JPH0772964A - Key input control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize various input processing with a single key input by executing various kinds of processing by converting the strength of the key input into a digitalized by a signal from a key switch part capable of detecting the strength key input. CONSTITUTION:This system is provided with a key board composed of the key switch part capable of detecting the strength of the key input, a control part converting the strength of the key input into a digitalized signal by the signal fro the key switch and outputting it and a information processor executing various kinds of processing based on information from the key board. Then, a microprocessor 8 controlling the entire key board activates one of the driving circuits 12 of a pressure sensor to sense A/D conversion circuits one by one. At this time, if a key on a pertinent key matrix 10 is depressed, the microprocessor 8 can read data corresponding to the depressing force from the A/D conversion circuit 13. The information processor executes various kinds of input processing based on key input information obtained in this way.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system in which a key switch of a keyboard has a structure capable of detecting the strength of input, and the information on the strength of key input obtained thereby is used for various information processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional keyboard, as shown in FIG.
When switch is pressed, switch contact 6 is joined and turned on
Becomes

For this reason, the key input information can only be ON / OFF information indicating whether the key is pressed or released.

A known example is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-2565.
There is No. 2 publication.

[0005]

In the prior art, for example, when inputting a document on an information processing apparatus, only one character can be input when inputting a character. In order to change the font, change the character size, etc., it was necessary to fix the input character once and then modify the input character in another process.

The present invention aims to reduce the work of the operator by realizing various input processes with one key input.

[0007]

As means for solving the above problems, the key switch is changed from a digital switch as shown in FIG. 3 to an analog switch as shown in FIG. The structure is such that the strength of key input can be detected.

In the analog switch of FIG. 4, when the key top 5 is pressed, the impedance of the pressure sensor 7 changes according to the pressing force, and the pressing force can be detected.

With this change, as key input information output from the keyboard, it is possible to add key address information indicating which key is pressed and information about the strength of key pressing. Based on this information, various input processing can be performed. Will be able to do.

[0010]

By detecting the strength of key depression, for example, when the information processing apparatus 4 performs document input processing, normal input processing is performed when key input is performed with normal force, and the key is strongly pressed. It becomes possible to perform processing such as character modification when pressed and input.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a keyboard which is one of the embodiments of the present invention.

The appearance of the keyboard according to the present invention is exactly the same as that of the conventional keyboard because the key switch is the characteristic of the keyboard.

The structure of the conventional key switch is shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the keyboard, FIG. 4 shows the structure of the key switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows the internal structure of the keyboard.
Are shown respectively.

In the conventional keyboard, a microprocessor 8 for controlling the entire keyboard includes a key matrix 10 which is a key input section, a decoder 9 and an encoder 11.
Had to control through.

On the other hand, in the keyboard according to the present invention,
A driver 12 for driving the pressure sensor of the analog key switch and an A / D converter for digitizing analog data from the pressure sensor are added.

FIG. 7 shows the details of the circuit for detecting the key pressing force. In this figure, a 4 × 4 16-key key matrix is used for simplification.

In the operation of this circuit, first, the microprocessor 8 for controlling the entire keyboard activates one of the drive circuits 12a of the pressure sensor 12a and senses the A / D conversion circuits 13 from 13a one by one. . At this time, if a key on the corresponding key matrix is pressed, the microprocessor 11 can read data corresponding to the pressing force from the A / D conversion circuit 13.

The information from the pressure sensor is usually 4 bits
A resolution of about 16 levels is required, but considering actual operability, it is considered good to make a binary decision as to whether the key pressing force is strong or weak. This is because it is difficult for a human operator to perform delicate control of force adjustment. FIG. 8 shows a graph of the amount of movement with respect to the key pressing force and the determination result of the pressing force at that time.

While the key pressing force is weak, the information processing device 4 judges that the key is not pressed 14a, and when the branch point 15a is exceeded, the key is normally pressed 14a.
Judge as b. After passing the branch point 15b, it is determined that the key is in a strongly pressed state 14c. The branch points 15a and 15b can be arbitrarily changed.

When all the A / D conversion circuits 13 have been sensed, the microprocessor 8 puts the active drive circuit 12a into the sleep state, and the next drive circuit 12 is activated.
b is activated and the sensing of the A / D conversion circuit 13 is restarted.

When all the pressure sensors have been sensed in this way, the microprocessor 8 reactivates the drive circuit 1.
Activate 2a and start the sense from the beginning.

Based on the key input information thus obtained,
The information processing device 4 performs various input processes.

For example, when performing document input processing, different attributes can be given to input characters by the difference in key pressing force. Characters input with normal pressing force have normal attributes, and characters input with strong pressing force can perform double-width characters, halftone dots, underlining, character color changes, font changes, and the like.

Further, the keyboard usually has a repeat function called typmatic. This function automatically repeats key input at certain intervals when a certain key is continuously pressed.However, if this function is combined with pressing force data, the key will be pressed with normal pressing force. Key is repeated at regular intervals when pressed, and when pressed with a strong force, keys are repeated at a shorter interval than normal, so that keys can be repeated faster when pressed strongly. It is a thing.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the work of the operator, especially in the document processing in the information processing apparatus, and to convey the intention of the operator to the information processing apparatus more faithfully.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a connection when a keyboard according to the present invention is normally used.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of a keyboard according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a key switch used in a conventional keyboard.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a key switch used in the keyboard according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a block diagram of an internal circuit of a conventional keyboard.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram example of an internal circuit of a keyboard according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram example of an internal circuit of the keyboard according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation characteristic diagram example of a key switch used in the keyboard according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Keyboard, 2 ... Information processing device, 3 ... Key switch unit, 4 ... Keyboard control circuit, 5 ... Key top, 6 ... Contact switch, 7 ... Pressure sensor, 8 ... Microprocessor, 9 ... Data decoder, 10 ... Key Switch matrix, 11 ... Data encoder, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d ... Pressure sensor driver, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d ... A / D converter, 14a ... Key switch non-press area, 14b ... Key switch normal press area, 14c ... key switch strong depression area, 15a ... key switch normal depression branch point, 15b ... key switch strong depression branch point.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard 1 comprising a key switch section 3 capable of detecting the strength of a key input, a control section 4 for converting the strength of the key input into a digital signal by a signal from the key switch, and information from the keyboard. An information processing device 2 that performs various processes based on the above.