JPH10289047A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enlarge a free area on a desk and to enlarge the work area of a user by synthesizing an infrared interface and a key switch in a keyboard. SOLUTION: The keyboard 3 is provided with an infrared ray transmission/ reception part 5 and therefore infrared communication can be executed with HPC 6 at the close quarters of the user. The infrared ray transmission/reception part 5 is drawn from a PC main body 1 and cables used for connection between the PC main body 1 and the infrared ray transmission/reception part 5, which become necessary for it, are bundled in a keyboard cable 4. Thus, the number of the cables on the desk does not increase. Namely, the infrared communication interface and the function key which can call the function of PC which is always used by one touch can be provided for the keyboard 3. Thus, the operations can always be executed at close quarters. Consequently, the user does not need to change a posture or stretch a hand at the time of the operations.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A personal computer (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as PC) for exchanging information with another terminal device such as a portable hand-held computer (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as HPC) is provided. The present invention also relates to a keyboard provided with a button having a function of replacing an operation that originally requires a plurality of steps with a simple operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the miniaturization and high performance of HPC, PC
The use of importing the data created in the HPC into the HPC and handling the data in the HPC on the go is spreading. Therefore, as a simple data communication means between the PC and the HPC, a communication means using infrared rays has been put to practical use. PC, HPC
Both are provided with an infrared communication interface, and a communication path is established simply by bringing the interface close to each other. Conventionally, on the PC side, this infrared interface unit is built in the PC main body or provided as an infrared interface module connected to the PC main body by a cable.

In a PC, it is common to operate an application program and control each function of the PC by giving an instruction to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) from a mouse or a keyboard. ing. However, for example, if a loud sound is generated unintentionally, the user must operate through the GUI even if he wants to lower the volume immediately, and the user is in a hurry. As described above, the operation through the GUI is user-friendly, but the operability is a problem in a case where it is necessary to quickly control a specific function. In order to improve this point, there is a device provided with a special button switch for controlling a specific function without passing through the GUI. A PC system equipped with a monitor in which these button switches are arranged and a device in which the button switches are arranged in a remote control-like device are commercially available.

[0004]

The problem to be solved by the present invention will become apparent as the size of the PC system becomes smaller in the future.

[0005] Among the devices constituting the current PC system,
The bottom area and volume of a monitor device using a CRT display are large, which greatly affects the installation area of the entire PC system. Monitor devices using a flat panel display such as a piece, a liquid crystal display, and a plasma display are commercially available. The adoption of a flat panel display makes it possible to significantly reduce the PC system installation area. The size of the PC body will also be reduced to conform to this. In that case, since the depth direction will be reduced, the work space of the user on the desk will be expanded, and the distance between the user's eyes and the screen of the monitor device will be easier to optimize,
It also gives the user a working posture.

However, conversely, this means an increase in the distance between the user and the PC main body or the monitor device. As a result, the accessibility to the operation switches arranged on the PC main body and the monitor device is reduced. This is PC
This is a problem to be solved by the present invention that becomes apparent when the system is downsized.

[0007] For example, an infrared interface unit built in the PC body moves away from the user. It is desirable that the infrared interface be as close as possible to ensure more reliable communication between the PC and the HPC. If the miniaturized PC main body has an infrared interface unit, it is necessary for the user to reach out or change the posture in order to bring the HPC close. In addition, since the user has a work space in front of the PC, the infrared interface unit may be hidden by documents on a desk or the like. For these reasons, PC and HPC
In some cases, communication between users cannot be performed quickly, which leads to a decrease in productivity of user work.

