Operational input apparatus

An operational input apparatus having an internal input apparatus and an external additional input apparatus wherein the internal data obtained by the operation of the internal input apparatus and the external data obtained by the operation of the external additional input apparatus are selectively transferred to an equipment main body and including: a changeover circuit for changing over the connection to the equipment main body; a data detector for detecting the change in the internal data and the external data separately; an internal data counter and an external data counter which start counting at the detection of the respective changes in the internal and the external data and clear the count values after a predetermined period of time; and a changeover controller which controls a switch to change over periodically and alternately when the count values of the internal data counter and the external data counter are both zero, and when a count value is obtained, controls the switch to change over to the side wherein the count value is obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an operational input apparatus such as a 
keyboard and in particular it relates to an operational input apparatus 
which comprises an internal input apparatus such as a stick system 
coordinate input apparatus and an external additional input apparatus such 
as a mouse to be connected to an internal circuit, and the data obtained 
in the operation of such input apparatuses are selectively transferred to 
an equipment main body such as a personal computer. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Among keyboards, the following four types are known to the public: a 
keyboard apparatus having only various kinds of keys being disposed in a 
predetermined order in an operational portion (hereinafter referred to as 
a first type keyboard apparatus), a keyboard apparatus having various 
kinds of keys being disposed in a predetermined order and a stick system 
coordinate input apparatus being disposed at a predetermined place between 
the above-mentioned operational keys (hereinafter referred to as a second 
type keyboard apparatus), a keyboard apparatus of the first type having a 
configuration added with an external mouse which can be connected to the 
internal circuit (hereinafter referred to as a third type keyboard 
apparatus), and a keyboard apparatus of the second type having a 
configuration added with an external mouse which can be connected to the 
internal circuit (hereinafter referred to as a fourth type keyboard 
apparatus). In the case of the first type keyboard apparatus, it is 
arranged that the data obtained by the operation of a key are transferred 
to the equipment main body such as a personal computer, and in the case of 
the second type keyboard apparatus and the third type keyboard apparatus, 
when the stick system coordinate input apparatus or the external mouse is 
operated, it is arranged that the data obtained by the operation of them 
and the data obtained by the operation of a key are separately transferred 
to the equipment main body such as a personal computer. In the case of the 
fourth type keyboard apparatus, while the external mouse is connected to 
the keyboard, the data obtained by the operation of a key and the data 
obtained by the operation of the mouse are transferred to the equipment 
main body, but the data obtained by the operation of the stick system 
coordinate input apparatus are not transferred to the equipment main body 
such as a personal computer. 
As described in the above, in the case of the fourth type keyboard 
apparatus, while an external mouse is connected to the keyboard, it is 
arranged that the data obtained by the operation of a key and the data 
obtained by the operation a mouse can be transferred to the equipment main 
body; therefore, after the data obtained by the operation of the mouse is 
transferred to the equipment main body, even if the data obtained by the 
operation of the stick system coordinate input apparatus is intended to be 
transferred to the equipment main body, as far as the mouse is not 
disconnected from the keyboard, the data cannot be transferred to the 
equipment main body. 
As described in the above, in the case of a conventional key-board 
apparatus, there has been a problem that when the stick system coordinate 
input apparatus is operated after an external mouse is operated, if it is 
forgotten to disconnect the mouse from the keyboard apparatus, all the 
operational data obtained by the stick system coordinate input apparatus 
thereafter are nullified. 
Further in the case of a conventional keyboard apparatus, when the 
operation of an external mouse and the operation of the stick system 
coordinate input apparatus are alternately required, every time when the 
operation with a mouse is initiated or ended, the mouse has to be 
connected or disconnected from the keyboard; thereby, an extremely 
complicated operation has to be performed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention was invented to solve the problems as mentioned 
above, and an object of the invention is to offer an operational input 
apparatus in which when an internal input apparatus and an external 
additional input apparatus are used in combination, nullification of the 
operation with the internal input apparatus does not occur and improvement 
in operability can be devised. 
