JPH03214524A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a keyboard for inputting data to an information processing device.

[Prior Art] FIG. 5(A) is a sectional view showing the configuration of a key switch used in a conventional keyboard. In the figure, (21) is a key switch, (22) is a key, and (23) is a key (22). ), (24a) . (24b)
are the switch side contact parts provided on the switch side, respectively,
(25a) and (25b) are switch side contact parts (24a), respectively. Terminals led from (24b) are shown.

A conventional key switch is configured as shown in FIG. 5(A), and by pressing down the upper part of the key (22) with a finger as shown in FIG. 5(B), the key side contact portion (23) and the switch are connected. The side contact portions (24&) and (24b) are in contact with each other,
The terminal (25a) and the terminal (25b) are electrically connected.

Also, by releasing the finger pressing down on the key (22), a spring (not shown) provided inside the key switch (21)
The key (22) returns to its original state due to the restoring force of the terminal (
25a) and the terminal (25b) is opened.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a conventional keyboard in which a plurality of such key switches (2l) are arranged. In the figure, (6a) shows the keyboard, and FIG.
FIG. 6(B) shows a state in which the key (22) is pressed down with a finger from above.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a state in which the keyboard (6a) shown in FIG. 6 is connected to an information processing device. The same reference numerals as in FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate the same or equivalent parts, and (7) a key matrix in which a plurality of key switches (21) are connected;
(8) is the control section, (9) is the data output line, (10)
indicates an information processing device.

The following FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing steps when data is input into the information processing device (10) using the keyboard (6a), and in the figure, 81 to S7 indicate each step, respectively.

When the key (22) is pressed down by the user, the control unit (8) checks in step S1 that there is continuity between the terminals (25a) and (25b) (hereinafter simply referred to as between terminals a and b). , in the next step S2, data <x) is output to the data output line (9). Then, in step S3, the finger is released from the key (22), and the terminal a,
The control unit (8) checks whether or not space b has been opened. When terminals a and b are open, data (
Finish the input operation of X) and wait for the next key input.

Further, if the terminals a and b are not opened in step S3 and time T has elapsed in step S4, data (X) is outputted to the data output line (9) again in step S5, and the data (X) is outputted to the data output line (9) again in step S5. In S6, it is checked again whether the terminals a and b are opened. Then, until terminals a and b are opened, data (
X) continues to be sent to the data output line (9). Therefore, when the user wants to repeatedly input the same data, he only has to keep pressing the key (22).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the conventional keyboard as described above is composed of key switches that can input only one piece of information with one key switch. In order to input more information than the number of key switches that have been set, it is necessary to operate two or more keys to switch modes, which poses problems such as the operation being complicated and causing the user to feel troubled. there were.

The present invention was made to solve this problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that can easily input a plurality of pieces of information by operating a single key switch without changing modes.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The keyboard according to the present invention is provided with three or more switch-side contact portions on the switch side, and has a structure that allows the key to slide horizontally within the switch while the key is pressed down. ,
The device is equipped with a key switch that can select the switch-side contact portion that comes into contact with the key-side contact portion by sliding the key.

[Function] This invention includes a key switch that allows you to select the switch-side contact portion that comes into contact with the key-side contact portion by sliding the key, so it is possible to input multiple pieces of information by operating one key switch. becomes possible.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a key switch in an embodiment of the present invention, in which (1) is a key switch;
2) is the key, (3) is the key side contact part provided on the key (2), (4a) to (4d) are the switch side contact parts each provided on the switch side, and (5a) to (5d) are the key side contact parts provided on the switch side. Terminals led from the switch side contact portions (4a) to (4d) are shown, respectively.

The key switch in this embodiment is constructed as shown in FIG.
By pressing down the top of 2), the key side contact part (3)
) and the switch-side contact portions (4a), (4b) can be brought into contact with each other to establish electrical continuity between the terminal (5a) and the terminal (5b). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1 (C), by sliding the key (2) once pressed down to the left side of the drawing, continuity can be established between the terminals (5a), (5b) and the terminal (5c). and by sliding the pressed key (2) to the right side of the drawing as shown in Figure 1 (D),
Electrical continuity can be established between the terminals (5a), (5b) and the terminal (5d).

