JP2006277013A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard device capable of carrying out multiple display in a key top by a simple and small composition, and providing a display changing form using an illuminating means. <P>SOLUTION: The key top is provided with display plates 17 and 18 for carrying out display corresponding to a plurality of functions assigned to each key in response to an illumination color of back light configured so it can be changed between red and green. An MPU carries out control such that the illumination color of the back light is changed in response to an operation mode setting, and display of either one of the display plates 17 and 18 of the key top is shown. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a plurality of keys each assigned a plurality of functions, and when any one of the operation modes is set, the function corresponding to the operation mode is selected and set to each key. The present invention relates to a keyboard device that switches to

For example, for keyboards used in personal computers and operation keys arranged on mobile phones, multiple functions are assigned to one key, and each function is used properly by operating the shift keys and function keys together. Thus, an increase in the number of keys is suppressed, and the size of the entire apparatus is reduced. In that case, since a display corresponding to a plurality of functions (for example, alphabet input, hiragana, katakana input, input of various symbols, etc.) is arranged on the surface of one key, it becomes troublesome to search for a key to be used. Or operate with the wrong function.
As a technique for solving such a problem, there are techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, for example. In Patent Document 1, in order to display different characters, symbols, etc., two film-like transparent members that are transparent only on the display portion are arranged on two sides of the triangular prism, and the inside of the key top is separated by a shield. By arranging two light sources in the space and selectively lighting one of them, either one is displayed on the surface of the key top (the remaining one surface of the prism).

In Patent Document 2, two display films are arranged inside a key made of a light-transmitting material, and these films are selectively illuminated. Two polarizing films are arranged so as to face the part of the two, and two LEDs with a polarizing film attached as a light source are prepared, and these LEDs are selectively lit to display on the display film. The contents are displayed on the key.
In Patent Document 3, a translucent member that shields light incident from the other side of the key and transmits illumination light from the light emitter is disposed between the key formed of a transparent member and the light emitter. An opaque character, figure, or symbol is arranged on both sides of the member, and the display of the key is switched by switching on / off of the light emitter.
JP 58-44620 A Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-513180 Japanese Patent No. 3542916

However, in Patent Document 1, since the triangular prism is built in, the key itself needs to have a height, and the keyboard cannot be made thin.
In Patent Document 2, since display is performed using light deflection, the arrangement of the light source and the inclination accuracy of the polarization plane are important, and cannot be easily configured. In addition, the need for a light source that generates deflected light is also a problem.
In Patent Document 3, a translucent member having a half-mirror property is required, and thus cannot be applied to a configuration in which display is performed with the illumination constantly turned on.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display switching mode using illumination means while enabling multiple displays on a key top with a simple and compact configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device that enables this.

According to the keyboard device of the first aspect, the key top displays corresponding to the plurality of functions assigned to each key according to the illumination color of the illumination means configured to be switchable to a plurality of different colors. Display means for performing is provided. Then, the control means switches the illumination color of the illumination means in accordance with the setting of the operation mode, and performs control so that any one display on the display means of the key top is visually recognized.
In other words, even if some of the plurality of displays on the display means overlap, by switching the illumination color of the illumination means, only one of those displays can be clarified and recognized by the operator's vision. it can. In this case, it is appropriate to select an illumination color of the illumination means that has a clear color difference in human vision. If comprised in this way, a several display can be switched, without enlarging the size of the whole keytop.

  According to the keyboard device of the second aspect, the display means is made of a colored transparent material that transmits any one of the plurality of illumination colors in the illumination means and absorbs the other illumination colors. If comprised in this way, if the background other than a display part is a material which absorbs all the illumination colors, a display can be selectively specified (positive display) by the illumination light which permeate | transmits, and the said display is not performed In this case, the display can be made inconspicuous by absorbing the illumination light and can be made non-displayed. On the other hand, if the background other than the display portion is a material that transmits all the illumination colors, the display is made inconspicuous by the transmitted illumination light, and the display is selectively hidden by absorbing the other illumination light. Negative display).

