JP2001142640A - Touch panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel device capable of detecting a highly accurate touch position with a simple configuration. SOLUTION: This device is provided with microphones 11A and 11B which are arranges at different places of the edge part of a touch panel 10 and which detect ultrasonic waves propagating in space, an input pen 12 which includes a piezoelectric speaker 12G and which oscillates an ultrasonic wave outputted from the speaker 12G with 360 deg. directivity from the point around an axis, and a touch position detector which calculates the distance between the microphones 11A and 11B and the touch position P on the panel 10 on the basis of the phase of the ultrasonic wave from the pen 12 detected by the microphones 11A and 11B and which operates the coordinates of the position P on the panel 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a touch panel device for detecting coordinates of a touch position by an input pen on a touch panel provided on the front of a flat display such as a plasma display panel.

[0002]

In recent years, touch panel devices have become widespread as input means for various information processing devices.

The touch panel device detects coordinates of a touch position on a touch panel and inputs various information corresponding to the touch position to an information processing device. Various types of touch panel devices have been proposed.

[0004] Among these touch panel devices, there is a so-called ultrasonic surface acoustic wave system which detects the coordinates of a touch position on a touch panel using ultrasonic waves.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing such a conventional touch panel device of the ultrasonic surface acoustic wave system.

In FIG. 25, a touch panel device includes an X-side reflection array 2A on the transmitting side which is mounted horizontally on the lower edge of the touch panel 1, and an X-side reflection array 2A which is disposed at the lower right corner of the touch panel 1. X connected to
A side transmitter 2B, an X-side reflection array 3A on the receiving side horizontally mounted on the upper edge of the touch panel 1 so as to face the X-side reflection array 2A, The X-side receiver 3B connected to the side reflection array 3A, the transmitting-side Y-side reflection array 4A vertically attached to the left edge of the touch panel 1, and the Y-side disposed at the upper left corner of the touch panel 1 The Y-side transmitter 4B connected to the reflection array 4A, the reception-side Y-side reflection array 5A mounted vertically on the right edge of the touch panel 1 so as to face the Y-side reflection array 4A, and the touch panel 1 And a Y-side receiver 5B arranged at the upper right corner and connected to the Y-side reflection array 5A.

This touch panel device has an X-side transmitter 2B
Is oscillated vertically upward from each position along the axial direction (X direction) of the X-side reflection array 2A on the transmission side toward the X-side reflection array 3A on the reception side. Ultrasonic waves received at each position along the axial direction (X direction) of the X-side reflection array 3A are input to the X-side receiver 3B.

Further, the ultrasonic wave output from the Y-side transmitter 4B is transmitted in the axial direction (Y
Direction) from each position along the Y-side reflection array 5A on the receiving side.
The ultrasonic wave oscillated rightward toward the right side, and the ultrasonic wave received at each position along the axial direction (Y direction) of the Y-side reflection array 5A on the receiving side is input to the X-side receiver 5B.

The touch position on the touch panel 1 is specified, for example, when an arbitrary position P 'on the touch panel 1 is touched as shown in the figure, the X-side reflection array 2A on the transmitting side at this touch position P'. And Y side reflection array 4A
The ultrasonic waves respectively oscillated from are blocked by the finger touching the touch panel 1 or the input pen or the like, so that the ultrasonic waves on the X-side reflection array 3A and the Y-side reflection array 5A on the receiving side where the ultrasonic waves did not reach ( This is performed by detecting the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate) based on the change (attenuation) of the ultrasonic signal input to the X-side receiver 3B and the X-side receiver 5B.

The ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type touch panel device has characteristics that it is hardly affected by temperature and humidity and has excellent durability.

However, in the conventional ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type touch panel device, as shown in the figure, a reflection array on the transmitting side and a reflection array on the receiving side must be arranged on four sides of the touch panel, respectively. In order to increase the detection accuracy of the touch position and reduce the detection error, the transmission unit and the reception unit of the ultrasonic wave in the reflection array on the transmission side and the reflection array on the reception side must be set finely, so that the device is large. And the detection accuracy is limited.

Further, since the conventional ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type touch panel device detects the vibration caused by the ultrasonic wave propagating through the touch panel 1, and specifies the touch position P '. When the touch panel device is attached to a plasma display panel (PDP), the vibration generated on the touch panel 1 due to the driving of the PDP is detected as noise, and there is a possibility that an error occurs in the detection result.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional touch panel device as described above. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel device capable of detecting a touch position with high accuracy with a simple configuration.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device for detecting a touch position on a touch panel installed on a front surface of a flat display device. An oscillation signal detection member that detects an oscillation signal propagating in a space that is arranged at at least two different positions different from each other at an edge of the oscilloscope, and an oscillation signal output from this signal oscillation member having a built-in signal oscillation member. 360 around the axis from the tip
An input pen that oscillates with a degree of directivity, and calculates the distance between each oscillation signal detection member and the touch position of the input pen on the touch panel based on the oscillation signal oscillated from the input pen detected by the oscillation signal detection member. And a coordinate position calculating member for calculating the coordinates of the touch position of the input pen on the touch panel.

In the touch panel device according to the first aspect of the invention, when the tip of the input pen is touched on the touch panel, an oscillation signal such as an ultrasonic wave output from a signal oscillation member built in the input pen is input. Oscillation signals are oscillated from the tip of the pen with a directivity of 360 degrees around the axis of the input pen, propagate through the space along the front surface of the touch panel, and are attached to at least two different locations on the edge of the touch panel. Each is detected by the detection member.

