KR101435982B1 - Keyboard apparatus with hardware macro features using attachable macro storing cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A keyboard device supporting a hardware macro feature and having an attachable macro storing cartridge interface according to the present invention may include a keyboard scan part generating a key scan code according to a key event; a macro controller; an attachable macro storing cartridge interface; and a keyboard interface. The macro controller generates a time stamp based on relative time of key events whenever the key events are sensed when capturing the macro; stores a macro sequence composed of key event-time stamp pairs at a macro register; reads the macro sequence stored at the macro register when executing the macro; generates the macro key scan code, corresponding to each of the key events constituting the macro sequence, at time corresponding to the time stamp forming a pair with each of the key events or at preset intervals; and outputs the macro key scan code combined with a key scan code inputted from the key scan part or as it is. Also, the macro controller can bypass and output the key scan code according to the key event when not executing the macro. The attachable macro storing cartridge interface performs interfacing between the macro controller and the attachable macro storing cartridge to recognize and access the attachable macro storing cartridge including a non-volatile memory.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a hardware macro keyboard device having a removable macro storage cartridge,

The present invention relates to a computer keyboard apparatus, and more particularly, to a computer keyboard apparatus having a macro function.

A macro refers to the ability to predefine multiple statements to be processed sequentially, or to execute a series of predefined commands with a single key on the keyboard.

If you need to repeat typing the same text through a keyboard device, or if you need to press a complex combination of keys, you can use the macro function to simply input multiple sequential keystrokes or complex keystroke combinations with a single key The same effect can be obtained.

The macro function in the narrow sense is a macro function that is provided by itself in an application such as a word processor, for example. In this case, the macro function does not affect the outside of the application.

Alternatively, in order to provide a more general macro function, for example, when a macro function is executed in a modified driver of a keyboard device or a third-party application when there is a specific key input of the actual keyboard device, Macro functions can be used outside the application regardless of the type of application or support.

This general macro function utilizes the point that key information inputted to a computer through a keyboard device or a mouse is handled and processed in the form of an interrupt or a message in the operating system. When a particular hotkey is actually pressed on the keyboard device, the modified keyboard device driver or third-party application generates a keyboard interrupt or message to allow the operating system or general application to recognize the keycode as if it had actually been input through the keyboard device have.

In order to fully utilize the macro function, a useful macro sequence must first be created. Normally, the macro sequence is somewhat user-specific, and the user must manually write the macro sequence by pressing the keys.

However, for example, in popular computer games where professional leagues are held, there are often beginners who want to see and practice a series of keystrokes used by game players. In a computer game, a character must correctly input a certain sequence of keys in order to perform a specific operation, but it is likely to fail due to its high degree of difficulty.

In such a case, since it is virtually impossible for the user to directly write a macro sequence having a high degree of difficulty, the macro function itself is not interested in the macro function, which is a factor that lowers the utilization of the macro function having a high potential.

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a means for easily distributing and acquiring a macro by mounting a removable macro storage cartridge in a keyboard device having a hardware macro function.

A hardware macro-enabled keyboard device having a detachable macro storage cartridge interface according to an aspect of the present invention includes:

A keyboard scan unit for generating a key scan code according to a key event;

Generating a time stamp based on the relative time of the key event each time a key event is detected from the keyboard scan unit at the time of macro capture, storing a macro sequence composed of the key event-time stamp pairs in a macro register, The macro sequence stored in the macro register is read and a macro key scan code corresponding to each key event constituting the macro sequence is read out at a time corresponding to a time stamp corresponding to each key event, A macro control unit for generating a key scan code at a predetermined interval and outputting a key scan code input from the keyboard scan unit as a combination and outputting a key scan code according to the key event when the macro is not being executed;

A removable macro storage cartridge interface for interfacing between the macro control unit and the removable macro storage cartridge so that the macro control unit can recognize and access a removable macro storage cartridge including a nonvolatile memory; And

And a keyboard interface for transmitting the generated key code to the host device based on the output macro key scan code or the bypassed key scan code.

According to one embodiment, after the removable macro storage cartridge is recognized through the removable macro storage cartridge interface, the macro sequence stored in the non-volatile memory in the removable macro storage cartridge may be copied to the macro register.

According to one embodiment, the macro sequence stored in the macro register at the time of macro capture may be copied to non-volatile memory in the removable macro storage cartridge after the removable macro storage cartridge is recognized via the removable macro storage cartridge interface have.

