JPS60247724A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input characters through remote operation without any data absence by supplying an illumination permitting signal to an element unit in which the photodetector has the highest output level, and storing character codes from a key matrix in a buffer successively when the output level is lower than a specific value. CONSTITUTION:A personal computer 310 is normally ready and a light emitting element 312 emites. When a keyboard 320 is provided, a photodetector 323 generates a highest-level output and a level discrimination circuit 520 sends a decision result output 521 to a control part 530. When a character code is inputted from a key matrix 550 in this state, the character code 551 is stored in the data buffer 540. The control part 530 on knowing that the character code is stored in the buffer 540 sends a read command signal 534 to receive the code signal and sends out only an emmision command signal 532 to an element unit group. Then, only the light emitting element 324 provided coupling with the element 323 emites so that character input without data absence is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a character input device for inputting characters into a personal computer or the like by remote control.

2. Description of the Related Art Structures of Conventional Examples and Their Problems In recent years, information processing devices such as personal computers have become popular in offices and homes. Character input devices (hereinafter referred to as keyboards) are used to input character data into these information processing devices. Keyboards include wired keyboards with a cord, and wireless keyboards that do not have a cord and can be operated remotely.

The wireless keyboard described above will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional wireless keyboard and a computer. FIG. 2 is a timing chart. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 110 is a burner computer that performs information processing, and reference numeral 111 is a light receiving element that receives character data as an optical signal and converts it into an electrical signal. 120 is a keyboard for inputting characters.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a light emitting element that converts character data into an optical signal, and the optical signal is sent to the personal computer 110.O The operation of the conventional character input device configured as described above will be described below.

When desired characters are input into the personal computer 110 using the keyboard 120, the desired character data is emitted from the light emitting element 121 as an optical signal. The optical signal enters the light receiving element 111, is converted into original character data, and is input to the personal computer 110.

However, in the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. does not include all input character data.

This results in what is called data loss. This state of data drop will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, a indicates character input from the keyboard 120, data strings indicate the state of the personal computer,
There is a data-ready state (hereinafter referred to as a ready state) and a busy state. C indicates a character data string received by the burner computer 110. Even if the character input data string from the keyboard 120 is continuous as shown in a, the characters inputted while the personal computer 110 is in a busy state as shown in b are not stored in the personal computer 110 as shown in C. It only contains data. In other words, even if TOKYO is input, the only character data entered into the personal computer 110 is Too.

Further, in the above configuration, since the light emitting element and the light receiving element generally have directivity, the keyboard 120 and the personal computer 110 must be placed in parallel to receive light properly.

As described above, the conventional configuration has the problem of data loss and the limitation that the keyboard and personal computer must be placed in parallel.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a remote control system that allows the positional relationship between the keyboard and the personal computer to be free and that does not cause data to be lost even if the personal computer is busy. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a code buffer that stores character codes, a light emitting element that converts the code signal output from the code buffer into an optical signal, and an optical signal sent from a communication partner. A character input device is provided with an element unit group in which a light receiving element that converts into an electric signal is paired with a light receiving element, and the output level of the light receiving element is given permission to emit light to the element unit with the highest output level of the light receiving element, and the output of the light receiving element is When the level is below a predetermined value, character codes from the key matrix are sequentially stored in the code buffer below, thereby reducing restrictions on the positional relationship between the communication partner and the character input device, and enabling remote control without data loss. It allows you to input characters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 3 is a general view of a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, when it is placed parallel to a personal computer of a communicating party. Similarly, FIG. 4 is a general view of the character input device according to the embodiment of the present invention, when it is placed diagonally. In FIG. 3, 31o is a personal computer, and 311 is a light receiving element that converts an optical signal of character data into an electrical signal. A light emitting element 312 converts an electrical signal into an optical signal, and continues to emit light while the personal computer 310 is in a ready state. 320 is the keyboard, 3
21 is a light receiving element that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal;
22 is a light emitting element that converts character data into an optical signal.

The light-receiving element 321 and the light-emitting element 322 are a pair of element units, and similarly, 323 is a light-receiving element and 324 is a light-emitting element, which is a pair of element units. 325 is a light receiving element, and 326 is a pair of element units including a light emitting element. That is, in the embodiment, an element unit group of three pairs of light emitting/light receiving elements is provided.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 5, 321.322.323.324°326.32
Reference numeral 6 indicates the light receiving element 2 and the light emitting element described above, and 055o indicates a key matrix in which a predetermined key switch is turned on when a key is pressed. 540 is a data buffer that stores character codes.

A control unit 530 controls the light emission of the light emitting elements 322, 324, and 326 based on information from other blocks. 5
20 is a level discrimination circuit which discriminates the output level of the light emitting element. 511, 512° 613 is the light receiving element 321.3
23.325 output signal. Reference numeral 521 denotes a discrimination result output from the level discrimination circuit. 561 is the character code,
Output from the key matrix 550 and data buffer 7
540. 541 is a code signal, and the character code stored in the data buffer 540 is the character code stored in the control unit 5.
It was read out by the command No. 30. 534 is a read command signal. 531°632.534 is a light emission command signal, which sends a light emission command to the light emitting element desired to emit light among the light emitting elements 322, 324, 326.

The operation of the character input device according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described below.

Normally, the personal computer is in a ready state, and only the light emitting element 312 is emitting light. When the keyboard 320 is placed as shown in FIG. 3, the light receiving element 323 outputs the highest level of output due to the directivity of the light emitting element 312 and the directivity of the light receiving element. Therefore, in FIG.
The output signal 612 of No. 3 becomes the highest level, and the level discrimination circuit 520 outputs the discrimination result 621 to the control unit 530.
The control unit 530 learns that the light receiving element 323 is receiving light at the highest level.

