JPH062439U - Keyboard display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The present invention has a built-in simple display in the keyboard body, displays the function keys of the function keys assigned by software, and allows the contents to be updated at any time to display the display screen. It is characterized by building a keyboard display that is free from the hassle of simplification and label exchange. [Structure] The program stored in the system RAM 12 can freely assign various functions to the function keys. This function is encoded and registered in the display memory 17 in a message format in advance. The data read out via the display controller 14 is converted into a character pattern via the character generator 18 and is expanded into serial dots by the shift register 19 to drive the LCD display 20 and serve as a corresponding function key as a function message. Displayed above.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a keyboard display device used in a personal computer system or the like.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 With the development of man-machine interface, more and more sophisticated functions are required for the keyboard display, which is the core of the man-machine interface. For technically advanced ones, graphics display, multi-window display, fine pointing, etc. are typical examples, but you should also overlook those that improve the operability by user's ingenuity, such as function key label display. I can't.

Conventionally, the function of the function keys assigned by various software is assigned a part of the display screen as an editing area and displayed there, or, as described above, the function label of the keyboard. There was a label on it that wrote the function.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 According to the conventional example described above, when a part of the former display screen is allocated and displayed as an editing area, it is displayed on the display screen, so it is difficult to distinguish it from the data originally displayed on the display. It's hard to see. In addition, when the latter label is attached or placed, it has a drawback that it is troublesome to replace it when the software is changed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a simple display is built in the keyboard, and the function of the function keys is displayed on the display so that the software can be updated at any time to display the display. It aims to provide a keyboard display with a simplified screen.

[0006]

[Means for Solving Problems]

 The keyboard display device of the present invention has a first display memory for storing input / output data for data processing and a second display memory for storing each function assigned to a function key of the keyboard by software in a message format. A display memory, a first display monitor that displays data obtained from the first display memory, and a second display monitor with a built-in keyboard unit that displays data obtained from the second display memory; In order to display the data stored in each memory provided for each display monitor, it is provided with a display controller that generates an access timing signal for each memory and a display timing signal to be supplied to each display monitor. And wherein the Rukoto.

[0007]

[Action]

 The present invention, by providing a display monitor for displaying the function of the function key on the keyboard, simplifies and effectively uses the display screen, and realizes a mechanism that allows the function of the function key to be easily checked. . For this purpose, in addition to the normal display memory, a display memory for displaying the function of the function keys and a circuit for generating a display timing for reading and displaying the memory are added.

Conventionally, the function of the function key has been displayed on the display, pasted or placed as a function key label, and the label has to be changed every time the screen is hard to see or the software is changed. However, by providing a function key function monitor on the keyboard, the display screen can be simplified and can be used effectively. In addition, data that cannot be displayed on the display can be displayed on the keyboard monitor, which allows for highly flexible and expandable applications.

[0009]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the outer appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a keyboard unit main body of a personal computer or the like, and comprises a function key 2, a data key group 3, a display monitor 4 having a built-in keyboard unit, and the like.

The display monitor 4 is, for example, a two-line display LCD that is provided for the function key function display and can display the function assigned to the function key.

The function key 2 is a key to which a specific function can be assigned by software. Although not shown in the figure, it goes without saying that there is a display, such as a CRT, for displaying the original data processing result or the data input via the keyboard.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 is a microprocessor (CPU) which is a control center of the system, and reference numeral 12 is a system RAM in which an application program is stored.

Reference numeral 13 is a system ROM in which a BIOS program for controlling the keyboard / display is stored, and is a basic component when constructing a so-called microcomputer system.

Reference numeral 14 is a display controller, which controls the interface between the above-mentioned microcomputer system and the CRT display 22 and LCD display 20 connected to the system, and specifically, memory access control, raster timing. Alternatively, it is a commercially available LSI that generates various timing signals for XY drive.

Reference numeral 15 is a display memory (VRAM) in which data to be displayed on the CRT display 22 is stored. The result processed by the software is written in this memory one by one in the bitmap format and displayed on the CRT display 22 via the shift register 21 according to the control of the display controller 14.

Reference numeral 16 is a multiplexer. An address is supplied to the multiplexer 16 from the CPU 11 and the display controller 14, and one of the addresses is selected according to the display signal supplied from the display controller 14, and a display memory 17 provided for displaying the function keys is displayed. Is supplied to.

Reference numeral 17 is a display memory (VRAM). Data for function display of the function keys is written in the display memory 17 by the CPU 11 (software), read out via the character generator 18 and the shift register 19 in accordance with the display timing of the LCD display 20, and then the LCD display 20 is displayed. Is displayed as desired. Reference numeral 23 is a microcomputer bus, which is composed of a plurality of lines for address, data, and control, and the above components 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are commonly connected.

Reference numeral 24 is a keyboard controller (KBC), and reference numeral 25 is a keyboard unit (KB).

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The application programs stored in the system RAM 12 are sequentially read and executed by the CPU 11, and the processing result is written in the display memory 15 and displayed on the CRT display 22. The data keyed in by the keyboard unit 25 is also displayed one by one on the CRT display 22 via the keyboard controller 24 and the CPU 11.

As described above, the program stored in the system RAM 12 can freely assign various functions to the function keys. For example, in a program for creating a document, the function key F1 is copy, F2 is centering, and F3 is line modification.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the description of the functions assigned by these software is encoded and registered in the display memory 17 in advance. The data read out via the display controller 14 is converted into a character pattern via the character generator 18 and is expanded into serial dots by the shift register 19 to drive the LCD display 20 and serve as a function message. Displayed on the function key.

As described above, by providing the keyboard with the display monitor for displaying the function key function, the original display screen is simplified and effectively utilized, and the user is freed from troublesome work such as label exchange. It

[0027]

[Effect of device]

 In the past, function key functions were displayed in a partial screen area of the display, or were stuck or placed as function key labels, making it difficult to see the screen or changing the label every time the software changed. However, by providing a function display monitor for the function keys on the keyboard as in this proposal, the display screen structure is simplified and can be used effectively, and the user is free from the trouble of changing labels. To be done. In addition, data that cannot be displayed on the display can be displayed on this keyboard monitor, which can be used for various applications, and a keyboard display that is highly flexible and versatile can be constructed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Keyboard unit body, 2 ... Function keys, 4 ... Display monitor with built-in keyboard, 11 ... C
PU, 14 ... Display controller, 15 ... CRT
Display memory, 17 ... Liquid crystal display memory,
25 ... Keyboard unit.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A first display memory in which input / output data for data processing is stored, and a second display memory in which each function assigned to a function key of a keyboard by software is stored in a message format. A first display monitor for displaying data obtained from the first display memory, a second display monitor with a built-in keyboard unit for displaying data obtained from the second display memory, and each of the display monitors And a display controller that generates an access timing signal for each memory and a display timing signal to be supplied to each display monitor in order to display the data stored in each memory provided in the keyboard. Display device. 2. The keyboard display device according to claim 1, wherein a display unit with a built-in keyboard unit is provided corresponding to each of the function keys and is updated by software.