JP2003015813A - Input indicator for coordinate input device and coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input indicator as the one for a coordinate input device of aerial ultrasonic wave system, constituted so as to enable detection of coordinates of a plurality of places, with simple structure, which can be minimized and the weight of which is reduced and the coordinate input device capable of detecting coordinates of the plurality of places of the indicator by using the indicator. SOLUTION: Ultrasonic waves generated from both sides of one ultrasonic wave generating means 3 arranged in a hollow casing 2 of the indicator 1 are propagated in the casing 2 and transmitted from ultrasonic wave transmission ports K1, K2 formed on both ends of the casing 2 to the air outside the casing 2. Each of the ultrasonic waves is detected by sensors 7a to 7d, transmission time of each of the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the sensors 7a to 7d is counted and coordinates of the positions of the transmission ports K1, K2 are further calculated based on the time in an arithmetic control circuit 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate input device for detecting coordinates of a position arbitrarily designated by an operator and inputting the coordinates to a host device, and in particular, the coordinates of a designated position using ultrasonic waves transmitted in the air. The present invention relates to an aerial ultrasonic wave type coordinate input device for detection, and an input indicator provided with an ultrasonic wave generation means used for indicating a position where an operator inputs coordinates in this device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an airborne ultrasonic type coordinate input device is known. This device uses an input indicator equipped with an ultrasonic wave generating means as an input indicator for instructing the position where the operator inputs coordinates, and the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means of this input indicator to the air is transmitted. It detects by a plurality of ultrasonic sensors provided at different positions, and detects the position of the input indicator, that is, the coordinates of the indicated position, based on the transmission time of the ultrasonic wave from the input indicator to the ultrasonic sensor. .

In this aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device,
Two-dimensional coordinates (x, y) of the specified position on the coordinate input surface
Can be detected, or the three-dimensional coordinates (x, y, z) of a position indicated on the coordinate input surface and in a space away from the coordinate input surface can be detected.

In the general structure of this type of device, the input indicator is provided with only one ultrasonic wave generating means, and for example, ultrasonic waves are emitted to the outside from one location of the tip. For example,
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 9-167046 and 8-44487, a window or hole (opening thereof) formed at one end of an ultrasonic wave emitted from one ultrasonic wave generating means incorporated in the indicator is disclosed. Is disclosed to the outside. In the former configuration, a reflecting member that reflects ultrasonic waves toward the window is provided inside the window. However, with such a configuration, only the coordinates of one position of the indicator can be detected, and the direction or orientation of the indicator cannot be detected.

On the other hand, there is a configuration in which at least two ultrasonic wave generating means are provided in the input indicator.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-62820, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-24330.
Proposed in No. 8 and so on. In the configuration, for example, two ultrasonic wave generating means are arranged at a predetermined distance along the axial direction of the rod-shaped input indicator, and the coordinates of the respective positions of the two ultrasonic wave generating means are detected. This makes it 2
The spatial orientation of the input indicator, which is the orientation of the straight line connecting the individual coordinates, that is, the orientation or orientation of the input indicator can be determined, and the coordinates of the intersection of the spatial orientation and the coordinate input surface can be determined. Three-dimensional coordinate designation becomes possible.

[0006]

However, in the structure in which two or more ultrasonic wave generating means are provided in the above-mentioned input indicator, the structure of the input indicator becomes complicated and the cost increases, and the input indicator becomes large, There is a drawback that the weight is increased and the power consumption is increased.

Further, in order to obtain information on the direction and orientation of the input indicator in the configuration, for example, in detecting ultrasonic waves from two ultrasonic wave generating means, the two ultrasonic wave generating means are identified. Means are needed. Therefore, it is necessary to make the driving frequency of each ultrasonic wave generating means different, or to drive the ultrasonic wave generating means at the same frequency in a time-division manner, which inevitably complicates the configuration of the driving circuit of the ultrasonic wave generating means. There wasn't.

Further, in the above-mentioned input indicator, not only the coordinate input function but also some attribute information related to the coordinate input function (mode information: line color, thickness, kind, etc. when a line is input by coordinate input). ), There is a problem that the configuration becomes more complicated and costly when it has a function of inputting.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is an input indicator used for a coordinate input device of the aerial ultrasonic system, which is capable of detecting coordinates of a plurality of positions of the input indicator, or further coordinate input. An input indicator that can input attribute information related to functions, has a simple structure, can be reduced in size and weight, and can reduce power consumption, and the position of the indicator at multiple locations using this input indicator. The coordinates of can be detected, and the direction or orientation of the indicator can also be detected.
Alternatively, another object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input device of the aerial ultrasonic system capable of inputting the attribute information.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a propagation space in which an ultrasonic wave propagates is formed in an input indicator of a coordinate input device of the aerial ultrasonic system. A housing, one ultrasonic wave generating means arranged in the propagation space of the housing, and an ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic wave generating means from the propagation space inside the housing to the air outside the housing. In addition, a configuration having a plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets provided at a plurality of locations in the housing, the at least one of which is different in direction and distance from the ultrasonic wave generating means, is adopted.

Further, in this input indicator, the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generating means are respectively arranged in the vicinity of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets in the ultrasonic wave propagation space in the housing. A configuration having a plurality of reflecting members that reflect toward the ultrasonic wave transmission port in the vicinity of is adopted.

[0012] Further, in the coordinate input device of the aerial ultrasonic system using the input indicator of these configurations, the ultrasonic wave generation means in the housing of the input indicator emits a propagation space in the housing. A plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions for detecting each of the ultrasonic waves propagated and transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets to the air outside the housing,
Signal processing means for processing the ultrasonic detection signals of the plurality of ultrasonic detection means to generate a plurality of timing signals indicating respective arrival timings of the ultrasonic waves to the plurality of ultrasonic detection means; and the plurality of timings. A time measuring means for measuring each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time from the ultrasonic wave generating means of each of the ultrasonic waves from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means by the signal, and the time measuring means. Each of the ultrasonic transmission time measured by the means,
Each of the ultrasonic propagation distance from the ultrasonic generating means of the input indicator to a plurality of ultrasonic outlets, based on the distance between the plurality of ultrasonic outlets, of the plurality of ultrasonic outlets The configuration of the coordinate input device having the calculation means for calculating the coordinates of each position is adopted.

Further, there is provided an aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device using a plurality of types of input indicators in which the distances between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets are different from each other in the input indicator. Of ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generation means in any one of the housings, propagated through the propagation space in the housing, and transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets to the air outside the housing. A plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions, and a plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means for processing the ultrasonic wave detecting signals of the ultrasonic wave detecting means to indicate the respective arrival timings of the ultrasonic waves to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means. And a plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means from the ultrasonic wave generating means for each of the ultrasonic waves from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator according to the plurality of timing signals. Up to each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time, each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time measured by the time measuring means, from the ultrasonic wave generating means in the plurality of types of input indicators to a plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets Based on each of the propagation distance of the ultrasonic wave and the distance between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets in the plurality of types of input indicators, the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator that emitted the ultrasonic waves Of the position of each of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator that has emitted the ultrasonic wave is calculated. On the basis of the difference in distance between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets in the plurality of types of input indicators, the input indicator that emitted the ultrasonic waves is determined to calculate the coordinates, and the calculated coordinates are also used. And it employs a configuration for outputting information relating to the result of the determination.

