JP2000010713A - Information device with keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To increase the effective display area and realize smoother and faster character input more easily than conventional input means using a pen. As a result, an object of the present invention is to provide an information device having excellent functions capable of reducing the time required for character input. A storage unit (5) for storing a keyboard (4) is provided inside an information device main body (1) so that the keyboard (4) can be pulled out and used step by step, and a soft keyboard (11) displayed on a display panel (3). By not displaying any of the display keys corresponding to the extracted key of the keyboard 4, the effective display area 12 can be enlarged. In addition, by properly using the keyboard 4 and the soft keyboard 11, both miniaturization and operability of the information device can be achieved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information device having both a touch panel and a keyboard as input means for characters and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, information devices such as personal computers have become more portable, and their size and weight have been reduced.
In addition to simply reducing the size, the data display unit and the character input unit are integrated, and a touch panel is placed on the liquid crystal panel.
There is an increasing number of devices that can display characters and images on a liquid crystal panel and input from a touch panel on the same surface. In character input, an input means using a pen is generally used. In this method, characters are written in a predetermined area on a touch panel placed on a liquid crystal panel with a pen, and the information device performs handwritten character recognition on the characters. Becomes
This method depends on the performance (processing speed and accuracy) of the information device, and has disadvantages such as a long time for character recognition, and the inability to recognize characters written out of a predetermined section and characters with a habit.

As another method, an arrangement of keys similar to that of a keyboard is displayed on a liquid crystal panel, and an input is performed by touching a portion on which a key to be input is displayed with a pen on a touch panel arranged thereon. (Hereinafter, a mechanical keyboard is referred to as a “keyboard”, and a keyboard displayed on a liquid crystal panel is referred to as a “soft keyboard”).

FIG. 4 shows an information device provided with such a soft keyboard. In the figure, 41 is the information equipment main body,
Reference numeral 42 denotes a display unit in which a liquid crystal panel and a touch panel 43 are arranged so as to overlap each other. The display unit 42 is divided into a display area 42a for displaying characters and image data and an input area 42b for inputting characters and the like by touching with a pen. The input area 42b has keys in the shape of a keyboard. It is subdivided and displayed.

[0005] In the information device configured as described above,
When inputting characters or the like, the operator touches a key portion to be input on the soft keyboard displayed on the display unit 42 with a pen to input data corresponding to the key displayed on the touch panel 43. .

[0006]

However, in a conventional information device using such a soft keyboard, the soft keyboard is displayed on a liquid crystal panel, so that the effective display area is reduced by the soft keyboard. For this reason, if an attempt is made to secure a certain effective display area, the area of the soft keyboard must be reduced, and the key pitch also becomes narrow, so that another key may be erroneously touched. If you want to prevent this, you have to be careful and input
It was difficult to increase the input speed.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem. The effective display area can be increased, and a smooth and high-speed character input can be realized more easily than conventional input means using a pen. . As a result, an object of the present invention is to provide an information device having excellent functions capable of reducing the time required for character input.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information device with a step-storing keyboard according to the present invention is provided with a storage portion for storing a keyboard inside the information device. It is characterized in that it can be pulled out and used stepwise.

[0009] With this configuration, by using a pen with a pen from a soft keyboard displayed on a liquid crystal panel and using a keyboard having a key pitch wider than that of the soft keyboard as character input means of an information device, only input with a pen alone can be performed. Instead, character input can be realized by touching a keyboard key with a fingertip, and the operability of character input in an information device is improved. At the same time, the information equipment is provided with a keyboard storage mechanism so that portability is not impaired, and the keys displayed by changing the range of use of the soft keyboard and keyboard in stages are minimized to reduce the effective display area. Can be used to the fullest.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that it has a storage portion for storing a keyboard, and a keyboard which is stored in the storage portion in a stepwise manner and can be used in each step. The information storage device is equipped with a keyboard that can be stowed, and the unused portion of the keyboard is stored inside the storage device. It has the effect that it can be limited.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information device with a stowable keyboard according to the first aspect, a display unit having an input area is provided. By using both the input from the unit and the input from the keyboard, there is an effect that the operability of the input can be improved while the size is reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information device with a stowable keyboard according to the second aspect, a keyboard storage state detecting means for detecting at which stage the storage state of the keyboard is, It is characterized in that the input area of the display unit is made variable based on the detection result obtained from the storage state detection means, and whether the keyboard is completely stored in the information device or to which stage it is pulled out The input area displayed on the display unit is increased or decreased according to the level of the amount of keyboard withdrawal, and the display area of the display unit is maximized by selectively using input from the display unit and input from the keyboard. Can be used as well as assigning a letter to each key on the keyboard, e.g. Frequent numbers by considerations such as placing the function key as a key, an effect that can be operability is increased, to reduce the time required for character input.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information device with a stowable keyboard according to the third aspect, an input area corresponding to the unusable area in which the keyboard is stored is displayed on the display unit. It is characterized by,
This has the effect that the required effective display area on the display unit can be changed without changing the total number of keys.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information device with a stowable keyboard according to the fourth aspect, the input area displayed on the display unit is maximized when the keyboard is completely stored in the storage unit. , When the entire keyboard is pulled out of the storage section, the input area is minimized, and the input area displayed on the display section can be easily set to the maximum and minimum in accordance with the operation of the storage and pull-out of the keyboard. It has the effect that it can be performed with simple operations.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a state in which a keyboard is completely housed inside an information device in an information device with a stowable keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. , FIG. 3 shows a state in which a part of the keyboard is pulled out, and FIGS.
3 (a) and FIG. 3 (a) are respective cross-sectional views, FIG.
FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B are plan views, respectively. In the figure, 1 is an information device main body, 2 is a touch panel for inputting characters and the like by touching a pen or the like, 3
Is a liquid crystal display panel for displaying input data, and 4 is a keyboard which is a character input device, on which a predetermined number of keys are arranged. The information device main body 1 and the keyboard 4 are connected by a flexible cable (not shown), and signals are transmitted between the two. 5 is a storage section for storing the keyboard 4,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a keyboard pull-out unit, 7 denotes a keyboard pressing unit, 8, 9, and 10 denote keyboard storage state detection switches. Keyboard storage state detection switches 8, 9, 10
Is a push-button switch that can detect when the button is pressed on the side or bottom of the keyboard, that it is retracted, and that when it is not pressed, it is pulled out. it can. Also, 11
Is a soft keyboard displayed on the display panel 3, on which the same number of keys as the keyboard 4 are displayed. Characters and the like are input by touching the pen on the touch panel 2 above the displayed keys. Soft keyboard 1
1 and the keyboard 4 correspond to respective keys, and the same input can be performed from either of them. 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes an effective display area for displaying data other than the soft keyboard 11.

