KR100385119B1 - A keyboard with a wireless remote control receiver and a method of redefing a key function for remote control - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A keyboard having a wireless remote control receiver and a method for resetting a key function for remote control are provided to reset the key function for the remote control by transferring information to the remote control receiver from a computer main body. CONSTITUTION: A keyboard(10) communicates with the computer main body by using communication lines connecting to the computer main body, and generates a retransfer signal when a communication request signal for the remote control is applied from the computer main body. The remote control receiver(20) generates a control signal by detecting the retransfer signal. A controller(30) makes the remote control receiver receive the information for resetting the key function for the remote control from the computer main body by controlling the communication between the keyboard and the computer main body through the signal lines in response to the control signal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key board having a wireless remote control receiver and a method for resetting a key function for remote control,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a keyboard having a wireless remote control receiver and, more particularly, to a bidirectional communication between a mounted wireless remote control receiver and a main unit of a computer system, A key board for enabling the key function of the device to be reset, and a method for resetting the key function for remote control on the key board.

In a desktop personal computer system, a main body and a keyboard on which a central processing unit (CPU) is mounted are generally separated from each other. Further, in most personal computer systems having such detachable keyboards, data is transmitted serially between the mainframe and the keyboard.

Figure 1 shows a conventional keyboard with a remote control receiver 20. Referring to FIG. 1, the keyboard includes a key board device 10 capable of transmitting key-information to a computer main body through signal lines and receiving control information from the computer main body Respectively. Here, 'key information' refers to data and a clock signal generated from the key board device 10 and transmitted to the computer body every time a key pad is pressed. One of the signal lines connected between the key board device 10 and the computer main body is a data line KBD_DATA and the other is a clock line used to synchronize data on the data line KBD_DATA KBD_CLK). Further, on these lines, a remote control receiver 20 is connected through which the remote control receiver 20 performs serial communication with the computer main body. 1, the key board apparatus 10 generally includes a key pad having a key matrix (key matrix) for detecting the depression of a specific key (a plurality of keys are arranged on the key matrix) And a processor for generating a key scan code corresponding to the specific key. The key retrieval code is transmitted to the computer main body via the signal lines (KBD_DATA, KBD_CLK) together with the clock signal.

In the conventional key board shown in Fig. 1, data can be transmitted from the keyboard device 10 to the computer main body, or vice versa. When a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter (not shown) is applied to the remote control receiving unit 20 of the keyboard, the remote control receiving unit 20 emulates a remote control signal, Signal. This code signal is transmitted to the computer main body through the signal lines (KBD_DATA, KBD_CLK). As described above, in the conventional computer system, data can be exclusively transmitted only from the remote control receiver 20 to the computer main body. That is, the remote control receiver 20 does not receive any information from the computer main body. This is because when the remote control transmitter suitable for the remote control receiver is manufactured by the manufacturer, the key function of the transmitter is fixed by the maker. Therefore, when using a conventional key board, the user can only realize the key function programmed by the maker, and can not program the key functions in another form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key board which can transfer information from a computer main body to a remote control receiver so as to reset a key function for remote control, and a method for resetting a key function of the key board.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a key board capable of resetting a key function for remote control according to various programs, and a method of resetting the key function of the key board.

1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a conventional key board equipped with a remote control receiver;

2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a novel key board having a remote control receiver according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the novel keyboard shown in Fig. 2 in which a remote control receiver is mounted on the front panel of the keyboard; Fig.

FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of the novel keyboard shown in FIG. 2; FIG.

5 is a timing chart showing generation of a control signal from the keyboard shown in FIG. 5;

Figures 6 and 7 are flow diagrams illustrating steps for resetting a key function in accordance with the novel method of the present invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system for communicating with a computer main body using communication lines connected between the main body of the computer system and itself, and a communication request signal for remote control from the computer main body is applied A key board device for generating a retransmission signal; A remote control receiver for detecting the retransmission signal and generating a control signal; And a communication control section for causing the remote control receiver to receive information for resetting the remote control key function from the computer main body by controlling communication between the keyboard board device and the computer main body via the signal lines in response to the control signal A key board having a remote control function is provided.