According to one embodiment, the macro control unit includes:

A macro activation key for instructing the capture of the macro sequence, a macro storing key for instructing storage of the captured macro sequence, a macro execution key for instructing execution of the stored macro sequence, And a macro erase key.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hardware macro providing method using a hardware macro supporting keyboard device having a detachable macro storage cartridge interface

Generating a time stamp based on a relative time at which a key scan code corresponding to the key event is input every time a key event is detected for macro capture;

Storing a macro sequence composed of the key event-time stamp pairs in a macro register provided in the hardware macro support keyboard device;

Storing a macro sequence stored in the macro register in a removable macro storage cartridge accessed via the removable macro storage cartridge interface;

Copying a macro sequence from the removable macro storage cartridge accessed via the removable macro storage cartridge interface to the macro register for macro execution;

A macro key scan code corresponding to each of the key events constituting the macro sequence selected by the user among the macro sequences held in the macro register is stored at a time point corresponding to a time stamp paired with each key event, Generating and outputting at a specified time interval; And

Generating a key code based on the output macro key scan code, and transmitting the generated key code to the host device.

According to the hardware macro keyboard apparatus having the detachable macro storage cartridge of the present invention, macro sequences generated or obtained by the user can be used while moving in different computers.

According to the hardware macro keyboard apparatus having the removable macro storage cartridge of the present invention, macro storage cartridges storing macro sequences according to various purposes can be used while being replaced.

According to the hardware macro keyboard device having the detachable macro storage cartridge of the present invention, users can distribute, obtain, and use macros storing their respective key input sequences so that, for example, a competitor such as a pro- It is also possible to commercially sell cartridges that store unique keystroke sequences to beginners.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware macro-enabled keyboard device having a detachable macro storage cartridge interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a hardware macro providing method using a hardware macro supporting keyboard device having a detachable macro storage cartridge interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

For the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, specific structural and functional descriptions are set forth for the purpose of describing an embodiment of the invention only, and it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention may be practiced in various forms, The present invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described in Figs.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same constituent elements in the drawings and redundant explanations for the same constituent elements are omitted.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware macro-enabled keyboard device having a detachable macro storage cartridge interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a hardware macro supporting keyboard device 10 having a detachable macro storage cartridge interface includes a keyboard scanning unit 11, a macro control unit 12, a keyboard interface 13, and a removable macro storage cartridge interface 14 .

The keyboard scanning unit 11 detects an electrical signal that is activated when the user touches the key cap, for example, when the contact is contacted, thereby identifying which key cap has been pressed, or conversely, when the user touches the key cap An electrical signal that is deactivated while the contact is dropped can be detected to identify which key cap has been depressed.

The keyboard scan unit 11 may be designed to use individual contacts and conductor lines for all keys in the case of expensive keyboards, but in the case of inexpensive manufacture, the contacts are designed to share conductor lines per row or column It is possible.

The keyboard scanning unit 11 scans the key scan codes of the keys each time a pressed or unclosed position is identified, and outputs the scanned key scan code to the macro control unit 12. [

The macro control unit 12 includes a macro control key array 12 having a series of macro control keys, for example, a macro activation key 122, a macro storage key 123, a macro execution key 124, a macro erasure key 125, A timer 126, a macro register 127, and a key scan code combination unit 128. The timer 121,

When the user activates one of the macro control keys 122 to 125, the macro control unit 12 detects a key event from the keyboard scanning unit 11 at the time of macro capture according to the corresponding macro function and macro execution mode Generates a time stamp based on the relative time of the key event each time it is executed, and transmits the macro sequence composed of key event-time stamp pairs to the nonvolatile memory (not shown) in the removable macro storage cartridge 15 via the removable macro storage cartridge interface 14 151). In order to execute a macro, the macro sequence stored in the nonvolatile memory 151 in the removable macro storage cartridge 15 is read through the removable macro storage cartridge interface 14, and each key The macro key scan code corresponding to the events is sent to each key event pair When the macro capture function or the execution function is not performed, a key corresponding to the key event is generated and output to the keyboard interface 13 in combination with the key scan code of the input keyboard scanning unit 11, The scan code can be bypassed and output.

The operation of the macro control unit 12 will be described in more detail below.

Although the macro control keys 122 to 125 may be separately provided for each function, the different functions may be integrated into one key by different recognition methods.

For example, since the user will not simultaneously instruct the storing and execution of a specific macro sequence, that is, the user will try to execute the macro sequence after storing the macro sequence once, the macro storing key 123 and the macro execution key (124) may actually be implemented with a single key. Also, for example, the macro erase key 125 may be replaced by a long depression of the macro store key 123 associated with the macro sequence to be erased.

