JPH0583927B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The present invention relates to a keyboard device having a configuration in which a transparent input panel and a flat display are combined. An input coordinate recognition unit that recognizes input coordinates of an input, a conversion unit that converts the input coordinates into segments, and an output code buffer table that stores an output code for each of the segments, and the conversion unit , for each of the segment obtained by converting the input coordinates recognized by the input coordinate recognition unit and the segment surrounded by the segment, the output code is stored in the output code buffer table, and the conversion unit stores the output code in the output code buffer table. The output code stored in the output code buffer table corresponding to the segment obtained by converting the input coordinates recognized by the input coordinate recognition unit is configured to be output as the output code corresponding to the input.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a keyboard device having a combination of a transparent input panel and a flat display.

Apart from general keyboard devices, a keyboard device with a transparent input panel overlaid on a flat display (hereinafter simply referred to as a keyboard device)
There is. This is used as a simple input device because predetermined items can be entered by simply touching a predetermined position on the transparent input panel.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art, showing a conventional keyboard device.

In FIG. 9, 20 is a keyboard device, 21
2 is an item key section, and 22 is a numeric keypad and function key section.

In the keyboard device 20, the item key section 21
The system consists of a transparent input panel overlaid on a flat display. As the flat display, for example, a liquid crystal device (LCD) or a plasma display device (PDP) is used. A transparent matrix electrode panel is used as the transparent input (touch) panel.

The item key section 21 is partitioned into a matrix (rectangular shape), and each of the partitioned minimum areas is an item key, for example. In each item key area,
Item contents (for example, "coffee", "use", etc.) are displayed based on display data for each item downloaded from the host computer. This display is provided by a flat display and is visible to the user via a transparent input panel.

Then, when the user touches the transparent input panel directly above a certain item key, the keyboard device 20
outputs the code corresponding to the item key to, for example, the host computer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the prior art described above, the shape of the item key of the keyboard device is limited to a square. Note that the size of one item key can be expanded vertically and horizontally by an integer multiple of the minimum partitioned area, but even in this case, the shape is limited to a rectangle. Therefore, its size is also limited. Also, regarding the key arrangement,
They were arranged in an orderly manner (in a matrix) and could not be arranged freely. Therefore, there was a problem that it was difficult for the user to operate the keyboard device. Also,
There was a problem with keys being misidentified because keys with similar shapes were lined up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible keyboard device in which key shapes, key sizes, key codes, and character displays can be changed.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention and shows a keyboard device according to the present invention.

In Fig. 1, 1 is an input touch panel;
is a processing device, 3 is a flat display for display,
4 is an input coordinate recognition section, 5 is a display buffer (memory), 6 is a conversion section, 7 is an output code buffer table 8 is a transmitting/receiving section, and 9 is a host computer.

The keyboard device includes a keyboard main body (not shown) that accommodates a processing device 2 consisting of a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, and a flat display 3 provided on the surface of the keyboard main body (not shown), which is overlapped correspondingly. A transparent input touch panel 1 is provided. The keyboard device is connected to the transmitting/receiving section 8 of the processing device 2.
It is connected to the host computer 9 via.

The input coordinate recognition section 4 recognizes the input coordinates of a predetermined input, for example, an input to the input touch panel 1 (particularly including graphic input).

The conversion unit 6 converts the input coordinates recognized by the input coordinate recognition unit 4 into a segment (unit area) including the input coordinates. For this purpose, the input touch panel 1 is divided in advance into a plurality of segments of a predetermined size.

The output code buffer table 7 stores a predetermined output code for each segment of the input touch panel 1 as necessary. That is, the relationship between the position on the input touch panel 1 and the output code is stored for each unit area.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, the key shape, key size, key code (output code), etc. can be changed. That is, it can be set to a desired shape. This key setting (definition) is performed as follows.

By touching the input touch panel 1, the user inputs the desired size and shape of the key itself.

The input coordinate recognition unit 4 recognizes the input coordinates of a figure traced by the user. The converting unit 6 converts the input coordinates and learns the segments that include the input coordinates, as well as the segments surrounded by these segments. Then, the conversion unit 6 stores the output code for each of the segments obtained by the above-mentioned conversion in the output code buffer table 7.

This output code can be made into a code desired by the user by the user instructing the conversion unit 6 from the host computer 9 in response to the input of the key itself.

Normal input using keys defined in this way is
Do as follows.