According to the keyboard device according to claim 3, the display corresponding to the function common to all the operation modes is displayed using a material that does not transmit all illumination colors of the illumination unit or an opaque material. The configuration. If comprised in this way, even if an illumination color switches according to switching of an operation mode, the display corresponding to a common function will always be a negative display state. Therefore, the display of the key can always be easily recognized.
According to the keyboard device of the fourth aspect, since the display means includes a plurality of display portions corresponding to each operation mode, the display unit is not limited to one-point display for one operation mode, and more various types are possible. The form can be displayed.

According to the keyboard device of the fifth aspect, the key top includes the display area divided into a plurality of parts. And a display means and an illumination means are arrange | positioned corresponding to each display area, respectively. If comprised in this way, it will become possible to set more various operation modes by controlling the illumination means corresponding to each area | region about one key independently.
According to the keyboard device of the sixth aspect, since different operation modes can be set simultaneously for a plurality of key groups, a plurality of operation modes can be set simultaneously for one keyboard device, and they can be set simultaneously. Can be used properly.

According to the keyboard device of the seventh aspect, the illumination means is configured as a backlight, and the key top is formed of a translucent material that improves the diffusion efficiency of illumination light by the backlight, so that the contour is conspicuous. Display can be made.
According to the keyboard device of the eighth aspect, the member having the polarization characteristic is arranged on the key top so that the display of the display means by the external light cannot be read. Therefore, when a plurality of displays are overlapped, it is possible to avoid a state in which they are simultaneously viewed while being overlapped by external light and the display becomes unsightly.

  According to the keyboard device of the ninth aspect, when the set operation mode targets only a part of the key group, the control unit causes the illumination unit to illuminate only the part corresponding to the key group. That is, depending on the operation mode, it is not always necessary to operate all the keys. Therefore, the operator can determine which key should be operated by displaying only the keys that are effective for each mode. It can be presented clearly to facilitate the operation.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the keyboard device of the present invention is applied to a barcode handy terminal will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a barcode handy terminal (BHT). The BHT 1 is controlled by an MPU (control means) 2. The MPU 2 is connected with a memory 3, a display unit 4, a barcode reading unit 5, a power supply unit 6, an input unit 7, a communication interface (I / F) unit 8, other peripheral circuit units 9, and the like.

The memory 3 is composed of RAM, ROM, FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM), etc., and the display unit 4 is composed of an LCD used for displaying various information, an LED used for a power indicator, and the like. The bar code reading unit 5 includes a CCD as an area sensor, a laser for illumination, and other optical components such as a lens and a mirror. The power supply unit 6 includes a battery as a secondary battery and a charging circuit thereof.
The input unit 7 includes a keyboard 10, a backlight (illuminating means) 11 (both see FIG. 4) for displaying on a key top portion as will be described later, a touch panel, a switch, and the like. The communication interface unit 8 is configured by RS-232C, IrDA, USB (Universal Serial Bus), LAN, and the like, and the peripheral circuit unit 9 is configured by a clock (real-time clock) IC, a timer, and the like. The components other than the input unit 7 are the same as those of a general BHT.

  FIG. 4 shows a connection state between the MPU 2 and the input unit 7, which is composed of twelve keys 12 in which “.” And “ENT” are added to the numeric keys “0” to “9”. A key matrix is shown. The MPU 2 scans which key 12 is turned on by 3 × 4 scanning lines (scan lines). Twelve backlights 11 are arranged corresponding to each key 12, and these backlights 11 can be individually turned on / off by the MPU 2 via control lines.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the key 12. A control board 15 for backlight is mounted on the base board 13 via a damper 14. On the control board 15, for example, two backlights 11R and 11G configured by EL (Electro Luminescence) elements whose emission colors are red and green, respectively, are mounted. Above these backlights 11 in FIG. 3, a light diffusion plate 16 and two display plates (display means) 17 and 18 are arranged. These are covered with a key top 19 and a key top cover 20. The key top cover 20 is made of a translucent material that improves the diffusion efficiency of backlight light.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in principle. On the two display boards 17 and 18, different displays corresponding to different operation modes are displayed. As an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the alphabet “A” is displayed on the display board 17, and the hiragana “A” is displayed on the display board 18. The display boards 17 and 18 have a transparent background other than the display, and the display “A” on the display board 17 is represented by red paint or the like. The indication “A” on the display board 18 is represented by a green paint or the like. That is, they are made of a colored transparent material. When the two display boards 17 and 18 are overlapped, the two displays are overlapped as shown in FIG.

