JPH07105782A - Keying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a keying apparatus whose input mode is easily recognized in order to prevent error input due to input mode difference. CONSTITUTION:On a keying apparatus, in order to display letters and signs whose input can be done corresponding to input modes, a display means such as light emitting elements 2, 3, for displaying Kana letters or alphabet letters to show which input mode is set at the moment is provided in the upper part display part 5 of each letter's (or sign's) input key 1. Consequently, even when one cannot see a display during keying work on a word processor, a computer, etc., since the input mode displaying means is provided in each key of the key board input apparatus, continuous error input due to erroneous pressing of a mode selection key is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key input device for inputting "characters" and "symbols".

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a key input device having a plurality of keys has been used as an input device for a word processor, a computer and the like. In this case, in order to enable the input of as many characters and symbols as possible while keeping the number of keys to a certain limit, assign 3-4 types of characters or symbols to one key and handle the characters or symbols at the time of input. By selecting the input mode described above, it is possible to input a specific character or symbol. In the conventional input mode display in the above key input device, the input mode display currently available by pressing the input mode selection key is displayed on the display, or the input mode selection key is displayed. The usable input mode is displayed by emitting light from a light emitting element such as an LED attached to only the input mode, and characters or symbols corresponding to the input mode can be input.

[0003]

However, in the conventional key input device, when the display cannot be seen during the key input operation, and the input mode selection key is hidden in the palm or the like, the input mode selection key is displayed. If you cannot see, there is a problem that it is difficult to recognize which input mode is currently set, and there is a problem in that an erroneous input is continued by pressing the input mode selection key that is not needed by mistake. The key input device of the present invention is made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a key input device that makes it easier to recognize the input mode and can prevent erroneous input in different input modes. With the goal.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light emitting element, a liquid crystal display device, etc. for displaying which input mode is currently set on the upper display portion of each character (symbol) input key. The display means is provided.

[0005]

Even if the display cannot be seen during the key input operation of the word processor, the computer, etc., since each key of the key input device is provided with the display means for displaying the input mode, which mode is currently selected. It is possible to immediately determine whether or not it is compatible, and it is possible to prevent the user from continuing to make an erroneous input by accidentally pressing the mode selection key. Further, it becomes easy to recognize characters and symbols that can be input in the current input mode.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a Japanese word processor will be described below. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a partially transparent view of one of the character (symbol) input keys according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the character (symbol) input key 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with light emitting elements 2 and 3 having different emission colors for each input mode for each key. In the above, the portions of the characters (symbols) 4-1 and 4-2 serve as windows for transmitting the light of the light emitting elements 2 and 3 so that the portions of the characters (symbols) 4-1 and 4-2 are made brighter. Further, the character (symbol) input key 1 includes a partition plate 6 and the like so that the lights of the light emitting elements 2 and 3 do not affect each other. Here, as the light emitting element, an LED is preferable from the viewpoint of long life, downsizing, stability, etc., but other light emitting media such as EL and lamps may be used. Further, the method of lighting characters and symbols by the light emitting element is not limited to this embodiment.

