JPH0449712Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention relates to a multi-item input device that can change the definition of input information by arbitrarily changing the display of input items by key operation. In particular, the present invention relates to a multi-item input device in which a plurality of sheets displaying input items are wound around a rotating drum, and a desired sheet is selected and input based on the rotational position of the rotating drum.

[Conventional technology]

For example, as a multi-item input device of this type,
- There is a device shown in No. 26859, which is used by connecting to a higher-level device, and which transmits necessary information such as information on items displayed on the selected sheet and information on pressed keys to the higher-level device. In addition, necessary information such as sheet selection information and light-emitting diode on/off information is received from the host device, and operations corresponding to the received information are performed within the multi-item input device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing such a multi-item input device. In the figure, 1 is a housing of the device, which has a sheet selection key switch group 2 and an item key switch group 3 on the top surface, and a sheet insertion slot 4 on the front. have. Reference numeral 5 denotes a plurality of sheets on which input items are displayed, which are bound together at one end.

In this multi-item input device, a sheet 5 inserted from a sheet insertion slot 4 is wound up once on a rotating drum (not shown) provided in a housing 1, and an operator inputs a sheet instructed from a host device (not shown). When a corresponding sheet selection key of the sheet selection key switch group is pressed for selection, the corresponding sheet 5 is selected, and the rotating drum rotates in the opposite direction to the winding direction to select the selected sheet 5. is fed out for a predetermined length and positioned on the item key switch group 3. When the operator presses an input item displayed on the selection sheet 5, the item key immediately below it is activated, and the desired input item can be sent to the host device.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

The configuration and operation of the multi-item input device have been described above, but in conventional devices of this type, when an operator is pressing an item key with a finger on an already selected sheet, a new item is input from the host device. When the sheet selection instruction information is received and the corresponding operation is started, an abnormal load will be generated on the sheet winding operation of the rotating drum, and this will be immediately determined as a sheet winding operation error. Therefore, there was a problem in that the operator had to perform an operation to recover from the sheet winding operation error even though the operator was pressing a normal item key.

This invention was developed to solve such problems, and it is possible to avoid the situation where a sheet winding operation error occurs even though the operator is performing normal operations, and it improves operability. The purpose is to realize a multi-item input device with good performance.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve this objective, the present invention winds up a plurality of sheets on which input items are displayed on a rotating drum in the main body of the device that has a group of key switches, selects the sheet instructed by the host device, and then Rotate the drum in the opposite direction to the winding direction to position the selected sheet directly above or below the key switch group, and press down the key switch corresponding to the item displayed on the selected sheet together with the sheet. A multi-item input device that performs input includes a timing disk that rotates together with the rotating drum, a detection means that detects the rotation of the timing disk and outputs a timing signal, and is located directly above or below the key switch group. Comparing the interval of the timing signal when the sheet is wound around the rotating drum with a time set in advance in a timer, and when the timer overflows, the sheet winding operation by the rotating drum is stopped for a certain period of time, and a certain period of time has elapsed. The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means that instructs the power source of the rotary drum to restart the sheet winding operation later, and controls the sheet winding operation and stopping for a certain period of time to be repeated a predetermined number of times.

[Effect]

In the present invention having such a configuration, when the selected sheet is positioned directly above or directly below the key switch group and the sheet is wound around the rotating drum according to an instruction from the host device,
The detection means detects the rotation of the timing disk at this time and outputs a timing signal according to the rotation, so the control means compares the interval of the timing signal with the time set in advance in the timer, and when the timer overflows. Instructing the power source of the rotary drum to stop the sheet winding operation by the rotary drum for a certain period of time and restart the sheet winding operation after the elapse of a certain period of time, and retrying the sheet winding and stopping for the certain period of time. is controlled to be repeated a predetermined number of times, and if the abnormality is not resolved even after repeating the above operation a predetermined number of times, it is determined that a sheet winding operation error has occurred.

