JP2643256B2 - Keyboard input control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard input control device, and more particularly to a keyboard input control device having an improved operation environment for switching input modes of key switches of a keyboard.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, keyboards are widely used as input devices for computers and word processors (document creation devices). For example, Japanese word processors utilize keyboard mode switching. When using a Kana-Kanji conversion Japanese word processor to enter a sentence mixed with Japanese and English words, use the keyboard mode used for Japanese input in the "Kana" mode, and use alphanumeric characters and accompanying symbols. To use the function, switch the state mode to [alphanumeric] mode and input. Thereafter, as soon as the input of the alphanumeric characters and the symbols accompanying them is completed, the state of the keyboard is returned to the “kana” mode, and the input of Japanese is continued. Such a series of control operations was required in the input operation of the keyboard of a general Japanese word processor.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the keyboard input control device described above, a mechanism required for input operation to the keyboard and a keyboard state control mechanism are arranged on the same keyboard. For example, "kana / English sentence" switching control key, "hiragana / katakana" switching control key, "double-byte /
Half-width switching control keys and the like are arranged on the same keyboard. Therefore, the operator may accidentally touch another function key on the keyboard. Then, an unexpected character string appears on an image display device, for example, a CRT, a liquid crystal display unit, or the like, and there is a case where the operator is panicked.

In this case, the operator needs to execute the following correction operation in order to correct the error.

1) Return the cursor to the point before the failed part.

2) Adjust the keyboard mode to the mode you want to use.

3) Restart input.

Had to be corrected in the procedure. This was very inefficient. Further, in general, there is a possibility that a keyboard input operation always causes the above-mentioned error. Furthermore, the state of the keyboard of the conventional keyboard is unclear. This is particularly problematic when performing high-speed input. To check the mode of the conventional keyboard, check whether the function key of the keyboard arranged on the keyboard is locked while being pressed,
Or, it is usually determined based on whether the lock is released and the key is located at the same height as other normal keys. However, in order to confirm this, even when operating with a blind touch, it was necessary to check the corresponding key on the keyboard once.

Furthermore, this confirmation was very poor in visibility and could not be judged at a glance. At least, it was not possible to judge it by watching the key. This is an act of interrupting the continuity of the work, and even a considerably experienced or skilled person must visually recognize the keyboard when switching modes. For example, in the above-mentioned Japanese word processor, when alphabets and kanji appear alternately, a very large number of mode switchings must be repeated. At the time of this mode switching, if even one error occurs, a large number of correction procedures are required as described above, which is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the related art, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to reliably and efficiently perform an input operation involving keyboard mode switching, thereby reducing the burden on the operator and improving the operation environment. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input control device for a keyboard.

[Means for solving the problem]

According to the present invention, (a) a selection key for selecting a character type to be input when a key on the keyboard is pressed, and a character such as an uppercase character or a lowercase character is further selected by the character type selected by the selection key. Key function means for stopping the function of the two types of shift keys so that the keys do not function on the keyboard, and the function of these two keys being stopped by the specific key function stopping means of (b). A first foot switch prepared to realize the same function as the selection key by using a specific one of the feet to perform a character type selection operation, and (c) a specific key function stopping means. In the state where the functions of the above two types of keys are stopped, the same function as that of the shift key is provided instead, and the contact corresponding to the on / off of the shift key is prepared with the other foot. A second foot switch that is turned off, and (d) an operation state of the first and second foot switches in a state where the functions of the two types of keys on the keyboard are stopped by the specific key function stopping means. Is displayed on display means provided for displaying the state of key input of the keyboard at a location other than the keyboard, and a foot switch operation state display means is provided in the keyboard input control device.

That is, in the present invention, a selection key for selecting a character type to be input, which is arranged on the keyboard, and a shift key for further selecting characters such as uppercase letters and lowercase letters with the character type selected by the selection key, are used. The functions of the two keys are stopped in a predetermined character input state where the first and second foot switches are operated. Then, the first foot switch is used instead of the selection key, and the second foot switch is used instead of the shift key. In the state where the first and second foot switches are used in this manner, the operation status of these foot switches is displayed on the display means arranged at a position other than the keyboard, so that the input state of the blind touch without looking at the keyboard However, efficient key input can be performed. In addition, since the functions of the selection key and the shift key on the keyboard are stopped when the first and second foot switches are used, when these keys are accidentally touched during key operation. Also, it is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which the input characters become unexpected.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of a keyboard input control device according to the present invention. In the drawing, not only the device configuration but also additional devices for explaining the present invention are shown.
Here, the device configuration includes a foot switch 1 (for the right foot) that switches the key mode of the keyboard with the leg, a foot switch 2 (for the left leg) that switches the key mode of the keyboard with the leg, and a switch from the foot switch 1. A cable 3 for transmitting the output to the foot switch 2, a cable 4 for transmitting the output from the foot switch 1 and the foot switch 2 to the keyboard body 5, a keyboard body 5 operated by ten fingers, and the foot switch 1 and the foot switch 2. A cable 11 for electrically transmitting the output of the device and the state of the keyboard to the device body 6, a device body 6 comprising a personal computer or a word processor,
It comprises a CRT, a liquid crystal display, characters such as a plasma display, and an image display device 7. The keyboard body 5 includes a key switch group 5-1 for inputting English characters, kana characters, numbers and symbols, a key switch group 5-2 for inputting numbers and symbols, and a state of the foot switch 1 (for the right foot). Display part 5- informing the user by lighting the lamp
3, a display unit 5-4 for notifying the user of the state of the foot switch 2 (for the left foot) by lighting of a built-in lamp, a function key 5-5, and the like. The device body 6
A power switch 8 which is a personal computer or a word processor and a magnetic storage medium handling device 9 or 10 such as a floppy disk or a hard disk.
And a cable 11 for electrically transmitting the output from the foot switch 1 and the foot switch 2 and the keyboard state to the device main body 6 are connected. The image display device 7 is supported by the device main body 6 on the support base 12 and can rotate by a predetermined angle. The image display device 7 includes a display unit 14 that displays the status of the power switch 13 and the foot switch 1 for the right foot with a built-in lamp, a display unit 15 that displays the status of the foot switch 2 for the left foot with a built-in lamp, and characters,
It is composed of a display section 16 for displaying images.