[0008] For example, a button switch mainly intended for quick access to a specific function is located away from the user if the button switch is arranged on the PC main body or the monitor device. Quick accessibility is impaired. Therefore, it is conceivable to arrange the button switch in a wired or wireless remote control device.
However, each has its disadvantages. In the case of a wired remote control device, a new cable will ride on the desk. This goes against the user's need to reduce the amount of cables on the desk. In the case of a wireless remote control device, there is a possibility that the wireless remote control device itself cannot be found in an emergency, for example, the wireless remote control device itself is hidden behind a shadow.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An infrared interface and the button switch are integrated into a keyboard. The keyboard is a device that accepts a user's manual input, and can be expected to be placed at the user's hand when using the PC system, that is, in a location with the highest accessibility.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment P
The cooperation between the C system and the HPC via infrared will be described. In FIG. 1, the part belonging to the PC system is a PC
A main body 1, a monitor device 2, a keyboard 3, a keyboard cable 4, and an infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5. The parts belonging to the HPC are the HPC 6 and the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 7. Figure 1 shows the PC
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating communication between a system and the HPC via infrared rays. As shown in the drawing, the monitor device 2 is a flat panel type represented by a liquid crystal display, for example, and this PC system is a compact type having a shorter depth than a conventional desktop type PC. The keyboard 3 is connected to the PC main body 1 by a keyboard cable 4. The keyboard 3 includes an infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5. Although the keyboard 3 is not shown up to the individual key tops, the keyboard 3 is intended to be a general PC keyboard having key tops used for input operation to the PC.

HPC 6 is generally a PDA (Person)
It is intended to be an apparatus called an “Al Digital Assistant” or a portable information terminal, and includes an infrared transmitting / receiving unit 7. The HPC 6 is small, lightweight, battery-powered, and literally portable. On the other hand, the information processing ability and the user interface (easiness of viewing the screen and ease of input) are generally inferior to PCs. Typical uses of the HPC 6 include browsing and changing an address book and a schedule management table, and inputting a memo at a portable device. The main part of the address book and the schedule management table is created and stored on a PC, and the HPC 6 performs browsing and simple correction.
The collected memos are also edited on the PC side to form sentences. As described above, the HPC 6 and the PC need to communicate with each other to exchange an address book, a schedule management table, a memo, and the like.

The communication between the HPC 6 and the PC may be connected to each other by using some kind of cable. However, recently, a method of equipping both with an infrared interface and performing communication using infrared as a medium is spreading. In this method, a cable is not required, and only the infrared transmission / reception unit 5 and the infrared transmission / reception unit 7 of the two need to be close to each other during communication, and communication can be started easily.

Conventionally, an infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 is provided in a PC main body, or an infrared interface module connected from the PC main body by a cable is separately prepared. Conventionally, the size of a PC body or a monitor device employing a CRT is large, and a PC system occupies more than half of the depth on a desk. For this reason, the front panel of the PC body is located near the user's hand. If the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 is arranged on the front panel, it is relatively easy to bring the infrared transmitting / receiving section 7 of the HPC 6 close thereto. However, the PC system assumed in the present invention is a compact type having a shorter depth than a conventional desktop type PC. In this case, the front panel of the PC main body 1 is retracted from the case of the conventional large PC system, and moves away from the user. Therefore, in the PC system assumed in the present invention, the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 is set to P
When it is arranged on the front panel of the C main body, the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 moves away from the user. Then, when performing infrared communication with the HPC 6, it is necessary for the user to change the posture and place or hold the HPC 6 in an appropriate position.

If an infrared interface module connected from the main body by a cable is used, the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 can be pulled out to the user's hand. However, the infrared interface module itself takes up a large amount of desk space, and the connection cables crawl on the desk. This detracts from the advantage of increasing the free area on the desk caused by downsizing the PC system and consequently increasing the work area of the user.

The present invention is characterized in that the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 is provided on the keyboard 3. When the PC system is installed on a desk, there is a high probability that the keyboard 3 is arranged at a position closest to the user's hand. If the keyboard 3 is provided with an infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5, infrared communication with the HPC 6 can be performed by the user as shown in FIG. In this means, the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 is pulled out from the PC main body 1. The cable used for connecting the PC main body 1 and the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 necessary for this purpose is put together in the keyboard cable 4. Once bundled, the number of cables on the desk will not increase. Also, PC
The number of cores of the keyboard cable 4 can be reduced by using a communication protocol that multiplexes the communication between the main body 1 and the keyboard 3 and the communication between the PC main body 1 and the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5. As such a communication protocol, USB (Uni)
(Versal Serial Bus) standard has been proposed. Referring to FIG. 8, the former means, ie, the PC body 1
Means for simply bundling together a cable used for connection between the keyboard cable 4 and the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5,
Means for using the USB communication protocol will be described with reference to FIG.