In the above input indicator, further,
At least three ultrasonic wave outlets are provided, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted within the ultrasonic wave propagation space in the housing so that two or more ultrasonic wave outlets are not selectively emitted. Is provided with a switching means for switching the propagation paths of the plurality of states to a plurality of states, and by switching the switching means, a plurality of predetermined distances at which the distances between the plurality of effective ultrasonic wave outlets that actually transmit ultrasonic waves are different are switched. The configuration that is set is adopted.

Further, the coordinate input device of the aerial ultrasonic system using the input indicator of this structure, which is emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means in the housing of the input indicator and propagates in the propagation space in the housing. A plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions for detecting respective ultrasonic waves transmitted to the air outside the casing from the effective ultrasonic wave transmitting ports through the switching means; Signal processing means for processing the ultrasonic detection signals of the ultrasonic detection means to generate a plurality of timing signals indicating respective arrival timings of the ultrasonic waves to the plurality of ultrasonic detection means, and the plurality of timing signals. Each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time from the ultrasonic wave generation means of each of the ultrasonic waves from the effective ultrasonic wave transmission ports of the input indicator to the plural ultrasonic wave detection means is measured. Time means, the coordinates of the respective positions of the effective plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets, the ultrasonic wave transmission time measured by the time measuring means, the ultrasonic wave generating means of the input indicator and all ultrasonic waves A configuration having a computing unit that calculates based on each of the propagation distances of the ultrasonic waves between the outlets and each of the distances between the plurality of effective ultrasonic outlets that are set via the switching unit, Furthermore, the calculating means calculates the coordinates of the respective positions of the effective ultrasonic wave outlets, and the distance between the effective ultrasonic wave outlets that is set in plural via the switching means. Based on the difference, the distance between the currently set valid ultrasonic outlets is discriminated to calculate the coordinates, and the information related to the discrimination result is output together with the calculated coordinates. did.

Further, in the above-mentioned input indicator, a plurality of distances between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets and a plurality of ultrasonic wave propagation distances from the ultrasonic wave generating means to at least one ultrasonic wave outlet are different from each other. The configuration having a changing means for changing and setting the predetermined distance is adopted.

Further, in the aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device using the input indicator of this configuration, the ultrasonic wave is generated from the ultrasonic wave generating means in the housing of the input indicator and propagates in the propagation space in the housing. Then, a plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions for detecting the ultrasonic waves transmitted to the air outside the housing from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets, and ultrasonic waves of the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means. Signal processing means for processing the detection signal to generate a plurality of timing signals indicating respective arrival timings of ultrasonic waves to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means, and from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets by the plurality of timing signals. Of the ultrasonic waves of each of the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generating means to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means, and the ultrasonic wave transmission timed by the time measuring means. And a plurality of ultrasonic wave propagation distances from the ultrasonic wave generating means to the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets including the distance changed by the changing means of the input indicator, and a plurality of changing distances by the changing means. Based on each of the distances between the plurality of ultrasonic outlets that are set, a configuration having a calculating means for calculating the coordinates of the respective positions of the plurality of ultrasonic outlets, further, the calculating means, When calculating the coordinates of the respective positions of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets, based on the difference in distance between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets that are changed and set by the changing unit, the current setting is made. A configuration is adopted in which the distances between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets are calculated, the coordinates are calculated, and the information related to the result of the judgment is output together with the calculated coordinates.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, three embodiments will be described.

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

<Description of Input Indicator> First, the configuration of an input indicator (hereinafter abbreviated as an indicator) used in the coordinate input device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 2 of the indicator 1 has a straight hollow cylindrical shape, for example, a cylindrical shape, and the inside thereof is a propagation space in which ultrasonic waves propagate. Case 2
Both ends of are open and serve as ultrasonic wave outlets (hereinafter, abbreviated as outlets) K1 and K2 for transmitting ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 described below to the air outside the housing 2. .

At the center of the inside of the housing 2, the delivery ports K1 and K2 are provided.
Ultrasonic wave generating means 3 including a piezoelectric element or the like is provided at a predetermined distance L1 or L2 from. The ultrasonic wave generation means 3 is driven by an ultrasonic wave generation means drive circuit 4 (see FIG. 2) provided on the main body side of the coordinate input device to generate ultrasonic waves. As the frequency of the ultrasonic wave, a predetermined frequency is selected such that the ultrasonic wave reaches a predetermined effective input region outside the audible band of several tens to 100 kHz. The ultrasonic waves of the predetermined frequency are emitted from both sides of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 toward the outlets K1 and K2, and the inside of the cylinder of the housing 2 is delivered to the outlets K1 and K2.
Propagated by distances L1 and L2 respectively to the outlet K1,
2 from K2 as starting point from outlets K1 and K2
The two concentric spherical waves are transmitted to the air outside the housing 2 and propagate. This is due to the general nature of waves.

<Description of Overall Configuration of Device> Next, the overall configuration of the coordinate input device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes an ultrasonic wave generating means drive circuit (hereinafter, abbreviated as a drive circuit) for driving the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 of the indicator 1. Here, it is provided on the main body side of the coordinate input device. It is connected to the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 by a cable 4a. The drive circuit 4 may be provided in the indicator 1 as long as it does not affect the transmission of ultrasonic waves in the housing 2 of the indicator 1.

Reference numeral 5 controls the entire apparatus,
It is a calculation control circuit that calculates the coordinates of the position designated by the indicator 1. The driving signal of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 from the arithmetic control circuit 5 is converted into a low-level pulse signal by the driving circuit 4.
Is applied to the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 after being amplified by the drive circuit 4 with a predetermined gain. The drive signal is converted into mechanical ultrasonic vibration by the ultrasonic wave generating means 3, and the ultrasonic wave generated thereby is transmitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the housing 2.
It is emitted to the inner space.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a plane plate which constitutes a coordinate input surface, and is formed in a rectangular shape here, and ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d each having a piezoelectric element for detecting ultrasonic waves are provided at four corners thereof.
Is fixed. The plane plate 6 is a front plate arranged in front of the display surface of the display 10 arranged behind the flat plate 6, but may be a screen of a front projector or a white board. Further, the display surface of the display 10 may be used as the coordinate input surface without providing the flat plate 6. That is, the airborne ultrasonic coordinate input device does not require a specific coordinate input surface.

The ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d detect ultrasonic waves that have reached themselves by propagating through the air from the outlets K1 and K2 of the indicator 1, and the vibration of the ultrasonic waves is an electric signal, that is, an ultrasonic detection signal. Convert to. The ultrasonic detection signal is input to the detection signal processing circuit 8. Although four ultrasonic sensors are provided here, two or three ultrasonic sensors may be provided as described later.

