JPH05289793A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a circuit of the keyboard device without giving constrain of the key arrangement and the number of keys of a second input device by executing repeat control to key information, as well from a second key input device by a repeat control means of a first key input device. CONSTITUTION:A first key input device 2 inputs key information from a first key input means 21, and simultaneously, recognizes an input signal from a second key input device 3 as key information, arbitrates both of them, and thereafter, gives the key information to a repeat control means 23. As a result, by single repeat control, key repeat control of a first key input means 21 and a second key input device is executed. Consequently, since the key repeat control of a key of a second key input device 3 is executed by a first key input device 2, a repeat control means is not required in a second key input device 3, and also, a repeat detecting/arbitrating means becomes unnecessary simultaneously in a first key input device 2, therefore, a circuit of the keyboard device can be miniaturized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device used as means for inputting information in computers, word processors and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a keyboard device in which an auxiliary input device such as a ten-key pad can be externally mounted, as described in JP-A-2-245815, the key of each key input device is used. By configuring the information output means with a common interface device, the restrictions on the key arrangement and the number of keys of the external key input device are eliminated.

[0003]

In the above prior art, it is necessary that the first and second key input devices have the same repeat control means, and the first and second key input devices simultaneously perform repeat output. At that time, a means for detecting and arbitrating simultaneous repeats was necessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide repeat control means only to the first key input device connected to the main body, and to repeat control the key information from the external key input device by this repeat control means. Thus, the circuit of the keyboard device can be miniaturized without imposing restrictions on the key arrangement or the number of keys of the external key input device.

[0005]

A first key input device having first key input means and first key information output means for outputting key information obtained by the first key input means to a main body; A second key input device having a second key input device and a second key information output device for outputting key information obtained by the second key input device, wherein the first key input device is the second key. It has means for inputting key information from the information output means, and arbitrates between the key information obtained from the first key input means and the key information obtained from the second key information output means, and the first information Means for outputting the key information to the key information output means, and the first key input device further includes key information obtained from the first key input means and key information obtained from the second key information output means. From
It is characterized by further comprising repeat processing control means for repeating the key code of the key in the ON state at a predetermined interval and outputting it to the first key information output means.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the first key input device connected to the main body inputs the key information from the first key input means, and at the same time, the second key input device connected to the first key input device. By recognizing the input signal from the input device as the key information and arbitrating both, the key information is given to the repeat control means, so that the key repeat control of the first key input means and the external key input device can be performed by one repeat control It can be carried out.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is a main body such as a computer or word processor having a key information input section (input means) 11 and 2 is a standard key input device (first 1 is a key input device) and 3 is an external key input device (second key input device). The standard key input device 2 is electrically connected to the main body 1 and transmits key information to the main body 1. The external key input device 3 can be electrically connected to the standard key input device 2, and transmits the key information via the standard key input device 2 in the connected state.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a keyboard device. The external key input device 3 is provided with various keys, checks the ON / OFF states of the various keys at regular time intervals, and when those keys change from OFF to ON or from ON to OFF, A key input means (second key input means) for generating a key code when changing from OFF to ON (ON key code) or a key code when changing from ON to OFF based on the change (OFF key code) ) 31 and this key input means
It has key information output means 32 for outputting a signal based on the key code from 31 and outputs an ON key code and an OFF key code. The external key input device 3 does not have a repeat control means for creating a repeat output, and the external key input device 3 outputs the ON key code and the OFF key code, which are the information, only when the state of the key changes. However, the repeat is not output even if the key is kept in the ON state.

The standard key input device 2 has the same key input means as the key input means 31 (first key input means).
21 and key information input means 25 for inputting the ON key code and the OFF key code from the external key input device 3
And a key information input control means 22 for inputting an ON key code and an OFF key code from the key information input means 25 and the key input means 21, arbitrating and outputting, and an ON key code,
It has a repeat control means 23 for creating a repeat output from an OFF key code, and a key information output means 24 for outputting key information based on the ON key code, the OFF key code and the repeat output code.