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an operational input 
apparatus according to the present invention having an internal input 
apparatus and an external additional input apparatus and in which the 
internal data obtained by the internal input apparatus and the external 
data obtained by the external additional input apparatus are selectively 
transferred to an equipment main body comprises: a changeover means which 
selectively changes over the connection to the equipment main body to the 
internal input apparatus side or to the external additional input 
apparatus side; a data detection means which separately detects the change 
in the internal data and the change in the external data; an interior 
privileged timer means which starts counting when the data detection means 
detects the change in the internal data and keeps counting of the change 
in the internal data for a predetermined period of time; an exterior 
privileged timer means which starts counting when the data detection means 
detects the change in the external data and keeps counting of the change 
in the external data for a predetermined period of time; and a changeover 
control means which inputs the count values of the interior privileged 
timer means and the exterior privileged timer means and controls the 
changeover means to be changed over alternately and periodically when both 
count values are zero, and when a count value is obtained, controls the 
changeover means to be changed over to the input apparatus side wherein 
the change in data is detected. 
In the case of an operational input apparatus according to the present 
invention (a keyboard apparatus for example), the supply (change) of data 
obtained by the operation of the internal input apparatus (a stick system 
coordinate input apparatus for example) and the supply (change) of data 
obtained by the operation of the external input apparatus (a mouse for 
example) are separately detected and when the supply (change) of neither 
internal data nor external data are found, the internal input apparatus or 
the external input apparatus is alternately and periodically connected to 
the equipment main body. When the supply (change) of internal data is 
detected, after the detection of the stop of supply (re-change) until a 
first period of time is elapsed, only the internal input apparatus is 
connected to the equipment main body, and on the other hand, when the 
supply of external data is detected, after the detection of the stop of 
supply (re-change) until a second period of time is elapsed only the 
external input apparatus is connected to the equipment main body. 
As described in the above, in the case of an operational input apparatus (a 
keyboard for example) according to the present invention, regardless of 
the fact that the external additional input apparatus (a mouse for 
example) is connected to the operational input apparatus or not, the 
internal data obtained by the operation of the internal input apparatus ( 
a stick system coordinate input apparatus for example) can be always 
supplied to the equipment main body, so that no nullification is made to 
occur by the connection of the external additional input apparatus to the 
operational input apparatus, and further there is no need to connect the 
external input apparatus to the operational input apparatus or to 
disconnected the external input apparatus from the operational input 
apparatus every time the external additional input apparatus is operated; 
therefore, an operational input apparatus which is excellent in 
operability can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be 
explained referring to the drawings in the following. 
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of the operational 
input apparatus according to the present invention, and a keyboard 
apparatus is shown as an example of the operational input apparatus. 
In FIG. 1, an external mouse 1 (external additional input apparatus) is 
connected to the keyboard from the exterior, and the output circuit is 
connected to a mouse communication portion 3. A stick system coordinate 
input apparatus 2 (internal input apparatus) is disposed in a 
predetermined place between operational keys (not shown in a drawing), and 
the output circuit is connected to an operational data operator 4. The 
external mouse communication portion 3 issues a command in detecting that 
the mouse 1 is connected to the keyboard apparatus, and at the same time 
it transfers the external data expressing the movement quantity of the 
mouse 1 to a following changeover portion 5. The operational data operator 
4 averages displacement quantity of the stick system coordinates input 
apparatus 2 and converts the average value to a movement quantity and 
transfers it to the following changeover portion 5 as an internal data 
showing the movement quantity. The changeover portion (changeover means) 5 
comprises a switch a switch 5s comprising a single circuit having two 
contact points; and one movable contact point terminal T1 is connected to 
the external mouse communication portion 3 and the other movable contact 
point terminal T2 is connected to the operational data operator 4. A 
changeover controller 6 controls the changeover operation of the switch 5s 
of the changeover portion 5, and it is connected to a data change detector 
7, an internal data counter 8 and an external data counter 9. The data 
change detector 7 generates an external detection output or an internal 
detection output in detecting the change in the external data or the 
internal data respectively, and input circuit is connected to the external 
mouse communication portion 3 and the operational data operator 4 and the 
output circuit is connected to the internal data counter 8, the external 
data counter 9 and the changeover controller 6. The internal data counter 
(interior privileged timer means) 8 counts the internal detection output 
of the data change detector 7 and maintains the count value for a first 
period of time after the stop of supply of the internal detection output, 
and the output circuit is connected to the changeover controller 6. The 
external data counter (exterior privileged timer means) 9 counts the 
change in the external data and maintains the count value for a second 
period of time after the stop of the supply of the external detection 
output, and the output circuit is connected to the changeover controller 
6. A cumulative counter 10 accumulates the input data expressing movement 
quantity, and after the lapse of a predetermined period of time, it sends 
out the accumulated data as output data, and the input circuit is 
connected to the fixed contact point terminal of the switch 5s and the 
output circuit is connected to a communication controller 11. The 
communication controller 11 transfers the output data to the personal 
computer 12 (equipment main body). 
