JPH0793074A - Computer keyboard with display part for function of function key - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it easy for an operator to confirm the function of an input key by displaying the function of a function key on a display means nearby input keys according to information from an output means. CONSTITUTION:For example, a full-matrix backlight type liquid crystal display device 4 is mounted at the positions of labels corresponding to respective software programs, i.e., right above function keys 6. When one software program is started, a start command is inputted on a keyboard 2 and then a main control part reads the software out of an external storage part to a main storage part, so that the software is started. Then, data displaying the function name of the function key 6 are read out of the software and sent to a subordinate display control part, which displays the function name on the function name display part 4. Consequently, the functions of the function keys 56 by the software programs can easily be recognized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer keyboard, and more particularly to a computer keyboard having function keys.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in the keyboard of many operating units such as computers, there are provided a plurality of function keys having specific functions, and each of the activated software A unique function is set by. Therefore, a function label corresponding to each software indicating what kind of function each function key receives in these software is formed so that it can be attached above (in the back) of each function key. ing. However, since this functional label is unique to the software to be activated, there is a problem that the user needs to replace the label for each software to be activated, and there is also a problem in storing these labels. .

As another general method, a computer is used.
There is a method to display the function name of the function key at the bottom of the main display of the computer. However, this method reduces the display area of the main display portion by that amount. Also, especially,
When switching functions by keys such as [Alt], [Shift], and [Ctrl], displaying all of them requires a large display area of the main display portion, so switching by these switching keys Generally, only the previous current function is shown, and there is a problem that the user cannot know the function after switching until the switching key is used to switch. In the case of a laptop computer with a small display unit, the function
Since the position of the key and the position of the display part will shift considerably,
There is a problem that it is difficult to recognize the function name of the corresponding key.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a computer keyboard in which a function key corresponding to each software can be used without replacing the function label.
An object of the present invention is to provide a computer keyboard that enables the display of the functions of.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus of the present invention outputs a display information corresponding to the means for processing input information according to a predetermined software. Means for inputting information to be processed to the processing means, and a part of the input means in the vicinity of the input key, and a function of the input key It is provided with means for electronically displaying according to the display information of the output means and display means for displaying the information to be processed.

Alternatively, the information input device of the present invention comprises an information processing section for processing the input information according to predetermined software, a means for outputting display information according to the software, and a plurality of function keys. A keyboard unit having a plurality of input keys including the input unit for inputting information to be processed to the information processing unit, and provided near the function key of the keyboard unit, and the function of the function key is described above. It has a screen for receiving the display information and displaying it electronically, and a display screen for displaying the information to be processed.

Alternatively, the keyboard device of the present invention is a keyboard device having a plurality of function keys and input keys for inputting data to an information processing device for activating predetermined software.
A keyboard device, which is provided close to the computer and has a screen for displaying a function corresponding to the software of the function key according to information given from the information processing device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the function of the input key (function key) for each software is
By displaying the information from the output means on the display means close to the input key, the operator can easily recognize the function of the input key. For this reason, it is possible to save the trouble of replacing the function label of the input key and storing the function label as before, and prevent the operator from making an operation error.

Alternatively, the keyboard device of the present invention receives the information regarding the function of the function key of the software being activated from the main body information processing device by the above-mentioned means, and puts this information close to the function key. By displaying on the screen, it is possible to easily obtain accurate recognition of the function of the function key for each software.
As a result, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of exchanging and managing the function label.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer main body according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view of a keyboard part of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, the computer device 1 is mainly a keyboard.
It includes a mode 2, a main display unit 3, a function key function name display unit 4, a control unit body 5, and a function key 6.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this figure, the keyboard 2 is a keyboard control unit 1.
It is connected to the main control unit 11 via 2. Also, the main controller 1
1, a main storage unit 13 and an external storage unit 14 are further connected, and further, a function name display unit 4 is connected via a sub display control unit 16.

The software of this computer is stored in the external storage unit 14, and the software selected by the operation of the keyboard 2 is started on the main storage unit 13 by the main control unit 11.

Further, the keyboard 6 is 10 to 1 in the case of a standard keyboard defined by JIS standard or the like.
Five function keys 6 are provided at the top of the keyboard. Various functions are set in this key for each of many software used by the operator by the cooperation of the keyboard and the main display section.

The function of this function key may be expanded by combining it with a key such as [Alt] [Shift] [Ctrl]. That is, for example, even in the case of the function key [F1], normal [F1], [Alt] + [F1], and [Shift]
Different functions can be set for + [F1] and [Ctrl] + [F1].