When characters are input in this state, the character code data is accepted by the personal computer 310.

For example, when 117 II of "TOKYO" is input from the key matrix 650, the character code 561 of n T II is stored in the data buffer 754o. Control unit 5
When 30 learns that the character code is stored in the data buffer 754o, it sends the read command signal 534 to the data buffer 640 and receives the +1 T II code signal. Then, only the light emission command signal 632 is sent to the element unit group. That is, the light emitting element 3 is provided as a pair with the light receiving unit 323 that receives the optical signal emitted to the light emitting element 312 on the personal computer 310 at the highest level.
24 emits light and sends the character data as an original signal to the light receiving element 311 on the personal computer 310. Naturally, the personal computer 31°, which is in the ready state, receives the character code data. The above idea is based on the fact that the element unit that receives light with the best directionality can emit light to the communication partner with the best directionality.

FIG. 6 shows the character input state as a timing chart. In FIG. 6, d indicates a key press on the key matrix 550, and "TOKYO" is input. e is a character code that is sequentially stored in the data buffer 540. f is a code signal read from data buffer 7640. q indicates the state of the personal computer 31o, +1 o I+ state is ready state, II, I
The + state is the busy - state. h is an optical signal emitted by the light emitting element 312, which is modulated at a predetermined frequency and emitted when the personal computer is in a ready state. i is an optical signal of a character code emitted by a light-emitting element paired with the light-receiving element that received light at the highest level among the light-receiving elements 321, 323, and 325.

The input state of the already mentioned °°T'' will be explained with reference to Fig. 6.q
When the character "+T+" is inputted from the keyboard in the ready state, the character code of ゛Tpa shown in e is stored in the data buffer 7. When the control section 530 reads out the code signal of "T II" from the data buffer, 'T'' shown at f is output, and an optical signal of 'T°' shown at i is sent to the personal computer and accepted.

Next, when °゛0゛ is input, it is similarly processed and accepted by the personal computer 310 as shown in FIG. If the personal computer becomes busy for some reason after inputting IT OI+, the operation will be described below.

When the personal computer 310 is in a busy state, the light emitting element 312 stops emitting light, and the light receiving elements 321 and 323
．． The output levels of the outputs 511, 512, and 513 of 355 remain below a predetermined level. The bell discrimination circuit 520 detects that the level is below a predetermined level, and outputs the discrimination result output 521.
, information that all the light receiving elements are below a predetermined level is sent to the control unit 530. On the other hand, since the keyboard operator inputs the next character II K 11 regardless of the state of the personal computer 310, the character code 551 of "K"' is stored in the data buffer 764o. but,
The control unit 530 issues a read command 53 for the data buffer 7540.
4, and at the same time send the light emission command signal 531.532.53.
3 is not sent either. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, while q is busy, the l optical signal is not output either. next character 11
The same goes if Y++ is input, data buffer 5
The characters 'KY' are sequentially stored in 4o, and no character code is input to the personal computer 310 during that time.

When the personal computer 310 returns to the ready state after inputting the characters "Y11", the operation will be described below. In the ready state, the light emitting element 312 emits light, and the level discrimination circuit 620 detects the light receiving element 321, 323, 325. The controller 530 determines that the output level of the light receiving element 323 is the highest among the light receiving elements 323 and notifies the control unit 530 that the output level of the light receiving element 323 has reached the predetermined level again. Read command signal 63
Send 4. And from data buffer 754o to °゛n
The Y II code signals are sequentially output, and the light emitting element 324 emits light in response to a light emission command signal 632 output from the control section 530. The optical signal of ++ K II T “Y′” is converted into a character code by the light receiving element 311 on the personal computer 310 and is received by the personal computer 310 . Similarly, the last input character "0" is accepted by the personal computer.

By providing the light receiving element and the data buffer as described above, the state of the personal computer can be detected, character codes input during busy periods can be stored in the data buffer 7, and data loss can be eliminated. In addition, by providing multiple pairs of light emitting elements and light receiving elements,
Even if the keyboard is placed diagonally as shown in Figure 4, it will operate normally. In FIG. 4, when the light-receiving element 325 is at the highest output level, the light-emitting element 326 forming the pair is permitted to emit light. This state will be explained with reference to FIG. Since the keyboard 320 is tilted, the light receiving element 3
If the output level of 25 is the highest, the level discrimination circuit 52
0 notifies the control circuit 53o of the information. Control unit 53
0 gives light emission permission to the light emitting element 326, and the light emission command signal 5
Send 33. Then, the character code input from the key matrix 55o becomes an optical signal and is sent to the personal computer.

Effects of the Invention The character input device of the present invention includes a code buffer, an element unit group in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are paired, and a light emitting element paired with the light receiving element having the highest output level among the light receiving elements is permitted to emit light. By providing a means for giving a value of Even when the other party is busy, there is no data drop, and the keyboard can be placed in any position relative to the other party and operate normally, which is very effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional character input device and a personal computer, FIG. 2 is a timing diagram thereof, FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is its block diagram, and FIG. 6 is its timing diagram. 311.321.323.325...ri light receiving element, 31
2.322.324.326 --- Light emitting element, 520
... Level discrimination circuit, 530 ... Control section, 64
0...f-1 buffer, 55o...key matrix. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao (1st person)
Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] A code buffer that stores the character code from the key matrix, a light emitting element that converts the code signal output from the code buffer into an optical signal, and a light receiving element that converts the optical signal sent from the communication partner into an electrical signal are paired. means for giving permission to emit light to the element unit whose output level of the light receiving element is the highest; and when the output level of the light receiving element is below a predetermined value, character codes from the key matrix are sequentially stored in the code buffer; 1. A character input device comprising: a storage means.