JPH0637919U - Key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] A key input device is provided that, when a key is pressed, the function executed when that key is pressed is always displayed, and what is input when the key is pressed can be seen at a glance. To do. The key input device of the present invention is a key input device for inputting a signal by operating a key, and a key head 8 and at least two different types of displays provided on the key head are provided on a display unit 9. And a display drive unit 10 for driving the display of the display unit, and a central processing unit for instructing a function of a key operation which is input to the display drive unit and performed according to the key operation.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a key input device suitable for a keyboard used in an information processing device such as a personal computer.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 A conventional key input device is composed of a plurality of key parts, each key part is composed of a pressing part (key) and a switch part which opens and closes an electric circuit by pressing the pressing part (key). It is configured. When used in an information processing device such as a personal computer, this key unit is configured so that one key can operate various functions. For example, the key of "5" is "5", "%", "%", "e", "e", "e", "e", and Along with the function keys, multiple types of input such as "loop display" and "page operation" can be input. However, each input object was displayed by printing on the surface of the head of the key or near the key.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 As described above, according to the conventional technique, all the functions possessed by the key must be printed near the key, and since it is simply printed, which input is currently being input. There was a drawback that I couldn't tell if it was possible just by looking at the keyboard.

An object of the present invention is to provide a key input device in which a function executed when a key is pressed is always displayed at the time of key input, and what is input when the key is pressed can be seen at a glance. To provide.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The key input device according to the present invention is a key input device for inputting a signal by a key operation, and a key head, a display unit provided on the key head for displaying at least two different kinds of displays, and It comprises a display drive unit for driving the display of the display unit, and a central processing unit for inputting to the display drive unit and instructing the function of the key operation performed according to the key operation.

[0006]

[Action]

 By pressing the key, the function of the key operation at that time is displayed on the head of the key. That is, by operating a certain key in conjunction with another key, it is possible to display a plurality of types of functions on the head of one key.

[0007]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing a key input device according to the present invention. An example of this key input device is for operating a personal computer. A plurality of key bodies 1 are arranged at predetermined positions guided by the key guide 2 and are urged by the springs 3. When the key body 1 is pressed, the protrusions 4 provided on the bottom surface of the key body 1 cause piezoelectricity. The switch 5 is turned on and signal processing is performed in the personal computer. That is, the signal from the piezoelectric switch 5 is processed by the central processing unit (CPU) 7 by a predetermined program through the I / O device 6 of the interface.

A liquid crystal display element 9 is provided on the key head 8 of the key body 1 of the key input device. The liquid crystal display element 9 is driven by a display drive unit 10 and an instruction from the CPU 7 is issued. Thus, the display content can be changed. The signal to the liquid crystal display element 9 is supplied from the wiring board 12 via the flexible wiring 11. The display content displayed on the liquid crystal display element 9 is the functional information that functions when the key is pressed. That is, when a key function is changed by a combination operation with another key, the changed function information is displayed.

Regarding the above-mentioned change of display contents, for example, a function key as shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In the initial state, the function keys 20, 21, and 22 shown in FIG. 2A display liquid crystal characters "PF1", "PF2", and "PF3", respectively. Next, when the control key 23 is pressed, the display characters 20-1, 21-1, 22-1 at the head of the key such as "RUN", "LOAD", and "SAVE" are displayed as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Is changed. Further, when the shift key 24 is pressed, the display characters 20-2, 21-2, 22-2 on the head of the key are changed to "FDINZ", "FDUMP", "FCOPY" as shown in FIG. 2 (c). It will be changed further. In this way, the functions for each program can be displayed with the same function selection key, so that even better operability can be obtained.

Although the liquid crystal display element (LCD) is used for the display unit in the above-described embodiments, the invention is not limited to this, and a semiconductor light emitting element (LED) may be used. When an LED is used, a plurality of LEDs are arranged on the head of the key, and the function information of the key can be displayed by emitting an LED corresponding to the displayed character.

As a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, an example in which an LCD and an LED are combined to display the function information of each key will be described. The key function information display mechanism of this key input device is configured such that a projection screen 32 is attached to the key head 31 of the key body 30, and the function information is displayed by the information projected on the projection screen 32. Information such as predetermined characters is projected onto the projection screen 32 through the light from one semiconductor light emitting element (LED) 34 fixed to the wiring board 33 through the transmissive liquid crystal element (LCD) 35 and the lens 36. It With such a structure, since there is no wiring in the movable part of the key, there are few failures and the manufacturing is easy. The switching of the display contents is controlled by driving so as to change the transmission pattern by the transmission type liquid crystal element (LCD) 35. A transparent protective plate 37 is provided on the projection screen 32 so as to withstand the pressing force.

[0012]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, various kinds of function information can be displayed by combining various functions with one key or another key, so that a key input device having excellent operability can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Key body, 2 ... Key guide, 3 ... Spring, 4 ... Protrusion, 5 ... Piezoelectric switch, 6 ... Central processing unit, 7 ... I / O device, 8 ... Key head, 9 ... Liquid crystal display element, 10 ... Display drive unit, 11 ... Flexible wiring, 12 ... Wiring board, 13 ... Function key, 21 ... Function key, 22 ... Function key, 23 ... Control key, 24 ... Shift key.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A key input device for inputting a signal by key operation, a key head, a display unit provided on the key head for displaying at least two different kinds of displays, and a display of this display unit. A key input device, comprising: a display drive unit for controlling the display, and a central processing unit for inputting to the display drive unit and instructing a function of a key operation performed according to the key operation.