JPS585830A - Keyboard input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly and precisely retrieve prescried characters and codes by illuminating the characters and codes of a plate to be retrieved at the instance before character and code information is completely inputted. CONSTITUTION:A control circuit 5 forms a code signal corresponding to a key 2a selected from a shift key group 2 and depressed and illuminates the key 2a from the inside to light an illumination element 4a required for distinguishing the characters and codes on the surface of the key 2a from their peripheral for a prescribed period. The lighting time of the illumination element 4a is set to the time length to retrieve the objective characters and codes and, when a select key 3a is depressed, the control circuit 5 forms a code signal corresponding to the selected key and outputs a composite signal obtained by composing the formed code signal and a code signal corresponding to the key 2a to an external device 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a keyboard input device in which all inputtable characters and characters and codes corresponding to code information are arranged on one side.

Conventionally, keyboard input devices for inputting various types of characters and code information, including kanji, have adopted a tablet method, a multi-stage shift method, etc., but all of them are arranged according to a predetermined format. Since there are an extremely large number of characters and codes, it takes skill on the part of the person in charge to quickly find and input the desired character or code from among them.
Furthermore, incorrect input operations were unavoidable.

In order to eliminate the drawbacks of conventional keyboard input devices, the present invention illuminates the characters and codes arranged at the searched location before the corresponding information is actually input, The present invention aims to provide a keyboard input device that reduces the burden of input work on the operator by making the characters and symbols arranged in the keyboard easier to read.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration when the present invention is implemented in a multi-stage shift type keyboard input device. Along with being arranged, those characters,
The codes are divided according to a predetermined format (12 in the example).
Each of the multi-stage shift keys 2 is marked on the surface of the corresponding operated part, that is, the key 28, and each shift key 28 is operated to designate and input any character or code in the table. A selection key group 3 having the same number of selection keys 38 as the number of shifts (12 in the embodiment), and an illumination body provided independently for each key 2a to display characters and codes written on the surface of each shift key 28. 4a to make it easier to read characters and codes written on the surfaces of other keys 2a in the vicinity.

The control circuit 5 forms a code signal corresponding to the selected and pressed key 28 in the shift key group 2, and also illuminates the key 28 from within to make the characters and codes on its surface stand out from the surroundings. The illuminants 4a necessary for this purpose are turned on for a predetermined period of time. The lighting time of the illuminant 4a is set to a length that allows the target character or code to be searched, and when the selection key 3a is operated, a corresponding code signal is generated in the control circuit 5. The control circuit 5 outputs to the external device 6 a composite signal in which this code signal and the aforementioned code signal corresponding to the key 2a are combined.

Note that when different keys 28 are operated successively without operating the selection key 3a, the control circuit 5 selects the key 2 that was operated first.
The code signal corresponding to a is canceled and only the code signal corresponding to the newly operated key 28 is formed to prepare for the formation of the composite signal described above. The illumination of the key 28 that was previously operated is stopped, and the illumination operation of the new key 2a is started.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of each key 28 of the multi-stage shift key group 2 described above, and the key buttons 20 in the figure have an opaque side part 20a made of synthetic resin and a transparent side part 20a, respectively. A top surface portion 20b and a seal portion 200 attached to the surface of the top surface portion 20b and having predetermined characters and symbols written thereon.
Below the side portion 20a, there is a guide plate 2.
An engaging portion 20d is formed which is attached to the through hole provided in the guide plate 1 and guided in the vertical direction by the guide plate 21 thereof. Note that the grooves 20e formed in the vertical direction of the side surface portion 20a are provided so that the side surface portion 20a can be forcibly deformed inward when the entire key button 20 is attached to the guide plate 21. Yes, two grooves 20e are formed on each key button 20;
The key buttons are attached to each other so that the grooves 20e of 0 do not connect with each other. Therefore, the light from the illuminant 4a does not leak outside, especially into the adjacent key buttons 20.

The elastic synthetic resin sheet member 22 normally presses and supports the key button 20 upward, and when the key button 20 is pressed, it deforms downward by a minute amount, and the movable donut-shaped sheet member 22 attached to the lower surface of the sheet member 22 deforms downward by a minute amount. A pair of fixed contacts 25.25111 on the substrate 24 are electrically connected by the contact 23. Spacer 26
is inserted between the substrate 24 and the sheet member 22, and assists the pressing and supporting operation of the key button 20 by the seat portion 122 described above. The illumination body 4a is mounted on the board 24, and its illumination portion is housed inside the key button 20. From the moment the fixed contact 25, 25 is connected, the inside of the key button 20 is illuminated for a set time by, for example, a timer circuit. Upper surface part 20
The seal portion 20c is illuminated through the seal portion 20c to make the characters and codes written on its surface easier to read than the characters and codes written on the surfaces of the surrounding key buttons.

Therefore, the operator operates the key button near the key button 20 arrangement location where the character or code he is searching for is written,
After confirming the characters and codes in an easily legible state, the desired character and code information can be input by operating the selection keys described above, so that the information input work can be performed effectively.

Regarding the selection key group 3, it is common to use the structure of a normal numeric keypad itself, but if it is equipped with a mechanism for selecting and inputting the characters and codes written on the surface of the multi-stage shift key 28, It can be of any type. Furthermore, the multi-stage shift key group 2 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2; for example, a pressure-sensitive element or one that utilizes changes in capacitance may be used to sense the proximity of the operator's fingers. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to those employing the multi-stage shift method shown in the embodiments, but can also be applied to various formats including tablet systems. It is also quite possible to provide a means for partially illuminating a location externally, that is, for example, to provide it at the tip of a pen in a pen-touch input method.

As described in detail above, the present invention searches for characters and codes by illuminating the characters and codes at the search location at that moment before the operator completely inputs the character and code information to be input. This makes it easy for the operator to keep his or her viewpoint fixed, and to quickly and accurately search for predetermined characters or codes, which has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard input device showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially detailed diagram thereof.
is the keyboard, 2 is a group of multi-stage shift keys, 3 is a group of selection keys,
4 is a lighting device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. All characters that can be input, characters corresponding to code information,
In a keyboard input device in which codes are arranged on one side, an illumination device is provided to partially illuminate each arrangement location of the characters and codes, and the lighting device corresponds to the character and code information to be input before inputting. 1. A keyboard input device characterized in that the location where characters and codes are arranged is illuminated by the illumination device.