JPS63165914A - Keyboard device having emulation function for hetero-keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize operations of a keyboard device via different types of keyboards by using a keyboard emulator to correct a physical difference between keyboards. CONSTITUTION:The character codes (unsuitable to a computer 5) supplied from a keyboard device 1 are converted into a group of character codes suitable to the computer 5 by a decoder 8, a code converter 9 and a ROM 10 included in a keyboard emulator 4 and via the shift codes or data codes. The signals are transferred between the computer 5 and the emulator 4 via a keyboard interface 11. Thus, the operations of the device 1 exclusive for the computer 5 can be attained by the emulator 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a keyboard device having a heterogeneous keyboard emission function that is compatible with a wide variety of computer models.

(Prior art) In the process of proceeding with office automation, the combination a-
Due to the need to switch to a new model in the evening or to continue installing dedicated equipment, many different types of computers, such as personal computers, word processors, etc., are installed in the same office.
A work stage or the like is often installed as a terminal for a large computer.

The keyboard devices that accompany these devices differ due to differences in the design philosophy of the manufacturers, differences in the mainstream industry due to differences in the period of production, and differences in the main purpose of use of the computer to which the keyboard device is connected. , key arrangement, key type.

Since the type of engraving on the key, the combination of engravings, etc. are not constant, this is a factor that impairs the proficiency level of the operator who handles it.

In other words, since the office is familiar with the operation of the keyboard device that has already been installed, if the keyboard device's 9-character key layout is different, they will have to practice each time, and it will take time to become familiar with it. It was necessary.

Furthermore, even if you are proficient, if a wide variety of devices coexist in the same office, you may get confused in the operation, leading to operational errors.

As a result, the operator's work efficiency has been reduced, which has been an obstacle to improving office productivity.

Particularly in departments that specialize in inputting data into computers, the introduction of new computer systems can improve the functionality of the entire system and speed up the computer's internal processing, but it is difficult to input new data into these systems. The operator is responsible for inputting data and updating the data each time, and improving the efficiency of the operator's input work has become an important element for efficient system operation.

To solve this problem, set the keyboard device that operators are already familiar with in the office as the standard, and use the standard keyboard device if the keyboard device has a different key layout. It is desirable to be able to do so. As a method for this, there is a method in which a correspondence conversion table for converting differences in character data for the same character is provided in the computer storage device, and the computer is operated as if a standard keyboard device was connected.

However, in many computers, such as personal computers and word processors, key information entered from a keyboard device is input into the computer's operating system (hereinafter referred to as 08).
In order for the user to create a conversion table for different types of keyboard devices based on this input key data, they must modify the O8.
This had to be built into O8.

That is, when character data before character conversion is input to a computer, processing is performed using the character code, resulting in processing that is completely different from the actual processing.

Therefore, it was necessary to modify the O8 and convert the key data before entering the O8's internal processing.

However, since O8 has not been made public, users have been unable to convert their pregnancy.

(Objective of the Invention) The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it sets up a standard keyboard device that has already been used in offices and has become familiar and efficient, and distinguishes the differences between this and different keyboard devices. A keyboard emulator built into a standard keyboard device converts characters into character codes compatible with the computer before inputting them to the computer, allowing the computer to operate as if it were connected to a dedicated keyboard. The purpose is to provide a keyboard with ft-.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has a shift type keyboard device 1 defined as a standard.
A computer to which a shift keyboard device 2 having a different seven-character key arrangement is connected, and a shift code and a scan code output by key operations on the keyboard device 1 correspond to the same character as the input character. This is achieved by connecting the computer to the keyboard device 1 via the converting means, which includes a converting means for converting the shift code of the keyboard device 2 into a scan code.

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 8.

In FIG. 1, (1) is a standard keyboard device, which is a keyboard device that users are already familiar with operating in the office or the like.

The middle board device (1) consists of a key switch # (2) and an encoder (3), and the key switch group (2) has multiple characters 't' on one key to improve the operability of the board.
, IJD, and use the shift key to select the desired character.

Therefore, to input a specific character, enter the shift key for that character in advance, for example, if you are inputting a number, the shift key for "alphanumeric") -? The desired number can be entered by pressing - and then the desired number key.

The encoder (2) scans the keys of the keyboard device (1) and converts the operated keys into predetermined codes, and outputs the converted codes into a scan code and a data code.

(4) is a keyboard emulator that converts the character code input from the standard keyboard device (1) into a character code compatible with the computer (5) that corresponds to the same character, that is, a shift code and data code. It is something. The keyboard emulator (4) receives the scanning code from the standard keyboard device (1), and has a decoder (8) that discriminates the code depending on whether the detected code is a shift code or a data code. , a code converter (9) that converts into a character code group of a corresponding dedicated keyboard device, and a read-only memory αQ that stores data of the character code group of the dedicated keyboard device.
and a keyboard interface Ql)K that controls the transmission and reception of signals (7) between the computer (5) and the computer (5).

Therefore, even if the keyboard device is different from the one dedicated to the computer (5), by connecting it through the keyboard emulator (4), the standard keyboard device (1) can be used as if it were a dedicated keyboard device for the computer (5). It can be operated like this.

