JPS58127236A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a misoperation when the function of a push-button is changed, by providing an optical display at a place near the push-button to display the function of the button. CONSTITUTION:An optical display DPL is provided at a place near each key K for a surface panel of a keyboard device containing 4 keys on both horizontal and vertical rows respectively. The DPL shows the function of a corresponding key. When a shift key is operated to change the function of the key, the new function is displayed on the DPL. The DPL is made of a liquid crystal, a light emitting diode, etc. Thus misoperations of keys are reduced even though the shift keys are provided on plural stages.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a keyboard device attached to an operation panel of a device including a microprocessor or other arithmetic processing circuit. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a keyboard device configured so that the function of a push button can be changed in several stages.

[Description of prior art]

There is a widely known device in which pushbuttons representing numbers, 26 alphabetical characters, and other characters are arranged, and by pressing the shift key K, the function of each pushbutton can be switched to uppercase and lowercase letters, or changed to alphabetical and kana characters. There is.

In this way, it is not limited to those equipped with a large number of push buttons of 26 characters or more, but it is also a so-called numeric keypad of about 16, and usually these push buttons each have a number [1, 2, 5, . . .
...0" and "-1--x+J and other symbols, but by pressing the shift key of one of these pushbuttons, the functions of each pushbutton can be changed simultaneously. There are some things that are configured to be changed.

In this case, if there is a shift to two stages, "1.
2.3,...O,+-X÷......" Print the function of each pushbutton directly on the pushbutton, and print the function when shifted to that pushbutton. It can be displayed by printing near it. However, if the function can be changed by shifting in five or more steps, the display becomes confusing. Conventional methods for this purpose include color-coding or placing a separate printing frame on the keyboard surface, but these are cumbersome to use, have limited display types, and are prone to mistakes by users. be.

%, a device was developed in which there was no shift key on the keyboard surface, but the function of the push button could be changed using internal software.

Some of these devices display the function of each push button on the OR1 screen so that the user knows the function of each pushbutton at the time, but this is limited to a small number of keys close to the OR7 screen. However, it does not display the functions of all keys. Furthermore, it cannot be used for keyboards without an 0RTlii surface.

[Object of the present invention] An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device that allows a user to accurately understand the respective functions of all push buttons at a glance, and with fewer erroneous operations.

- [Main points of the present invention] The present invention provides an optical character symbol display such as a liquid crystal display board or the like in the vicinity of each pushbutton, and a circuit that performs arithmetic processing to display the functions of each pushbutton on the display. It is characterized by being configured to display the output as a close-up display.

[Explanation based on examples]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing the front panel of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Push button! are arranged in four rows horizontally and in four columns vertically, and a four-stage display DPLI-
Place DPL4. The displays DPLI to DPL4 are liquid crystal displays, and the display is performed based on the output of an arithmetic processing circuit that is supplied with the output to the push button. In FIG. 1, the displays DPLI to DPL4 display numbers from "1" to "0" and other symbols representing the functions of the respective push buttons x.

When the function of this push button X is changed, the contents automatically displayed on the display devices DPLI-DPL4 are as follows.
The new function is changed as shown in FIG. Only two examples shown in Figures 1 and 2 are shown here, but the seven functions can be changed to more stages, and the functions are automatically displayed on the displays DPLI to DPL4. The user operates push button X while looking at this display.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1
6 pushbuttons X are represented by 1 block X r+XDP
LI to DPL4 are four-column liquid crystal displays. DPL F
i The main display of this device displays calculation input data, calculation results, and other contents.

All of these are connected to an arithmetic processing circuit CPU.

ROM Fi is a special memory for starting out, and the program of the arithmetic processing circuit CPH is recorded therein. RAM #'i This is a memory for temporary storage of this arithmetic processing circuit CPU.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a program for the apparatus according to the present invention.4 In the above example, the display is a liquid crystal display, but any type of display may be used as long as it is a light emitting diode or other optical display. The number of push buttons is not limited to this example, and may be any number of four.

[Explanation of effects]

According to the present invention, ■ the user can understand the current function of each push button at a glance; ■ the current function is displayed accurately and there is no error; ■ it is not necessary to print on the keyboard panel surface and key top surface. ■ The number of function changes can be increased regardless of the number of steps, since it does not confuse the user. ■ The device automatically changes the function using software, regardless of the user's operation. It has excellent effects and can be used in many cases.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are configuration diagrams of a panel display surface of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 show states in which the functions of each pushbutton are changed and the display is different. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the processor circuit. Patent applicant Yokogawa Electric Corporation Representative Patent attorney Takashi Izu's 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A keyboard device comprising a plurality of push buttons arranged to be operated with fingers and whose outputs are input to an arithmetic processing circuit, and configured so that the functions of the push buttons can be changed over several stages, An optical display that displays a symbol is provided near each of the push buttons, and the display is configured to display the current function of each of the push buttons based on a signal sent from the arithmetic processing circuit. A keyboard device with a t% indication of what has been done.