Then, the coordinate position calculating member detects the oscillation signal based on the oscillation signal detected by each oscillation signal detecting member.
Calculate the distance between the touch position on the touch panel where the oscillation signal was oscillated and each oscillation signal detecting member, and further,
The X and Y coordinate values of the touch position on the touch panel are calculated based on the calculated distances, and the touch position of the input pen is specified.

As described above, according to the touch panel device according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to specify the touch position on the touch panel only by arranging the oscillation signal detecting members at two positions on the edge of the touch panel. In addition, a highly accurate touch position can be detected with a simple configuration.

Further, the touch position is specified by detecting an oscillating signal oscillated from the input pen and propagated in the space by the oscillating signal detecting member. Compared with the case where the touch position is specified by detecting the vibration due to the oscillation signal, there is no possibility that the vibration accompanying the driving of the display device to which the touch panel is attached is detected as noise, and the touch position can be detected with high accuracy. Become like

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device according to the first aspect, further comprising:
An image display member for displaying an image corresponding to the coordinates of the touch position of the input pen calculated by the coordinate position calculation member on a screen of the flat display device is further provided.

According to the touch panel device according to the second aspect of the invention, the image display member changes its X and Y coordinates based on the data indicating the X and Y coordinate values of the touch position on the touch panel specified by the coordinate position calculation member. An image corresponding to the value, for example, a touch mark of a predetermined color or the like is displayed on a portion corresponding to the touch position on the screen of the flat display device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, for achieving the above object.
The coordinate position calculating member detects a phase of the oscillation signal from the input pen detected by the oscillation signal detecting member, and each oscillation signal is detected based on the phase of the oscillation signal detected by the phase detection device. It is characterized by comprising a distance calculating means for calculating a distance between the detection member and a touch position by an input pen on the touch panel.

According to the touch panel device of the third aspect of the present invention, the oscillation signal oscillated from the touch position is moved to the mounting position of the oscillation signal detecting member by the frequency of the oscillation signal and the speed at which the oscillation signal travels in the air. The distance from the touch position to the oscillation signal detecting member is detected by the phase of the oscillation signal when it arrives, so the phase detecting means oscillates from the touch position and detects the phase of the oscillation signal detected by the oscillation signal detecting member. Is detected, and the distance between each oscillation signal detecting member and the touch position is calculated by the distance calculating means based on the phase of the detected oscillation signal, so that the X, X of the touch position by the coordinate position calculating member is calculated.
The calculation of the Y coordinate value is performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device according to the first aspect, further comprising:
The coordinate position calculating member detects a difference between a phase of an oscillation signal oscillated from an arbitrary set position on the touch panel and a phase of an oscillation signal oscillated from a touch position of the input pen detected by each of the oscillation signal detecting members. Phase difference detecting means, and distance calculating means for calculating the distance between each oscillation signal detecting member and the touch position of the input pen on the touch panel based on the phase difference of the oscillation signal detected by the phase difference detecting means. It is characterized by having.

According to the touch panel device of the fourth aspect, the phase of the oscillation signal oscillated from two points on the touch panel depends on the frequency of the oscillation signal and the speed at which the oscillation signal travels in the air. Since the distance between two points can be detected, a position where the distance from the oscillation signal detection member and the phase of the oscillation signal oscillated therefrom are known in advance is set on the touch panel, and the phase difference is detected. The phase difference between the phase of the oscillation signal at this set position and the phase of the oscillation signal oscillated from the touch position by the input pen and detected by the oscillation signal detection member is detected, and the phase difference is detected by the distance calculation means. The distance between the set position and the touch position is calculated based on the phase difference between the oscillation signals, and the distance between the touch position and each oscillation signal detection member is calculated. The Rukoto, X of the touch position by the coordinate position calculating member, the operation of the Y-coordinate values is performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device according to the first aspect, further comprising:
The coordinate position calculating member detects the input level of the oscillation signal from the input pen detected by each of the oscillation signal detecting members, based on the input level of the oscillation signal detected by the level detecting device. It is characterized by comprising distance calculating means for calculating the distance between each oscillation signal detecting member and the touch position by the input pen on the touch panel.

According to the touch panel device of the fifth aspect, the distance between the oscillation position of the oscillation signal and the detection position of the oscillation signal is detected from the relationship between the arrival distance of the oscillation signal and the attenuation rate of the oscillation signal. Therefore, the level detecting means detects the decay rate of the level of the oscillation signal oscillated from the touch position and detected by the oscillation signal detecting member,
The distance calculating means calculates the distance between each oscillation signal detecting member and the touch position based on the detected attenuation rate of the oscillation signal, thereby calculating the X and Y coordinate values of the touch position by the coordinate position calculating member. Is performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device according to the first aspect, further comprising:
The Doppler effect detecting means for detecting the Doppler effect of the oscillation signal generated by the input pen moving on the touch panel from the oscillation signal from the input pen detected by the respective oscillation signal detection members, Distance calculating means for calculating the distance between each oscillation signal detecting member and the touch position of the input pen on the touch panel based on the moving distance of the input pen determined from the Doppler effect of the oscillation signal detected by the Doppler effect detecting means. It is characterized by having.

