JPH05333986A - Keyboard provided with input character display function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize even input characters not displayed on a key section and the side face and to facilitate the key input operation by displaying the input character of each input mode at the top of the key for every time the input mode is changed. CONSTITUTION:A port 11 of a CPU 1 is connected to the X-axis of the keyboard and a port 12 is connected to the Y-axis. When the CPU 1 scans to find the scan position of the port 11 is in X1 and the input pit of Y2 stands in the input pit of the port 12, the object characters for the queue contents indicated by the coordinate (X1, Y2) are inputted. In this case, when the input key is an input mode changeover key, the display data outputted from a port 10 is latched by I/O 20 corresponding to each key. The data are sent to each decoder 21, where the contents of data are analyzed to display the data such as characters and codes specified by each input character display section 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard having an input character display function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional personal computer keyboard, there are various input modes for key input, such as an English small letter mode, an English capital letter mode, a kana mode, a graphic mode, a numeric lock mode, and a numeric lock graphic mode. ..

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper part of one key,
A plurality of input characters were engraved on the side surface, and some character input characters were not displayed on the upper side of the key or on the side surface. Then, you can check which character will be input when you press the key by checking the lighting of the key lamp provided on the keyboard, but check which input mode is at that time. While key input was being done.

[0004]

In the conventional personal computer keyboard, a plurality of input characters are engraved on the upper and side surfaces of the key, and there are character input characters not displayed on the upper and side surfaces of the key. There was a drawback that it was difficult to know which character was input when the button was pressed.

In particular, when a beginner or the like uses the keyboard to input characters, the characters are checked one by one, or even if the person who is accustomed to the keyboard frequently makes key input operations such as writing sentences, There is a drawback that erroneous input is made unless the user knows which character is to be input in which input mode.

An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard with an input character display function in order to solve the above drawbacks.

[0007]

A keyboard with an input character display function according to a first aspect of the present invention is a keyboard which is an input means for a personal computer, wherein (A) characters, symbols, numbers and graphic symbols are inputted. An input character display unit displayed on the upper part of the key, and (B) a decoder for decoding code data for displaying the input character received from the personal computer and outputting an image of the input character to the input character display unit. It is equipped with.

The keyboard with the input character display function of the second invention is the keyboard with the input character display function of the first invention, in which the brightness of the display of the input character displayed by the input character display section can be adjusted. Brightness adjustment means for outputting an adjustment signal to the personal computer is provided.

A keyboard with an input character display function according to a third aspect of the present invention is the keyboard with an input character display function according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, wherein the input character display section is composed of an LED.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the details of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard with an input character display function of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of the upper part of the key and a side view of the key, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing examples of characters that can be input in each input mode as an embodiment.

In FIG. 1, when the power is turned on, the key input mode of the keyboard is initialized to display the contents of the English small letter input mode. CPU1 port 1
It is assumed that 1 is connected to the X axis of the keyboard and port 12 is connected to the Y axis of the keyboard. CPU1 is now port 1
Scan each bit of 1 and port 12
If the scan position of X is X ₁ , and the input bit of Y ₂ of the input bits of port 12 is set, the input character is the target character of the key content indicated by the coordinates of (X ₁ , Y ₂ ). Is entered. At this time, if the input key is the input mode switching key, the display data output from the port 10 is latched in the I / O 20 corresponding to each key. The content of the data is sent from each I / O 20 to each decoder 21, and each decoder 21 analyzes the content of the data,
Data such as designated characters and symbols is displayed on each input character display unit 22.

The upper part of each key on the keyboard is shown in FIG.
It has an input character display section 22 as shown in (a).
Further, each key has a decoder unit 21 as shown in FIG.
And an input character display unit 22 is provided on the upper part of the unit.

For example, when FIG. 5 is displayed by the present invention, the characters that can be input are displayed on the input character display section 22 of FIG. 3 (a). Figures 4 (a) to 4 (f) show characters that can be entered in lowercase letters mode, characters that can be entered in uppercase letters mode, characters that can be entered in kana mode, characters that can be entered in graphic mode, and numeric lock mode. The characters that can be input and the characters that can be input in the graphic mode in the numeric lock state are displayed. By displaying the input characters above the keys in this way, visual confirmation can be easily performed.

An LED can be used as one of the display methods of the display section. Multiple LEDs placed on top of key
Are individually turned on or off. Characters are displayed above the keys by a combination of turning on and off the LEDs at this time.

A liquid crystal display device can be used as another display method. By using a liquid crystal display device, it is possible to display with one element.

Further, a plasma display device can be used as another display method. Characters can be displayed at high speed by using the plasma display device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram in which the keyboard brightness adjustment circuit 41 with the input character display function shown in FIG. 1 is mounted. In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the light / dark adjustment slide switch 44 has been moved. This data 43 is taken into the CPU 1 from the port 13. The CPU 1 outputs the display brightness data 40 from the port 11 to the brightness adjustment circuit 41. The brightness adjustment circuit 41 can adjust the intensity of the signal 42 based on this data to adjust the brightness of the input character display section 22.

Further, by dividing the display color of the input character display portion 22 of FIG. 1 into a general key and a special key and displaying them in different colors, the visual confirmation can be performed more easily.

[0020]

As described above, the keyboard with the input character display function of the present invention displays the input characters of each input mode on the upper part of the key each time the input mode changes, so that the upper part and the side part of the key are heretofore used. The input characters that have not been displayed can be confirmed, and the key input operation can be easily performed without paying particular attention to the input mode of the key input, and errors such as erroneous input can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a keyboard with an input character display function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a keyboard with an input character display function, which is provided with a brightness adjustment circuit in the keyboard with an input character display function shown in FIG.

3A and 3B are a top view and a side view, respectively, of an upper portion of a key of the keyboard with an input character display function according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing examples of characters that can be input in each input mode in the keyboard with an input character display function of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a key stamp character on a keyboard having a conventional input character display function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 One-chip CPU 10 to 13 ports 20 I / O 21 Decoder 22 Input character display 40 Light / dark instruction data 41 Bright / dark adjustment circuit 42 Bright / dark adjustment signal 43 Bright / dark instruction data 44 Bright / dark adjustment slide switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard which is an input means for a personal computer, wherein (A) an input character display section for displaying input characters of characters, symbols, numbers and graphic symbols on the upper part of a key, and (B) the personal computer. A keyboard with an input character display function, comprising: a decoder for decoding code data for displaying an input character received from, and outputting image data of the input character to the input character display unit. 2. The keyboard with an input character display function according to claim 1, further comprising a brightness adjusting means for outputting to the personal computer a brightness adjusting signal capable of adjusting a display brightness of an input character displayed by the input character display section. A keyboard with an input character display function that is provided. 3. The keyboard with an input character display function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the input character display portion is composed of an LED.