JPH07253837A - Key board device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent erroneous input of a key even when the operator himself forgets the operation of erroneous input prevention. CONSTITUTION:When the operator having operated a key section 11 on a key board interrupts tentatively key input operation for other job, a timer watchdog means 14 detects it that any key is not depressed for a prescribed time or over and generates a suppression signal (d). A transfer suppression control means 15 validates a suppression signal (f) till an input restart key is depressed from the point of time of the generation to suppress transfer of input data to a processing unit 2 by an input data transfer means 13. Thus, even when the operator depresses any key carelessly during other job, erroneous input is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a keyboard device,
In particular, it relates to a keyboard device having an erroneous input prevention function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Keyboard devices are widely used as input devices for various information processing devices such as personal computers and word processors. The key input work using such a keyboard device may be carried out as a single work, but it is often carried out in parallel with another work, for example, a work for answering a telephone call or a work for examining a book. In such a case, since the keyboard device is left in a state in which data can be input, unexpected data may be input by touching a key on the keyboard device with the edge of a book or the like. Sometimes. Further, with the spread of information processing apparatuses in the home, unexpected data may be input by a mischief of a third party such as an infant while the user is away from the seat.

In order to prevent such erroneous input, a keyboard device has been proposed in which a cap body for covering the keys is detachably attached to the keyboard, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-2738, for example. Since the cap body must be opened and closed to prevent erroneous input and to restart key input, work efficiency is poor, and an installation space for opening and closing the cap body is required, making it unsuitable for tight spaces. It was

Therefore, as a keyboard device which can prevent erroneous input of keys without using a physical member such as a cap body, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-18218, a specific key on the keyboard is A keyboard device provided with a control circuit for reversing the valid state and invalid state of all keys except the particular key when the pressing operation is performed a preset number of times within a preset time ( Hereinafter, a conventional keyboard device) has been proposed.

According to this conventional keyboard device, if a specific key is operated when the key input work is interrupted,
Since the state of all other keys is invalid, it is possible to effectively prevent unexpected data input.

[0006]

However, in this conventional keyboard device, since the operator himself needs to positively perform erroneous input prevention operation, erroneous input can be completely prevented if the operator forgets to do so. There is a problem of disappearing.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device capable of preventing erroneous key input even if the operator forgets to perform an erroneous input prevention operation.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input key sense means for detecting a pressed state of a key arranged on a keyboard board and a detection result of the input key sense means. A keyboard device having input data transfer means for transferring input data to a processing device based on the monitoring means for generating a suppression signal when none of the keys arranged on the keyboard board is pressed for a predetermined time or longer. And a transfer suppression control unit that suppresses the transfer of the input data by the input data transfer unit until a predetermined input restart key is pressed from the time when the suppression signal is generated from the monitoring unit.

Further, for the purpose of allowing the operator to positively prevent erroneous input, a forced suppression key is provided, and a suppression signal is generated by pressing a compulsory suppression key provided on the keyboard board. The transfer suppression control means further comprises means for transferring the input data by the input data transfer means until a predetermined input restart key is pressed from the time when the suppression signal is generated from the monitoring means or the forced suppression means. Is trying to suppress.

Further, for the purpose of making it clear at a glance whether or not the keyboard device is in the transfer suppression state, a mode display element provided on the keyboard board and the transfer suppression control means outputs to the input data transfer means. And a lighting control means for controlling the lighting and extinguishing states of the mode display element according to the suppression signal.

[0011]

When the operator who is performing the key input work temporarily suspends the key input work for another work and no key is pressed for a predetermined time or longer, the monitoring means detects that. The suppression signal is generated, and the transfer suppression control means suppresses the transfer of the input data to the processing device by the input data transfer means until the input restart key is pressed from that point. Further, when the operator operates the forced restraint key arranged on the keyboard board, the forced restraint means generates a restraint signal, and the transfer restraint control means starts transferring the input data until the input resuming key is pressed. Suppress transfer of input data by means. The transfer control means controls whether the mode display element on the keyboard board is transferred or turned off in accordance with the suppression signal output from the transfer suppression control means to the input data transfer means, thereby determining whether or not the keyboard device is in the transfer suppression state. Notify the operator of this.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a keyboard device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a key section 11 composed of a large number of keys K, an input key sense means 12, an input data transfer means 13, and a timer monitor. Means 14 and transfer suppression control means 1
5 and the forced restraining means 16 are used by being connected to a processing device 2 such as a central processing device by a cable or the like not shown.

