JPH0334010A - Key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an operator deal with a numeric character input request produced at execution of a program without adhering himself/herself to the shift operations and to decrease the operating mistakes by converting the key character code inputted via a keyboard into a numeric character code by reference to a conversion table at reception of said numeric character input request. CONSTITUTION:A host computer 2 is connected to a keyboard 1 via a keyboard interface 3. When a numeric character input request is produced at execution of a program, the character code of a key inputted via the keyboard 1 and containing plural types of character input functions including a numeric character input function is converted into a numeric character code by reference to a conversion table 6. As a result, an operator can deal with the numeric character input request produced at execution of a program without adhering himself/herself to the shift operations and also can decrease the operating mistakes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a key input device applied to, for example, a personal computer or a laptop type information processing device.

(Prior Art) In recent years, keyboards in which specific keys are provided with multiple types of character input functions including a numeric input function have been widely adopted in laptop-type information processing devices and the like that are required to be compact.

By the way, when entering numbers from such a keyboard (such as when a number input request occurs during program execution), press the number shift key to switch the character input function to the number input function, and then stamp the desired number. It is necessary to immediately retrieve the key.

Therefore, the operator is required to perform a large number of shift operations, which poses a problem in that operational errors are likely to occur.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In this way, a keyboard in which a specific key has multiple types of character input functions can reduce the key operation surface, but on the other hand, the operability deteriorates because many shift operations occur. There was a problem.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems.In an environment where a keyboard technician has multiple types of character input functions including a numeric input function on a specific key, a numeric input request is made when executing a program. The object of the present invention is to provide a key input device that allows an operator to respond to a shift operation without being tied to a shift operation when a shift operation occurs, and that also reduces operational errors.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the key input system of the present invention provides specific keys with multiple types of character input functions including a number input function. keyboard and certain ten-
When a numeric input request occurs during program execution, the table is registered in advance with the numeric code of the specific key corresponding to multiple input character codes. and code converting means for converting the code into a numerical code.

(Function) In the key input device of the present invention, when a number input request occurs during program execution, the code conversion means converts the character code of the key having multiple types of character input functions including the number input function entered from the keyboard. Convert to a numeric code by referring to the table.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when a numeric input request occurs during program execution, the operator can respond to the request without being tied up in shift operations, and small production errors can be reduced.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a key input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a keyboard, and this keyboard 1 has a plurality of types of character input functions including a numeric input function on specific keys. Further, 2 is a host computer connected to this keyboard 1 via a keyboard interface 3, 4 is a control section that executes a program in this host computer 3, and 5 is a program storage TL section in which the program is stored. Furthermore, 6 is a conversion table in which numeric codes corresponding to input character codes of keys having a plurality of types of character input functions including the above-mentioned numeric input function are registered in advance.

FIGS. 2 and 3 each show an example of this conversion table 6. Here, the conversion table 6A shown in Figure 2 was created for a key stamped with 48 types of characters such as "A, A, #, 3" shown in Figure 4, and this is a 1-byte code half-width character. used in the input. Furthermore, the conversion table 6B shown in FIG.
It was created by adding two types of character input functions, ``A, A'', to the 4 types of characters ``#, 3'', and is used for inputting full-width characters in 2-byte codes.

Next, the operation of this embodiment apparatus will be explained using the flowchart of FIG.

First, in executing a program, when a numeric input request such as processing item selection occurs, the program converts the input character code from the key with multiple types of character input functions on the keyboard 1 to the corresponding numeric value. A code conversion function is activated to convert the code into a code (step a).

If you press the key shown in FIG. 4 among the keys with multiple types of character input functions on the keyboard 1, this key and the code corresponding to the current character input function will be sent to the host computer via the keyboard interface 3. 2 (step b).

Then, the control unit 4 checks whether the input code is a 1-byte code or a 2-byte code (step c
), if it is a 1-byte code, the conversion table 6A shown in FIG. 2 is referred to from this code, and the corresponding numerical code "33" is searched and output (step d).

If it is a 2-byte code, refer to the conversion table 6B shown in FIG. 3 to search for and output the corresponding numeric code "33" (step e).

In this way, it responds to the program's numeric input request and executes the program's operations based on the numeric input.

Thus, according to the key input device of this embodiment, when a numeric input request occurs during program execution, the numeric input function is automatically selected for keys equipped with multiple types of character input functions including a numeric input function. will be done.

Therefore, the operator can input numbers without being restricted by shift operations, and operational errors can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, a method was described in which a conversion table to a numeric code was provided, but it goes without saying that this may be replaced with other types of characters.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the key input device of the present invention, a program can be executed in an environment where a specific key on the keyboard has multiple types of character input functions including a number input function. When a numeric input request occurs, the operator can respond to the request without being tied up in shift operations, and operational errors can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a key input device which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing a part of the contents of the conversion table in FIG. 1, respectively,
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing keys on the keyboard shown in FIG. 1 that have multiple types of character input functions, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the code conversion operation of the apparatus of the embodiment. 1...Keyboard, 2...Host computer, 4...
Control unit, 6... Conversion table.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A keyboard in which a specific key has multiple types of character input functions including a numeric input function, and a numeric code of the specific key corresponding to a plurality of input character codes of the specific key. The system comprises a pre-registered table, and code converting means for converting the character code of the key input from the keyboard into a numeric code by referring to the table when a numeric input request occurs during program execution. A key input device characterized by: