JP2001159955A - Coordinate input/detection/display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the size of a display surface by combining a pair of coordinate input/detection devices and plural display devices. SOLUTION: A body display part is formed by combining four display devices 101a-101d. An area covering almost the whole display areas of these display devices 101a-101d is a probe light radiation/sensor detection area of the pair of coordinate input and detection devices, so that the coordinate value of a pointing member inserted into the vicinity of a display surface can be detected. A sensor or radiation light source is stored in a body cover 100. The display device and the coordinate input/detection devices are connected to a control/ arithmetic unit such as a compute and the coordinate value of the pointing member detected by the coordinate input/detection devices is calculated by the control/arithmetic unit and displayed on an optional point of the display device as a pointer or a plotting point.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate input / detection device, and more particularly, to a personal computer or the like.
The present invention relates to a so-called touch panel type coordinate input / detection device that detects a coordinate position specified by a pointing member such as a pen, a finger, or the like in order to input or select information. This coordinate input / detection device is integrated with an electronic blackboard and a large display, and is used as a coordinate input / detection / display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coordinate input / detection device detects an electric change by electrostatic or electromagnetic induction when a coordinate input surface is pressed with a pen or when the pen approaches a coordinate input surface. There is. As another method, there is an ultrasonic touch panel coordinate input / detection device as disclosed in JP-A-61-239322. Simply put, the surface acoustic waves transmitted onto the panel are attenuated by touching the panel,
The position is detected.

[0003]

However, in the method of detecting a coordinate position by electrostatic or electromagnetic induction, since the coordinate input surface has an electric switch function, the manufacturing cost is high, and the pen and the main body are connected. Since a connecting cable was required, there was a difficulty in operability. In addition, since the ultrasonic method is based on the premise of finger input, when a pen input is performed with a material that absorbs on the panel (soft and elastic) and a straight line is drawn, it is stable when pressed. But there is not enough contact when moving the pen,
The straight line breaks. So, to get enough contact,
The pen is pressed with excessive force. Then, with the movement of the pen, a stress is received due to the elasticity of the pen to generate a strain, and a force for returning during the movement is exerted. Therefore, once an attempt is made to draw a curve at the time of pen input, the force for holding down the pen is weakened, and the force for restoring distortion is excellent, so that it is not possible to obtain a stable attenuation and it is determined that the input has been interrupted. For this reason, there is a problem that reliability cannot be ensured as pen input.

[0004] However, regarding the problems of the prior art as described above, the present applicant has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 10-12.
No. 7035, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 3699, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-319501, and those proposed by the present applicant as Japanese Patent Application No. 10-230960. This is solved by a representative optical coordinate input / detection device or a coordinate input / detection device using image input means, and a touch panel type coordinate input / detection device can be realized with a relatively simple configuration.

In recent years, such a coordinate input / detection device has
With the spread of personal computers, etc., it has been positioned as a powerful tool for inputting and selecting information, and other than those disclosed in the above publications are being studied earnestly, but toward full-scale practical use. There are still many issues that need to be resolved.

Such a coordinate input / detection device is often used in combination with a display device. However, since the display device can be easily increased in size, depending on the user's application, the display device may be increased in size. Higher resolution is required. However, a large-screen display device is large not only on the display surface but also on the entire device. In addition, it is difficult to manufacture a display device larger than a certain size, and it is more difficult to increase the resolution.

In view of such a situation, the present invention proposes a method of combining a plurality of display devices in order to enlarge a display surface. That is, one set of coordinate input /
5 shows a method of combining a detection device and a plurality of display devices.

The present invention relates to such an optical coordinate input / output system.
The present invention relates to a detection device or a coordinate input / detection device using an image input device such as a camera. First, by combining the coordinate input / detection device with a plurality of display devices, it is possible to increase the resolution of the display surface and increase the size of the display device. And secondly,
Determining whether the pointer is displayed or drawn in the display position on a plurality of display devices;
Second, by reducing the level difference between the display surfaces, it is possible to prevent a click failure and a stroke at the time of drawing from being connected. Fourth, by making the device disassemble, it is possible to save space and transport during storage. Enabling miniaturization at the time, the fifth
In addition, the purpose is to easily store and transport the apparatus by simply folding the apparatus.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 comprises a plurality of light-emitting means and a plurality of light-receiving means. A coordinate input / detection device for detecting a two-dimensional coordinate on a plane or a substantially plane, or image input means for capturing a coordinate input / detection area on a plane or a substantially plane, among the information captured by the image input means Coordinate input / conversion means for converting part of the area into two-dimensional coordinate information /
A detection device, at least two display units installed in parallel or substantially parallel to the area for inputting / detecting the two-dimensional coordinates, and a control / control unit in which the coordinate input / detection device is connected to the display units. It is characterized by comprising an arithmetic means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the input information based on the position instruction to the coordinate input / detection region and the relative position between the coordinate input / detection region and each of the display means Determining the display means where the indicated position is present and calculating the indicated position in the display means by the control / arithmetic means, and calculating the calculated indicated position in the specified display means with a pointer or the like. The information is displayed by the pointing position display means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a step of a display surface between the respective display means is less than 3 mm.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first to third aspects.
The invention is characterized in that the display means can be divided along a connecting portion of each of the display means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first to fourth aspects.
The invention is characterized in that it is foldable from a connection portion of each of the display means.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the principle of a first example of an optical coordinate input / detection device to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an optical coordinate input / detection device to which the present invention is applied. Coordinate input area 3
Has a square shape, and may be a display surface for electronically displaying an image or a whiteboard written with a pen such as a marker. It is assumed that the user touches the coordinate input area 3 with pointing means such as a finger, a pen, and a pointing stick made of an optically opaque material. It is an object of such an optical coordinate input device to detect the coordinate 2 of the pointing means at this time.

Light receiving and emitting means 1 are provided at both upper ends of the coordinate input area 3.
Is installed. A bundle of light beams L1, L2,... Ln (probe light) is emitted from the light emitting / receiving means 1 toward the coordinate input area. Actually, it is a fan-shaped plate-like light wave traveling along a plane parallel to the coordinate input plane spread from the point light source 81. A retroreflective member 4 is attached to the periphery of the coordinate input area 3 with the retroreflective surface facing the center of the coordinate input area 3.

