JPH0420486B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a key input device and a method of assembling the same, and in particular, it relates to a key input device and a method for assembling the same. The present invention relates to a key input device and an assembly method thereof.

[Prior Art] In conventional key input devices such as keyboards, one key is used as a plurality of input keys by operating a shift key or a function key.

Therefore, a plurality of pieces of input information are displayed on one key corresponding to each function key input or shift key input. The input information is generally displayed on the top of the key or on the board surrounding the key.

[Problems with the prior art] However, in the case where multiple pieces of key input information are written on the key top, several keys are displayed within the limited area of the key top.
Not only is it difficult to see, it is also difficult to determine which key is in the input state, and there are limits to this. In addition, when multiple key input information is written around the key, functions can only be assigned to a limited number of keys, and when the number of functions assigned increases, the position of the key and the description become far apart. As mentioned above, it is difficult to see, and it is also difficult to determine which input information is in the key input state, which increases the probability that input errors will occur.

Therefore, it is possible to place the keys adjacent to a variable display device such as a liquid crystal display device, or to have the keys integrated into the liquid crystal display device, or to have a transparent key panel above the liquid crystal display device. Some proposals have been made in which switches or switches using rubber elasticity are arranged, and some attempts to make the input information variable and display it through a transparent part.

However, among devices that use a variable display device, in the case of those placed adjacent to the former variable display device, it is difficult to downsize the keyboard, etc., and the display of input information and the position of the keys are separate. Therefore, it is difficult to say that it is easy to input. On the other hand, in the case of the latter, since the information is displayed through a transparent part, it is difficult to see the displayed information, and since the liquid crystal display device is installed at the bottom, individual This is difficult to use when trying to use keys, and problems remain with key touches and input operations.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and it eliminates these problems and also makes it possible to change the display of each of a plurality of keys to its input function. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key input device that can be changed according to designation or shift and can reduce input errors, and a method for assembling the same.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object and solve the above problems, the key input device of the specific invention of this application includes a plurality of display devices and a drive for the display devices. An amplifier for amplifying the signal or a liquid crystal drive circuit is connected vertically or horizontally via a flexible wiring board, and a plurality of displays are respectively installed on each key arranged vertically or horizontally. This is what I did.

Furthermore, in an assembly method as a related invention of this application, a plurality of display devices and an amplifier or liquid crystal drive circuit for amplifying drive signals of the display devices are connected vertically or horizontally via a flexible wiring board. By connecting a plurality of display devices to each key top section arranged in the vertical or horizontal direction, and attaching a key cap having a transparent window section, each display device can be attached to each key top section. Each of them is fixed.

[Function] By connecting the display devices vertically or horizontally via a flexible wiring board and placing the display devices on the top or side of each key, input data can be input while being in close contact with the keys. Information can be displayed.

Moreover, when one display device is divided into many display devices and these are driven, unevenness may occur in each display device, but even if many display devices are driven, Since an amplifier or a liquid crystal drive circuit is provided in each liquid crystal display, display unevenness does not occur between each liquid crystal display.

Further, the input information can be freely selected and displayed by, for example, data transfer from the arithmetic processing unit (CPU) side.

As a result, it is possible to realize a key input device that is easy to input, can change the display of each of a plurality of keys according to the designation or shift of the input function, and can reduce input errors.

Further, by assembling the display unit by fixing it using the key cap as described above, the assembly process becomes simple and the work can be carried out efficiently.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial explanatory diagram of a flexible wiring board portion that connects each display arranged on each key of a key input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Partial explanatory diagram of the key subassembly of the keyboard before the device is installed, Part 3
The figure is an external view of the key cap attached to each key top part of the key switch part, and Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional explanation of the keyboard showing the assembled state of the key cap, each key switch part, and the flexible wiring board shown in Figure 1. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit of this key input device. Note that in each of these figures, the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

1 is a flexible wiring board having a plurality of vertical wiring bands 2 and a plurality of horizontal wiring bands 3 forming a matrix, and openings 5, 5, . . . are formed at the intersections of each matrix. It is provided.

4 is a liquid crystal display (indicated by a dotted line);
is a buffer amplification unit (also shown with a dotted line)
It is. Liquid crystal display 4 and buffer amplification unit 6
are alternately assigned to the openings 5, and buffer amplification units 6 are arranged on the top, bottom, left and right of the liquid crystal display 4.
Liquid crystal displays 4 are arranged above, below, and to the left and right of the buffer amplification unit 6. Buffer amplification unit 6
serve to amplify the drive signal of the liquid crystal display 4, and do not necessarily have to be arranged alternately with respect to the liquid crystal display 4 in this way, but after arranging two or more liquid crystal displays 4. One may be provided.

