JPS6313553Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a switch matrix used in an interface unit that connects an electronic typewriter to a computer main body as a terminal device.

Conventionally, in electronic computer systems, dot printers are generally used when printing out document information displayed on a CRT display device. However, the dot printing method using a dot printer has inferior print quality compared to the so-called movable type printing method in which printing is performed using type, and cannot perform high-quality printing. In addition, there are computer systems that include a type printing mechanism, but in conventional systems of this kind, the type printing mechanism has a connection configuration unique to that system, and is mechanically complex and expensive. It was hot. In this case, if an existing general-purpose electronic typewriter can be used as a computer terminal, the document information processed by the computer can be printed out in high-quality type, creating an inexpensive and economically advantageous system. can.

Therefore, between the printer output terminal of the computer main body and the row/column signal line provided in the key matrix circuit of the electronic typewriter, the printer output code output from the printer output terminal is connected to the key array of the electronic typewriter. a decoder that decodes the code converted by the code converter; a switch matrix circuit that receives the output signal of the decoder and generates row and column signals that conform to the key matrix of the electronic typewriter; An electronic typewriter is directly driven by an electronic computer through an interface unit having circuit connection means for supplying row/column signals obtained from the switch matrix circuit to the row/column signal lines. A system configuration that allows typing is possible.

However, systems using such interface units have the following problems. In other words, in the above-mentioned interface unit, if you try to specify a shift at the same time, in the conventional technology, row/column signals such as letters and numbers and shift signals must be generated at the same time. Separately from the decoder that decodes the code such as
A decoder specific to the shift designation function must be provided, resulting in problems such as an increase in the number of parts and a complicated circuit configuration.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has a shift specification function in an interface unit provided between the printer output terminal of the computer main body and the row/column signal lines provided in the key matrix circuit of the electronic typewriter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch matrix that can be realized with a simple and inexpensive configuration using circuit components effectively.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 10 is an electronic computer main body (hereinafter simply referred to as a computer). 20 is an interface unit targeted by the present invention, and 30 is a general-purpose electronic typewriter. 40 is a calculator 10
A connection mechanism 50 and 60 is a connection mechanism consisting of a connector part and a cable that enables arbitrary connection between the interface unit 20 and the interface unit 20.
0 and the electronic typewriter 30, and _J1 to _J6 are connector parts, respectively. Reference numeral 101 denotes a printer output terminal of the computer 10, which receives printer output codes (for example, ASCII codes) and control signals (ready signal (READY) signal, strobe signal (STB)) between external equipment (here, the interface unit 20). etc.). 1
02 to 107 are the above interface units 2
0, 102 is the CPU,
A controller consisting of RAM, ROM, I/O ports, etc., which temporarily stores the printer output code in the input buffer (RAM), and uses the microprogram processing in the ROM to convert the printer output code according to the key arrangement of the electronic typewriter 30. code (hereinafter referred to as internal code) and outputs it as a total of 16 bits of internal code, for example, 8 bits of A port output (PORT A _{0 to 7} ) and 8 bits of B port output (PORT B _{0 to 7} ). Controls the entire unit. 103 is an internal code obtained from the controller 102 (PORT A _{0 to 7} , PORT
This is a decoder that decodes B0 _~7 ) and obtains a drive control signal specific to each switch element provided in a switch matrix circuit described later.Here, as shown in Fig. 2, four decode elements DEC
It is composed of IC _A1 , DEC・IC _A2 , DEC・IC _B1 , DEC・IC _B2 , and DEC・IC _A1 is the above controller 10.
Internal code output from 2 (PORT A _0~7 ,
PORT B _0~7 ), receive PORT A _4~7 ,
DEC/IC _A2 receives PORT A _0~3 , DEC/IC _B1 receives
PORT B _4~7 is received, DEC/IC _B2 is PORT B _0~3
Then, 16 types of decoded outputs are obtained as drive control signals for a switch matrix circuit, which will be described later. 104 is a switch matrix circuit that obtains row/column signals specifying positions corresponding to each character/symbol key on the electronic typewriter 30 according to the printer output code based on the drive control signal output from the decoder 103.
This switch matrix _circuit 104 is here constructed using a reed switch as _shown in FIG _.
Four groups _{GP 1 ,} GP ₂ , GP ₃ ,
It is divided into ₄ GPs, and one switch for each group is used as a shift designation switch. That is, decoding elements DEC・IC _A1 , DEC・IC _A2 ,
One shift specification switch SHFi _{( i}
=1, 2, 3, 4) are provided. The shift designation switches SHF ₁ to SHF ₄ provided for each group GP ₁ , GP ₂ , GP ₃ , and GP ₄ are used to designate the shift of keys corresponding to the switches of other groups, respectively. The shift specification switch _{SHF 1 provided} in Group GP ₁ is used to specify the shift of the key corresponding to each switch in Group GP ₂ .
The shift designation switch SHF ₂ provided in the group is used to designate the shift of the keys corresponding to each switch in group GP ₁ , and the shift designation switch SHF ₃ provided in group GP ₃ is used to designate the shift of the keys corresponding to each switch in group GP ₄ . The shift designation switch SHF ₄ provided in group GP ₄ is for shift designation of group GP _3.
These keys are used to specify shifts for the keys corresponding to each switch. The output terminals of these shift designation switches SHF ₁ to _{SHF 4} are commonly connected to a signal line specific to shift designation, and are connected to a signal line of a shift key (SHIFT) provided in the electronic typewriter 30. 105 to 108 constitute internal components of the electronic typewriter 30;
is a key matrix circuit corresponding to the operation key, 10
6 is a printing mechanism for typing the selected type; 107 is a row of the key matrix circuit 105;
A control unit 108 is a power supply unit that receives column signals and controls the printing mechanism 106. This electronic typewriter 30 has a connector section in which the column signal lines of the key matrix circuit 105 are arranged in a predetermined order.
Connected to J ₅ , and the low signal line is also connected to connector J ₆
is connected to. That is, the circuit configuration is such that the row/column signal lines of the switch matrix circuit 104 are connected in parallel to the corresponding row/column signal lines of the key matrix circuit 105 via the connection mechanisms 50 and 60.