The data of the key input means 21 and the key information input means 25 inputted to the key information input control means 22 are the same, and after the output of the key information input control means 22, the repeat control means 23 and the key information. The output means 24 processes the key information from the key input means 21 of the standard key input device 2 and the key information from the key input means 31 of the external key input device 3 without distinguishing them.

The key code output from the key information input control means 22 is input to the key information output means 24 and the repeat control means 23. The repeat control means 23 is an ON key code input from the key information input control means 22,
The ON / OFF state of the key is judged by the OFF key code, and when the key capable of repeat output is maintained in the ON state, the ON key code of the key is output to the key information output means 24 at every predetermined time. The key information output means 24 outputs the ON key code and the OFF key code input from the key information input control means 22 and the repeat control means 23 to the main body 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation procedure of the repeat control means 23. The repeat control means 23 includes a memory for storing a key code of a key to be repeated (hereinafter abbreviated as a repeat key memory) and a memory for indicating whether or not the repeat operation is effective (hereinafter abbreviated as a repeat flag). ) And a timer (hereinafter, abbreviated as a repeat timer) for managing the time of repeat output.

When the repeat control means 23 is activated as shown in FIG. 3A, the repeat flag is cleared at initialization step S11 to invalidate the repeat operation. If the repeat timer exceeds the value indicating the repeat output timing (step S12) and the repeat flag is set to indicate that the repeat is valid (step S13), the repeat control means 23 stores it in the repeat key memory. The ON key code of the repeat target key is output (step S14), and the repeat timer is reset (step S1).
5) Wait for the next repeat output timing.

When the repeat control means 23 inputs the ON key code and the OFF key code from the key information input control means 22, when the input key code is the ON key code as shown in FIG. 3B. The input key code is stored in the repeat key memory (step S24), the repeat timer is reset (step S25), the repeat flag is set (step S26), and repeat control for the key having the input key code is started. When the key code is the OFF key code and the key code indicates the key which is the object of the repeat control (step S22), the repeat flag is cleared and the repeat control is stopped (step S23).

In this embodiment, the external key input device (second key input device) 3 is composed of the key input means 31 and the key information output means 32. However, as shown in FIG. If the key information input input means 34 and the key information input control means 33 similar to the key information input input means 25 and the key information input control means 22 of No. 2 are added, this external keyboard device (second key input device) ) Similar to
It is also possible to connect a fourth key input device.

As described above, according to the keyboard device of this embodiment, the key repeat control of the keys of the external key input device (second key input device) is performed by the standard key input device (first key input device). , Since the external key input device does not need the repeat control means and the standard key input device and the external key input device do not perform the repeat output at the same time,
Simultaneous repeat detection and arbitration means are also unnecessary.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the standard key input device (first key input device) performs the key repeat control of the keys of the external key input device (second key input device). The key input device does not require repeat control means,
Further, since the standard key input device does not need the simultaneous repeat detection / arbitration means, the circuit of the keyboard device can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a keyboard device that is an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart showing a control operation procedure of the repeat control means shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an external key input device having a configuration different from that of the external key input device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Main body, 2 ... Standard key input device (first key input device), 3 ... External key input device (second key input device), 11, 25, 34 ... Key information input means, 21, 31 ... Key Input means, 22, 33 ... Key information input control means, 23 ... Repeat control means, 24, 32 ... Key information output means.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Nobutaka Kato 810 Shimoimazumi, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Systems Office System Design and Development Center

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first key input device having a first key input device and a first key information output device for outputting key information obtained by the first key input device to a main body, and a second key input device. Means and second key information output means for outputting key information obtained by the second key input means, wherein the first key input device is the second key information output means. A means for inputting key information, arbitrating the key information obtained from the first key input means and the key information obtained from the second key information output means,
Of the key information output means, and the first key input device further comprises: key information obtained from the first key input means; and key information obtained from the second key information output means. To a key code of an ON-state key at a predetermined interval and outputs the key code to the first key information output means.