Depending on the embodiment, some of the macro control keys 122 to 125 may be replaced by generic keys in the keyboard scan unit 11. [

For example, if a general key is pressed while the macro activation key 122 is depressed, the macro sequence represented by the key may be captured and stored in the name of the corresponding key. In this case, the macro storing key 123 may be unnecessary.

For example, in order to execute the macro sequence at a later time, a macro sequence key can be called by pressing the macro execution key 124 and the corresponding key.

The timer 126 may generate a timestamp based on the relative timing at which the key scan code to be captured in the macro sequence is input and provide it to the macro register 127.

The macro register 127 receives the key scan codes transmitted from the keyboard scanning unit 11 while the macro activation key 122 of the macro control key array 121 is activated by the user, Receives a timestamp identified by the timer 126 with respect to the release event and each event, and generates and stores a macro sequence composed of key event-timestamp pairs in which the key scan code and its corresponding timestamp are paired .

The macro register 127 can hold the stored macro sequence in the macro register 127 while the power is being supplied and can also store the macro sequence automatically after the macro sequence is generated or in accordance with the instructions of the host computer or user, To store the copy of the generated macro sequence in the nonvolatile memory 151 mounted on the removable macro storage cartridge 15. [

Conversely, in the macro register 127, after the removable macro storage cartridge 15 is recognized from the non-volatile memory 151 mounted on the removable macro storage cartridge 15 via the detachable macro storage cartridge interface 14, Or in accordance with the instructions of the host computer or the user, to keep the macro sequences in the macro register 127, at least during power up.

In this case, the macro register 127 stores the macro sequence held in the macro register 127 before the removable macro storage cartridge 15 is inserted into the nonvolatile memory 151 ) May be prioritized. In other words, when the removable macro storage cartridge 15 is inserted, the macro register 127 discards the macro sequences that have been held until then, and outputs the macro sequence read from the nonvolatile memory 151 mounted in the detachable macro storage cartridge 15 Lt; / RTI >

Depending on the embodiment, the macro register 127 may also be implemented as a non-volatile device.

On the other hand, each macro sequence is configured as key event-time stamp pairs that are stored by the user while the macro activation key 122 of the macro control key array 121 is activated once.

Of the at least one macro sequence held by the macro register 127, a specific macro sequence may be linked to a specific macro storage key 123 and a specific macro execution key 124.

For example, only one macro save key 123 or macro execute key 124 is illustrated in FIG. 1, but if four macro save keys 123 or macro execute keys 124 are actually provided, A macro sequence interlocked by the key 123 can be stored in the macro register 127 so as to be distinguished from each other.

The macro sequence newly stored in the macro register 127 is transferred to the nonvolatile memory 151 via the removable macro storage cartridge interface 14 as long as the storage capacity of the nonvolatile memory 151 is insufficient 151).

On the other hand, when the specific macro execution key 124 is pressed, the macro register 127 can read the macro sequence linked by the specific macro execution key 124 and transmit the read macro sequence to the macro processing unit 128.

In order to erase the macro sequence held in the macro register 127, for example, when the macro macro key 125 of the macro control key array 121 is activated by the user, When the storage key 123 is pressed, the macro register 127 can erase the macro sequence interlocked with the macro storing key 123. At this time, even if the macro sequence held in the macro register 127 is deleted, the original macro sequence stored in the non-volatile memory 151 in the removable macro storage cartridge 15 is not deleted.

In order to execute the macro sequence, for example, when an event in which the specific macro execution key 124 of the macro control key array 121 is pressed by the user is detected, the macro register 127 is pressed to the macro execution key 124 And transmits the read macro sequence to the macro processing unit 128.

In the macro execution mode using the recorded timing, the macro processing unit 128 sets the macro key scan code corresponding to the key events constituting the macro sequence provided in the macro register 127 to a time stamp matching the corresponding key event In a macro execution mode which can be generated at a corresponding time and does not use the recorded timing, a macro key scan code corresponding to key events constituting the macro sequence provided in the macro register 127 is generated according to a predetermined timing .

In some embodiments of the present invention, since the macro key scan codes are generated with the same timing as the timings at which the user pressed the key to capture the macro sequence, executing the macro sequence naturally reproduces the user's key input .

For example, in a game or a musical performance application, a subtle difference in key touch timing can result in a significant difference. The key event is recorded and reproduced together with the time stamp, so that the user can reproduce the feeling of the key touch rather than the level of simply pressing the key by hand.

The present invention allows a user to reproduce a macro sequence capturing the feel of keytouch of a skilled person in his / her keyboard device via a removable macro storage cartridge 15.

Meanwhile, the macro processing unit 128 can bypass the key scan code provided by the keyboard scanning unit 11 to the keyboard interface 13 as it is during the general key input or macro capture by the user.

