JPH05158601A - Keyboard device of information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the multi-mode keyboard device which can be changed in the number and kinds of keys, the shapes, size, and array of key tops, and characters and function displays of the respective keys according to initial settings, application programs, etc., and has superior operability. CONSTITUTION:The keyboard device is provided with plural key input parts 10 which are arranged in matrix to form a surface shape and a key display part 17 which is put over the key input parts 10 and make an optional key display through optoelectric operation; and the key input part 10 is put in key switch operation according to the key display made by the key display part 17. The number and kinds of the keys, the shape, size, and array of the key top, and the characters and function displays of the respective keys are optionally set and the key input parts 10 are put in the key switch operation according to the key display by the key display part 17.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device of an information processing device such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A keyboard device is widely used as a character input device in an information processing device such as a computer. The keyboard device is composed of a key top made of a plastic molded product and a key switch opened and closed by each of the key tops. A non-contact type device is known.

[0003]

In the input work in various application programs by a computer, for example, in a Japanese word processor, the keyboard device needs a kanji-kana conversion key, and the key display is hiragana. On the other hand, in the English word processor, the kanji-kana conversion key is unnecessary, and it is preferable that the space bar is long instead, and the key display is preferably the alphabet display. The required number and type of keys of the keyboard device, the optimum shape and size of the key tops, the optimum arrangement, and the optimum display of the keys vary depending on the program.

The optimum key arrangement is a JIS standard arrangement,
Depending on the type and preference of the keyboard device trained by each operator, such as the new JIS standard arrangement, the AIUEO arrangement, and various local arrangements, each operator changes.

However, in the conventional keyboard device, the key top is made of a plastic molded product,
Due to the structure in which key switches are provided in association with each key top, the number and type of keys, the shape and size of the key top,
The layout is physically unchanged in each keyboard device,
Also, the character display of each key is alphabet, hiragana,
It is invariable with katakana, and these do not change. Therefore, the conventional keyboard device may be difficult to use depending on the type of application program and the degree of training of the operator, and the operator needs considerable training for each keyboard device in order to input characters more efficiently and accurately. Become.

In addition, except for a dedicated machine such as a word processor, for the sake of general purpose, various function keys are simply displayed as numbers such as F1 and F2.
It makes the key operation of the computer in various application programs difficult and greatly hinders the easy operation of the computer.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the problems as described above in the keyboard device of the conventional information processing apparatus such as a computer. The number and kinds of keys, the shape and size of key tops, It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-mode keyboard device which is excellent in operability because the arrangement, the characters of each key, and the function display can be changed according to initial settings, application programs, and the like.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a plurality of switch parts arranged in a matrix and having a planar shape as a whole, and a plurality of switch parts which are superposed on the switch parts and are photoelectrically operated to provide an arbitrary key are provided. And a key display unit for displaying, wherein the switch unit is configured to operate a key switch according to the key display by the key display unit.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the number of keys, the type, the shape, the size, the arrangement of the keys, the characters of each key, and the function display are arbitrarily set by the key display on the key display unit. Accordingly, the switch section operates the key switch according to the key display on the key display section.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a computer to which a keyboard device according to the present invention is connected. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a computer main body, and the computer main body 1 incorporates a CPU, a memory, a keyboard interface and the like. The computer body 1 is provided with a floppy disk driver 2, and a CRT 3 as a screen display device and a keyboard device 4 as an input device are connected to the computer body 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard device 4 includes a thin flat display section 5 made of liquid crystal, plasma, EL elements, etc., and a transparent touch pad having a matrix structure superposed on the thin flat display section 5. 6, or as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a fine self-illuminating switch 7 having a self-illuminating portion 7a arranged in a matrix in a planar shape, and a transparent covering the upper surface of the self-illuminating switch 7, that is, the self-illuminating surface. As shown in FIG. 5, including a thin film 8, a key monitoring control unit 11 for monitoring the key switch operation state of the key input unit 10 constituted by the touch pad 6 or the switch unit 7b of the illuminated switch 7, A key code signal conversion unit 12, a key code output unit 13 that outputs a key code signal to the computer body 1, and key display pattern data from the computer body 1 are input. Key display pattern data input unit 14 and the input control unit 15 for performing input control of key display pattern data from the key display pattern data input unit 14 for
And a key display pattern data storage unit 16 for storing the key display pattern data from the input control unit 15, and the thin flat display unit 5 or the illuminated switch 7 given the key display pattern data from the key display pattern data storage unit 16.
And a key display control unit 18 for controlling the key display of the key display unit 17 configured by the self-illuminating unit.