The key unit 11 is a set of keys K used for giving various data and instructions to the processing device 2, and includes numeric keys arranged on a keyboard board (not shown).
It includes various keys (key switches) K such as alphabet keys, left and right shift keys, and control keys, and is connected to the input key sensing means 12.

The input key sensing means 12 is a means for sensing the pressed state of the key K on the key portion 11, and when the pressing of one key or the simultaneous pressing of a plurality of keys is detected, the type of the detected key is indicated. Input signal a to data transfer means 1
3. It has a function of transmitting to the transfer restraint control means 15 and the forced restraint means 16, and at the same time transmitting to the timer monitoring means 14 a signal c indicating that a key has been pressed.

The timer monitoring means 14 is means for monitoring the generation of the signal c to generate the suppression signal d when none of the keys arranged in the key portion 11 is pressed for a predetermined time or longer. Here, the predetermined time is a time longer than the longest key input interval that appears during normal key input work, but if it is set too long, the transfer suppression function will start to work, so for example, several minutes is preferable. .

The timer monitoring means 14 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a timer counter 141 which is initialized to 0, for example, by a signal c from the input key sensing means 12 indicating that a key is pressed, and this timer. Counter 141
A clock source 142 for generating a clock with a predetermined cycle for counting up, and a reference value holding circuit 1 for holding a reference value.
43 and a comparator 144 that compares the count value of the timer counter 141 with the reference value held in the reference value holding circuit 143 and outputs the suppression signal d when the counter value exceeds the reference value. The timer counter 141 is initialized to 0 when the keyboard device 1 is powered on.

The forced suppression means 16 generates the suppression signal e independently of the timer monitoring means 14 when the signal a output from the input key sensing means 12 indicates a key which is previously determined as the forced suppression key. It is a means. Considering that the forced suppression key is keyed during the non-transfer suppression period, a key that does not directly transfer data to the processing device 2 is preferable, and a single key has a high probability of erroneous operation. It is preferable to use a combination of keys. For example, a combination of simultaneous keystrokes of the left and right shift keys, double keystrokes of the shift keys within a predetermined time, simultaneous keystrokes of the control key and the shift key, and the like can be adopted. Such a forced suppression unit 16 can be realized by, for example, a decoder that decodes the signal a and detects a corresponding key.

The transfer suppression control means 15 is a period from the time when the suppression signals d and e are generated by the timer monitoring means 14 or the compulsory suppression means 16 to the pressing of a predetermined key which is predetermined as an input restart key. It is a means for suppressing the transfer of the key data during the period by sending the suppression signal f to the input data transfer means 13.

The transfer suppression control means 15 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the OR circuit 151 that takes the logical sum of the suppression signal d from the timer monitoring means 14 and the suppression signal e from the forced suppression means 16 and the signal a output from the input key sensing means 12 are decoded. , A flip-flop 153 that is set by the output of the OR circuit 151 and that is reset by the detection output of the input restart key of the decoder 152. Is output to the input data transfer means 13 as the suppression signal f. The flip-flop 153 is reset when the keyboard device 1 is powered on.

The input resuming key may be a key for transferring data to the processing device 2, considering that it is normally typed during transfer suppression, but in the present embodiment, Since it is not possible for the operator to recognize whether or not the transfer is being suppressed, it is possible to type a key while the transfer is not being suppressed. Therefore, it is preferable to use a key that does not transfer data directly to the processing device 2, and a single key is likely to cause an erroneous operation. It is preferable to combine a plurality of keys. For example, among the combinations of simultaneous keystrokes of the left and right shift keys, double keystrokes of the shift keys within a predetermined time, simultaneous keystrokes of the control key and the shift key, and the like, one that does not overlap with the above-mentioned forced suppression key is used.