For this, the macro processing unit 128 transmits the key scan code of the keyboard scanning unit 11 to the macro register 127 if the user activates the macro capture function by pressing the macro activation key 122, If the macro execution key 124 is pressed to activate the macro execution function, the macro key scan code is adjusted to the timing of the corresponding timestamp based on the macro sequence to be executed in the macro read in the macro register 127 The generated macro key scan code and the key scan code of the inputted keyboard scan unit 11 are generated without matching the timing of the timestamp on the basis of the macro sequence which is the macro execution target, Can be transmitted to the keyboard interface 13 in combination.

The hardware macro support keyboard device 10 of the present invention may have various macro execution modes.

For example, in the fast macro execution mode, the macro processing unit 128 generates macro key scan codes at predetermined fixed time intervals, for example, 1 ms intervals, without considering the timing of the time stamp recorded in the macro sequence, (13).

On the other hand, in the timing macro execution mode, the macro processing unit 128 may generate the macro key scan codes according to the timing of the time stamp, and transmit the generated macro key scan codes to the keyboard interface 13 in consideration of the timing of the time stamp recorded in the macro sequence .

The macro key scan code generated in accordance with the macro execution mode set by the macro processing unit 128 is transmitted to the keyboard interface 13.

If there is a keyboard input during the execution of the macro, the operation of the macro processing unit 128 can be described as follows.

If there is input of the key scan code from the keyboard scanning unit 11 during execution of the first macro sequence, the macro processing unit 128 ignores the key scan code of the keyboard scanning unit 11 in accordance with the set macro execution mode And transmits the generated first macro key scan code to the keyboard interface 13 or generates the first macro key scan code and transmits the key scan code of the keyboard scan unit 11 to the keyboard interface 13 first, Or if the inputted key scan code is related to the execution of the second macro sequence, generation of the first macro key scan code is terminated, and a second macro key scan code is generated according to the execution of the second macro sequence, Or transmits the first macro key scan code and the key scan code of the keyboard scan unit 11 to the keyboard interface 13 in combination .

For example, according to the embodiment, when a user presses a key during execution of the first macro sequence, the macro processing unit 128 of the macro control unit 12 ends generation of the first macro key scan code, To the keyboard interface 13 in advance.

The macro processing unit 128 of the macro control unit 12 continues to generate the first macro key scan code and generates the first macro key in response to the user's key pressed while the first macro sequence is being executed, The scan code and the key scan code corresponding to the key depression of the user can be equivalently combined in the order in which they are generated and transmitted to the keyboard interface 13. [

In another embodiment, when the user presses another macro execution key 124 corresponding to the second macro sequence during the execution of the first macro sequence, the macro processing unit 128 of the macro control unit 12 sets the first macro sequence The second macro key scan code of the second macro sequence may be generated and the second macro key scan codes may be transmitted to the keyboard interface 13. According to the embodiment, the generation of the macro key scan code of the first macro sequence may be resumed after the completion of the second macro sequence.

The keyboard interface 13 is a USB keyboard interface or PS / 2 keyboard interface that receives a key scan code corresponding to a pressed or unpressed key from the keyboard scanning unit 11 or a key scan code corresponding to an executed macro, Format or PS / 2 format to the host computer, or may receive the control message from the host computer in the USB HID format or PS / 2 format and transmit the received control message to the macro controller 12.

The removable macro storage cartridge interface 14 interfaces the macro control unit 12 for recognizing and accessing the removable macro storage cartridge 15 and may be a market standard nonvolatile memory interface such as CF, Volatile memory interface.

The removable macro storage cartridge 15 includes a non-volatile memory 151 and can be recognized and accessed by the macro control unit 12 via the removable macro storage cartridge interface 14. [

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a hardware macro providing method using a hardware macro supporting keyboard device having a detachable macro storage cartridge interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

First, in step S21, a time stamp is generated based on a relative time at which a key scan code corresponding to a key event is input for each time a key event is detected, for macro capture.

In step S22, a macro sequence composed of key event-time stamp pairs is stored in the macro register 127 provided inside the hardware macro support keyboard device 10. [

The macro sequence stored in the macro register 127 is stored in the removable macro storage cartridge 15 accessed via the removable macro storage cartridge interface 14 in step S23.

In step S24, the macro sequence is copied from the removable macro storage cartridge 15, which is accessed via the removable macro storage cartridge interface 14, to the macro register 127 for macro execution.

In step S25, a macro key scan code corresponding to each of the key events constituting the macro sequence selected by the user among the macro sequences held in the macro register 127 is stored in a time stamp corresponding to each key event Or at predetermined time intervals, and outputs them.