Next, the configuration of the medium-board emulator (4) will be explained based on Figure 2. Figure 2 shows an example in which it is configured by a program using a microcomputer. ) is sent to the keyboard emitter (4) as a shift code and data code signal.
is input to.

The keyboard emulator reads these encoded data (step 81) and determines whether it is a shift code or a data code (step S2).

If the data is a shift code, it is converted into a shift code compatible with the computer (5) connected thereto (step 8B), and the shift code is output to the computer (5) (step 85).

At the same time, a shift mode corresponding to the computer (5) is set.

This shift mode set serves as a mark for selecting the conversion table for the next input data code.

In this case, if the shift mode is a frequently used shift mode, for example, the "alphanumeric" shift mode, the computer (5) will remember and hold that mode, so the computer (5) will be notified of that shift mode. is no longer necessary (step 8
4).

In this way, the input operation of the shift key is omitted every time the data key is input, thereby improving the efficiency of key operation.

If the next input data is a data code (step S2), a conversion table for the corresponding character code group is selected according to the previously set shift mode (step 86).

This conversion table is a conversion table for the computer (5) for the same characters as those entered by the standard keyboard device (1).
) and consists of a correspondence table of code conversions for the same characters. For example, “A
”, use a standard keyboard device (1)
If the data code is "IE" (hexadecimal display),
Jumps to the IE address, and since the data "57" is stored at that address, the conversion code r57J is output.

This "57" corresponds to the English character "mu" recognized by the computer (5).

That is, when a data code is input to the keyboard emulator (4), a conversion table is automatically searched (step 87), a conversion code is determined from the conversion Cheagle search result (step 88), and it is sent to the computer. It is output (step 89).

With the above configuration, the character code of the standard keyboard device (1) is converted by the processing of the microcomputer into a character code compatible with the computer (5) connected thereto.

Next, Figure 8 shows a block diagram when this is configured using wire logic, and shows a standard keyboard device (1).
A decoder (8) receives the scan code from the
), a code converter that converts the determined code into a character code group of a corresponding dedicated keyboard device depending on whether it is a shift code or a data code, and a code converter that stores data of the character code group of the dedicated keyboard device. Read-only memory (10) and computer (5)
) consists of a keyboard interface (b) that controls the exchange of signals between the

Next, its operation will be explained.

When a key is input from the standard keyboard device (1), it is converted into a specific code by the encoder (3) of the standard keyboard device (1), and the encoded data is input to the keyboard emulator (4). Ru.

The keyboard emulator (4) normally generates an interrupt when this signal is input, reads the data, and determines whether the data is a shift code or a data code. If it is a shift code, it is converted into a shift code of the computer (5) connected thereto, and the shift code is output to the combinatorial computer, and at the same time a conversion table of character code groups for that shift mode is selected.

If the next input ratio signal (6) is a data code, the conversion table for that input character code group is selected by the previously set shift mode, so when that data code is input, the corresponding It is fixedly stored in the conversion table in advance. It is converted into a character code for the computer (5) and output to the computer (5).

Next, when the input mode changes, for example from "alphanumeric" mode to "kana" mode, press the shift key in advance and then operate the character key. As soon as the mode is set to the new mode, the computer (5)
A shift code that matches is output.

Then, a conversion table corresponding to that shift mode is selected, and data keys to be input thereafter are searched from this selected conversion table, converted to the character code of the computer (5), and sent to the computer (5). Output.

In this way, even if a different type of keyboard device is connected to the computer 4, by configuring the differences between the two keyboard devices as a correspondence table, the computer 4 can operate as a keyboard device exclusively for the computer.

There are differences between the two keyboard devices, such as differences in the physical location of the key tops, differences in the means for selecting multiple characters arranged within one key top, or differences in shift modes. This is achieved by configuring a shift mode correspondence table and a data key conversion table for each shift mode.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides a keyboard emitter that compensates for the physical difference between the two keyboard devices even if a keyboard device different from the keyboard device connected to the computer is connected. Because all you need to do is become fully proficient in operating one standard keyboard device, you can increase your level of proficiency.

This is particularly effective in cases such as word processing and data entry work, where the skill level of key operations directly affects the productivity of the work.

Furthermore, since a keyboard emulator is provided before inputting data to a computer, it has the advantage that it can be used without changing the operating system of the computer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a system block diagram of a keyboard device with an emulator emulator function according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a processing flow diagram of a keyboard emulator, and Fig. 8 is a block diagram when configured with wire logic. . 1... Standard keyboard device 1 8... Keyboard emulator 5... Computer. Figure 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A shift-type keyboard device 1 defined as a standard,
A computer to which a shift keyboard device 2 having a different key layout and character layout is connected, and a keyboard that corresponds to the same character as the input character based on the shift code and scan code output by key operations on the keyboard device 1. 1. A keyboard device having a heterogeneous keyboard emulation function, comprising a conversion means for converting a shift code of the device 2 into a scan code, and a computer connected to the keyboard device 1 via the conversion means. (2) Shift code generation means in which the conversion means determines the shift code of the keyboard device 1 and generates a corresponding shift code of the keyboard device 2; 2. A keyboard device having a heterogeneous keyboard emulation function as claimed in claim 1, further comprising scan code converting means for automatically generating corresponding scan codes of the keyboard device 2 for the same character.