The input data transfer means 13 receives the signal a from the input key sensing means 12 and the suppression signal f from the transfer suppression control means 15 as input, and during the period in which the suppression signal f is not effective, that is, the non-suppression period, the key is transferred. The input data specified based on the signal a indicating the type of is converted into data of the format required by the processing device 2 and transferred to the processing device 2,
While the suppression signal f is valid, that is, during the suppression period, the input signal a is regarded as an erroneous input and is not transferred to the processing device 2.
In this way, the input data transfer means 13 is generated by the suppression signal f.
As a specific configuration for switching the operation of the above, for example, the suppression signal f is provided on the input side of the signal a in the input data transfer means 13.
It is possible to employ a configuration in which a gate (not shown) is provided which is closed when is valid and is opened when it is invalid, and the signal a is taken in through this gate. When the signal a from the input key sensing means 12 indicates simultaneous keystrokes of the left and right shift keys, double keystrokes of the shift keys within a predetermined time, simultaneous keystrokes of the control key and the shift key, etc., the combination of these keys is used as the processing device. Since there is no input data to be transferred to the processing device 2, the input data transfer means 13 does not transfer any data to the processing device 2.

Next, the operation of the keyboard device 1 of the present embodiment constructed as described above will be described.

When the operator presses any one of the keys of the key section 11 individually or simultaneously in order to give data to the processing device 2, the type of the pressed key is detected by the input key sensing means 12, The signal a indicating the type of the pressed key is the input data transfer means 13 and the transfer suppression control means 1.
5 and the forced suppression means 16, and the signal c indicating that the key is pressed is transmitted to the timer monitoring means 14.

Now, assuming that the suppression signal f from the transfer suppression control means 15 is not valid, the input data transfer means 13 specifies the input data based on the input signal a, and if there is input data to be transferred. Converts it into data of a predetermined format and notifies the processing device 2.

On the other hand, in the timer monitoring means 14, the timer counter 141 of FIG. 2 is initialized to 0 by the arrival of the signal c, and the timer counter 141 is caused by the clock source 142.
Restarts counting from 0.

As long as the operator continues to operate the keys of the key portion 11 at a certain interval, the count value of the timer counter 141 of the timer monitoring means 14 is cleared to 0 at every key operation, so that the reference value holding circuit 143 of the reference value holding circuit 143 is cleared. It does not exceed the standard value. Therefore, the suppression signal d is not output from the timer monitoring means 14, and thus the suppression signal f from the transfer suppression control means 15 is not valid.

However, when the operator interrupts the data input work and shifts to another work, the key unit 1
When 1 is not operated at all, the signal c is not output from the input key sensing means 12 to the timer monitoring means 14, so that the count value of the timer counter 141 in FIG. 2 exceeds the reference value of the reference value holding circuit 143. The suppression signal d is output from the comparator 144, the flip-flop 153 in the transfer suppression control means 15 of FIG. 3 is set, and the suppression signal f applied to the input data transfer means 13 becomes effective. Therefore, even if the key of the key unit 11 is pressed thereafter, the input data transfer means 13 processes the input data to the processing device 2.
Even if the operator inadvertently operates the key on the key unit 11 or the key on the key unit 11 is operated by a third person, the input data is not notified to the processing device 2 and is erroneous. Input will be prevented.

After that, in order to restart the key input work again, when the operator presses a predetermined key as the input restart key, for example, a key formed by a combination of the control key and the shift key at the same time with the key portion 11, the input key is pressed. The sensing means 12 detects the type of this key and transmits the signal a to the transfer suppression control means 15 and the like. Therefore, the decoder 152 shown in FIG. 3 of the transfer suppression control means 15 detects that the input restart key has been pressed, and the flip-flop 1
53 is reset, and the suppression signal f for the input data transfer means 13 changes from valid to invalid. As a result, when the key of the key unit 11 is pressed thereafter, the input data is transmitted to the processing device 2, and the key input work can be restarted.

When the operator presses a predetermined key as the forced suppression key, for example, a key formed by a combination of simultaneous left and right shift keys, the input key sensing means 12 detects the type of this key. The signal a is transmitted to the compulsory suppression means 16 and the like, and the compulsory suppression means 16 recognizes that the compulsory suppression key is pressed and outputs the suppression signal e. Therefore, the transfer suppression control means 15 shown in FIG. Input data transfer means 1
The suppression signal f for 3 is forced to be valid. Therefore, even if the key of the key unit 11 is pressed thereafter, the input data is not transmitted to the processing device 2, and the erroneous input prevention function can be actively activated. And also in this case,
When the input restart key is pressed, the operation of transmitting the input data to the processing device 2 again can be made effective.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same parts, 1'is a keyboard device, 16 'is a force suppressing means, and 17 is provided on a keyboard board. The forced suppression key 18 is a mode display element composed of a light emitting diode or the like, and 19 is a lighting control means for controlling lighting and extinguishing of the mode display element 18 in accordance with a suppression signal f output from the transfer suppression control means 15. .

