Abstract:
A keyboard includes: a key panel that includes: a plurality of keys that are respectively assigned to input characters and symbols, the keys including a specific key that is assigned to input a pair of characters by a single keystroke; and a plurality of switches that are provided for each of the keys to output an electrical signal unique to each of the keys when the keys are pressed; and a controller that detects the electrical signal output from the key panel and outputs a key code corresponding to the electrical signal, the controller being configured to operate to: determine whether the specific key is pressed by detecting the electrical signal; and output multiple key codes including key codes corresponding to the pair of characters when determined that the specific key is pressed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-321291, filed on Dec. 12, 2007, the entire content of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    One embodiment of the present invention relates to an input device, such as a keyboard, for an information processing apparatus to input characters and symbols. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A keyboard is used as an input device of an information processing apparatus, such as a PC (Personal Computer). Characters and symbols are printed on a key top of each keys provided in the keyboard. To input characters and symbols, a user types desired keys, thereby instructing the PC to input the characters or symbols printed on the keys. 
         [0006]    However, there is a limitation in a conventional keyboard that the number of characters or symbols input by a single key stroke is one. For example, in characters and symbols represented by a pair of left and right such as parentheses, although it is assumable in advance that the pair of parentheses are to be input, twice or more times of key stroke are required. 
         [0007]    As a method for inputting parentheses, there is proposed a method of optimizing input at a time of converting a predetermined character string into Chinese/Kanji characters through an input method editor. An example of such method is disclosed in JP-A-2000-163412. 
         [0008]    However, according to the conventional method, a user is required to type the keys twice, key for left and key for right, for inputting left and right of characters or symbols used as a pair. In a case where the user uses a kandi conversion function, which converts input alphabets and kana-characters into kanji-characters, the user is also required to input several redundant keys for activating the kanji conversion function and selecting appropriate kanji-characters. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard including: 
         [0000]    a key panel that includes: a plurality of keys that are respectively assigned to input characters and symbols, the keys including a specific key that is assigned to input a pair of characters by a single keystroke; and a plurality of switches that are provided for each of the keys to output an electrical signal unique to each of the keys when the keys are pressed; and a controller that detects the electrical signal output from the key panel and outputs a key code corresponding to the electrical signal, the controller being configured to operate to: determine whether the specific key is pressed by detecting the electrical signal; and output multiple key codes including key codes corresponding to the pair of characters when determined that the specific key is pressed. 
         [0010]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input method for inputting characters and symbols using a keyboard, the method including: determining whether a specific key provided on the keyboard is selected, the specific key being assigned to input a pair of characters by a single keystroke; and output multiple key codes including key codes corresponding to the pair of characters when determined that the specific key is selected. 
         [0011]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a keyboard that includes: a plurality of keys that are respectively assigned to input characters and symbols, the keys including a specific key that is assigned to input a pair of characters by a single keystroke; and a plurality of switches that are provided for each of the keys to output an electrical signal unique to each of the keys when the keys are pressed; a controller that detects the electrical signal output from the key panel and outputs a key code corresponding to the electrical signal, the controller being configured to operate to: determine whether the specific key is pressed by detecting the electrical signal; and output multiple key codes including key codes corresponding to the pair of characters when determined that the specific key is pressed; and a display unit that displays characters corresponding to the key code output from the controller at a caret position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A general configuration that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate an embodiment of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example of an information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional keyboard. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of keys of the conventional keyboard to which parentheses are assigned. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a key according to the embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of an input screen according to the embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating another example of keys according to the embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a keyboard according to the embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an example of key input according to the embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a PC  100 , which is an example of the information processing apparatus, includes a display  101  and a keyboard  102  and is connected with a mouse  103 . 
         [0024]    The PC  100  is, for example, a portable computer such as a notebook PC. The display  101  is a display device, such as a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, which is provided in the PC  100 . The PC  100  displays information to a user by displaying characters, symbols and images on the display  101 . 
         [0025]    The keyboard  102  is an input device provided in the PC  100 . A user using the PC  100  inputs instructions into the PC by typing keys provided in the keyboard  102 . 
