JPH064194A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the throughput of processing by preventing the generation of an input request from a keyboard input processing means at the time of key input except a prescribed key corresponding to the contents of the processing of an information processing means and thereby removing unrequired key input. CONSTITUTION:The input of a keyboard 2 in normal processing is performed by supplying a scan signal from a keyboard input processing part 3 to the keyboard 2 and discriminating the presence of the key input from the result of inputting the press of the key 5 from the input port of the keyboard input processing part 3. When performing printing processing, key code registers 8 and 9 are provided inside the keyboard input processing part 3, it is set that the input of a prescribed key only can be accepted at the RAM 10 of the keyboard input processing part 3 and key input/output information is not transferred to an information processing part 4 when the key except a prescribed key is inputted until the setting is canceled. Thus, the throughput of the processing is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device such as a WP (word processor) computer for inputting information with a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general information processing apparatus comprises a keyboard, a keyboard input processing section, and an information processing section, inputs information from the keyboard, and performs processing based on this input information. . Specific examples of the processing work include inputting characters such as numbers, Roman characters, and hiragana, displaying input contents, converting work from the above character input to kanji, number input / calculation processing in table, and input processing in the WP function. There are a saving work for recording the stored contents in a recording medium such as an FD (floppy disk), a reading work for reading the stored contents, and a printing work for printing the processing contents.

Generally, in the process of inputting information by a keyboard, a membrane having a plurality of signal lines patterned in the X direction and a membrane having a plurality of signal lines patterned in the Y direction according to the arrangement of the keyboard. Information corresponding to the pressed key is obtained by detecting the continuity due to the pressing of the key (key switch) during the period. As the detecting means for detecting the continuity, for example, a key scan signal of "L" level is added from the X direction at regular intervals, the signal level is confirmed in the Y direction, and if the signal level is "L", there is a key input
If it is at "H" level, it is determined that there is no key input, and key depression is detected and key input processing is performed.

The key code is discriminated from the X and Y matrix by referring to the key code table from the key scan position and the "L" level position, which is the key input to the information processing section. To decide. The key information is exchanged between the keyboard input processing unit and the information processing unit. When the key input is confirmed by the keyboard input processing unit, a signal notifying the key input is transferred to the information processing unit, and this transfer signal is transmitted. After confirmation by the information processing unit, information is exchanged between the keyboard input processing unit and the information processing unit. As the signal for notifying the key input, an interrupt signal, an input signal to the information processing unit (the information processing unit scans and detects at regular intervals), etc. are generally used.

Such key input processing is performed every time there is a key input, and the key information is confirmed and the processing corresponding to the key information is performed each time.

[0006]

In many cases, depending on the processing contents of the information processing section, no key input other than the predetermined key is required. For example, during print processing, no key input other than the suspend / stop key is required. The same applies to the document saving process and the reading process.

However, like the above-mentioned conventional example, when the key information is confirmed every time there is a key input and the processing corresponding to the key information is performed each time, no key input other than the predetermined key is required. Even during the printing process, when performing the process for confirming the key information, the printing process must be internally suspended to perform the process according to the key information.
Therefore, even when an unnecessary key is pressed, unnecessary processing is performed, resulting in a decrease in throughput in processing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus having an improved processing throughput.

[0009]

An information input means for inputting information by using a keyboard, an information processing means for processing the input information, and a code for processing the input of the keyboard and corresponding to an input key are provided. In an information processing apparatus having a keyboard input processing means for generating, when performing control of information transfer between the information processing means and the keyboard input processing means, the keyboard input is performed depending on the content of the processing of the information processing means. It is characterized in that control means is provided so as not to generate an input request from the processing means when a key other than a predetermined key is input.

[0010]

When controlling the transfer of information between the information processing means and the keyboard input processing means, depending on the contents of the processing of the information processing means, the input request from the keyboard input processing means is a key other than a predetermined key. Does not occur on input.

[0011]

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

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an information processing device, which is a keyboard (information input means) 2
And a keyboard input processing unit (keyboard input processing means)
3 and an information processing section (information processing means) 4.

The keyboard 2 has a large number of keys (key switches) 5, and by pressing these keys 5,
Information corresponding to the pressed key 5 can be input.

