JPS62105220A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate a sound by an output means according to a decision output, to reduce eye fatigue due to viewing, and to improve operability by inputting plural characters by an input means selectively, selecting plural input characters, and deciding the selection state by a decision means. CONSTITUTION:A keyboard controller 2 is connected to the keyboard 3 of the input means C1 of an input device and plural characters from keys of the keyboard 3 are inputted selectively to a controller 2. This controller 2 operates as a selecting means C2 under the control of a CPU 1 to select the input one of the plural input characters to the CPU 1. This CPU 1 operates as a decision means C3 by referrring to the contents of a RAM 4 to decide the selection state of the selecting means C2. Then, the CPU 1 controls the buzzer controller 5 of an output means C4 through a bus 7 and a buzzer 6 generate a buzzer tone which is different according to the kind of an upper-case or lower-case English character selected by the selecting means C2, thereby reducing the eye fatigue due to viewing and improving the operability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an input device for inputting characters, symbols, etc. used in word processors, typewriters, personal computers, and the like.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a keyboard has been commonly used as this type of input device. However, on the board, only one character can be input with one key, so if there are many types of characters to be input, the number of keys must be increased according to the number of characters.

However, increasing the number of input keys requires a great deal of effort for the operator to memorize them. Therefore, a shift key is provided so that multiple characters can be entered even with one key. A typical example of this is an English typewriter, which uses a shift key to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters.

However, in Japanese word processors, etc., in order to input multiple characters with one key, such as uppercase English letters, lowercase English letters, hiragana, and katakana, it is common for input devices to have multiple corresponding shift keys. It is true. For this reason, in order to indicate in which shift state the operated key was operated, for example, a display or a shift indicator lamp is used to inform the operator of the shift state, thereby preventing erroneous inputs in the wrong shift state. We are trying to prevent it from happening.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, when confirming the shift state using the display means as described above, it is often the case that an erroneous input is made due to an incorrect shift state. Furthermore, it is desirable to avoid visual confirmation of the shift state using a display means as much as possible from the viewpoint of eye strain, and it has been desired to confirm the shift state by other means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to confirm the shift state by sound when one of a plurality of characters accommodated on a character key is selectively input according to the shift function. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device that improves operability by reducing visual fatigue caused by visual inspection.

[F-stage to solve problems]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a selection means C2 for selecting the selection means, a determination means C3 for determining the selection state of the selection means, and an output means C4 for generating a sound according to the determination means.

[For production]

That is, in the present invention, when a character is input by key operation of the input means C1, the selection state of the selection means C2 is determined by the determination means C3, and the output means C4 generates a sound according to the determined state. This is what I did.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the input device of the present invention.

In the figure, l is a central processing unit H (CPU) in the form of a microprocessor, for example.1 For example, it senses the keyboard 3 to check whether there is an input or not, and when there is an input from the keyboard 3, it detects the input as described below. Each component is controlled according to the input key.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a keyboard controller, which controls key input signals from the keyboard 3 and transfers them to the old CP. The keyboard 3 transmits signals corresponding to the keys operated by the operator to the CPU t via the keyboard controller 2.

On the keyboard 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, in addition to a general key 3a, shift keys 3b, and 3C, predetermined keys (not shown) are arranged.

Therefore, it is possible to input characters/symbols etc. from the general key 3a, and the shift state can be changed by operating the shift keys 3b and 3c. and lowercase letters can be selected.

4 is a readable random access memory, for example, an area PR for storing control f-order as shown in FIG.
G. A register storing a discrimination code used to determine when the English uppercase shift key 3b is operated, which selects an uppercase English letter.LKC2 Discriminates when the lowercase English letter shift key 3C, which selects a lowercase English letter, is operated. It has a register SKC that stores a discrimination code used to perform the operation, and a key buffer KB that temporarily stores key signals from the keyboard 3. Furthermore, random access memory 4
is a register B that stores information so that the buzzer 6 generates a sound indicating the state when the uppercase letter shift) +-3b is operated or when the uppercase letter shift mode is activated.
UZION, and a register BtJZ2ON that similarly stores information to that effect when the lowercase alphabetic character shift key 3C is pressed or in the lowercase alphabetic character shift mode.

