JPH08211980A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a keyboard capable of inputting many characters and numerals by the small number of keys. CONSTITUTION: A specific key in a display area A is specified by horizontal column specifying keys X1, X2, X3,... and X15 and vertical column specifying keys Y1, Y2, Y3,... and X5. For instance, in the case of inputting 'TO', when the horizontal column specifying key X3 is pushed and the vertical column specifying key Y3 is pushed, a code corresponding to 'TO' is outputted from a conversion circuit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard configured to input a large number of characters including Japanese syllabary.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a large number of keys are provided for inputting character information and the like in personal computers, word processors, terminal devices and the like. For example, like the conventional example shown in FIG.
Often, there are 60 or more keys including 26 letters of the alphabet, numbers, kana characters, and keys for various controls.

In this case, a shift key, a kana key or the like is used to switch the type of the input character between uppercase letters, lowercase letters or kana characters of the alphabet. The letter / numerical keys of these are arranged such that a unique meaning is determined when the respective key is pressed. For example, in English lowercase mode,
When the leftmost key on the third row of the keyboard is pressed, it is determined that the signal corresponding to the character "a" has been input.

Due to such a constitution, conventionally, a large number of keys are provided for inputting a large number of letters / numbers.

[0005]

However, since the conventional keyboard device as described above has a large number of keys, each key has to be made small, which makes it difficult to operate. . In particular, when the fingers of the hand are inconvenient, it is necessary to input using the organs such as the foot and mouth, but it is difficult to operate these organs like the fingers, and it is difficult to operate. There's a problem.

Further, since each key is small and arranged in large numbers, there is a problem that considerable practice is required to input without looking.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of providing a keyboard capable of inputting a large number of letters / numerals with a small number of keys.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a keyboard configured to input a large number of characters including Japanese syllabary includes a plurality of row designation keys and a plurality of column designation keys. In this way, a means has been adopted in which a specific character among a large number of characters arranged in a plurality of rows in each of the vertical and horizontal directions is specified by the row specifying key and the column specifying key.

[0009]

With the above-described means, in the keyboard configured so that a large number of characters including the Japanese syllabary can be input, a specific key of the plurality of row designation keys is operated to arrange the rows in a specific row. Selected multiple characters. Next, by operating a specific key among the plurality of column designation keys, a specific character is designated from the selected characters.

[0010]

EXAMPLES A keyboard device according to the present invention will be described below.
A detailed description will be given based on the drawings showing the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a keyboard device according to one embodiment.
In this figure, A is a display area in which kana characters and special functions are displayed in a frame arranged in a matrix of 15 rows × 5 columns. These are for display only and have no key function. The frame indicating the return key and the frame indicating the space key are larger than the normal key frame.

X1, X2, X3, ..., X15 are row designation keys, and Y1, Y2, Y3, ..., X5 are column designation keys. In FIG. 2, B is a conversion circuit for outputting a code corresponding to the depressed column designation key and row designation key, and includes, for example, an 8-bit CPU (central processing unit). C is a control circuit, for example, a 32-bit C in order to realize the function of a Japanese word processor.
It contains a PU (Central Processing Unit) and required memory and others. D is a display device.

In the keyboard device having the above construction, for example, when "K" is desired to be input, when the row designation key X6 and the column designation key Y2 are pushed, the conversion circuit B outputs a code corresponding to "K". To be done. Next, if, for example, "TO" is to be input, the row designation key X3 is pressed, and the column designation key Y3 is pressed.
The code corresponding to is output.

In this way, there are 15 row designation keys,
When there are five column designation keys, it is possible to output codes corresponding to 75 kinds of keys by one operation each. In this way, processing is performed in the control circuit C according to the input character and displayed on the display device D according to the processing result.

For a large key such as the "SHIFT" key, a plurality of types of designation methods are possible. Alternatively, if all keys are specified in one way, there is a possibility that the number of column specifying keys and the number of row specifying keys can be further reduced.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a keyboard device in which three columns of column designation keys are provided. In FIG. 3, there are five horizontal row designation keys and five vertical row designation keys arranged in three rows. The column designation key in each column corresponds to one third of the display area A in FIG. That is, the first group A1 corresponds to the first column column designation key, the second group A2 corresponds to the second column column designation key, and the third group A3 corresponds to the third column column designation key. There is.

For example, if you want to input "K", enter 2
When the column designation key Y22 in the row is pressed to designate the second group and the row designation key X1 is pressed, the conversion circuit outputs
The code corresponding to is output.

In FIG. 4, the number of column designation keys remains five, and the first group, the second group,
9 illustrates an embodiment of a keyboard device configured to specify a third group. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, if any one of the column designation keys is pressed once, the first group is designated, and as shown in FIG. 4, if it is pushed twice quickly, the second group is designated, As shown in (4) of FIG. 4, the third group is designated when the button is quickly pressed three times.

At this time, a display lamp for displaying the designated group may be provided.

In FIG. 5, one operating lever Z is used to
An example is shown in which one group is designated and the function of the column designation key is realized. In this case, the operating lever Z
Is movable in 5 steps in the vertical direction (Y1, ..., Y5) and in 3 steps in the horizontal direction (YA, YB, YC), and is configured to specify 15 states. For example, when the operation lever Z is tilted to the left at the second step from the top, the second row from the top of the first group, that is, “HTAB”,
Specify "ta", "te", "a", and "su". Next, when the row designation key X5 is pressed, a code corresponding to "S" is output.

Not limited to the examples described above, various combinations of column designation keys and row designation keys are possible. In any case, the size of each key can be increased by reducing the number of keys, so even if the fingers of the hand are inconvenient, the entire arm, mouth, foot, etc. The effect is that it is possible to input using various organs.

As a matter of course, the fact that the number of keys is small means that the arrangement is easy to memorize, so that it is easy to become familiar with the keyboard so that it can be input without looking at it. Special keys such as "GRAHP" and "BREAK" that are rarely used may be provided separately. It goes without saying that the invention can also be applied to a keyboard device for alphabet input.

[0022]

According to the present invention, a large number of characters including the Japanese syllabary are input by a plurality of row designation keys and a plurality of column designation keys. The keys are sufficient, and it is easy to input without looking at the keyboard, and it is possible to input using the foot or other organs even if the fingers of the hand are inconvenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of a word processor using the keyboard device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a keyboard device of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A display area B conversion circuit C control circuit D display device X1, X2, X3, ..., X15 Row designation key Y1, Y2, Y3, X4, X5 Column designation key

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard configured to input a large number of characters including Japanese syllabary, comprising a plurality of row designating keys and a plurality of column designating keys, so that the keyboard is arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. A keyboard device characterized in that a specific character among a large number of characters is designated and input by a row designation key and a column designation key.