The configuration of the buffer amplification unit 6 is such that two amplification units in the vertical and horizontal directions in the form of integrated amplifiers are arranged on a substrate, corresponding to the vertical and horizontal terminals of the liquid crystal display 4. Each signal from each terminal is amplified independently, and outputted independently corresponding to each terminal in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Each vertical wiring band 2 of the flexible wiring board 1 has wiring lines 2a, 2a, . A terminal portion connected to each input terminal or output terminal is provided. Each horizontal wiring line band 3 has similar wiring 3a, 3
a, . Wiring 2a or 3 on both sides
a are connected to each other via internal electrodes of the liquid crystal display 4 or wiring on the back surface of the substrate.

Here, the liquid crystal displays 4, 4, . . . arranged at the intersections of every other matrix are dot matrix type displays, and one of them is
It is responsible for each display area of one large liquid crystal display device, and each is designated by a specific address.

The assembly of the flexible substrate 1 to which the liquid crystal displays 4, 4, . . . are fixed is attached to the key subassembly of the keyboard shown in FIG.

In the key subassembly shown in FIG. 2, 10 is a wiring board of the keyboard, and key switch parts 11, 11, . . . are arranged in a matrix in the vertical and horizontal directions.
... are provided, and the bottom portions 11a, 11a,
Each has a built-in spring and switch. The upper portion thereof has key top portions 11b, 11b, . . . , respectively.

Here, the switches built in each key switch section 11 are connected to respective predetermined lines in a matrix (see reference numeral 27 in FIG. 5) by wiring formed on the back surface of the board 10, and the connection signals are transmitted. This is input to the encoder 23 (see FIG. 5). In addition, each key top portion 11b, 11b,
. . . is made of a resilient synthetic resin member, and the key cap 12 shown in FIG. 3 is attached thereto.

As shown in FIG.
1b, 11b, . . . As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. ,…
It has the function of being removably fixed to...

Further, the buffer amplification unit 6 is attached to the board 10, and its power may be received from this board wiring.

Now, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this key cap 12 is made of a synthetic resin member, and includes a hood portion 13 consisting of a transparent plate portion (window portion) through which the inside of the key cap 12 can be seen. Mounting fixing part 14
It consists of Note that the entire key cap 12 may be made of a transparent member.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, this key cap 12
The assembled state of each key switch section 11 and the flexible wiring board 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

Note that this key input device can be used in the vertical direction (Y direction).
Since the relationship between the parts is almost the same in both the cross section and the cross section in the horizontal direction (X direction), the sectional view shown in FIG. It is also used as an explanatory diagram.

First, as shown in Fig. 4, each liquid crystal display 4,
4, . . . are installed at the intersections of every other matrix on the flexible wiring board 1, and each buffer amplification unit 6 is installed at the intersection of every other remaining matrix on the flexible wiring board 1. This is constructed as an assembly of the flexible wiring board 1.

Next, the assembly of this flexible wiring board 1 is as follows.
The buffer amplification units 6 are installed on the substrate 10, and then the liquid crystal displays 4, 4, . . . are placed on the key top portions 11b, 11b, . Then, they are sequentially fixed by the key cap 12 as shown in the figure.

Note that when the key cap 12 is attached, the key top portions 11b, 11b, . . . are deformed, and the elastic force of the key top portion 11b and the key cap 12 are
A protrusion 14a provided on the back side and bottom circumferential surface of
and 14b, the protrusion 14b fits around the key top portion 11b, so that the protrusion 14a presses down and fixes the liquid crystal display 4. Keys 15, 15, . . . having variable indicators are assembled here.

Further, in the above case, after the respective liquid crystal displays 4, 4, . . . are placed on the key top portions 11b, 11b, . may be done.

Here, as shown in the figure, each vertical wiring band 2 and each horizontal wiring band 3 of the flexible wiring board 1 has a length that is slightly slack between each key switch 11 and the buffer amplification unit 6 when assembled. There is.

Key 15, 1 is suitable for this configuration.
5. When any one of the keys is input, the vertical wiring band 2 and the horizontal wiring band 3 around the flexible wiring board 1 sag according to the lowering of the key top due to the input, and follow the input state of the key. I will do it. Therefore, there is no problem with input operations, and each liquid crystal display 4 is connected to the key cap 1.
By removing 2, there is an advantage that it can be taken out and replaced independently.

Now, such a key input device is, for example, a fifth key input device.
It will be driven by the control circuit shown in the figure.