The detection signal processing circuit 8 is provided for each ultrasonic sensor 7
The ultrasonic wave detection signals from a to 7d are processed as described later to generate an ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal indicating the arrival time of the ultrasonic wave to each ultrasonic sensor, and output to the arithmetic control circuit 5. The arithmetic control circuit 5 is used by each of the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d that are timed by the ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal as described later.
The coordinates of the respective positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 are calculated based on the ultrasonic wave transmission time up to.

Numeral 10 is a display arranged behind the plane plate 6, and the display drive circuit 11
The flat plate 6 driven by, for example, the pointing device 1
Display a dot or cursor at the position. As a result, it becomes possible to perform handwriting input in which characters are input on the screen as if they were drawn on paper, or direct input on the screen of instructions as with a mouse.

<Description of Operation Control Circuit> Next, the operation control circuit 5 will be described in detail. The arithmetic control circuit 5 is at a predetermined cycle
A drive signal for driving the ultrasonic wave generation means 3 of the indicator 1 is output to the drive circuit 4 (every 5 ms, for example), and the measurement of the ultrasonic wave transmission time is started by the timer composed of the internal counter.

Indicator 1 driven by the above drive signal
The ultrasonic waves generated from both sides of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 are respectively the distances to the outlets K1 and K2 and the outlets K1 and K2.
To the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d, the ultrasonic waves reach the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d over a transmission time corresponding to the distance from the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d and are detected. The ultrasonic detection signal of each sensor is a detection signal processing circuit 8
Entered in.

The detection signal processing circuit 8 is provided for each ultrasonic sensor 7a.
The ultrasonic wave detection signals from 7d are processed as described later to generate an ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal, which is output to the arithmetic control circuit 5.

The operation control circuit 5 inputs the ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal for each sensor, detects the ultrasonic wave transmission time to each of the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d based on it, and transmits the ultrasonic wave transmission time. From the outlet K1 of the indicator 1
The coordinates of the position of K2 are calculated.

Further, the arithmetic control circuit 5 uses the calculated delivery port K.
The display drive circuit 10 is driven based on the coordinate information of 1 and K2 to control the display on the display 11,
Alternatively, the coordinate information is output to an external device (not shown) by serial or parallel communication.

Next, the internal structure and operation of the arithmetic control circuit 5 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a microcomputer for controlling the arithmetic control circuit 5 and the coordinate input device as a whole and for performing arithmetic operations for coordinate calculation.
It is composed of a CPU that is a main body for performing control processing, a ROM storing a control program thereof, a RAM used as a working area for calculation and the like, a non-volatile memory used for storing constants and the like.

Reference numeral 33 is a timer composed of a counter which counts a reference clock (not shown) and measures the ultrasonic wave transmission time to each of the ultrasonic wave sensors 7a to 7d. The drive signal of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 of the indicator 1 output from the microcomputer 31 to the drive circuit 4 is input to the timer 33 as a start signal. When the timer 33 receives the start signal, the timer 33 starts counting time. As a result, the start of timing by the timer 33 and the generation of ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic wave generation means 3 are synchronized, and the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d are synchronized.
Thus, the ultrasonic wave transmission time until the ultrasonic wave is detected can be measured.

The ultrasonic wave detection signals of the ultrasonic wave sensors 7a to 7d are transmitted from the outlets K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 and two ultrasonic wave paths (for example, to the sensor 7a in FIG. 2) are sent to each sensor. A1, a2, b for sensor 7b
1 and b2) is a signal obtained by detecting two ultrasonic waves transmitted. Then, the ultrasonic wave arrival timing signals Ta to Td (the signal 46 in FIG. 4 to the signal 48 in FIG. 6 to be described later) generated by the detection signal processing circuit 8 processing each of the ultrasonic wave detection signals are It is a signal indicating the arrival timing of two ultrasonic waves. This ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal Ta-
In order to detect the transmission time of the above-mentioned two ultrasonic waves to each ultrasonic sensor 7a-7d by Td, the ultrasonic sensors 7a-
4 latch circuits 34a-1, -2 to 34d-1, corresponding to 7d and the above-mentioned two ultrasonic waves.
-2 is provided.

The ultrasonic wave arrival timing signals Ta to Td are
Two timing signals (for example, a pulse signal at time TK1 and a pulse signal at time TK2 of signal 46 in FIG. 4) Ta1, which respectively indicate the arrival timings of the two ultrasonic waves via the signal input circuit 35, Ta1, It is divided into 2 to Td1,2 and input to the corresponding latch circuits 34a-1, -2 to 34d-1, -2.

The latch circuits 34a-1, -2 to 34d-1, -2 are
When the timing signals Ta1,2 to Td1,2 are input, the time value data of the timer 33 is latched. As a result, the transmission time of the two ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d is measured.

Thus, all the timing signals Ta1,2 ...
When the determination circuit 36 determines that Td1,2 has been input, it outputs a signal to that effect to the microcomputer 31.

Microcomputer 31 receiving this
Reads the transmission time of the above-mentioned two ultrasonic waves from the latch circuits 34a-1, -2 to 34d-1, -2 to each ultrasonic sensor, and performs the calculation described later based on the transmission time,
The coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 are calculated.
Then, by outputting the information of the calculated coordinates to the display drive circuit 11 via the I / O port 37, for example, dots or the like can be displayed on the display 10 at the positions corresponding to the outlets K1 and K2. Or I
The coordinate information can be output from the / O port 37 to an external device via an interface circuit (not shown).

In the above configuration, the transmission time of two ultrasonic waves to each ultrasonic sensor is separately and independently timed, but first the transmission time of the first wave of two ultrasonic waves is measured. However, immediately after that, the difference between the transmission times of the first wave and the second wave may be measured.

<Explanation of detection signal processing circuit and ultrasonic wave transmission time detection> Next, the configuration and signal processing of the detection signal processing circuit 8,
And the detection of the ultrasonic wave transmission time by it is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. Here, two embodiments will be described, namely, a case of generating an ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal from an envelope of ultrasonic wave detection signals of the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d and a case of generating an ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal from a phase. An embodiment in the former case will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Although the configuration and processing relating to the ultrasonic sensor 7a will be described below, other ultrasonic sensors 7a will be described.
Of course, the same applies to the configurations and processes related to b, 7c, and 7d.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of each signal related to the signal processing of the detection signal processing circuit 8, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the detection signal processing circuit 8. Figure 5
4 is provided for the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d, or only one set is provided and shared by each sensor in a time division manner via an analog switch or the like.

It has already been explained that the measurement of the ultrasonic wave transmission time to the ultrasonic sensor 7a is started at the same time as the output of the drive signal of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the drive circuit 4. This drive signal is indicated by reference numeral 41 in FIG. The ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 driven by the drive signal 41 is
After being transmitted to the outside in the air as two ultrasonic waves from the outlets K1 and K2 of the housing 2 of the indicator 1, after traveling in the air for the transmission time TK1 and TK2 corresponding to the distance to the ultrasonic sensor 7a, Each is detected by the ultrasonic sensor 7a. The ultrasonic detection signal is indicated by reference numeral 42 in FIG. Here, the transmission distances of the above-mentioned two ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic sensor 7a are different (the outlet K1 from the outlet K2 to the sensor 7a.
The waveform of the ultrasonic detection signal 42, the detection waveform 42K1 of the ultrasonic wave from the outlet K1
Then, the detection waveform 42K2 of the ultrasonic wave from the delivery port K2 is generated back and forth.

