JPH06102982A - Key function display system for keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display all the key functions of a keyboard device and to make one key or keyboard have various functions. CONSTITUTION:At the time of function displaying a programable function key to the keyboard device, the program of a main body device control part 11 in a main body device 1 sends display data to a display data transmission part 12. The display data transmission part 12 sends display data to the display data generation part 21 in the keyboard device 2. Display data generation part 21 decodes display data from the main body 1 and transfers it to a display part (liquid crystal display device or a plasma display device) 22, which displays a key function in accordance with the programable function key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key function display system for a keyboard device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional keyboard device does not have a special mechanism for displaying the function of a key whose function changes according to a program. The function of the programmable function key is displayed by a method such as placing a board, or the function of the programmable function key is displayed on a display device such as a CRT.

[0003]

According to the conventional key function display method of the keyboard device, it is difficult to display all the functions of the key when various kinds of software are used, and it is difficult to program. Since the function is displayed in a place away from the function key, there is a problem that the operation is slow or the operation is mistaken.

Further, this makes it impossible to give the keys various functions, and there is a problem in that a plurality of keyboards must be prepared.

The present invention is intended to enable the function display of the keys to be displayed on the keyboard device by software so that the key operation can be performed accurately and quickly.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a display data transmitting unit in a main body device for transmitting display data to be displayed on a keyboard device, and receives this display data and decodes the display data. And a key function display method of a keyboard device including a display data generating unit and a liquid crystal display or a plasma display for displaying display data.

[0007]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. When the program running on the main body device control unit 11 in the main body device 1 displays the function of the programmable function key on the keyboard device 2, the display data is transmitted to the display data transmitting unit 12. The display data transmission unit 12 sends the display data to the display data generation unit 21 in the keyboard device 2. The display data generation unit 21 decodes the display data from the main body device 1 and transfers it to the display unit (liquid crystal display or plasma display) 22.

The display unit 22 displays key functions corresponding to the programmable function keys.

Further, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are external views of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display or a plasma display is provided above the programmable function keys (PF1, PF2, ...).

When the BASIC is being executed, the display is as shown in FIG. 2, and when another program is being executed, the display instructed by the program is displayed.

FIG. 3 shows a case where a liquid crystal display or a plasma display is provided on the key top portion of the programmable function key.

In this case, the function can be implemented by pressing the directly displayed key.

FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of a normal JIS keyboard, but according to the present invention, the display of the key top can be freely changed by a program so that it can be used in a plurality of languages. You can operate the program with one keyboard.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the function display of the keys can be displayed on the keyboard device by software, the key operation can be performed quickly without any error, and
Both effects that can be changed during program execution can be realized at once.

Furthermore, there is an effect that one keyboard can have various functions and can be shared.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view (1) of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view (2) of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external view (3) of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Device 2 Keyboard Device 11 Main Device Control Unit 12 Display Data Transmission Unit 21 Display Data Generation Unit 22 Display Unit (Liquid Crystal Display, Plasma Display) 23 Keyboard Control Unit 24 Key Input Unit 25 Output Control Unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display data transmitting unit in a main body device for transmitting display data to be displayed on a keyboard device, a display data generating unit for receiving the display data and decoding the display data, and a display device for displaying the display data. A key function display method for a keyboard device characterized by the above.