That is, when any one of the keys on the keyboard is input, a signal is generated on which line of the matrix wiring section 27, and this signal is sent to the interface (PI/O) 22 via the encoder 23, and is processed for calculation. The information is sent to the device (CPU) 20 via its system bus 21 as predetermined input information.

Here, when this input information is a function key or shift key that shifts to a predetermined function input or shift, the arithmetic processing unit 20 determines this as a function key or shift key corresponding to the input key information, and Correspondingly, the area corresponding to the function or shift of the predetermined keyboard display character code area 28a of the memory (MEM) 28 is accessed. Next, the character codes are sequentially read out in the order corresponding to the display addresses of the keys, and sent to the character generator 24 via the interface 22. Character generator 24
receives this character code, sequentially develops bit information corresponding to the character code in the address order of the liquid crystal display 4, and sends the bit information to the X-direction drive circuit 26 and the Y-direction drive circuit 25, respectively.

As a result, the input information according to the function or shift is developed in the form of a bit pattern and displayed on each display 4 corresponding to each address position.

In this way, a predetermined character pattern corresponding to new input information is displayed on each corresponding liquid crystal display 4 according to the function or shift key.

In addition, the input information for each key that is displayed in bits in the above case is stored in advance in the memory 28 or
It is also possible to store it in RAM as a bit pattern and directly drive the drive circuits (X-direction drive circuit 26, Y-direction drive circuit 25) without going through the character generator 24. If you use the RAM or memory 28 area in this way, you can select and display any character on each key just like a general display device, and you can selectively and freely display the characters you want to input. It is something.

Here, the arithmetic processing unit 20 may be provided specifically for displaying keys on a keyboard, separately from the arithmetic processing unit 20 that executes a general application program. This can be provided on the keyboard side. Moreover, when provided on the keyboard side, the ROM can be used without using the arithmetic processing unit 20.
may be used to access the character generator 24 by generating an address for generating a corresponding bit pattern in response to input from a function key or shift key, and display predetermined input information in correspondence with the key.

By the way, if a liquid crystal display 4 is provided for each key and connected by matrix wiring as in this embodiment, each display can be driven in the same way as when driving a general liquid crystal display device. There is an advantage that by using a common external drive circuit (X-direction drive circuit 26, Y-direction drive circuit 25), these can be regarded as each element of one liquid crystal display device and can be driven individually in response to addresses.

However, a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal display 4 may be provided below each of the liquid crystal displays 4, 4, . . . The wirings 2a and 3a may be connected.

In addition, in the embodiment, the matrix-like wiring is 1
This is done using two flexible wiring boards, one flexible wiring board having multiple strip-shaped wirings separated by slits in the vertical direction, and one flexible wiring board having multiple strip-shaped wirings separated by slits in the horizontal direction. 1 and 2
By stacking two wiring boards, it is possible to realize matrix-like wiring.

Furthermore, the intersections of each matrix serve as openings that connect the flexible wiring patterns with the internal wiring of the liquid crystal display, but by eliminating the openings, one wiring pattern that continues vertically and horizontally can be connected to multiple parallel wiring patterns. (However, wiring that intersects vertically and horizontally is prevented from contacting by multilayer processing), and the electrode terminals of the display device may be connected in parallel here. Such wiring is particularly effective when the display device does not have a dot matrix electrode structure.

In the example, a switch is provided at the bottom of the key, but this switch is provided below the display, and the wiring for the switch on the keyboard side and the drive on the display side are If the wiring of the keyboard is connected to the wiring of the keyboard by a flexible board, the wiring of the wiring board of the keyboard (wiring board 10 in the embodiment) can be eliminated, and the wiring of the liquid crystal display is connected to the front side of the flexible wiring board. , and you can also wire a switch on the back side.

By the way, it goes without saying that each liquid crystal display may be connected by a single strip-shaped flexible wiring board in either the vertical or horizontal direction, instead of wiring in a matrix as described above. . In such a case, only a specific function key can be displayed as a variable display in combination with conventional keys that cannot be changed.

Furthermore, in the embodiments, explanations have been given mainly on examples using liquid crystal displays, but the present invention is not limited to liquid crystal displays; for example, LED
Various types of display devices such as a display device, an electroluminescent display device, a plasma display, etc. can be used. Further, the electrode arrangement is not limited to a dot matrix type as long as electrode terminals are arranged on the outside.

