JP7260355B2 - electronic device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device to which a keyboard is connected and which has the function of expanding the keys of the keyboard.

A keyboard having a circuit, also called a matrix circuit, is known, as disclosed in US Pat. A keyboard using a matrix circuit is also called a key matrix keyboard.

Further, some electronic devices have a connector for connecting a key matrix type keyboard. An operator can send instructions to the electronic device by connecting the keyboard to the electronic device and operating the keyboard.

JP 2016-118884 A

Electronic devices of the type described above generally have a plurality of input lines and a plurality of output lines connected to a keyboard matrix circuit. When a key on the keyboard is pressed, the matrix circuit causes different input and output lines to conduct depending on the key pressed. Further, when one of a plurality of input lines and one of a plurality of output lines are electrically connected, the electronic device detects which input line and which output line are electrically connected, thereby determining which of the keyboards. It has a control that identifies whether a key has been pressed. Thereby, the electronic device recognizes the operator's operation using the keyboard.

In connection with the above electronic devices and keyboards, it is difficult for operators to add keys to off-the-shelf keyboards by themselves. This is because conventional electronic devices and keyboards do not provide means for retrofitting keyboard keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device in which keys can be easily expanded.

One aspect of the invention is an electronic device comprising a first connector to which a key matrix keyboard is connected, a plurality of input lines connected to the first connector, and a plurality of input lines connected to the first connector. and the first connector via a plurality of the input lines and a plurality of the output lines, and which key of the keyboard is operated based on the state of continuity between the input lines and the output lines. a plurality of input branch lines branching from between the controller and the first connector among the plurality of input lines; the controller among the plurality of output lines and the first a second connector connected to a plurality of output branch lines branching from a connector, and an operation unit for switching the conduction state between the input branch line and the output branch line between conduction and non-conduction; a first switch unit for connecting any one selected from the plurality of input branch lines to the second connector; and a second switch unit that connects to the connector.

According to the present invention, an electronic device with easy expansion of keys is provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the electronic device of a modification.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment.

The electronic device 10 is, for example, a numerical controller. The electronic device 10 includes a first connector 14 to which a keyboard 12 is connected, a plurality of input lines 16 and a plurality of output lines 18 connected to the first connector 14, and a plurality of input lines 16 and a plurality of output lines 18. and a control unit 20 connected to the first connector 14 via the first connector 14 .

The keyboard 12 of this embodiment is a key matrix type keyboard 12 having a matrix circuit (not shown). The key matrix method and the matrix circuit used in the key matrix method are known technologies. Therefore, in the present embodiment, descriptions of the key matrix method and the key matrix method will be omitted as appropriate.

A plurality of input lines 16 and a plurality of output lines 18 are connected to the matrix circuit of keyboard 12 via first connector 14 . This allows one of the plurality of input lines 16 and one of the plurality of output lines 18 to conduct each other when a key of the keyboard 12 is pressed.

The set of input line 16 and output line 18 that conducts when a key is pressed depends on the key that is pressed. The plurality of input lines 16 and the plurality of output lines 18 are signal lines through which electrical signals are transmitted. Although the number of each of the input lines 16 and output lines 18 shown in FIG. 1 is three each, the number of each of the input lines 16 and output lines 18 is not limited to three.

The control unit 20 is, for example, an integrated circuit having a processor and memory. The control unit 20 outputs output signals to the plurality of output lines 18 in a scanning manner while shifting the phase of the output timing for each. An input signal is input to the control unit 20 from the matrix circuit through the input line 16 according to the output signal. Based on the output signal and the input signal, the control unit 20 detects the conduction state between the input line 16 and the output line 18, and based on the detected conduction state between the input line 16 and the output line 18, which of the keyboard 12 Identifies whether a key has been operated.

The electronic device 10 further includes a plurality of input branch lines 22 , a plurality of output branch lines 24 , a first switch section 26 , a second switch section 28 and a second connector 30 . This will be described in order below.

The plurality of input branch lines 22 are signal lines branched from between the controller 20 and the first connector 14 in the plurality of input lines 16 . In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the input branch line 22 branches off from the input line 16 for each of the plurality of input branch lines 22 . However, the number of input branch lines 22 may be less than the number of input lines 16 . A plurality of input branch lines 22 are connected to a first switch section 26 .

The first switch section 26 selects one of the plurality of input branch lines 22 and electrically connects the selected one input branch line 22 to the first relay line 32 . The first switch section 26 is connected to the second connector 30 via the first relay line 32 .

A specific structure of the first switch section 26 is not particularly limited except for the above contents, but in the present embodiment, it is a rotary switch. The first switch section 26 , which is a rotary switch, has a selection terminal connected to one of the plurality of input branch lines 22 and a common terminal connected to the first relay line 32 . Thereby, the operator can easily select the input branch line 22 to be connected to the second connector 30 by operating the rotary switch.