In this way, in the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the sheet winding operation, the sheet winding operation is not immediately recognized as an error and a retry operation is performed, so that when the operator presses the key switch, the load is applied to the sheet. Even if the sheet winding operation is performed in the previous state, the operator can be given enough time to release the key switch. Therefore, even if the operator is operating normally, the sheet winding operation error will occur. It is possible to avoid the situation where this occurs.

〔Example〕

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a multi-item input device according to the present invention.

In the figure, 6 is a control circuit, 7 is a rotating drum drive circuit (hereinafter simply referred to as a drive circuit), 8 is a rotating drum timing detection circuit (hereinafter simply referred to as a detection circuit), 9 is a pulse motor, 10 is a timing disk, and 11 is a The rotary drum, 12 is a timer circuit, and these are provided in the housing 1 shown in FIG. Further, arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of signals.

The control circuit 6 is a means for controlling the selection operation of the sheet 5, etc., and calculates the winding/unwinding direction and amount of the sheet 5 based on the timing signal from the detection circuit 8, and sends these signals to the drive circuit 7. It works to give.

The drive circuit 7 drives and stops the pulse motor 9, which is the power source for the rotating drum 11, in response to signals from the control circuit 6. A timing disk 10 and a rotating drum 11 are directly connected to the shaft of the pulse motor 9, and both rotate integrally in synchronization with the pulse motor 9. At this time, the movement of the timing disk 10 is detected by the detection circuit 8. hand,
The signal is sent to the control circuit 6. This timing disk 10 and detection circuit 8
constitutes a means for detecting an abnormality in the sheet winding operation of the rotary drum 11.

Further, the timer circuit 12 is connected to and controlled by the control circuit 6.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above-mentioned configuration, and the operation will be explained below with reference to this figure.

First, the operation from inserting the sheet 5 into the sheet insertion slot 4 of the housing 1 shown in FIG. This is as explained in the figure.

Therefore, when new sheet selection information is sent from the host device, the control circuit 6 calculates the rotating drum driving amount from the currently selected sheet 5 to the newly selected sheet 5, and A signal specifying a winding instruction and its amount is given to the drive circuit 7.

Based on this signal, the drive circuit 7 drives the pulse motor 9, which causes the timing disk 10 to
Then, the rotating drum 11 starts rotating in the sheet winding direction, and this rotational movement of the timing disk 10 is detected by the detection circuit 8 and fed back to the control circuit 6 as a timing signal.

Here, the control circuit 6 calculates the time from the current timing signal until the next timing signal is detected in advance, sets the calculated value in the timer circuit 12, and synchronizes with the detection of the timing signal. Start 12.

The control circuit 6 continues to send operation instruction signals to the drive circuit 7 to drive the rotary drum 11 until a target timing signal is fed back from the detection circuit 8 for the winding amount of the sheet 5, and at the same time, the timer It is detected whether or not the circuit 12 has overflowed, and if the target timing signal is fed back from the detection circuit 8 using the value set in the timer circuit 12, the timer circuit 12 is stopped and the drive amount is calculated by the control circuit 6. be done.

On the other hand, if the timer circuit 12 overflows without the desired timing signal being fed back, a retry operation is performed, that is, an operation in which the drive of the rotary drum 11 is temporarily stopped, and after a certain period of time has elapsed, the rotary drum 11 is rotated again in the sheet winding direction. At this point, the control circuit 6 detects whether the number of retry operations that have already been performed just before starting the retry operation has reached a preset upper limit (for example, two times).

If the upper limit has been reached, it is determined that there is an error in the sheet winding operation and the error processing routine is entered, where the operator performs an error recovery operation, but if the upper limit has not been reached, the control circuit 6
A signal instructing the drive circuit 7 to stop for a certain period of time, for example, one second, is sent from the drive circuit 7. As a result, the drive of the pulse motor is interrupted, and the drive of the rotary drum 11 is temporarily stopped. After a certain period of time has elapsed, the retry counter of the control circuit 6 is increased by 1, and an operation instruction is given to the drive circuit 7 again to wind the sheet of the rotary drum 11. Resume the transaction.

