JPS62135918A - Compound personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable one computer body to display the effect of plural computers while having an one-computer configuration by inhibiting plural keyboards connected to the one computer body to operate except one keyboard is operation. CONSTITUTION:Plural keyboards 2 are connected to a cable terminal provided to a computer 1 through their individual branch boxes 3. Each branch box 3 contains a branching circuit which branches a keyboard cable 5 from the computer 1, a buffer circuit which turns on and off its output, a control circuit which controls its gate to put only one keyboard in operation, and a hand switch SW6 for operating the control circuit. Then when the hand switch SW6 is closed and the corresponding keyboard 2 is operated, none of other keyboards 2 operates.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a system for connecting a plurality of keyboards to a single personal computer or a small-scale computer called a microcontroller.
This mainly relates to educational computers that allow multiple people to operate a single computer.

Recently, small-scale computers called personal computers and microcomputers have become widespread, and today we hear that computers are being introduced not only to various vocational schools but also to elementary and junior high schools.

However, if you think about the current state of computer education, most of it is a one-on-one structure where one learner faces one computer, and that educational system is uneconomical. At the same time, it also requires a lot of space. Therefore, we improved this by installing multiple keyboards on one computer so that multiple people could use one computer in turn, and the space could be saved. There is no need to worry too much, and depending on the situation, if the teacher is present at the same time, it is possible to provide a high level of education and at the same time, you can expect very efficient education. Another way to use this method is to have multiple people sit together on one computer and discuss a single topic in a discussion format, which will allow you to fully consider the effects of use that have never been seen before. Nowadays, it is not possible to operate two keyboards simultaneously on one computer, so it is necessary to configure the circuit so that one keyboard does not operate while the other keyboard is operating. The present invention takes this countermeasure into full consideration.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Figure 1 shows an example in which the present invention is implemented in a personal computer in which the keyboard, main body, and display are completed in a one-to-one ratio. It is being

This cable terminal is connected to multiple keyboards (in particular, the Y-boards are connected via individual branch boxes, and inside the branch box there are 7 keyboard cable branches from the main unit). 1 branch circuit, and the output cuff opening/closing-1-h buffer circuit, and the control circuit that controls the game 1-, and when activated, only one keyboard is activated, and depending on the situation, It has a built-in SW for its control and operation.There are several specific circuits that can be used to operate only a single keyboard in this device, so an example of the 70's will be described later. The way to use it is to first turn on your own SW if you have one at hand, and then operate your own keyboard. Even if I close the SW, if someone else has closed the SW at the beach before then, I can't use anything other than that person's keyboard, so I have to close the SW at hand. While you are there, your own keyboard will work, and you will only be able to use other keyboards when you open your local SWi. Furthermore, the device N according to the present invention can achieve its purpose without necessarily providing a hand SW.
), and the specific circuit will be described later, but for example, if you press a specific key on the keyboard, you can activate the decoding circuit and make it work in the same way as closing the SWV in your hand.

In addition to the above, the present invention is also complete so that you can select your own keyboard using several circuits 1 to 1.

Figure 2 shows a system in which multiple keyboards are directly connected to the main unit using cables, and a branch BO as shown in Figure 1 is used.
The X-4 was abolished. Therefore, in this structure, the above-mentioned cable branch circuit, buffer circuit, and gate control circuit are distributed and arranged inside the main body and inside the kill board, respectively, to achieve the purpose. In addition, in the case of this structure, the hand switch can also be eliminated by using the circuit explained in Fig. 7, which will be described later, so I think that new uses of the composite computer can be considered.5゜Fig. Similarly, multiple keyboards are arranged, but the first two
The structure and usage form are slightly different from the example.
In the previous two examples, only you selected your own keyboard, but in Figure 3, a single control box is provided between the main body and multiple keyboards, and instructions from this control box can also be used to select each keyboard. It allows the user to select a keyboard, and is in the form of a full-fledged multifunction computer. In the figure, a control box provided between the main body, display, and multiple keyboards is connected by the so-called GPI B method, which is also used in other devices, and each keyboard can be used according to instructions from the control box. . In addition, each keyboard is allowed to use its own keyboard (if it wishes to do so, it can be used upon its own declaration).

