JPH05257588A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To readily change specific codes of key switches on the keyboard and to improve the operability by means of detachable external storage device. CONSTITUTION:A one-chip microcomputer 10 which controls the keyboard, incorporates program ROM and RAM. In a key switch group 20, a plurarity of key switches are arranged on the matrix. A memory card 30 being an external storage device stores a code conversion table and a shift lock ON-OFF information. The codes of key switches can be changed according to the content. The initializing state is set, too.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device such as a word processor or a personal computer which is a kind of information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, for example, a control one-chip microcomputer incorporated in a keyboard device scans a group of key switches arranged in a matrix to detect input key switches, A code specific to the key switch was being generated.

However, since the program of the one-chip microcomputer is masked in the ROM in the one-chip microcomputer, the code of the key switch is individually fixed.

Therefore, when changing the code unique to the key switch, the position of the key switch in the key switch group must be changed, or the program must be changed to obtain the code to be changed and a new one-chip microcomputer must be created. There was a drawback.

In addition, there are many cases in which the input method of the keyboard device varies depending on the operator. For example, whether the caps lock is turned on, the shift lock is turned on, or the like. In this case, the person who next uses the keyboard device must set his own input method before inputting.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention is to make it possible to easily change the code unique to the key switch of the keyboard device and to improve the operability.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a detachable external storage device such as an IC card or a memory card is provided, the contents of which are read, and the code specific to the key switch inputted by the contents is arbitrarily changed. It is in.

Further, an initial state of the keyboard device is set according to the stored contents.

[0009]

In the present invention, the one-chip microcomputer controlling the keyboard device reads the contents of the external storage device when the power is turned on or in the reset state, and the code conversion table and the initial state are set according to the contents.

If the external storage device is not connected, it is set by the contents of the ROM in the one-chip microcomputer. Whether or not the external storage device can be connected can be easily confirmed by checking whether or not the content of an arbitrary area in the external storage device is the target data.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An example in which the present invention is applied to a keyboard with a shift lock key is shown in a block diagram in FIG.

Reference numeral 2 is an information processing device for processing information according to input data of the keyboard device 1.

Reference numeral 10 is a one-chip microcomputer for controlling the keyboard, which has a built-in program ROM or RAM.
A key switch group 20 has a plurality of key switches arranged in a matrix. Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory card which is a type of removable external storage device. The memory card 30 stores a code conversion table, shift lock ON / OFF information, and the like. Reference numeral 40 denotes an LED for displaying the shift lock state, which lights up in the shift lock state.

Next, the operation will be described.

First, the one-chip microcomputer 10 stores a code conversion table and shift lock ON / OFF information stored in the memory card 30 according to a program in a ROM incorporated in the one-chip microcomputer 10. Read into. A conversion table for generating a key code is set by the code conversion table read in the RAM. If the shift lock is ON according to the ON / OFF information, the key code is generated while the input key is in the shift state, and the LED 40 is turned on to notify the operator of the shift lock state. If it is OFF, the shift process is not performed and the LED 40 is turned off.

If any area of the memory card 30 is not the target data, either the memory card 30 is not mounted or a memory card other than the target is mounted. RO
The initial value is set according to the contents of M.

Next, the key matrix 20 is set to l ₁ , l ₂ ...
・ Scan in order of and detect key input. When a key is input, the levels of m ₁ , m ₂ ... Change, so a key code is generated using a conversion table from the changed position and the scanned position. The generated code is output to the information processing device 2.

Thereafter, operations such as key input detection and code output are repeated until a reset signal is input from the information processing device 2 by turning on the power.

Next, the processing flow of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In S10, it is checked whether or not the memory card 40 is mounted on the keyboard device 1, and if it is mounted, the contents are read in S20. S30, S40
The keyboard device 1 is initialized, the code conversion table is set, and the LED is turned on / off.

Next, in S50, 60 and 70, a key input is detected while scanning the key switch group. If there is no key input, the scan address is updated and this operation is repeated.

If there is a key input, a key code is generated from the conversion table in S80 and output to the information processing device 2 in S90.

If the memory card 30 is not mounted in S10, the one-chip microcomputer 10 is processed in S100 and S110.
The initial value is set according to the contents of the ROM incorporated in the.

In the present embodiment, the case of a memory card has been described as an example of a removable external storage device, but the effects of the present invention can be obtained regardless of the type of IC card, bubble memory, or the like.

Further, depending on the performance of the one-chip microcomputer, the built-in RAM capacity may not be enough to read the data of the memory card. However, the effect of the present invention can be obtained by directly referring to the data of the memory card. You can get it.

Although the storage method of the external storage device is not specified in the present invention, if the storage device is a rewritable storage device such as an IC card or a bubble memory, a one-chip microcomputer in the keyboard device or another writing device may be used. In the case of a storage device that can be easily rewritten and is not rewritable, such as a ROM, the effect of the present invention can be obtained by creating a dedicated ROM.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the code unique to the key switch of the keyboard device can be easily changed and the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block diagram of a keyboard device.

FIG. 2 is a processing flow chart.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Keyboard device, 2 ... Information processing device, 10 ... One-chip microcomputer, 20 ... Key switch group, 30 ... Memory card, 40 ... LED.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard device having a keyboard having a plurality of key switches and a control unit for detecting depression of the key switches and outputting a code corresponding to the keys to an information processing device such as a word processor, the keyboard device being detachable. A keyboard device having an external storage device, wherein data output to an information processing device or the like is converted into arbitrary data according to the stored contents of the external storage device. 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the initial state of the keyboard device is set according to the stored contents of the external storage device.