That is, the depressed key (2) is slid horizontally within the switch, and the switch-side contact part that contacts the key-side contact part (3) is moved to (4c) or (4d) in addition to (4a) and (4b). ) so that a plurality of pieces of information can be input by operating one key switch (1).

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the state of use of the keyboard in this embodiment. In the figure, (6) shows the keyboard in this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 2(B) shows the state in which the key (2) is slid toward the front.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state in which the keyboard (6) shown in FIG. 2 is connected to an information processing device, and the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 indicate the same or equivalent parts. ．． The following figure 4 shows how to use the information processing device (6) using the keyboard (6).
10) is a flowchart showing steps for inputting data, and in the figure, S1 to S20 indicate each step, respectively.

In step S, the key (2) is pressed down by the user in the control unit (8), and conduction is established between the terminals (5a) and (5b) (hereinafter simply referred to as between terminals a and b in such a case).
If checked in step S2, data (x) is output to the data output line (9).

Further, as described above, when the key (2) is pressed down, it becomes possible to slide horizontally, and in step S3, the key (2) is slid to connect the key side contact part (3) and the switch side contact part ( 4c) or (4d) are in contact and conduction is established between terminals a and b and terminal C or d, step Sl
In other cases, the process moves to T in steps S4 and S5.
It is checked whether or not the terminals a and b are opened within the time, and if the terminals a and b are opened, step 20
Then, the control section (8) outputs a data confirmation signal to the data output line (9), and waits for the next key input.

On the other hand, even if time T has elapsed in steps S4 and S5, terminal a,
If the space between b is not opened, a data confirmation signal is output in the next step S6, and the data (
x). In the following steps 88 to 10,
Data (X) continues to be output at intervals of t time (T>t) as long as there is no change in the state of the key (2), but if terminals a and b are opened in step S9, the process moves to step S20. .

, Also, in step S3 or S8, the key (2) is slid, and the switch side contact part (4C) or 4d) is selected and comes into contact with the key side contact part (3), and terminals a, b and terminal C are connected. If there is electrical continuity between
y) is output.

In the next step S12, it is determined whether or not the electrically connected terminal C or terminal d and the terminals a and b are opened (that is, whether the slid key (2) is restored to its original position). is checked, and if it is not released even after T time elapses in step S14, a data confirmation signal is output in the next step S15, and data (y) is output again in step S16.

Thereafter, it is checked whether the terminal C or d is opened or not, and until the terminal C or d is opened, the data (y
) is repeated.

Furthermore, if the connection between terminal C or terminal d and terminals a and b is opened in step S12 or S17, the control unit (
8) is connected to terminals a and b in the following step 313 or S19.
If the terminals a and b are open, the process moves to step S20, and if not, the process moves to step S2. In the above embodiment, the number of contact parts on the switch side is four (4a) to (4d), and the number of contact parts on the switch side is four (4a) to (4d).
However, the number of contact parts and the sliding direction of the key (2) are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, this invention is capable of inputting multiple modes of information by arranging key switches that can input multiple pieces of information by sliding the keys. This has the effect of allowing easy input without switching.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 8 are views for explaining a conventional keyboard, respectively. In the figure, (1) is the key switch, (2) is the key, and (3
) are the key side contact parts, (4a) to (4d) are the switch side contact parts, (5a) to (5d) are the terminals, respectively, (
6) is a keyboard, (7) is a key matrix, (8) is a control unit, (9) is a data output line, and (10) is an information processing device. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or equivalent parts. shall be indicated.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A key having a key-side contact portion is held in a vertically slidable state within a switch side having a switch-side contact portion connected to a terminal, and when the key is pressed down, the key side In a keyboard comprising a plurality of key switches arranged so that the contact part and the switch-side contact part come into contact and conduct between the respective terminals, means for providing three or more switch-side contact parts on the switch side, when the key is pressed down. means for sliding the key in a horizontal direction within the switch side in a state, and selecting the switch side contact portion that contacts the key side contact portion by sliding the key in the horizontal direction within the switch side; A keyboard consisting of a plurality of key switches arranged with means.