One means for realizing this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8, the PC body 50 is the PC of FIG.
It corresponds to the main body. The function expansion keyboard 60 corresponds to the keyboard 3 in FIG. The PC main body 50 and the function expansion keyboard 61 are connected by a cable 67 including a plurality of signal lines and power supply lines. The components necessary for the description of the present embodiment among the components of the PC main body 50 include a system controller 51, a CPU 52, a main memory 53, a system bus 54, a power supply 55, a keyboard port 5
6, a keyboard interrupt signal line 57, a serial port 58, and a serial port interrupt signal line 59 are shown. The system controller 51 controls the exchange of signals between the CPU 52, the main memory 53, and the system bus 54. Also, the keyboard interrupt signal line 57,
When receiving an interrupt signal from the serial port interrupt signal line 59, the CPU 52 interrupts the CPU 52. CPU5
2 receives the interrupt and starts executing the interrupt program on the main memory 53 corresponding to the interrupt source. Keyboard port 56 is keyboard signal line 6
2 communicates with the conventional keyboard 61. When a key code is received from the conventional keyboard 61, an interrupt request is issued to the system controller 51 through a keyboard interrupt signal line 57. The serial port 58 communicates with the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5 connected via the serial line 66. When data is received from the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5, an interrupt request is issued to the system controller 51 through the serial port interrupt signal line 59.

The function expansion keyboard 60 mainly includes a conventional keyboard 61 and the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5. A keyboard signal line 62 and a power supply line 63 are connected to the conventional keyboard 61. Here, the conventional keyboard 61 will be described. As a keyboard that is conventionally used as a standard in a PC generally called a PC / AT compatible machine, 101 is used.
There is a keyboard called a keyboard, 106 keyboard. 101 keyboard is necessary for input work to PC
The keyboard has 01 basic key tops. The 106 keyboard is obtained by adding five key tops unique to Japanese input to the 101 keyboard. These one
It is obvious to those skilled in the art what the 01 and 106 keyboards refer to. The conventional keyboard 61 in the present embodiment may be, for example, either a 101 keyboard or a 106 keyboard. The conventional keyboard 61 generates a corresponding key code when any keytop is pressed by the user, and sends it to the keyboard port 56 through the keyboard signal line 62.
Further, the conventional keyboard 61 is driven by power from a power supply line 63.

The infrared transmission / reception unit 5 is driven by the infrared transmission / reception unit driving circuit 64 and performs infrared communication with the HPC 6 and the like. The infrared transmission / reception unit drive circuit 64 is connected to the serial line 66 by the serial line drive circuit 65 and communicates with the serial port 58. Serial line 66
Are represented as a single line, but in reality, "data signal line transmitted to PC", "data signal line transmitted from PC", "PC ready signal line", "transmission enable signal from PC" Line, a transmission request signal line from the serial line drive circuit 65, and a signal ground line. The infrared transmission / reception unit 5, the infrared transmission / reception unit driving circuit 64, and the serial line driving circuit 65 are driven by power from the power supply line 63.

When the above means is used, when the user presses the key top on the function expansion keyboard 60, a program for receiving and processing the generated key code operates on the PC main body 50 to perform infrared communication with the HPC 6. Sometimes, the program that processes the received data is PC
It operates on the main body 50, and when there is transmission data, it is sent from the PC main body 50 to the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5. Thus, the function expansion keyboard 60 having the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5
Can be realized.

Next, another means for realizing this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, the PC main body 50 is almost the same as that of FIG. There is no keyboard port 56, keyboard interrupt signal line 57, serial port 58, serial port interrupt signal line 59, and a USB port 68 and USB port interrupt signal line 69 are provided instead. The USB port 68 communicates with a device connected to the USB line 71 according to the USB communication protocol. When data is received from any device, U
An interrupt request is issued to the system controller 51 through the SB port interrupt signal line 69. When receiving the interrupt signal, the system controller 51 interrupts the CPU 52. Upon receiving the interrupt, the CPU 52 starts executing the interrupt program on the main memory 53 corresponding to the USB port 68 from which the interrupt occurred.

