JPH0713028U - Document processor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a document processing device capable of performing both Japanese and English writing work quickly and accurately. [Arrangement] The space key is arranged in the middle of the foreground of the keyboard, and when the English input mode is selected by the mode setting means, the function is a part of the function key and is adjacent to the space key to the left and to the right. A document processing device characterized in that the key is made to function as a space key.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a keyboard device suitable for office computers, personal computers, word processors, and the like.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Generally, in English typewriter and kana typewriter keyboard devices, the thumb is the only key that is normally pressed. The space key of these typewriters is a key that is horizontally longer than the other keys, so that you can enter a space without worrying about the exact key position.

However, in a Japanese word processor having many function keys including a plurality of input mode setting keys, downsizing, improvement in operability, or uniform operation load on the finger is achieved. From the point of view of increasing the number of functions, it has been attempted to place many function keys in the thumb tap area. According to this trial, many function keys are provided adjacent to the space key, so that the space key is extremely shorter than the typewriter. Therefore, when pressing the space key, it is necessary to operate carefully so that adjacent function keys are not pressed.

However, the frequency of use of the space key is much higher than that of other keys. Therefore, when a user tries to enter a key at high speed, the adjacent function key is often mistakenly entered, which is convenient. There was a problem that it was not good.

In order to solve these problems, when the English text input mode is selected, a word processor that causes all the function keys arranged in the same row as the space key to function as space keys is a prior application of the present invention. It is proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-76761 (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-201133).

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 Compared to English typewriters and English word processors, Japanese word processors have a greater number of keys, especially more function keys, and cannot be equipped with a space key of sufficient size. Improvement is desired.

The invention of the previous application is also directed to this improvement, but the word processor proposed in the previous application has a space key 8e at the right end, and four function keys 8a to 8a to the left of the space key 8e. Since 8d is continuously provided, the operability is not sufficient as described below.

If the space key 8e is provided at the right end as in the previous application, it becomes difficult for a left-handed person to perform a hiragana input operation. That is, at the time of hiragana input, the left-handed operator has to move the left hand most to the right to enter the space, and in consideration of the high speed operation, the function key (general conversion key) which is close to the left of the space key 8e. ) It often happens that 8d is pressed by mistake.

This is one of the causes of erroneous operation because the space key 8e has a small size like other function keys.

Further, if the function keys 8a to 8d are provided on the left side of the space key 8e, the finger reflexively moves to the position of the space key 8e that is sufficiently familiar with the hiragana input when the English is input. Even if the keys 8a to 8d are made to function as space keys, a considerable amount of habituation time is required until the function keys 8a to 8d, which are suddenly made into space keys, can be operated correctly and quickly with the left hand.

Further, in the above-mentioned prior application, the original space key 8e is provided at the left end as described above, and the function keys 8a to 8d, which are space keys in the English text input mode, are provided at the left side of the original space key. The home position of the space key in the input mode and the home position of the space key in the English input mode are largely changed, and the operability for entering the space key by switching the input mode is deteriorated. Also, in this earlier application, all the function keys in the same row as the space key are used as space keys when inputting English text, so the function keys that are also used in English text entry such as the delete key and the correction key are used in other rows. The key arrangement space is reduced and the number of keys is limited, or when the same number of keys is provided, it is required to reduce the key size. However, in the former case, many functions cannot be executed due to the decrease in the number of keys, and in the latter case, there is a problem that operability deteriorates because the key size becomes small. Focusing on the above, the present invention arranges the space key in the middle of the front of the keyboard, and regardless of left-handed or right-handed, in the English input mode, the original space key is put inside and left and right Place a function key that will become a space key when the English input mode is specified, and expand the space key to the left and right by the necessary and sufficient size to improve the speed and reliability of space input when inputting English. A function key that can specify a predetermined function even when inputting English mode is provided to the left and right of the expanded skies, and a document processing device that can maintain many functions without reducing the number of function keys is provided. That is the purpose.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The purpose is to provide a large number of character keys for inputting characters and the like, a space key for inputting a space, a plurality of mode designating means for setting a plurality of input modes, and a space key which is adjacent to the space key at a predetermined interval. A keyboard having a plurality of function keys, a control device for processing input signals input by the various keys, a display device for displaying data processed by the control device, or an output device for outputting. In the character processing device, the space key is placed in the middle of the foreground of the keyboard, and a plurality of function keys including the function keys that are placed adjacent to the left and right of this space key and are not used in the English input mode are on the same row as the space key. When the English input mode is specified by the mode specifying means, these funk It is accomplished by configuring the function key adjacent to the left and right directions of a part of Yonki the space key so as to function as a space key.