The retroreflective member 4 is a member having a characteristic of reflecting incident light in the same direction regardless of the incident angle. For example, when focusing on one beam L12 among the fan-shaped plate-like light waves emitted from the light emitting / receiving means 1, the beam L1
Numeral 2 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 4 and travels back to the light receiving / emitting means 1 along the same optical path as the retroreflected light L11 again. The light receiving / emitting means 1 is provided with a light receiving means, which will be described later, and can determine whether or not the return light of each of the probe lights L1 to Ln has returned to the light receiving / emitting means 1.

Now, consider the case where the user touches position 2 with his hand. At this time, the probe light L10 is blocked by the hand at the position 2 and does not reach the retroreflective member 4. Therefore, by detecting that the return light of the probe light L10 does not reach the light receiving / emitting means 1 and that the return light corresponding to the probe light L10 is not received, an instruction is given on the extension line (straight line L) of the probe light L10. It is possible to detect that an object has been inserted. Similarly, the light receiving and emitting means 1 installed at the upper right of FIG.
By irradiating the probe light from and detecting that the return light corresponding to the probe light L13 is not received,
It is possible to detect that the pointing object has been inserted on the extension line (straight line R) of the probe light L13. If the straight line L and the straight line R can be obtained, the coordinates 2 at which the indicating means is inserted can be obtained by calculating the intersection coordinates by calculation.

Next, the structure of the light receiving / emitting means 1 and the probe light L
A mechanism for detecting which of the probe lights 1 to Ln has been blocked will be described. FIG. 2 schematically shows the internal structure of the light receiving / emitting means 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram of the light emitting / receiving unit 1 attached to the coordinate input surface of FIG. 1 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the coordinate input surface 3. Here, for simplicity, the description will be made on a two-dimensional plane parallel to the coordinate input surface 3. The schematic configuration of the light receiving / emitting means 1 includes a point light source 81, a condenser lens 51, and a light receiving element 50. The point light source 81 emits light in a fan shape in a direction opposite to the light receiving element 50 when viewed from the light source. The fan-shaped light emitted from the point light source 81 is indicated by arrows 53 and 5.
8. It is considered to be a set of beams traveling in other directions. The beam that has traveled in the 53 direction is reflected by the retroreflective member 4 to become reflected light 54, passes through the condenser lens 51, and reaches a position 57 on the light receiving element 50. In addition, the traveling direction 5
The beam traveling along 8 is reflected by the retroreflective member 4 to become reflected light 59,
Reach 6. Thus, the light emitted from the point light source 81, reflected by the retroreflective member 4, and returned on the same path is
Each of the light receiving elements 50
Reach different locations on the top. Therefore, when the pointing means is inserted at a certain position and a certain beam is cut off, the light does not reach the point on the light receiving element 50 corresponding to the beam. Therefore, by examining the distribution of the light intensity on the light receiving element 50, it is possible to know which beam is blocked.

The above operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the light receiving element 50 is installed on the focal plane of the condenser lens 51. Light emitted from the point light source 81 toward the right side in FIG. 3 is reflected by the retroreflective member 4 and returns along the same path. Therefore, the light is condensed again at the position of the point light source 81.
The center of the condenser lens 51 is installed so as to coincide with the position of the point light source. The return light returning from the retroreflective member 4 passes through the center of the condenser lens 51, and thus travels in a symmetrical path behind the lens (light receiving element side).

At this time, the light intensity distribution on the light receiving element 50 is considered. If the indicating means is not inserted at the position shown in FIG. 2, the light intensity distribution on the light receiving element 50 is almost constant,
As shown in FIG. 3, when the indicator for blocking light is inserted at the position 2, the beam passing therethrough is blocked, and the light receiving element 5 is blocked.
On 0, an area where the light intensity is weak occurs at the position of the position Dn (dark spot). This position Dn corresponds to the emission / incident angle θn of the blocked beam, and by detecting Dn, θn
You can know. That is, θn can be expressed as a function of Dn as follows: θn = arctan (Dn / f) (1) Here, θn in the light receiving / emitting means 1 in the upper left of FIG. 1 is replaced with θnL, and Dn is replaced with DnL.

Further, in FIG. 4, the angle .theta.L between the position 2 of the pointing means and the coordinate input means 3 is obtained by the conversion g of the geometric relative positional relationship between the light receiving / emitting means 1 and the coordinate input area 3.
Is a function of DnL obtained by Expression (1), and θL = g (θnL) Expression (2) where θnL = arctan (DnL / f).

Similarly, for the light emitting / receiving means 1 at the upper right of FIG. 1, the L symbol in the above equation is replaced with an R symbol, and the geometrical relationship between the right light emitting / receiving means 1 and the coordinate input area 3 is obtained. By the conversion h of the relative positional relationship, θR = h (θnR) Expression (3) where θnR = arctan (DnR / f).

Here, the light receiving / emitting means 1 on the coordinate input area 3
The mounting interval between the points is W as shown in FIG.
Then, the coordinates (x, y) of the point 2 specified by the pointing means on the coordinate input area 3 are as follows: x = w tan θR / (tan θL + tan θR) Formula (4) y = w tan θL · tan θR / ( tan θL + tan θR) Expression (5) Thus, x and y can be represented as functions of DnL and DnR. That is, the left and right light emitting / receiving means 1
By detecting the positions DnL and DnR of the dark spots on the upper light receiving element 50 and considering the geometrical arrangement of the light receiving and emitting means,
The coordinates of the point 2 designated by the designation means can be detected.

Next, an embodiment will be described in which the optical system described above is installed in a coordinate input area, for example, on the surface of a display. FIG. 5 shows the left and right light emitting / receiving means 1 described with reference to FIGS.
This is an embodiment in which one of them is installed on the surface of the display 3. 3 in FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the display surface when viewed in the direction from the negative to the positive y-axis shown in FIG. A and B in FIG. 5 are displayed with the viewpoint changed as shown in the figure for the sake of explanation.
The light emitting means among the light receiving and emitting means will be described. Light source 83
A light source such as a laser diode or a pinpoint LED, which can narrow the spot to some extent, is used. Light emitted perpendicularly to the display surface 3 from the light source 83 is collimated by the cylindrical lens 84 only in the x direction. This is because the collimator is turned back by the half mirror 87 and then distributed as parallel light in a direction perpendicular to the display surface. After exiting the cylindrical lens 84, the two cylindrical lenses 85 and 86 whose curvature distribution is orthogonal to the cylindrical lens 84 are used as y in FIG.
Light is collected in the direction. Part A in FIG. 5 illustrates the arrangement of the cylindrical lens groups and the state of condensing the light flux when the viewpoint is rotated about the z-axis and viewed from the x direction in order to explain this situation.