Here, the operation of one embodiment will be explained. When using the electronic typewriter 30 as a terminal for the computer 10, the connection mechanism 40 connects the computer 10 and the interface unit 20, and the connection mechanism 50
and 60 connect the interface unit 20 and the electronic typewriter 30. After the electronic typewriter 30 is connected to the computer 10 via the interface unit 20 and becomes operational, when a printer output code is output from the printer output terminal 101 of the computer 10, this printer output code is connected. It is input to the interface unit 20 via the mechanism 40. Under the control of the controller 102, the interface unit 20 buffers the input printer output code, converts it into an internal code, and sends it to the decoder 10.
Send to 3. The internal code generation timing at this time follows the settings of a speed changeover switch (not shown). The decoder 103 decodes the input internal code, and if the internal code is PORT A _{0 to 7} , the corresponding pair of decoding elements DEC/IC _A1 ,
One of the DEC/IC _A2 activates one output terminal according to the code content (here, "LOW" level), and the other one activates a specific output terminal (here, output terminal 1) according to the shift specification state.
) is selectively placed into an active state or a non-active state. Also, the internal code is PORT
If B _0~7 , the corresponding pair of decoding elements
One of DEC/IC _B1 and DEC/IC _B2 activates one output terminal according to the code content, and the other selectively activates or deactivates a specific output terminal according to the shift specification state. state. The output signal of this decoder 103 is individually sent to the corresponding switch elements of the switch matrix circuit 104.
Only the switch element receiving the signal from the decode output terminal which is in the active state is driven and becomes the switch-on state. As a result, the switch matrix circuit 104 outputs row and column signals corresponding to the on/off states of the switch elements, and sends them to the electronic typewriter 30 via the connection mechanisms 50 and 60. This row/column signal is
Key matrix circuit 1 in electronic typewriter 30
The signal is supplied to the control unit 107 via the corresponding row/column signal line 05. For example, if the switch element _K8 of the switch matrix circuit 104 is turned on by the decoded output according to the printer output code specific to the character "h", then
Key switch “H” of key matrix circuit 105
The same row and column signals as in the operation of the controller 10
7 is given. Also, at this time, it is assumed that the switch element _K8 corresponding to the key switch "H" of the key matrix circuit 105 belongs to the GP ₁ group, and the specific output terminal of the decoding element DEC/IC _A2 is active ("LOW"). GP ₂ group shift specification switch (SHF ₂ )
Assuming that is in the switch state,
The on signal of this shift specifying switch (SHF ₂ ) is applied to the signal line corresponding to the shift key of the key matrix circuit 108, and the same signal as when the shift key is operated is applied to the control unit 107. Control part 1
07, when receiving the same row/column signal as when operating the key switch "H" of the key matrix circuit 105, at this time, the shift key (SHIFT) is pressed.
If the signal input corresponding to is at a switch-off level or non-active ("HIGH" level) state, a type selection signal of "h" is sent to the printing mechanism 106 to perform a typing operation. Furthermore, if the signal input corresponding to the shift key is at the switch-on level, that is, in the active (“LOW” level) state, a type selection signal of “H” shifted instead of “h” is sent to the printing mechanism 106, and the typing operation is performed. to be carried out.