In any case, in the case of a general-purpose computer,
The function keys are [F1], [F2], ...
Since only a serial number such as [F10] is given, the operator cannot judge the function unless the function name is displayed. Therefore, in general, a label indicating the function of each key is often attached in the vicinity of this function key as described above. However, with this method, depending on each software,
It is necessary to replace the label, and there is the problem of storing this label.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a full-matrix backlit liquid crystal display device is provided at the position of the label, that is, immediately above the function key. This display device needs to be a display device capable of fine display of about 6 dots per mm,
It can be used to display kanji, kana, and alphanumeric characters.

When activating a certain software using the function key, an activation command is input from the keyboard 2. The main control unit 11 reads this software from the external storage unit 14 onto the main storage unit 13, and the software is activated. When the software starts up, it is indicated in the main storage unit 13 that the software has been started up. In addition, the data for displaying the function name of the function key 6 is read out from the software and sent to the sub display control unit 16, and the sub display control unit 16 displays the function name on the function name display unit 4. (Of course, it is assumed that this software was created so that the function name can be displayed).

The software to be activated at this time may be provided with the form of information for displaying the function name or not. However, even for software that is not provided, the user can directly input the function name from the keyboard and store it in the memory area prepared in advance as display information corresponding to the specified software. When the software is started, the function name display section 4
It is possible to carry out the present invention by displaying the above.
That is, by this method, the function names of the function keys of a plurality of software to be used by the user are stored in advance in the external storage unit 14 or the like in association with the software. By doing so, even for general software that does not have display information, by selecting and calling out the display information stored by this user, the same invention can be applied to any software. The effect can be obtained.

FIG. 3 is a display example of the function name display section, and FIG. 5 is a display example of the second function name display section according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a backlit liquid crystal display device 4 corresponding to each of [F1] to [F10] of the function key 6. Further, in this embodiment, the liquid crystal display device has a [CTR
The function names when L], [SFT], and [ALT] are selected are also displayed at the same time. Furthermore, the display of the function name display section can be switched to the display of the sub-function (sub-function) of the function when any one of the above-mentioned functions is selected. That is, for example, by operating the keys [SFT] [F7] from the state of FIG.
When "RINT" is selected, the display switches to the function display for the sub-functions related to printing as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a keyboard main body 21 has a keyboard portion 2, a function key function display portion 4, and a cable 22 for connecting to an external computer. Such a single keyboard cannot be used for a personal computer in which the main body and the keyboard are integrated, for example, a laptop personal computer, but a personal computer in which the main body and the keyboard can be separated, for example, a desktop type. It is possible to use it for a personal computer.

In this case, a device or the like for supplying display information to the display device 4 in the main body of the computer (a dedicated circuit board may be used, or a program and display information memory provided in a ready-made memory area may be used. May be)
Need to prepare. However, as the cable 22, a conventional cable can be used if the display information is supplied by using, for example, serial communication.

If such a keyboard device is used, it is easy to supply information concerning the function of the function key to the display device 4 to the main body of the computer even in a desktop personal computer, for example. , The equivalent of the present invention can be obtained.

[0024]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, as a means for displaying the function name of the conventional function key, a method of sticking the function name label on the computer is adopted. According to the present invention, it is necessary to replace the label for each software to be started by displaying the function name which should be automatically displayed from the software to be started on the function name display section consisting of the variable display device near the function key. Moreover, there is no need to select the wrong label. Also, as a method of displaying the function name on the main display portion, the present invention is better in that the display position is closer to the function key, so that it is not necessary to select an incorrect key during operation. Operability is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer main body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a keyboard portion of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a display example of a first function name display section according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a display example of a second function name display section according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... personal computer, 2 ... keyboard part, 3
... Main display section, 4 ... Function key function display section, 5
… Computer body, 6… Function key, 11
... Main control unit, 12 ... Keyboard control unit, 13 ... Main storage unit, 14 ... External storage unit, 15 ... Main display unit, 16 ... Sub display unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A means for processing input information according to predetermined software, a means for outputting display information according to the software, and a plurality of input keys, wherein information to be processed is transmitted to the processing means. Means for inputting, a means for electronically displaying the function of the input key according to the display information of the output means, provided in a part of the input means in proximity to the input key, and the information to be processed. An information processing apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function information is input from the input unit. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function information is obtained from the predetermined software. 4. An information processing unit for processing input information according to predetermined software, means for outputting display information according to the software, and a plurality of input keys including a plurality of function keys. A keyboard unit for inputting information to be processed to the information processing unit and a function key of the keyboard unit, the function of the function key is electronically received by receiving the display information. An information processing apparatus comprising: a screen to be displayed and a display screen to display the information to be processed. 5. A keyboard device having a plurality of function keys and input keys for inputting data to an information processing device for activating predetermined software, the keyboard device being provided in proximity to the plurality of function keys. According to the information given from the information processing device, the function
A keyboard device having a screen displaying a function corresponding to the software of the key.