JPS61157924A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain a keyboard layout for meeting user's need by providing a memory means for storing a definable key code and a control means for assigning the key code to each key on a keyboard. CONSTITUTION:When a keyboard layout key KYBD is depressed, a control unit PU transfers a definable key input request message 'define key?' to a display DIS from a ROM and displays the effect. When the key K1 on the keyboard KB is depressed in this state, the unit PU generates an intermediate code for showing the physical position of the key K1 to store it in the work area of a RAM. Then a definable key group and a cursor are displayed. Then, when a return key 'RETURN' is depressed, with respect to the code of a character A shown by the cursor, the intermediate code for showing the generated key K1 is called in the work area of the RAM, and registered on a user definable table UDKT together with the key code of the character A. In the same manner the assignment of a character to each key is advanced to complete the table UDKT.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an electronic device equipped with a keyboard.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic device configured such that the layout of a keyboard included in an electronic typewriter, word processor, personal computer, desktop computer, sequence controller, etc. can be changed as necessary. It is.

[Prior art]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, electronic devices such as electronic typewriters and personal computers equipped with alphanumeric keys have been predetermined at the manufacturing stage to have a predetermined keyboard layout for each destination country.

For example, electronic typewriters for the United States are prefixed to a keyboard layout as shown in Figure 4(A), and electronic typewriters for Germany are prefixed to a keyboard layout as shown in Figure 4(B). was.

However, in cases where multiple languages are prevalent within the same country, such as in Canada and Switzerland, some users may have different keyboard layouts than the pre-fixed keyboard layout, even if they are from the same country. There are requests to change to other keyboard layouts.

Furthermore, in Japan, there are similar demands regarding, for example, Japanese word processors. In other words, the current Japanese 50-on arrangement is mainly divided into two systems, and those who are familiar with Japanese word processors that have one of the 50-on arrangement can also specify an option in which the 50-on arrangement has a true row. Although it is possible, the drawback is that it is expensive.

Furthermore, users of electronic typewriters with a conventionally widely known alphabet layout can use Dvorak (Dv
orak) arrangement (see FIG. 4(C)), it is necessary to modify or change option specifications, which is very inconvenient.

[Object] In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can obtain a keyboard layout that meets the user's wishes.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an electronic device equipped with a keyboard, which includes a storage means storing a definable key code, and a storage means storing a definable key code for each key included in the keyboard. and control means for assigning any one of the key codes.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

Figure 1 shows an electronic typewriter to which the present invention is applied.
KB shown in this figure, which is a block diagram showing one embodiment of 4.
is a keyboard, in addition to alphanumeric keys αN.

It has a return key RETURN, a keyboard layout definition key (hereinafter referred to as definition key) KYBD, a cursor right shift key CR9, and a cursor left shift key CLS. The layout definition key KYBD of this keyboard is a special control key for implementing the present invention, and its function will be explained in detail later with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. Also,
KBS is a keyboard signal and includes key code information for identifying the pressed key.

Pu is a control unit equipped with a clock pulse generator, a delay circuit, a gate circuit, etc., and executes a control procedure which will be explained in detail later with respect to FIG.

RAM is a random access memory, and inside it is a line buffer LB that stores the keyed-in contents.
, a display memory ISPM that stores content to be displayed;
It has areas for a cursor/head pointer COP, a password memory 4, a user-defined key table IJOKT, and other work areas.

ROM is a read-only memory, and the control unit PU
A control program (a group of microinstructions) necessary for executing the control procedure shown in the third figure, which will be described later, is stored therein.

PRT is a printer that prints the contents of the line buffer LB (keyed-in alphanumeric characters, etc.) on recording paper based on instructions from the control unit Pυ. Here, CPRT is a print control signal.

DIS is a display including an alphanumeric display element such as a liquid crystal display element, and visually displays the contents of the display memory DISPH or the contents stored in the ROM based on instructions from the control unit PU. Further, CDl5 is a display control signal.

BuS is a pass line, control unit ρU and RAM
, acts as a data transfer path between the ROM and the ROM.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a key operation using this embodiment and an example of a display corresponding to the key operation.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the key operation procedure shown in the second figure and the flowchart shown in the third figure.

First, in step 1 shown in FIG. 2, a power switch (not shown) on the keypad KB is pressed. At this time, since the password "PASS" is not yet stored between the password memory areas of RA)I, the entire RAM is cleared in step S2A, and "PASS" is stored between the password memory areas.

Next, in step S2B, 1'' is stored in the cursor/head pointer CHP, and thereafter.

