KR20020018098A - Auxiliary input apparatus with foot switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A secondary input device using foot switches is provided to enable a user to input the selected keys of a keyboard by feet or legs. CONSTITUTION: The device comprises a few foot switches(12), an adhesive board(14) fixing the foot switches in place, and a mainframe(16) of the device consisting of circuit devices and all kinds of jacks and being connected to the foot switch(12), a computer mainframe(18), a keyboard(20) and a few foot switching connector. The mainframe(16) is connected to the mainframe of computer by using a computer connection cable. A keyboard connection terminal being equipped in the mainframe is connected to the keyboard connection cable. Each foot switch connection connector is connected to a connection cable extended from a plurality of foot switches. A circuit device of the mainframe working as the control unit is equipped with a microprocessor equipped with a memory unit and the microprocessor driving program is stored in the memory unit.

Description

Auxiliary input device using foot switch {AUXILIARY INPUT APPARATUS WITH FOOT SWITCH}

The present invention relates to a computer auxiliary input device.

Currently, the input device mainly used in a computer is a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, and the like. However, for handicapped people with disabilities, small children, and workers who use the computer for a long time, use keys such as Shift key, Ctrl key, Alt key, Korean / English switch key, and Back Space key simultaneously or repeatedly. If you use, you will feel a lot of inconvenience. In addition, various computer games are increasing in recent years. Gamers need to enter data quickly to enjoy a more realistic game. You usually enter data by hand only. Therefore, it is necessary to play the game while inputting not only by hand but also by using other body parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary input device which allows a user to input one or more keys selected from the keys on a keyboard, which is a computer input device, by foot or leg.

1 is a perspective view of an auxiliary input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is connected to a computer.

2 is a perspective view of a foot switch of the auxiliary input device of FIG.

3 is a side view and a bottom view of the foot switch of FIG.

4 is a perspective view of an attachment plate of the auxiliary input device of FIG.

5 is a perspective view and a front view of the main body of the auxiliary input device of FIG.

6 is a block diagram of the main body circuit arrangement of FIG.

7 is a circuit diagram embodying the main body of FIG.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a key setting process of the auxiliary input device of FIG.

9 is a perspective view of an auxiliary input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

10 is a perspective view of an auxiliary input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: auxiliary input device 12: foot switch

14: mounting plate 16: body

18: computer body 20: keyboard

22: base 24: scaffold

26: connecting line 34: switch fixing hole

36: computer connection cable 38: keyboard connection connector

40: foot switch connection connector

The computer auxiliary input device according to the present invention includes one or more foot switches, a fixing member, and a main body. The main body is provided with a circuit device, a computer connection cable, a keyboard connection connector, and a plurality of foot switch connection connectors. The connection wire of each foot switch is fitted to the foot switch connector of the main body. The console's computer connection cable connects to the keyboard port, USB port, or I / O board plugged into a spare computer slot. The keyboard connection cable fits the keyboard connection cable. The foot switch is fixed in engagement with the fixing member.

As described above, the foot switch of the auxiliary input device connected between the computer main body and the keyboard plays a role of a key previously set by the user in the keyboard. To set the desired key on the keyboard with the corresponding foot switch, press the Setup key (eg F11) and then press the desired key on the keyboard and the desired foot switch at the same time. Subsequently, pressing the foot switch will have the same effect as pressing a key on the corresponding keyboard.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an auxiliary input device for a computer equipped with a keyboard includes at least one foot switch, the foot switch is connected, the keyboard may be connected, the control unit is connected to the computer, The control unit is provided with an auxiliary input device configured to set the foot switch to a specific key of the keyboard and to transmit a data signal corresponding to the specific key to the computer when the foot switch is operated.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an auxiliary input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with a connection of a computer body and a keyboard. Referring to FIG. 1, the auxiliary input device 10 includes a main body 16, a plurality of foot switches 12, and an attachment plate 14. The foot switch 12 is coupled to and fixed to the attachment plate 14. The main body 16 is provided with the circuit apparatus mentioned later and various jacks. The main body 16 is connected to the plurality of foot switches 12, the computer main body 18, and the keyboard 20.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foot switch used in the first embodiment, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are side and bottom views, respectively, of the foot switch of FIG. 1 to 3, the foot switch 12 includes a base 22, a footrest 24, a hinge 25, and a connecting line 26. The scaffold 24 is coupled to the hinge 25 on the base 22 of the square shape and the connecting line 26 comes out from the front of the base 22. Since the internal switch structure which presses the footrest 24 to function as a switch is the same as a normal foot switch, description of the internal structure is abbreviate | omitted.

2 and 3, the base 22 is provided with a rubber base 28, a screw fastening boss 30, a rail coupling portion 32 located at the bottom. The rubber feet 28 are located at the four corners of the base 22, respectively, so that they can be positioned in place without slipping when placed on the floor. Screw fastening boss 30 is formed to extend vertically downward from the base 22, two are located in the longitudinal direction of the base 22. The screw fastening boss 30 is provided with a hole 31 into which the screw is fitted. Rail coupling portion 32 is formed to extend in the transverse direction of the base 22, two are located in the longitudinal direction of the base 22. The rail coupling portion 32 is provided with a hole 33 extending laterally and into which a rail to be described later is fitted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the attachment plate 14 used in the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, the attachment plate 14 is shaped like a fan. The attachment plate 14 has a plurality of switch fixing holes 34 and two attachment plate fixing holes 37. The switch fixing hole 34 is paired with two radially arranged. When the fixing screw 35 is passed through the fixing hole 34 and inserted into the hole 31 formed in the base 22 of the foot switch 12 described above, the foot switch 12 is fixed to the attachment plate 14. do. The attachment plate fixing holes 37 located at both ends of the attachment plate 14 are for fixing the attachment plate to the bottom. When the screw is fixed to the bottom through the hole 37, the attachment plate 14 is fixed to the bottom. Alternatively, fixing of the attachment plate 37 is possible not only by screws but also by adhesive or double-sided tape.