A keyboard apparatus in the first embodiment being constituted as described 
in the above is operated as shown below. 
When neither the external mouse 1 nor the internal stick system coordinates 
input apparatus 2 is operated, the external data is not sent out to the 
output circuit of the external mouse communication portion 3 and the 
internal data is not sent out to the output circuit of the operational 
data operator 4, so that the change in the external data and the internal 
data is not detected by the data change detector 7, and the external 
detection output and the internal detection output are not generated. 
Thereby, the count of the internal detection output in the internal data 
counter 8 and the count of the external detection output in the external 
data counter 9 are not started and the count values of the internal data 
counter 8 and the external data counter 9 to be supplied to the changeover 
controller 6 are both zero, so that the changeover controller 6 controls 
the switch 5s to change alternately and periodically, every 10 msec for 
example, over to one movable contact point terminal T1 side or to the 
other movable contact point terminal T2 side. 
When the stick system coordinates input apparatus 2 is operated and the 
external mouse 1 is not operated, the internal data is sent out to the 
output circuit of the operational data operator 4, so that the change in 
the internal data is detected by the data change detector 7 and the 
internal detection output is generated by the data change detector 7 and 
it is supplied to the internal data counter 8. At this time, the internal 
data counter 8 is set by the supply of the internal detection output and 
starts counting the internal detection output which is input subsequently, 
and the count value is supplied to the changeover controller 6. When a 
count value of the internal data counter 8 is input to the changeover 
controller 6, it controls the switch 5s to change over to the internal 
data transmission line side, that is, to the other movable contact point 
terminal T2 side. Thereby, the internal data which is sent out to the 
output circuit of the operational data operator 4 are supplied to the 
cumulative counter 10 through the switch 5s, and after they are 
accumulated in the counter for a predetermined period of time, 100 msec 
for example, they are taken out as output data, and the data are 
transferred to a personal computer 12 through the communication controller 
11. 
In this state, when the operation of the stick system coordinates input 
apparatus 2 is stopped and the sending out of the internal data is 
stopped, the detection of the change in the internal data is not performed 
by the data change detector 7 and the supply of the internal detection 
output to the internal data counter 8 from the data change detector 7 is 
stopped. At this time, after the supply of the internal detection output 
is stopped, the internal data counter 8 keeps the previous count value for 
a predetermined first period of time, 350 msec for example, so that the 
previous count value is kept being supplied to the changeover controller 
6, and it controls the switch 5s to be in a state of being changed over to 
the internal data transmission line side, that is, to the other movable 
contact point terminal T2 side. After the lapse of the first period of 
time, 350 msec for example, the previous count value in the internal data 
counter 8 is cleared, so that zero count value is supplied to the 
changeover controller 6; thereby, the switch 5s is again controlled to 
operate changeover operation from one movable contact point terminal T1 
side to the other movable contact point terminal T2 side or vice versa 
alternately and periodically, every 10 msec for example. 
Even when the operation of the stick system coordinates input apparatus is 
stopped, if the operation is resumed before the lapse of the first period 
of time, 350 msec, the internal data counter 8 is returned to an initial 
state and keeps the count value again until the elapse of further 350 
msec. 
When the stick system coordinates input apparatus 2 is not operated and the 
external mouse 1 is operated, since the external data is sent out to the 
output circuit of the external mouse communication portion 3, the change 
in the external data is detected by the data change detector 7, and the 
external detection output generated by the data change detector 7 is 
supplied to the external data counter 9. At this time, the external data 
counter 9 is set by the supply of the external detection output, and the 
count of the input external detection output is started, and the count 
value is supplied to the changeover controller 6. When a count value of 
the external data counter 9 is input to the changeover controller 6, the 
switch 5s is controlled to change over to the external data transmission 
line side, that is, to the one movable contact point terminal T1 side. 