By the action of the cylindrical lens group, a linearly focused area is formed behind the cylindrical lens 86. Here, a slit 82 narrow in the y direction and elongated in the x direction is inserted. That is, the linear secondary light source 81 is formed at the slit position. The light emitted from the secondary light source 81 is folded back by the half mirror 87, and the display surface 3
Is parallel light without spreading in the vertical direction, and travels along the display surface 3 while spreading in a fan shape around the secondary light source 81 in the direction parallel to the display surface 3. The light that has traveled is reflected by the retroreflective member 4 provided at the peripheral edge of the display, and returns to the half mirror 87 (arrow C) along a similar path. The light transmitted through the half mirror 87 travels parallel to the display surface 3, passes through the cylindrical lens 51, and enters the light receiving element 50.

At this time, the secondary light source 81 and the cylindrical lens 51 are in a conjugate positional relationship with the half mirror 87 (D in FIG. 5). Accordingly, the secondary light source 81 corresponds to the light source 81 in FIG. 3, and the cylindrical lens 51 corresponds to the lens 51 in FIG. 5 shows the cylindrical lens and the light receiving element on the light receiving side viewed from the z-axis direction while changing the viewpoint. The lens 51 and the light receiving element 50 shown in FIG.
Corresponding to

Next, the principle of a second example of an optical coordinate input / detection device to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 6 shows a typical optical coordinate input device. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 11 arranged Xm in the horizontal direction and opposed to each other in a one-to-one correspondence. Xm of, for example, phototransistors 12
And Yn LEDs 13 arranged in the vertical direction, and Yn phototransistors 14 opposed to each other in a one-to-one manner to form a coordinate detection area 3. Then, when a touch input is performed on, for example, the touch portion 15 in the coordinate detection area 3, the light path passing through the touch portion 15 is blocked, so that the amount of light received by the phototransistors 12 and 14 in the cut light path decreases. Therefore, the positions of the phototransistors 12 and 14 in which the amount of received light has decreased are averaged to calculate the position 16 of the touch coordinates.

Next, the principle of a third example of an optical coordinate input / detection device to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a third example of the optical coordinate detection device. Here, two adjacent corners (k1, k2) of the coordinate input surface 3, which is a quadrangular flat plate, are placed
1 and 22 are fixedly installed. Light is emitted from the two light emission detection devices 21 and 22 onto the coordinate input surface 3. On the other hand, the user points to an arbitrary position on the coordinate input surface 3 with the position indicating rod, that is, the pen 24.

At this time, the light emission detection devices 21 and 22 are connected to the pen 24 of the light emitted from the light emission detection devices 21 and 22.
The light which is reflected by and returns to the light emission detection devices 21 and 22 is detected, and the position coordinates of the pen 24 are calculated. The light emission detecting devices 21 and 22 have the same configuration, and include light emitting units 21A and 22A and light receiving angle detecting units 21B and 22B.
It is composed of Here, the light emission detection devices 21 and 22
Is installed with respect to the coordinate input surface 3 so that the light emitting optical axis of the light emitted from the light emitting unit and the light receiving optical axis of the light receiving angle detecting unit both face the reference point 23 of the coordinate input surface. You.
Note that the light emission detection devices 21 and 22 correspond to the light emission / detection means described above, the light emitting unit corresponds to the light emission means, and the light reception angle detection unit corresponds to the angle detection means.

In FIG. 7, the direction of the line segment a1 connecting the angle k1 of the coordinate input surface 3 and the reference point 23 and the direction of the line segment a2 connecting the angle k2 of the coordinate input surface and the reference point 23 are determined by the emission detecting devices 21 and 21.
Two light-emitting optical axes and light-receiving optical axes. Here, the line segments a1 and a2 are directions in which the angle of the coordinate input surface 3 is bisected into 45 °. The angle k2 of the coordinate input surface 3 is defined as the origin (0, 0), and the position on the coordinate input surface 3 is defined as Y in the horizontal direction.
The axis and the vertical direction are represented by an XY coordinate system with the X axis.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the light emission detection devices 21 and 22. Here, the light-emitting portions 21A and 22A of the light-emission detecting device are provided with a light source (LED) 5 (5A, 5A).
B) and an optical lens 6 (6A, 6B).
The optical lens 6 is a cylindrical lens that changes only the magnification in one direction of the image, or a toroidal that changes only the magnification in one direction of the image and does not change the magnification due to the incident angle. Use a lens. In addition, the light receiving angle detecting units 21B and 22B of the light emission detecting device
Is the PSD 7 (7A, 7B) and the cylindrical lens 8
(8A, 8B).

The light emitted from the LED 5 (5A, 5B) is transmitted to an optical lens 6 (6A, 6B) disposed immediately before the light.
Thereby, the light is condensed so as to become a beam parallel to the coordinate input surface 3. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, light in a direction perpendicular to the coordinate input surface 3 is condensed by the optical lens 6 (6A, 6B) so as to be parallel to the coordinate input surface 3, and further,
A fan-shaped beam parallel to the coordinate input surface 3 is formed. As described above, when the light is condensed into a fan-shaped beam, the light can be used more effectively than when the light is not condensed, so that the reliability of position detection can be improved. Here, LED5 (5A,
5B) may emit visible light,
L2656 (manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics) that emits infrared light (wavelength 890 nm) is used. The optical lens 6 (6A, 6B) has a length of 10 mm in a direction perpendicular to the coordinate input surface 3 and a length of 10 mm in a direction parallel to the coordinate input surface 3 and perpendicular to the emission optical axis of the infrared light. The size is about 6 mm and the focal length is about 6 mm. Furthermore, the LED 5 (5A, 5B) is fixedly arranged so that the light emitting point of the LED 5 (5A, 5B) comes to the focal position of the optical lens.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cylindrical lenses 8 (8A, 8B) constituting the light-receiving angle detectors 21B, 22B converge the reflected light from the pen 24 in a direction parallel to the coordinate input surface 3. Are arranged as follows. Then, the focused spot light is received by the PSD 7 (7A, 7B). P
As shown in FIG. 8, the SD 7 (7A, 7B) has an elongated structure in a direction parallel to the coordinate input surface 3, and the light receiving surface is a PN junction surface for converting incident light into an electric signal.