  In this state, when the MPU 2 turns on only the red backlight 11R, the display “A” on the display board 17 is mixed with the background color as shown in FIG. Since it does not transmit red light, it becomes a negative display state that appears black. On the other hand, when only the green backlight 11G is turned on, the display “A” on the display board 18 is mixed with the background color as shown in FIG. 1C, but the display “A” on the display board 17 is green. It appears black because it does not transmit light. In this way, the two overlapping displays can be clearly distinguished by the viewer's vision by switching the backlights 11R and 11G to turn on and off.

Although the above has been described in principle, a more specific example in which the present invention is applied to the BHT 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views of the BHT 1. Normally, the key 12 is used for the BHT 1 in order to set up the main body or to input information of a code that could not be optically read. Since the BHT 1 is normally operated with one hand held by the operator, the size of the housing is limited, and the area where the key 12 is disposed is also limited.
Therefore, in a normal BHT, symbols such as alphabets “ABC...”, “−”, “+”, Etc. are assigned to 12 keys including a numeric keypad as shown in FIG. Yes. These displays are not arranged on the surface of the key top, but are arranged in a small size, for example, three characters at a time above the key.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, by adopting the structure of the key 12 shown in FIG. 2 and performing the display in the form shown in FIG. Can be switched on the surface of the key top 19. For example, FIG. 5 shows a case where only the numeric keypad side is displayed, and FIG. 6 shows a case where only the alphabet side is displayed by operating, for example, the shift key in order to switch the input function of the key 12.
5 and 6, the power key “PW” and the function keys F1 to F8 have the same input function in any operation mode. Therefore, for these keys, the display portion is formed of a material that does not transmit any backlight, so that a negative display is always obtained.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the key top 19 of the BHT 1 corresponds to a plurality of functions assigned to each key 12 according to the illumination color of the backlight 11 configured to be switchable between red and green. The display boards 17 and 18 for performing the display are provided, and the MPU 2 switches the illumination color of the backlight 11 according to the setting of the operation mode, and displays one of the display boards 17 and 18 of the key top 19. Control to make it visible.
Therefore, even if the respective displays on the display boards 17 and 18 are overlapped, only one of them can be clarified and recognized by the operator's vision by switching the illumination color of the backlight 11. Therefore, a plurality of displays can be switched without requiring a large display area of the key top 19 and without increasing the size of the entire key top 19, and the operability of the BHT 1 can be improved. it can.

And since the display boards 17 and 18 were comprised with the colored transparent material which permeate | transmits any one of red and green of the illumination colors by backlight 11R, 11G and absorbs the other, backgrounds other than a display part are made into a transmissive material Thus, the display can be made inconspicuous by the transmitted backlight light to be in a non-display state, and the other backlight light can be absorbed to selectively display the display negatively.
Moreover, since the display corresponding to the function common to all the operation modes is composed of an opaque material that does not transmit all the illumination colors of the backlight 11, even if the illumination color is switched according to the switching of the operation mode, Since the display corresponding to the common function is always in a negative display state, the display of the key 12 can be easily visually recognized.
Furthermore, since the key top cover 20 is made of a translucent material that improves the diffusion efficiency of the illumination light by the backlight 11, it is possible to display so that the outline is conspicuous.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. Only different parts will be described below. In the key 22 of the second embodiment, the inside of one key top 23 is divided into four, and the configuration from the backlight 11 to the display board 18 shown in FIG. The case where each is arrange | positioned independently is shown. That is, one display pattern of the key top 22 displays four characters “>”, “.”, “,”, “Ne”, and the other display pattern includes another four characters “<”. , “,”, “.”, “Ru” are displayed. Then, by selectively lighting the backlights 11R and 11G, any one of the display patterns can be selectively visually recognized.
As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the display means configured to include a plurality of display portions corresponding to each operation mode is arranged on the key top 23, one point with respect to one operation mode. The display can be performed in various forms without being limited to the display.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The key 24 of the third embodiment is configured by inserting a deflection filter 25 between the key top cover 20 and the upper display panel 18 in the key 12 shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. The deflecting filter 25 is disposed for the purpose of preventing the light from entering through the key top cover 20 and reaching the internal display board 18 or 17 by reflecting external light such as sunlight or room light.
That is, when the external light is incident and reflected by the internal display board 18 or 17, the display on the display board 18 or 17 may be visually recognized by the operator when the backlight 11 is not turned on. Therefore, by disposing the deflection filter 25, it is possible to avoid a state in which the display on the display board 18 or 17 is visually recognized at the same time in an overlapped state and the display becomes unsightly.