Thereby, the external data sent out to the output circuit of the external 
mouse communication portion 3 is supplied to the cumulative counter 10 
through the switch 5s, and after they are accumulated for a predetermined 
period of time, 100 msec for example, the accumulated data are taken out 
as output data and the data are transferred to the personal computer 12 
through the communication controller 11. 
In this state, when the operation of the external mouse is stopped and the 
sending out of the external data is stopped, the detection of the change 
in the external data by the data change detector 7 is not executed and the 
supply of the external detection output to the external data counter 9 
from the data change detector 7 is stopped. In this case, after the stop 
of the supply of the external detection output, the external data counter 
9 maintains the previous count value for a predetermined second period of 
time, 100 msec for example, so that the previous count value is kept on 
being supplied to the changeover controller 6, and the switch 5s is 
controlled to change over to the external data transmission line side, 
that is, to the one movable contact point terminal T1 side and kept as it 
is. After the lapse of the predetermined second period of time, 100 msec 
for example, the previous count value in the external data counter 9 is 
cleared and zero count value is supplied to the changeover controller 6. 
Thereby the switch 5s is controlled again to change over alternately and 
periodically, every 10 msec for example, from the one movable contact 
point terminal T1 side to the other movable contact point terminal T2 side 
or vice versa. 
Even if the operation of the external mouse 1 is stopped, if the operation 
of the external mouse 1 is resumed before the lapse of the second period 
of time, 100 msec, the external data counter 9 is returned to an initial 
state and maintains the previous count value until the lapse of 100 msec. 
FIG. 2 is a flow chart expressing collectively the principal operation in 
the first embodiment such as the detection of the change in data and the 
changeover operation of the switch 5s after the detection of the change in 
data. 
The principal operation in the first embodiment will be explained again 
using the flow chart. It is assumed that in the initial state, the switch 
5s in the changeover portion 5 is changed over periodically and 
alternately by the changeover controller 6. 
At first in step S1, the data change detector 7 judges whether internal 
data are newly supplied by the operation of the stick system coordinates 
input apparatus 2 or not (whether internal data are changed or not). When 
it judges that internal data are newly supplied (Y), step S2 is taken, and 
when it judges that new data are not supplied (N), another step S8 is 
taken. 
In step S2, the internal data counter 8 receives internal detection output 
from the data change detector 7 to be a set state. 
In step S3, the internal data counter 8 starts counting with the supply of 
the internal detection output. 
In step S4, the count value is supplied from the internal data counter 8 to 
the changeover controller 6; thereby, the switch 5s is controlled to 
change over to the movable contact point terminal T2 side. 
In step S5, the cumulative counter 10 accumulates internal data supplied 
through the switch 5s, and the data are transferred to the personal 
computer 12 through the communication controller 11 as output data every 
100 msec. 
In step S6, the data change detector 7 judges whether the supply of 
internal data is stopped by the stop of operation of the stick system 
coordinates input apparatus or not (whether internal data are changed 
again or not). When it judges that the supply is stopped (Y), the next 
step S7 is taken but when it judges that the supply is not stopped (N), 
the process is returned to step S2. 
In step S7, the internal data counter 8 judges whether it has elapsed 350 
msec after the stop of supply of the internal data or not. When it judges 
that it has elapsed 350 msec (Y), step S15 is taken but when it judges not 
(N), the process is returned to step S6. 
Further, the data change detector 7 judges whether external data are newly 
supplied by the operation of the external mouse 1 or not (whether the 
external data are changed or not). When it is judged that the external 
data are newly supplied (Y), the next step S9 is taken but if it is judged 
that they are not yet supplied, the last step S15 is taken. 
In step S9, the external data counter 9 is made to be in a set state in 
receiving an external detection output from the data change detector 7. 
In step S10, the external data counter 9 starts counting with the supply of 
the external detection output. 
In step S11, the changeover controller 6 controls the switch 5s to change 
over to the movable contact point terminal T1 side with the supply of a 
count value from the external data counter 9. 
In step S12, the cumulative counter 10 accumulates external data supplied 
through the switch 5s and transfers the data every 100 msec as output data 
to the personal computer 12 through the communication controller 11. 
In step S13, the data change detector 7 judges whether the supply of 
external data is stopped by the stop of operation of the external mouse 1 
or not (whether external data are re-changed or not). When it is judged 
that the supply of external data is stopped (Y), step S14 is taken but 
when it is judged that the supply of external data is not stopped (N), the 
process is returned to step S9. 