According to the touch panel device of the sixth aspect, when an oscillating signal is oscillated from the moving oscillating source, the Doppler effect is generated in the oscillating signal. Since the distance is detected, the Doppler effect generated by the Doppler effect detecting means is generated in the oscillation signal when the input pen is moved from the set position on the touch panel where the distance to each oscillation signal detection member is known in advance to the touch position. Is detected, and the distance calculating means calculates the distance between the set position and the touch position based on the Doppler effect of the detected oscillation signal, and further calculates the distance between the touch position and each oscillation signal detecting member. Thus, the X and Y coordinate values of the touch position are calculated by the coordinate position calculation member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a touch panel device is provided, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, to achieve the above object.
An oscillation signal oscillated from a signal oscillation member of the input pen is a sound wave or an ultrasonic wave.

According to the touch panel device of the seventh aspect, a sound wave or an ultrasonic wave is oscillated from the tip of the input pen, and the sound wave or the ultrasonic wave propagates through the space on the touch panel along the touch panel to detect an oscillation signal. Detected by member.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device according to the first aspect, further comprising:
The oscillation signal detecting member is a microphone.

According to the touch panel device of the eighth aspect, the microphone serving as the oscillation signal detecting member detects an oscillation signal such as a sound wave or an ultrasonic wave oscillated from the signal oscillation member of the input pen.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch panel device according to the first aspect, further comprising:
The signal oscillation member is a piezoelectric speaker including a piezoelectric element.

According to the touch panel device of the ninth aspect, an oscillation signal such as a sound wave or an ultrasonic wave is oscillated from the piezoelectric speaker including the piezoelectric element.

The touch panel device according to the tenth aspect is
In order to achieve the above object, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the input pen has an opening formed at a tip portion, and the signal oscillating member built in the input pen from the opening. The output oscillation signal is oscillated with a directivity of 360 degrees around the axis of the input pen.

According to the touch panel device of the tenth aspect, when the input pen is touched on the touch panel, the signal is output from the opening formed at the tip of the input pen by the signal oscillation member built in the input pen. The oscillation signal is oscillated with a directivity of 360 degrees around the axis of the input pen, so that the oscillation signal is detected by the oscillation signal detecting member no matter where the input pen is touched on the touch panel. Is surely performed.

The touch panel device according to the eleventh invention is
In order to achieve the above object, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, the inner wall surface of the tip of the input pen is formed in a conical shape whose diameter decreases toward the tip end. The inside is communicated with the outside by an opening formed at the tip of the input pen, and an oscillation signal output from the signal oscillation member through the conical inside of the tip of the input pen oscillates from the opening. It is characterized by being done.

According to the touch panel device of the eleventh aspect, the inner wall of the tip of the input pen through which the oscillation signal output from the signal oscillation member built in the input pen passes is formed in a conical shape. As a result, the oscillation signal oscillated from the opening formed at the tip has omnidirectionality.

The touch panel device according to the twelfth invention is
In order to achieve the above object, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, the tip of the input pen is formed in a spherical shape, and the signal pen is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the input pen behind the spherical shaped tip. An opening for oscillating an oscillation signal output from the oscillation member to the outside is formed.

According to the touch panel device of the twelfth aspect, since the tip of the input pen is formed in a spherical shape, the surface of the touch panel is prevented from being damaged when the input pen is touched on the touch panel. Further, since the opening for oscillating the oscillation signal output from the signal oscillation member to the outside is formed on the outer peripheral surface behind the spherical tip of the input pen, when the input pen is touched on the touch panel, To prevent the oscillation of the oscillation signal from being obstructed by closing the opening.

A touch panel device according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention
In order to achieve the above object, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the input pen incorporates a battery member that supplies driving power to the signal oscillation member, and a holder that holds the input pen is provided. The charging member is built in the holder, and when the input pen is held by the holder, the charging member charges the battery member of the input pen.

According to the touch panel device of the thirteenth aspect, when the input pen is held in the pen holder when the input pen is not used, the input member is built in the input pen by the charging member built in the pen holder. The battery member is charged.

The touch panel device according to the fourteenth invention is
In order to achieve the above object, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, an oscillation signal absorbing member that absorbs an oscillation signal oscillated from the signal oscillation member is attached to an edge of the touch panel. I have.

According to the touch panel device of the fourteenth aspect, the oscillating signal oscillated from the signal oscillating member of the input pen reaches a portion other than the portion on the edge of the touch panel where the oscillation signal detecting member is attached. The reflected oscillation signal is absorbed without being reflected by the oscillation signal absorbing member, so that noise due to the reflected wave is prevented from being detected by the oscillation signal detecting member, and thereby the touch position with high accuracy is specified. I can do it.

The touch panel device according to the fifteenth invention is
In order to achieve the above object, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the flat display device is a plasma display panel.

According to the touch panel device of the fifteenth aspect, it is possible to detect the touched position by the input pen on the display screen of the plasma display panel.

[0047]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first example of the embodiment of the touch panel device according to the present invention.

In the following, the touch panel device is a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as PDP).
The touch panel device will be described by taking as an example the case where the touch panel device is mounted on the front surface of the device.

In FIG. 1, the touch panel device comprises:
A front glass substrate of the PDP constitutes a touch panel 10, and two microphones 11A and 11B attached at the center of the lower edge and the center of the left edge of the front of the touch panel 10 and an ultrasonic oscillator described later. Built-in input pen 12, two microphones 11A and 1
1B, a touch position detector 13 that detects a touch position of the input pen 12 on the touch panel 10 based on ultrasonic waves input from the input pen 12 to the microphones 11A and 11B.