The function expansion keyboard 74 is connected to the PC main body 50 by a USB cable 77, and mainly includes a conventional keyboard 61 and the infrared ray transmitting / receiving unit 5. Unlike the case of FIG. 8, the USB line 71 is provided with a HUB 70 necessary for connecting the conventional keyboard 61 and the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5 as USB devices. Conventional keyboard 61 is HUB
Interface to connect to 70, USB line 7
2, the HUB 70 and the conventional keyboard 61 are connected. The interface 75 connects the infrared transmitting / receiving unit driving circuit 64 to the HUB 70, and the H
The UB 70 and the infrared light transmitting / receiving unit driving circuit 64 are connected. H
UB 70, conventional keyboard 61, interface 7
6, infrared transmitting / receiving section driving circuit 64, infrared transmitting / receiving section 5,
The interface 75 is driven by power from the power supply line 63. In this way, the PC main body 50 using the USB communication protocol is used.
When the conventional keyboard 61 and the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5 are connected, the PC main body and the function expansion keyboard 74 can be connected by the USB cable 77, and the number of cores of the cable can be reduced as compared with the case of FIG. Conventional keyboard 6
The communication between the PC 1 and the PC main body 50 and the communication between the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 and the PC main body 50 are multiplexed by the HUB 70. The USB port 68 restores the multiplexed data, separates the data from the conventional keyboard and the data from the infrared transmitter / receiver, and outputs them to the system bus 54. Conversely PC
Data sent from the main body 50 to the conventional keyboard 61 and the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5 is multiplexed by the USB port 68, separated by the HUB 70, and delivered to the correct destination. In this manner, the function expansion keyboard 60 including the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5 using the USB communication protocol can be realized.

The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is similar to the first embodiment, but does not include the keyboard cable 4 and includes infrared transmitting / receiving sections 8 and 9 for keyboard connection. Since there is no keyboard cable connecting the PC body 1 and the keyboard 3, the user can use the desk more effectively. Infrared transmission / reception unit 8 for keyboard connection,
The communication path established between the PC main body 9 and the PC main body 1 communicates with the keyboard and the PC main body 1 with the HPC 6. Therefore, in this communication path, communication is performed using a communication protocol that multiplexes communication between the PC main body 1 and the keyboard 3 and communication between the PC main body 1 and the infrared light transmitting / receiving unit 5. The communication from the HPC 6 is relayed by the keyboard 3 through the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5 and the keyboard and the PC main unit 1 are communicated using the above-mentioned communication protocol.
And reaches the PC main body 1 through a communication path using infrared rays as a medium between the keyboard connection infrared transmission / reception units 8 and 9.

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The PC system shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that of the first embodiment, but includes a mouse 10. The mouse 10 includes an infrared transmitting / receiving unit 11.

A mouse is a pointing device widely used in a terminal device having a GUI. Like the keyboard 3, it is likely to be placed at the user's hand. If the mouse 10 is provided with the infrared transmission / reception section 11, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained. That is, the infrared communication with the HPC 6 can be performed by the user.

In this means, the infrared transmitting / receiving section 11 is pulled out from the PC main body 1. The cable used for connection between the PC main body 1 and the infrared transmitting / receiving section 11 required for this purpose is a mouse cable 12 Once bundled together, the number of cables on the desk will not increase. Also, P
Using a communication protocol that multiplexes the communication between the C body 1 and the mouse 10 and the communication between the PC body 1 and the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 11,
The number of cores of the mouse cable 12 can be reduced.

The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The keyboard 13 is an input device connected to a terminal device such as the PC body 1. Although not shown, the keyboard 13 includes a key top group 14 used for inputting work to a PC. 15 to 24
Is a function button which is a feature of the present invention. Further, a volume adjusting rotary knob 25 which is a feature of the present invention is provided. Although a total of ten function buttons are shown, the number is not limited.

In a PC, a user generally starts an application program through a GUI and uses a function provided by the PC. While the operation through the GUI is easy to understand, the procedure for selecting may be cumbersome, for example, when the desired function is located at several steps in the menu. For example, when a user tries to play multimedia content and suddenly hears a loud sound, and the volume has to be reduced in a hurry, the user may be in a hurry, It can be difficult to operate. In addition, common applications and P
There is a user sentiment that the user wants to call the function C with one touch. Here, the PC function is, for example,
Playback and stop of an audio CD, switching to a telephone function, switching to an answering machine, volume control, and the like. The function buttons 15 to 24 or the volume control rotary knob 25, which is a feature of the present invention, provide a means for one-touch access to functions that the user wants to operate easily and quickly.