The communication controller may include a data controller and a clock controller located on the signal lines. The data and clock controllers may respectively activate or deactivate corresponding signal lines in response to the control signal, .

The data controller and the clock controller each include two load resistors connected in parallel on a corresponding signal line to receive a power supply voltage and a second load resistor that receives a data signal from the keyboard device, And a second inverter for receiving the output of the first inverter and a second inverter for receiving the output of the first NAND gate; One of the terminals includes a second NAND gate which accepts the output of the second inverter and the other receives the control signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of resetting a key function for remote control in a computer system having a keyboard having a remote control function, comprising the steps of: Generating a control communication request signal; Generating a retransmission signal from the keyboard in response to the communication request signal; Detecting the retransmission signal from the keyboard to the computer body to generate a control signal; Blocking the key board from communicating with the computer body and causing the remote control receiver to communicate with the computer body in response to the control signal.

In the method according to this aspect, a step of resetting the key function for remote control may be added.

In this method, the step of resetting the key function comprises: detecting whether a specific key input from the remote control transmitter is applied to the computer body via the remote control receiver; Calling a remote control program in the computer main body when the specific key input is made; Transmitting the key map to the computer body when the specific key input is not present; Detecting whether a reset signal is input; Setting an initial value in the key map when the reset signal is absent; Setting a new key map for the key function; And blocking the remote control receiver from communicating with the computer main body.

In this method, the new key map setting step may include: detecting whether the new key map is set; Calling the reset program of the new key map when the new key map is set; Selecting one of the previously set key maps; Transmitting the selected key map to the remote control receiver when the new key map is not set; Detecting whether the selected key map is appropriate; And blocking the remote control receiver from communicating with the computer body when the selected key map is appropriate.

Example

Referring to FIG. 2, a novel keyboard having a remote control function according to the present invention includes a remote control receiver and a key board device 10, in response to a re-send signal from the key board device 10 to the computer main body, And a communication control unit 30 for preventing communication between the computer 10 and the computer main body or allowing them to communicate with each other. Therefore, the keyboard of the present invention can reset the key function for remote control according to various programs in the computer system.

2, the keyboard according to the present invention includes the configuration of the conventional key board shown in FIG. 1 except that the communication control unit 30 is connected between the computer main body and the key board device 10 The key board device 10 and the computer main body can be prevented from communicating with each other in response to a control signal from the key board device 10. [ The remote control receiver 20 generates a control signal when it detects the retransmission signal from the keyboard device 10 to the computer main body. This control signal is applied to the communication control unit 30 via the control line CON # and is used to block the communication between the keyboard board 10 and the computer main body. Further, when the key board device 10 does not recognize the remote control communication request signal, i.e., the command signal that requires the computer main body and the remote control receiver 20 to communicate with each other, a retransmission signal is generated.

If the remote control receiver 20 detects the retransmission signal generated from the key board device 10, the receiver 20 generates a control signal, which is transmitted via the control line CON # And is provided to the communication control unit 30. At this time, the communication control unit 30 blocks communication between the keyboard device 10 and the computer main body. From this time, resetting of the remote control key function is performed by allowing the computer main body to communicate with the remote control receiver 20.

Meanwhile, the keyboard according to the present invention includes a front cover, and a keypad including a plurality of keys is disposed on the cover. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote control receiver 20 is also located on the front cover, together with a light emitter diode (LED).

Referring to FIG. 4, the communication control unit 30 includes a data control unit 31 and a clock control unit 32 having the same configuration. The data control unit 31 and the clock control unit 32 enable or disable the data and clock signal lines KBD_DATA and KBD_CLK, respectively.