The touch position detector 13 is connected to the microcomputer 14 and
3 detects the touch position from the microcomputer 1
4 is output.

The microcomputer 14 outputs a control signal to the PDP display device 15 connected to the microcomputer 14 based on the touch position detection signal input from the touch position detector 13 and
By controlling the driving of the DP display device 15, a screen display corresponding to a touch position on the touch panel 10 by the input pen 12 is performed.

At the periphery of the touch panel 10, the microphones 11A and 11B are buried, and the microphones 11A and 11B stand from the front of the touch panel 10 to the front.
A sound absorbing wall 10A that absorbs ultrasonic waves is attached.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the touch position detector 13.

In FIG. 2, the touch position detector 13
Is a waveform shaping circuit 13 connected to the microphones 11A and 11B to amplify and shape the waveform of the ultrasonic detection signals input from the microphones 11A and 11B.
Aa, 13Ab and the waveform shaping circuits 13Aa, 13Ab
And the waveform shaping circuits 13Aa and 13Ab, respectively.
A to A / D convert the shaped waveform signal output from
/ D conversion circuits 13Ba and 13Bb, and A / D conversion circuits 13Ba and 13Bb connected to the A / D conversion circuits 13Ba and 13Bb.
The touch position P (FIG. 1) is based on the A / D-converted ultrasonic waveform signals input from Ba and 13Bb, respectively.
CPU 13C for calculating the coordinate values of
It comprises an interface 13D for connecting the U13C and the microcomputer 14.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the input pen 12. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, a casing 12A of the input pen 12 has a hollow pen-like shape with a tip 12A 'having a conical shape, and has a diameter extending in the axial direction at the center of the tip 12A'. A 1 mm cylindrical hole 12a is formed.

Then, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG.
A spherical portion 12b is formed integrally with a tip portion 12A 'of the casing 12A, and the spherical portion 12b is
a, and the cylindrical hole 12a is externally connected via a plurality of openings 12c formed at equal angular intervals on the outer peripheral wall of the distal end portion 12A 'facing the rear portion of the spherical portion 12b. Is communicated to.

The sphere portion 12b is formed of, for example, a resin such as PET, nylon, or Teflon, or felt, and when the tip portion 12A 'of the input pen 12 is touched on the touch panel 10,
0 is not damaged.

In FIG. 3, a power supply battery 12B, a power switch 12C,
Frequency / output level setting circuit 12D and oscillator 12E
, An amplifier circuit 12F, and a piezoelectric speaker 12G constituted by a piezoelectric element.

The piezoelectric speaker 12G has a cylindrical hole 12a.
Is mounted adjacent to the rear end opening.

The casing 12A is further provided with a connecting portion between the distal end 12A 'and the main body.
A touch sensor S for detecting that the spherical portion 12b formed at the tip of the touch panel has touched the touch panel 10 is attached, and an LED 12H is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the main body. Note that a microswitch may be used instead of the touch sensor S.

Further, a pair of charging terminals T connected to the power supply battery 12B are embedded in the rear end wall of the casing 12A so as to be exposed on the outer surface.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a connection state of the internal circuit of the input pen 12, in which solid lines indicate power supply lines and broken lines indicate signal / control lines.

In FIG. 5, a power switch 12C is connected to a power battery 12B charged from a charger described later via a charging terminal T, and furthermore, a frequency / output level setting circuit 12D and Power is supplied to the oscillator 12E and the amplifier circuit 12F.

The frequency / output level setting circuit 12D is connected to the oscillator 12E and sets the frequency or output level of the ultrasonic signal output from the oscillator 12E.

The oscillator 12E is connected to the amplifying circuit 1
2F, the ultrasonic signal output from the oscillator 12E and amplified by the amplifier circuit 12F is input to the piezoelectric speaker 12G, so that the cylindrical hole 12a of the casing 12A extends from the piezoelectric speaker 12G. During the oscillation (see FIG. 3), the ultrasonic waves having the required frequency or output level set by the frequency / output level setting circuit 12D are oscillated.

The touch sensor S is connected to the power switch 12C, and is connected to the spherical body 1 at the tip of the casing 12A.
The power switch 12C is turned on when it is detected that the touch panel 2b has touched the touch panel 10, and the power switch 12C is turned off when the sphere 12b is separated from the touch panel 10.

As the touch sensor S, for example, there is a pressure sensor that detects a pressure when the spherical portion 12b of the tip portion 12A 'is pressed by the touch panel 10 and turns on the power switch 12C.

Then, through this touch sensor S, LE
D12H is connected to the power switch 12C, and the touch sensor S is connected to the spherical part 12 at the tip of the casing 12A.
When b detects that it has touched the touch panel 10,
The power supply from the power supply battery 12B is conducted to the LED 12H, which is a light emitting element, to light the LED 12H.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the input pen 12 is held by the pen holder 17.

In FIG. 6, the pen holder 17 has a vertical fitting hole 17a having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the casing 12A of the input pen 12 at the center thereof. The rear end of the input pen 12 is fitted therein, so that the input pen 12 is held vertically upward.

The fitting hole 17 of the pen holder 17
A charging terminal (not shown) is attached to the bottom surface of the charging terminal T at a position where the charging terminal T on the rear end surface of the input pen 12 fitted into the fitting hole 17a comes into contact. 17A is connected and this power cord 1
The charging terminal is connected to an AC power supply via 7A.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the mounting state of the microphones 11A and 11B.