A user selects and inputs one key by touching the input touch panel 1.

The input coordinate recognition unit 4 recognizes the input coordinates touched by the user. The conversion unit 6 converts the input coordinates to obtain a segment, and uses this segment to refer to the output code buffer table 7 and read out the corresponding stored output code. Then, this output code is outputted to the host computer 9 via the transmitter/receiver 8 as an output code corresponding to the input (key).

As described above, according to the present invention, a key (key figure) having a size and shape desired by the user can be defined at a position desired by the user. Therefore, the user can
An easy-to-use (personal) keyboard device can be obtained, and misidentification of keys can be reduced.

〔Example〕

(a) Description of an Embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment, in which 10 is a keyboard body (individual) and 11 is another terminal of the host computer 9. Note that FIG. 2B shows a schematic configuration of the keyboard main body 10 in a cross section taken along the line AA.

As shown, on the top surface of the keyboard body,
A flat display 3 for display is provided, and a touch panel 1 for input is provided superimposed thereon. Display flat display 3
It is assumed that each dot can be displayed on an LCD or PDP. Further, the input touch panel 1 is also configured to allow input for each dot corresponding to each dot on the flat display 3.

On the display flat display 3, a key (key figure) consisting of, for example, a "star figure" and the character "star" as shown in the figure is displayed.
The size, shape, and position of the keys are predefined as desired by the user. The user is
"Star" through the transparent input touch panel 1
You can see the keys.

The user selects the "star" key, that is, the "star shape"
When the input touch panel 1 within the area surrounded (defined) is touched, the output code defined corresponding to the "star" key is output to the host computer 9. This output code is predefined as desired by the user (or host computer 9).

The terminal 11 is an input/output device, and outputs (displays) information that a "star" key has been input. Also, enter the output code that should correspond to the "star" key. Also, add a “star” to the “star shape”.
In order to display the character ``star'' as a key,
Enter the character data (character code) corresponding to . The above is performed by the user using the terminal 11.

Here, the above graphic data determines the key shape and size. This allows the key to be designed. For example, assume that the input "coffee" is obtained by superimposing the word "coffee" on the shape of a "coffee cup." This allows the user to recognize the items at a glance, and eliminates misidentification. Furthermore, keys that are frequently used can be made larger and placed in locations where they can be easily touched, improving input efficiency. Since these can be set for each user, a keyboard device can be obtained that takes into consideration the individuality of the user's operations.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the flat display 3. As shown in FIG.

The entire area of the display surface of the flat display 3 is divided into a plurality of segments _S1 to _Sn . Since the display surface is usually rectangular, each segment is also rectangular (square) and arranged in a matrix.

Each segment further consists of dots, which are the minimum units of multiple displays. For example, as shown in the figure, it consists of 36 (6×6) dots.

Each dot of the input touch panel 1 is provided corresponding to each dot of the flat display 3 for display. That is, both dots have a one-to-one correspondence. Therefore, when a segment (an area corresponding to) or a dot on the input touch panel 1 directly above a segment or dot on the display flat display 3 is touched, an input is made to that segment or dot.

The display surface of the display flat display 3 may be physically divided into segments, or the conversion unit 6 may be divided into segments without physically dividing the display surface of the flat display 3.
This may be realized by conversion.

The size of the segment is determined by the touch method (area) when inputting to the input touch panel 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the output code buffer table 7.

The output code buffer table 7 is configured in advance for each segment _S1 of the flat display 3.
Output codes can be stored corresponding to S n to S _n .

Assume now that the figures "circle" and "triangle" are defined as shown in FIG. Further, assume that the output codes of "circle" and "triangle" are defined as "X0001" and "X0002", respectively. in this case,
The contents of the output code buffer table 7 are as follows:
It is done as shown in the figure.

Looking at the figure "circle", first, the segments S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₂₁ , S ₂₂ , S ₂₄ , S ₄₁ , S ₄₂ , S ₄₄ ,
S ₆₂ and S ₆₃ are obtained by transforming the input coordinates. Therefore, correspondingly, the output code "0001"
is stored. Also segments S ₂₃ and S ₄₃
is surrounded by these segments. Therefore, the output code "0001" is stored for these as well.

Looking at the shape "triangle", the segment
Regarding S ₂₇ , S ₄₆ , S ₄₇ , S ₄₈ , S ₆₆ , S ₆₇ , S ₆₈ ,
Its corresponding output code "0002" is stored.