The PSD 7 (7A, 7B) has a light receiving surface.
Output terminals (S₁,
S_Two) Is provided, and the light receiving point S₀And the distance to the output terminal
Proportional current (I₁, I_Two) Is output from this output terminal.
It is. This current (I₁, I_Two) Is A / D converted to micro
The light receiving point S is calculated by a computer.
₀Of the light reflected from the pen 24 can be specified.
The light receiving angle can be calculated. Perform this operation
The control circuit will be described later. PSD7 (7A, 7B)
The length of the light receiving surface in the direction parallel to the coordinate input surface 3 is
13 mm, the length in the direction perpendicular to the coordinate input surface 3 is about 1 mm
What is necessary is just to use. For example, Hamamatsu Photonics
S3270 can be used.

FIG. 10 shows a cylindrical lens 8 (8
A, 8B) and a specific arrangement example of PSDs 7 (7A, 7B). Here, the cylindrical lens 8 has a length of 10 m in a direction parallel to the coordinate input surface 3 and the light receiving surface of the PSD 7.
m, the length of which in the direction perpendicular to the coordinate input surface 3 is about 10 mm, and is arranged so that the distance between the optical center position of the cylindrical lens 8 and the light receiving surface of the PSD 7 is 6.5 mm. Also, the reflected light from the pen 24 is directly
A mask 9 made of a material such as black ABS is arranged around the cylindrical lens 8 so as not to input light to the light receiving surface of D7.

Further, the focal length of the cylindrical lens 8 changes because the distance between the lens and the PSD 7 changes due to the difference in the incident angle of the reflected light from the pen 24.
May be between the maximum value max and the minimum value min of the distance between the center of the pixel 7 and the light receiving surface of the PSD 7. For example, in the case of FIG. 10, since max = 9.2 mm and min 6.5 mm, a cylindrical lens 8 having a focal length of about 9 mm may be used. Note that the coordinate input surface 3 of the mask 9 described above is used.
Is the length of the light receiving surface of the PSD 7 (= 1
3 mm), for example, in the case of FIG. 10, it may be about 15 mm.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the configuration in which the cylindrical lens 8 is used to focus the reflected light from the pen 24 to the spot light is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is shown in FIG. As shown, the cylindrical lens 8
Instead of this, an aperture 10 having one minute transmission hole 10A may be used. FIG. 9 shows a conceptual diagram of the configuration of the light emission detecting means 21 and 22 using the aperture 10.
In the case of this embodiment, of the reflected light from the pen 24,
Only light that has passed through the transmission hole 10A is PS
Is received by the light receiving point S ₀ of D7. As the aperture 10, a thin plate made of a material such as black ABS may be used.

FIG. 11 shows a specific arrangement example of the aperture 10 and the PSD 7. Here, as in FIG.
Assuming that the length of the light receiving surface of D7 is 13 mm, the aperture 10 is arranged at a position which is half the distance from the light receiving surface of PSD7 by 6.5 mm so that the light receiving surface of PSD7 is parallel to the surface of the aperture. I do. The size of the aperture 10 is such that the reflected light from the pen 24 is PSD
7 is preferably larger than the light receiving surface of the PSD 7 so as not to directly enter the light receiving surface of the PSD 7. For example, for the size of the light receiving surface of the PSD of 13 mm × 1 mm, the aperture 1
The size of 0 can be about 15 mm × 3 mm. In the direction parallel to the coordinate input surface 3, the transmission hole 10A
The length of the light receiving surface of the PSD 7 (1 m) is shorter than the length of the light receiving surface of the SD 7 (13 mm) and in the direction perpendicular to the coordinate input surface 3.
m). For example, as shown in FIG.
The size can be 2 mm × 2 mm.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show conceptual diagrams of the light emission detecting device. The components (the light source LED 5, the optical lens 6, the PSD 7, the cylindrical lens 8 or the aperture 10) are arranged as described above. And may be integrally molded into one housing. However, the light emitting unit (LED 5, optical lens 6) and the light receiving angle detecting unit (PSD 7, cylindrical lens 8 or aperture 10) are arranged as close as possible to each other so as not to interfere with light emission and light reception. It is necessary to arrange the emitted light optical axis of the infrared light and the light receiving optical axis of the infrared light received by the cylindrical lens 8 or the aperture 10 in the same direction.

The size of the light emission detection device can be reduced to about 20 mm × 15 mm × 10 mm by being integrally molded, so that the size can be reduced as compared with the case where the position detection is performed by scanning the light beam using a rotary motor. It is.

FIG. 13 shows that LEDs 5 (5A, 5B) and P
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a configuration of a control circuit of SD7 (7A, 7B).
You. This control circuit is the light emitting type of LED5 (5A, 5B).
Output from PSD7 (7A, 7B)
Current (I₁, I_Two). Shown in the figure
As shown in the figure, the control circuit
ROM 35, RAM 36 for storing programs and data,
Timer 38 for controlling the light emission time interval, interface
Driver 39, A / D converters 33A, 33B and
Configuration in which LED and LED drivers 34A and 34B are connected to a bus
Consists of Current output from PSD7A, 7B
(I₁, I_Two) Is the output terminal of the PSD
(S₁, S_Two), Amplifiers 31A and 31B, analog operation
Circuits 32A and 32B are connected as shown. PSD7
A, 7B output current (I ₁, I_Two) Is amplifier 3
1A and 31B are input and amplified. And amplified
The current signals generated by the analog operation circuits 32A and 32B are_Two/
(I₁+ I_Two) And the A / D converter
The digital signals are converted by the converters 33A and 33B.
Is passed to the MPU 37. After this, by MPU37
The light receiving angle and the position coordinates of the pen are calculated.

This control circuit may be incorporated in the same housing as one of the light emission detecting devices, or may be incorporated in a part of the coordinate input surface 3 as a separate housing. It is preferable to provide an output terminal for outputting the calculated coordinate data to a personal computer or the like via the interface driver 39.

