JPH1027058A - Wireless system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a repeater box indicate a warning when the voltage of a battery becomes equal to or lower than a fixed power supply voltage. SOLUTION: A battery voltage detecting section 11-2 detects the voltage of a battery 4-3, whether the voltage is equal to or lower than a fixed value, and informs a microcontroller 11-1 of the state of the battery 4-3. The microcontroller 11-1 detects an effective key switch in a key matrix 402 and generates wireless data indicating the positional information of the key switch and state of the battery 4-3. A transmitting section 4-4 transmits wireless data and a receiving section 5-2 receives transmitted data. A microcontroller 12-1 turns on an indicator 12-2 in accordance with the propriety of the wireless data and the state of the battery 4-3 and outputs normal data to a host device 1 through a KB-I/F. The host device 1 controls a display device 2 or output device 3 based on the positional information of the key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a wireless system, and more particularly to a battery status display of a wireless keyboard system equipped with a battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a keyboard device has a plurality of key (alphabet, numeral, and kana keys) function keys, and a plurality of depressed keys such as a "SHIFT" key and a "CTRL" key. Keys that affect other keys) are arranged according to the application. In this key input section, key switches are arranged in a matrix at intersections of drive lines and receive lines corresponding to the keys. . Then, control is performed by software of a microcontroller inside the keyboard, and key pressing processing for key operation by an operator is performed. A wireless keyboard (hereinafter referred to as a wireless KB) is not an exception, and scans the state of a key matrix under software control of the microcontroller. If there is key press information, the key data is transmitted to a higher-level device using infrared rays or radio waves. And send it out.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of a wire-lay system using a wireless KB in a general-purpose personal computer. The personal computer is a host device 1,
Display device 2, output device 3, wireless KB4,
And a relay BOX 5. Host device 1 and relay BO
X5 is a standard keyboard interface (hereinafter KB)
The relay BOX 5 and the wireless KB 4 are communicated by the wireless I / F. FIG.
2 is a configuration example of the wireless KB and the relay BOX in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless KB 4 includes a microcontroller 4-1, a key matrix 4-2, a battery 4-3, and a transmission unit 4-4. The microcontroller 4-1 has a function of performing internal control of the key matrix 4-2, such as key scanning and key data transmission. The key matrix 4-2 includes a plurality of key switch groups. As the battery 4-3, a primary battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable secondary battery is generally used.
The transmission unit 4-4 has a function of transmitting key data using infrared rays or radio waves. On the other hand, the relay BOX 5 has a microcontroller 5-1 and a receiving unit 5-2. The microcontroller 5-1 has a function of performing internal control, and the receiving unit 5-2 has a function of receiving wireless data.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing a configuration example of conventional wireless data. In particular, FIG. 4 (a) shows the first byte, and FIG. 4 (b) shows the second byte. Is shown. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, wireless data generally includes a KB-1D bit for identifying a KB, key data, and a bit for determining whether the key data is released when pressed. Here, the configuration is two bytes. FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), B7 of each byte is a parity bit, and B6 is for byte identification. Here, the first byte is (X0XXXXXX), and the second byte is (X1XXXXXX). As shown in FIG. 4 (a), B5 and B4 of the first byte are KB-ID bits for preventing interference between adjacent KBs and the like, and here, four types (00, 01, 10, and 11) are provided. Identification is possible. K
The B-ID is set by a dip switch or the like provided in the wireless KB4, and the dip switch (set to the same value as the wireless KB4) provided in the relay BOX 5 makes it possible to identify the wireless KB4 to be used in the relay BOX5. ing. B3 to B0 are X coordinates of the key matrix.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
5 is not specified here, and B4 is a bit for discriminating whether the key data is pressed or released, and is 1 when pressed and 0 when released. B3 to B0 are Y of the key matrix.
Coordinates. For example, if the first byte is (1001011)
0), the 2-byte wireless data of (01X11100) is KB-ID (01), X coordinate (0110), and Y coordinate (1100) key press data. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a wireless KB key pressing process in FIG. In step S1,
The microcontroller 4-1 scans the state of the key matrix 4-2. In step S2, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the state of the key matrix 4-2 (whether or not there is a valid key).
Proceed to 3 and if there is no valid key, return to step S1.
In step S3, wireless data is generated to be transmitted to the relay BOX5. In step S4, the wireless data is saved in the transmission buffer. Step S
In step 5, the wireless data saved in the transmission buffer in the key scan processing in step S1 is transmitted to the relay BOX 5 in the order in which the keys were saved in the transmission processing at regular intervals.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the receiving process of the relay BOX shown in FIG. In step S11, the receiving unit 5-2 receives the wireless data configured as shown in FIG. 4 from the wireless KB4. Step S
At 12, the microcontroller 5-1 sends the KB-ID of the wireless data (for example, the corresponding KB-ID
Is set by a dip switch) and the received data such as parity is confirmed. If the data is OK, the process proceeds to step S13, and if the data is NG, the process proceeds to the next process.
In step S13, the microcontroller 5-1
Generates a key code conforming to the KB-IF from the received wireless data. In step S14, the microcontroller 5-1 saves the key code in the key code transmission buffer in order to transmit the key code to the host device 1. The transmission of the key code from the relay BOX 4 to the higher-level device 1 is performed in the same order as the wireless data is transmitted, in the order in which the data was saved by the transmission process at a constant interval.