5 is the buzzer controller, and uppercase alphabet shift key 3
Buzzer 6 sounds corresponding to b and lowercase alphabet shift key 3c
Notify the buzzer 6 to occur. The buzzer 6 outputs two or more different pitches or tones in response to instructions from the buzzer controller 5.

Each of these components is electrically connected to the CP old via a bus 7.

Next, an example of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, it is assumed that each register is initialized by inputting ITS, and the shift mode is initialized to upper case mode.

Then, in step S1, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the keyboard 3. If you have key human resources,
The key code of that key is stored in the key buffer KB, and the contents of the key/code KH are stored in the register L in step S2.
By determining whether the contents match the contents of KC, it is determined whether the English capital letter shift key 3b has been operated.

And if it is not the English capital letter shift key 3b.

In the next step S3, it is determined whether or not it is the English lowercase shift key 3C by checking the contents of the register SKC and the contents of the key buffer K13, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S5, and if they do not, the process proceeds to step S6. .

On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S2, that is, if it is determined that the English capital letter shift key 3b has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S4, and in step S4, the contents of the t meister BUZION are set to "l", and the register Set the contents of BIJZ2ON to “O”.

Further, if an affirmative determination is made in step S3, that is, if it is determined that the lowercase alphabetic character shift t--3c has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the contents of register BIJZION are set to “
0" and set the contents of register BOX2ON to 1.
”

In step S3, if it is not the English lowercase shift key 3C, the process proceeds to the next step 36, and it is determined whether the contents of the register BUZION are "1" or not, and if it is "l", the process proceeds to step S3.
If the content of the register BUZ2ON is not 'l', the process goes to step S7. In step S7, it is determined whether the content of the register BUZ2ON is '1', and if it is '1n', the process goes to step S7.
The process advances to 9, and if it is not "1", an error occurs in step Sll.

In this way, after the processing in step S4 is completed, or when the determination in step S6 is affirmative, the process advances to the next stage 7'S8, where the buzzer controller 5 sends a signal to the buzzer 6 indicating that it is in the uppercase letter shift mode. The buzzer 6 generates a corresponding sound. Similarly, step S
After the process in step 5 is completed, or when an affirmative determination is made in step S7, the process advances to the next step S9, and the buzzer 6 generates a sound indicating that the lowercase alphabet shift mode is in effect.

Therefore, when the shift key 3b for an English capital letter is pressed and when the English capital character shift mode is pressed, the character key 3a is pressed.
When is pressed, the buzzer 6 generates a sound indicating that the uppercase letter shift mode is in effect. Alternatively, when the shift key 3C for lowercase letters is pressed, or when the character key 3a is pressed in the lowercase alphabet shift mode, the buzzer 6 generates a sound indicating that the mode is the lowercase alphabet shift mode.

Finally, in step SIO, the key code is output to the external device.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the shift mode is determined and its content is memorized, and furthermore, the shift mode can be confirmed by the operator via sound each time the key is pressed. Therefore, the operator can very easily know the shift status through hearing at any time.

In addition, in the following explanation, the case where the present invention is applied to a keyboard has been explained, but the present invention can also be applied to other devices such as doublets and mice as long as they have the shift+-a function. be.

Furthermore, even if there are many shift modes such as a Japanese word processor, the present invention can be applied by making it possible to distinguish between the many shift states and generating the type of sound according to the discrimination state. It is the source.

Furthermore, for input devices that include keys that have the same input key code input depending on the shift state,
The present invention can be applied by providing a means for determining the key code and disabling the buzzer when the key is manually operated.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, when selectively inputting a plurality of characters accommodated on a character key, the selected state can be confirmed through sound, so that, for example, the selection state can be confirmed visually. It can reduce sexual fatigue and greatly improve the operability when inputting characters.

Further, when the present invention is used by a visually impaired person, the shift state can be confirmed by sound, so the operability is very good.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the key arrangement of a keyboard. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. C1...Input means. C2...1 stage of selection. C3...discrimination means. C4...Output means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An input means having a key that can selectively input a plurality of characters; a selection means for selecting one of the plurality of characters to be input from the key; and determining a selection state of the selection means. What is claimed is: 1. An input device comprising: a discriminating means for discriminating; and a means for generating a sound according to the discriminating means.