In the keyboard device 4, the key display pattern data input unit 14 inputs the key display pattern data selected and set by the operation system and the application program from the computer main body 1, and the key display pattern data is input controlled. The key display pattern data stored in the key display pattern data storage section 16 by the operation of the section 15 and the key display pattern data written in the key display pattern data storage section 16 by the operation of the key display control section 17 are photoelectrically displayed on the key display section 16 in a photoelectric manner. It will be held at.

The key display in the key display section 17 is made according to the key display pattern data from the computer main body 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. The display of the character and function of each key changes.

The key display pattern data written in the key display pattern data storage unit 16 is the key code output unit 1.
3, the key code output unit 13 determines which key is operated by comparing the key switch operation state of the key input unit 10 from the key monitoring control unit 11 with the key display pattern data, The key code output unit 1 outputs the key code signal of the key corresponding to the key display on the key display unit 16.
It is designed to output to 3.

FIG. 8 shows a key display processing flow.
In this processing flow, the key display pattern data storage unit 16 monitors the key display pattern data input unit 14 for a change in the key display (step 10). The key display unit 17 displays the key display pattern data according to the key display pattern data (step 20). When changing the key display, the key display pattern data input to the key display pattern data input unit 14 is input to the input control unit 15. It is read (step 30), and this is written and stored in the key display pattern data storage unit 16 (step 40). And step 20
Proceed to and key display is performed according to the new key display pattern data. As a result, the key display on the key display unit 17 is adapted to the operation system and application program currently being executed, as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 9 shows a key input processing flow.
This processing flow is started by a key switch operation signal from the key monitoring control section 11, and by comparing the key switch operation signal with the current key display pattern data, it is determined which key has been operated and the key display section 16 The key code signal of the key corresponding to the key display in step (1) is generated (step 100), and this key code signal is output to the key code output unit 13
Output to computer body 1 (step 1
10).

The keyboard device 4 as described above can also be used as a tablet for drawing input.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the keyboard device according to the present invention. Note that, in FIG. 10, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 5 are indicated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. In this embodiment, the keyboard device itself is provided with a key display pattern data storage unit 19 for storing and storing several types of key display pattern data for each type, and a key display setting switch unit 20 such as a changeover switch. Is provided in the keyboard device 4, and the signal of the key display setting switch unit 20 is input to the key display setting control unit 21 so that the key display setting control unit 21 stores predetermined key display pattern data in the key display pattern data storage unit. 1
This key display pattern data storage unit 1 is read from
9 is written in the key display pattern data storage unit 16.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the keyboard device 4 can be freely set by the user within the range of the specified key code signal of the keyboard BIOS of the computer, without depending on the operating system or the application program. The keyboard mode 4 can be switched between the word mode and the English mode, and the keyboard device 4 can be used in an existing computer by conforming to the keyboard BIOS of the existing computer.

[0021]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the keyboard device of the present invention, the number of keys, the type, the shape, the size, the arrangement of the key tops, and each key can be displayed by the key display by the key display section. The characters and the function display are arbitrarily set, and the switch section operates the key switch according to the key display on the key display section according to this, so that the same keyboard function as the conventional one can be obtained, and the number and types of keys, The shape, size, and arrangement of the key tops, the characters of each key, and the function display change depending on the initial settings, application programs, etc., which increases the versatility of the keyboard device,
Further, the keyboard device has an excellent graphical user interface, and the operability of the keyboard device is improved accordingly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a computer to which a keyboard device according to the present invention is connected.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an embodiment of a keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of key display.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of key display.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a key display processing flow in the keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a key input processing flow in the keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the keyboard device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer Main Body 2 Floppy Disk Driver 3 CRT 4 Keyboard Device 5 Thin Flat Display 6 Touch Pad 7 Illuminated Switch 8 Transparent Thin Film 10 Key Input 11 Key Monitoring and Control 12 Key Code Signal Converter 13 Key Code Output 14 Keys Display pattern data input unit 15 Input control unit 16 Key display pattern data storage unit 17 Key display unit 18 Key display control unit 19 Key display pattern data storage unit 20 Key display setting switch unit 21 Key display setting control unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yukinobu Hayashi Nobuyoshi Karasuma-dori Yakushishirashi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 678 Omron Software Co., Ltd. 678 Mizumachi Omron Software Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ishizu Lighting Karamaru-dori octopus pharmacist Ru Terai Mizumachi 678, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Omron Software Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of switch parts arranged in a matrix and having a planar shape as a whole, and a key display part overlapping the switch parts and displaying arbitrary keys by photoelectric effect,
A keyboard device of an information processing device, wherein the switch unit is configured to operate a key switch according to a key display by the key display unit.