It is a feature of the present invention that the keyboard is provided with a function button having such a function and a volume control rotary knob. As described in the first and second embodiments,
With the miniaturization of the PC system, the PC main body is kept away from the user. Therefore, if the function buttons and the volume control rotary knob are arranged on the PC main body or the monitor device, they will also be kept away from the user's hand and will be difficult to use. The advantage of a function button, which is to quickly and easily call commonly used functions, is lost. On the other hand, it is also conceivable to arrange an equivalent of a function button on a wired remote controller or a wireless remote controller. However, in a wired remote control device, the remote control device itself occupies an area on a desk, and a cable for the remote control device crawls on the desk. This goes against the user's need to reduce the amount of cables on the desk. In the case of a wireless remote control device, there is a possibility that the wireless remote control device itself cannot be found in an emergency, for example, the wireless remote control device itself is hidden behind a shadow.

In the present invention, the keyboard is provided with a function button and a volume control rotary knob. As described in the first and second embodiments, there is a high possibility that the keyboard 13 is arranged at the user's hand. If the function buttons 15 to 24 and the volume control rotary knob 25 are arranged on the keyboard 13, the user can easily use these without changing the posture during the work on the PC. This matches the purpose of providing a function button and a volume control rotary knob.

A means for adding a function button to an existing keyboard will be described with reference to FIGS. When a key on the keyboard is pressed, a code called a normal key code is generated and sent to the PC body. The key switches of the keyboard form a key matrix, which scans the key matrix and generates an appropriate key code to generate a P key.
The function to send to the C body is provided by the keyboard control LSI.
The keyboard has a special key called a control key, for example. It is used in combination with other keys. No key code is generated when pressed alone. For example, assume that a key code X is generated when a key called the F1 key is pressed alone. When the control key and the F1 key are pressed at the same time, a different key code Y is generated. Here, for convenience, it is described that the control key and the F1 key are simultaneously pressed, but the actual timing must be as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the timing of pressing the control key and the F1 key. 26 indicates the timing of pressing the control key, and 27 indicates the timing of pressing the F1 key. First,
The control key must be pressed and then the F1 key must be pressed. In FIG. 5, when the F1 key is pressed, a key code Y is generated. Note that the period during which both the control key and the F1 key are pressed in FIG. 5 must be equal to or longer than the time during which the keyboard control LSI scans the entire key matrix.

On the other hand, an operating system for controlling the PC
Suppose that the system has a function to start a user-specified application when a specific key code is received. An application commonly used by a user is assumed to be A.
If the operating system is set so that the application A is activated when the key code Y is received, the application A is activated by simultaneously pressing the control key and the F1 key on the keyboard. By using this function, the user can start the application A without operating the GUI. However, it is cumbersome to press the two keys, the control key and the F1 key, while maintaining the timing shown in FIG. 5, and the user must remember the combination.

Therefore, this key operation sequence is assigned to one function button. Then, the user can activate the target application A by pressing only one function button. The function necessary for the function button is a function of giving an input to the keyboard control LSI while maintaining the timing shown in FIG.

The function of the keyboard control LSI and the function of the function button to be added will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, a key matrix 28 is an array of key switches. A key switch is a push switch that becomes conductive when a certain key top is pressed. this house,
Key switch 30 is a control key, key switch 3
It is assumed that 1 is the F1 key. The keyboard control LSI constantly scans the key matrix 28, detects when any key is pressed, generates a key code assigned to the pressed key switch, and sends it to the PC body.

A function button circuit 38 is added to the keyboard circuit. The push switch 33 is turned on when the function button is pressed. The sequencer 32 outputs outputs 34 and 35 at the timing shown in FIG.
The state transition diagram will be described later with reference to FIG. Output 34
Is asserted according to timing 26 in FIG.
5 is asserted in accordance with the timing 27 of FIG. The logic gate 36 is connected to the wiring of the key matrix 28 connected to the key switch 30 and the output 34 of the sequencer.
And is output. This circuit has the same effect as the key switch 30 being pressed while the output 34 is asserted. Logic gate 37 is similarly
While the output 35 is asserted, the same effect as when the key switch 31 is pressed is exerted.