(Fourth embodiment)
9 to 13 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the MPU 2 controls to selectively display only the keys 12 for which the operation is valid among the keyboard 10 according to the operation mode of the BHT 1. FIG. 10 shows an example of setting screen display switching in the display unit 4 when the BHT 1 shifts to a system mode for the operator to make various settings. FIG. 9 shows an MPU 2 corresponding to the display switching. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of.

  In FIG. 9, first, when the operator selects a system menu by performing a predetermined key operation (step S1), the MPU 2 switches the display unit 4 to the screen shown in FIG. 10A and displays it (step S2). . In this case, the system menu has seven setting items, and the operator moves the numeric keypads “1” to “7” or the cursor on the screen in the vertical direction to determine which of these items is to be set. Function keys "F5" and "F6" are selected by operating, and the "ENT" key is operated to confirm.

  11 to 13 show key display states of the BHT 1 corresponding to FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (c). When the MPU 2 executes step S2, the backlight 11R corresponding to each key 12 is displayed so that the key display of the keyboard 10 is only the function keys “F5, F6”, the numeric keys “1-7”, and the “ENT” key. Is turned on (step S3). Then, the keyboard 10 can visually recognize only the display of the selected key 12 as shown in FIG.

For example, assume that the operator selects “SET SYSTEM” of the item “4” from the system menu shown in FIG. 10A (steps S4 and “4”). Then, the MPU 2 switches the display unit 4 to the screen shown in FIG. 10B and displays it (step S5), and displays the key display of the keyboard 10 by function keys “F5, F6”, numeric keys “1-9”, “ENT”. The corresponding backlight 11R is turned on so that only the “key” and the “C” key are used (step S6). Then, only the display of the selected key 12 is visually recognized on the keyboard 10 as shown in FIG.
In this case, “SET SYSTEM” has nine setting items, and the operator similarly determines which item to set by using the numeric keys “1” to “9” or the function keys “F5” and “F6”. To select. The “C” key is operated to return to the previous screen.

  Similarly, it is assumed that, for example, the operator selects “COMMUNICATION” of the item “5” from the “SET SYSTEM” screen shown in FIG. 10B (steps S7 and “5”). Then, the MPU 2 switches the display unit 4 to the screen shown in FIG. 10C and displays it (step S8), and displays the key display on the keyboard 10 with the function keys “F5, F6”, numeric keys “1-4”, “ENT”. The corresponding backlight 11R is turned on so that only the “key” and the “C” key are used (step S9). Then, the keyboard 10 can visually recognize only the display of the selected key 12 as shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the operation modes are different in the state in which the screen is switched to each screen of FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (c).

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the MPU 2 illuminates only the part corresponding to the key group with the backlight 11R when the set operation mode is only the key group of a part of the keyboard 10. By so doing, so-called guidance key display is performed. That is, depending on the operation mode, it is not always necessary to operate all the keys 12. Therefore, it is possible to indicate which key 12 should be operated by displaying only the keys 12 for which the operation is valid according to each mode. If it is clearly presented to the operator, the operation can be facilitated.

