JPH0511905A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the keyboard, which can reduce burden on the eyes of an operator, by confirming an input operation in voice and showing a character to be inputted from the keyboard to the operator according in voice. CONSTITUTION:This system reports the information of inputted switches to the operator in voice from a voice output circuit 3 in the case of key input operations. The character to be inputted is informed of the operator in voice, and the character outputting the voice is inputted by the operation of the operator. Namely, a microcomputer 1 is connected so as to such a key matrix 2 connecting the plural key switches in the shape of a matrix, and the voice output circuit 3 is connected to the microcomputer 1. The microcomputer 1 scans the key matrix 2 and when the key push-down of the operator is detected, the microcomputer 1 reports the information of the pushed-down key to the operator with the voice and generates codes by operating the sound output circuit 3. Afterwards, this operation is repeated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for information processing equipment, and more particularly to a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional keyboard has a key matrix 5 and a one-chip microcomputer 4 (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) connected so that the key matrix 5 can be scanned, as shown in FIG.

Conventionally, such a keyboard operates according to the flow shown in FIG. That is, when the operator presses a switch on the key matrix 5,
When the microcomputer 4 scans, a change in the key matrix 5 is detected, and a code according to the change in the key matrix 5 is generated in the microcomputer 4. When the operator does not operate, the microcomputer 4 scans the key matrix 5 but does not detect a change in the key matrix 5, and thus does not generate a code.

[0004]

With this conventional keyboard, it is necessary to visually confirm the keys and, after the input operation, to confirm the input result on the display of the device side, which imposes a great burden on the operator's eyes. It was a call. Also,
If the visually impaired person is the operator, there is a problem that the input operation and the confirmation of the input result are impossible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard which can reduce the burden on the eyes of the operator.

[0006]

The keyboard of the present invention comprises:
A key matrix in which a plurality of or one key switches are connected in a matrix is provided, a microcomputer connected to scan the key matrix, and an audio output circuit connected to the microcomputer.

[0007]

In the keyboard of the present invention, the operator is informed of the information of the switch operated by voice from the voice output circuit during the key input operation. Alternatively, it has a function of notifying the operator of the character to be input by voice and inputting the character output by voice by the operation of the operator.

[0008]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of this embodiment. The microcomputer 1 is connected so as to scan a key matrix 2 in which a plurality of key switches are connected in a matrix, and the audio output circuit 3 is connected to the microcomputer 1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The microcomputer 1 scans the key matrix 2 and detects the key depression by the operator. The microcomputer which detects the pressing of the key operates the voice output circuit 3 to inform the operator of the information of the pressed key by voice and generate a code. After that, the inside of the keyboard is set and the above operation is repeated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart of this embodiment. The microcomputer 6 is connected to operate the audio output circuit 6, and the microcomputer 6 is connected to the pull-down resistor 10 and one terminal of the switch 8 and the other terminal of the switch 8 is connected to the pull-up resistor 9 to pull up to + 5V. Has been done. At this time, the value of the pull-up resistor 9 is sufficiently smaller than that of the pull-down resistor 10, and the microcomputer 6 is set to a value capable of detecting a high level when the switch 8 is turned on.

Next, the operation will be described. The microcomputer 6 operates the voice output circuit 7 to output kana or alphabet in alphabetical order. After outputting one voice, the microcomputer 6 scans the state of the switch 8, and when it is on, the microcomputer 6 determines that the output voice is input and generates a code. After that, the microcomputer 6 is the microcomputer 6
Set the inside and outside of the to output the next sound and repeat the scan.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, the input operation can be confirmed by the voice, and the keyboard presents the character to be input to the operator by the voice, and the operator performs the key operation for the presentation. This reduces the burden on the eyes of the operator during input operations,
This has an effect of enabling input operation for a blind person.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,4,6 Microcomputer 2,5 key matrix 3,7 Audio output circuit 8 switches 9 Pull-up resistor 10 Pull-down resistance

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard comprising a key matrix, means for scanning the key matrix, and means for controlling an audio output circuit. 2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the key matrix is key switches connected in a matrix. 3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the key matrix comprises one key switch.