The keyboard input processing section 3 includes a keyboard 2
Is generated and a code corresponding to the input key 5 is generated. Keyboard input processing unit 3
Is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a keyboard microcomputer) 6 and a keyboard input coding table 7
And first and second predetermined key code registers (control means)
RAM for keyboard microcomputer (Random)
Access Memory 10 and ROM for keyboard microcomputer (Read Only Memory)
11 and a timer 12.

The keyboard microcomputer 6 controls the entire keyboard input processing section 3. The input port on one end of the keyboard microcomputer 6 is connected to the input terminal of the keyboard 2, and the output port is connected to the key scan output terminal of the keyboard 2. Has been done.

The keyboard input code table 7 stores keyboard input codes. First and second
The predetermined key code registers 8 and 9 are set in the keyboard microcomputer RAM 10 indicating that only the input of the predetermined key is accepted, and even if a key input other than the predetermined key is performed until the setting is released. This is for controlling not to transfer the key input / output information to the information processing section 4 (predetermined key input mode).

The RAM 10 for the keyboard microcomputer is a processing area for carrying out the program processing of the keyboard microcomputer 6, and the ROM 11 for the keyboard microcomputer is a program section for carrying out the processing of the keyboard microcomputer 6.

The keyboard microcomputer 6, the keyboard input coding table 7, the keyboard microcomputer RAM 10 and the keyboard microcomputer ROM 11 are the address bus 1
3 are connected to each other.

The keyboard microcomputer 6, the keyboard input coding table 7, the first and second predetermined key code registers 8 and 9, the keyboard microcomputer RAM 10 and the keyboard microcomputer ROM 11 are connected to each other via a data bus 14. ing.

The information processing section 4 processes information input by the keyboard 2. The information processing unit 4 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a processing unit microcomputer).
15, ROM 16, RAM 17, input / output control unit 1
8 and. The processing unit microcomputer 15 is the information processing unit 4
It controls the entire system, and its interrupt signal input terminal is connected to the output port at the other end of the keyboard microcomputer 6 via a signal line 19.

The ROM 16 stores information such as a program of the information processing section 4, a character generator, and a dictionary. The RAM 17 is a processing area for processing programs of the information processing unit 4. The input / output control unit 18 is for controlling to perform input / output processing such as printer / FDD (floppy disk drive) / key input.

Processing unit microcomputer 15, ROM 16, RAM
The input / output control unit 17 and the input / output control unit 18 are connected via a data bus 20 and an address bus 21, respectively.

The input / output control unit 18 is connected to the input / output port on the other end side of the keyboard microcomputer 6 via the key input / output information bus 22. Further, the input / output control unit 18 is connected via a data bus 23 to a printer, an FDD, a display device, etc. not shown. The keyboard microcomputer interrupt signal output from the input / output control unit 18 is input to the keyboard microcomputer 6 via the signal line 24.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of normal processing, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of printing processing.

In the normal process, the information processing section 4 is in a key input waiting state (step 201), and when an arbitrary key is input, a process according to the key information is performed (step 202).

By the way, the keyboard 2 in the normal processing
The key scan signal is supplied from the keyboard input processing unit 3 to the keyboard 2 (step 203) and the pressing of the key 5 is input from the input port of the keyboard input processing unit 3 in the same manner as in the conventional example described above. Based on the result, it is determined whether or not there is a key input (step 204).

At the time of key input, referring to the contents of the keyboard input coding table 7 from the key scan position and the key input, after determining the information to be transferred to the information processing unit 4 (step 205), the keyboard input processing unit 3 Issues a key input interrupt signal to the information processing unit 4 to transfer information to the information processing unit 4 (step 206).
The processing corresponding to the key code is performed by the step 5 (step 202).

If there is no key input in step 204 or after information transfer in step 202, the process returns to step 203.

Next, the print processing will be described.

The printing process is interrupted when printing is started.
It is not necessary to input any key other than a predetermined key such as a stop key. The feature of the present invention is that the processing when the exclusive key input is performed is not performed by the processing unit microcomputer 15 but is performed by another processing unit.