[0013]

[Action]

 According to the above means, the function key, which becomes the space key when the English input mode is specified, is arranged adjacent to the left and right sides with the original space key located in the middle of the front of the keyboard as the center. Is used to improve the speed and reliability of space input when inputting English sentences by expanding the necessary and sufficient dimensions to the left and right, and even when inputting English mode to the left and right of the extended space key. Since the function keys that can specify the functions of are provided, the number of function keys does not decrease, and many functions can be maintained.

When switching to the English input mode, the function keys placed close to the left and right of the original space key are made to function as space keys. There is little change in the home position of the space key, and it works so that the operability of space input can be improved regardless of switching the input mode.

[0015]

【Example】

 The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment in which it is applied to a Japanese word processor.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a Japanese word processor. As is clear from this figure, the Japanese word processor includes a keyboard 1, a control device 2 installed in the keyboard 1, a display device 3, and a printing device. And the output device 4 such as.

Then, an input command code such as a desired character or operation mode is input by the keyboard 1, and the code such as the character input to the control device 2 is temporarily stored in a storage device (not shown). It is configured to display the information to be displayed on the display device.

Further, the control device 2 causes the output device 4 to print information such as a sentence based on a command code input from the keyboard 1.

FIG. 2 shows a key layout of the keyboard 1.

A key surrounded by a chain double-dashed line X is a character key 5, and is, for example, JIS, C6233−.
It has a standard arrangement of 1980, or an arrangement similar thereto. By pressing a character key, the character or symbol corresponding to that key is input to the control device.

A key surrounded by a chain double-dashed line Y is a function key 6 for instructing various operation functions. A space key 7 is arranged in the middle of the front surface of the keyboard 14, and is longer than the other function keys. Further, these keys are arranged close to each other with a predetermined minimum required space.

In the present invention, a plurality of keys are provided as the function keys, and their arrangement is as follows. That is, the "Hiragana" key 8a, the "Convert" key 8c, and the "2-stroke" key 8e are arranged in the same row on the right side of the space key 7, and the "constant" key 8b and the "Katakana" key 8d are also the space key. It is placed in the same row on the left side of 7. As is clear from the figure, the space key 7 is considerably shorter than the space bar used in general English typewriters. This is a factor that hinders the operability of space input in Japanese word processors.

Next, the character input mode setting and operation procedure will be described.

(1) To input hiragana, after hitting the "hiragana" key 8a, hit the character key 5 to be entered, and then hit the "non-conversion" key 8b.

(2) For kanji input, after hitting the "hiragana" key 8a, the kanji to be entered is entered by typing the character key 5, and then the "convert" key 8c is entered.

(3) In the case of katakana input, after the "katakana" key 8d is pressed, the character key 5 to be input is pressed.

(4) For English text input (also called alphanumeric input), the "alphanumeric" key 6a is pressed, and then the character key 5 to be input is pressed.

(5) The input of kanji, hiragana, katakana, and numbers by the "2-stroke" key 8e corresponds to the character code uniquely determined for each character after the "2-stroke" key 8e is pressed. Type the character key 5. Each character is encoded by two characters, for example, "mirror" is "Mira".

Of the input modes, the “non-conversion” key 8b and the “conversion” key 8c are used only when the “hiragana” key 8a is always pressed and the so-called hiragana input mode is selected. . Therefore, when the "alphanumeric" key 6a, the "katakana" key 8d, or the "2-stroke" key 8e is pressed, that is, when the English text input mode, the katakana input mode, or the 2-stroke input mode is selected. The "non-conversion" key 8b and the "conversion" key 8c are unnecessary long items.

Focusing on this point, in the present invention, when these English text input mode, katakana input mode, or two-stroke input mode are selected, the "non-conversion" key 8b and the "conversion" key 8c are used as space keys. By converting the functions, the operability of space input is improved.

That is, according to the present invention, when the English input mode or the like is selected, the space key 7 is set to the center, and the left and right function keys not used for the English input are changed to the function of the space key to expand the space key to the left and right. It has an equivalent structure.