A state transition diagram of the sequencer 32 will be described with reference to FIG. 39, 40 and 41 represent states. The state 39 is an idle state, and waits for the push switch 33 to be pressed. When the push switch 33 is pressed, the state transits to the state 40. In the state 40, the output 34 is asserted, and the state transits to the state 41. In state 41, output 3
4. Assert the output 35 and transition to the state 39.

The sequencer 32 operates in synchronization with a clock, and its clock cycle is longer than the cycle in which the keyboard control LSI 29 scans the key matrix 28.

By adding the function button circuit 38 as described above to a normal keyboard, it is possible to activate an application specified by the user only by pressing one function button (push switch 33). . A function button can be added by adding a similar circuit. For example, the second function button includes a control key and F2
A key combination may be assigned.

In the case of the volume control rotary knob 25, for example, if the control key and the F11 key are simultaneously pressed when rotated 10 degrees to the right, the same key code is generated as when the control key and the F11 key are simultaneously pressed. What is necessary is just to provide a rotation switch mechanism and a circuit which generate the same key code as in the case. In the operating system, when the control key and the F11 key are simultaneously pressed, an application program for increasing the volume is started, and when the control key and the F12 key are simultaneously pressed, the application program for lowering the volume is activated. Just set it to start.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This is an example in which function buttons are added to the function expansion keyboard including the infrared light transmission / reception unit 5 described in FIG.
The function expansion keyboard 81 of FIG. 8 is different in that it has function buttons. The function button is added to the conventional keyboard 61 by the means described with reference to FIG. The function button circuit 38 is added to the conventional keyboard, and the push switch 33 is arranged so that the user can press it on the surface of the function expansion keyboard 81.

How to use the function expansion keyboard 81 and its effects will be described. The function expansion keyboard 81 communicates with the HPC 6 by the infrared transmitting / receiving unit 5. In the infrared communication, it is not known when a communication partner appears in the communicable range. Therefore, if the infrared communication is to be started immediately at any time, the PC main body 50 must always run the infrared communication support program 80. The infrared communication support program 80 not only performs infrared communication, but also performs a search operation at intervals of several seconds to determine whether or not there is a communication partner within the communication range of the infrared light transmitting and receiving unit 5. The search is performed by emitting infrared rays from the infrared transmitting / receiving section 5 and determining whether a response to the infrared rays can be received. Performing such a search operation at intervals of several seconds is the only
The use of the computing power of U52 adversely affects the operation of other programs. Infrared communication is HP
It is often necessary to work when communication with an infrared communication device such as C6 is desired. The efficiency of the CPU 52 is better if the user places the HPC 6 near the infrared transmitter / receiver 5 of the function expansion keyboard 81 and the infrared communication support program 80 works only when the user wants to communicate. Therefore, the function button of the present embodiment is set to the infrared communication support program 80
To start. If the user presses this function button when the user wants to perform infrared communication, the infrared communication support program 80 can be activated when necessary, and the efficiency of the CPU 52 can be improved.

When the push switch 33 is depressed, the keyboard control LSI of the conventional keyboard 61 generates the key code Y by the function button circuit 38, and the PC body 50
Send to This embodiment can be realized by defining in the operating system of the PC main body 50 that the infrared communication support program 80 is activated when the key code Y is received. The function expansion keyboard 81 may have a plurality of function buttons in addition to the function button for starting the infrared communication described above.

[0043]

The keyboard is provided with an infrared communication interface between the PC and the HPC, and a function button capable of calling a commonly used PC function with one touch.
These operations can always be performed manually. The user does not need to change his posture or reach for these operations.

Further, since there is no need to separately prepare an infrared interface module or a remote controller having a function equivalent to a function button, it is possible to reduce the number of cables crawling on the desk. There is a high possibility that the keyboard is permanently installed on the desk, and it is difficult to say that it is hidden somewhere like a wireless remote control device and cannot be found in an emergency.

