JPS61148521A - Keyboard input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cope with a signal from a keyboard part by replacing only the keyboard part in accordance with a use purpose, by constituting a titled device so that the signal from the keyboard is transmitted to a body side without an electric connection. CONSTITUTION:The titled device is constituted of a keyboard (K1 or K2), and a key-in signal detecting board K. The keyboards K1, K2 have a key array corresponding to a use purpose. In the key-in signal detecting board K, a circuit is contained, so that a code signal corresponding to a key-in signal is sent out to a host device through a cable CB. On the rear side of the keyboard K1 or K2, a fixed pressure part for discriminating a keyboard, which consists of, for instance, four pieces of projections is formed. A data of 4 bits can be shown by providing a projection at four projection positions, or providing no projection as the case may be. Accordingly, in this case, 15 kinds of keyboards can be discriminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a keyboard input device, and more particularly to a keyboard input device that allows signals to be input from a keyboard without electrical connection.

(Prior Art) Keyboard input devices have recently been widely used in all fields as input means for various information, command signals, and the like. Depending on the field in which such a keyboard input device is used, it may be necessary to use a plurality of keyboard input devices depending on the key layout depending on the processing content.

(Problem that the invention seeks to solve).

Conventionally, when such a need arises, the following methods are used to deal with it.

■ Prepare multiple keyboard input devices for different purposes and switch them as needed.

■ Always connect multiple keyboard input devices for different purposes to the host device.

■ Adopt one-sided book type or one-sided sheet sliding type.

In the case of the first method, it is costly because it is necessary to prepare a plurality of keyboard input devices, and it is necessary to provide a storage space to store keyboard input devices that are not in use. If the number of keyboard input devices increases, the storage space will increase, which is undesirable. Moreover, according to this method, it is necessary to connect and disconnect the electrical connection part (connector part) every time the keyboard input device is replaced.
The connector portion deteriorates. Furthermore, in the case of this method, there is a possibility that the host device side may malfunction, and in some cases, it may cause damage to the equipment, so it is difficult to attach or detach the connector part while the power is on.

In the case of the second method, as with the first method, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of keyboard input devices, which is costly. Furthermore, according to this method, it is necessary to connect a plurality of keyboard input devices to the host device at all times, which increases the installation space. Moreover, since only one keyboard input device is actually used, space utilization efficiency is extremely poor.

In the case of the third method, there is no need to replace multiple keyboard input devices or to connect multiple keyboard input devices to the host device at all times, and the installation space or storage space can be reduced.

However, according to this method, since the layout of the switch elements is fixed, there is a problem that there is little freedom and that stroke type key tops cannot be used.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and
The purpose of this is to allow signals from the keyboard to be transmitted to the main unit without electrical connection, making it easy to attach and remove the keyboard, and to make it easier to handle by replacing just the keyboard depending on the intended use. The object of the present invention is to realize an extremely easy keyboard input device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, combines a plurality of keys whose back sides protrude when a predetermined position is pressed, and identifies the keyboard. A keyboard having a fixed pressing part formed on the back side thereof, a pressure sensing part having a matrix pressure sensor in two XY directions pressed into the surface thereof, a matrix scan circuit for searching the detection signal of the pressure sensing part, and a matrix scan circuit for searching the detection signal of the pressure sensing part. Like 1? and a key-in signal detection board, which includes a control circuit that receives the output of the key-in circuit, determines the type of keyboard, outputs a code signal corresponding to the key-in signal, and performs various controls, and the keyboard is a key-in signal detection board. It is characterized by the fact that it operates by being placed on top of it.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figures, (a) is an external view of the present invention, and (b) is an electric circuit diagram showing its internal configuration.

In the figure, Ks, 2 is a keyboard, and K is a key-in signal detection board on which these keyboards are placed. The device of the present invention can be broadly divided into keyboards (Kt
, or Kz>, and a key-in signal detection board. Keyboards K-1 and K-2 have key layouts depending on the purpose of use. For example, a flat keyboard is used as K1, and a stroke type keyboard is used as K2, for example. Although only two types of keyboards are illustrated in the figure, any type of keyboard may be used.

The key-in signal detection board has a built-in circuit as shown in (b), and a code signal corresponding to the key-in signal is sent to the host device via the cable CB.

On the back side of the keyboard 1 or 2, there is formed a fixed pressing part for identifying the keyboard, which consists of, for example, four protrusions as shown in FIG. FIG. 2(a) shows the state of the back surface of the keyboard section, and FIG. 2(b) shows a view from the side. P in the figure is the above-mentioned fixed pressing part. 4-bit data can be represented by providing protrusions at the four protrusion positions, or by not providing protrusions as the case may be.

Therefore, in this case, 15 types of keyboards can be identified.