This ultrasonic detection signal 42 is input to the configuration of FIG. 5, first amplified by the preamplification circuit 51 to a predetermined level, and then the band pass filter 511 removes the excess frequency component to detect the envelope. It is input to the circuit 52.

This circuit 52 is composed of an absolute value circuit, a low-pass filter, etc., and from the ultrasonic detection signal 42,
Envelope signal 4 corresponding to the envelope of the waveform
Take out 3. The envelope signal 43 has two mountain-shaped waveforms that are located in front of and behind the ultrasonic detection signal 42. The envelope signal 43 is input to the second differentiation circuit 53 and the gate signal generation circuit 56.

The second-order differentiation circuit 53 has an envelope signal 43.
Is subjected to second differentiation to generate a second differentiation signal 45, which is output to the envelope inflection point detection circuit 54.

Further, the gate signal generation circuit 56 is composed of a comparator, compares the level of the envelope signal 43 with a predetermined threshold level 431, and at a low level opened only while the level of the envelope signal 43 exceeds the threshold level 431. A valid gate signal 44 is generated and output to the envelope inflection point detection circuit 54.

The envelope inflection point detection circuit 54 is composed of a comparator, a multivibrator, etc., and compares the second-order differential signal 45 and the gate signal 44 to obtain the gate signal 4
In each of the two periods in which 4 is open, the zero crossing point from the positive side to the negative side of the second-order differential signal 45 is the inflection point of the waveform of the envelope signal 43 (the first inflection point of each of the two chevron waveforms). And a pulse signal having a predetermined width that rises (becomes valid) at each of the detection times is generated as the inflection point detection signal 46.

The inflection point detection signal 46 is an ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal indicating the ultrasonic wave arrival timing detected from the envelope of the ultrasonic wave detection signal 42.
In the above-mentioned configuration, the time TK1, TK2 from the rising time of the drive signal (start signal) 41 of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the rising time of each of the two pulses of the inflection point detection signal 46 is output. K1, K2
The transmission time of the two ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the ultrasonic wave sensor 7a is measured and detected.

In the above, the inflection point of the envelope of the ultrasonic detection signal 42 is detected to generate the ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal, but the peak of the envelope may be detected and generated.

Next, an embodiment in which the ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal is generated from the phases of the ultrasonic wave detection signals of the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 6 and the block diagram of FIG. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the same parts as those in FIGS. 4 and 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The preamplification circuit 51, the bandpass filter 511, the envelope detection circuit 52, and the gate signal generation circuit 56 in the configuration of FIG. 7 are common to those of FIG. The phase signal 47 obtained by removing the extra frequency component from the ultrasonic detection signal 42 by the filter 511 and the gate signal 44 generated by the gate signal generation circuit 56 are input to the phase signal zero cross point detection circuit 57. This circuit 57 is composed of a zero-cross comparator and the like, detects a zero-cross point of the phase signal 47 within the two periods in which the gate signal 44 is open, and rises at the rising zero-cross point and falls at the falling zero-cross point. The zero-cross point detection signal 48 is output. This signal 48 is input to the arithmetic control circuit 5 as an ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal indicating the ultrasonic wave arrival timing detected from the phase of the ultrasonic wave detection signal 42, and in the above-mentioned configuration, the drive signal (start signal) of the ultrasonic wave generation means 3 is started. Signal) 4
From the rising time of 1 to the rising time of the first pulse of each of the two pulse trains of the zero-cross detection signal 46
The time TK1, TK2 up to (the first rising zero-cross point of the phase signal 47 in each of the two periods in which the gate signal 44 is open) is set from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 of the two ultrasonic waves from the outlets K1, K2. The transmission time to the sound wave sensor 7a is measured and detected.

<Description of Calculation of Distance between Indicator and Sensor>
Next, the ultrasonic wave transmission time TK obtained as described above
A method of calculating the distance from each of the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d from the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 to the ultrasonic sensors 7 and 7d will be described.

The distances from the outlets K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 to the ultrasonic sensor 7a are LaK1, LaK2, and
LaK1 and LaK2 are obtained as follows, where V is the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves in the air.

LaK1 = V.TK1-L1 --- (1) LaK2 = V.TK2-L2 ----- (2) where L1 and L2 are from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the delivery ports K1 and K2 as described above. And the ultrasonic wave generation means 3
Is the propagation distance (length of the propagation path) of the ultrasonic wave from the transmission ports K1 and K2. Although this formula relates to one ultrasonic sensor 7a, the distances between the other three ultrasonic sensors 7b to 7d and the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 can be similarly obtained by the same formula.

<Description of Coordinate Calculation by Two Sensors> Next,
From the distance calculated as described above, the delivery port K1, of the indicator 1
A method of calculating the coordinates of the position K2 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a method of calculating the two-dimensional coordinates (x, y) of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 on the plane plate 6 that constitutes the coordinate input surface will be described.

In the above description, four ultrasonic sensors are provided at the four corners of the flat plate 6, but as a simpler configuration, two ultrasonic sensors are provided at both ends of one side of the flat plate 6, as shown in FIG. Since the coordinates can be sufficiently detected even with the configuration in which only the sound wave sensors 7a and 7b are provided, the coordinate calculation method in the case of this configuration will be described first. Even when four ultrasonic sensors are provided, two of them can be selected and used to calculate the coordinates as follows.

In the microcomputer 31, first, the ultrasonic sensors 7a, 7a from the positions of the delivery ports K1, K2 of the indicator 1 are calculated by the equations (1), (2) for calculating the distance described above.
Linear distances LaK1, LaK2 and LbK1, LbK2 to the position of b are obtained.

Next, the linear distances LaK1, LaK2 and LbK1, Lb
Based on K2, the x-coordinates x (K1), x (K2) and the y-coordinates y (K1), y (K2) at the positions of the outlets K1, K2 are calculated by the following formula from the Pythagorean theorem. Ask for.

[0063] x (K1) = X / 2 + (LaK1 + LbK1) ・ (LaK1−LbK1) / 2X (3) x (K2) = X / 2 + (LaK2 + LbK2) ・ (LaK2-LbK2) / 2X (4) y (K1) = √ ((LaK1 + LbK1) ・ (LaK1−LbK1)) (5) y (K2) = √ ((LaK2 + LbK2) ・ (LaK2-LbK2)) (6) Note that X is the distance between the ultrasonic sensors 7a and 7b.

However, it has been proved in advance that it is correct to calculate the coordinates of the outlet K1 in the combination of the distances LaK1 and LbK1, and the coordinates of the outlet K2 in the distances LaK2 and LbK2. Only in this case, the coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 can be accurately calculated. In fact, with LaK1
I cannot distinguish LaK2 and I cannot distinguish LbK1 and LbK2. That is, since one ultrasonic sensor detects two ultrasonic waves from the outlets K1 and K2, the waveform of the ultrasonic detection signal has two waveforms as shown in FIG.
Although K1 and 42K2 are attached to distinguish them, in reality, 2
It is impossible to distinguish which of the two detection waveforms is the detection waveform of the ultrasonic wave from the outlet K1 and which is the detection waveform of the ultrasonic wave from the outlet K2. Therefore, as it is, in some cases, as shown in FIG. 8, in the wrong combination of the distances LaK1 and LbK2 and LaK2 and LbK1, the coordinates of the points M1 and M2 are set to the delivery port K.
There is a possibility that the coordinates of the positions of 1, K2 may be erroneously calculated.