The data controller 31 includes two resistors 31a and 31b which are connected in parallel on the data signal line KBD_DATA and are supplied with the power voltage Vcc and a plurality of resistors 31a and 31b which receive data signals from the keyboard board 10 One input terminal receives the output of the inverter 31c and the other input terminal receives the control signal through the control signal line CON #, a NAND gate 31d receiving the control signal through the control signal line CON #, an output of the NAND gate 31d And an NAND gate 31e for receiving the output of the inverter 31f and the other input terminal for receiving the control signal. The clock controller 32 is also configured in the same manner as the data controller 31. Therefore, a description thereof will be omitted here.

4, when a high level control signal is generated from the remote control receiver 20, the keyboard device 10 continues to the computer main body by the data control unit 31 and the clock control unit 32 Communication is performed.

While the control signal is at the high level, the output data of the key board device 10 is applied to the computer main body through the data control part 31. For example, when high-level output data is generated from the keyboard device 10, this data is changed to a low level by the inverter 31c and then applied to one input terminal of the NAND gate 31d. In this NAND gate 31d, one of its two input terminals receives a high level control signal, so the output level of the NAND gate 31d is determined according to the output level of the inverter 31c. As a result, at this time, a high level signal is outputted from the NAND gate 31d and applied to the computer main body. On the other hand, when low level output data is generated from the keyboard device 10 while a high level control signal is being generated, this data is inverted to a high level by the inverter 31c, As shown in FIG. Likewise, since one of the two input terminals of the NAND gate 31d receives a high level control signal, the output level of the NAND gate 31d is determined in accordance with the output level of the inverter 31c. Therefore, at this time, a low level signal is outputted from the NAND gate 31d and applied to the computer main body.

The clock signal from the key board device 10 is applied to the computer main body through the clock control part 32 in the above-described manner even when the control signal is at the high level. Therefore, a description thereof will be omitted here.

On the other hand, when a low level control signal is generated from the remote control receiver 20, the keyboard controller 10 can not communicate with the computer body by the data controller 31 and the clock controller 32. From this time, the remote control receiver 20 can communicate with the computer main body.

For example, when low-level output data is generated from the keyboard device 10, the data is changed to a high level by the inverter 31c, and the changed data is supplied to one input terminal of the NAND gate 31d do. In the NAND gate 31d, one of its two input terminals receives a low level control signal, so that the output of the NAND gate 31d is always at a high level regardless of the output of the inverter 31c. As a result, at this time, the output of the NAND gate 31d is always high level and applied to the computer main body. On the other hand, when high-level output data is generated from the keyboard device 10 while a low level control signal is being generated, the data is converted to a low level by the inverter 31c, 31d. However, since one of the two input terminals of the NAND gate 31d always receives a low level control signal, the output of the NAND gate 31d is always at a high level regardless of the output of the inverter 31c, Lt; / RTI > As a result, at this time, the output of the NAND gate 31d is always high level and applied to the computer main body. Thus, from this point on, the main body of the computer can communicate with the remote control receiver 20 via the data line KBD_DATA and the clock line KBD_CLK, while the keyboard main body 10 can not communicate with the computer main body do.

As described above, in order to reset the remote control key function, the data communication between the key board device 10 and the computer main body is blocked in accordance with the control signal from the remote control receiver 20, To be able to communicate with the control receiver 20.

Next, an operation of generating a control signal will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. Fig.

First, in step S61 of Fig. 6, if a remote control communication request signal is generated from the computer main body while the keyboard device 10 and the computer main body are communicating with each other, control proceeds to step S63. In step S63, the keyboard device 10 generates a retransmission signal, which is provided to the computer body via the signal line KBD_DATA. The retransmission signal is generated because the key board device 10 does not recognize the communication request signal, as shown in Fig.

In step S64, while the retransmission signal is being generated, when the remote control receiver 20 detects the retransmission signal, the receiver 20 generates a low-level control signal (S65). As a result, communication between the key board device 10 and the computer main body is blocked (S66). Thereby, the remote control receiver 20 can communicate with the computer body to reset the remote control key function (S70). At this time, the communication between the remote control receiver 20 and the computer main body continues until a command signal for blocking it is applied from the computer main body.