         [0026]    The mouse  103  is an input device for moving a mouse cursor displayed on the display  101 . Such an input device is also called a pointing device, from the viewpoint to point a predetermined position on the screen. The mouse  103  is provided with several buttons for inputting instructions into the PC  100  to perform various operations. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example of an inner configuration of the PC  100  according to the embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the PC  100  is provided with a CPU  200 , a main memory  201 , a bus controller  202 , a HDD  203 , an input/output controller  204 , and a USB controller  205 . 
         [0028]    The CPU  200  is a central processing unit, and controls other components provided in the information processing apparatus  100 . The CPU  200  has a function of performing various processes according to a program while executing the program. 
         [0029]    The main memory  201  is configured by a semiconductor memory device, and is used as an area for storing a program and data used by the CPU  200  when executing the program. 
         [0030]    The bus controller  202  has a function of controlling a bus to transmit information among various components of the information processing apparatus  100 . The CPU  200  instructs to read and write data in the main memory  201  through the bus, or instructs other components. 
         [0031]    The HDD  203  is a mass storage device configured by a magnetic disk device (Hard Disk Drive). The HDD  203  stores applications executed by the CPU  200  or data necessary at the time of execution, and the HDD  203  transmits and receives them to and from the CPU  200  through the bus controller  202  as necessary. 
         [0032]    The input/output controller  204  has a function of providing an interface with the CPU  200 , the HDD  203 , the display device  101 , and various types of input/output devices such as the keyboard  102 . 
         [0033]    The USB controller  205  is a control device for connecting devices having the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard interface. There are various types of devices as devices based on the USB standard. The devices can be freely connected and disconnected by the PnP (Plug and Play) technique even when the information processing apparatus  100  is operating. In the embodiment, the USB controller  205  is used to connect the mouse  103 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional keyboard.  FIG. 3  shows a keyboard  300  and parenthesis keys  301  and  302  provided in the keyboard  300 . 
         [0035]    The keyboard  300  illustrates an example of key arrangement in a Japanese keyboard. 
         [0036]    The parenthesis key  301  is a key assigned for inputting a bracket “[”. In the keys provided in the keyboard  300 , various types of characters or symbols are selectively input by combining other special key such as a shift key. Various characters or symbols are printed on key tops of each of the keys. In the description, the characters and symbols are simply and collectively called “characters”. 
         [0037]    The parenthesis key  302  is a key assigned for inputting a bracket “[”. Generally, when bracket keys are used for inputting characters, the left bracket “[” and the right bracket “]” are used as one pair to bracket a predetermined character string. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of keys to which parentheses are assigned in the conventional keyboard. The parenthesis keys  301  and  302  are shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in the  FIG. 4 , four characters are printed on each of the parenthesis keys  301  and  302 . Three types of left parenthesis symbols are assigned to the parenthesis key  301 , and three types of right parenthesis symbols are assigned to the parenthesis key  302 . The three types of parenthesis symbols are changed to one another according to any one of a case of typing the key, a case of typing the key together with the shift key, and a case of typing the key by changing an input mode. 
         [0039]    In any case, to input the left parenthesis and the right parenthesis, a user is required to type the keys at least twice. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a key according to the embodiment. Left parentheses and right parentheses are printed on the parenthesis key  501 , and a pair of left and right parentheses that forms a pair of the parenthesis symbols are input according to an input mode by typing once. For example, it is general that the left parenthesis is input following to a word or phrase about which supplementary explanation is more necessary, a supplementary sentence is described, and then the description is finished by the right parenthesis. There are many cases that a word to be emphasized in a sentence is bracketed by the parentheses. In consideration of this, when the parentheses are used in the sentence, it may be more convenient to input the same kind of parenthesis symbols (e.g., “{}” and “[]”) by a pair of left and right once, because the number of typing decreases. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of input screens according to the present embodiment.  FIG. 6  shows how a caret indicating an input position is moved when the parenthesis key  501  is typed. 