As described above, when the user touches the input touch panel 1 directly above the segment, a predetermined output code is obtained.

Note that the position touched by the user is inside the (closed) figure (for example, segment S ₂₃ ,
S ₂₄ ), the output code of the figure can be obtained.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment, particularly showing the configuration of the processing device 2 or the keyboard control section.

In FIG. 5, 12 is a display character table;
13 is a CG-ROM, and 14 is an output code buffer.

The display buffer 5 stores image data for displaying keys consisting of characters and figures on the display flat display 3. That is, each bit of the display buffer 5 corresponds to each dot of the flat display 3. When displaying the "star figure" and the character "star" as shown in FIG. 2, the display buffer 5 displays the figure and character data in a superimposed manner.
Store. This graphic data is directly given by the input coordinates recognized by the input coordinate recognition section 4. On the other hand, the character data is displayed in the display character table 1.
2 and CG-ROM13.

The display character table 12 stores the character coordinates and character code for each character to be displayed. These data, for example, are sent from the host computer 9 to the processing device 2 via the transmitting/receiving section 8, and are stored in the character table 12 for display. The character coordinates are sent to the display buffer 5 to determine the storage position of the character data. The character code is CG-
The data is sent to the ROM 13 and used to generate character patterns.

The CG-ROM 13 is a read-only memory used as a character generator.
A character pattern (image data) corresponding to the character code is output to the display buffer 5.

Therefore, in the display buffer 5, the corresponding character generated by the CG-ROM 13 is stored at the position specified by the character coordinates of the display character table 12. By superimposing a figure defined by the input coordinates on this, a desired key consisting of characters and figures can be output (displayed) on the flat display 3.

The output code buffer 14 is actually provided as a part of the converter 6 and temporarily stores the output code sent from the host computer 9 via the transmitter/receiver 8.

Note that the processing device 2 or a keyboard control section (not shown) performs overall control of these. below,
The processing device 2 or the keyboard control section is simply referred to as the processing device 2.

FIG. 6 is a key definition processing flow and shows the processing when a user defines a desired key.

A user inputs a key definition designation order from the terminal 11 by pressing a specific key.
In response to this, the host computer 9 sends the order to (the transmitting/receiving unit 8 of) the processing device 2.

The processing device 2 returns a response (ACK) to the host computer 9 (from its transmitting/receiving unit 8),
Enter key definition mode.

When the host computer 9 displays input permission on the terminal 11, the user inputs the character to be displayed and its position from the terminal 11. The host computer 9 sends this to the processing device 2 as a character code and character coordinates.

The processing device 2 associates the character code and character coordinates, stores them in the display character table 12, and sends a response back to the host computer 9.

Furthermore, the processing device 2 generates a character pattern corresponding to the character code from the CG-ROM 13, and writes this at a predetermined position of the display buffer 5 corresponding to the character coordinates. As a result, the character is displayed on the flat display 3. When inputting a figure in later processing, the user can input a desired figure by enclosing the character while referring to the display of the character.

The host computer 9 sends the output code corresponding to the key to the processing device 2. In addition,
This code may be designated by the user from the terminal 11.

The processing device 2 stores the output code in the output code buffer 14 and sends a response back to the host computer 9. This completes the setting of display characters and output codes.

The processing device 2 activates the input coordinate recognition section 4 and the conversion section 6, and enters a state in which key shape input is possible.

When the user traces (touches) the input touch panel 1 with an input pen, etc.,
Enter the desired key shape.

The input coordinate recognition section 4 recognizes the input coordinates of the input figure in units of dots, stores them in corresponding bits of the display buffer 5, and sends them to the conversion section 6. As a result, the input figures are sequentially displayed on the display flat display 3.

The user inputs the end of graphic input using, for example, a keyboard device.

In response to this, the converter 6 converts the input coordinates into segments, and recognizes the segments surrounded by these. Then, the output code in the output code buffer 14 is stored in the output code buffer table 7 for each segment obtained in this way.
With the above steps, the definition of the key is completed, and the key is displayed on the flat display 3.

FIG. 7 is a key input processing flow, and shows the input processing for the keys defined as described above.

A user touches the input touch panel 1 with an input pen or the like.

The input coordinate recognition unit 4 recognizes the input coordinates of the touched part.