In the embodiment, a buffer amplification unit is used, but this may be any amplifier in general, or may be the liquid crystal drive circuit itself.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the liquid crystal displays are arranged sequentially for the keys arranged in a matrix, but such displays only need to be installed on the necessary keys. In this case, where a liquid crystal display is not required, a dummy board having the same size as the liquid crystal display and simply connecting a flexible wiring pattern can be provided.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to keyboards, but can be applied to various key input devices, including operation panels on which a plurality of keys are arranged on the same plane.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be understood from the above description, according to the specific invention of this application, a plurality of displays and an amplifier or a liquid crystal drive circuit for amplifying drive signals of the display units are connected to a flexible wiring board. A plurality of display devices are installed on each key arranged in the vertical or horizontal direction by connecting the display devices vertically or horizontally through the keys. By doing so, input information can be displayed in close contact with the keys.

Moreover, even if one display device is divided into many displays and these are driven, there is little possibility that unevenness will occur in the driving, and unevenness in display will occur between each liquid crystal display. There isn't.

Further, the input information can be freely selected and displayed by, for example, data transfer from the arithmetic processing device side.

As a result, it is possible to realize a key input device in which the display of each of a plurality of keys can be changed according to the designation or shift of the input function of the key, thereby making inputting easier and reducing input errors.

Further, according to the method for assembling a key input device, which is a related invention of this application, a plurality of displays and an amplifier for amplifying drive signals of the display units are connected vertically or horizontally via a flexible wiring board. By connecting a plurality of display devices to each key top section arranged in the vertical or horizontal direction, and attaching a key cap having a transparent window section, each display device can be placed on each key top section. Since it is fixed, assembly is also simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial explanatory diagram of a flexible wiring board portion that connects each display arranged on each key of a key input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial explanatory diagram of the key subassembly of the keyboard before it is installed.
FIG. 4 is an external view of the key cap attached to each key top portion of the key switch portion; FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of the keyboard showing the assembled state of the key cap, each key switch portion, and the flexible wiring board shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit of this key input device. 1 is a flexible wiring board, 2 is a vertical wiring band, 3 is
4 is a horizontal wiring band, 4 is a liquid crystal display, 5 is an opening, 6 is a buffer amplification unit, 10 is a keyboard wiring board, 11 is a key switch portion, 11a is its bottom, 11b is a key top portion, 12 is a key cap,
13 is a hood part, 14 is a mounting fixing part, and 15 is a key.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of push button type independent input keys arranged in a row, a plurality of indicators housed in the key top portions of the plurality of input keys, and a plurality of indicators. a plurality of amplifiers arranged adjacent to some or each of the plurality of display devices, and respectively amplifying and supplying a plurality of drive signals for display to adjacent display devices, or provided corresponding to the plurality of display devices; a plurality of drive circuits each receiving a plurality of signals for display and driving the adjacent display devices; and a plurality of drive circuits each receiving a plurality of signals for display and driving the adjacent display devices, and the input key adjacent to each other having a slack that follows when the input key is pressed. the indicators of the keys,
A display on the adjacent display device, comprising: the amplifier and the display device adjacent to each other, the drive circuit and the display device adjacent to each other, and a flexible wiring board that interconnects any one of the adjacent drive circuits. Key input characterized in that the driving signal or the plurality of signals for displaying information is provided via the flexible wiring board in response to pressing one of the input keys or in response to predetermined display conditions. Device. 2. The amplifier is arranged such that each terminal of the vertical or horizontal electrodes of the plurality of display devices is connected to the corresponding terminal of the amplifier via a flexible wiring board, and the amplifiers are arranged under the display device arranged in the vertical or horizontal direction. 2. The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the key input device is disposed on the side or on the side of the board on which the keys are installed corresponding to the positions of the keys. 3. The display device is a liquid crystal display device, the drive circuit is a liquid crystal drive circuit, and is installed below the liquid crystal display arranged vertically or horizontally, and the flexible wiring board connects adjacent liquid crystal drive circuits. Claim 1 characterized in that it connects
Key input device as described in section. 4. The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible wiring board is provided with matrix-shaped wiring bands in the vertical and horizontal directions, and each display is disposed at the intersection of the wiring bands. 5. Obtaining a key assembly in which a plurality of push-button type independent input keys with removable key cap portions are arranged in a line at predetermined intervals before the key caps are attached, and the input keys are arranged adjacent to each other. connecting a plurality of liquid crystal displays via an amplifier or a drive circuit using a flexible wiring board having a width longer than the interval between the two, thereby obtaining an assembly of the flexible board, the amplifier or the drive circuit, and the liquid crystal display; The flexible wiring board is arranged between adjacent input keys with a slack that follows the input key when the input key is pressed, and the display is displayed on each of the input keys corresponding to the key top of the input key. A method for assembling a key input device, comprising the step of fixing the display device to the key top portion by arranging the display device and attaching the key cap to each of the input keys.