JPH09222942A - Arrangement variable keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard with which a keyboard equipped with various kinds of key arrangement can be utilized only by performing a simple operation for inserting/ejecting a memory card. SOLUTION: When a memory card 3 is inserted to a memory card inserting part 4, a data generating part 55 at a keyboard control part 5 generates display data such as key arrangement and respective key sizes to be displayed on a liquid crystal part 2 based on stored contents in the memory card 3 and prepares a transformation table 56 for transforming input data from an input control part 52 and sending them to an interface 6 as a character code. When a user touches a sensor part 1 with a pen or a finger, the input control part 52 generates the input data from the touch position on the sensor part 1, and the generated input data are transformed to the character code by the transformation table 56 and sent through the interface 6 to a computer 7 later.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard used in various information processing apparatuses, and particularly limits the type of characters that can be used according to various applications, and arbitrarily changes the key layout and the size of each key. Regarding a variable arrangement keyboard that is made possible.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyboard of this type in which the key layout and the like can be arbitrarily changed is modified so that the key layout and the like match the user's request, and the operability is unified or the time and effort required for input are reduced. It is used for reduction.

As a conventional technique of this type of keyboard, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-123314, rewriting is possible by operating a numeric key on the keyboard to input a key number and an output code value by a user. A variable output code keyboard has been proposed that changes the correspondence table between the keys on the keyboard and the output codes stored in a non-volatile memory to change the key layout on the keyboard to one that is easy for the user to use. There is.

Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-116721, each key touch part of a keyboard is provided with a signal sending means for sending a signal for identifying the type of a character or a symbol on the key touch part, and the key touch is performed. An arrangement variable keyboard device has been proposed in which the key arrangement on the keyboard is changed by removing the portion from the switch body and exchanging it with an arbitrary key touch portion.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-75920, the key arrangement on the keyboard is not changed, but by pressing a specific key on the keyboard,
A keytop size variable keyboard has been proposed in which the user arbitrarily sets the size of the display area of the keyboard and the size of the keytop to display the keyboard of the optimum size.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-257819 proposes a keyboard having a free character arrangement in which the key arrangement is displayed on a display panel made of liquid crystal or the like and the key or function key arrangement is variable. .

In addition to the above-mentioned publications, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-194521, the sensor units are densely arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the sensors and the computer are arranged on the memory used by the keyboard control unit. A layout-variable keyboard device has been proposed which changes the key layout on the keyboard by individually providing the conversion table with the relationship with the transmission code. Also, the actual Kaihei 1-1232
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 38-38 proposes a keyboard in which a key layout conversion circuit is provided between the keyboard and the arithmetic processing circuit, and the wiring in the key layout conversion circuit is changed to change the key layout on the keyboard. Furthermore, the actual development Sho 63-1
Japanese Patent No. 6324 proposes an array variable keyboard in which a jumper wire is wired on each key top of the keyboard and a key layout on the keyboard is changed by a combination of contact with a detection wire wired on the keyboard body. There is.

[0008]

However, in the conventional keyboards described in the above-mentioned respective publications, when the key arrangement on the keyboard is to be changed, data is input from the keyboard or the key touch section is changed. It is necessary to change the key layout on the keyboard, which requires time and effort to change the key layout on the keyboard, which complicates the work and also creates data for the key layout on the keyboard. There is a problem that it takes time.

Further, in the conventional keyboards described in the above-mentioned respective publications, it is necessary to write information for changing the key arrangement in a non-volatile memory of the keyboard or write information in the key touch portion of the keyboard to be replaced. In addition, since it is necessary to change the circuit wiring to change the key layout, it is difficult to create a keyboard having the same key layout as the keyboard with the changed key layout.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an arrangement that enables the use of a keyboard having various key arrangements only by performing a simple operation of inserting / removing a memory card. The purpose is to provide a variable keyboard.

The present invention also provides an arrangement variable keyboard which allows a plurality of keyboards having the same key arrangement as the changed keyboard to be used at the same time only by performing a simple operation of copying a memory card. With the goal.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a variable keyboard in which at least the key layout can be arbitrarily changed, and a memory in which display positions and display characters of each key are stored in advance. (EN) Provided is an arrangement variable keyboard characterized in that a key arrangement displayed on a display portion can be arbitrarily changed by inserting a card into a keyboard body.

Further, in the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, it is preferable that the display section includes a liquid crystal section provided in the keyboard main body and a sensor section provided corresponding to the liquid crystal section.

Further, in the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, it is preferable that a desired key arrangement is set on the display unit and the set key arrangement is stored in the memory card.

Further, according to the present invention, in an arrangement variable keyboard in which at least a key arrangement can be arbitrarily changed, a liquid crystal part provided in the keyboard body, a sensor part provided corresponding to the liquid crystal part, and the liquid crystal part. A memory card that stores the display position and display characters of each displayed key and can be inserted into and removed from the keyboard body, a memory card insertion section into which the memory card is inserted, and a memory card insertion section. A keyboard control unit that reads the stored contents of the memory card, displays a key arrangement on the liquid crystal unit based on the read stored contents, and outputs a character code corresponding to a contact position sensed by the sensor unit. And an interface for transmitting the character code output from the keyboard control unit to a predetermined information processing device. To provide an array variable keyboard that.