A converter 6 converts the input coordinates into segments. That is, the segment to which the input coordinates belong is recognized.

The converter 6 accesses the output code buffer table 7 using the segment, extracts the corresponding output code, and outputs it to the host computer 9 via the transmitter/receiver 8.

The host computer 9 recognizes the output code and knows which key was pressed.

(b) Description of other embodiments In the embodiments described above, graphic data for key definition is set by input from the input touch panel 1, but it may also be set by input from the host computer 9. can. That is, the user inputs graphic coordinate data for the graphic from the terminal 11, for example, or inputs the graphic in the form of vector designation. host computer 9
sends (downloads) these graphic data to (the transmitting/receiving unit 8 of) the processing device 2. In the processing device 2, an input coordinate recognition section 4 generates input coordinates corresponding to each dot on the flat display 3 based on the graphic data.

(c) Description of still another embodiment FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of still another embodiment,
In the figure, 15 is a numeric keypad and function keys (hereinafter simply referred to as fixed keys).

The keyboard device of this embodiment has, in addition to keys using an input touch panel, a fixed key 15 that performs input by being pressed down mechanically. This fixed key 15 has its shape, size,
The position etc. cannot be changed, nor can the corresponding output code be changed.

A predetermined function key of the fixed keys 15 is used as a means for inputting a key definition designation order. Therefore, the key definition mode can be specified from the keyboard device itself and from the terminal 11.

Further, after entering the key definition mode, character data (character code) can be input by pressing an appropriate key among the fixed keys 15. Character image data is generated from the CG-ROM 13 using this input character code, and the display buffer 5
It is displayed on the flat display 3 via. In this case, the fixed key 15 can be used to instruct the character to move upward, downward, leftward, or rightward. Therefore, it is also possible to input character coordinates.

Further, after this, it is possible to input an output code using the numeric keypad of the fixed keys 15.
The output code is stored in the output code buffer 14.

Note that, prior to inputting the character data and output code, the input mode for character data and output code is inputted by pressing a specific function key.

In this embodiment, instead of providing the fixed key 15 independently, a normal mode may be provided in which the fixed key (key figure representing the same key) 15 is displayed on the display flat display 3. In this normal mode, key definitions, specified orders, character data, character coordinates, and output codes can be input from the input touch panel 1.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, various modifications can be made to the present invention according to its gist.

For example, the output code may be set for each dot rather than for each segment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, in a keyboard device, by defining the relationship between the position on the input touch panel or the display flat display and the output code, the shape, size, position, etc. of the key can be controlled by the user. Since a desired keyboard can be used, a keyboard device that is easy for the user to use can be obtained, and erroneous inputs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment, Fig. 3 is an illustration of a flat display, Fig. 4 is an illustration of an output code buffer table, and Fig. 5 is an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram, FIG. 6 is a key definition processing flow, FIG. 7 is a key input processing flow, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a prior art. 1 is a touch panel for input, 2 is a processing device, 3 is a flat display for display, 4 is an input coordinate recognition section, 5 is a display buffer (memory), 6 is a conversion section,
7 is an output code buffer table, 8 is a transmitting/receiving section, and 9 is a host computer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A keyboard device comprising a display flat display 3 and transparent input touch panels 1 stacked correspondingly thereto, wherein the input touch panels 1 are arranged in advance in a plurality of predetermined sizes. an input coordinate recognition unit 4 that divides the input coordinate into segments, and recognizes input coordinates representing the position of the segment and the segment surrounded by the segment, corresponding to a figure specified across the plurality of segments; A conversion unit 6 that converts input coordinates into the segment containing the input coordinates; and an output code buffer table 7 that stores an output code for each of the segments, and in the key definition mode, the conversion unit 6 is configured to store the output code in the output code buffer table 7 for each of the segments obtained by converting the input coordinates recognized by the input coordinate recognition unit 4 and the segments surrounded by the segments. In the key input processing mode, the conversion unit 6 converts the output code buffer table 7 into the output code buffer table 7 in accordance with the segment obtained by converting the input coordinates recognized by the input coordinate recognition unit 4 in the key input processing mode. A keyboard device that outputs a stored output code as an output code corresponding to the input. 2. A host computer 9 connected to the keyboard device is provided, and in the key definition mode, the input coordinate recognition unit 4 recognizes the input coordinates of graphic data sent from the host computer 9. The keyboard device according to claim 1.