Therefore, in order to prevent this erroneous detection, in the present embodiment, the microcomputer 31 uses one provisional combination among the plurality of combinations of the distances as described in the above (3) to (3).
Coordinates x of the candidates for the positions of the openings K1 and K2 according to the equation (6)
(1), y (1) and x (2), y (2) are calculated, and each of the coordinates of this candidate is the distance L1 + L between the outlets K1, K2 of the indicator 1.
Depending on whether or not the condition of the following condition (7) of 2 is satisfied,
It is determined whether the candidate coordinates are the correct coordinates calculated by the correct combination of the distances. When it is determined to be correct, the candidate coordinates are adopted and output as the official coordinates of the outlets K1 and K2. If it is determined to be an error, the same operation is performed by using other combinations of the above distances.

(X (2) -x (1)) ² + (y (2) -y (1)) ² = (L1 + L2) ² (7) This is a conditional expression using the Pythagorean theorem. The left side is equal to the square of the distance between the position of coordinates x (1), y (1) and the position of coordinates x (2), y (2), and the right side is of course between the outlets K1 and K2. Is the square of the distance. As is clear by taking the square roots of the right side and the left side, this conditional expression (7) is defined between the position of the candidate coordinate x (1), y (1) and the position of the coordinate x (2), y (2). Distance and outlets K1, K2
It is synonymous with equal distance between.

As a result, it is determined whether the candidate coordinates are correct or incorrect, and the points M1 and M2 calculated by the combination of incorrect distances shown in FIG.
Can be eliminated. This is because (x (K2) -x (K1)) ² + (y (K2) -y (K1)) ² = (L1 for the x and y coordinates of the outlets K1 and K2 calculated with the correct combination. + L2) ² (7a), but regarding the x and y coordinates of points M1 and M2 calculated with an incorrect combination, (x (M2) -x (M1)) ² + (y (M2) -y This is because (M1)) ² ≠ (L1 + L2) ² (7b) and the correctness can be determined.

The unique coordinate calculation method of this embodiment is
From a different point of view, it is based on the principle shown in FIG. In other words, if there is only one ultrasonic wave generation means
For one ultrasonic sensor, only one piece of information, that is, the distance between the ultrasonic wave generating means and the ultrasonic sensor was obtained. On the other hand, as in the configuration of this embodiment, the ultrasonic wave generation means 3
In the configuration in which the ultrasonic wave is divided into both directions and propagates to the outlets K1 and K2 for a predetermined distance and then is emitted into the outside air and reaches the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d, one ultrasonic sensor 7a is shown in FIG. As shown in, information on two possibilities of Δ7aK1K2 due to the combination of the correct distances or Δ7aK1'K2 'due to the combination of the incorrect distances can be obtained, but the distance information from the other ultrasonic sensor 7b can be obtained. It is found that the requested information is Δ7aK1K2.

As described above, the coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the housing 2 of the indicator 1 can be accurately calculated using the two ultrasonic sensors.

<Description of Coordinate Calculation by Three Sensors> Next,
Sending ports K1 and K of the indicator 1 using three ultrasonic sensors
A method of calculating the two-dimensional coordinates of the position 2 will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG.
One ultrasonic sensor 7a to 7c may be provided, or four ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d may be provided at four corners and three of the four ultrasonic sensors may be selected and used. Here, the former three configurations will be described.

The procedure for calculating the coordinates in the case of three ultrasonic sensors is basically the same as that in the case of two ultrasonic sensors. First, in the arithmetic control circuit 5, the equation described above is used.
Based on (1) and (2), the outlets K1 and K2 of the indicator 1
The straight line distances LaK1, LaK2 to LcK1 and LcK2 from the position to the positions of the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7c are obtained.

Next, the straight line distances LaK1, LaK2 to LcK1, LcK2
Based on the above, x (K of the x-coordinates of the outlets K1, K2 of the indicator 1
1), x (K2) and y (K1), y (K2) of the y-coordinate are calculated by the following formula from the Pythagorean theorem.

X (K1) = (LaK1 + LbK1) ・ (LaK1-LbK1) / 2X (8) x (K2) = (LaK2 + LbK2) ・ (LaK2-LbK2) / 2X (9) y (K1) = (LaK1 + LcK1) ・ (LaK1-LcK1) / 2Y (10) y (K2) = (LaK2 + LcK2) ・ (LaK2-LcK2) / 2Y (11) where X and Y are ultrasonic sensors 7a and 7b, respectively. And the distance between the ultrasonic sensors 7a and 7c. However, as shown in FIG. 10 for the calculation of the above coordinate calculation, this is for the x coordinate (equations (8) and (9)): K1: a combination of LaK1 and LbK1 and K2: a combination of LaK2 and LbK2 y Regarding the coordinates (equations (10) and (11)), the positions of the outlets K1 and K2 can be calculated only when it is known in advance that K1: LaK1 and LcK1 combination and K2: LaK2 and LcK2 combination are correct. X, y coordinates of can be accurately calculated. In practice, LaK1 and LaK2, LbK1 and Lb for the same reason explained in the case of two ultrasonic sensors.
Indistinguishable between K2, LcK1 and LcK2.

Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the x coordinate is erroneously calculated as the x coordinate corresponding to the points M1 and M2 in the wrong combination of LaK1 and LbK2 and LaK2 and LbK1. May mistakenly calculate the coordinates corresponding to the points N1 and N2 in the wrong combination of LaK1 and LcK2 and LaK2 and LcK1.

That is, in this case, in the calculation of the coordinate calculation, in the equations (8) and (9) for obtaining the x coordinate, the equation (10) for obtaining the combination of K1: LaK1 and LbK2 and the combination y of K2: LaK2 and LbK1. , (11), when calculated in the combination of K1: LaK1 and LcK2 and K2: LaK2 and LcK1, the coordinates of the erroneous points 01 and 02 are calculated.

Therefore, as in the case where the coordinates are calculated by the two ultrasonic sensors described above, the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 and the delivery port K are used.
The above-mentioned equations relating to the distances L1 and L2 between 1 and K2
The condition of (7) is added, and only the condition satisfying this condition is determined as the correct coordinate calculated by the correct combination of the linear distances from the delivery ports K1 and K2 to the positions of the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7c, and the delivery port is determined. Used as the coordinates of K1 and K2.

