JPS62111318A - Terminal equipment for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of function keys by switching the functions respective function keys based on the operation of a switching operation means. CONSTITUTION:A computer terminal equipment 1 is provided with a keyboard 2 on which plural data input keys 21 or function keys 22 are arranged, a rotary switch operation part 30, a display part 4 such as a CRT for displaying the functions of respective function keys 22, and a control part 5 and constituted by connecting a computer body to the control part 5. The operation part 30 switches the functions of respective function keys 22 by rotating the control part 30 forward and backward and simultaneously switches also the function display of the keys 22 on the display part 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer terminal device, and in particular, the present invention proposes a novel key input method.

<Summary of the Invention> In order to increase the functions of the function keys and improve the operability, the present invention makes it possible to switch the Ha of the function keys using a rotary switch, etc., and displays the function that is required for switching. It is designed to be displayed on the screen.

<Background of the Invention> Generally, a keyboard used in a computer terminal is provided with a plurality of function keys for instructing a specific function.

In recent years, in order to improve the operability of these function keys, a method has been proposed in which each function is displayed in correspondence with each function key on a CRT screen.

However, in this method, the function of each function key is fixed, and therefore, there is a problem that these function keys can only be used for certain limited purposes.

<Object of the invention> This invention is intended to solve the above problems,
To provide a computer terminal device with excellent operability that can be used for various purposes without fixing the functions of function keys.

<Configuration and Effects of the Invention> In order to achieve the above object, a computer terminal device according to the present invention includes a key input means in which a plurality of function keys are arranged, and a respective function is displayed corresponding to each function key. a display means for switching the function of each function key, a switching operation means for switching the function of each function key, and a control means for controlling the switching of the function of each function key and the switching of the display of the display means based on the operation by the switching operation means. I decided to make the item 01N.

According to this invention, the function of each function key is switched by operating the switching operation means, so the function of each function key is greatly increased and its uses can be expanded, and the function of each function key related to switching is is switched and displayed on the display means, so that the operability of the function keys can be improved, achieving the remarkable effect of achieving the object of the invention.

<Description of Embodiment> FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a computer terminal device 1 according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 shows its appearance, FIG. 2 shows its operation, and FIG. The circuit configurations are shown respectively.

The computer terminal device 1 in the illustrated example includes a keyboard 2 on which a plurality of data input keys 21 and a plurality of function keys 22 (in the illustrated example, four function keys indicated as F1 to F4) are arranged. An operation section 30 of a rotary switch 3 arranged on the side surface of the keyboard 2, a display section 4 such as a CRT on which key input results, calculation results, and the functions of each of the function keys 22 are displayed, and the keyboard 2. The control unit 5 includes an operation unit 30 and a control unit 5 that controls input and output to and from the display unit 4.
It is connected to the computer main body 6.

Each of the function keys 22 is used to instruct the computer main body 6 to perform a specific function, and in the illustrated example, the top surface of each function key 22 includes:
The symbols F, F2, .

The operating section 30 is used to switch and operate the functions of each function key 22. In the illustrated example, when the operating section 30 is rotated in forward and reverse directions (not indicated by arrows in FIG. 2), the rotation angle changes. The contacts of the rotary switch 3 are sequentially switched depending on the direction and the function of each function key 22 is switched accordingly, and the display of each function key 220 and 11 on the display section 4 is also switched all at once. It is configured.

As shown in FIG.
ral Processing Unij) 50,
ROM (Read Only Memory) 51
and RAM (Random Access Mem
ory) 52, as well as a position detection section 53.
, a pressed key detection section 54, a line control section 55, a CRT display section 56, and the like.

The position detecting section 53 detects the contact position of the rotary switch 30, and the pressed key detecting section 54 detects a pressed key on the keyboard 2.

Further, the line control section 55 controls the transmission of data and commands to the computer main body 6, and the CRT control section 56
Controls the display operation of the display unit 4.

In addition to programs, the ROM 52 stores a function key function table (hereinafter simply referred to as "function table") 7 as shown in FIG.
50 has a first pointer 57 that is connected to the position detection unit 53.
The second pointer 58 selects the column address of the function table 7 in response to the output of the pressed key detector 54. 5 and 6 show the flow of the control operation of the control section 5, and next, the operation of the terminal device according to the present invention will be explained based on the figures.

First, when the operating unit 30 is rotated in a desired direction and the contact of the rotary switch 3 is set to a certain position, the fifth
In step 1 in the figure (indicated by rSTlj in the figure), this contact position is detected by the position detection section 53 of the control section 5, and the detection result is taken into the CPU 50. Next, in step 2, the CPU 50 updates the contents of the first pointer 57 based on this captured data and executes row selection of the function table 7. In the example shown in Figure 4, the first
The pointer 57 selects the first row of the function table 7. Next, the CPU 50 selects the C
Controlling the operation of the RTi11 control unit 56? :fll Press L to display the contents of the function table 7 in the first line on the screen of the display unit 4.
The current functions of the four function keys 22 are displayed (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

In this state, when any function key 22 (in this example, the second function key F2) on the keyboard 2 is pressed, the pressed key F2 is detected by the pressed key detector 54 in step 4 of FIG. , and the detection result is taken into the CPU 50. Thereby, the CPU 50 sets the contents of the second pointer 58 and selects a column in the function table 7.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the second pointer 58 selects the second column of the function table 7. Next, in step 5, the CPU 50 selects each of the first and second pointers 57 .
The function of the function key 22 that was pressed earlier is determined based on the contents of 58, and in the next step 6, a code or character string corresponding to that function is transmitted to the computer main body 6 via the line control section 55.

Although the above embodiment shows an example in which the rotary switch 30 is used as a means for switching the function of each function key 22, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use switching operation means other than the rotary switch. It is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer terminal device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of its operation, FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram thereof, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a function table, and FIG.
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Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A key input means in which a plurality of function keys are arranged, a display means for displaying each function corresponding to each function key, and a switching operation means for switching the function of each function key. A computer terminal device comprising: control means for controlling switching of functions of each function key and switching of display of the display means based on operations by the switching operation means. (2) The computer terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the switching operation means is a rotary switch and is disposed at an appropriate position of the key input means.