JPH044279Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] This invention relates to an input device such as a word processor.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a word processor or the like has been provided with a key for selecting a mode for specifying the type of character, such as full-width characters, half-width characters, double-width characters, or uppercase letters. There are two types of mode keys: one in which a single key switches between three or more modes, and the other in which a function key switches between multiple modes.

[Problems with the prior art] In a system where one key is used to switch between three or more modes, the frequently used mode and the less frequently used mode are lined up in a row, and when returning from a certain mode to the frequently used mode, it is necessary to switch multiple times. There were also times when I had to use the mode key. This has resulted in the drawback that the input speed of the word processor is slow. On the other hand, the method of specifying a mode using a function key has the problem that the number of mode keys increases and the arrangement of input keys on the keyboard becomes complicated, which is not desirable.

[Purpose of the invention] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to immediately return to the mode used most often without increasing the number of keys or the number of key operations. The aim is to provide an input device that can.

[Main points of the invention] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, this invention provides an input device that has multiple modes including a reference mode and that sequentially updates the currently specified mode by operating the mode update key. The main point is that if another key operation has been performed immediately before the key operation and the current designation mode is not the reference mode, the current designation mode is updated to the reference mode.

[Example] This invention will be described below based on an example shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a word processor to which this invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard, which includes a mode update key 2, a character key 1a, a power-on key 1b, and various other keys normally provided in a word processor. Thus, key input data and mode update key 2 are output from the keyboard 1 in response to various operation keys.
The mode designation data output in response to is input to the CPU (central processing unit) 4 via the input control section 3. As is well known, this CPU 4 controls the operation of the entire system, and a character data memory 5 consisting of a ROM is connected to the CPU 4. This character data memory 5 stores characters in various modes for each predetermined address, and serves as a character generator including, for example, a full-width character c, a double-width character a, a half-width character b, etc. shown in FIG. keyboard 1
When a mode is specified with the mode update key 2 and an input is made from a predetermined character key 1a, the CPU 4 specifies the character of the corresponding mode in the character data memory 5, and this character data is inputted to the display control unit 6 by the CPU 4. . Character data, cursor data, etc. in the display control section 6 are sent to a display section 7 made of a CRT or liquid crystal, and displayed on the screen. Further, a printing section 9 consisting of a dot printer or a thermal printer is connected to the CPU 4 via a printing control section 8. When a print command key is input from the keyboard 1, the character data specified by the mode is input to the print control unit 8, and furthermore, the character data in the print control unit 8 is sent to the print unit 9 and printed on a predetermined paper. Output as hard copy. In addition, the CPU 4 has a mode (MODE) memory 10 that stores the current specified mode, and a character key 1 that inputs from the keyboard 1.
A flag (F) memory 11 for storing whether the a input or the mode update key 2 input is connected is connected. For example, the mode data is 0 for full-width mode for standard size characters, 1 for half-width mode with half size horizontally, 2 for double-width mode with double size horizontally, 3 for upper half-width mode, and 4 for lower half-width mode. are assigned to each. Further, if the character key 1a is input, a flag of 0 is set in the mode memory 11, and if the mode update key 2 is input, a flag of 1 is set.

[Operation] The operation of the above embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, and FIGS. 6 and 7.
When the power-on key 1b is operated, the operation according to the flow shown in FIG. 3 is executed. First, in step S1, full-width mode 0, which is commonly used in word processor input, is set in the mode memory 11.
Then, in step S2, 0 is set in the flag memory 12, and the character key 1 of the keyboard 1 is set by the previous operation.
The state is the same as when characters were input from a.
Next, in the flow shown in Fig. 4, when a character is input from the character key 1a, in step P1, character data (character mode data) to which mode data of the character type (size) specified by the mode number is added is generated.
is called from the character data memory 5 by the CPU 4. This mode-designated character data is then displayed on the display section 7 via the display control section 6, and visually checked to see if it is a character of the desired size (step P2). Next, 0 is set in the flag register 10 (step P3), and the flow ends. Next, when mode update key 2 is operated, the fifth
Operations are performed according to the flow shown in the figure. First, it is determined whether the contents of the flag memory 12 are 0, that is, whether a character was input using the character key 1a after or immediately before the power-on key 1b was operated (step T1). If YES is determined here, it is further determined in step T2 whether the contents of the mode memory 11 are full-width mode 0 or not. Full-width mode 0
If so, proceed to step T3 and save mode memory 11.
The content of is incremented, and the mote designation is sequentially switched from full-width mode 0 to half-width mode 1 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Then, in step T4, a flag "1" is set in the flag memory 12, indicating that the mode update key 2 was operated immediately before.
If the full-width mode is not 0 at step T2, for example, the upper half-width mode 3 in FIG.
T5), proceed to step T4. At step T1,
If the contents of the flag memory 12 are not 0, that is, if the mode update key 2 was operated immediately before, it is further determined in step T6 whether the contents of the mode memory 11 are lower half-width mode 4 or not. If it is the lower half-width mode 4, the process proceeds to step T7, and when the mode update key 2 is operated, the CPU 4 immediately sets the contents of the mode memory 11 to the full-width mode 0, and enters the full-width mode as shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the lower half-width mode is not 4, the contents of the mode memory 11 are incremented in step T8, and the mode designation is sequentially switched, for example, from half-width mode 1 to double each mode 2, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The actual operation will be explained based on FIG. 6. First, when the power is turned on, full-width mode 0 is automatically set. When the mode update key 2 is operated once, the mode becomes half-width mode 1, and when the mode update key 2 is operated one more time, the mode becomes double-width mode 2. Then, when the character keys 1a are operated to input "a" and "i", the double-width character "i" shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display section 7. Then, when the mode update key 2 is operated once, the frequently used full-width mode 0 is immediately set as shown by the broken line in Fig. 7, and when "U" and "E" are input, the "U" mode shown in Fig. 2 is set. Full-width characters are displayed. For example, to specify upper half-width mode 3, operate mode update key 2 three times in succession. Thereafter, in the same manner, a desired mode can be set and characters can be input and displayed on the screen of the display section 7 and printed out at the printing section 9.

In this embodiment, mode switching has been explained using full-width mode, half-width mode, double-width mode, upper half-width mode, and lower half-width mode, but the mode is not limited to this, and for example, degrees (DEG) and radian, which represent angular units, are explained. (RAD), gradian (GRA), etc., and provides an input device that immediately returns to the most frequently used mode.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to this invention, in an input device that has a plurality of modes including a reference mode and sequentially updates the currently specified mode by operating the mode update key, the operation of the mode update key is Sometimes, another key operation was performed immediately before the key operation, and if the current specified mode is not the above standard mode, the current specified mode is updated to the above standard mode, so the number of mode keys is not increased. , it is now possible to immediately return to the frequently used reference mode without increasing the size of the keyboard. Therefore, the number of mode keys is reduced, modes of the same type can be grouped together, the keyboard becomes easier to use, and the number of key operations required to return to the reference mode is reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a word processor to which this invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the display state of the display section, Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are flowcharts explaining the operation, and Figs. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the order of operations. 1...Keyboard, 1a...Character key, 1b...
...Power on key, 2...Mode key, 3...Input control unit, 4...CPU, 5...Character data memory,
6...Display control section, 7...Display section, 8...Print control section, 9...Print section, 10...Flag register,
11...Mode memory, 12...Flag memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an input device that has multiple modes including a reference mode and sequentially updates the currently designated mode by operating a mode update key, whether or not another key operation was performed immediately before the key operation when the mode update key was operated. and means for updating the current designation mode to the reference mode if another key operation is being performed and the current designation mode is the reference mode. input device.