The operation of the information device with a stowable keyboard configured as described above will be described below. In the state of FIG. 1, the keyboard storage state switch 8,
9 and 10 are all in a pressed state, whereby it is detected that the keyboard 4 is completely stored in the storage section 5. At this time, all of the predetermined number of keys are displayed on the soft keyboard 11 displayed on the display panel 3, and input is performed only by touching the pen with the touch panel 2.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard storage state switches 8, 9, and 10 are all in a non-pressed state, whereby it is detected that the keyboard 4 is completely pulled out of the information device main body 1. Then, the character can be input by the keyboard 4 as the character input means. At this time, the display of the soft keyboard 11 disappears from the surface of the display panel 3 and the entire surface becomes the effective display area 12. Character input is performed only by pressing a key of the keyboard 4 pulled out of the keyboard housing 5 with a fingertip.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard storage state switches 8 and 9 are not pressed, and the keyboard storage state switch 10 is pressed, whereby the keyboard 4 is partially stepped. Is detected. At this time, a part of the soft keyboard 11 is displayed on the surface of the display panel 3, and the key corresponding to the drawn key of the keyboard 4 is not displayed.

If, for example, characters, symbols, and function keys with a high frequency of input are arranged in the portion of the keyboard 4 that is stepped out and not arranged on the soft keyboard 11, for example, In this case, the effective display area 12 is increased by the absence of the display of characters and symbols having a high input frequency.

In the above invention, the characters arranged on the keyboard 4 are not arranged on the soft keyboard 11 on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 3 and are not displayed. Regardless of the storage state of 4, the soft keyboard 11 is also displayed on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 3 so that the same characters can be input by touching with a pen or the keyboard 4 can be input. It is equally feasible.

Further, in this embodiment, a normal mechanical keyboard is used as the keyboard. However, if this keyboard is realized by a thin flexible panel, it can be rolled and stored in the information equipment, and The storage space in the device can be further reduced.

Further, by using a spring or a motor for the push-in / pull-out mechanism for the keyboard push-in means and the keyboard pull-out means, the keyboard as a character input device can be stored in the storage section of the information equipment by one-touch operation with a button. It is.

In this description, a flexible cable is used to connect the information device and the keyboard, but a leaf spring electrode terminal is attached to the bottom of the keyboard, and a leaf spring electrode terminal on the bottom of the keyboard at the bottom of the information device. If a configuration is adopted in which a metal plate serving as an electrode is attached to a portion facing the terminal, signals can be transmitted between the information device and the keyboard even with a slide-type terminal connection structure.

[0024]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
By using a keyboard with a key pitch wider than that of the soft keyboard as a character input unit for information devices, using a pen with a pen from the soft keyboard displayed on the liquid crystal panel,
Character input by touching a keyboard key with a fingertip is realized, and operability of character input in an information device is improved. At the same time, the information equipment is provided with a keyboard storage mechanism so that portability is not impaired, and the keys displayed by changing the range of use of the soft keyboard and keyboard in stages are minimized to reduce the effective display area. It can be used to the maximum, and both operability and miniaturization can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a state in which a keyboard is entirely stored in an information device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a state in which all keyboards are pulled out from inside the information device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIGS.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view illustrating a state in which a part of a keyboard is drawn out of the information device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an information device including a conventional soft keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information equipment main body 2 Touch panel 3 Display panel 4 Keyboard 5 Storage part 6 Keyboard pull-out means 7 Keyboard pushing means 8, 9, 10 Keyboard storage state detection switch 11 Soft keyboard 12 Effective display area

Claims (5)

[Claims] An information device with a stowable keyboard, comprising: a storage portion for storing a keyboard; and a keyboard which is stored in the storage portion in a stepwise manner and can be used in each step. 2. The information device with a stowable keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit having an input area. 3. A keyboard storage state detecting means for detecting in which stage the storage state of the keyboard is, and a variable input area of the display unit based on a detection result obtained from the storage state detection means. 3. The information device with a stowable keyboard according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The information device with a step-by-step storage keyboard according to claim 3, wherein an input area corresponding to the unusable area in which the keyboard is stored is displayed on the display unit. 5. The input area displayed on the display section becomes maximum when the keyboard is completely stored in the storage section, and becomes minimum when the entire keyboard is pulled out from the storage section. Information device with a stowable keyboard.