At this time, since the space key is normally tapped with the thumb, it is sufficient if the thumbs of the left and right hands naturally have a predetermined length in the middle of the keyboard. There is no need to provide it. Therefore, in the present invention, the Katakana input key 8d is arranged to the left of the non-conversion key 8b, and the function keys such as the Hiragana key 8a are arranged to the right of the conversion key 8c in the same manner. It is configured so that it can be operated to shift to another input mode. According to this, even if the space key is apparently enlarged to a necessary and sufficient size, it is possible to maintain a sufficient function as a document processing device without reducing the number of function keys.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing a processing procedure from detection of a keystroke of the keyboard device 1 to output of a character code or a motion command code.

As shown in the figure, the location of the key contact which is turned on is detected in step 11, and the address code of the on contact is generated in step 12. Next, in step 13, the address code is used as a key point to generate a character code or an operation command code, and in step 14, these codes are sent to the control device 3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure from detecting the pressing of the “non-conversion” key 8b and the “conversion” key 8c to outputting the character code or the operation command code. As shown in the figure, when the ON operation of the "non-conversion" key 8b or the "conversion" key 8c is detected in step 21, it is determined in step 22 whether or not it is the "hiragana" input mode. In the "Hiragana" input mode, the process shifts to step 23, and the operation command code according to the function of the key is output. When the input mode is other than the "Hiragana" input mode, that is, the "Katakana", "alphanumeric", and "2-stroke" input modes, the process proceeds to step 24, and the character code of the space is output.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the configuration of the present invention, in each of the "katakana", "alphanumeric", and "2-stroke" input modes, the mode is not used in that mode, and Since the function keys that are operated by keystrokes are converted to the functions of the space key and used as a space key, the number of space keys is increased and it is substantially equivalent to increasing the length of the space key. It is possible to improve the operability of space input. In particular, in the "English" input mode that requires high-speed input, it is possible to reduce erroneous operations such as accidentally operating the adjacent key when trying to enter a space, and improve operability when entering space. Is what is expected.

In addition, in either case of inputting Hiragana or English, there is no significant misalignment between the original position of the space key and the home position of the enlarged space key. Therefore, the space key position is changed every time the input mode is switched. It is not necessary to use the nerves of and the input work becomes easier.

Further, since the original position of the space key and the home position of the expanded space key do not substantially change, the space input can be performed regardless of left-handedness, right-handedness, or the change of the input mode. It can be performed reliably and the operability of space input is improved.

Further, even if the space key is apparently enlarged to a necessary and sufficient size, the number of function keys is not reduced in the English input mode to the left and right of the enlarged space key, and the function is sufficient as a document processing device. Is something that can be maintained.

[0040]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, the present invention has a large number of character keys for inputting characters, a space key for inputting a space, a plurality of mode designating means for setting a plurality of input modes, and a predetermined interval for the space key. A keyboard having a plurality of function keys adjacent to each other, a controller for processing input signals input by the various keys, and a display device for displaying data processed by the controller, or In a character processing device equipped with an output device for outputting, the space key is arranged in the middle of the foreground of the keyboard, and a plurality of function keys including function keys which are arranged adjacent to the left and right of the space key and are not used in the English input mode. Key is placed on the same line as the space key, and when the English input mode is specified by the mode specifying means, The function keys that are part of these function keys and that are adjacent to the left and right of the space key are configured to function as space keys. Place the function key that becomes a space key when the English input mode is specified on the left and right, and the space key is apparently expanded by the necessary and sufficient dimensions to the left and right. The number of function keys does not decrease, and many functions are provided because the function keys that can specify specified functions even when inputting English mode are provided to the left and right of the expanded space key. It is possible to provide a document processing device that can be maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a keyboard.

FIG. 3 is an operation flow.

FIG. 4 is an operation flow.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Keyboard, 5 ... Character key, 6 ... Function key, 7 ... Space key, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d ... Function key.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 17/22 7315-5L G06F 15/20 502 G

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A large number of character keys for inputting characters and the like, a space key for inputting a space, a plurality of mode designating means for setting a plurality of input modes, and a space key adjacent to each other with a predetermined interval. A keyboard having a plurality of function keys, a control device for processing input signals input by the various keys, a display device for displaying data processed by the control device, or an output device for outputting. In the character processing device, the space key is arranged in the middle of the foreground of the keyboard, and a plurality of function keys including function keys which are arranged adjacent to the left and right of the space key and are not used in the English input mode are arranged in the same row as the space key. When the English input mode is specified by the mode specifying means, these functions A document processing apparatus, characterized in that the function keys, which are a part of keys and are adjacent to the left and right sides of the space key, function as space keys.