Even if the PC body becomes smaller and the front panel of the PC is separated from the user's hand, operability and productivity can be improved by integrating an infrared communication interface and function buttons into a keyboard that is likely to be placed in the user's hand. You can keep sex.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating cooperation between a PC and an HPC using infrared communication.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating cooperation between a PC and an HPC using infrared communication.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating cooperation between a PC and an HPC using infrared communication.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a keyboard provided with function buttons and a rotary knob for both times;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating timing when a control key and an F1 key are combined.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a circuit of a keyboard and a circuit of a function button to be added.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state transition of a sequencer of a function button.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a function expansion keyboard and cooperation with a PC main body.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the function expansion keyboard and the US of the PC main body.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating cooperation using a B communication protocol.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a function expansion keyboard provided with a function button for starting infrared communication.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PC main body, 2 ... Monitor, 3 ... Keyboard, 4 ... Keyboard cable, 5 ... Infrared transmitting / receiving part, 6 ... HPC,
7: infrared transmission / reception unit, 8: infrared transmission / reception unit, 9: infrared transmission / reception unit, 10: mouse, 11: infrared transmission / reception unit, 12
... Mouse cable, 13 ... Keyboard, 14 ... Key top group, 15 ... Function button, 16 ... Function button, 17 ... Function button, 18 ... Function button, 19 ... Function button, 20
... Function button, 21 ... Function button, 22 ... Function button,
23: Function button, 24: Function button, 25: Volume control rotary knob, 26: Control key timing, 2
7 ... F1 key timing, 28 ... Key matrix,
29: keyboard control LSI, 30: push switch, 31: push switch, 32: sequencer, 3
3: Push switch, 34: Sequencer output, 35
... Sequencer output, 36 ... AND gate, 37 ... AN
D gate, 38: function button circuit, 39: state, 40:
State, 41: state, 50: PC body, 51: system controller, 52: CPU, 53: main memory, 54:
System bus, 55 ... Power supply, 56 ... Keyboard port,
57: keyboard interrupt signal line, 58: serial port, 59: serial port interrupt signal line, 60:
Function expansion keyboard, 61 ... Conventional keyboard, 62 ...
Keyboard signal line, 63: power supply line, 64: infrared transmission / reception unit drive circuit, 65: serial line drive circuit, 66 ...
Serial line, 67 ... Cable, 68 ... USB port, 69 ... USB port interrupt signal line, 70 ... HU
B, 71: USB line, 72: USB line, 73 ...
USB line, 74 ... Function expansion keyboard, 75 ... US
B interface, 76… USB interface,
77 ... USB cable, 80 ... Infrared communication support program, 81 ... Function expansion keyboard.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Muneaki Yamaguchi 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (16)

[Claims] An input device provided in a terminal device, comprising:
An input device comprising a connection interface unit between the terminal device and another information terminal device. 2. A keyboard provided in a terminal device, the keyboard having a connection interface unit between the terminal device and another terminal device. 3. The communication with the terminal device using a communication protocol that multiplexes communication between the terminal device and the keyboard and communication between the terminal device and the connection interface unit. Keyboard described in. 4. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein said connection interface unit communicates with said other terminal device without using a connection cable. 5. The communication with the terminal device using a communication protocol that multiplexes communication between the terminal device and the keyboard and communication between the terminal device and the connection interface unit. Keyboard described in. 6. The keyboard according to claim 4, wherein said connection interface unit communicates with said other terminal device by means utilizing infrared rays. 7. The terminal device communicates with the terminal device by using a communication protocol that multiplexes communication between the terminal device and the keyboard and communication between the terminal device and the connection interface unit. Keyboard described in. 8. A pointing device provided in a terminal device, comprising a connection interface unit between the terminal device and another information terminal device. 9. The pointing device according to claim 8, wherein the connection interface unit communicates with the other terminal device without using a connection cable. 10. The pointing device according to claim 9, wherein said connection interface unit communicates with said other terminal device by means utilizing infrared rays. 11. The terminal device communicates with the terminal device using a communication protocol that multiplexes communication between the terminal device and the pointing device and communication between the terminal device and the connection interface unit. A pointing device according to claim 10. 12. A keyboard comprising a button having a function of replacing one or more continuous operations with one operation of an input device for calling a function provided by a terminal device by one operation. 13. A keyboard comprising: means for generating a continuous operation sequence of one or more operations on an input device for calling a function provided by a terminal device; and a button for activating the operation sequence. 14. A keyboard having means for generating a key code transmitted to a terminal device by simultaneously pressing two or more keys by pressing one key and transmitting the key code to the terminal device. 15. A keyboard having means for adjusting the volume of a sound generated by a terminal device. 16. A keyboard having a rotary knob as means for adjusting the volume of a sound generated by a terminal device.