[0007]

However, the conventional wireless system has the following problems. The wireless KB4 operates using a battery 4-3 such as a primary battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable secondary battery as a power supply. Since the battery 4-3 always has a life, the wireless KB 4 removes the battery 4-3 before the battery 4-3 runs out, that is, before reaching the cut-off voltage in any case of the primary battery and the secondary battery. Need to be replaced. However, it is extremely difficult to estimate the lifetime of the battery 4-3. Therefore, the wireless KB
Battery 4 with indicator such as LED mounted on 4
Means for displaying the status of the battery -3 is required, but driving the indicator on the wireless KB4 requires means for displaying the status of the battery 4-3. Because it becomes a factor that further shortens the battery operation time,
It was not a good idea. Also, if the state of the battery 4-3 is not displayed, the wireless KB 4 suddenly stops operating one day, which is a factor that gives anxiety to the operator.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a key matrix including a plurality of key switches, a battery, a battery voltage detecting section for detecting a power supply voltage of the battery, and the key. The on / off state of the key switch in the matrix is determined to detect the pressed valid key switch, and information on the position of the valid key switch and whether the power supply voltage of the battery exceeds a threshold value. A first microcontroller that generates wireless data including information indicating the following: a wireless keyboard having a transmitting unit that transmits the wireless data; a receiving unit that receives the wireless data; and a predetermined unit based on the wireless data. And a second microcontroller that transmits data with the keyboard interface of A relay BOX, alarm means for externally indicating whether the power supply voltage of the battery received by the receiver exceeds the threshold value, and whether the wireless data is normal, and transmitting from the relay BOX. And a host device for receiving and controlling the input data as key input data. Then, the second microcontroller or the host device controls the alarm unit based on the wireless data. Now that we have configured the wireless system,
The battery voltage detector detects the power supply voltage of the battery, and the first microcontroller generates wireless data including information on whether the power supply voltage of the battery exceeds a threshold. The relay BOX receives the wireless data and, when the power supply voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold, controls the alarm means to warn the outside that the battery is running low.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to the elements in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless system of the present embodiment includes a host device 1,
Display device 2, output device 3, wireless KB1
1 and a relay box 12. Wireless KB
11 and the relay box 12 are connected by a wireless I / F. The relay BOX 12 and the host device 11 are connected by a KB-I / F. Host device 1
And display device 2, and host device 1 and output device 3
Are connected by dedicated I / Fs. The host device 1 is a central processing unit that receives key data with the relay BOX 12 by a KB-I / F, identifies the key data, and controls the display device 2 and the output device 3. The display device 2, a display device for displaying data output from the host device 1 on a screen, and the output device 3 are a printer controlled by the host device 1.