The multiple output branch lines 24 are signal lines branched from between the control section 20 and the first connector 14 in the multiple output lines 18 . In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an output branch line 24 is branched from each of the plurality of output lines 18 . However, the number of output branch lines 24 may be less than the number of output lines 18 . A plurality of output branch lines 24 are connected to a second switch section 28 .

The second switch section 28 selects one of the plurality of output branch lines 24 and electrically connects the selected one output branch line 24 to the second relay line 34 . The second switch section 28 is connected to the second connector 30 via a second relay line 34 .

Although the specific structure of the second switch section 28 is not particularly limited except for the above, it is a rotary switch in this embodiment. The second switch section 28 , which is a rotary switch, has a selection terminal connected to one of the plurality of output branch lines 24 and a common terminal connected to the second relay line 34 . Thereby, the operator can easily select the output branch line 24 to be connected to the second connector 30 by operating the rotary switch.

As described above, the second connector 30 is connected to the first switch section 26 via the first relay line 32 and connected to the second switch section 28 via the second relay line 34 . Thereby, one of the plurality of input branch lines 22 and one of the plurality of output branch lines 24 are connected to the second connector 30 .

Further, the second connector 30 is connected with an operation unit 36 for switching the conduction state between the connected input branch line 22 and the output branch line 24 between conduction and non-conduction. The operation unit 36 is, for example, a device having mechanical switches that can be pressed by an operator. The operation unit 36 of the present embodiment allows the first trunk line 32 and the second trunk line 34 to be electrically connected only while the operator is pressing the switch of the operation unit 36 .

By connecting the first relay line 32 and the second relay line 34, the input branch line 22 selected by the first switch section 26 and the output branch line 24 selected by the second switch section 28 are connected to each other. . As a result, the input line 16 connected to the selected input branch line 22 and the output line 18 connected to the selected output branch line 24 are brought into conduction.

When the set of the input line 16 and the output line 18 is electrically connected, the control unit 20 recognizes that the key of the keyboard 12 corresponding to the set has been operated even if the key of the keyboard 12 is not actually pressed.

The above is an example of the overall configuration of the electronic device 10 according to the present embodiment. The operator can use the operation unit 36 as an expansion key that enables key operations from other than the keyboard 12, as in the following first and second examples.

(first example)
For example, it is assumed that an input signal is not normally input from the matrix circuit to the control unit 20 even if a key is pressed due to a defect in the keyboard 12 .

The operator selects the input line 16 corresponding to the key by operating the first switch section 26 . Also, the operator selects the output line 18 corresponding to the key by operating the second switch section 28 . Next, the operator pushes the switch of the operating section 36 connected to the second connector 30 .

As a result, the electronic device 10 performs the same operation as when the key is operated even in a situation where the input signal corresponding to the key is not normally input from the keyboard 12 to the control unit 20 .

In the first example, the operator can easily determine which of the control unit 20 and the keyboard 12 is the cause of the defect. In other words, the normal operation of the electronic device 10 in response to the operation of the operation unit 36 means that the control unit 20 can normally recognize the operation. Therefore, the operator can determine that there is a high possibility that the keyboard 12 is the cause of the defect. On the other hand, if the electronic device 10 does not operate normally even when the operation unit 36 is operated, it means that the control unit 20 cannot normally recognize the operation. Therefore, the operator can determine that there is a high possibility that the control unit 20 is the cause of the defect.

(Second example)
In the second example, it is assumed that there is at least one set 42 of the input line 16 and the output line 18 that does not correspond to the keys of the keyboard 12 connected to the first connector 14 .

The keyboard 12 may have different numbers of keys depending on the type. Accordingly, when the keyboard 12 is connected to the first connector 14, there are cases where a set 42 of the input line 16 and the output line 18 that do not correspond to the keys of the keyboard 12 is generated. From the operator's point of view, it is difficult to retrofit keys to an off-the-shelf keyboard 12 when using keys not provided on the keyboard 12 in use. In addition, it is troublesome to replace the keyboard 12 in order to use a key that is not provided on the keyboard 12 being used.

The operator can easily connect the input line 16 and the output line 18 included in the set 42 to the second connector 30 by the first switch portion 26 and the second switch portion 28 . Further, the control unit 20 can detect conduction between the input line 16 and the output line 18 included in the set 42 when the operation unit 36 is operated by the operator.

Thus, according to the electronic device 10 described above, even if it is difficult to add keys to the keyboard 12, the operator can substantially add keys without replacing the keyboard 12 connected to the first connector 14. Keys can be easily added.

