JPS62196718A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute how to use a key corresponding to an application, by selecting a repeat key in the application side. CONSTITUTION:A depressed state of various keys on a key matrix 1 of a keyboard is detected by a sensing circuit 2, and an encoder 3 generates two kinds of codes with regard to the depressed key, based on detected information 4 supplied from this sensing circuit 2. The first code of them is a made code, and the second code is a break code. In case the make code is generated, and thereafter, its key is depressed continuously, the encoder 3 generates this break code at a prescribed interval, during that time. The encoder encodes them together with information which shows the classification of the depressed key, and outputs them as code information 5 to an interface 6. The interface 6 sends out the code information which is sent, to an information processor being a host device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a data input device for inputting data into computers and various information devices, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a data input device for inputting data into computers and various information devices. Regarding the keyboard to do.

[Conventional technology]

Keyboards with multiple keys arranged on the board are widely used because they allow easy data entry.

Keys arranged on the keyboard are pressed to perform key input, but there are two types of keys: (i) key input is performed once each time a key operation is performed;
ii) If a key is pressed down continuously, some systems treat it as if a plurality of key inputs have been made depending on the duration.

With a keyboard, a key input is detected at the point where a key is turned on, so usually one key input is performed with one key operation. Therefore, when it is necessary to perform multiple key inputs using the same key switch, the key operations are repeated that number of times. However, with regard to cursor and other special keys that are characterized by continuous input, it is more convenient to process the key input as continuous if the key is held down for a certain period of time.

Therefore, depending on the keyboard, some keys are set to enable continuous input, and when these keys are held down, data is sent as if the key was repeatedly pressed for a short time. There is.

FIG. 3 is for explaining the data transmission situation in such a keyboard. Assume that a key is pressed down at time t1, as shown in FIG. At this time, for the repeat target key, that is, the key that is set so that key input can be repeated continuously, a make code M for the key switch is generated at time t1 as shown in the figure, and from now on, the make code M for the key switch is generated for time T1. If the key switch is still pressed after the time T2
A make code M is generated every time . time T
1 is normally set longer than time T2. This is to prevent a situation where key input is performed continuously due to careless operation by the operator.

By the way, in such conventionally used keyboards, it is a principle that a key input is performed each time a key is pressed once. Therefore, the break code B that is generated when the key switch is released is generated immediately after the pseudo-generated make codes (the second and third make codes in the figure) M (1 in C in the figure). 2nd and 2nd break code). When the key is released at time t2, the original break code B is generated (the third break code in C in the figure). These generated make code M and break code B are
As shown in d of the same figure, the data is sent to the host device as sending data.

On the other hand, in the case of a normal key that is not a repeat target, a make code M is generated at time t1 as shown in e of the figure, and a break code B is generated at time t2 as shown in r of the figure. generated.

No other make or break codes will be generated during these intermediate times, no matter how long the same key is held down. Therefore, the transmitted data in this case is a set of make code M and break code B, as shown in FIG.

Above, we have described a keyboard in which each key is fixedly assigned to a repeat target key and other keys, but there are also keyboards that have a key called a repeat key. In this latter keyboard, when a target key is pressed while holding down the repeat key, data is sent out for the duration of the key press as if the key had been pressed repeatedly.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the two types of conventionally used keyboards as described above, the keys that allow repeated key input with a single key operation have already been determined by the specifications of the keyboard itself. Therefore, it is not possible to increase or decrease the number of keys with such a repeat function or change the type of keys, and if you want to make this possible, you will have to find a keyboard that meets those conditions and replace it with it. There was a need. However, this was difficult to achieve, and it was actually impossible to freely change the range of keys with a repeat function depending on the format of the input data because of the problem of replacing the keyboard. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that allows keys for repeat input to be freely set for each application.