The wireless KB 11 has a key matrix 4
-2 key scan to acquire valid key data, detect the power supply voltage of the battery 4-3, and inform the relay BOX 12 of the information on the position of the valid key and the status of the battery 4-3 by wireless data. Have. The wireless KB 11 includes a microcontroller 11-1, a key matrix 4-2, a battery 4-3, a battery voltage detection unit 11-2, and a transmission unit 4-4. The microcontroller 11-1 performs a key scan and obtains valid key data for which a key switch of the key matrix 4-2 has been pressed and the state of the battery 4-3 from the battery voltage detection unit 11-2. Has a function of generating wireless data and performing internal control of the keyboard. In the key matrix 4-2, key switches are arranged in a matrix at intersections of drive lines and receive lines corresponding to the keys, and whether the depression of the keys is effective by the microcontroller 11-1 by turning on / off the intersections. It is determined whether or not it is. The battery 4-3 includes a microcontroller 11-1, a key matrix 4-2, and a transmission unit 4-4.
Power supply for supplying voltage to the
It is.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an example of the discharge characteristics of the battery. The horizontal axis represents time t, and the vertical axis represents voltage V. The battery 4-3 generally shows discharge characteristics as shown in FIG. 7 although it varies depending on the type, load condition, and temperature characteristics. As shown in FIG. 7, the output voltage V is not constant at the nominal voltage V1, but decreases in the direction toward the end voltage VE as time elapses, and the output voltage V sharply drops immediately before the end voltage. The battery voltage detector 11-2 transmits a battery alarm to the relay BOX 12 at a specific voltage V2 before the battery 4-3 reaches the final voltage VE, and is configured by, for example, an operational amplifier. V2
Sets a voltage at which V1>V2> VE and after which the wireless KB 12 can operate for a while. For example, in the case of a dry battery having a nominal voltage V1 of 1.5 V and a cut-off voltage VE of 0.9 V, the detection voltage V2 is set to about 1 V to 1.1 V. The transmission unit 4-4 has a function of transmitting wireless data such as infrared rays and radio waves to the relay BOX 12.

The relay box 12 receives the data transmitted from the wireless KB 11, displays the status of the battery 4-3 on the indicator 12-2, and displays the key data on the K 12.
It has a function of transmitting data to the higher-level device 1 via the B-I / F.
The relay BOX 12 includes a microcontroller 12-1, an indicator 12-2, and a receiving unit 5-2. The microcontroller 12-1 determines whether or not the wireless data received by the receiving unit 5-2 is available, and determines whether or not the wireless data indicates that the power supply voltage of the battery 4-3 is lower than V2. 2 and a function of generating a key code conforming to the KB-I / F from the wireless data received from the wireless KB 11 and transmitting the key code to the host device 11. The receiving unit 5-2 includes:
It has a function of receiving wireless data from the wireless KB11. The indicator 12-2 is a wireless K
The wireless data received from B11 indicates the availability of data and the state of the battery 4-3. If the received wireless data is normal and the battery state is OK, for example, green, the received wireless data is ID Data errors such as errors and parity errors
For example, an orange LED is provided if the wireless KB 11 is in a battery alarm state.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing the structure of wireless data according to the embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG.
Indicates the first byte, and FIG. 2B indicates the second byte. FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the data is the first byte,
The second byte has a total of two bytes. B7 of each byte indicates a parity bit, and B6 indicates a respective identification bit.
For example, if it is the first byte, it is (X0XXXXXX), and if it is the second byte, it is (X1XXXXXX). FIG.
As shown in (a), B5 and B4 of the first byte are bits indicating the ID of the KB. In the wireless KB 11, an ID (set by a dip switch or the like) is generally provided so as not to cause interference with another adjacent wireless KB. In this case, two bits are set so that four types of KBs can be identified. assign. B3 to B0 are data indicating the X coordinate of the key matrix 4-2. FIG.
As shown in (b), B5 of the second byte is a bit indicating the state of the battery 4-3 of the wireless KB11. Here, 0 if the voltage state of the battery 4-3 is OK, and 1 if the voltage state of the battery 4-3 is NG. And B4 is a bit for discriminating pressing / release of key data. The bit is 1 if pressed, and 0 if released. B3 to B0 are Y coordinate data of the key matrix.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a key press detection process of the wireless KB in FIG. Hereinafter, the key pressing process of the wireless KB 11 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S21, the microcontroller 1
A step 2-1 performs a key scan of the key matrix 4-2 to detect an X coordinate and a Y coordinate of an effective key whose key switch is pressed. In step S22, it is determined whether or not there is a valid key.
If there is no valid key, the process returns to step S21.
In step S23, since there is a valid key, the battery voltage detecting unit 11-2 determines the voltage V of the battery 4-3.
Is read and compared with the reference voltage V2. Step S24
In the battery detection unit 11-2, the battery 4
It is determined whether the battery 4-3 is OK based on whether the voltage V of the battery -3 exceeds the reference voltage V2.
Is OK, the process proceeds to step S24, and the battery 4
If -3 is NG, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S24, since the battery 4-3 is OK, the microcontroller 11-1 transmits the second byte B which is the battery alarm bit of the transmission data shown in FIG.
Set 5 to 0 to clear the battery alarm bit.