Reference numeral 1 indicates a pressure detection unit in which pressure sensors for detecting pressed points from the keyboard are arranged in a matrix in the XY direction, and 2 indicates the presence or absence of pressure by searching the pressure detection unit 1 in the XY direction. Matrix scan circuit for detection, 3
is a control circuit that receives the output signal from the matrix scan circuit 2, determines the type of keyboard, and outputs a key-in signal corresponding to the key position of the keyboard to the host device. As the control circuit 3, for example, a microcomputer is used. In the pressure detection section 1, the pressure sensors that detect each position are pushed into the key-in signal detection board so that their positions do not move. As the pressure sensor, for example, an array type semiconductor transducer is used. The operation of the device configured as described above will be explained as follows.

When either the keyboard 1 or 2 is placed on the key-in signal detection board, the fixed pressing part P on the back of the keyboard will touch the identification code recognition area of the pressure detection part 1 in the key-in signal detection board (as shown in the figure). (shaded area). The control circuit 3 constantly monitors the state of the identification code vtm area D via the matrix scan circuit 2. When the control circuit 3 learns that a new keyboard has been installed, it calls the conversion table corresponding to the keyboard and prepares for inputting a key-in signal.

Here, when a predetermined key on the keyboard is pressed, the back side of the keyboard protrudes as shown in FIG.

Figure (a) shows the case of 1 on the flat keyboard,
(b) is the case of 2 stroke type keyboards. In the figure, F is a finger. This protrusion presses a predetermined position on the pressure sensing section 1. The matrix scan circuit 2 constantly searches the matrix section of the pressure detection section 1 at high speed, and can accurately detect the position of a pressed key. This detection signal is transmitted to the control circuit 3, and the control circuit 3 stores the key-in signal for each scan in a built-in buffer as a key interrupt code. Then, the contents of the buffer are sequentially sent to the host device for each scan. On the host device side, the content of the key-in signal can be known from the transmitted interrupt code, and predetermined processing can be performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the entire operation of the apparatus of the present invention. When the power is turned on, the entire range of the pressure sensing section 1 is scanned, and the data at that time is set as initial value data. Next, the keyboard is determined.

That is, it is checked whether the identification code has changed.

If it has changed, it is determined whether the keyboard has been removed or whether a new keyboard has been installed after being removed. This determination can be made based on whether all the identification codes are 110 IT. When the keyboard is replaced, all buffers for storing key interrupt codes are cleared, the key interrupt codes sent from the keyboard are sequentially stored, the current scan data is compared with the previous scan data, and changes are made. All interrupt codes corresponding to the current position are transmitted to the host device, and all buffers are cleared.

If the identification codes have not changed, determine whether the identification codes are all “O” (Keyboard removed!! 1) or not. If they are not all “0”, compare the previous scan data and the current scan data. , change (“0′°→“
1") is detected, and the interrupt code corresponding to the key position is stored in the buffer. The operation of i is the same as when the keyboard is converted, so the explanation will be omitted.

In the above description, the case of 4 bits is used as the keyboard identification code, but it is not necessary to limit it to 4 bits, and any number of pits may be used. Furthermore, the type of keyboard used is not limited to flat keyboards and stroke type keyboards, and any type of keyboard may be used as long as it has a structure in which the back side protrudes when a predetermined key is pressed.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, there is provided a keyboard which is made up of a combination of a plurality of keys whose back side protrudes when a predetermined key is pressed, and a press is detected by the protrusion of the keyboard. By combining this with a key-in signal detection board in which pressure sensors are arranged in an XY matrix, the following effects can be obtained.

■Since the control section and the keyboard section are separate and have no electrical connection, multiple keyboards prepared for different purposes can be easily replaced online.

■The replaceable keyboard part has no electrical connections, so it is highly reliable.

■The replaceable keyboard part does not have an internal control circuit, so it is low cost.

■The control unit can be sealed, and the keyboard has no electronic circuits or electrical contacts, so it is less susceptible to dirt, dust, water droplets, etc.

■The replaceable keyboard section can be made smaller, so you can expect space savings.

■Since the external force detection section is located in the l1ji[1 section, various types of replaceable keyboard sections can be used, such as flat keys or stroke keys, as long as they can basically transmit external force.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an identification code mechanism, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a pressed state of the keyboard section, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the device of the present invention. 1... Pressure detection section 2... Matrix scan circuit 3... Control circuit K1. 2...Keyboard K...Key-in signal detection board P...Fixed pressing part Fig. 1 (a) (b) Second circle (a) (b) Fig. 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A keyboard that combines a plurality of keys whose back side protrudes when pressed at a predetermined location, and has a fixed pressing part formed on the back side for identifying the keyboard, and a A pressure detection section into which a matrix pressure sensor is pushed, a matrix scan circuit that searches for the detection signal of the pressure detection section, a code signal corresponding to the key-in signal that determines the type of keyboard based on the output of the matrix scan circuit. 1. A keyboard input device comprising a key-in signal detection board comprising a control circuit that outputs a key-in signal and performs various controls, the keyboard being operated when the keyboard is placed on the key-in signal detection board.