That is, when performing the printing process, in the present embodiment, the keyboard input processing section 3 is provided with the first and second predetermined key code registers 8 and 9 to accept only the input of the predetermined key. This is set in the RAM 10 in the keyboard input processing unit 3, and until this setting is released, key input / output information is transferred to the information processing unit 4 even if a key input other than a predetermined key is made. It does not exist (predetermined key input mode).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing this processing concept by taking the printing processing as an example.

That is, in the information processing section, a predetermined key code is set (step 301), and then the keyboard input processing section 3 is set to be exclusive (step 3).
02), the printing process is started (step 303). Then, during the printing process, at the time of key interruption, after interruption / stopping process is performed (step 304), it is determined whether the printing is completed (step 305).

If the printing is not completed, the process returns to step 304, and if the printing is completed, the exclusive mode is released (step 306) and the process shifts to the normal processing mode of FIG.

On the other hand, the predetermined key code data set in step 301 on the side of the information processing section 4 is fetched into the first and second predetermined key code registers 8 and 9 of the keyboard input processing section 3 (step 307). Also, the information processing unit 4
The exclusion setting data for the keyboard input processing unit 3 set in step 302 on the side is transferred to the keyboard input processing unit 3 to start the key input exclusion setting (step 308).

After that, a key scan signal is supplied from the keyboard input processing unit 3 to the keyboard 2 (step 309), and the key input is made by the result of inputting the depression of the key 5 from the input port of the keyboard input processing unit 3. It is determined whether there is any (step 310).

At the time of key input, after confirming the key input / code data from the key scan position and the key input by referring to the contents of the table 7 (step 311), it is determined whether the predetermined key code is equal to the input key code. Is determined (step 312). If the predetermined code and the input key code are equal, an interrupt signal for inputting the predetermined key code is issued to the information processing unit 4 to transfer information to the information processing unit 4 (step 313).

When there is no key input in the above step 310, when the predetermined key code and the input key code are not equal in the above step 312, and the above step 313.
After executing, it is determined whether or not the key input exclusion is completed (step 314). If not completed, the process returns to step 309, and if completed, the normal processing mode is entered.

When the exclusion mode is released in step 306, the exclusion end data is transferred to the keyboard input processing unit 3 and becomes the determination data in step 314.

In this way, the information processing unit 4 does not issue this interrupt even if the unnecessary key is pressed.
It is not necessary to perform any processing related to the input of unnecessary keys, and the throughput of processing time is improved.

The predetermined key input mode is released by writing the release information in the RAM 10 in the keyboard input processing section 3.

Information is transferred from the information processing unit 4 to the keyboard input processing unit 3 in FIG. 1 by issuing an interrupt signal for the processing unit microcomputer 6 from the information processing unit 4 side to the keyboard microcomputer 6 to input / output the key. The information data line is switched to the output state from the information processing unit 4 side. After this switching is performed, information is transmitted from the information processing unit 4 side to the keyboard input processing unit 3 side.

Further, the keyboard input processing section 3 writes to the first and second predetermined key code registers 8 and 9 based on the key input / output information.

In the normal case, the output state from the keyboard input processing unit 3 is set.

FIG. 4 shows a timing example regarding the exchange of the above-mentioned information between the keyboard input processing section 3 and the information processing section 4.

FIG. 4A shows data transfer from the keyboard input processing unit 3 during normal processing, and FIG. 4B shows data transfer from the information processing unit 4 and keyboard input processing unit 3. Data transfer from each is shown. The number n of times the key clock is sent out in the figure is determined by the number of used bits kl of the key code and the number of signals Kb of the key input information line.

For example, when Kb = 1 and Kl = 9, n = 9, and when Kb = 3 and Kl = 9, n = 3.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the numbers of Kb and Kl are made equal.

In the above embodiment, the case where the two predetermined key code registers 8 and 9 are provided has been described, but the number of the predetermined key code registers provided is not limited to two, and the keyboard input processing unit 3 is not limited thereto. The number can be increased or decreased as appropriate depending on the configuration and the number of predetermined key codes.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Since the block configuration of the information processing apparatus in this embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment described above, FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing concept of the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment only for the key input processing section 11. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that after the data is set in the predetermined key code registers 8 and 9, the keyboard input processing unit 3 determines the key input unit for the predetermined code and the key input unit Only the key scan is done.