The microphones 11A and 11B are condenser microphones and are mounted at the center of the lower edge and the center of the left edge of the front surface of the touch panel 10, so that they have directivity over the entire surface of the touch panel 10. The sound receiving surface is buried in the sound absorbing wall 10A with the sound receiving surface being substantially flush with the inner wall surface of the sound absorbing wall 10A. As a result, the microphones 11A and 11B are set to have a directional characteristic of 180 degrees as indicated by the two-dot chain line α.

Next, a method of detecting a touch position on the touch panel by the touch panel device will be described.

The input pen 12 is inserted into the fitting hole 17a of the pen holder 17 connected to the AC power supply via the power cord 17A.
Are fitted and held, the charging terminal attached to the bottom surface of the fitting hole 17a and the charging terminal T attached to the rear end surface of the input pen 12 come into contact with each other, and the power supply battery 12
B is charged (see FIG. 7).

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the pen tip of the input pen 12 (the spherical portion 12b of the tip 12A ') whose charging of the power supply battery 12B has been completed is touched.
Is touched at an arbitrary position (hereinafter, referred to as a touch position) P, the touch sensor S detects the contact between the spherical portion 12b and the touch panel 10 based on the contact pressure at that time.

Then, the input pen 12 is
Is turned on, the power supply battery 12B switches the LED
Electric current is conducted to 12H, and LED 12H is turned on, whereby the operator can visually recognize that the tip of input pen 12 has completely touched touch panel 10.

At this time, since the opening 12c of the input pen 12 that oscillates ultrasonic waves is formed at a position behind the sphere 12b, the opening of the input pen 12 is blocked by the touch of the input pen 12 on the touch panel 10. Therefore, the oscillation of the ultrasonic wave is not hindered.

When the touch sensor S is turned on, the power switch 12C is turned on, and the power battery 12
Power is supplied from B to the frequency / output level setting circuit 12D, the oscillator 12E, and the amplifier circuit 12F.

As a result, the frequency of the oscillator 12E is
An ultrasonic signal having a frequency or an output level set by the output level setting circuit 12D is generated to amplify the ultrasonic signal.
The amplifier circuit 12F amplifies the ultrasonic signal and outputs the amplified ultrasonic signal to the piezoelectric speaker 12G.

The piezoelectric speaker 12G outputs an ultrasonic wave having a required oscillation frequency (for example, 20 to 100 KHz) based on the ultrasonic signal input from the amplifier circuit 12F, and outputs the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the piezoelectric speaker 12G. Is
Through the cylindrical hole 12a of the casing 12A, the tip 12
It is oscillated from a plurality of openings 12c formed on the outer peripheral surface of A '.

At this time, the ultrasonic wave is oscillated in a direction of 360 degrees around the axis of the input pen 12 because the opening 12c is formed at equal angular intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the tip 12A '. It extends along its surface in the direction of its outer edge.

The ultrasonic waves oscillated from the input pen 12 are detected by the microphones 11A and 11B arranged at the center of the lower edge and the center of the left edge of the touch panel 10, respectively.

At this time, the microphones 11A and 11B
Has the directional characteristics of 180 degrees as described above, so that the ultrasonic wave emitted from the input pen 12 can be detected even if the input pen 12 is touched at any position on the touch panel 10. I can do it.

When ultrasonic waves are detected by the microphones 11A and 11B, the microphones 11A and 11B
B outputs an ultrasonic detection signal based on the detected ultrasonic wave to the touch position detector 13.

The ultrasonic detection signals input to the touch position detector 13 are input to waveform shaping circuits 13Aa and 13Ab, respectively, as shown in FIG. After the shaping process is performed, the A / D conversion circuits 13Ba and 13B
b is A / D converted and input to the CPU 13C.

Then, the CPU 13C performs an operation for specifying the coordinates of the touch position P based on the digital ultrasonic detection signals output from the A / D conversion circuits 13Ba and 13Bb.

The calculation for specifying the coordinates of the touch position P in the CPU 13C is performed by the microphones 11A,
The distance from 11B to the touch position P is calculated, for example,
This is performed by calculating the coordinate value of the touch position P using the lower left corner o of the touch panel 10 as the origin.

The calculation of the distance from each of the microphones 11A and 11B to the touch position P is performed by the following method. That is, the first method is a calculation method based on the level of the ultrasonic wave detected by the microphone.

This method uses the microphones 11A and 11A.
In accordance with the distance between B and the touch position P, the level of the ultrasonic wave when reaching the microphones 11A and 11B is lower than the level when the input pen 12 oscillates.
By comparing the constant ultrasonic level when oscillated from the input pen 12 with the ultrasonic level detected by the microphones 11A and 11B, the distance to the touch position P is determined based on the level decrease rate. It is to be calculated.

[0093] The ultrasonic levels detected by the microphones 11A and 11B may be compared, and the distance to the touch position P may be calculated from the ratio.

The second method is to use the microphones 11A, 1
This is a calculation method based on the phases of the ultrasonic waves respectively detected by 1B.

This second method uses the microphones 11
The distance to the touch position P is calculated from the phases of the respective ultrasonic waves detected by A and 11B.

For example, in FIG. 8 showing the waveform of the ultrasonic wave, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the input pen 12 is 10
In the case of 0 KHz, since the speed of sound is 340 mm / sec, the length of one cycle of this ultrasonic wave is 3.4 mm.

Therefore, the microphones 11A, 11A
The distance to the touch position P can be calculated by detecting in which cycle and which phase of the ultrasonic wave that has reached B, respectively.

The third method is a calculation method based on the phase difference between the ultrasonic waves detected by the microphones 11A and 11B when the input pen 12 moves on the touch panel.

In the third method, an arbitrary position on the touch panel 10 is designated in advance, the phase of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the designated position is detected, and the phase of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the designated position is detected. And the phase of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the touch position of the input pen different from the designated position, and the shift of the phase is detected to calculate the distance to the touch position.

That is, in FIG. 8, as described above, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the input pen is 100K.
In the case of Hz, since the speed of sound is 340 mm / sec, the length of one cycle of this ultrasonic wave is 3.4 mm, so that it is detected at the initial touch position and the touch position after the movement as shown in FIG. If the phase difference of the applied ultrasonic wave is 10 °,
The distance from the designated position of the touch position of the input pen on the touch panel is 3.4 mm × 10/360 ≒ 0.094 mm.

Therefore, the touch position P and the microphone 1 are calculated based on the distance between the calculated touch position and the designated position.
The distance to 1A, 11B is calculated.

The fourth method is a calculation method using the Doppler effect of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the input pen.

In the fourth method, an arbitrary position on the touch panel 10 is designated in advance, and the distance between the designated position and each of the microphones 11A and 11B is detected. The touch position P is caused by the Doppler effect that occurs when
Of the touch position P after the movement
And the distances between the microphones 11A and 11B are calculated.

The touch position detector 13 detects the touch position P and the microphones 11A,
After calculating the respective distances from the touch position 11B, the coordinates (X, Y) of the touch position P are calculated.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the coordinates of the mounting positions of the microphones 11A and 11B are set to (X1,
0), (0, Y1) and the microphones 11A, 11B
Let L1 and L2 be the distances from to the touch position P, respectively. L1 ² = (X−X1) ² + Y ² L2 ² = X ² + (Y−Y1) ² By solving this simultaneous equation, the touch position The value of the coordinates (X, Y) of P is calculated.

The data of the coordinates (X, Y) of the touch position P calculated in this manner is sent from the touch position detector 13 to the microcomputer 1 via the interface 13D.
4 is output.

The microcomputer 14
Retrieves image data corresponding to the coordinates (X, Y) of the touch position P from a database stored in advance, and outputs the image data signal to the PDP display device 15. The PDP display device 15 Based on the signal, a required image, for example, a touch mark or a movement locus of a touch position is displayed on the screen of the PDP.

In the above example, the touch position is specified by using the ultrasonic wave. However, an AM or FM modulation signal may be used, or an intermittent wave may be used.

Further, in the above example, the microphones 11A and 11B are arranged at the center of the lower edge and the center of the left edge of the touch panel 10, however, the microphones 11A and 11B are arranged at the edge of the touch panel 10. , No matter where they are located,
Similarly to the above, the coordinates (X, Y) of the touch position P can be specified.

FIG. 11 is a layout diagram showing an example in which a pair of microphones are respectively arranged at the corners of the touch panel.

In FIG. 11, the microphone 1
Although 1C and 11D are arranged at the lower left corner and the lower right corner of the touch panel 10, respectively, they may be arranged at other corners.

When the microphones 11C and 11D are arranged at the corners of the touch panel 10 as in this example, the microphones 11C and 11D are provided in FIGS.
A microphone having a directivity of 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 3 is used. That is, the microphone 11C,
11D is provided with a horn 11b that forms a 90-degree directivity at the front of the condenser microphone 11a.

FIGS. 14 to 16 show examples of arrangement when three or more microphones are attached to the touch panel 10. FIG.

That is, FIG. 14 shows four microphones 11A, 11B, 11A ', having a directivity of 180 degrees.
11B 'shows an example in which each of 11B' is arranged at the center of four edges of the touch panel 10. FIG.
Four microphones 11C having 90 degree directivity,
11D, 11C ', and 11D' show examples in which they are arranged at four corners of the touch panel 10, respectively.
6 are four microphones 11A, 11B, 11A ', 11B' having a directivity of 180 degrees and four microphones 11C, 11D, 11C 'having a directivity of 90 degrees.
8 microphones in total of 11D '
0 shows an example in which they are arranged at the center position of the four edges of the zero and at the four corners, respectively.

As described above, when three or more microphones are arranged on the touch panel, of the ultrasonic signals detected by these microphones, two signals on which noise is not superimposed are selected, or a permutation combination is used. A method of averaging the calculated values of coordinates based on the ultrasonic signals detected by the selected two microphones, selecting two ultrasonic signals detected by the two microphones closest to the touch position, etc. , The coordinates of the touch position are specified.

As described above, by specifying the coordinates of the touch position based on the ultrasonic signals detected by three or more microphones, the detection accuracy can be improved.

When the microphone is arranged at the center of the edge of the touch panel, the microphone is set to 1
Since it is only necessary to have a directivity of 80 degrees, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the microphone as compared with a case where the microphone is configured to have a directivity of 90 degrees as in the case where it is arranged at a corner. There is an advantage, and when the microphone is arranged at the corner of the touch panel, the microphone rarely interferes with the displayed image, and it is considered that the input pen hardly touches the corner of the touch panel. Therefore, there is an advantage that the touch position can be reliably detected.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view showing another example of the structure of the tip portion (pen tip) of the input pen, with one side sectioned.