[Means for solving problems]

In the present invention, each key in the key matrix can be turned on and off.
A detection circuit that sequentially detects the off state; and a detection circuit that generates a first code when the circuit detects a key press, and a second code that is different from the first code when the key press is continued or released. Provide the keyboard with an encoder that generates the code. Then, using the interface, the code generated by the encoder is sent to a higher-level device, and this higher-level device is enabled to perform repeat input processing on a desired key.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples below.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a keyboard in an embodiment of the present invention. Pressing conditions of various keys on the key matrix 1 of this keyboard are detected by a sense circuit. The encoder 3 generates two types of codes for the pressed key based on the detection information 4 supplied from the sense circuit 2. The first code is a make code. A make code is a code that is created when a key is pressed.

The second code is a break code. A break code is generated when the operator releases the appropriate key.

Furthermore, if the key is continuously pressed after the make code is generated, the encoder 3 generates this break code at predetermined intervals during that time.

The encoder encodes these together with information representing the type of the pressed key, and outputs it to the interface 6 as code information 5. For example, if the code information has an 8-bit configuration, the make code is when the most significant bit is "0", and the break code is when it is "1".
The process becomes easy. The interface 6 sends the sent code information to an information processing device as a host device. The control circuit 7 controls each section described above.

Next, a description will be given of how transmission data is formed in the keyboard configured as described above.

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 2a, it is assumed that the operator starts pressing a key at time t1 and continues to press the key until time t2. Also in this example,
The encoder 3 generates a make code M at time t1 as shown in FIG.

For example, if the operator presses the number key ``1'' and this code is expressed as ``31'' in hexadecimal, then this code 31'' (8-bit configuration with the highest position being ``0'') A bit string "00110001" will be generated.

The keyboard operates a clock mechanism (not shown) from time t1, and if the key is still pressed after time T1 has elapsed, the first break code is generated at that time (C in the same figure).

This break code B is code “B1” with the most significant bit as #1 (“10110001” in 8-bit configuration).
). After this, as long as that key is held down,
As shown in the figure, a break code "81" is generated every time time T2 elapses. Also, encoder 3 is
When the operator releases the key at time t2, an original break code is generated as shown in C of the same figure. This code is also code B1'' which is the break code for the numeric key "1".

The make code M and break code B generated as described above are sent via the interface 6 to the sending data (
It will be supplied to the host device as d) in the figure. At this time, the sending code for the numeric key "1" is as shown in e of the same figure.

That is, in the case of this embodiment, the key information is transmitted by changing the most significant bit of the transmission code without specifying the key to be repeated.

Now, the host device that receives the sending code decodes each code with the most significant bit set to "0" and determines from its own perspective whether the pressed key is the key to be repeated. Discern.

If the key is determined to be a repeat target, the bit configuration code with the most significant bit of “0” will also be “1”.
Codes with the bit configuration of are also treated as if there was a key input. In other words, in this example, the number key "
1" will be processed as if it was pressed three times (
Figure 2 f).

On the other hand, if the host device determines that the key is not the key to be repeated, the input of the code whose most significant bit is "1" will be ignored, and the key input will only be made for the code whose most significant bit is "0". Processing is performed as if there had been.

In this example, the process is performed as if the number key "1" had been pressed once (FIG. 2g).

In this way, the higher-level device that receives the sending code independently determines whether the key is a repeat target and performs appropriate processing.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the repeat key can be selected on the application side, and therefore the key can be used in a way that suits the application.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a timing diagram for explaining the operation of this keyboard and a host device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a conventional keyboard. FIG. 1...Key matrix, 2...Sense circuit, 3...Encoder, 6...Interface, B...Break code, M.
...Make code.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A key matrix, a detection circuit that sequentially detects the on/off state of each key switch in this key matrix, and a first code is applied to the key switch for which the detection circuit detects the start of the on state. An encoder that gives a second code to each key switch for which a continuation of the state or release of the on state is detected, and an authority to determine the number of keystrokes for each key based on the code generated by this encoder. A keyboard comprising: an interface for transmitting these codes to a host device having a computer.