Next, a specific use of the apparatus of the present embodiment will be described using the apparatus configured as described above. It should be noted that although it differs depending on the purpose of use, configuration, and software used of a main unit such as a personal computer or a word processor, a typical easy-to-understand example is a foot switch 1 for the left foot.
The following describes a case in which a shift key of the keyboard is assigned to the keyboard and an alphanumeric / kana switching key of the keyboard is assigned to the foot switch 2 for the left foot. First, after the foot switches 1 and 2 are connected to the keyboard 5, the power switch 8 is operated to energize the device body 6, and the power switch 13 is operated to energize the display unit 16. Then, the arbitrary software is operated by operating the magnetic storage medium handling devices 9 and 10 to be resident in the memory of the device main body 6 and executed. When the foot switch 1 for the right foot and the foot switch 2 for the left foot are connected, even if the function of the equivalent function key on the keyboard, such as the shift key and the alphanumeric / kana switching key, is accidentally pressed by a finger in terms of software or hardware. It is possible to select whether or not to stop so as not to function. In general, when a foot switch is used, the corresponding key on the keyboard is not required, so that the function is stopped, and the operation can be performed in the following procedure. When both foot switches 1 and 2 are not depressed, when only left foot switch 1 is depressed, when only left foot switch 2 is depressed, both foot switches 1 and 2 are depressed. In this case, what kind of function is assigned to each of the four states differs depending on the purpose. Here, the shift key is depressed when the right foot switch 1 is pressed, and the shift key is not depressed when the right foot switch 1 is not pressed. When the left foot switch 2 is pressed, the kana mode is set, and when the left foot switch 2 is not pressed, the alphabet mode is set. In this way, the following operations can be performed when the setting is made.

1) When inputting lowercase letters, both feet are footswitch
We are both away from 1,2.

2) When inputting English capital letters, only the right foot switch 1 is depressed.

3) When inputting Kana characters, only the left foot switch 2 is depressed.

4) When inputting symbols for Kana characters, use foot switches
Stepping on 1,2.

Therefore, by arbitrarily combining these operations, a desired key operation can be executed without fail. The assignment of the key function of the foot switch is not limited to the above embodiment, and the definition of the key state of the foot switch (when pressed and not pressed, or when the right foot switch and the left foot switch are used) Footswitch assignment) can be freely changed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to convert a part of the functions of all keys and all keyboards into a foot switch.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the first and second
In the state where the foot switch is used, the operation status of these foot switches is displayed on the display means arranged at a position other than the keyboard, so that efficient key input can be performed even in a blind touch input state without looking at the keyboard. become. In addition, since the functions of the selection key and the shift key on the keyboard are stopped when the first and second foot switches are used, when these keys are accidentally touched during key operation. Also, it is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which a character to be inputted becomes unexpected, and to perform key input faster and more reliably than in the past, in addition to displaying on the display means. .
Further, since the keyboard is provided with a selection key and a shift key, a person unfamiliar with the foot switch can input various characters by the same operation as a normal keyboard. As described above, according to the present invention, the mode of the input operation can be switched according to the proficiency of the key input operation, the presence or absence of the operation experience of the foot switch, and the like, and the efficient key input is performed in a form most suitable for the operator. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a device configuration for showing an embodiment of a keyboard input control device according to the present invention. 1 ... foot switch (for right foot), 2 ... foot switch (for left foot), 3,4,11 ... cable, 5 ... keyboard body, 5-1 ... key switch group, 5-2 ... key Switch group, 5-3, 5-4 Display unit, 5-5 Function keys, 6 Main unit, 7 Image display unit, 8, 13 Power switch, 9,10 Magnetic storage medium handling device, 12 ...... Support, 14, 15 ...... Display, 16 ...... Display.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A selection key for selecting a character type to be input when a key on a keyboard is pressed, and a character for selecting an uppercase character, a lowercase character, and the like with the character type selected by the selection key. A specific key function stopping means for stopping the functions of the two types of shift keys so that the two keys do not function on the keyboard; and the selecting means in a state in which the functions of these two keys are stopped by the specific key function stopping means. A first foot switch prepared to implement the same function as the key instead of selecting a character type with one specific foot; and the two types on the keyboard by the specific key function stopping means. In order to realize the same function as the shift key in a state where the function of the key is stopped, a contact corresponding to the on / off of the shift key is provided with the other foot. A second foot switch for turning on / off the first and second switches, and an operation state of the first and second foot switches in a state where the functions of the two types of keys on the keyboard are stopped by the specific key function stopping means. And a foot switch operation state display means for displaying on a display means provided for displaying the state of the key input of the keyboard at a place other than the keyboard.