JPH07210287A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a keyboard device which can acquire the same key signals even when plural keys are pushed at a time or individually and successively on a keyboard. CONSTITUTION:A key board device outputs the different signals which are decided for each combination of keys through a key signal generating part 10 in both cases where only one key is pushed among these of a 1st key group 11 and where the prescribed combinations of keys set among the same key of the group 11 and plural keys of a 2nd key group 12 are simultaneously pushed. Then a signal extending part 13 is added to produce the extension signals obtained by extending the push signals of each key in the prescribed duration of time in the key group 12 and also to extend the extension signal of each pushed key up to the end of the extension signal of the key pushed last when two or more necessary keys of the key group 12 are successively pushed at an interval less than prescribed duration of time. Then each extension signal is inputted to the part 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard in which simultaneous pressing of two or more keys is identified as a specific key function, and the same key can be operated by sequentially pressing the two or more keys individually. The purpose is to provide a keyboard device that can be used as a function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A keyboard device used as an input device such as a word processor device has some key information (character, character, etc.) for each key.
By assigning numbers, symbols, etc., or commands for various functions, etc., and pressing most of the keys individually, the information unique to that key is transferred to the main device connected to the keyboard device. It is configured.

However, since the total number of keys is limited due to the operability of the keyboard and the like, it is common to assign two or more pieces of key information to each key. A method is used in which different key information is used depending on whether the key is pressed alone or in combination with the pressing of another function expansion key.

As one of such key combination operation methods, an operation method of simultaneously pressing two or more necessary keys is generally widely adopted as an efficient operation method depending on the use of the keys.

It should be noted that the term "simultaneous pressing" as used herein means that for two or more necessary keys, there may be a time lag if the pressing order is constant for starting the pressing, but at the same time all two or more keys are synchronized. This is an operation method that requires pressing so that both are pressed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of such a keyboard device. The first group of function keys, the second group of character keys and the like are used for key information of two to three keys by the simultaneous pressing method. Key group 1, keys X1, X2, X
3 and X4 are the second key group 2 for expanding the function of the first key group.

The key press signal of the first key group 1 is, as is generally done, for example, connecting the contacts that are closed by pressing each key in a grid pattern, and connecting the rows of the contact points of the pressed keys on the grid and The column position is scanned and detected to detect the row number and the column number, and the key coordinate value composed of the row number and the column number is input to the key signal generation unit 3 as a key pressing signal.

The key press signal of the second key group 2 is input to the key signal generating section 3 as an individual key press signal, for example, as the open / closed state of the contact of each key. The key signal generator 3 is composed of, for example, a control circuit mainly composed of a microprocessor and a code table storage circuit, and upon receiving a key press signal from the first key group 1, immediately outputs a key press signal of the second key group 2. Is identified and the code signal determined from the combination is searched from the code table.

As a result, for each combination (including the case where the second key group is not pressed), for example, an 8-bit code signal obtained from the code table is used as a key signal, and this keyboard device is connected as an input device. Output to a processing device, etc.

By the control as described above, for example, when the function key for instructing to move to the "next page" by pressing it alone is pressed simultaneously with the X1 key of the second key group, the "search" function is called, the X1 key and When pressed at the same time as the X2 key, a code signal indicating a different function is output so that the function key is used to instruct to call the "line drawing" drawing function.

Also, when pressed alone, a character key indicating "ha" is used as a character key of "ba" when pressed simultaneously with the X3 key of the second key group, and as a character key of "mi" when pressed simultaneously with the X4 key. Control to output the assigned code signal.

In order to perform the above-described simultaneous key pressing operation, it is necessary to simultaneously press different keys with at least a plurality of fingers in order to simultaneously press a plurality of keys. It is operated using both hands at the same time.

However, for an operator who can easily push down each key with one finger because of physical disability or lack of familiarity, the above-mentioned plurality of keys can be used. It is not appropriate to request simultaneous pressing.

The present invention provides a simultaneous pressing type keyboard,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard device which can be used by sequentially pressing each key.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. The figure shows the configuration of a keyboard device, which has a plurality of keys for generating respective pressing signals, and in the case where only one key of the first key group 11 is pressed by the key signal generating unit 10, and the first key group. Same key and second key group
It is a keyboard device that outputs different signals that are determined for each combination of keys in each case where one or more predetermined combinations of 12 keys are simultaneously pressed.

For the second key group 12, an extension signal is generated by extending the depression signal for each key by a predetermined duration,
Further, regarding the required two or more keys of the second key group, when the key is sequentially pressed at intervals within the fixed duration, each extension signal of the pressed key is changed to the extension signal of the key pressed last. Signal extension unit 13 for extending the extension signal to the end
And each extension signal is input to the key signal generator 10 in place of the key depression signal of the second key group 12.

[0017]

According to the keyboard device of the present invention, when it is necessary to simultaneously press a plurality of keys in a normal operation, one or a plurality of keys of the corresponding second key group and the required keys of the first key group are Even if the keys are pressed one by one at intervals within an appropriate time interval for the order, the same key pressing signal as in the case of simultaneous pressing can be input to the key signal generating unit, and thus the same key signal can be output.

In consideration of the above-mentioned interval and the possible operation speed of the operator, it is necessary to make the time appropriately long and not to hinder the transition to the next key input which is too long. Make it possible to select and set from multiple times if necessary.