In FIG. 17, the tip 1 of the input pen
2A ″ is formed in a hemispherical tip surface 12b ′, and a cylindrical hole 1 is formed in the outer peripheral surface behind the hemispherical tip surface 12b ′.
A plurality of circular openings 12c 'for communicating 2a to the outside are formed at equal angular intervals.

In the input pen in this example, similarly to the case of the pen tip of the input pen in FIG. 4, when the pen tip is touched on the touch panel, there is no possibility that the opening 12c 'is closed, and the cylindrical hole 12a is not closed. The ultrasonic wave passing through the opening 12c '
Oscillates reliably through the

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing another example of the configuration of the input pen.

In FIG. 18, the casing 12A 'of the input pen 12' has an inner wall surface at the tip 12Aa.
It is formed in a conical shape whose inner diameter becomes smaller toward the distal end, and an opening 12c ″ having a diameter of 1 mm is formed at the distal end.

The input pen 12 'has a tip 12A.
Since the inner wall surface of a has a conical shape, ultrasonic waves oscillated from the piezoelectric speaker 12G incorporated in the casing 12A 'via the opening 12c "have non-directionality.

FIG. 19 shows the opening 12 of the input pen 12 '.
out of the ultrasonic waves oscillated from c ″, the casing 12A ′
FIG. 20 is a graph showing f characteristics (0 degree characteristics) of ultrasonic waves oscillated along the axial direction of FIG.
It is a graph which shows the f characteristic (90 degree characteristic) of the ultrasonic wave oscillated in the direction perpendicular to the axis of A '.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing another embodiment of the input pen 12 of FIG.

This example is of an external type in which a power switch 12C is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of a casing 12A, and the connection of its internal circuit is the same as that of the example of FIG.

The input pen 12 in this example is a power switch 1
Since the 2C is externally attached, the power switch 12C can be used as a main switch, and the power can be turned on / off by operating the power switch 12C with a finger.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing still another connection state of the internal circuit of input pen 12 in FIG.

In this example, the power switch 12C is of an external type attached to the outer peripheral surface of the casing 12A as in the case of the example of FIG. 21, but the touch sensor S has a frequency / output level. Only connected to the setting circuit 12D, the power supply is turned on / off by the power switch 12
This is to be performed only by C.

In the connection example of the internal circuit shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 22 described above, the touch sensor S detects the contact pressure and the number of contacts between the pen tip of the input pen and the touch panel, and the detection signal is converted to the frequency. / Output level setting circuit 12D
And the frequency / output level setting circuit 12D responds to the detection signal from the touch sensor S,
The set value of the frequency or output level of the ultrasonic wave generated in E is changed.

The frequency or output level of the ultrasonic wave is set according to the contact pressure or the number of times of contact between the pen tip of the input pen and the touch panel, and the microphone transmits the ultrasonic wave at the set frequency or output level. Upon detection, the touch position detector 13 (see FIG. 1) outputs a command signal to the microcomputer 14 so as to display an image set in advance.

For example, the frequency / output level setting circuit 12
The correspondence between the frequency of the ultrasonic wave set by D and the image displayed on the touch panel is set as 100 kHz-thick red 90 kHz-thin red 80 kHz-thick black 70 kHz-thin black, or a line of another color. May be set so that is displayed, or the frequency may be set so that a solid line and a dotted line are displayed.

By setting the attributes of the frequency or output level of the ultrasonic wave and the display image at the touch position by the input pen as described above, for example, it is possible to draw line drawings using various colors on the screen of the PDP. You can do it.

FIG. 23 shows a frequency / output level setting circuit 1.
FIG. 24 is a side view showing an example of the input pen 12 provided with the changeover switch SW for manually setting the frequency and the output level in 2D. FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a connection state of an internal circuit of the input pen 12. FIG.

In this example, the changeover switch SW is externally mounted, and furthermore, the power switch 12C and the LED
12H is external.

In FIG. 24, the changeover switch SW is connected to the frequency / output level setting circuit 12D so that the setting value of the ultrasonic frequency or the output level in the frequency / output level setting circuit 12D is switched by the switching. Has become.

Then, the touch sensor S is connected to the power switch 1
It is the same as the case of the connection example of FIG. 5 except that it is concerned only with ON / OFF of 2C and LED 12H.

Also in the examples of FIGS. 23 and 24, the setting value of the ultrasonic frequency or the output level in the frequency / output level setting circuit 12D is switched by switching the changeover switch SW in the same manner as described above. A desired image can be displayed at the touched position by the attribute of the set ultrasonic frequency or output level and the display image at the touched position by the input pen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pointing position detector in the same example.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of the input pen in the same example.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged one-side cross-sectional view showing a structure of a tip portion of the input pen.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a connection example of an internal circuit of the input pen.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a pen holder for holding the input pen.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an attached state of a microphone in the same example.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram of an ultrasonic wave.

FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram showing a phase shift of an ultrasonic wave.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a calculation method of a distance to a touch position.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the arrangement of microphones.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a microphone having a directional characteristic of 90 degrees.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the microphone.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the arrangement of microphones.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the arrangement of microphones.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the arrangement of microphones.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged one-side sectional view showing another configuration of the pen tip of the input pen.

