JPS63289625A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operatability of a keyboard device by using a switch capable of obtaining two kinds of outputs in accordance with depressing states to output different key codes. CONSTITUTION:When a key top of a double action key switch (DAK) is depressed only by a 1st broke, a 1st signal indicating a specific key code is outputted from an interface circuit 8. The key code is obtained from a key code conversion table (TBL). Whether the same switch DAK is depressed by a 2nd stroke or not is discriminated, and when the result is no, whether an autorepeating key PRK is depressed or not is discriminated. When the switch DAK is depressed by the 2nd stroke, a 2nd code indicating a key code different from the preceding one is outputted from the circuit 8 following a prescribed signal for deleting the precedently outputted 1st signal. Whether the key PRK is depressed or not is discriminated, and when the result is yes, a 2nd signal is outputted again.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a keyboard device in which the number of key switches arranged on a keyboard is reduced.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of keyboard device, the number of key switches arranged on the keyboard is limited in consideration of operator operability and high-speed keystroke performance. That is, some keyboard devices double the number of possible key codes by combining the shift key with other alphanumeric keys. For example, if you assign uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet, hiragana and katakana letters, etc. to a key switch, in order to generate a certain character code, press the shift key or control key while pressing another key switch. There must be.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, with the conventional keyboard device, there was an inconvenience in that both hands had to be used in some cases even when slowly inputting a single character.

In addition, even during high-speed keystrokes, when using the Shift key, etc., first press the Shift key, then press the desired character key while holding down the Shift key, and then move from the desired key while holding down the Shift key. The drawback was that it always required continuous operations, such as releasing the shift key and then releasing the shift key before pressing the next desired key.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned points, it is an object of the present invention to simplify the conventional key operations that had to be pressed in combination with other key switches such as the shift key, and to enable different types of keys to be pressed by operating only one key switch. The key is to share a keyboard device that can send out key codes.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A keyboard device according to the present invention includes a key switch that selectively sends out a first output and a second output according to the first and second pressing modes, and the first code converting means for introducing the output and outputting the first key code signal, and for introducing the second output and outputting the predetermined prefix signal and the second key code signal.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a so-called double-action keyswitch is used as a keyswitch to be attached to a keyboard device, and the first function of the double-action keyswitch outputs a normal character code. Thereafter, the second function is activated by continuing to press the button strongly, outputting a signal for correcting or deleting the previously output key code, and then outputting the second key code. This makes it possible to output and output different key codes by simply changing the pressing state of one key switch.

[Operation] In the present invention, by using a key switch that obtains two types of output depending on the suppression mode, different key codes can be output without pressing the shift key or the like.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

An overview of one embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

In a keyboard device for information equipment, a key that uses at least one or more double-action key switches and can have a second function in addition to its normal first function by changing the mode of suppression. Form a switch. That is, in normal use, it outputs a key code corresponding to the first function, and when the second function is activated continuously, it outputs a signal to correct or delete the previously sent key code, Then the second
This outputs the key code corresponding to the function.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard device to which the present invention is applied. In this figure, 2 is a keyboard;
It includes a double-action key switch D and an auto-repeat key RP, which will be detailed later. 4 is cpu
(central processing unit), which controls the entire apparatus according to the control procedure shown in FIG. 6 is a ROM (read-only memory), which stores the program to be executed by the PI3 (see Figure 3), and a key code corresponding to the signal output from the keyboard 2. 8 is an interface circuit which functions to convert each key code sent via the path line BUS into a signal of a predetermined format.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the double-action key switch I)i shown in FIG. 1. The double-action key switch DA shown on the left side of this diagram (
1) is attached to the panel above the keyboard (
In other words, it represents a state in which it has not been touched by the operator.

Conductor films P and Q are adhered to two locations on the illustrated key top mounting shaft (non-conductor). Furthermore, an elastic conductor piece R is attached to the panel surface for contacting the conductor films P and Q to form a switch.

On the other hand, when the operator presses the key top of the double-action key switch DA (2) drawn in the center of this figure, it is depressed by the first stroke, and the conductor piece R and conductor film Q It represents the state of being in contact with each other. Further, the double-action key switch DAK (3) depicted on the right side of the figure shows a state in which the key top is further pressed down by the second stroke (P and R are in contact).

As shown in the center of FIG. 2, when the key top is pressed down by the first stroke from a resting state, the interface circuit 8 outputs a first signal 51g1 indicating that the first function has been activated ( (See Figure 1). When the key top is further pressed down by the second stroke,
The interface circuit 8 outputs a second signal 51g2 indicating that the second function has been activated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a CPU control procedure for the keyboard device shown in FIG. In this figure, "first function ON" (step Sl) indicates that the key top of the double-action key switch DA has been pressed down by the first stroke.゛Second function ON”
(Step S3) indicates that the key top has been further depressed by a second stroke. Further, the first signal output (step S2) refers to the output signal corresponding to the second stroke (see FIG. 2) of the double action key switch DAK as described in FIG. 2.

Next, this flowchart will be explained in order.

When the key manual routine is entered and the key top of the double-action key switch DAK is pressed down by the first stroke (step Sl), a first signal representing a specific key code is sent from the interface circuit 8, similar to a conventional keyboard device. Si, gl are output (step 5
2). This key code is from the key code conversion table TB
L (see Figure 1).

Next, it is determined whether the switch has been further depressed by the second stroke (step S3), and if not (NO), the auto-repeat key RPK is depressed after the first stroke has been depressed. (Step S4), and if the switch is further depressed by the second stroke (Step S3. Yes), the first signal 51g that was output earlier is
Following the predetermined signal for deleting (or correcting) 1, a second signal 51g2 representing a key code different from the previous key code is output from the interface circuit (steps S5 and S6).

After that, it is determined whether or not the auto-repeat key RP is pressed (step S7), and if so (Y
es), the second signal 51g2 is outputted again.

In addition to the embodiments described above, it is also possible to configure embodiments as shown below.

The key switches arranged on the keyboard may be of any type as long as they can perform a second function by changing the way the key switch is pressed; for example, they may be used on the keyboard of an electronic musical instrument. (i.e., depending on the force of the keystroke, the first
By using a key switch that can distinguish between the first function and the second function, keyboard operations can be performed more naturally.

In addition, the second function is activated by pressing down for the second stroke, etc., and the deletion (correction) signal output accordingly is a backward signal due to differences in the hardware and software of the main unit connected to the keyboard device. The signal may be a combination of a deletion signal and a deletion signal, or in the case of hardware in which manually entered data is held in the main unit, it is sufficient to send only the retreat signal. In any case, a pre-signal in a predetermined format may be output before outputting the second signal 51g2.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, there is no need to perform input operations by pressing multiple keys at the same time, and two different types of keys can be input by adjusting the force with which one key switch is pressed. Since the code can be output, it is possible to realize a keyboard with good operability. for example,
When inputting alphabetic characters, the first stroke of pressing down due to normal compression is made to correspond to lowercase letters, and the second stroke caused by pressing with even stronger force is made to correspond to uppercase letters, thereby achieving manual operation that is closer to human sensations. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment. 2...Keyboard, DAK...Double action key switch, RPK
...Auto repeat key, 4...CPII. 6...ROM. P8...Program area, TBL...Key code conversion table, 8...Interface circuit. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A key switch that selectively sends out a first output and a second output according to the first and second pressing modes; and code conversion means for outputting a predetermined prefix signal and a second key code signal by introducing the second output.