In step S3, the data stored in the display memory DISPH is transferred to the display and displayed.

In step S4, it waits for a key on the keyboard KB to be pressed.

In step 2, when the definition key KYBD is pressed, control passes through step S5 and moves to step S8. In this step S8, a message requesting manual input of the definition key "DEFIME KEY?" is transferred from RO to the display. Then, in step S7, a key press is awaited.

In operation step 3, press a certain key (K) on the keyboard KB.
1) is pressed, in step S8,
An intermediate code representing the physical location of 1 is generated for the key 1, and stored in the work area on the RAM.Next, through step S9, control is transferred to step SIO.In step S10, the code 1 in FIG. As shown in #a3, a definable key group and cursor (menu pointer) are displayed. Thereafter, in step Sit, a key press is awaited.

When the return key RETURN is pressed in step 4, control is transferred to step S13 via step S12. In step S13, the code of the key indicated by the cursor is transferred to the address on the RAM determined by the intermediate code generated in step S8 ( That is, it is registered in the user-defined key table UDKT). In other words, the code of the character sAn indicated by the cursor (menu pointer) is the 0 key Kl generated in step 3 above.
The intermediate code ``A'' representing ``A'' is called up from the work area A on the RAM and registered in the user NR key table UDKT along with the key code ``A''. Then, the process returns to step S6.
Return to °'DEFINE KEY? ” is displayed, and a key press is awaited in step S7.

In step 5, press the other keys (K) on the board KB.
2) is pressed, the key K in hand H3 is pressed.
The same control steps as when l is pressed are executed. In this way, a display as shown in FIG. 2 is produced.

In step e, when the cursor right shift key CR9 is pressed, the process goes through steps 512 and S14 to step S.
Control is transferred to 15. In step S15.

Move the cursor (menu pointer) to the right and return to step SIQ. In this way, a display as shown in step 6 of FIG. 2 is obtained.

In step 7, when the cursor right shift key CR'3 is pressed 17 times in succession, the same control as in step 8 is executed and a display as shown in step 1 is performed.

When the return key RETURN is pressed in step 8, the same control as in step 4 is executed. 2 is thus assigned the character "S°".

Thereafter, characters are assigned to each key according to the same procedure to complete the user-defined key table UDKT.

If it is determined in step S5 that the definition key is not KYBD, the process advances to step S1B and an intermediate code representing the pressed key is RA.
It is called from the work area on M, and based on that code, it is converted into a defined key code by referring to the user-defined key table UDK↑. Then, in step 517, it is determined whether the pressed key is the return key RETURN from the key code obtained in step S18, and if so, in step S19, the print head of the printer PRT is moved to the Baum position and the paper is fed. Then, the cursor head pointer CHP is set to 1 and the process returns to step s3. If the return key is not RETtlRN, the process proceeds to step S18, converts the key code obtained in step 91B into a character pattern, and prints and displays it at the position indicated by the cursor head pointer CHP. Increment by

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a specific character is assigned to each key on the keyboard, but it is also possible to assign various calculation keys and control keys found on desktop electronic meters, personal computers, etc. It is also possible.

Furthermore, it is also possible to make the key top part or the key top surface of the keyboard removable and rearrange them in accordance with a defined keyboard layout.

Key In the above embodiment, the user-defined i-table UDKT is cleared at the start, and if the user-defined key table is not cleared, the rejected user-defined key table is saved.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, the layout of the keyboard can be easily changed, so that an electronic device that can meet the user's needs can be provided quickly and at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic typewriter which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram explaining the first operating procedure and operating state of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing this embodiment. 1 is a flowchart showing a control procedure. FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams each showing an example of a keyboard layout. PRT...Printer, DNS...Display, KB...Keyboard, αN...Alphanumeric keys. pu...control unit. BuS...Pass line, RAM...Random access memory, ROM...Read only memory, LB...Line buffer, DISPM...Display memory. CHP...Cursor/head pointer. pw...Password memory, υ口KT...User defined key table, RETURN
...Return key, KYBD...Keyboard layout/definition key, CRS...Cursor right shift key, CLS...Cursor left shift key. <=

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In an electronic device equipped with a keyboard, a storage means storing a definable key code; and a key code stored in the storage means for each key included in the keyboard. An electronic device characterized by comprising: a control means for assigning any one of the key codes. 2) The key top portion or the key top surface of the keyboard has a removable structure, so that the keyboard layout can be changed in accordance with a defined keyboard layout. Electronic equipment listed.