In step S25, the battery 4-
Since 3 is NG, the microcontroller 11-1 sets B5 of the second byte, which is the battery alarm bit of the transmission data shown in FIG. 8B, to 1, and sets the battery alarm bit. In step S26, the microcontroller 11-1 generates the wireless data shown in FIG. 7, and in step S27, saves the wireless data including the battery alarm bit in the wireless transmission buffer. In step S28, the transmitting unit 4-4 transmits the wireless data to the relay BOX 12 according to the wireless I / F. Here, the state of the battery 4-3 is transmitted together with the information of the valid key only when there is a valid key because the battery 4-3 is consumed to transmit wireless data. Yes, and only when the operator is using a wireless system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the data reception process of the relay BOX in FIG. Hereinafter, the data reception processing of the relay BOX will be described with reference to FIG. In step S31, the receiving unit 5-2 in the relay box 12
Receives the wireless key data transmitted from the wireless KB 12 shown in FIG.
Send to 1. In step S32, the microcontroller 12-1 checks the KB-ID and the data format (parity and the like), determines whether or not a data error has occurred.
Go to step S33, if there is no data error, step S34
Proceed to. In step S33, the microcontroller 12-1 turns on the data error indicator (orange LED) indicating the data error in the indicator 12-2, and proceeds to the next process (for example, in preparation for receiving wireless data). In step S34, the microcontroller 12-1 determines whether or not a battery alarm has been set in the wireless data. If the battery alarm has been cleared, the process proceeds to step S35. If the battery alarm has been set, the process proceeds to step S35. The process proceeds to step S36.

In step S35, the microcontroller 12-1 determines that the data is OK and the battery 4-3 is
Since it is K, the battery OK indicator (green LED) in the indicator 13-2 is turned on. Step S3
At 6, the microcontroller 12-1 lights the battery alarm indicator (red LED) in the indicator 12-2 because the data is OK but the battery 4-3 is NG. In step S37, a key code is generated from the wireless data, and in step S3
At 8, the key code is saved in the key code transmission buffer for transmission to the host device 1. Then, the key code is transmitted by the KB-IF. The host device 1 inputs a key code and outputs characters or the like corresponding to the key code to the display device 2, or outputs an output device 3 according to the key code.
Output to

With the above processing, when the output voltage of the battery 4-3 is equal to or higher than V2, the relay BOX 12 turns on the green LED when receiving data from the wireless KB 11,
If the number is 2 or less, a red indicator is turned on as a battery alarm, and if the received data is NG due to KB-ID or parity, the orange LED can be turned on.
Of the battery 4-3 and the quality of the wireless data can be recognized. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when operating the wireless KB 11, the operator can easily check the quality of the data from the wireless KB 11 and the state of the battery 4-3 by the indicator provided in the data receiving unit, that is, the relay BOX 12. It can be grasped and a sudden malfunction due to the life of the battery 4-3 can be prevented. Also, since the state of the battery 4-3 is always displayed during use of the wireless KB 11,
The operator does not need to worry about running out of battery (remaining battery). Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, there are the following modifications.