In this way, in this embodiment, the timer circuit 1
If the target timing signal is not detected within the time set to 2, a retry operation is performed and the drive of the rotating drum 11 is stopped for a certain period of time, so that the operator can select an item from the already selected sheet 5. Even if an abnormal load occurs on the sheet winding operation due to new sheet selection information being sent from the host device while the key is being pressed, this will not immediately result in a sheet winding operation error. The system will start a retry operation.

Therefore, the operator is given a certain period of time during which the drive of the rotating drum 11 is stopped, that is, for example, one second, which is sufficient to release the item key that is being pressed.If the operator releases the item key during this time, Thereafter, the sheet winding operation is performed again in a state where the abnormal load is removed, and the sheet 5 can be normally selected.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the selected sheet 5 is positioned on the item key switch group 3 and the information of the item displayed on the sheet 5 is inputted. Position the selected seat 5 between the item key switch group and the receiving plate located directly below it,
There is a device that looks through the information of the items displayed on this sheet 5 from above the key switch group and presses the item key.
is pressed against the receiving plate, which would cause an abnormal load on the sheet winding operation by the rotary drum 11. Therefore, even when applied to a multi-item input device having a group of item key switches made of transparent electrodes, the above-mentioned embodiment may be applied. The same effect can be obtained.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, the present invention includes a timing disk that rotates together with the rotating drum, a detection means that detects the rotation of the timing disk and outputs a timing signal, and a seat positioned directly above or below a group of key switches. The interval of the timing signal when the sheet is wound on the rotating drum is compared with a time set in advance in a timer, and when the timer overflows, it is determined that there is an abnormality in sheet winding, and the sheet winding operation by the rotating drum is continued for a certain period of time. control means for instructing the power source of the rotary drum to stop the sheet winding operation and restart the sheet winding operation after a predetermined period of time; With this configuration, when an abnormality occurs in the sheet winding operation, it does not immediately indicate a sheet winding operation error, but instead performs a retry operation. Even if the sheet winding operation is performed, the operator is given enough time to release the key switch. This has the effect of avoiding the conventional situation where a sheet winding operation error occurs even though the operator is performing normal operations, and this also makes it possible to avoid unnecessary operations such as recovery operations. There is also the advantage that operability is improved because the number of times the operation is performed is reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the multi-item input device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing its operation, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the multi-item input device. 1... Housing, 2... Sheet selection key switch group, 3... Item key switch group, 4... Sheet insertion slot, 5... Sheet, 6... Control circuit, 7... Rotating drum drive circuit, 8... Rotating drum timing detection circuit, 9...Pulse motor, 10...Timing disk, 11...Rotating drum.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A plurality of sheets on which input items are displayed are wound around a rotating drum in the main body of the device that has a group of key switches, and after selecting the sheet instructed by the host device, the rotating drum is wound. Rotate the selected sheet in the opposite direction to the input direction to position the selected sheet directly above or below the key switch group, and input by pressing the key switch corresponding to the item displayed on the selected sheet together with the sheet. The multi-item input device includes a timing disk that rotates together with the rotating drum, a detection means that detects rotation of the timing disk and outputs a timing signal, and a seat positioned directly above or below the key switch group that rotates. The interval of the timing signal when the sheet is wound on the drum is compared with a time set in advance in a timer, and when the timer overflows, the sheet winding operation by the rotary drum is stopped for a certain period of time, and the sheet winding operation is stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed. A multi-item device characterized by comprising a control means for instructing the power source of the rotary drum to restart the sheet winding operation and for controlling the sheet winding and retry operation of stopping for a certain period of time to be repeated a predetermined number of times. input device.