In the key input device of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration for each character (symbol) input key 1, when the kana character input mode is selected by pressing the input mode selection key, the kana The light emitting element 2 for the character input mode is turned on, and the kana character 4-2 of the upper surface character (symbol) display portion 5 of the character (symbol) input key 1 is displayed brightly.
When the alphabet (numerals) input mode is selected, the light emitting element 3 for the alphabet (numerals) input mode is turned on and the alphanumeric character (symbol) display section 5 of the character input key 1 ( The number) 4-1 is displayed brightly. This makes it possible to immediately determine which input mode is currently selected.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above, it is not possible to distinguish between the case where the English character (numeric) input mode is selected and the case where the Roman character conversion input mode is selected. FIG. 2 is a partially transparent view of one of the character (symbol) input keys according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, by providing the light emitting elements 9 and 10 having different emission colors for displaying the alphabetic characters (numerals) 11-1, whether the alphabetic characters (numerals) input mode is selected or the Roman character conversion input mode is selected. It becomes possible to easily determine whether or not is selected. Here, when the alphabet (numeric) input mode is selected, the light emitting element 9
When is turned on and the Roman character conversion input mode is converted, the light-emitting element 10 is turned on, and the upper surface character (symbol) display portion 5 of the character input key 7 is displayed with an alphabetic character (number) 11
-1 is displayed brightly in a color corresponding to either the Roman character conversion input mode or the English character (numeric) input mode. If the Kana character input mode is selected,
The light emitting element 8 is turned on as in the first embodiment, and the character input key 7
The kana character 11-2 of the upper surface character (symbol) display portion 5 is displayed brightly.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the upper surface display portion 13 of each key is constituted by a liquid crystal display device. . FIG. 3A shows one character when the character input mode is the kana character input mode when the upper surface display portion 13 of the character (symbol) input key according to the present embodiment is configured by the liquid crystal display device. (Symbol) Indicates the input key and its display state. Further, FIG. 3B shows the display state of the character (symbol) input keys when the character input mode is the English character (numeric) input mode as in FIG. 3A. As shown in the figure, the character (symbol) input keys 12 of the present embodiment have a top display unit 1 for each input key.
3 is a liquid crystal display, and the input mode is selected by pressing the selection key of the input mode to be used, and only the characters or symbols in that input mode are displayed. Further, regarding the display of the character (symbol) 14 that can be input by pressing the shift key or the like on the key, there is a difference in shade from the display of the character (symbol) 15 that can be input without pressing the shift key or the like. Expressed by attaching. Figure 4
Describing with reference to (a) and (b), in the normal state, the normal character 15 "7" when the shift key is not pressed is an enterable character, and at this time, the display on the key is the normal character 15 ". "7" is displayed dark, and the character 1 when the shift key is pressed
4 "'" is displayed in a light color. When the shift key is pressed, the character 14 "'" when the shift key is pressed is a character that can be input. At this time, the character 14 "'" when the shift key is pressed is displayed darkly and the character 15 "7" in the normal state is displayed. ”
Is dimmed.

In the display method on the liquid crystal display unit of the above embodiment, characters (symbols) that can be input without pressing the shift key
Is displayed normally, the characters (symbols) that can be input by pressing the shift key etc. are highlighted (white characters), and when the shift key etc. is not pressed, A method of reversing the display method may be used. In addition, since the degree of freedom of display in the case of liquid crystal display is extremely large, it is also used, for example, when the operator customizes the key arrangement according to his or her preference (for example, thumb shift key). be able to.

[0011]

As described above, according to the key input device of the present invention, each character (symbol) of the key input device can be seen even when the display cannot be seen during the key input operation of a word processor, a computer or the like. Since the input keys are equipped with the input mode display means, the characters (symbols) can be easily displayed just by looking at the hand during the key input operation.
It becomes possible to recognize the input mode of. Further, even when the input mode selection key is pressed by mistake, it is possible to prevent erroneous input of different input modes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one character (symbol) input key of a key input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention partially transparently.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one character (symbol) input key of the key input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention partially transparently.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a display surface of a key input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention when a liquid crystal display is used as an upper display portion, and (a) is a kana character of a character (symbol) input key. The figure which shows the input mode, (b) is the figure which shows the letter (numeral) input mode of the letter (symbol) input key.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the shades of a character (symbol) input key liquid crystal display unit that can be input by pressing a shift key or the like.
(A) is a diagram showing a normal state in which the shift key is not pressed,
(B) is a diagram showing a state when the shift key is pressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,7,12 Character (symbol) input key 2,8 Kana character display light-emitting element 3 English character (numeric) display light-emitting element 4,11 Character (symbol) 5 Key top display section 6 Partition board 9 English character (numeric) ) Light emitting element for input mode 10 Romaji conversion light emitting element for input mode 13 Key upper surface display (liquid crystal display) 14 Shift key pressed character (symbol) 15 Normal character (symbol)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A key input device in which a plurality of characters or symbols are assigned to one key and a specific one character or symbol can be selectively input by selecting an input mode. A key input device characterized in that a display means for displaying a selected input mode is provided to facilitate recognition of characters and symbols that can be input. 2. The means for displaying an input mode comprises a light emitting element for displaying a plurality of characters or symbols assigned to each key in a divided manner according to the selected input mode. The key input device according to claim 1. 3. The means for displaying the input mode is a liquid crystal display device provided on the upper surface display portion of each key, and the liquid crystal display device is capable of inputting characters according to the selected input mode. Alternatively, the key input device according to claim 1, wherein the symbols are displayed separately.