JPS6120116A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a simple and economical keyboard device for displaying shifting state by emitting and displaying respective shifting states generated by required control keys through lamp means. CONSTITUTION:When a character key or the like corresponding to input data is depressed on a key switch part 1 of a keyboard device, its signal is inputted to an encoding control circuit 2, which sends an electric signal obtained by encoding said character or the like to an upper device 20. The shifting status specified by depressing a control key is outputted from a control key detecting circuit 3 to respective AND circuits 7, 8 as the 1st and 2nd shifting state signals and the output of a lamp signal generating circuit 4 is also sent to both the AND circuits 7, 8. If the 2nd shifting state is generated, the 2nd shifting state signal and the negative 1st shifting state (logic ''1'') are inputted to the AND circuit 8 and the 2nd shifting state display lamp 10 is turned on. In case of the 1st shifting state, the 1st shifting state display lamp 9 is turned on.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a control circuit for control keys in a keyboard device that provides input to an electronic computer or word processor by manual typing operations.

[Conventional technology]

A keyboard device that converts characters and symbols into codes through human typing and inputs them into a computer or word processor handles a large number of characters and symbols, and due to the number of key switches arranged on the keyboard, only one key switch is required. Two to four types of characters are assigned to each character, and the required character is selected and typed using a control key called a shift key.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the display on the key top of the key switch of the keyboard used in the above case.

This display shows that if the "alphanumeric" control key is pressed and the alphanumeric mode is entered, the number "5" will be input.
Also, if the "English symbol" control key is pressed and the mode is set to English symbol mode, the symbol "%" will be input, and if the "Kana symbol" is pressed in the same way, the lowercase kana "
If "Kana" is inputted and "Kana" is not inputted, this indicates that the uppercase kana "Kana" is to be input. That is, since a plurality of characters or symbols are assigned to one key switch, the operator presses the desired control key in advance to select the required character or symbol. You need to press the key while checking the

Conventionally, the shift state has been confirmed by remembering it in the operator's memory or by looking at the screen of a display device connected to a host device of the device.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, if the operator relies on memory, many erroneous operations occur, and if the display device is connected to a host device, the operator's attention is taken up with reading the screen, which reduces the efficiency of the typing operation. However, the disadvantage was that the equipment was complicated and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a punching device that displays shift states simply and inexpensively by displaying each shift state caused by a required control key by means of a lamp means.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a switch key in which a plurality of characters and symbols are assigned to each key, a control key for selecting and specifying a desired one from among the characters and symbols assigned to the switch key, and the control key. In a keyboard device equipped with a control circuit that executes selection designation by key output, the display lamp corresponding to the control key and the display lamp corresponding to the last pressed control key among the control keys continue to be lit. It is characterized by comprising a circuit means for causing the light to turn on.

[For production]

If a specific control key cannot be pressed, a lamp indicating the shift status will emit light, and the lamp will continue to emit light until the next control key indicating a different shift status is pressed. By providing this in the shift board device, erroneous operations due to shifting are prevented, and the shifting efficiency is increased by reducing the operator's need to allocate his/her attention to confirming the display of the shift status.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, in the following explanation, a case with two control keys will be taken as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. When a character or symbol key corresponding to human input data is pressed in the key switch unit 1, the signal from the key switch enters the encoding TLD 111 circuit 2 via the path 11 and is encoded corresponding to the character or symbol. An electrical signal is generated and sent to the host device 20 via path 12.

When a shift state is specified by pressing a control key, a signal from the pressed control switch enters the control key detection circuit 3 via a path 11 and further via a path 13.

When in the first shift state by the first control key, the first shift state signal (
A negative first shift state signal (logic "0") passed through the NAND circuit 5 is sent to the AND circuit 8.

When the second shift state is set by the second control key, a second shift state signal (for logic) is sent to the AND circuit 8 via the path 15, and a negative second shift state signal B is sent through the NAND circuit 6. A signal (logic "0") is sent to the AND circuit 7.

The ramp signal generation circuit 4 is connected to the AND circuit 7 via a path 16.
and is connected to the AND circuit 8. The output of the AND circuit 7 is connected to the first shift state display lamp 9 via a path 17, and the output of the AND circuit 8 is connected to the second shift state display lamp 10 via a path 18.

Now, if we consider the case where the second control key that generates the second shift state cannot be pressed, the second shift state signal is sent to the AND circuit 8 via the path 15, and the negative first shift state (logical 1) is sent to the AND circuit 8, the output of the lamp signal generating circuit 4 passes through the path 16, the AND circuit 8, and the path 18 to reach the second shift status display lamp 10, causing the lamp to emit light.

This state is maintained until the first control needle is struck. Further, when the first control key is pressed, the first shift state display lamp 9 lights up in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Although the case where there are two control keys has been exemplified above, it is obvious that the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where there are three or more control keys.

When the present invention is applied to a word processor, for example, JI
In an S-array punching board, there are a maximum of four shift modes for one key switch, so four lamps are sufficient. Furthermore, since the number of circuit elements is small, it can be easily installed in a playing board device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

By applying the present invention to a keyboard device for an electronic computer or a word processor, it can be made simple in structure, inexpensive, and less likely to be erroneously operated. Furthermore, since the display method uses lamp light, the operator's attention is less likely to be distracted, which has an excellent effect of improving batting efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the arrangement of various keys of the keyboard device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Key switch part, 2... Encoding control circuit, 3
... Control key detection circuit, 4... Lamp signal generation circuit, 5.6... NAND circuit, 7.8... AND circuit, 9... First shift status display lamp, 10...
- Second shift status display lamp, 11 to 18... various paths, 20... host device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A switch key to which multiple characters and symbols are assigned to each key, a control key for selecting and specifying a desired one from among the characters and symbols assigned to this switch key, and a control key for selecting and specifying a desired one from among the characters and symbols assigned to this switch key; In a keyboard device equipped with a control circuit that executes a selection designation by output, the display lamp corresponding to the control key and the display lamp corresponding to the last pressed control key among the control keys are continuously turned on. A keyboard device characterized by comprising circuit means for lighting.