JPH0962427A - Input device for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard device which has a keyboard function and a mouse function. SOLUTION: The keyboard device 13 is equipped with a changeover switch 14 for switching between the keyboard function and mouse function and a function changeover switch processing part 32 selectively connects a key input part (keyboard) 31, and a mouse signal generation part 33 and a keyboard signal generation part 34 on detecting the operation of the changeover switch. When the key input part and keyboard signal generation part are connected together, the keyboard signal generation part supplies a computer with key character information corresponding to key input from the key input part. When the key input part and mouse signal generation part are connected together, the mouse signal generation part supplies the computer with mouse cursor movement information according to the key input from the key input part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for an information processing device, and more particularly to an input device used for inputting information to an information processing device such as a personal computer or an engineering workstation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a keyboard and a mouse are used as input devices, and the keyboard and the mouse are realized as separate devices (input devices).

On the other hand, as an input device of this type, Japanese Utility Model Application
No. 116,337 discloses a keyboard having a keyboard body and an attached keyboard with a mouse. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-313801 discloses a cordless numeric keypad with a built-in mouse in which a numeric keypad, a mouse, and a button switch are integrated. This cordless numeric keypad with a built-in mouse is different from a keyboard. Are separated. In any case, in the input device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-116337 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-313801, the keyboard and the mouse are configured separately.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional input device, since the keyboard and the mouse are separate devices, when the key operation and the mouse operation are alternately performed by another device, the input operation is performed. Is time consuming. That is, in the conventional input device, when the key operation and the mouse operation are alternately performed by another device, it is necessary to switch the keyboard and the mouse for each operation, and therefore, the input operation takes time. There is a problem.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device for an information processing apparatus which can perform an input operation in a short time, and as a result, can improve the operability of a computer.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an input device used for inputting information to an information processing device, wherein key character information corresponding to a key input from the keyboard at the time of a keyboard function is provided. It has a first means for giving the information processing apparatus as the information, and a second means for giving the cursor movement information as the information to the information processing apparatus in response to the key input from the keyboard during a mouse function. An input device for an information processing device is obtained. The second means generates, for example, the cursor movement information centering on a predetermined key of the keyboard according to a positional relationship between the key input and the center.

According to the present invention, the keyboard is provided with a changeover switch for switching between the keyboard function and the mouse function. The changeover switch is, for example, a predetermined specific key in the keyboard.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a connection processing means for selectively connecting the keyboard and the first and second means in accordance with the operation of the changeover switch.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated computer system (information processing apparatus) includes a computer main unit 11, and a display device 12 is mounted on the computer main unit 11. A keyboard 13 used as an input device is connected to the computer main body 11. Specifically, the keyboard device 13 is connected to the computer main body by a keyboard signal input cable 15 and a mouse signal input cable 16. The keyboard device 13 is provided with a function changeover switch 14, which will be described later, in addition to the normal keys.

The keyboard device 13 is a function changeover switch 1
By operating (pressing) 4, the function is switched from the keyboard function (key input function) to the mouse function or from the mouse function to the keyboard function. For example, in a normal state (a state in which the function switch 14 is not pressed), the keyboard device 13 functions for key input (that is, has a keyboard function). At this time, the key input information is sent to the computer main body 11 via the keyboard signal input cable 15.

On the other hand, when the function changeover switch 14 is depressed, it functions as a device for moving the mouse cursor (that is, it functions as a mouse). At this time, the input information is sent to the computer main unit 16 via the mouse signal input cable 16.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the keyboard device 13 includes a key input unit (keyboard) 31, a function changeover switch processing unit 32, a mouse signal generation unit 33, and a keyboard signal generation unit 34. The function changeover switch processing unit 32 selectively connects the key input unit 31, the mouse signal generation unit 33, and the keyboard signal generation unit 34 according to the function changeover switch 14 shown in FIG.

The key input unit 31 is provided with a plurality of keys in the same manner as a normal keyboard, and various characters are assigned to each key. When in the keyboard function state, the key input unit 31 and the keyboard signal generation unit 34 are connected by the function changeover switch processing unit 32, and the keyboard signal generation unit 34 Keyboard signals representing character information according to the computer main body 11 via the keyboard signal input cable.
Send to

On the other hand, when the function changeover switch 14 is depressed, this depression is detected and the function changeover switch processing section 32
Connects the key input unit 31 and the mouse signal generation unit 33. As a result, the keyboard device 13 enters the mouse function state. That is, the keyboard device 13 functions as a device for moving the mouse cursor.

When a key of a key input unit (keyboard) 31 is pressed, the key input is given to a mouse signal generation unit 33, and the mouse signal generation unit 33 generates a mouse signal corresponding to the position of the key input, and generates a mouse signal. A mouse signal is supplied to the computer main body 11 via the signal input cable 16. As a result, a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display device 12 moves.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when a key located above the key 21 located at the center of the key input section (keyboard) 31 is pressed, the mouse cursor moves upward on the display device 12. . Then, when a key located farther than the key 21 is pressed, the mouse cursor moves greatly. In other words, the mouse cursor moves farther as the pressed key is farther from the key 21.

Similarly, the mouse cursor can be moved rightward, downward, and leftward by pressing a key located on the right side, a key located on the lower side, and a key located on the left side with the key 21 as a center. This is performed, and the amount of movement of the mouse cursor is also proportional to the distance from the key 21.

For example, when the XY coordinates are defined with the key 21 as the center, each key has a point (x,
y), the mouse signal generator 33 outputs a mouse signal for moving the mouse cursor according to the coordinates of the input key.

In the above example, all the keys of the 13-key input unit (keyboard) 31 are used as mouse keys. However, only predetermined keys may be used as mouse keys. . Further, in the above-described example, the function changeover switch is arranged as an independent key, but a key in the keyboard may be used as a function changeover key. In this case, a plurality or one of the keys is used for function changeover. Used as

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the keyboard function and the mouse function can be performed by one input device, not only the operability of the computer is improved, but also the operability is improved. There is an effect that the input time to the computer is shortened and the input processing can be performed in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a computer system to which an input device (keyboard device) according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of an input device (keyboard device) according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an input device (keyboard device) according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Computer main body 12 Display device 13 Keyboard device 14 Function switch 15 Keyboard signal input cable 16 Mouse signal input cable 21 Central key of keyboard 31 Key input unit (keyboard) 32 Function switch processing unit 33 Mouse signal generation unit 34 Keyboard signal generator

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An input device used when inputting information to an information processing device, wherein key character information corresponding to a key input from a keyboard in the case of a keyboard function is given to the information processing device as the information. An input device for an information processing apparatus, comprising: 1 means; and second means for giving cursor movement information to the information processing apparatus as the information in response to the key input from the keyboard during a mouse function. . 2. The input device for an information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard includes a changeover switch for switching between the keyboard function and the mouse function. Input device. 3. The input device for an information processing device according to claim 2, wherein said changeover switch is a predetermined specific key in said keyboard. 4. The connection processing means according to claim 2, wherein said keyboard and said first and second means are selectively connected in accordance with an operation of said changeover switch. An input device for an information processing device, comprising: 5. The input device for an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second means responds to a positional relationship between the key input and the center with a predetermined key of the keyboard as the center. An input device for an information processing device, characterized in that the cursor movement information is generated.