JPS59201131A - Display system for name of function key - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the dynamic comparison between each function key and a key name showing the function allotted to each key without using a work mat, etc., by providing a dynamic display function applying a controllable flat plate type display device. CONSTITUTION:A keyboard 310 contains function keys 311-318 having hynamic display functions applying a controllable flat plate type display device in addition to normal keys. A CPU40 converts the parameter designated by a program 412 into a style that can be decoded by a keyboard controller 320 is response to an IOCS411 when it executes an application program 412. This converted parameter is transferred to the controller 320. The controller 320 displays a designated character train of a designated one of keys 311-318 based on the transferred data via a display control line 350. In such a way, the function key itself is formed with a display. This eliminates the use of a work mat, etc. and ensures a dynamic display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention particularly relates to a function key name display method suitable for a system in which tasks are selected by program function keys.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Generally, a function key used in this type of system is assigned a business name (program business name) frequently handled by that system. This business name can be changed in various ways depending on the program.

Therefore, it is not preferable to directly engrave the business name on the key top of the function key in order to associate the function key with the business name. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a job name mat 20 on which the corresponding job name is written is placed, for example, at the top (or bottom) of function keys 1 to 18. , a matte system was used to associate function keys with job names.

However, with this mat method, the following problem arises when it is desired to define several types of tasks that are positioned at a lower level than the task selected in response to the operator's function key operations. After "daily report" is selected by operating the corresponding function key 15 according to the business name currently written in the business name mat 20, for example "daily report", several types of "daily report" are selected. Consider a case where you want the user to select one of the following. In this case, it is necessary to provide a new business mat for associating various "daily reports" with the function keys 11 to 18 as business names.

However, it is difficult to place various types of business mats at positions corresponding to each function key in a limited area on the keyboard, and the practicality of this method has been poor.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a function key name display method that can dynamically associate each function key with a key name indicating the function assigned to each function key without using a work mat or the like.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides a plurality of function keys with a dynamic display function using a controllable flat panel display, comprising an input means having the function keys on which corresponding key names are displayed, and keys from the function keys. A function key comprising a control means for decoding the manual content and displaying key names corresponding to the functions to be assigned to the plurality of function keys on the plurality of function keys according to the decoding result. When a key is operated, key names corresponding to functions at a lower level than the function currently assigned to the key are displayed on the plurality of function keys.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 2 shows a main part configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 30 is a keyboard device, and 4o is a jcPU which is the center of the system. The keyboard device @30 includes a keyboard 310, a keyboard controller that controls the keyboard 310 and interfaces with the CPU 40, a scan line 330, a return line 34θ, and a display control line 3.
50. In addition to regular keys (not shown) such as alphabet keys and numeric keys, the keyboard 310 includes function keys 311 to 311 with dynamic display functions using a controllable flat display (for example, a liquid crystal display). 318 (8
(not limited to individuals) are provided. The keyboard controller 320 performs key manual control that runs through the scan line 330 and receives and receives key data input via the return line 340, and transmits the key data to the CPU 4.
It has a function to perform key output open side to transfer the key output to 0, and display control to display characters on the function keys 3 1 to 318 via the display control line 350 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 40. That is, the keyboard controller 320 has a display-side mN'M function key control function for the function keys 311 to 318 in addition to the normal control functions of key manual control and key output control.

The CP, U 4 o has a main memory 410 in which various programs, data, etc. are stored, and an arithmetic and control unit 420 that performs processing according to the programs. Programs stored in the main memory 410 include an input/output control system (operating system, hereinafter referred to as 10C8) 411, an application program (APLC) 412, and the like.

Next, the operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Now CPU 4
0 executes the application program 412. FIG. 3 shows part of the program contents of the application program 412. The program shown in FIG.
No. to 318, the corresponding function keys 311 to 318
This shows an example of a program that instructs to display a key name (in this example, a job name) corresponding to a function (in this example, a job selection function) to be assigned to a function (in this example, a job selection function). The application program 412 shown in FIG. 3 uses a high-level language to add information indicating a function key to be displayed (P';'J, PF, !1, etc.) to a WRITE statement, for example, and display characters (example characters). ) indicating the character code (character code string) (
ARGl, ARG8, etc.) are described as parameters. When the CPU 40 executes the application program 412, the CPU 40 inputs the parameters specified in the application program 412 to the process 0C8.
411 into a format that can be decoded by the keyboard controller 320 and transferred to the keyboard controller 320 of the keyboard device 30. Based on the data transferred from the CPU 40, the keyboard controller 920 displays a specified character string, for example, "Start of Work" on a specified key among the function keys 311 to 318, for example, the function key 31, via the control line 350. and display it.