5A and 5B are respectively a perspective view and a front view of the main body 16 used in the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the main body 16 includes a computer connection cable 36, a keyboard connection connector 38, and a plurality of foot switch connection connectors 40. The main body 16 is provided with a circuit device connected thereto. The main body 16 is connected to the computer main body by the computer connection cable 36. In the figure, the computer connection cable 36 is shown as having a cable and a terminal for connecting a PS / 2 keyboard. However, it may be a universal serial bus (USB) standard or another connection method. The keyboard connection cable as an input device is connected to the keyboard connection connector 38 provided in the main body 16. Each foot switch connection connector 40 is connected to a connection line extending from the plurality of foot switches.

Referring to Fig. 6, the circuit arrangement of the main body 16, which functions as a control unit, includes a microprocessor 60. In the microprocessor, the storage unit 62 is provided. The storage 62 stores a program for driving the microprocessor 60 in accordance with the flow described below.

7 is a circuit diagram of an actual circuit device implemented according to the block diagram of FIG. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the detailed configuration of the circuit arrangement from the configuration of FIG.

8 is a flowchart of a process for setting a computer auxiliary input device according to the present invention. First, when the auxiliary input device 10 is turned on, the processor 60 waits for an input of a setup key (for example, the F11 key). When the F11 key is not pressed, the keystroke signal is sent directly to the computer. Press the F11 key to enter the setting state. The setup program requires the user to simultaneously press a particular key on the keyboard and a foot switch to replace that particular key. If you press a key and a foot switch at the same time for more than a certain time (for example, 3 seconds), the foot switch is set to the same key on the keyboard. If the pressed time is less than 3 seconds, go back to the previous step and ask to press the specific key and the foot switch at the same time. Once a setting is made between a particular key on the keyboard and the corresponding footswitch, it asks if there is an additional setting, which again requires that another specific key and another footswitch be pressed simultaneously. If no further configuration is required, the configuration program is terminated. Subsequently, when the set foot switch is pressed, a data signal of a key on the keyboard corresponding to the foot switch is transmitted and eventually performs the function of the corresponding key.

9 is a perspective view of the auxiliary input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention except for a main body. The auxiliary input device 10a includes a plurality of foot switches 12a, a fixed rail 14a, and a main body. The main body is the same as in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. 3 and 9, the plurality of foot switches 12a are coupled and fixed by the fixed rail 14a. The foot switch 12a is used in the first embodiment and is the same as the foot switch of Figs. The fixed rail 14a is formed by bending a circular bar in a U shape. The fixed rail 14a includes two foot switch coupling portions 42 formed side by side, and a connection portion 44 connecting the two foot switch coupling portions 42. The two foot switch coupling portions 42 are fitted with holes 33 formed in the rear surface of the foot switch shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an installation of a foot switch to use a knee as an auxiliary input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The foot switch 12 is installed inside both sidewalls of the desk 52 on which the computer body 18, the keyboard 20, and the monitor 50 are installed. The foot switch 12 is fixed to a suitable height inside the desk 52 (high enough to operate on the side of the knee) by bolts, adhesives, or double-sided tape. The fixed height of the foot switch 12 is the height of the knee of the user, unlike in the previous embodiment, the user presses the foot switch 12 with the knee, unlike pressing the foot switch 12 with the foot.

Using the auxiliary input device according to the present invention, a specific key of the keyboard can be set so that the foot switch replaces the function. In other words, instead of pressing a specific key on the keyboard, the user can press the foot switch corresponding to the key to replace the function. Such auxiliary input devices are useful for computer games. In a football game, you can use your hands to move and shoot or pass a foot switch. In driving simulation, you can use the foot switch to operate the accelerator and brake. In the case of other shooting games, you can adjust the speed and angle with your feet to enjoy a more realistic game. In addition, for young children, the elderly, and handicapped people who are inexperienced in keyboard operation, it is easier to use the computer by setting Alt, Shift, Ctrl, etc., which use two keys simultaneously on the keyboard.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and that such modifications and variations also fall within the present invention.

Claims (6)

Auxiliary input device for computer with keyboard One or more footswitches, The foot switch is connected, the keyboard may be connected, including a control unit connected to the computer, And the controller is configured to set the foot switch to a specific key of the keyboard and to transmit a data signal corresponding to the specific key to the computer when the foot switch is operated. The auxiliary input device of claim 1, further comprising a fixing member to which the one or more foot switches are fixed. 3. The foot switch of claim 2, wherein the foot switch has a hole extending laterally in a bottom portion thereof. Including a long rail as the fixing member, And a plurality of foot switches fixed to the rails by the rails inserted into the transverse holes. The auxiliary input device of claim 2, wherein the foot switch is disposed in a fan shape and fixed to the fixing member. The auxiliary input device of claim 1, wherein the foot switch is fixed to a side wall of a computer table to operate by a knee. According to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit includes a processor and a storage device, The storage device receives a setup key set for setup from a keyboard, and assigns a specific key input simultaneously with the foot switch to the foot switch. When the foot switch is operated, An auxiliary input device for driving a processor to transmit a data signal to the computer.