Auxiliary keyboard and keyboard improved in operability for key input, and control method therefor
AssigneeFujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
InventorKatsuji Ideura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An auxiliary keyboard has a first input mode and a second input mode and comprises an input mode switching key, a mode switching unit for switching between the first input mode and second input mode at each depression of the input mode switching key without posting the depression to a computer, a key code sending unit for sending, when the key of the auxiliary keyboard is depressed, a predetermined first key code corresponding to the depressed key of the auxiliary keyboard either in the first input mode or in the second input mode, and a mode correcting unit for correcting, when the input mode of the main keyboard is switched into the numeric data input mode, the numeric data input mode to the character data input mode.
Claims16
An auxiliary keyboard, connected to a computer having a main keyboard, which has a main input mode switching key for switching an input mode between a numeric data input mode and a character data input mode, and provided with a plurality of keys, having a first input mode and a second input mode, comprising:
- an input mode switching key;
- mode switching unit for switching between the first input mode and second input mode at each depression of said input mode switching key without posting the depression to said computer;
- key code sending unit for sending, when the key of said auxiliary keyboard is depressed, a predetermined first key code corresponding to said depressed key of said auxiliary keyboard either in the first input mode or in the second input mode;
- and
- mode correcting unit for correcting, when the input mode of said main keyboard is switched into the numeric data input mode, said numeric data input mode to the character data input mode.
A keyboard having two input modes, adapted to assign two functions to one input, in each of which a corresponding one of the two functions is selected, and connected to a computer, said keyboard having the two input modes independently of said computer, said keyboard comprising:
- mode detecting unit for detecting a mismatch between an input mode of said keyboard and an input mode of said computer;
- and
- key code sending unit for adding, when the mismatch is detected by said mode detecting unit and then a specific key having the two alternative input modes is depressed, switch key codes before and after a key code corresponding to the specific key and for sending the key codes to said computer.
A method of controlling an auxiliary keyboard connected to a computer having a main keyboard, which has a main input mode switching key for switching an input mode between a numeric data input mode and a character data input mode, and provided with a plurality of keys, having a first input mode and a second input mode and having a plurality of keys and an input mode switching key, comprising:
- a mode switching step of switching between the first input mode and second input mode at each depression of said input mode switching key without posting the depression to said computer;
- a key code sending step of sending, when the key of said auxiliary keyboard is depressed, a predetermined first key code corresponding to said depressed key of said auxiliary keyboard either in the first input mode or in the second input mode;
- and
- a mode correcting step of correcting, when the input mode of said main keyboard is switched into the numeric data input mode, said numeric data input mode to the character data input mode.
A keyboard having two input modes, adapted to assign two functions to one input, in each of which a corresponding one of the two functions is selected, and connected to a computer, said keyboard having the two input modes independently of said computer, said keyboard comprising:
- mode detecting unit for detecting a mismatch between an input mode of said keyboard and an input mode of said computer;
- key code sending unit for adding, when the mismatch is detected by said mode detecting unit and then a specific key having the two alternative input modes is depressed, switch key codes before and after a key code corresponding to the specific key and for sending the key codes;
- an input mode switching key for switching between the two input modes,
- wherein, when said input mode switching key is depressed, switching between the two input modes of said keyboard is performed without posting the depression of said input mode switching key to said computer.
A method for controlling a keyboard having two input modes, adapted to assign two functions to one input, in each of which a corresponding one of the two functions is selected, and connected to a computer, said keyboard having the two input modes independently of said computer, said method comprising:
- a mode detecting step of detecting a mismatch between an input mode of said keyboard and an input mode of said computer;
- and
- a key code sending step of adding, when the mismatch is detected at said mode detecting step and a specific key having the two alternative input modes is depressed, switch key codes before and after a key code corresponding to the specific key and sending the key codes to said computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.