Next, FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of the shape of the tip of the pen 24 which is a position pointing stick used in the present invention.
The pen 24 has a shape similar to a so-called writing instrument, and has a structure (retroreflective portion) that reflects light at its tip 24A, that is, a region 24A through which light emitted from the light emission detection devices 21 and 22 passes. 25. In particular, this “structure for reflecting light” 25 includes the light emission detecting devices 21 and 22.
It is a recursive structure that reflects in the same direction as the incident direction of the light emitted from.

FIG. 14 shows, as an example of the structure, a shape in which the tip of the pen 24 is composed of a number of corner cubes. As shown in FIG. 15, the corner cube is a combination of three plane mirrors that are perpendicular to each other. In general, a portion surrounded by a thick line in a figure obtained by cutting one corner from a glass cube is used as the corner cube 25. In the corner cube 25 configured as described above, after the incident light is reflected once on each of the three surfaces, the reflected light accurately returns to the direction of the incident light.

For example, a corner cube 25 having a side length c of 2 mm is radially arranged at the tip of a pen having a diameter of 10 mm. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when the corner cubes adjacent to each other are arranged in the opposite direction, it is possible to form 62 corner cubes per stage.
In the case of a three-stage configuration as in the above, a total of 186 corner cubes can be configured. Although a structure using a corner cube as a structure in which reflected light returns in the direction of incident light has been described, other structures may be used as long as the structure has a recursive property in which reflected light returns in the direction of incident light. Good.

Next, the principle of detecting the pointing position of the pen in the coordinate detecting device of the present invention will be described. here,
As shown in FIG. 7, the case where two light emission detection devices are used will be described. However, the same pen pointing position can be detected by using three or more light emission detection devices. First, FIG.
It is assumed that an appropriate position (X, Y) is designated on the coordinate input surface 3 using the pen 24 shown in FIG. At this time, of the infrared light emitted from the LED 5A of the light emitting unit 21A of the light emission detecting device 21, the light emitted in the direction of the line segment p1 is the pen 2
The reflected light travels on the same line segment p1 in the reverse direction, and is received by the PSD 7A of the light-receiving angle detection unit 21B. Similarly, out of the infrared light emitted from the LED 5A of the light emitting unit 22A of the light emission detection device 22, the light emitted in the direction of the line segment p2 hits the pen 24, and the reflected light travels in reverse on the same line segment p2,
The light is received by the PSD 7B of the light receiving angle detection unit 22B. PS
The light received by D7B is, as shown in FIG.
Spot light is formed at different positions on the light receiving surface of the PSD depending on the incident angle with respect to D7B. Here, the line segment p2
Is θ from the line segment a2 bisecting the angle k2 of the coordinate input surface 3.
2, and the line segment p1 forms an angle θ1 from the line segment a1 that bisects the angle k1 of the coordinate input surface 3.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show a specific example of the positional relationship between the coordinate input surface 3 and the cylindrical lens 8A and the PSD 7A forming the light receiving angle detecting means 21B. Here, the light receiving surface of PSD 7A is the coordinate input surface 3
It is perpendicular to a line segment a1 forming an angle of 45 ° with the side. That is, a line segment a1 connecting the center of the cylindrical lens 8A and the center of the light receiving surface of the PSD 7A coincides with the light receiving optical axis and the light emitting optical axis. Also, let L be the distance between the center of the cylindrical lens 8A and the center of the light receiving surface of the PSD 7A,
The length of the light receiving surface of A is 2L.

Now, it is assumed that the reflected light from the pen 24 passes through the line segment p1 and is received at a position D1 away from the central position of the PSD 7A. In addition, 2 of the light receiving surface of PSD7A
The current values obtained from the two output terminals are defined as I ₁ and I ₂ . At this time, the following relationship is established between the current and the light receiving position of the PSD. I ₁ = I ₀ × (L−D 1) / ₂ L I ₂ = I ₀ × (L + D 1) / 2 L I ₀ = I ₁ + I ₂ (I ₀ : all currents) Therefore, L + D 1 = ₂ L × I ₂ / (I ₁ + I ₂ ).

That is, the light receiving position D1 of the reflected light is PS
D7A is obtained from the current values I ₁ and I ₂ obtained by D7A.
Calculated by 2A. By the way, according to FIG. 16B, the relationship of D1 / L = tan θ1 holds,
The incident angle θ1 of the reflected light is obtained from the following equation. θ1 = tan ⁻¹ (D1 / L)

Similarly, the other light emission detecting device 22
Also, assuming that the distance from the center of the PSD to the light receiving position is D2,
The incident angle θ2 of the reflected light is obtained. θ2 = tan ⁻¹ (D2 / L) Further, since the indicated position (X, Y) of the pen 24 is the intersection of the line segments a1 and a2 formed by the incident angles θ1 and θ2 of the two reflected lights, , Θ1, θ2 from the indicated position (X,
Y) is required. Y = Xtan (45 ° −θ2) Y = (AX) tan (45 ° −θ1) Here, A is the horizontal length of the coordinate input surface 3 as shown in FIG.

By solving the above simultaneous equations, the position coordinates X and Y on the coordinate input surface 3 specified by the pen 24 are obtained. Since (θ1, θ2) and (X, Y) are formalized, if these formulas are programmed and incorporated in the ROM, they can be easily obtained by the calculation of the MPU 37. Further, the (X, Y) coordinate value as the calculation result is transferred to a personal computer or the like via the interface driver 39, and can be used for processing such as displaying the position indicated by the pen and inputting a command corresponding to the indicated position.

In the above embodiment, an example in which two light emission detecting devices are used has been described. However, if the LEDs of both devices emit light at the same time, mutual infrared light may be detected by the PSD in the other device. So, LED5 by LED driver 34
The light emission control of (5A, 5B) is performed alternately in a time-sharing manner,
It is preferable to detect the current of PSD 7 (7A, 7B) in synchronization with this. For example, with one LED emitting light and the other LED turned off, one LED
, And after 10 msec, the current of the PSD corresponding to the other LED can be detected while one LED is turned off and the other LED emits light. That is, 10 mse
What is necessary is just to make one of two LEDs emit light alternately for every c. This control is performed by the MPU 37 using the timer 38. By performing the time-sharing control of the LED emission in this manner, erroneous detection of infrared light is also eliminated, and the pen 24
The position can be detected by sufficiently following the movement of.