As in the case of the two sensors, this is a unique structure of the present embodiment in which ultrasonic waves propagate from the ultrasonic wave generation means 3 which is the same ultrasonic wave generation source to both the outlet K1 and the outlet K2. Based on, the distance between the outlets K1 and K2 is L
It is added on condition that the distance is equal to the sum of 1 and L2. This makes it possible to eliminate the points O1 and O2 calculated with the wrong combination of distances shown in FIG. This is because (x (K2) -x (K1)) ² + (y (K2) -y (K1)) ² = (L1 for the x and y coordinates of the outlets K1 and K2 calculated with the correct combination. + L2) ² (12), but for the x and y coordinates of points O1 and O2 calculated with an incorrect combination, (x (O2 (= M2))-x (O1 (= M1))) ² This is because + (y (02 (= N2))-y (O1 (= N1))) ² ≠ (L1 + L2) ² (13), and correctness can be determined.

In this way, the coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 can be accurately calculated using the three ultrasonic sensors.

When four ultrasonic sensors are provided, the coordinates are calculated using the distance information of the three sensors as described above, and the accuracy of the calculated coordinates is verified using the distance information of the remaining one sensor. May be used for. Further, when the distance between the indicator and the sensor is large, the level of the ultrasonic detection signal of the sensor is lowered and the probability of being affected by noise becomes large. Therefore, by using the distance information to the indicators of the four sensors, Select two or three sensors from the one with the shortest distance,
The coordinates may be calculated using the distance information. Also, not only the distance between the ultrasonic sensor and the indicator, but also when the transmission of ultrasonic waves is blocked by the operator's hand, etc., consider the detection level of the ultrasonic detection signal of each sensor, and It is also possible to select two or three with high values and use the distance information to calculate the coordinates.

According to the present embodiment as described above, the coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 can be accurately detected (calculated), and the direction of the indicator 1 can be determined from the two coordinates. , You can get the attitude information. That is,
Conventionally, even one ultrasonic wave generating means can obtain information on the coordinates, directions, and postures of positions at a plurality of positions of the indicator, which could be realized only by providing two or more ultrasonic wave generating means in the indicator. it can. Further, in the conventional configuration, it was necessary to change the drive frequency or to drive in a time-division manner in order to identify a plurality of ultrasonic wave generating means. It is possible to simplify the configuration of the drive circuit 4 and the like of the generating means 3.

Further, since the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 of the indicator 1 is one, the structure of the indicator 1 can be simplified and
The size and weight can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, in order to synchronize the driving of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 of the indicator 1 and the timing of the start of the time measurement of the timer 33, the driving signal of the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 from the arithmetic control circuit 5 ( The start signal of the timer 33) is issued to the drive circuit 4 to drive the ultrasonic wave generation means 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the drive circuit 4 is provided on the apparatus main body side, the drive circuit 4 is provided between the indicator 1 and the drive circuit 4, and when the drive circuit 4 is provided on the indicator 1, the drive circuit 4 and the arithmetic control circuit 5 are provided. It was configured to connect between the wired. On the other hand, to make the indicator 1 cordless,
The drive circuit 4 and the power source may be provided in the indicator 1, and at the same time when the drive circuit 4 drives the ultrasonic wave generation means 3, the start signal may be transmitted to the apparatus main body side by a wireless communication means such as radio waves or light. . As another cordless means, a time difference between the ultrasonic wave detection timings of the ultrasonic sensors may be detected with reference to a certain ultrasonic sensor, and the coordinates may be calculated using this. In this case, the number of ultrasonic sensors is 3 or more.

Also, in the above description, in order to simplify the explanation,
Although the configuration and the coordinate calculation method relating to the detection of the dimensional coordinates have been described, it is easy to extend this to the detection of the three-dimensional coordinates. Since the propagation medium of ultrasonic waves in the present embodiment is air, it is easy to physically cope with three dimensions by adjusting the reception characteristics of the ultrasonic sensor. After that, the mathematical formula for coordinate calculation is used for three dimensions. You can change to the formula.

Further, both two-dimensional input and three-dimensional input can be performed, and a switching means for switching the input mode (only the calculation part is switched and the physical detecting means corresponds to three-dimensional) is provided. May be. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS.
In the dimension input mode, the coordinates of the positions of the outlets K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 are displayed on the display 10 in order to correspond to a drawing application that erases the area of the flat plate 6 traced by the side surface of the indicator 1. In order to correspond to an application that outputs to a controlling computer or the like in a three-dimensional input mode and displays a normal cursor, a straight line passing through two three-dimensional coordinates of the outlets K1 and K2 of the indicator 1 and a plane plate 6 (when the plane plate 6 does not exist, the coordinates of the intersection with the virtual plane formed by the relative positional relationship of the ultrasonic sensors) may be calculated and the coordinates of the intersection may be output to a computer or the like.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, only the input indicator is different from the first embodiment, and the coordinate input device main body is common to the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the coordinate input device main body will be omitted, and only the input indicator will be described. Here, six configuration examples of the indicator will be described. 12 to 19, parts common to or corresponding to those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals, and description of common parts will be omitted.

<Description of First Configuration Example of Input Indicator> FIG. 1
2 shows the 1st example of a structure of the input indicator in this embodiment. As shown here, the housing 2 of the indicator 1 is formed in a straight hollow cylindrical shape, for example, a cylindrical shape as in the first embodiment, and the inside of the housing is different from that of the first embodiment. A common ultrasonic wave generating means 3 is provided. However, the difference from the first embodiment is that not the both ends of the housing 2, but the ultrasonic wave outlets K at predetermined distances L11 and L21 from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 on the outer peripheral surfaces of the both ends.
1, K2 are formed. The outlets K1 and K2 are respectively formed along the circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 2, and may be opened at a plurality of positions at intervals in the circumferential direction, or may be formed around the entire circumference. May be opened over 360 °.

Reflecting members 91 and 92 are provided in the housing 2 near the outlets K1 and K2, respectively.
The reflecting members 91 and 92 reflect the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 toward the outlets K1 and K2, and are formed of metal or resin into a conical shape having an inclined surface of about 45 °. The pointed one is arranged so as to face the ultrasonic wave generating means 3.

The ultrasonic wave generating means 3 is driven exactly as in the case of the first embodiment. Thereby, the ultrasonic wave generating means 3
Ultrasonic waves are emitted from both sides to the reflecting members 91 and 92, and one of them propagates in the housing 2 in one direction by the distance L11 and reaches the reflecting member 91, where it is reflected at an angle of approximately 90 °. Further, it travels a distance L12, reaches the delivery port K1, and is delivered from the delivery port K1 into the air outside the housing 2. In addition, the other is a distance L in the housing 2 in the direction opposite to the one described above.
21 propagates and reaches the reflection member 92, where there is approximately 90 °
Is reflected at an angle of, and further propagates a distance L22 and then the outlet K
2 is reached and is delivered from the delivery port K2 to the air outside the housing 2. Since the reflecting members 91 and 92 are conical, the outlet K
Ultrasonic waves are radiated from 1 and K2 in all directions of 360 ° about the axis of the housing 2 in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

The ultrasonic waves are detected by the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d in exactly the same manner as in the first embodiment in the structure of the main body side of the coordinate input device, and from the outlets K1 and K2 as described below. The coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 are calculated based on the ultrasonic wave transmission time to each of the ultrasonic wave sensors 7a to 7d. However, in the coordinate calculation, L1 on the right side of Expression (1) described above is set to (L11 + L12), and L2 on the right side of Expression (2) is set to (L21 + L22). Also, equations (7), (7a), (7b), (12), (1
(L1 + L2) ² on the right side of (3)
L21) ² Note that (L1 + L2) ^{2 is changed} to (L11 +
L12 + L21 + L22) ² , that is, not the square of the total propagation distance of the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generation means 3 to the delivery ports K1 and K2, but (L11 + L21) ² , that is, the square of the distance between the delivery ports K1 and K2. Be careful of doing this.

