JPH03196323A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily change a characteristic, etc., of the key top of each key by embedding a liquid crystal display element in the inside of the key, and changing the display contents of the liquid crystal element. CONSTITUTION:This keyboard 1 is connected to a personal computer 4 by a connecting cable 3, and data and a command inputted by depressing each key 2 on the keyboard 1 are sent to the personal computer 4 through the connecting cable 3. Also, each key 2 for constituting the keyboard 1 consists of a structure in which a compact liquid crystal element 5 is embedded in the inside, and the liquid crystal display element 5 is a display element of a dot matrix system, and constituted of a prescribed display dot. Accordingly, by controlling the personal computer 4, the display contents of the liquid crystal display element incorporated in each key 2 can be set arbitrarily. In such a manner, a character, etc., of a key top in each key 2 can be changed arbitrarily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a keyboard used as an input device in personal computers, workstations, and the like.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a keyboard used in this type of personal computer or the like has a large number of keys arranged thereon, and by operating the keys, manual input such as various data is performed. Each key on such a keyboard is displayed with letters, numbers, symbols, etc., so that each key can be identified. Generally, the characters of each key are displayed by being engraved on the surface of the key.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, various types of keyboards are required, such as key tops for overseas markets, key tops for hiragana characters, or key tops arranged in alphabetical order.

However, in conventional keyboards, the key tops of each key are indicated by engravings, so a dedicated keyboard for each key had to be manufactured in response to requests.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a keyboard in which the display content of the key top of each key can be changed and the key top display of various requests can be performed with one key top. be.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a liquid crystal display element having a predetermined dot configuration is embedded inside the key so that its display surface can be seen through from the outside. [Function] According to the present invention, since a liquid crystal display element having a predetermined dot configuration is embedded inside the key, the display of characters and the like on the key top can be easily changed by changing the display contents of the liquid crystal display element. Therefore, various key top displays can be displayed on one keyboard, and the types of keyboards can be unified.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the keyboard of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a keyboard on which a large number of keys 2 are arranged. The keyboard 1 is connected to a personal computer 4 via a connecting cable 3, and data and commands input by pressing each key 2 on the keyboard 1 are sent to the personal computer 4 via the connecting cable 3.

Each key 2 constituting the keyboard 1 has a structure in which a small liquid crystal display element 5 is embedded inside, as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display element 5 is a dot matrix type display element, and is composed of predetermined display dots. Therefore, the display contents of the liquid crystal display element 5 can be easily changed under the control of the personal computer 4. Further, the upper surface of the key 2 is covered with a transparent cover 6 made of plastic or the like, so that the display contents of the liquid crystal display element 5 can be seen from the outside. Moreover, the liquid crystal display element 5 is
A backlight (not shown) whose blinking is controlled by the computer 4 is provided.

In such a keyboard, the display contents of the liquid crystal display element 5 built into each key 2 can be arbitrarily set under the control of the personal computer 4.

Thereby, the characters on the key tops of each key 2 can be changed arbitrarily. For example, it is possible to easily change to various types of display, such as alphabetical, hiragana, or 50-syllabary arrangement. Therefore, by simply changing the display content of each key 2, it can be used as many types of keyboards, so there is no need to create a dedicated keyboard according to the request, as in the past, and this improves manufacturing efficiency and simplifies management. There are advantages such as Furthermore, since each liquid crystal display element 5 is equipped with a backlight, it can be provided with an input guiding function by lighting only the keys that are currently available for input by the personal computer 4. Thereby, the operability of the keyboard 1 can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, since the liquid crystal display element is embedded inside the key, the characters on the key top of each key can be easily changed by changing the display contents of the liquid crystal display element. can do. Therefore, since various displays can be performed using one type of keyboard, there is no need to produce a dedicated keyboard for each request, and there is an effect that manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the keyboard of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of keys used in the keyboard of the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Keyboard, 2...Key, 3...Connection cable, 4...PC, 5...Liquid crystal display element, 6...
...cute-

Claims (1)

[Claims] A keyboard characterized in that a liquid crystal display element having a predetermined dot configuration is embedded inside the keys so that the display surface can be seen through from the outside.