Although the specific circuit of this system is extremely complex and cannot be described in its entirety, the basic system of GPIH has been determined and a system diagram thereof is shown in FIG. Also, this method does not necessarily rely solely on the GPIB method, as long as the system configuration operates in the same way.

The keyboard control circuit will be explained.

Figure 4 shows a simple 8
W (6) and keyboard (S, computer (±),
This shows a circuit consisting of a bus buffer (4), in which multiple keyboards (phantom) are connected to the computer (1) via a path buffer T (4), and each keyboard (sword is the S It is assumed that it will not operate unless W (6) is inserted.

In Figure 5, the gate inputs of the pass buffer (4) shown above are made by two people, G and G2, and some OR circuits (15
), gate circuit (16), and hand 5W (6) are connected.
Each keyboard (in the illusion) is configured so that if one of them is turned on, the others are turned off.To explain how it works, the SW on either keyboard
When (6) is turned on, G1 of that circuit becomes II I, 1
1. On the other hand, the G2 terminal is reading through the G1 signal line (14) of another keyboard, so unless any of the other hand SWs (6) is turned on, the O
IILII is maintained by the operation of the R circuit (15). Therefore, when the own gate G1 becomes II 'l', 11, it becomes possible to operate. On the other hand, on the other keyboard side, the other person's G
Since it reads one signal, it will not operate if any one of them is turned on.

Figure 6 has the contents shown in Figure 5 -FF (10)
This was realized using the hand SW (6).
The N signal is input to the C terminal of the D-FF (10) through the NOR gate, and the output q is input to each buffer (fourth
If you put it in the C terminal of the figure), you will achieve the purpose. However, in this case, in order to release the use of your own keyboard, you must separately press down 5W (11). Lycee 7) 5W (11) can be installed on a common track for each person.

Figure 7 shows a more detailed version of the present invention, in which when a specific key on any of the keyboards is pressed down, the signal is sent to a priority encoder that reads the specific key on each keyboard. 20), and it achieves its purpose by further pressing down on any keyboard and inputting to the C terminal of A (FIG. 4). Further, this circuit is particularly effective for the circuit having the structure shown in claim 3.

Figure 8 shows the operation contents of a system that is slightly different from the operation described above. Between a computer main body (1) and multiple keyboards (illustration), there is a control box (7) with a built-in CPU. ), and this CPU built-in control BOX
(7) connects the computer (1) and the keyboard.

For example, when connecting using the GPIB method, there are some control buses (8) in addition to the mother bus (5) of the keyboard.
7 is required, and these are used to exchange talker signals and listener signals to prevent each signal from colliding with each other between individual keyboards or control boxes, and between them and the computer. It is designed to allow communication.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of keyboards are arranged for one main body of one computer, and while one of the keyboards is in operation, the other keyboards are not in operation. It is designed to demonstrate the effects of multiple units while taking advantage of the following.

Therefore, it is possible to have a plurality of practitioners sit around one computer and learn efficiently, or to have one instructor seated among them to provide efficient education. As another example of use, the presence of multiple keyboards could be used to play more complex computer games or to hold conferences using computers.

As described above, the present invention is believed to open up new uses for computers, as well as for the simultaneous education of multiple learners.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an external view showing another embodiment, Fig. 3 is an external view showing yet another embodiment, and Fig. 4 is an external view showing another embodiment. A circuit diagram showing the basics of the system, Figures 5 to 7 are game circuit diagrams for operating the system, and Figure 8 is a circuit configuration diagram explaining another operation. (Top) Computer (?) Keyboard (Dan) Control bus (1o), D-FF (11)
Reset SW (i4) Signal line (15)
OR, circuit (16) Gate circuit (20) Priority encoder (21) North from 1-der

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A composite personal computer characterized by having a plurality of keyboards arranged on one set of personal computers or a certain kind of display device, so that while one of the keyboards is in operation, the other keyboards are not in operation. (2) In the above compound computer, when a hand switch is turned on to activate one keyboard, the other keyboards are not activated. . (3) The compound personal computer according to claim 1, wherein when a specific key on one of the keyboards is pressed down, the other keyboards become inoperable. (4) In the compound PC described in paragraph 1, a control box containing a CPU is provided in the middle of the cable connecting multiple keyboards and the main body, and connections between the keyboards or between the main bodies are made using the GPIB method or the RS422 method. death,
2. The compound personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard is activated by operating the control box.