In step S26, a key code is generated based on the output macro key scan code and transmitted to the host device.

Steps S25 and S26 may be repeated according to a predetermined number of times or a user's instruction.

By providing a removable macro storage cartridge, the user can use his or her own macros anywhere he or she is at home, whether it is a keyboard equipped with equivalent macro storage cartridge functionality.

According to an embodiment, the removable macro storage cartridge of the present invention can be implemented as a conventional non-volatile flash memory device, and the removable macro storage cartridge interface can be implemented as a non-volatile flash memory interface.

According to an embodiment, the removable macro storage cartridge interface may interface with a flash memory device for general use in addition to a removable macro storage cartridge to be accessible from a host computer.

In the past, the user had to manually register the macro sequences. However, since the macro sequences stored in advance can be used according to the purpose when the macro storage cartridges are mounted on the keyboard while replacing the removable macro storage cartridges, Can be utilized.

For example, a skilled game user can create a macro sequence with keystroke key inputs that implement his game technique as a provider of a macro sequence, store it in a macro storage cartridge, and distribute stored macro sequences. As a way of this distribution, it is possible to consider the offline exchange of a macro storage cartridge or the online transmission of macro sequences, and the possibility of commercial value creation by this distribution can also be considered.

From the point of view of the user of the macro sequence, the user can store the macro sequence in a storage location in a hardware macro function supporting keyboard device or an external removable macro storage cartridge at a properly selected position according to necessity or hardware configuration.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, Modification is possible. Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should be understood only in accordance with the following claims, and all of the equivalent or equivalent variations will fall within the scope of the present invention.

10 Removable macro storage Hardware macro support with cartridge interface Keyboard unit
11 Keyboard scan section 12 Macro control section
121 Macro control key array 122 Macro activation key
123 Save macro key 124 Execute macro key
125 Macro erasure key 126 Timer
127 Macro storage unit 128 Macro processing unit
13 Keyboard Interface
14 Removable Macro Storage Cartridge Interface
15 Removable Macro Storage Cartridge
151 nonvolatile memory

Claims (5)

A keyboard scan unit for generating a key scan code according to a key event;
Generating a time stamp based on the relative time of the key event each time a key event is detected from the keyboard scan unit at the time of macro capture, storing a macro sequence composed of the key event-time stamp pairs in a macro register, The macro sequence stored in the macro register is read and a macro key scan code corresponding to each key event constituting the macro sequence is read out at a time corresponding to a time stamp corresponding to each key event, A macro control unit for generating a key scan code at a predetermined interval and outputting a key scan code input from the keyboard scan unit as a combination and outputting a key scan code according to the key event when the macro is not being executed;
A removable macro storage cartridge interface for interfacing between the macro control unit and the removable macro storage cartridge so that the macro control unit can recognize and access a removable macro storage cartridge including a nonvolatile memory; And
And a keyboard interface for transmitting a key code generated based on the output macro key scan code or the bypassed key scan code to a host device. The removable macro storage cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a macro sequence stored in a nonvolatile memory in the removable macro storage cartridge is copied to the macro register after the removable macro storage cartridge is recognized through the removable macro storage cartridge interface Hardware macro support keyboard device with cartridge interface. The macro-storage device according to claim 1, wherein the macro sequence stored in the macro register at the time of macro capture is characterized by being copied to the non-volatile memory in the removable macro storage cartridge after the detachable macro storage cartridge is recognized through the detachable macro storage cartridge interface A hardware macro support keyboard device having a removable macro storage cartridge interface. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
A macro activation key for instructing the capture of the macro sequence, a macro storing key for instructing storage of the captured macro sequence, a macro execution key for instructing execution of the stored macro sequence, Further comprising a macro control key array including at least one of a macro erase key and a macro erase key. A method for providing a hardware macro using a hardware macro support keyboard device having a removable macro storage cartridge interface,
Generating a time stamp based on a relative time at which a key scan code corresponding to the key event is input every time a key event is detected for macro capture;
Storing a macro sequence composed of the key event-time stamp pairs in a macro register provided in the hardware macro support keyboard device;
Storing a macro sequence stored in the macro register in a removable macro storage cartridge accessed via the removable macro storage cartridge interface;
Copying a macro sequence from the removable macro storage cartridge accessed via the removable macro storage cartridge interface to the macro register for macro execution;
A macro key scan code corresponding to each of the key events constituting the macro sequence selected by the user among the macro sequences held in the macro register is stored at a time point corresponding to a time stamp paired with each key event, Generating and outputting at a specified time interval; And
And generating a key code based on the output macro key scan code and transmitting the generated key code to a host device.

Images