The coordinate input surface 3 only needs to be a planar shape capable of indicating a position with a pen, and is not particularly limited to the square shape as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, but may be another shape. Absent. Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that a plane plate is used as the coordinate input surface 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a display device, for example, a CR
A display screen of T or LCD may be used. CRT and LCD
In order to eliminate the effect of display light being incident on the PSD 7 and being erroneously detected, it is preferable to use the infrared light emitting LED described above.
It is preferable to use one that can detect the peak emission wavelength of D. Further, in order to prevent infrared rays generated from the CRT or the LCD from affecting the coordinate detection, it is preferable to arrange an infrared cut filter made of a PVC resin or the like on the display screen.

Next, as a fourth example of an optical coordinate input / detection device to which the present invention is applied, the principle of a coordinate detection device using image input means will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of such a coordinate input / detection device. Reference numeral 60 denotes an infrared position detecting unit, and 61 and 62 denote two infrared CCD cameras arranged in the infrared position detecting unit 60, which are arranged at an interval of a distance L in the horizontal direction. 67 is an infrared LED, 68 is an infrared LED 67
This is a pen-shaped coordinate input unit in which an infrared LED 67 is disposed at the tip of the pen-shaped coordinate input device so as to radiate infrared rays upward.

Reference numeral 70 denotes a control unit; 63, a reset signal generated by the control unit 70 and input to the infrared CCD cameras 61, 62 of the infrared position detection unit 60;
Numeral 64 denotes an infrared CC generated by the control unit 70.
A vertical clock signal 65 for vertical scanning input to the D cameras 61 and 62 is a horizontal clock signal generated by the control unit 70 and input to the infrared CCDs 61 and 62 for the horizontal scanning.
2 starts scanning in the X-Y direction in response to the input of the reset signal 63, the vertical clock signal 64, and the horizontal clock signal 65.

66A and 66B are infrared CCD cameras 6
1 and 62. Reference numeral 71 denotes a reset signal circuit for generating a reset signal 63; 72, a vertical clock circuit for generating a vertical clock signal 64; and 73, a horizontal clock circuit for generating a horizontal clock signal 65. 74A and 74B are peak detection circuits that detect the peak of the waveform based on the video signals 66A and 66B and generate a peak signal in accordance with the cycle of the horizontal clock signal 65.
75A and 75B are peak detection circuits 74A and 74B.
5 is a peak detection signal obtained from.

Reference numeral 76 denotes an arithmetic circuit for calculating a coordinate position.
An interface circuit 7 transmits the coordinate position calculated by the arithmetic circuit 76 to a computer (not shown). Reference numeral 78 denotes a display circuit for displaying the coordinate position calculated by the arithmetic circuit 76. Although not shown, when the pen-shaped coordinate input unit 68 is located outside the imaging range of the infrared position detection unit 60, the operability can be improved by providing an audio circuit unit that generates a warning sound and the like. it can. By providing a lens magnification adjustment circuit or a focal length adjustment circuit in the infrared CCD cameras 61 and 62, the resolution and detection range can be set according to the size of the document, the demand for input accuracy, or the work space. Performance can be improved.

In this embodiment, the control section 70 is formed separately from the infrared position detecting section 60. However, the control section 70 is integrated with the infrared position detecting section 60 by reducing the size of each of the above circuits. It is also possible.

The operation of the coordinate input device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
5 is a timing chart illustrating an example of a signal waveform of the coordinate input device. First, the reset signal 63, the vertical clock signal 64, and the horizontal clock signal 65 are simultaneously output from the two infrared CCs.
The data is input to the D cameras 61 and 62. Based on these input signals, the infrared position detector 60 inputs the video signals 66A and 66B from the two infrared CCD cameras 61 and 62 to the controller 70. Normal infrared CCD camera 6
When the pen-shaped coordinate input unit 68 is photographed by the pen and the pen-shaped coordinate input unit 68, the pen itself is photographed. Is not photographed and turns black.

Therefore, each infrared CCD camera 6
The infrared LED 6 is used for the video signals 66A and 66B of
7, a strong peak signal 69A,
69B appears. Therefore, each peak signal 69
A and 69B are detected by the peak detection circuits 74A and 74B, and are calculated as peak detection signals 75A and 75B by the arithmetic circuit 76.
Sent to. The arithmetic circuit 76 uses the conversion table (not shown) calculated in advance in a ROM (not shown) of the control unit 70 to store the infrared CCD camera 6.
Since it is known how many angles the peak signals 69A, 69B appear in the infrared CCD cameras 1 and 62 from the reference origin of the infrared CCD cameras 61 and 62, the two angle information and the two infrared CCD cameras 61 , 62, the coordinate position of the pen-shaped coordinate input unit 68 can be calculated. The obtained coordinate position is transmitted to a computer or the like via the interface circuit 77 and displayed on a display screen (not shown) or the like.

A method of calculating a coordinate position in the coordinate input device that operates as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 2
Infrared LE by two infrared CCD cameras 61 and 62
Peak detection signals 75A and 75B indicating the position of the pen-shaped coordinate input unit 68 having D67 are detected, and the infrared CCD camera 61 and the infrared CCD camera 61 are determined based on the position of the vertical clock signal 64 from the reset signal 63 and the position of the horizontal clock signal 65. 62
Are obtained at (x1, y1) and (x2, y2).

Here, the origin of each coordinate is appropriately determined, but here, the origin is set at the lower left corner of the photographing range of each of the infrared CCD cameras 61 and 62. From this, the angles α and β from the origin of the infrared LED 67 in the infrared CCD cameras 61 and 62 can be obtained from the following equations. α = tan ⁻¹ (y1 / x1) β = tan ⁻¹ (y2 / x2)

From these equations, the pen angle α, of the infrared LED 67 from the two infrared CCD cameras 61, 62,
β can be calculated. Here, one infrared CCD camera 6
Taking the position 1 as the origin, two infrared CCD cameras 6
Assuming that the distance between 1 and 62 is L, the equations of the straight lines (a) and (b) are represented by the following equations as shown in FIG. (A): y = (tan α) × x (b): y = (tan (π−β)) × (x−L)

The coordinate position of the pen-shaped coordinate input section 68 of the infrared LED 67 can be calculated by solving these two simultaneous linear equations. Here, in order to increase the calculation speed of the calculation circuit 76, by providing a conversion table for calculating the coordinate position based on the angles α and β, the coordinate position can be immediately obtained, and input of a smooth figure or the like can be performed. it can.