In step S14, the external data counter 9 judges whether after the stop of 
supply of external data, 100 msec have elapsed or not. When it is judged 
that 100 msec have elapsed (Y), the last step S15 is taken, but when it is 
judged that 100 msec have not elapsed ((N), the process is returned to 
S13. 
In step S15, since the supply of a count value to the changeover controller 
6 from both internal data counter 8 and external data counter 9 is 
stopped, the changeover controller 6 controls the switch 5s to change over 
periodically and alternately, and when the series of steps of operation 
are finished, it is returned to an initial state, and again the series of 
steps of operation are executed. 
In the present embodiment, a keyboard apparatus is taken up as an example 
of an equipment input apparatus; however, the equipment input apparatus 
according to the present invention is not limited to a keyboard, and other 
apparatuses similar to a keyboard can be used. 
In the present embodiment, explanation is given about the case where the 
stick system coordinate input apparatus 2 is used as an internal input 
apparatus and the external mouse 1 is used as an external additional input 
apparatus; however the internal input apparatus and the external 
additional input apparatus are not limited to those described in the 
above, and other apparatuses for example, a track ball in place of the 
stick system coordinate input apparatus 2 and a tablet in place of the 
external mouse 1, can be used. 
Further in the present embodiment, explanation is given about a case where 
the changeover period of the switch 5s is 10 msec and the data takeout 
period from the cumulative counter 10 is 100 msec; however, the values of 
respective periods are only examples and they are not limited to the 
values shown in the embodiments. 
Besides the above, in the explanation of the present embodiment, it is 
explained about the first period of time or the second period of time, 
that is, from the time when the supply of internal or external detection 
output is stopped until the time when the count value of the internal or 
external data counter 8 or 9 is cleared, that the first period of time is 
set to be longer than the second period of time; such a difference in a 
period of time is provided to give higher priority to the operation of the 
internal input apparatus, a stick pointer 2 for example, than the 
operation of the external additional input apparatus, an external mouse 1 
for example; if such priority in operation is not needed, the first period 
of time and the second period of time can be set to be equal. Even though 
the numerical values of the first and the second periods of time shown in 
the embodiments are desirable values, the values are not limited to the 
above-mentioned numerical values and they can be changed properly. 
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the operational 
input apparatus according to the present invention, and a keyboard is 
taken up as an example of the operational input apparatus. 
The different points between the present second embodiment and the first 
embodiment will be explained: in the first embodiment, the external 
additional input apparatus is composed of an external mouse 1, but in the 
second embodiment, external additional input apparatuses are composed of 
an external mouse 1 and a tablet 13; in association with this, the switch 
5s comprising a single circuit having two contact points is used in the 
changeover portion 5 in the first embodiment, but in the second 
embodiment, a switch 5s' comprising; a single circuit having three contact 
points is used in a changeover portion 5'; the second embodiment is 
provided with an external tablet communication portion 14 and a second 
external data counter 15 which are not provided in the first embodiment; 
and in the second embodiment, the connections of a changeover controller 
6' and a data change detector 7' are a little different from the 
connections of the changeover controller 6 and the data change detector 7. 
There is no other different point from those mentioned in the above in the 
configurations of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. 
The operation in the second embodiment is almost the same as that in the 
first embodiment, so that the detailed explanation on the operation of the 
second embodiment will be omitted. However in the second embodiment, when 
the data change detector 7' does not detect any of the following, internal 
data, a first external data from the external mouse 1 or a second external 
data from the tablet 13, the changeover controller 6' controls the switch 
5s' to change over periodically and alternately among 3 fixed contact 
point terminals, T1, T2 and T3, and on the other hand, when the data 
change detector 7' detects the supply (change) of any data from among the 
internal data, the first external data or the second external data, the 
changeover controller 6' controls the switch 5s' to change over to a fixed 
contact point terminal being connected to a circuit where detected data 
exist, to a fixed contact point terminal (T3) for example. 
In the second embodiment, a track ball can be also used in place of the 
stick system coordinates input apparatus 2 as an internal input apparatus, 
and two external mice 1 or two external mice 1 and a tablet 13 can be used 
in place of the external mouse 1 and the tablet 13 as external additional 
input apparatuses.