That is, in FIG. 5, first, step 501.
After fetching the data into the predetermined key code registers 8 and 9, at step 502, the setting of key input exclusion is started. Next, in step 503, a table of a predetermined key code is searched, and then in step 504, the key scanning unit and the input data an are set. After this, step 50
In step 5, the specific key scan line is scanned, and in the next step 506, it is determined whether or not there is a key input.

If there is a key input, the process proceeds to step 507 to determine whether or not the key input data and the input data an are equal, and if they are equal, the process proceeds to the next step 508 to transfer the key information to the information processing section 4. , Go to step 509.

On the other hand, if there is no key input in step 506 or if the key input data and the input data an are not equal in step 507, the process proceeds to step 509.

In this step 509, it is judged whether or not the key input exclusion is completed, and if it is completed, the step 50 is executed.
The exclusion end data is transferred from the information processing unit 4 to the keyboard input processing unit 3 as the determination data in step 9 and the process shifts to the normal input process. If not completed, the process returns to step 505.

In short, in this embodiment, the first and second
The contents of the predetermined key code registers 8 and 9 and the keyboard input coding table 7 are compared, and if they match, the key scan address and the key input data are determined. Only the coordinates corresponding to the determined key scan address are output in the key scan, and the key input data determined by the key scan and the key input data determined from the predetermined key code are compared. When they match, the input of the predetermined key code is confirmed. Then, the key input information is transferred to the information processing unit 4.

The timing for performing the key scan is not particularly specified, but the scan timing may be thinned as the number of scans decreases, or the same portion may be scanned at a normal scan cycle. An example of scan timing at this time is shown in FIG. Although the number of key scans is usually five in FIG. 6, the number of key scans is not limited to this, and may be increased or decreased as appropriate.

FIG. 6A shows a normal scan with 4 key scan lines, FIG. 6B shows a thinning scan with a specific scan line S _3, and FIG. 6C shows a specific scan line with S ₃ . The case of continuous scanning is shown.

The concept of the method of transferring information between the information processing unit 4 and the keyboard input processing unit 3 is not different from that of the first embodiment described above, but there are other methods for exchanging signals. FIG. 7 shows an example of a timing chart regarding signal exchange different from that of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 shows Kl = 9 as an example. FIG. 7A shows data transfer from the keyboard input processing unit 3 during normal processing, and FIG. 7B shows data transfer from the information processing unit 4. Are shown respectively.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the information processing unit in the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment. In this embodiment,
The processing performed by the keyboard input processing unit 3 in the first and second embodiments is performed by the input / output control unit 1 in the information processing unit 4 '.
This is done at 8 '. Input / output control unit 1
The data buffer 24 in 8'controls the input / output of the data in the information processing section 4'and the data in the input / output control section 18 '. Further, the address decoder 25 is provided in the input / output control unit 1 corresponding to the address designated by the processing unit microcomputer 15 '.
It is used to set and retrieve data in predetermined key code registers 26 and 27 in 8 '. I / O controller 2
Reference numeral 8 is used to control the input / output of data from the predetermined key code registers 26 and 27. The key input / output information is input to the processing unit microcomputer 15 'via the data buffer 24.

The processing in the predetermined key input mode will be described. A predetermined key code register 27 is provided in the input / output control unit 18 'in FIG. 8 and the predetermined key code register 26 determined from the key input / output information from the keyboard input processing unit 3 is compared with the contents of the predetermined key code register 27. The output of the predetermined key mode bit 30 outputs the "H" level when they match, and the outputs of the predetermined key mode bit 30 are used as the mask signal of the key input interrupt signal. use. Key input interrupt issuing unit 3
In No. 1, an interrupt signal corresponding to the processing unit microcomputer 15 'is created from the key interrupt signal from the keyboard input processing unit 3, and the generation of the key input interrupt signal is controlled by the mask signal to transfer a predetermined key code. Sometimes, the input / output control unit 18 '
Generates a key input interrupt signal from the input terminal and completes input of a predetermined key code. The key information from the keyboard input processing unit 3 is provided each time a key input occurs, but if it does not match the predetermined key code, the key input interrupt signal is masked and does not occur, and unnecessary key input occurs. However, since the processing by the processing unit microcomputer 15 'does not occur, the processing throughput is improved.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure performed by the information processing unit 4 '.