As described above, according to the coordinate detecting device using image input means such as an electronic camera, it is not necessary to place a tablet board or the like on a worktable or the like. Since a coordinate position can be accurately detected in inputting a figure or the like, a work table or the like can be effectively used. Further, even if originals and the like are bundled, a position input operation of a figure or the like can be performed thereon. Further, when a drawing or the like is described in the document, the photographing range can be variably set according to the size of the document and the resolution can be set by a lens magnification adjusting circuit section, so that operability and convenience are improved. it can.

The principle of the optical coordinate input / detection device or the coordinate input / detection device using image input means such as a camera has been described above. However, these are examples relating to the coordinate input / detection device. However, the present invention is not limited to these methods, and it goes without saying that the present invention is applied to an optical coordinate input / detection device or a coordinate input / detection device using image input means such as a camera. Nor.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. The embodiments are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing coordinate input / detection / detection according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a first embodiment of the display device. The main body display section includes four display devices 101a, 1
01b, 101c, and 101d. An area that covers almost the entire display area of these display devices is a probe light irradiation or sensor detection area of a set of coordinate input / detection devices, and thereby,
The coordinate value of the pointing member inserted near the display surface can be detected. These sensors or illumination sources
It is stored in the main body cover 100. These display device and coordinate input / detection device are separately connected to a control / arithmetic device (inside the housing: not shown) like a computer, and the coordinate value of the pointing member detected by the coordinate input / detection device is A pointer or a drawing point is displayed at an arbitrary point on the display device of the pointing member calculated, detected and calculated by the control / arithmetic device.

In this case, all types of display devices such as a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, a CRT display tube, and a field emission display can be used as the display device. Thus, small (medium)
The display is easy to increase the resolution due to the manufacturing method, and the display surface made by combining these is easy to increase the resolution and the size. In addition, in order to obtain a sense of unity, it is desirable that these display devices have hues and luminances that are closely matched. In order to display moving images at high speed, it is desirable that the control / arithmetic device and the individual display devices are connected independently.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing coordinate input / detection / detection according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a main part for describing a second embodiment of the display device. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the display surface is composed of four display devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d. Here, if the point of P (X, Y) shown in the figure is pointed by the pointing member 102, first, depending on the size of X, if X> A, the display devices 101b and 101d, and X <A Then, the display devices 101a, 101c. . . (S1) is selected. Next, depending on the size of Y, if Y <B, the display devices are 101a and 101b; if Y> B, the display devices are 101c, 101d,. . . (S2) is selected. By combining these procedures (S1) and (S2), first, the display to be displayed is determined. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the condition judgment is used. However, if display devices of the same size are arranged side by side or vertically, X / A or Y / B is executed, and X / A Integer part (Int (X / A)) or Y / B integer part (I
nt (Y / B)) may be the order (position) of the display devices arranged side by side or vertically.

When the display device is determined, the coordinate position in the display device is determined. In the case of the above-described determination condition and the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the display position on the display device 101c is (X, YB). If you take the calculation method described below,
It is calculated by {X-Int (X / A), Y-Int (Y / B)}. These calculations are performed by control / calculation means such as a computer connected to these devices, and switching of the output display device is also performed. In this way, it is possible to easily perform the calculation from the global coordinate system of the device obtained by a set of coordinate input / detection devices to the local coordinate system of each display device.

FIG. 22 shows a coordinate input / detection / data according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a display device according to a third embodiment, as viewed from a direction parallel to a display surface. It is assumed that the display devices 101a and 101b are fixed with a step H. The display surface of the display device 101a is adjusted to be parallel to the probe light 103 with a distance of H1. Therefore, the display device 101b lower by H than the display device 101a has a distance of H2 to the probe light 103. Even if H1 is adjusted to approach zero as much as possible, a gap from the probe light 103 of H2 = H is left.

Consider a case where a gap remains between the display surface and the probe light 103 as described above. FIG. 23 shows a case where a double-click is performed on a display device having a display surface set upright as in the embodiment shown in FIG. Is recorded together with the scale image, and the amount of lifting of the fingertip from the display surface is measured in a non-contact manner by reading the fingertip image and the scale. In the graph shown in FIG. 23, the vertical axis indicates the amount of fingertip lifting, and the horizontal axis indicates the subject. The results shown in FIG. 23 indicate that six subjects (k
For each of t, ok, mn, sy, bt, ft), the above-mentioned fingertip lifting amount was measured ten times, and the minimum value of each subject was shown. As is clear from the graph shown in FIG. 23, the distance between the display surface and the fingertip in double-clicking is 22 mm for the largest subject and 3 mm for the smallest subject.

FIG. 24 shows a case where characters are written on the display surface.
For a human subject (ok, fs, mn, ft, sy), the amount of the fingertip rising from the display surface was measured ten times by the same method as the embodiment shown in FIG.
The minimum value is shown. Similar to the graph shown in FIG. 23, the vertical axis represents the amount of fingertip lifting, and the horizontal axis represents the subject. Of the two data of each subject, one is a fingertip lift between characters, and the other is a fingertip lift when drawing in a character. From this result, the minimum value was 3
It was observed that characters were drawn with the amount of lifting from the display surface in the range of 8 mm to 3 mm. In both cases of double-clicking and drawing of characters, there was no case where the amount of floating from the display surface was less than 3 mm.

If it is not possible to detect the lifting of the pointing member from the display surface with these amounts at the time of double-clicking or writing characters, the double-click is not recognized or characters are not connected without the intention of the input person being transmitted. It will be. Also, the cross-sectional shape of the pointing member inserted into the probe light is assumed to be various, and if the cross-sectional shape does not change in the length direction, the end of the pointing member separates from the display surface and enters the probe light. Unless this is done, the lifting of the pointing member cannot be detected (this condition is not applicable in the embodiment shown in FIG. 22 because the cross-sectional shape has changed).