         [0042]    An input screen  601  shows a screen on which a caret is positioned at a character input position displayed on the display  101 . In the figure, the caret is positioned at the left end. 
         [0043]    An input screen  602  shows a screen when the parenthesis key  501  is typed once in a state where the input screen  601  is displayed. This example is a case of inputting a pair of brackets, and a caret is displayed within the brackets after inputting the brackets. A user can continuously input a sentence without operating other keys to return the position of the caret to be positioned between the parentheses. 
         [0044]    When the left bracket and the right bracket are sequentially input by using a conventional keyboard, the caret indicating the input position moves to a position right to the right bracket. In this case, the user needs to reset the position of the caret by typing other keys, such as a left cursor key. When using a front end processor (FEP) such as an IME, the user is also required to input some extra operation for performing character conversion and for resetting the position of the caret. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating another example of keys according to the embodiment. There are several characters or symbols represented by one pair of left and right, and some examples of parenthesis keys  701  to  707  for inputting those pairs of characters and symbols are shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of the keyboard  102  according to the embodiment. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the keyboard  102  is provided with a key panel  801  and an embedded controller (E/C)  801 . 
         [0048]    The key panel  801  includes a panel having a plurality of key tops of the keyboard  102  and switches that are provided for each of the key tops, which are arranged on the panel. When any one of the key tops are pressed, the switch assigned to the pressed key top is turned on, to thereby output an electrical signal for detecting which key top is pressed. 
         [0049]    The E/C  801  is configured by an embedded controller for a particular application, which performs given data processing by being programmed in advance. In the embodiment, the E/C  801  is configured to be input with the electrical signal that is output from the key panel  801  and output a key code corresponding to the input electrical signal to the input/output controller  204 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an example of key input flow according to the embodiment. 
         [0051]    First, the E/C  801  determines, based on the electrical signal output from the key panel  801 , whether a parenthesis key, which is provided in the keyboard  102  and assigned for inputting a pair of left and right parenthesis, is pressed or not (Step S 01 ). When the pressed key is not the parenthesis key (No), the E/C  801  outputs a key code for a single character corresponding to a character or symbol printed on the pressed key, to thereby input the character or symbol printed on the pressed key as a normal keyboard input (Step S 02 ). 
         [0052]    When the pressed key is the parenthesis key in Step S 01  (Yes), the E/C  802  sequentially outputs a plurality of key codes that corresponding to one pair of left and right parentheses configured by two characters (left parentheses and right parentheses). Accordingly, the pair of parentheses is input by a single keystroke (Step S 03 ). 
         [0053]    Next, assuming that the caret is moved to the position directly after the input parentheses (right next to the right parentheses), the position of the caret is moved to a position for inputting characters between the pair of the input parentheses (right next to the left parenthesis) (Step S 04 ). In order to perform the caret movement in Step S 04 , for example, the E/C  802  automatically outputs a control key code to move the caret backward for one character without deleting the character already input. 
         [0054]    According to the keyboard  102  thus configured, it is possible to easily input characters or symbols that are generally used as a pair, such as left and right parentheses, with a single keystroke input to the keyboard  102 . 
         [0055]    In the above description, it is assumed that a mechanical keyboard is used as the keyboard according to the present invention. However, a virtual keyboard, such as an on-screen keyboard, in which an image of a keyboard is displayed on the screen of a display device is also applicable in the same manner. When implementing the input of multiple characters and automatic caret movement as described above for the virtual keyboard, a touchscreen may be provided on a display panel of the display  101 , and the operation by the key panel  801  and the E/C  802  may be emulated by the CPU  200  after detecting the keystroke input to the touchscreen by the CPU  200 . 
         [0056]    The parenthesis key may be freely disposed without depending on the arrangement of the specific keyboard such as a JIS standard keyboard. The present invention may be implemented as any types of apparatuses for inputting characters or symbols exemplified in the present embodiment using keys, and the same or similar advantage may be obtained. 
         [0057]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be embodied by modifying the components without departing the scope of the present invention. In addition, various types of modification may be made by appropriately combining of the plurality of elements and components described in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components and elements may be omitted.