain the optimal keyboard arrangement suited to the user's work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the scanning signal and the serial code output in the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the key unit and serial code output circuit of the present invention. Figure 4 shows
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a key arrangement in a keyboard of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a key unit mounting board and a key unit in the present invention. Figure 6 shows
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional keyboard. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of a conventional keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2: Key unit 3: Key top 4: Serial code output circuit 5: Key unit mounting board 5': Keyboard housing 6: Key switch 6': Key switch press-down spring 9: Key signal scanning circuit 11: Press-down detection circuit 12: Key unit control circuit 13: Priority control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] [Claim 1] In a keyboard where the key arrangement and key code can be changed, the keyboard has a key top (3
) and key switch (6), the key unit mounting board (1) is removable.
The key unit (1) includes a plurality of terminals and a serial code output circuit (4) that outputs a code that identifies the key unit (1) in the form of a serial signal, and the key unit mounting board (5). The key unit (1) is equipped with mounting parts for key units arranged in a matrix, and each mounting part is equipped with a connection mechanism for electrically connecting with the terminals of the key unit (1), and the key arrangement and key code can be arbitrarily set. A keyboard characterized by being changeable. [Claim 2] In claim 1, the key unit mounting parts of the key unit mounting board (5) are arranged at equal intervals vertically and horizontally, and it is possible to mount key units whose size is an integral multiple of the respective intervals. Features a keyboard. [Claim 3] In claim 1, each key unit (1) attached to the key unit mounting board (5)
) The serial code output circuit is selected by a scanning signal supplied via a key unit mounting board (5) and outputs a serial code.