From these events, if the height from the display surface to the lower part of the probe light is not less than 3 mm, the above-mentioned problem will occur. For the above reasons, in all the display devices 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d,
In order to satisfy the condition that the height from the display surface to the lower part of the probe light is less than 3 mm, each of the display devices 101a, 101
It is important to suppress the maximum step between b, 101c and 101d to less than 3 mm. Take an example of a light blocking method of detecting the position of the pointing member by blocking the probe light by the pointing member, regarding the allowable gap between each display device,
Although the method using the probe light has been described, the same applies to the camera method in which the sensor observation height is defined.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing coordinate input / detection / data according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a fourth embodiment of the display device. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the display unit is constituted by four display devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d. The device shown in FIG.
At the boundary between 1a (101c) and 101b (101d), it can be divided into two members 104 and 105. At the time of assembly, each member is connected to the connector 104.
a and 105a, which are electrically coupled and integrated. In addition, a mechanical lock mechanism is also provided so that it is not disassembled during use.

The coordinate input / detection unit according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 25 does not have any members to be arranged on the entire detection area, so that it may be configured to be entirely included in either one of the members, or to include both members. They may be distributed and fixed at a predetermined position during assembly. By doing so, the size at the time of division can be reduced,
It is easy to store and transport.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing coordinate input / detection / detection according to the present invention.
It is a principal part block diagram for explaining 5th Embodiment of a display apparatus. Although the structure is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 25 in that it is divided into two members, the embodiment shown in FIG.
Are rotatably fixed. By doing this,
It can be divided and folded with a light force, and can be stored and transported more easily. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 26, the fulcrum 106 is separated from the main body, but it can be made smaller by approaching the separation line. The connection of the wiring may be a connector as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 25 or a wire connection.

[0080]

(1) Effects corresponding to the first aspect of the invention By combining the coordinate input / detection means with a plurality of display devices, the resolution and size of the display surface can be increased without increasing the size of the entire device. Can be.

(2) Effects Corresponding to the Second Aspect of the Invention The display of a pointer at a specific point on a plurality of display devices or the drawing of a pointer can be achieved on a plurality of display devices.

(3) Effects Corresponding to Claim 3 By reducing the step between the display surfaces of the respective display devices, it is possible to prevent a click failure or a stroke at the time of drawing.

(4) Effects Corresponding to the Inventive Aspect 4 Since the device can be divided, space saving during storage and miniaturization during transport can be realized.

(5) Effects corresponding to the fifth aspect of the present invention By simply folding the device, storage and transport can be performed by a simple operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an optical coordinate input / detection device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a light emitting / receiving unit attached to the coordinate input surface of FIG. 1 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the coordinate input surface.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the light receiving / emitting means in detail.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a geometric relative positional relationship between a light receiving / emitting means and a coordinate input area.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the light receiving and emitting means is installed on the surface of the display.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a typical optical coordinate input device.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a third example of the optical coordinate detection device.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of an embodiment of a light emission detection device.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of a light emission detecting unit using an aperture.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of a cylindrical lens and a PSD.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a specific arrangement example of apertures and PSDs.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example in which light is condensed so as to be parallel to a coordinate input surface and a fan-shaped beam parallel to the coordinate input surface is created.

FIG. 13 is a configuration block diagram of a control circuit for an LED and a PSD.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an embodiment of the shape of the tip of a pen which is a position indicating rod.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a corner cubic in which three plane mirrors are combined so as to be perpendicular to each other.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a specific example of a positional relationship between a coordinate input surface, a cylindrical lens forming a light receiving angle detection unit, and a PSD.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a coordinate input / detection device.

FIG. 18 is a timing chart showing an example of a signal waveform of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating a coordinate position.

FIG. 20 is a main part configuration diagram for describing a first embodiment of a coordinate input / detection / display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the coordinate input / detection / display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a third embodiment of the coordinate input / detection / display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing the amount of lifting of the fingertip of each subject from the display surface at the time of double-clicking.

FIG. 24 is a graph showing the amount of lifting of the fingertip of each subject from the display surface when drawing characters.

FIG. 25 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a fourth embodiment of the coordinate input / detection / display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a fifth embodiment of the coordinate input / detection / display device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light receiving / emitting means, 2 ... Coordinate position, 3 ... Coordinate input area (coordinate input device, coordinate input surface), 4 ... Retroreflective member,
5 (5A, 5B): Light source (LED), 6 (6A, 6B)
... optical lens, 7 (7A, 7B) ... PSD, 8 (8A,
8B) Cylindrical lens, 9 Mask, 10 Aperture, 11, 13 Photodiode, 12, 1
4 phototransistor, 15 touch part, 16 touch coordinates, 21, 22 light emission detection device, 21A, 22A
... Light-emitting unit, 21B, 22B ... Light-receiving angle detecting unit, 23 ... Reference point, 24 ... Pen, 100 ... Body cover, 101a, 1
01b, 101c, 101d: display device, 102: pointing member, 103: probe light, 104, 105: divided display unit, 104a, 104b, 105a, 105b ...
Connector, 106 ... fulcrum.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiromasa Shimizu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Sadao Takahashi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5B068 AA04 AA15 AA22 AA33 BB20 BC04 BD02 BD09 BD17 BD18 CC11 CC13 5B087 AA02 AB05 AB08 AE02 BC03 CC01 CC05 CC12 CC33 DD16 DD17 DJ03

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A two-dimensional coordinate system comprising a plurality of light-emitting means and a plurality of light-receiving means, and detecting the presence or absence of a light-blocking means in an optical path of light emission / reception to detect a plane or a substantially plane of the light-blocking means. A coordinate input / detection device or image input means for capturing a plane or substantially plane coordinate input / detection area, and converting a part of the information captured by the image input means into two-dimensional coordinate information; A coordinate input / detection device comprising: a coordinate input / detection device; at least two display devices provided in parallel or substantially parallel to an area for inputting / detecting the two-dimensional coordinates; the coordinate input / detection device; A coordinate input / detection / display device comprising control / calculation means connected to the means. 2. A display device in which the designated position is present, based on input information by designating a position in the coordinate input / detection region and a relative position between the coordinate input / detection region and each of the display devices. The specification and the designated position in the display means are calculated by the control / arithmetic means, and the calculated designated position in the specified display means is displayed by a designated position display means such as a pointer. The coordinate input / detection / display device according to claim 1. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a step on a display surface between the display units is less than 3 mm.
3. A coordinate input / detection / display device according to (1). 4. The coordinate input / detection / display device according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate input / detection / display device can be divided along a connection portion of each of the display means. 5. The coordinate input / detection / display device according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate input / detection / display device is foldable from a connection portion of each of the display means.