JPH0926848A - Input mode confirmation method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] To improve the operability of a keyboard. SOLUTION: An input mode change key 3 for changing an input mode of an input key 2 for inputting characters, symbols and the like, and a key signal analysis section 4 for detecting the input mode change key 3 when the input mode change key 3 is pressed. , And a mode control signal from the key signal analysis unit 4, and a key control unit 5 for changing the stroke or resistance of the input key 2 is provided. When it is detected that the input mode change key 3 is pressed, It is characterized in that the stroke or resistance assigned to the mode after the change of the input mode is given to the input key 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for checking an input mode of a keyboard provided in a personal computer, a word processor or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, confirmation of an input mode of a keyboard is performed by providing an input mode display section 42 on a part of a screen 41 as shown in FIG. In this way, when the current input mode is displayed on a part of the screen, when the user makes a sentence in the kana input mode while writing a sentence in Roman characters, the mode change key (not shown) You must change the mode from romaji input to kana input by pressing). Then, in order to confirm whether or not this change has been properly made, the line of sight must be moved to the temporary input mode display section 42. Then, after the confirmation of the mode is completed, the process of inputting the text is returned to.

On the other hand, there is a device for displaying the input mode on a part of the keyboard or the like, but in any case, when the input mode is changed, it is not possible to confirm whether the input mode has been changed to the desired input mode. The user must confirm the input mode by moving the line of sight in the same manner as the above method.

[0004]

When the input mode is changed in the conventional keyboard, the user temporarily moves the line of sight from the sentence to the input mode display section in order to confirm the input mode. Therefore, the operability of the text input is poor, but an object of the present invention is to solve this drawback and to provide a method of confirming an input mode that improves the operability.

[0005]

In a keyboard having an input key for inputting characters, symbols, etc. and an input mode change key for changing the input mode of the input key, the input mode change key is pressed. When it is detected that the input mode has been changed, the stroke or resistance assigned to the mode after the change of the input mode is given to the input key.

In the input mode confirmation method of the present invention,
When the input mode change key is pressed by the operator, this is detected, and a resistance corresponding to the input mode set after the change key is pressed is added to the input key.

In another invention, when the input mode change key is pressed, it is detected and a stroke corresponding to the input mode set after the change key is pressed is given to the input key.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of keys used in the method of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a keyboard 1 is provided in a personal computer, word processor or the like, and it may be integrated with the main body or independent, and the keyboard 1 includes a character input key 2 and a mode change key 3 Etc. are provided. The key signal analysis unit 4 inputs the key signal output when the user presses an arbitrary input key on the keyboard 1 and indicates whether the key signal represents a character or a mode change. Determine if it is a thing. When the mode change signal from the key signal analysis unit 4 is input, the key control unit 5 is configured to perform control corresponding to the mode change signal on the character input key 2.

Now, when a user is creating a sentence in the "Romaji input" mode, for example, when inputting "Aozora", the characters are input as "A / O / Z / O / R / A". You will be pressing key 2. In this case, the key signal corresponding to the pressed character input key 2 is input to the key signal analysis unit 4. The key signal analysis unit 4 that has input the key signal determines whether the key signal is a character signal or a mode change signal. In this case, since the pressed key is the character input key 2, the key signal is output to the main body (not shown).

When the user changes the input mode from "Romaji input" to "Kana input",
The mode is changed by pressing the mode change key 3 on the keyboard 1. When the mode change key 3 is pressed, the key signal is input to the key signal analysis unit 4 as described above. Since the key signal analysis unit 4 determines that the key signal is the mode change signal, the key signal analysis unit 4 outputs the key signal to the main body and the mode change signal to the key control unit 5. The key control unit 5 controls the character input keys 2 in response to the mode change signal. This control will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the character input key 2, which is mainly a key top 21 and a spring 2.
It is constituted by 2 and the pillar 23. Further, in the present invention, a relay 24 and a stroke changing member 25 are newly added to the key.

Upon receiving the control signal from the key control section 5, the relay 24 sends or pulls the stroke changing member 25 to a position below the support column 23. For example, in the "Romaji input" mode, make the stroke distance shallow,
That is, the stroke changing member 25 is sent to the lower portion of the support column 23, and the stroke distance is deepened in the “kana input” mode, that is, the stroke changing member 25 is controlled to be removed from the lower portion of the support column 23.

Since the stroke of the character input key 2 is controlled in this manner, the user can know what the current mode is by pressing the character input key 2.
Further, FIG. 3 discloses a method for checking the input mode of the character input key 2 according to another invention.

Similar to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the character input key 2, and the key is mainly the key top 3.
1, the spring 32 and the support column 33. In this invention, a relay 34 and a resistance spring 35 are newly added to the key.

Upon receiving the control signal from the key control section 5, the relay 34 sends or pulls out the resistance spring 35 to a position below the support column 33. For example, in the "Romaji input" mode, the resistance when the character input key 2 is pressed is low, that is, the resistance spring 35 is controlled to be pulled away from the lower position of the column 33, and the "Kana input" mode is set. In case of, the resistance when pressing the character input key 2 is high, that is,
The resistance spring 35 is controlled so as to send the resistance spring 35 to a position below the support column 33.

Since the resistance when the character input key 2 is pressed is controlled in this way, the user can know what the current mode is by pressing the character input key 2. As described above, it is explained that the stroke or resistance of the character input key 2 is changed.
Similar control may be performed for all keys other than.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the input mode of a personal computer, word processor or the like is changed, the stroke of the key or the resistance when the key is pressed changes corresponding to each mode. As a result, it is possible to know the change of the input mode by hitting the key without visually observing, so that the operability is improved as compared with the conventional keyboard.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a keyboard showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a key used in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a key used in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a conventional input mode confirmation method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Keyboard, 2 ... Character input key, 3 ... Mode change key, 4 ... Key signal analysis section, 5 ... Key control section, 21, 31
… Key tops, 22, 32… Springs, 23,33…
Posts, 24, 34 ... Relays, 25 ... Stroke changing members, 35 ... Resistance springs, 41 ... Screen, 42 ... Input mode display section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard comprising an input key for inputting characters, symbols, etc. and an input mode change key for changing the input mode of the input key, wherein the input mode change key is pressed. When detected,
A method for confirming an input mode, wherein the stroke assigned to the mode after the change of the input mode is given to the input key. 2. A keyboard comprising an input key for inputting characters, symbols, etc. and an input mode change key for changing the input mode of the input key, wherein the input mode change key is pressed. When detected,
The input mode confirmation method is characterized in that the resistance assigned to the mode after the change of the input mode is given to the input key.