[Modification]
Although the embodiment has been described above as an example of the present invention, it is of course possible to add various modifications and improvements to the above embodiment. It is clear from the description of the scope of claims that forms with such modifications or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic device 10 of a modified example.

The electronic device 10 of the modification includes a switching control section 38 that automatically switches each of the first switch section 26 and the second switch section 28 . In addition to the operation unit 36 , the second connector 30 is connected to a measuring device 40 for measuring changes in electrical signals between the first relay line 32 and the second relay line 34 .

The switching controller 38 is, for example, an integrated circuit having a processor and memory, like the controller 20 . The switching control section 38 is connected to the control section 20 , the first switch section 26 and the second switch section 28 . The switching control unit 38 receives a request from the control unit 20 to cover the connection patterns between the input branch lines 22 and the output branch lines 24 in the startup process of the electronic device 10 , for example. In response to the request, the switching control unit 38 automatically and sequentially switches the first switch unit 26 and the second switch unit 28 so that the connection pattern between the input branch line 22 and the output branch line 24 is covered. . It is assumed that the first relay line 32 and the second relay line 34 remain conductive to each other while the switching control unit 38 continues to automatically switch the connection pattern.

Measuring device 40 is, for example, an oscilloscope. As a result, for example, in a test at the manufacturing stage, the operator can confirm the operation of the control unit 20 even if a peripheral device such as a display for displaying the operation result of the keyboard 12 is not connected to the electronic device 10. be able to.

The operator monitors the measurement result of the measuring device 40 while the switching control section 38 sequentially switches the connection pattern between the input branch line 22 and the output branch line 24 . Accordingly, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the control unit 20 normally responds to all combinations of the input lines 16 and the output lines 18 .

When the switching control section 38 is not automatically switching, the operator may use the operation section 36 as an expansion key as in the embodiment. Further, when the operation of the control unit 20 can be confirmed by monitoring the display, the operator may omit the measuring device 40 as appropriate.

[Invention obtained from the embodiment]
Inventions that can be understood from the above embodiments and modifications will be described below.

An electronic device (10) comprising: a first connector (14) to which a key matrix keyboard (12) is connected; a plurality of input lines (16) connected to the first connector (14); a plurality of output lines (18) connected to a first connector (14), a plurality of said input lines (16) and a plurality of said output lines (18) connected to said first connector (14); a control unit (20) for identifying which key of the keyboard (12) has been operated based on the conduction state between the input line (16) and the output line (18); ), a plurality of input branch lines (22) branching from between the control section (20) and the first connector (14), and the control section (20) in the plurality of output lines (18). a plurality of output branch lines (24) branching from the first connector (14), and a mutual conduction state between the input branch line (22) and the output branch line (24) is defined as conduction and non-conduction. a second connector (30) to which an operation unit (36) for switching with is connected, and any one selected from the plurality of input branch lines (22) is connected to the second connector (30) and a second switch unit (28) for connecting one of the plurality of output branch lines (24) selected to the second connector (30). Prepare.

This provides an electronic device (10) with easy expansion of keys.

The first switch section (26) and the second switch section (28) may be rotary switches. This makes it possible to easily switch between the input branch line (22) and the output branch line (24) connected to the second connector (30).

A switching control unit (a switching control unit ( 38). This makes it possible to easily check whether or not the control unit (20) responds normally to all combinations of the input line (16) and the output line (18).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Electronic device 12... Keyboard 14... First connector 16... Input line 18... Output line 20... Control part 22... Input branch line 24... Output branch line 26... First switch part 28... Second switch part 30... Second Connector 32 First relay line 34 Second relay line 36 Operation unit 38 Switching control unit 40 Measuring device 42 A set of an input line and an output line that do not correspond to keyboard keys

Claims (3)

a first connector to which a key matrix keyboard is connected;
a plurality of input lines connected to the first connector;
a plurality of output lines connected to the first connector;
A control connected to the first connector via the plurality of input lines and the plurality of output lines, and identifying which key of the keyboard has been operated based on the state of continuity between the input lines and the output lines. Department and
a plurality of input branch lines branching from between the control unit and the first connector among the plurality of input lines;
a plurality of output branch lines branching from between the control unit and the first connector among the plurality of output lines;
a second connector to which is connected an operation unit for switching the conduction state between the input branch line and the output branch line between conduction and non-conduction;
a first switch unit that connects any one selected from the plurality of input branch lines to the second connector;
a second switch unit that connects one selected from the plurality of output branch lines to the second connector;
An electronic device comprising: The electronic device according to claim 1,
The electronic device, wherein the first switch section and the second switch section are rotary switches. The electronic device according to claim 1,
The electronic device, further comprising a switching control unit that sequentially switches each of the first switch unit and the second switch unit so as to cover connection patterns between the input branch lines and the output branch lines.

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