[0019]

2 and 3 are block diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, which is a keyboard device having a first key group 1 and a second key group 2 similar to the conventional example, as shown in FIG. Then, the pressing signal of each key of the second key group 2 is input to the signal extending section 13 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the signal extension unit 13 is provided for each key.
X1, X2, X3, X4 pressing signal extension signal generation circuit
20, 21, 22, 23, and the extension signal of the output is input to the key signal generator 3 in place of each depression signal input of the conventional second key group 2 through the OR gate with the depression signal. It shall be.

Each of the extension signal generating circuits 20 to 23 is a circuit for outputting a signal of a fixed time length by using an input signal as a trigger by a monostable multivibrator as described later, and the length of the output signal is, for example, 200. Approximately 1000 milliseconds.

Here, since the keys X3 and X4 are independently combined with the first key group as described above, the generation of the extension signal is configured to simply extend the individual signals as shown. However, since the keys X1 and X2 are used in combination, only the key X1, only the key X2, and the keys X1 and X2 are simultaneously used, as shown in the figure, the key X1 is pressed, and while the extension signal output continues, When the key X2 is pressed, the extension signal generation circuit 24 is connected so as to continue the extension signal of the key X1.

FIG. 3 shows each extension signal generating circuit shown in FIG.
20 to 24 show configuration examples. When the time length of the extension signal is fixed to one, the extension signal generation circuit need only be a monostable multivibrator circuit of the required time length, but Fig. 3 shows two time lengths, for example 200 ms and 1000 ms. An example of enabling selection will be shown.

To this end, each extension signal generating circuit 20-24 includes a 200 ms monostable multivibrator circuit 25 and 10 ms.
A monostable multivibrator circuit 26 of 00 milliseconds is provided, and which AND gate 27, 28 controls which monostable multivibrator circuit the key press signal is input to.

A key identification circuit 29, a flip-flop circuit 30, and a flip-flop circuit 30, for generating control signals for the AND gates 27 and 28.
31 and 32 are provided, and are connected to the key identification circuit 29 so as to receive the key coordinate value output as the depression signal of the first key group in parallel with the key signal generation circuit 3.

The key identification circuit 29 identifies the input key coordinate value, and turns on the flip-flop circuit 30 if the key coordinate value is a specific first value (for example, the function "delete" key). If the second value (for example, the function "insert" key) is set, the flip-flop circuit 31 is turned on. If the value is any other value, a signal for turning on the flip-flop circuit 33 is output. The flip-flop set to ON by these signals is configured to hold the state until the power is turned off.

Also, as shown, a flip-flop circuit
30 is a flip-flop circuit 31 and a flip-flop circuit
Only when 32 and 32 are off, the flip-flop circuit 31 is provided with a gate so as to receive the ON setting input only when the flip-flop circuit 30 and the flip-flop circuit 32 are off.

Therefore, when the power supply is turned on, the key identification circuit 29 comes to function, and when the "delete" key is first pressed, the flip-flop circuit 30 is set to on and the flip-flop circuit 31 is turned on thereafter. Therefore, the AND gate 27 of each extension signal generating circuit is opened by the output of the flip-flop circuit 30, and the monostable multivibrator circuit 25 becomes effective.

If the "insert" key is pressed first,
Since the flip-flop circuit 31 is not set to ON after the flip-flop circuit 31 is set to ON, the output of the flip-flop circuit 31 opens the AND gate 28 of each extension signal generating circuit, The monostable multivibrator circuit 26 becomes effective.

When a key that is neither "delete" nor "insert" is pressed, the flip-flop circuit 32 is turned on.
If it is the first key pressed after the power is turned on, the gates of the flip-flop circuits 30 and 31 are closed, so that the flip-flop circuits 30 and 31 remain OFF thereafter.

When both the flip-flop circuits 30 and 31 are off, neither of the monostable multivibrator circuits 25 and 26 of the respective extension signal generating circuits operate, so that the extension signal is not generated and only the key pressing signal itself is effective. It will be in a normal state.

If the flip-flop circuit 32 is turned on is not the first key pressed after the power is turned on,
The states of flip-flops 30 and 31 do not change. As described above, it is possible to select whether or not the extension signal of the present invention is valid, and the time of the extension signal when the extension signal of the present invention is valid, by the key that is first pressed after the power is turned on.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a keyboard device, a keyboard which adopts a method of simultaneously pressing a plurality of keys can be used even by sequentially pressing a single key. Have a positive effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (No. 1).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (part 2).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional configuration example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 11 1st key group 2, 12 2nd key group 3, 10 Key signal generation section 13 Signal extension section 20-24 Extension signal generation circuit 25, 26 Monostable multivibrator circuit 27, 28 AND gate 29 Key identification circuit 30-32 flip-flop circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of keys for generating each depression signal are provided, and when only one key of the first key group (11) is depressed by the key signal generator, the same key of the first key group is pressed. A keyboard device for outputting a different signal determined for each combination of keys when a key and a predetermined combination of one or more keys of the second key group (12) are simultaneously pressed, the second key group Regarding (12), an extension signal is generated by extending the pressing signal for each key for a predetermined duration, and for the required two or more keys of the second key group, the key is within the predetermined duration. When sequentially pressed at intervals, a signal extension unit (13) that extends each extension signal of the pressed key to the end of the extension signal of the last pressed key is provided, and each extension signal is Input to the key signal generator (10) instead of the key press signal of the 2 key group (12). Keyboard device according to claim.