In this way, the switch matrix circuit 104
When the switch element corresponding to a letter, number, etc. key included in the GP ₁ group is turned on, its shift state is specified by the shift specifying switch (SHF ₂ ) included in the GP ₂ group. . Similarly, when the switch element corresponding to a letter, number, etc. key included in the GP ₂ group is turned on, its shift state is changed by the shift designation switch (SHF ₁ ) included in the GP ₁ group. In addition, for GP ₃ group, shift designation switch (SHF ₄ ) included in GP ₄ group, GP ₄
For each group, the shift designation switch (SHF ₃ ) included in the GP ₃ group functions selectively. Therefore, a dedicated decoder is not required for the shift specification function, and the decoding elements DEC/IC _A1 ,
By effectively using DEC・IC _A2 , DEC・IC _B1 , and DEC・IC _B2, it is possible to perform a shift operation similar to a shift key operation.

In the above embodiment, between the interface unit 20 and the electronic typewriter 30,
In each of the connection mechanisms 40, 50, and 60 between the interface unit 20 and the computer 10, connector portions ( _J1 to _J6 ) are provided at both ends, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a cable may be directly led out from the electronic typewriter 30 and electrically connected to the interface unit 20 through the connector portions J ₃ and J ₄ . Further, in the above embodiment, a reed switch is used as each switch element of the switch matrix circuit 104, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other switch elements such as a semiconductor switch may be used.

As detailed above, according to the switch matrix of the present invention, by simply adding a few circuits to a general-purpose electronic typewriter, the electronic typewriter can be arbitrarily and easily connected to a computer main body as a single terminal via an interface. In addition, the shift designation function can be provided by effectively using circuit components.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the main parts of the above embodiment. 10...Electronic computer main body (calculator), 20...
Interface unit, 30...Electronic typewriter, 40, 50, 60... Connection mechanism, 101...
...Printer output terminal, 102...Controller,
103...Decoder, 104...Switch matrix circuit, 105...Key matrix circuit, 10
6... Printing mechanism, 107... Control unit, 108...
Power supply section, J ₁ to J ₆ ... Connector section, SHF ₁ to SHF ₄ ...
...Switch for shift specification.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A printer output code obtained from the printer output terminal of the electronic computer main body is placed between a printer output terminal of the electronic computer main body and a row/column signal line of the electronic typewriter, and is converted into a code according to the key arrangement of the electronic typewriter. a code converting section for converting, a plurality of decoding circuits into which codes converted by the code converting section are inputted in a predetermined bit unit in a divided manner; and a switch matrix circuit that generates row and column signals according to a key matrix, one shift designation corresponding to each group of switches receiving outputs from the same decoding circuit among the switch matrix circuits. 1. A switch matrix characterized in that a switch is provided, and the shift designation switch is used to designate a shift of a group of switches that receive outputs from other decoding circuits associated with each other in advance.