According to the configuration of the indicator 1 as described above, the ultrasonic waves are transmitted through the reflecting members 91 and 92, and the outlets K1 and K2.
From the center of the housing 2 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the housing 2.
Since it is radiated in all directions of 0 °, it is possible to always propagate the ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d stably and efficiently without being affected by the rotation of the indicator 1 during the pointing operation.

Further, by using the reflecting members 91 and 92, the adjustment range of the distance between the ultrasonic wave generating means 3, the reflecting members 91 and 92, and the delivery ports K1 and K2 is widened, and the coordinate detection accuracy is improved. Specifically, the reflecting members 91, 92
By using the above, it is possible to make the total length L11 + L12 + L21 + L22 of the propagation distance of the ultrasonic wave in the housing 2 of the indicator 1 long, and therefore, the ultrasonic detection signal 42 shown in FIGS. Detection waveform 42 of two ultrasonic waves
The time interval between K1 and 42K2 becomes large, the detection waveforms 42K1 and 42K2 are easily separated in detection, and the detection accuracy is improved.

By the way, in the structure of the indicator 1 described above, the end of the housing 2 on the side of the delivery port K2 is made conical and the whole is made into a pen shape, and it stands up like a pen on the plane plate 6 to give an instruction for coordinate input. When it is performed, the ultrasonic wave propagates as shown in the cross-sectional direction of the plane plate 6 in FIG. In this case, the indicator 1
In order to reflect the ultrasonic wave toward the ultrasonic sensor 7a as efficiently as the other reflecting member 92, the reflecting member 91 farther from the plane plate 6 of the cone has a conical angle smaller than 90 °. The inclination angle of the inclined surface of the shape may be smaller than 45 °.

<Description of Second Configuration Example of Input Indicator> Next, a second configuration example of the input indicator of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

In this structure, as shown in FIG. 14, the housing 2 of the indicator 1 is formed in a pen shape with the tip 2a having a conical shape, and the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 is formed in the housing 2. The delivery port K1, which is located closer to the tip 2a than the provided position
K2 are formed to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and the reflecting members 91,
92 is provided. The reflecting member 91 is formed in a small conical shape, and the reflecting member 92 is formed in a hollow truncated cone shape whose diameter is larger than that of the reflecting member 91 and whose upper and lower sides are open.

Then, the ultrasonic wave is emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 only in one direction toward the tip portion 2a side of the housing 2, and a part thereof is reflected by the reflecting member 91 during the propagation to the tip portion 2a side. The light is sent out from the delivery port K1, the rest propagates to the reflection member 92, is reflected, and is sent out from the delivery port K2.

According to this structure, the space in which the ultrasonic waves propagate inside the housing 2 can be made small, and the degree of freedom in incorporating the drive circuit 4 and the like into the housing 2 is expanded.

The outlet K is set so that the sound pressures (intensities) of the ultrasonic waves sent from the outlets K1 and K2 are almost equal.
Considering the attenuation of ultrasonic waves due to the distance between 1 and K2, the area of the reflection surface of the reflection member 91 is made smaller than the area of the reflection surface of the reflection member 92 to reduce the reflection performance. Not only the area but also the diffusivity depending on the surface roughness of the reflecting members 91, 92 may be changed, the inclination angle may be changed, the material may be changed, and the like to change the reflection performance.

As a result, in the first configuration of FIG. 12, the distance L
Similarly to the case where 11 + L12 and the distance L21 + L22 are equal, the sound pressures of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the outlets K1 and K2 can be made substantially equal, so that the detection waveforms 42K1 and 42K2 of the ultrasonic detection signal 42 are changed as shown in FIG. It can be stably obtained and can be detected accurately.

Further, as a modification of the above configuration, FIG.
As shown in (a), one outlet K2 may be formed in the middle of the inclined surface of the conical tip portion 2a of the housing 2, and the inner surface of the tip portion 2a may also serve as the reflecting member 92. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15B, it is necessary that the outlet K2 has a plurality of separate openings (three in the drawing), and the portions facing the respective openings form a reflecting surface.

According to this structure, the reflecting member 92 is attached to the housing 2
Since it is not necessary to separately provide it inside, it leads to downsizing of the indicator 1, and since the delivery port K2 can be brought closer to the plane plate 6 constituting the coordinate input surface, the coordinate input accuracy on the plane plate 6 is improved. .

<Description of Third Configuration Example of Input Indicator> Next, FIG. 16 shows a third configuration example of the indicator 1.
In this configuration, the three outlets K1, K2 and K3 are connected to the housing 2
The reflecting members 91, 92, and 93 are provided in the rear end portion, the front end portion, and the intermediate portion, respectively, and the reflecting members 91, 92, and 93 are provided in the vicinity of the respective inner sides. The ultrasonic wave generating means 3 is provided at a position between the reflecting members 92 and 93. The ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 in both sides thereof are reflected by the reflecting members 91, 92, 93 and sent out from the sending ports K1, K2, K3 to the air outside the housing 2. There is.

By using this indicator 1, the coordinates of the positions of the three delivery ports K1, K2, K3 can be detected, and the direction or orientation of the indicator 1 can be detected accordingly.

<Description of Fourth Configuration Example of Input Indicator> Next, FIG. 17 shows a fourth configuration example of the indicator 1.
In this configuration, in addition to the configuration substantially similar to that of the second configuration example in FIG. 14, a reflection member 94 for folding reflection is provided in the housing 2. The reflecting member 94 is formed in a hollow truncated cone shape with an open top and bottom, and is arranged so as to surround the lower half of the reflecting member 91 in the drawing.

From the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the tip 2a of the housing 2
Ultrasonic waves are emitted toward the side, are first reflected by the reflecting member 91, and a part thereof is sent to the outside from the sending port K1.
The rest is reflected by the reflecting member 94 so as to be folded back, further reflected by the reflecting member 92, and sent out from the sending port K2.

With this structure, the space in which the ultrasonic wave propagates in the housing 2 of the indicator 1 can be further reduced, and the drive circuit 4
The degree of freedom in incorporating the above components into the housing 2 is further expanded.

Further, although the propagation distance of the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the delivery port K2 can be lengthened, although not shown in the figure, the above-mentioned distance can be obtained by additionally combining a reflecting member for folding back. Can be long. As a result, the two detection waveforms 42K1 of the ultrasonic detection signal 42 in FIG.
42K2 can be clearly separated and discriminated, which leads to improvement in coordinate detection accuracy. In this case, in the coordinate calculation, L2 on the right side of the above-described formula (2) is set as the propagation distance of the ultrasonic wave including the return from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 to the delivery port K2.

