JPS60103444A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a user to always perform key input in his/her familiar style with a multi-function device by displaying the desired keys corresponding to the selected operation mode. CONSTITUTION:A touch switch 2 consisting of a transparent conductive thin film is provided on the upper surface side of a rectangular 2-dimensional display 1 which is driven an X and Y axes. When such a device starts a display operation, an initial mode is displayed on the display 1. Then a copy mode switch 22, for example, is indicated and therefore the keys needed for a copying operation are displayed on the display 1. While those copy keys are switched to display keys needed for facsimile when a facsimile mode switch 23 is indicated. Then a word processor mode switch 24 is operated to display keys for a word processor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a keyboard device 1 that can be particularly effectively used in multi-function devices using word processors, copy machines, facsimile machines, and the like.

With conventional 0^ devices, when manually inputting multiple function commands using the keyboard, multiple input functions are engraved and displayed on the top, middle, and bottom rows of the key tops, and for example, the top, middle, and bottom shift keys can be used to change the display on the key tops. It is designed to specify which function to select and input. Therefore, when entering the middle command displayed on the key top, for example,
You need to use the shift key to select the middle row and then operate the input key. With conventional multi-input keyboards like this, you have to operate a separate shift key, which is cumbersome, and you also have to remember which shift key is being operated when the keys are manually operated. It has the disadvantage that it is easy to make mistakes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate such drawbacks and to provide a keyboard device that is most suitable for manually performing multiple functions using one key.

This invention will be explained below.

This invention provides a two-dimensional display driven by the XY axes, in which a transparent touch switch is layered, the operation mode displayed on the display is selected by the touch switch, and 1 the operation mode is adjusted according to the selected operation mode. Necessary keys are displayed on the display, and in the selected operation mode, the displayed keys are operated by touch switches. That is, FIG. 1 shows the structure of the keyboard device of the present invention, in which a transparent conductive conductive film is placed on the top surface of a rectangular two-dimensional display l driven on the XY axes by a dot matrix such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display. A touch switch 2 formed of a thin layer 11 is provided in layers, and the touch switch 2 has lines cl, c2, . ...Tar in row 3 on the cn reading line.

The positions of lines rl, r2 . ...r! The touch position in column 4 is electrically detected, so when you touch the top surface of switch 2 with your finger, this indicated position is electrically detected as the intersection of the matrix where the conductive features change. It will be detected.

FIG. 3 shows the drive system of such a keyboard device, in which a two-dimensional display l is connected to a display controller 1 via an X-axis driver 14 and a Y-axis driver 15.
2, and the touch position of the touch switch 2 is detected by the touch panel controller 13 via an X-axis detector 16 and a Y-axis detector 17. The display controller 12 and the touch panel controller 13 are connected via a pass line 11, and a microprocessor 10 that controls the overall display is connected to the pass line 11.

In such a structure, a copy machine.

The operation when applied to a device that combines a facsimile and a word processor will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When the keyboard device starts the display operation, the initial mode as shown in FIG. The power is turned on and controlled by the processor IO.
Power lamp 21 to indicate shutdown. Copy mode switch 22 for inputting instructions for copying operations of the copying machine. Facsimile mode switch 23 for performing facsimile transmission operations. Word processor mode switches 24 and the like for inputting instructions to the word processor are displayed, and by selecting these mode switches 22 to 24, a desired operating mode can be selected. And each mode switch 22 to 24
When the upper surface of the touch switch 2 where is displayed is touched with a finger or the like, the corresponding switch is turned on (step S2), thereby making it possible to input instructions for each operation of the copy machine, facsimile, and word processor ( Steps 93-S5).

Here, when the copy mode switch 22 for operating the copy machine is instructed in step S3, the sixth
Keys necessary for the copy operation as shown in the figure are displayed on the display IJ-. In other words, a numeric keypad 30 for inputting the number of copies is displayed, a clear key 31 is displayed for clearing the number of copies, and adjacent thereto, a copy key 3 for instructing the start of the copying operation.
A return switch 33 is provided for returning to the initial state shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. After creating such a copy table 1 (step 520), check whether the key is pressed or not (step 521), and after determining whether the copy mode is terminated with the return key 33 (step 521). step 522)
, the copy process is started (step 523). in this case.

Numeric keypad 30 is used to create the required number of copies and clear key 3
1 clears the set number of copies, and copy key 32 is used to instruct the start of actual copying. Further, when the return mode 33 is instructed, the table becomes the initial state shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the facsimile mode switch 23 for sending by facsimile is instructed in step S5, the display keys are switched to the display keys necessary for facsimile as shown in FIG. 7(A) (step S6), and the numeric keypad is When the other party's dial number is input in step 40, the manually entered dial number is displayed on the display section 41 (step S7). When the dial number required for such facsimile transmission is input, the display mode is automatically switched to the one shown in FIG. 7(B), and only the keys necessary for facsimile transmission are displayed. Normally, after manually inputting the dial number, the facsimile can be operated by operating the transmission start key 42 (step S8), and when the return key 43 is pressed, the initial mode shown in Figure ffIJ5 is displayed. .

After the facsimile transmission, the display returns to the one shown in FIG. 7(A).

Furthermore, when the word processor mode switch 24 for operating the word processor is input in step S4 described in -,
The key display for a word processor as shown in Figure 8 (A) or (B) will be displayed (step 5IO), and the key layout for ku, -maji, or hiragana (or Greek letters, etc.) will be displayed. By switching the key display according to the input mode used and inputting, it is possible to input keys manually in exactly the same way as on a normal word processor keyboard.

As described above, the keyboard device of the present invention provides a display screen suitable for various devices.
Only the keys in the designated mode can be operated accurately, and the user can always use the key force with which he or she is accustomed.

In addition, although facsimile, copying, and word processing are used as examples of manual mode in the series of examples, it can be changed freely with other devices, and by selecting the mode, you can change the key layout most suitable for that device. You can display only the keys you need. In addition, the arrangement and type of keys for copying, word processing, and facsimile mentioned above can be changed arbitrarily, and the key specified by the touch switch can be displayed in reverse so that the color changes. The input operation may be confirmed by emitting a sound.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a structural diagram showing an example of a keyboard device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing how the position of a touch switch used in this invention is detected, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of this invention. , FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 8 (A) and (B) are diagrams showing display examples in each mode of the present invention, respectively. l...2-dimensional dice blur 2...touch switch,
lO...Microprocessor, 11...Line, 12...Display controller, 13...
・Touch panel controller, 30.40...numeric keypad.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A transparent touch switch is layered on the upper surface of a two-dimensional display driven by the XY axes, and the operation mode displayed on the display is selected by the touch switch, and the necessary keys corresponding to the selected operation mode are pressed. A keyboard device, characterized in that the key is displayed on a display, and in the selected operation mode, the displayed key is operated by the touch switch.