The keyboard device 1'of this embodiment is different from the keyboard device 1 of FIG. 1 in that the special key not detected by the input key sense means 12 is forcibly suppressed.
7 is newly provided on the keyboard board so that the forcible suppression means 16 'generates a suppression signal e when the forcible suppression key 17 is pressed, and a mode display element 18 is provided on the keyboard board to control lighting. The means 19 is such that when the suppression signal f is valid, the mode display element 18 is turned off, for example, and when it is invalid, it is turned on.

According to the keyboard device 1'of this embodiment,
There is an effect that the operator can immediately recognize whether or not the keyboard device 1'is in the transfer inhibition state by observing the lighting or extinguishing state of the mode display element 18. In addition, by providing the forced suppression key 17, the pressing of the forced suppression key can be performed more easily than in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and among the keys on the key unit 11, keys that do not directly transfer data to the processing device 2 are used. Forced suppression can be achieved even if the combination is already used as another extension and there is no combination that can be used as the forced suppression key.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various other additions and modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the forced suppression means 16 is provided to prevent erroneous input by the operator's own will. However, when the intentional activation of the erroneous input prevention function is not required, the forced suppression means is provided. 16 can be omitted. Although the signal c indicating that a key input has been made is generated by the input key sensing means 12 separately from the signal a and notified to the timer monitoring means 14, the signal c is omitted and the timer monitoring means 14 It is also possible to monitor the state of the signal a and detect by itself whether or not there is a key input. Further, the input resuming key may also be constructed by a special key newly provided separately from the key portion 11 like the forced suppression key 17 of the embodiment of FIG.

[0035]

As described above, according to the keyboard device of the present invention, when any key on the keyboard is not pressed for a predetermined time or more, the input data will be input until the next input restart key is pressed. When the operator interrupts the key input work and shifts to another work, the erroneous input prevention function automatically works after a certain period of time because the transfer to the processing device is suppressed. Even if the person forgets to perform the erroneous input prevention operation, there is an effect that the erroneous input of the key can be prevented.

Further, by operating the forced suppression key, it is possible to operate the erroneous input prevention function at the operator's own will.

Further, there is an effect that it is possible to immediately confirm whether or not the keyboard device is in the transfer inhibition state by the lighting or extinguishing state of the mode display element.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a configuration example of timer monitoring means.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a configuration example of transfer suppression control means.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1 '... Keyboard device 11 ... Key part K ... Key 12 ... Input key sense means 13 ... Input data transfer means 14 ... Timer monitoring means 15 ... Transfer suppression control means 16, 16' ... Force suppression means 17 ... Force suppression key 18 ... Mode display element 2 ... Processing device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An input key sense means for detecting a pressed state of a key arranged on a keyboard board, and an input data transfer means for transferring input data to a processing device based on a detection result of the input key sense means. In the keyboard device, monitoring means for generating a suppression signal when none of the keys arranged on the keyboard board is pressed for a predetermined time or more, and a predetermined time from the time when the suppression signal is generated from the monitoring means. And a transfer suppression control means for suppressing the transfer of the input data by the input data transfer means until the input restart key is pressed. 2. An input key sense means for detecting a pressed state of a key arranged on a keyboard board, and an input data transfer means for transferring input data to a processing device based on a detection result of the input key sense means. In the keyboard device, the monitoring means for generating a suppression signal when any of the keys arranged on the keyboard board is not pressed for a predetermined time or more, and the forced suppression key on the keyboard board is pressed. Forced suppression means for generating a suppression signal, and transfer of input data by the input data transfer means until a predetermined input restart key is pressed from the time when the suppression signal is generated from the monitoring means or the forced suppression means. A keyboard device, comprising: transfer suppression control means for suppressing. 3. A mode display element provided on a keyboard board, and a lighting control for controlling lighting or extinguishing states of the mode display element according to a suppression signal output from the transfer suppression control means to the input data transfer means. The keyboard device according to claim 2, further comprising means. 4. At least one of the input resuming key and the forced suppression key has no effect on the processing device by the input data transfer means when the input key sensing means independently presses a key in a key portion to be detected. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein one key or a combination of a plurality of keys is set so as not to transfer the above data. 5. At least one of the input restart key and the forced suppression key is a special key that is not detected by the input key sensing means.
The described keyboard device.