Information processing unit 4'and keyboard input processing unit 3
The concept of the information transfer method between the
Same as the example.

In FIG. 9, first, in step 901, a code is written in the predetermined code register 27, and then,
In the next step 902, "H" level is written to the predetermined key mode bit 30 to start the operation in the predetermined key input mode.

Thereafter, in step 903, it is determined whether the key input and the contents of the predetermined key code register 27 are the same. If they are equal, the masking of the key input interrupt signal is released in step 904, the interrupt processing to the processing unit microcomputer 15 'is performed in step 905, and then step 906.
Proceed to.

If the key input and the contents of the predetermined key code register 27 are not equal in step 903, the process proceeds to step 906.

In this step 906, it is judged whether or not the predetermined key input mode has ended, and if it has not ended, the flow returns to step 903. Also, when it is finished, step 907
After writing to "L" level in the predetermined key mode bit 30 in step 908, the key input interrupt signal is masked in step 908, and then this processing operation is ended.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the keyboard input processing unit in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the keyboard input processing unit is not a microcomputer. The point is that it is configured by a logic circuit.

That is, the key scan cycle is determined by counting down the clock from the clock oscillator 32 by the key scan clock frequency divider 33, and the count value of the key scan clock counter 34 for counting the scan signals for key scan. Is decoded by the scan line decoder 35 to determine the scan timing of each key scan line. Next, by key input,
By the detection circuit 36 that detects the presence or absence of the “L” level,
When the “L” level is detected, the key code determined by referring to the keyboard input coding table 7 using the address determining the key scan timing and the key input data is passed through the key code transfer control unit 37. Then, the key input / output information is transferred to the information processing section. Predetermined key mode bit 30 / predetermined key code register 2 from the information processing unit
7 and other registers are written by key input / output information and a signal that determines the transfer direction.
This is performed by performing processing such as data decoding / rearranging and register setting in the conversion unit 38 on the key input / output information.

The predetermined code input mode is started by writing the "H" level to the predetermined key mode bit 30, and the predetermined code register 27 and the key code are compared by the comparator 39. only,
The key input interrupt signal is unmasked and the key input / output information is transferred so that the "H" level is output and an interrupt signal is generated to the information processing unit. In the case of disagreement, the interrupt signal is masked by the output of the predetermined key mode bit 30, and the output of the key input / output information stops the output operation of the key input / output information of the key code transfer control unit 37 by this mask signal. , The throughput of the processing is improved by not performing the processing in the information processing unit in the unnecessary key input.

Since the keyboard input processing unit 3'is formed by a logical configuration, it is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the input / output direction of the key input / output information is switched instead of the interrupt for the key code microcomputer. , Information can be transferred. FIG. 11 shows an example of the timing at that time.

The present invention can be implemented by combining the processing methods in the above-described embodiments with each other.

[0077]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, unnecessary key input can be eliminated, so that the processing throughput is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a normal processing operation in the device shown in FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a print processing operation in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing signal timing of key input / output information in the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a time chart showing the timing of key scanning in the device shown in FIG.

7 is a time chart showing signal timing of key input / output information in the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block configuration diagram of an information processing unit in an information processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block configuration diagram of a keyboard input processing unit in the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a time chart showing signal timing of key input information in the device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Information Processing Device 2 Keyboard (Information Input Means) 3 Keyboard Input Processing Unit (Keyboard Input Processing Means) 4 Information Processing Unit (Information Processing Means) 8 Predetermined Key Code Register (Control Means) 9 Predetermined Key Code Register (Control Means) 27 Predetermined key code register (control means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information input means for inputting information by using a keyboard, an information processing means for processing the input information, and a keyboard input for processing the input of the keyboard and generating a code corresponding to the input key. In an information processing device having a processing means, when controlling the transfer of information between the information processing means and the keyboard input processing means, depending on the contents of the processing of the information processing means, An information processing apparatus comprising a control means for controlling an input request so as not to be generated when a key other than a predetermined key is input.