(5th Example)
FIG. 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment shows a case where the configuration of the first embodiment is applied to the keyboard device 31. Each key 32 of the keyboard device 31 is configured similarly to the key 12 of the first embodiment, and the left half of the keyboard device 31 is a first key group 33 and the right half is a second key group 34. In the fifth embodiment, different operation modes can be simultaneously set for these two key groups 33 and 34.
In this case, an MPU (not shown) that controls the display of each key 32 controls, for example, to turn on the red backlight for the first key group 33 and to turn on the green backlight for the second key group 34. . Then, the first key group 33 is negatively displayed in green, and the second key group 34 is negatively displayed in red. Therefore, it is possible to perform display according to each operation mode. .

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or shown in the drawings, and the following modifications are possible.
In the display example of FIG. 1, for example, a black material is used as the background other than the display, so that only the red backlight 11R is turned on, the display “A” on the display board 17 is displayed positively, and only the back green backlight 11G May be turned on to display the display “A” on the display panel 18 in a positive manner.
As in the second embodiment, a plurality of displays may be switched at the same time by one display means and illumination means without making the display area, display means, and illumination means independent of each other.
Further, it is not always necessary to perform the lighting on / off control of the illumination means independently for each key as shown in FIG. 4, and the illumination colors for all the keys may be switched simultaneously by common control.
The configuration of the second embodiment may be applied to the fifth embodiment.
The illumination means is not limited to using an EL element, and an LED or the like may be used.
The illuminating means is not limited to being configured as a backlight, but may be one that irradiates illumination light from the side surface side or the surface side of the display means.
The first to fourth embodiments are not limited to BHT 1 and can be applied to general keyboard devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a principle of a key display switching example in the first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a barcode handy terminal (BHT). Longitudinal section showing the key structure Functional block diagram showing the configuration of the BHT The figure which shows the connection state of MPU and an input part FIG. 1 shows a more specific example of switching the key display shown in FIG. 1 in the case of BHT (part 1). Fig. 5 equivalent (2) The figure which is a 2nd Example of this invention, and shows the display surface of the divided | segmented key top FIG. 2 equivalent view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which is 4th Example of this invention and shows key display switching control by MPU. The figure which shows the example of a display of the setting screen in a display part, when BHT transfers to the system mode for an operator to perform various settings The figure which shows the key display state corresponding to Fig.10 (a). The figure which shows the key display state corresponding to FIG.10 (b). The figure which shows the key display state corresponding to FIG.10 (c). The figure which is a 5th Example at the time of applying this invention to a general keyboard device, and shows the key display state of a keyboard device.

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawing, 1 is a barcode handy terminal, 2 is an MPU (control means), 10 is a keyboard, 11 is a backlight (illumination means), 17 and 18 are display boards (display means), 19 is a key top, and 20 is a key. A top cover, 22 is a key, 23 is a key top, 25 is a deflection filter, and 31 is a keyboard device.

Claims (9)

A keyboard device that includes a plurality of keys each assigned a plurality of functions, and switches to select a function corresponding to the operation mode and set it to each key when any one of the operation modes is set. In
Illumination means configured to be able to switch the illumination color to a plurality of different colors;
According to the illumination color of the illumination means, a display corresponding to a plurality of functions assigned to each key is provided, and a key top provided with a display means arranged so that at least a part of each display overlaps;
A keyboard device comprising: a control unit that controls to display any one display on the display unit by switching an illumination color of the illumination unit according to an operation mode setting.   2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the display means is made of a colored transparent material that transmits any one of a plurality of illumination colors in the illumination means and absorbs other illumination colors. .   2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein display corresponding to a function common to all operation modes is performed using a material that does not transmit all illumination colors of the illumination unit or an opaque material. 2. The keyboard device according to 2.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a plurality of display portions corresponding to each operation mode. The key top includes a display area divided into a plurality of areas,
5. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit and the illumination unit are arranged corresponding to the plurality of display areas, respectively. 6. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein different operation modes can be simultaneously set for a plurality of key groups. The illumination means is configured as a backlight,
The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the key top is made of a translucent material that improves diffusion efficiency of illumination light by the backlight.   The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein a member having polarization characteristics is arranged on the key top so that the display of the display means by external light cannot be read. apparatus. The control means controls the illumination means to illuminate only the part corresponding to the key group when the set operation mode is only a part of the key group. The keyboard device according to claim 1.

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