(A) In this embodiment, the wireless KB1
1 is provided with a battery voltage detecting unit 12-2, and when a key press is detected, the pressed data is added to the state of the battery 4-3 and transmitted to the relay BOX 12, and the state is displayed by the indicator 12-2 provided in the relay BOX 12. Let me
The means for transmitting the state of the battery to the relay BOX 12 is not limited to this. For example, the number of transmissions of the key press data may be changed according to the state of the battery 4-3 of the wireless KB 11 without changing the key press data (for example, the battery When OK is OK, the same data is transmitted a plurality of times as a measure against data loss, and when the battery 4-3 is NG, the data is transmitted only once.) Or, the interval for transmitting the same key press data is changed. May be. (B) Although the wireless data receiving unit 5-2 and the indicator 12-2 are also provided in the relay BOX 12 for connection to the general-purpose host device in the present embodiment, they may be incorporated in the host device. It may be incorporated in (C) In the present embodiment, the display of the status of the data from the wireless KB 11 is divided into three types of colors (green, orange, and red), but is not limited thereto. Further, instead of the indicator 12-2, it is also possible to configure with an acoustic component such as a buzzer.

[0020]

As described in detail above, the first and the second
According to the invention, the wireless KB is provided with a battery power supply voltage detecting unit for detecting the power supply voltage of the battery, and the relay BOX or the higher-level device is provided with a warning means. When the battery is running low, the operator is notified by the warning means. The state can be grasped, and sudden operation failure due to the life of the battery can be prevented. In addition, since the state of the battery is always displayed during use of the wireless KB, the operator does not need to worry about running out of the battery (remaining battery level).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional wireless system.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a wireless KB and a relay BOX in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of conventional wireless data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a wireless KB key pressing process in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of receiving a relay BOX in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a discharge characteristic of a battery.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of wireless data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a wireless KB key pressing process in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a receiving process of the relay BOX in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 upper device 2 display device 3 output device 4-2 key matrix 4-3 battery 4-4 transmitting unit 5-2 receiving unit 11 wireless KB 11-1 microcontroller 11-2 battery voltage detecting unit 12 relay BO
X 12-1 Microcontroller 12-2 Indicator

Claims (2)

[Claims] A key matrix including a plurality of key switches; a battery; a battery voltage detecting unit for detecting a power supply voltage of the battery; A first microcontroller that detects the valid keyswitch and generates wireless data including information regarding the position of the valid keyswitch and information indicating whether the power supply voltage of the battery exceeds a threshold. A wireless keyboard having a transmitting unit for transmitting the wireless data; a receiving unit for receiving the wireless data; and a second microcontroller for transmitting data with a predetermined keyboard interface based on the wireless data. A relay box, and the battery received by the receiving unit. A warning means for externally indicating whether or not the power supply voltage exceeds the threshold value and whether or not the wireless data is normal; and receiving the data transmitted from the relay BOX as key input data. A wireless device, comprising: a higher-level device for controlling; and the second microcontroller or the higher-level device configured to control the alarm unit based on the wireless data. 2. A key matrix including a plurality of key switches, a battery, a battery voltage detecting unit for detecting a power supply voltage of the battery, and an on / off state of the key switch of the key matrix. A first microcontroller that detects the valid keyswitch and generates wireless data including information regarding the position of the valid keyswitch, and repeatedly transmits the data according to whether the power supply voltage exceeds a threshold. A wireless keyboard having a transmitting unit that transmits the wireless data by changing the number of times or the interval of repeated transmission, a receiving unit that receives the wireless data, and the number of times that the wireless data is transmitted based on the wireless data or The power supply of the battery depends on the transmission interval. Determines whether or not exceeds the threshold value, a relay BOX having a second microcontroller for transmitting data through a predetermined wire interface, and the power supply voltage of the battery received by the receiving unit is set to the threshold value. Alarm means for externally indicating whether or not the wireless data is normal and whether or not the wireless data is normal; and a higher-level device that receives and controls the data transmitted from the relay BOX as key input data, and A wireless system, wherein the second microcontroller or the host device controls the alarm unit.