JPH05108239A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily find out a character or symbol desired to input. CONSTITUTION:When a power source is applied, an LCD driver circuit 15 judges that input information is an alphanumeric character, and displays the frame of a key and an input character allocated to each key on an LCD display 11. A part to display switching of an input mode is provided on the LCD display 11, and assuming that a display part of graphic mode is depressed, a signal is sent out to information inputted to a mode conversion circuit 14 on the detecting signal line 12a of a touch sensor 12. The mode conversion circuit 14 instructs the fact that the input mode is set at a graphic mode to the LCD driving circuit 15. As a result, the driving circuit 15 changes display on the LCD display 11 to the one of a graphic character.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly to a keyboard capable of inputting a plurality of character types.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a keyboard of this type, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, it is known that a plurality of characters or symbols corresponding to the type of characters that can be input are printed or engraved on the surface of the key top, and a switch for selecting the type of characters to be input is provided.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional keyboard, since a plurality of characters are displayed on the key tops of each key, it is difficult to see and the corresponding key is used when inputting a character type that is not normally used. There was a problem that it took time to find.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard capable of easily searching for a character or symbol to be input.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 constitutes a key top in a keyboard which allows a computer to input information such as characters and symbols displayed on the key top. Display means capable of displaying various characters and symbols, and display control means for controlling the display of the display means according to the type of input information.

The invention according to claim 2 is the same as claim 1.
In the keyboard described in the above item 1, the display means includes a plurality of display elements arranged on the upper surfaces of the plurality of push-down keys.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a display panel for displaying characters and symbols corresponding to a plurality of key tops, and an upper surface of the display panel. And a touch information output unit that outputs a signal representing information displayed on the corresponding display panel based on the pressed position information detected by the touch panel. is there.

[0008]

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the display means capable of displaying various characters and symbols can display predetermined characters on the key top, and the display control means is The display of the display means is controlled according to the type of information to be input.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the display element is arranged on the upper surface of each push-down key in the plurality of push-down keys, and the display element is on the upper surface of the push-down key. A character or the like input by pressing the push-down key is displayed.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the display means includes a display panel, a touch panel, and touch information output means, and the display panel has characters or symbols corresponding to a plurality of key tops. Is displayed. Then, the touch panel provided on the upper surface of the display panel detects the pressed position, and the touch information output means outputs a signal indicating the information displayed on the corresponding display panel based on the pressed position information detected by the touch panel. Is output. That is, the display of the key top is changed according to the input information.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

In FIG. 1, on the LCD display 11 for displaying characters or symbols on the key top, a touch sensor 12 for detecting the pressed position (touch position) by the pressing operation (touch operation) of the fingertip, and a scratch or the like A cover 13 that protects the touch sensor 12 is provided.

Here, the touch sensor 12 has a plurality of detection signal lines 12a1 for outputting key information corresponding to the touch position.
.About.12an, some of which output key information for changing the input character type, and are therefore connected to the mode conversion circuit 14.

The mode conversion circuit 14 is connected to an LCD drive circuit 15 for controlling the display on the LCD display 11, and the LCD drive circuit 15 responds to a signal output from the mode conversion circuit 14 to instruct a mode change. The display on the LCD display 11 is changed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above structure will be described. When a power source (not shown) is turned on, the LCD drive circuit 15 determines that the input information is alphanumeric characters, and the LCD
As shown in FIG. 3, a frame of keys and input characters assigned to each key are displayed on the display 11.

Next, on the LCD display 11, there is a portion for displaying the switching of the input mode, and it is assumed that the display portion for the graphic mode is pressed here. Then, the mode conversion circuit 1 in the detection signal line 12a of the touch sensor 12
A signal is sent to the one input to the circuit 4, and the mode conversion circuit 14 instructs the LCD drive circuit 15 that the input mode has become the graphic mode. As a result, the LCD drive circuit 15 displays the display on the LCD display 11.
Display graphic characters as shown in.

Even when the input mode is changed, the signal output from the detection signal line 12a in the touch sensor 12 is the same in the sense that it represents only the touched position information, and is output from the mode conversion circuit 14. The mode information that is given will be different.

5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the keyboard is provided with a plurality of push-down key tops 21.
An LCD display 22 is attached to the surface of 1. Some of the key tops 21 are operators for changing the input mode, and some of the detection signal lines 21a1 to 21an corresponding to each key top are input to the mode conversion circuit 23 to change the input mode. Instruct.

The mode conversion circuit 23 is connected to an LCD drive circuit 24 which controls the display of each LCD display 22, and the LCD drive circuit 24 matches the input characters as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with each LCD according to the input mode. Display it on the display 22.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to change the display of the key top according to the type of information to be input and prevent the information that is not input from being displayed on the key top for easy viewing. A possible keyboard can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a keyboard.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display of a key top corresponding to an alphanumeric character input mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display of a key top corresponding to a graphic character input mode.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a key top according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display of a conventional key top.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... LCD display 12 ... Touch sensor 14 ... Mode conversion circuit 15 ... LCD drive circuit 21 ... Key top 22 ... LCD display 23 ... Mode conversion circuit 24 ... LCD drive circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard for inputting information such as characters and symbols displayed on a keytop to an electronic computer, a display means capable of displaying various characters and symbols by forming a keytop, and a display means for inputting information. A keyboard comprising display control means for controlling the display of the display means according to the type. 2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the display means comprises a plurality of display elements arranged on the upper surfaces of a plurality of push-down keys. 3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the display means is a display panel for displaying characters and symbols corresponding to a plurality of key tops, and a pressing position provided on an upper surface of the display panel. A touch panel that detects
A touch information output means for outputting a signal representing the information displayed on the corresponding display panel based on the pressed position information detected by the touch panel.