FIG. 18 is a side sectional view showing another configuration of the casing of the input pen.

FIG. 19 shows an example of ultrasonic waves generated from the input pen shown in FIG. 18;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating characteristics.

FIG. 20 shows an ultrasonic wave 9 oscillated from the input pen of FIG. 18;
It is a figure which shows a 0 degree characteristic. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing another configuration example of the input pen.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating another connection example of the internal circuit of the input pen.

FIG. 23 is a side view showing still another configuration example of the input pen.

24 is a block diagram illustrating a connection example of an internal circuit of the input pen in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Touch panel 10A: Sound absorbing wall 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11A ', 11B', 11
C ', 11D' ... display surface 11a ... condenser microphone 11b ... horn 12 ... input pen 12A ... casing 12A '... tip part 12a ... cylindrical hole 12b ... sphere part 12c ... opening part 12B ... power supply battery 12C ... power supply switch 12D ... Frequency / output level setting circuit 12E ... oscillator 12F ... amplifier circuit 12G ... piezoelectric speaker 12H ... LED 13 ... touch position detector 14 ... microcomputer 15 ... PDP display device 17 ... pen holder P ... touch position S ... touch sensor SW ... changeover switch

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Jiro Nakazono 1105 Nikko, Kuno, Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture F-term in Tohoku Pioneer Co., Ltd. 5B068 AA04 AA32 AA36 BB22 BD02 BD25 BE08 5B087 AA02 CC01 CC21 CC26 CC47 DG02 DJ06

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A touch panel device for detecting a touch position on a touch panel installed on a front surface of a flat display device, wherein the touch panel device is disposed at at least two different positions on an edge portion of the touch panel and propagates through a space. An oscillation signal detection member for detecting an oscillation signal; an input pen having a built-in signal oscillation member to oscillate an oscillation signal output from the signal oscillation member with a directivity of 360 degrees around an axis from a tip end; The distance between each oscillation signal detection member and the touch position of the input pen on the touch panel is calculated based on the oscillation signal oscillated from the input pen detected by the detection member, and the coordinates of the touch position of the input pen on the touch panel are calculated. And a coordinate position calculating member for calculating the following. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising an image display member that displays an image corresponding to the coordinates of the touch position of the input pen calculated by the coordinate position calculation member on a screen of the flat display device. Touch panel device. 3. A phase detecting means for detecting a phase of an oscillating signal from an input pen detected by the oscillating signal detecting member, wherein the coordinate position calculating member detects a phase of the oscillating signal detected by the phase detecting means. 2. The touch panel device according to claim 1, further comprising a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between each oscillation signal detection member and a touch position of the input pen on the touch panel based on the oscillation signal detection member. 3. 4. An oscillating signal generated when the coordinate position calculating member oscillates from an arbitrary set position on the touch panel and an oscillating signal oscillated from a touch position of the input pen detected by each of the oscillating signal detecting members. Phase difference detection means for detecting a phase difference, and a distance for calculating a distance between each oscillation signal detection member and a touch position of an input pen on a touch panel based on a phase difference between oscillation signals detected by the phase difference detection means. The touch panel device according to claim 1, further comprising a calculating unit. 5. A level detecting means for detecting an input level of an oscillating signal from an input pen detected by each of the oscillating signal detecting members, wherein the coordinate position calculating member detects an oscillating signal detected by the level detecting means. 2. The touch panel device according to claim 1, further comprising a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between each oscillation signal detection member and a touch position of the input pen on the touch panel based on the input level. 3. 6. The coordinate position calculating member detects a Doppler effect of an oscillating signal generated when the input pen moves on the touch panel from the oscillating signal from the input pen detected by each of the oscillating signal detecting members. Calculating a distance between each oscillation signal detecting member and a touch position of the input pen on the touch panel based on a moving distance of the input pen obtained from the Doppler effect of the oscillation signal detected by the Doppler effect detection means and the Doppler effect detection means; The touch panel device according to claim 1, further comprising a distance calculating unit that performs the distance calculation. 7. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the oscillation signal oscillated from the signal oscillation member of the input pen is a sound wave or an ultrasonic wave. 8. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the oscillation signal detecting member is a microphone. 9. The touch panel device according to claim 8, wherein the signal oscillation member is a piezoelectric speaker including a piezoelectric element. 10. The input pen has an opening formed at the tip, and an oscillation signal output from the signal oscillating member built in the input pen through the opening is formed around an axis of the input pen. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel device is oscillated with a directivity of 360 degrees. 11. An inner wall surface of a tip of the input pen is formed in a conical shape whose diameter decreases toward the tip, and the inside of the cone is formed by an opening formed at the tip of the input pen. 2. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein an oscillation signal that is communicated with the outside and is output from the signal oscillation member through a conical inside of the tip of the input pen is oscillated from the opening. 12. A tip of the input pen is formed in a spherical shape, and an oscillation signal output from the signal oscillation member is oscillated to the outside on an outer peripheral surface of the input pen behind the tip formed in the spherical shape. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein an opening is formed. 13. The input pen has a built-in battery member for supplying drive power to the signal oscillating member, a holder for holding the input pen is provided, and a charging member is built in the holder. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein when the input pen is held, the charging member charges the battery member of the input pen. 14. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein an oscillation signal absorbing member that absorbs an oscillation signal oscillated from the signal oscillation member is attached to an edge of the touch panel. 15. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the flat display device is a plasma display panel.