Next, with reference to Fig. 7, a method of resetting the remote control key function will be described.

Referring to Fig. 7, in step S71, it is detected whether a menu-key input from a remote control transmitter (not shown) is applied to the computer body via the remote control receiver 20. If there is a menu-key input, in step S72, the key map is set to the initial value (S75), and the control proceeds to step S81. In step S82, communication between the remote control receiver 20 and the computer main body is interrupted, and communication between the key board device 10 and the computer main body is resumed.

In step S76, if a reset signal is not inputted, it is detected whether or not a new key map is set. If there is a new key map setting, the control proceeds to step S77 to call a program for resetting the key map. If the new key map is not set, one of the key maps previously set by the user is selected in step S78, and the selected key map is provided to the remote control receiver 20 (S70). Thereafter, in step S80, it is detected whether or not the selected key map is appropriate. If the selected key map is inappropriate, control proceeds to step S78 to reselect the key map. If the selected key map is suitable, control proceeds to step S81 to block communication between the remote control receiver 20 and the computer main body. In this way, the method for resetting the key function for remote control ends.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in the specification and drawings using specific terms, these specific specifications are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

As described above, since the communication between the key board device and the computer main body and between the computer main body and the remote control receiver can be interrupted by providing the key board according to the present invention, the remote control key function can be reset. Therefore, by using the keyboard of the present invention, the remote control key function can be reset according to various programs already set.

Claims (7)

A key board device communicating with the computer main body using communication lines connected between the main body of the computer system and itself and generating a retransmission signal when a communication request signal for remote control is applied from the computer main body; A remote control receiver for detecting the retransmission signal and generating a control signal; And a communication control section for causing the remote control receiver to receive information for resetting the remote control key function from the computer main body by controlling communication between the keyboard board device and the computer main body via the signal lines in response to the control signal Keyboard with remote control function. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the communication control unit includes a data control unit and a clock control unit that are respectively located on the signal lines, Wherein the data control unit and the clock control unit each have a remote control function for activating or deactivating corresponding signal lines in response to the control signal. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein each of the data control unit and the clock control unit includes two load resistors connected in parallel on a corresponding signal line to receive a power supply voltage, A first inverter for receiving a data signal from the keyboard device; One of the two input terminals accepts the output of the first inverter and the other receives a control signal, A second inverter receiving the output of the first NAND gate, Wherein one of the two input terminals comprises a second NAND gate for accepting the output of the second inverter and the other for receiving the control signal. A method for resetting a remote control key function in a computer system having a keyboard having a remote control function, the method comprising: Generating a communication request signal for remote control from the computer main body while the keyboard and the main body of the computer system communicate with each other; Generating a retransmission signal from the keyboard in response to the communication request signal; Detecting the retransmission signal from the keyboard to the computer body to generate a control signal; And causing the remote control receiver to communicate with the computer body in response to the control signal, the remote control receiver interrupting communication of the keyboard with the computer body. 5. The method of claim 4, Further comprising the step of resetting the key function for remote control. 6. The method of claim 5, The step of resetting the key function comprises: Detecting whether a specific key input from a remote control transmitter is applied to the computer body through the remote control receiver; Calling a remote control program in the computer main body when the specific key input is made; Transmitting the key map to the computer body when the specific key input is not present; Detecting whether a reset signal is input; Setting an initial value in the key map when the reset signal is absent; Setting a new key map for the key function; And blocking the remote control receiver from communicating with the computer body. The method according to claim 6, The new key map setting step includes: Detecting whether the new key map is set; Calling the reset program of the new key map when the new key map is set; Selecting one of the previously set key maps; Transmitting the selected key map to the remote control receiver when the new key map is not set; Detecting whether the selected key map is appropriate; And blocking the remote control receiver from communicating with the computer body when the selected key map is appropriate.