Arrangement for displaying data entered on keyboard

Abstract

 The arrangement comprises a single display device having a working region (40) in which the characters or symbols corresponding to the keys actuated by the operator are progressively displayed, and a region (45) in which the machine conditions which are keyed in by the keyboard are indicated by lighting up light elements (47) adjacent to selected indicia on a fixed screen (46) adjacent to the display device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement according to the introductory part of claim 1 for displaying the data which are entered on a keyboard, in particular the keyboard of an electronic typewriter.

[0002] Display arrangements are known, of the type comprising a matrix of light dots, which comprise a service or function region which constantly displays variable data which are useful to the operator, such as the number of characters which are required to complete the row of typing, and a working region for progressively displaying the characters corresponding to the keys which are actuated by the operator. Other machine condition data which can be keyed in, for example the typing pitch, kind of printing, line spacing and so mare, on the contrary, displayed using other means. When employing multi-position selectors, the display is provided by the graduated scales associated with the sliders which control the various conditions. When using function or service keys which are actuated several times, in accordance with programmed sequences, the display cannot be provided by the position of the key, which is the same for different machine conditions, but is effected by means of a plurality of light indicators which selectively light up, according to the machine condition which is keyed in.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economic arrangement which permits display both in respect of the data relating to the machine conditions and the data relating to actuation of the individual keys.

[0004] The arrangement according to the present invention is characterised by a screen marked with various machine conditions which can be keyed in is disposed in association with a second region of the display device, and in that the light elements of the second region of selectively lighted to indicate the machine conditions which have been keyed in.

[0005] The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a typewriter with an arrangement according to the invention, and

Figure 2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the display arrangement.

[0006] Referring to Figure 1, a display arrangement 20 is shown fitted to an electronic typewriter 21 of known type.

[0007] The typewriter 21 comprises a keyboard 22, a typing platen cylinder 23 and a serial print unit 24. The keyboard 22 in turn comprises a plurality of alphanumeric keys 25, an array of service or function keys 26 and an array of keys 27 to 32 for keying in machine conditions. More specifically, the key 27 is arranged to preset the editing function of the machine, that is to say, whether the characters are to be typed normally, in heavy type, underlined or in reverse; the key 28 is arranged to preset the machine for the use of particular characters and symbols which normally do not belong to a standard keyboard layout; the key 29 is arranged to select the type of spacing which is required; 1/10" (2.54 mm), 1/12" (2.12mm), 1/15" (1.69 mm) or proportional; the key 30 is arranged to select the line spacing as between 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 elementary steps; the key 31 is arranged to set control of the right-hand margin of the line of print; and the key 32 is arranged to select a machine state among the four possible states: TP which permits immediate typing of the character selected, W/W for typing which is deferred for a word, L/L for typing which is deferred for a line, and ST which permits the selected characters to be recorded in a memory of the machine.

[0008] The arrangement 20 is mounted on the same console which carries the keyboard 22 and comprises a display means or display device 39 which is formed from liquid crystals, defining a matrix of 16 rows by 160 columns of dots and having a first region 40 (see Figure 2) for displaying the characters and symbols corresponding to the actuated alphanumeric keys 25, and a service or function region 41 for displaying the amount of permanent memory of the machine which is occupied by data, the value of the selected strength of strike, the indented paragraph indicator and the number of characters remaining up to the right-hand margin (the figure 158 in the example shown in Figure 2).

[0009] The arrangement comprises a second, upper region 45 adjacent which there is disposed a mask or screen 46 which carries printed symbols relating to the various machine conditions which can be keyed in by means of the keys 27 to 32.

[0010] Some light elements 47 of the display device 39 are arranged to be lighted selectively in association with the symbol associated with the keyed-in machine condition, to provide a permanent indication thereof for the operator. In particular, each condition is signalled by the simultaneous lighting, of ten light dots of the two upper rows of the matrix, while all the dots of the third row remains constantly illuminated to indicate the line of separation between the upper region 45 and the lower region of the display device.

[0011] In the example illustrated in Figure 2, the light elements 47 indicate that the machine 21 is set up to operate in accordance with the following conditions: heavy-face printing; option of using only the keys of the normal keyboard layout; pitch of 1/15'' (2.12 mm) line spacing 2; right-hand margin justification; and typing deferred by a line.

[0012] In order to change one of the machine conditions, the corresponding key 27 to 32 is actuated and possibly the operation is repeated until the light indicator 47 associated with the machine condition which is to be changed indicates that the machine is in the fresh condition required.

[0013] In order to optimise the visibility of the display device 39, from an ergonomic point of view, the device is hinged along its bottom portion on the bodywork of the machine 21 and can be manually tilted by the operator with respect to its hinge axis 48. In addition, the brightness of the display device 39 can also be varied by operating predetermined code keys of the keyboard 22.

[0014] Use of the above-described arrangement 20 is not limited to typewriters but may be extended to any machines which can assume varying selectible operating conditions.

Claims

L. An arrangement for displaying data entered on a keyboard (22) comprising a light display device (39) having a first region (40) for displaying the characters and the symbols corresponding to the keys actuated, characterised by a screen (46) marked with various machine conditions which can be keyed in is disposed in association with a second region (45) of the display device, and in that the light elements (47) of the second region are selectively lighted to indicate the machine conditions which have been keyed in.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the display device (39) comprises a continuous dot matrix and that the upper rows of the matrix define the light elements (47) of the second region (45).

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that a row of dots of the matrix is constantly illuminated to indicate the separation between the first and second regions (40 and 45).

4'. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the display device (39) is fitted in a typewriter, characterised in that the inclination of the display device (39) is manually variable with respect to the plane of the keyboard (22).

5. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the screen (46) is substantially parallel to the first display region (40) and in that the second region (45) lies between the screen and the first region.

6. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the keyboard (22) is the keyboard of an electronic typewriter, characterised in that the machine conditions which are marked on the screen (46) and which can be displayed by the light elements (47) are the kind of printing of the machine, pitch, line spacing, state of the machine, control of the right-hand margin and keyboard layout.

Drawing