Hereinafter, in the same manner, the keyboard controller 320
Function key 31 according to instructions from CPU 40
2 to 318 display key names indicating business names. That is, when the CPU 40 executes each WRITE statement of the application program 412 as shown in FIG.
1 to 318, the corresponding business names are displayed as shown in FIG.

Next, the operator selects a desired job name from among the various job names displayed on the function keys 311 to 318, e.g.
It is assumed that the function key 315 is pressed to select "Daily Report". The keyboard controller 320 is
When the key data of the function key 315 input via the return line 350 is received by the key scan via the scan line 330, the key data is transferred to the CPU 40. The CPU 40 reads the key data from the keyboard controller 320 using the READ statement of the application program 412, and recognizes that the business name ``Daily Report'' defined (assigned) to the function key 315 has been selected.

In this example, there are several types of "daily reports".
When the business name "Daily Report" is selected, multiple types of "Daily Report" are selected.
It is assumed that it is necessary to select one specific daily report group from among the following. Therefore, in this embodiment, an instruction is given in the application program 412 to display various daily report groups to be assigned to some or all of the function keys 311 to 318 on the corresponding function keys in a format similar to that shown in FIG. We have prepared a WRITE statement to do this.

When the CPU 40 recognizes that the work name "daily report" defined in the function key 315 has been selected, the CPU 40 selects "daily report".
Several specific daily report groups located at a lower level are displayed on designated keys of the function keys 311 to 318 via the keyboard controller 320 in accordance with the application program 412 in the same manner as described above. As a result, the operator presses the function keys 311-3.
From among the various daily report groups displayed on part or all of 18, a desired daily report group can be designated by key selection.

In this way, according to this embodiment, the function keys themselves are configured with a display device, that is, the function keys have a display function, and one program worker is displayed on these function keys. No need for a work mat.

In addition, if there are several jobs at a lower level than the selected job, the job name displayed on the function key will be switched to the job name at the lower level, so the operator can Able to always correctly understand the correspondence with business names.

In the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to an information processing system, but it can also be applied to electronic devices that operate in response to instructions from the outside, such as a microwave oven (electronic open). That is, the item selection switch of the microwave oven (electronic oven) is structured like the function keys shown in the above embodiment, and for example, in the initial state, items such as fish, meat, boiled food, sweets, etc. are displayed on each of these switches. When the switch displaying "Fish" is operated in this state, the controller of the microwave oven (electronic open) will select the item at the lower level of "Fish", that is, the type of fish (name of fish), for example, Pacific saury, Salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc. are displayed on the switch. In this case, each switch is used as a type selection switch. In this state, when the switch displaying "saury" is operated, the controller changes the size of the fish, for example, large or medium.

Display on the switch as if it were small. In this case, the corresponding switch is used as a size selection switch. In this state, if the switch with "dog" displayed is operated,
The controller splits each part to create optimal cooking conditions for ``thick''``saury''.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the key name indicating the function assigned to each function key is displayed on the corresponding function key itself, making it possible to eliminate the need for a work mat or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, when it is necessary to sequentially change the functions assigned to each function key in response to key operations, etc., the key name displayed on the function key can be changed to a key indicating the new function to be assigned. Since the names can be changed, the operator can always recognize the successively changing roles of the function keys without error, and can easily perform correct function key operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining conventional function keys, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is applied to the above embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an application program. 40...CPU, 310...Keyboard, 311~
318...-Function key, 320...° Keyboard controller. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] An input means having a plurality of function keys with a dynamic display function using a controllable flat display, in which the corresponding key name is displayed, and deciphering the key manual content from the function keys. and displaying on the plurality of function keys key names corresponding to the functions to be assigned to each of the plurality of function keys according to the decoding result.
A function key name display method characterized by comprising a control means.