As described above, according to the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, by using the memory card, only the simple operation of inserting / removing the memory card in which the key arrangement information of the keyboard is stored is performed. You can change the key layout on the keyboard with.

Further, according to the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, by utilizing the memory card, the information of the key arrangement stored in the memory card is copied to another memory card so that the same key arrangement can be obtained. Since it is possible to easily create a plurality of memory cards in which information is stored, it is possible to use a plurality of keyboards having the same keyboard layout at the same time by preparing a plurality of variable keyboards of the present invention. it can.

According to the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, the purpose of use of the stored key arrangement is written on the outer surface of the memory card to be inserted / removed, and the sticker is attached to the outer surface of the memory card. It is possible to make sure that the keyboard provided with the key layout that matches the purpose of use of the user can be used.

[0019]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an array variable liquid crystal keyboard using a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an array variable liquid crystal keyboard using a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an array variable liquid crystal keyboard 8 using the memory card according to the present embodiment.
Is a sensor unit 1 provided on the upper surface of the keyboard body,
A liquid crystal unit 2 provided in one-to-one correspondence with the sensor unit 1;
A memory card 3 that stores the display position and range of each key displayed on the liquid crystal unit 2 and the character code of each key as information on the key arrangement; and a memory card insertion unit 4 into which the memory card 3 is inserted / removed. A keyboard control unit 5 that controls the entire array variable liquid crystal keyboard 8, and a keyboard control unit 5
Variable character LCD keyboard 8
Interface 6 for sending to the computer 7 connected to the. The memory card 3 has an S
It is preferable to use a general-purpose product such as a PCMCIA standard compliant product such as a RAM (Static Random Access Memory) card. Further, as the interface 6, an appropriate interface is prepared according to the type of information processing device connected to the array variable liquid crystal keyboard 8.

The keyboard controller 5 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 51, an input controller 52, a display controller 53,
It is composed of a card controller 54, a data generator 55, and a conversion table 56.

The CPU 51 issues a command to each control unit of the input control unit 52, the display control unit 53, the card control unit 54, the data generation unit 55, and the conversion table 56 to control the operation of each control unit as a whole.

The input control unit 52 constantly monitors whether or not the user has touched the sensor unit 1, finds the contact position touched by a finger or a pen, and inputs the input data from the calculated touch position. To generate.

The display controller 53 displays a predetermined key layout on the liquid crystal unit 2 based on the key layout generated by the data generator 55 and the display data such as the size of each key. The range of the key arrangement displayed on the liquid crystal unit 2 is within the sensor unit 1.
It is the same as the sensing range of.

The card control unit 54 monitors the state of insertion / removal of the memory card 3 into / from the memory card insertion unit 4.

The data generation unit 55 generates display data such as a key arrangement for displaying on the liquid crystal unit 2 and the size of each key from the stored contents of the memory card 3, and also receives the input data from the input control unit 52. A conversion table 56 for converting and transmitting to the interface 6 as a character code is created.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the operation of the variable arrangement liquid crystal keyboard using the memory card according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an array variable liquid crystal keyboard using a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the user inserts the memory card 3 in which the data (display position of each key, display characters, etc.) for displaying the key arrangement is stored in the memory card insertion portion 4 (step 301), card control is performed. After the unit 54 senses the insertion of the memory card 3 (step 302), the data generation unit 55 reads the stored contents of the memory card 3, and based on the read stored contents, the key arrangement and the size of each key, etc. Display data is generated (step 303). The display data generated in step 303 is displayed on the liquid crystal unit 2 by the display controller 53 (step 304).

Subsequently, the data generator 55 creates a conversion table 56 for converting the input data from the input controller 52 based on the stored contents of the memory card 3 and sending it to the interface 6 as a character code. (Step 3
05).

Then, when the user touches the sensor unit 1 with a finger or a pen (step 306), the input control unit 52 generates input data from the contact position on the sensor unit 1 (step 307), and the generated input data is generated. Is converted into a character code by the conversion table 56 and the interface 6
(Step 308). Note that step 308
The character code converted by is sent to the computer 7 via the interface 6.

Here, the character code sent in step 308 corresponds to the character displayed on the liquid crystal unit 2 at the contact position in the sensor unit 1. Further, when the contact position on the sensor unit 1 is “undefined”, that is, a position where nothing is displayed on the liquid crystal unit 2, the contact of the user on the sensor unit 1 is ignored.

After the process of step 308 is completed, when the user touches the sensor unit 1 again (step 310), the process returns to the process of step 307, and the character code corresponding to the contact position on the sensor unit 1 is successively displayed.
Send to

On the other hand, if the memory card 3 inserted in the memory card insertion portion 4 is replaced (step 30)
9) Returning to the processing of step 302, the stored contents of the memory card 3 are read, and a keyboard having a new key layout can be used based on the read stored contents.

According to the arrangement variable liquid crystal keyboard using the memory card according to the present embodiment, when it is desired to create a plurality of keyboards having the same key arrangement, the memory contents of the memory card 3 are stored in other memory cards. Copy to
It may be inserted into a separately arranged keyboard having the same configuration and the like.

The case where a keyboard having a predetermined key arrangement is displayed on the liquid crystal unit 2 on the assumption that predetermined data is stored in the memory card 3 has been described above. It is also possible to create a keyboard having a desired key arrangement by the arrangement variable liquid crystal keyboard 8 according to the embodiment of the present invention and store the corresponding data in the memory card 3.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining how to form a keyboard having a desired key arrangement by the arrangement variable liquid crystal keyboard using the memory card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a predetermined operation is performed on the sensor unit 1 of the array variable liquid crystal keyboard 8,
For example, if a blank part of the sensor unit 1 (a part of the liquid crystal unit 2 where nothing is displayed) is touched ten times in a row and the like, and the keyboard creation mode is entered, a predetermined keyboard creation mode is set for the liquid crystal unit 2. Screen is displayed.

Referring to FIG. 4 (A), the keyboard creation mode screen has, for example, "0" to "0" at the end of the liquid crystal unit 2.
The number "9", the letters "A" to "F" and the "return key" and "X" are displayed.

Referring to FIG. 4 (B), when a keyboard having a desired key arrangement is produced, a desired key shape 9 is traced with a finger or a pen at a desired position on the sensor unit 1.
Select the character code corresponding to the key traced by the sensor unit 1 from the numbers or characters displayed at the end of the liquid crystal unit 2 and input it. When the input is complete, press the "return key" To do so. Further, when creating another key, the same operation of inputting the desired key shape again and selecting the corresponding character code is repeatedly executed.

When the input for all the keys to be created is completed, touch the "X" displayed on the liquid crystal part 2 at the end to input the data (key shape, display) The position and the corresponding display character) are stored in the memory card 3. This allows the memory card 3
When the memory card insertion unit 4 is reinserted, the keyboard having the key arrangement corresponding to the input data (key shape, display position, corresponding display character, etc.) is the liquid crystal unit 2
Will be displayed.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and includes various embodiments according to the principle of the present invention.

For example, in the variable arrangement liquid crystal keyboard using the memory card according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the display section is formed by using the liquid crystal, but if the display content can be changed appropriately, the CRT or the like can be used. Various display devices such as

[0044]

As described above, according to the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, the key arrangement on the keyboard can be easily changed only by performing a simple operation of inserting / removing the memory card.

Further, according to the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, a plurality of keyboards having the same key arrangement can be easily created by copying the stored contents of the memory card to another memory card.

Further, according to the arrangement variable keyboard of the present invention, the keyboard arrangement is processed to change the key arrangement, the input position is monitored, and the character code is sent to the information processing apparatus side. The keyboard layout on the keyboard can be changed without depending on the application software (AP) or the operating system (OS) of the.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an array variable liquid crystal keyboard using a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an array variable liquid crystal keyboard using a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an array variable liquid crystal keyboard using a memory card according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a manner of creating a keyboard having a desired key arrangement by the arrangement variable liquid crystal keyboard using the memory card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Sensor Section 2 Liquid Crystal Section 3 Memory Card 4 Memory Card Insertion Section 5 Keyboard Control Section 51 CPU 52 Input Control Section 53 Display Control Section 54 Card Control Section 55 Data Generation Section 56 Conversion Table 6 Interface 7 Computer 8 Array Variable Liquid Crystal Keyboard 9 Input Key shape

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A variable keyboard in which at least a key layout can be arbitrarily changed, and a memory card in which display positions and display characters of each key are stored in advance is inserted into a keyboard body to display on a display unit. A keyboard with a variable layout, in which the keyboard layout can be changed arbitrarily. 2. The arrangement variable keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the display section includes a liquid crystal section provided on the keyboard body and a sensor section provided corresponding to the liquid crystal section. 3. A desired keyboard layout is set on the display unit,
The arrangement variable keyboard according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set key arrangement is stored in the memory card. 4. An arrangement variable keyboard in which at least a key arrangement can be arbitrarily changed, a liquid crystal part provided in a keyboard body, a sensor part provided corresponding to the liquid crystal part, and each of the liquid crystal parts displayed on the liquid crystal part. A memory card that stores a display position of a key and a display character and can be inserted into and removed from the keyboard body, a memory card insertion section into which the memory card is inserted, and a memory card inserted into the memory card A keyboard control unit for reading stored contents, displaying a key arrangement on the liquid crystal unit based on the read stored contents, and outputting a character code corresponding to a contact position sensed by the sensor unit; An array variable, characterized by including an interface for transmitting the character code output from the control unit to a predetermined information processing device, keyboard.