<Description of Fifth Configuration Example of Input Indicator> Next, FIG. 18 shows a fifth configuration example of the indicator 1.
This configuration is similar to that of FIG. 14 of the second configuration example, but when the operator holds the indicator 1 to use it,
One of the delivery ports K1 is blocked by the operator's finger F, so that the propagation of ultrasonic waves from the delivery port K1 is blocked.

Therefore, when this indicator 1 is used,
Whether the indicator 1 is in use (whether the operator holds the indicator K1
Whether the ultrasonic wave from the outlet K2 is detected, or two ultrasonic waves from each of the outlets K1 and K2 are detected depending on whether or not the ultrasonic wave is detected in FIG. The detection waveform of the ultrasonic wave of the signal 42 is one of only 42K2 or two of 42K1 and 42K2.

As a result, the detection signal processing circuit 8 detects only the detection waveform 42K2 (whether there is only one pulse of the inflection point detection signal 46) or the detection waveform 42K2.
The microcomputer 31 of the arithmetic control circuit 5 can be configured to determine whether or not the indicator 1 is in use, depending on whether both K1 and 42K2 are detected (two pulses of the signal 46). Then, information on whether or not it is in use may be output to an external device, or a signal of the information may be fed back as a control signal for driving the indicator 1.

In this configuration, basically, the coordinate detection is performed only by the ultrasonic waves from the delivery port K2 which is not blocked by the finger F when the user grips the indicator 1, and the delivery port K2. It goes without saying that the coordinates of the position are considered.

<Description of Sixth Configuration Example of Input Indicator> Next, FIG. 19 shows a sixth configuration example of the indicator 1.
This configuration is similar to that of FIG. 16 of the third configuration example, but when the operator holds the indicator 1 to use it,
The delivery port K3 is blocked by the finger F of the operator, and the propagation of ultrasonic waves from the delivery port K3 is blocked.

Therefore, only the number of outlets is different from the case of the fifth configuration example described above, and only the ultrasonic wave from the outlet K1 and the ultrasonic wave from the outlet K2 are detected or the outlet K1. , K2, K3, all of the ultrasonic waves are detected, the microcomputer 31 determines whether or not the indicator 1 is in use, and outputs information on whether or not the indicator 1 is in use to an external device, or the information. Can be fed back as a control signal for driving the indicator 1.

In this configuration, basically, the coordinate detection is performed by ultrasonic waves from the respective outlets K1 and K2 which are not blocked by the finger F when the user grips the indicator 1. Of course, this is done only for the coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that FIG.
22. In FIG. 22, portions common to or corresponding to those in the drawings of the above-described first and second embodiments are denoted by common reference numerals, and description of common portions will be omitted.

First, FIG. 20 shows the overall configuration of the coordinate input device of this embodiment. The hardware configuration of the main body of the coordinate input device shown here is the same as that of the first and second embodiments. However, in the device of the present embodiment, reference numerals 1-1,
Coordinates are input using three types of input indicators indicated by 1-2 and 1-3.

The structure of the indicators 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 is shown in FIG. As shown here, the indicator 1-
The configuration of No. 1 is common to the configuration of FIG. 12 of the second embodiment and has reflection members 91 and 92. Indicator 1-2
The configuration of 1-3 is almost the same as that of the indicator 1-1, but the distances L11 ′ and L11 ″ between the delivery port K1 and the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 are different from the distance L11 of the indicator 1-1. The distance L21 between the delivery port K2 and the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 is the same in each indicator, that is, the indicators 1-1, 1-2, 1-3.
Then, the distance between the outlets K1 and K2 (L11 + L21),
(L11 '+ L21) and (L11 "+ L21) are different.

The indicators 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 are configured so that no reflecting member is provided as shown in FIG. 1, and the distance L1 between the delivery port K1 and the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 is different. It may be one.

The indicators 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 are used differently with different attributes (modes) in the coordinate input function. For example, when a line is input by coordinate input in a drawing application or the like, it is assumed that the color, thickness, line type, etc. of the line input by each indicator are different. Alternatively, when a plurality of people use this device for a meeting or the like, an attribute is provided so as to distinguish the user of the indicator.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
The operation of the device of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first and second embodiments, and the description of the common parts is omitted.

The method of driving the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 of the indicators 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. However, in order to surely identify the indicators described later when three types of indicators are used simultaneously, the ultrasonic wave generation means 3 of each indicator is driven in a time division manner. However, if a means for enabling the determination can be prepared, such as when there is sufficient resolution for the function of measuring the transmission time of the ultrasonic waves from the indicator to the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d, they may be driven simultaneously. .

Each of the ultrasonic waves generated by driving the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 of the indicator used and sent from the outlets K1 and K2 of the indicator is exactly the same as in the case of the first embodiment. , Detected by the ultrasonic sensors 7a to 7d,
The ultrasonic wave detection signal is processed by the signal processing circuit 8 to generate an ultrasonic wave arrival timing signal, whereby the arithmetic control circuit 5 measures the ultrasonic wave transmission time to each sensor.

Next, the microcomputer 31 of the arithmetic and control circuit 5 calculates the distance from the outlets K1, K2 to the ultrasonic sensors 7a, 7b based on the above-mentioned time-transmitted ultrasonic wave transmission time, and based on this distance. The coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 are calculated, but the calculation method is basically the first
The same as in the second embodiment.

However, in the present embodiment, in this coordinate calculation, the indicator indicating the input position of the coordinate to be calculated (the indicator generating the detected ultrasonic wave) is determined. In addition, the coordinates cannot be accurately calculated without the determination. Here, in each indicator, the distance L between the ultrasonic wave generation means 3 and the delivery port K1
Since 11, L11 ', L11 "are different, even if the position and direction of the indicator are the same, the outlets K1, K
The time intervals of the detection timings of the ultrasonic waves from 2 are different. In the present embodiment, the indicator is discriminated based on the difference in the distances L11, L11 ', L11 "corresponding to the difference in the time intervals. That is, the indicator discrimination described below is performed by the two outlets K1. , K2 distance (L11 + L
21), (L11 '+ L21), (L11 "+ L21)
Is synonymous with the determination of.

Specifically, first, assuming that the indicator that has instructed the coordinate input position is a specific one of the above three types, for example, the indicator 1-1, its outlet is as follows. K
Distance from 1, K2 to ultrasonic sensors 7a, 7b LaK1, L
aK2 and LbK1, LbK2 are calculated, and the coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1, K2 are calculated based on these distances.

The distance LaK1 is obtained by the following equation (1-1) corresponding to the above equation (1), and the distance LaK2 is obtained by the following equation (2 ') corresponding to the above equation (2).

[0126] LaK1 = V ・ TK1- (L11 + L12)… (1-1) LaK2 = V ・ TK2- (L21 + L22)… (2 ') The distances LbK1 and LbK2 are similarly obtained.

Next, the obtained distances LaK1, LaK2 and LbK1, LbK2
Based on equation (3), (4), (5), (6) described above, the x-coordinates x (1), x (2) and the y-coordinate y (1) of the positions of the delivery ports K1, K2 are calculated. , y
Find (2).

Next, it is determined whether x (1), x (2), y (1), y (2) satisfy the following conditional expression corresponding to the conditional expression (7) described above.

(X (2) -x (1)) ² + (y (2) -y (1)) ² = (L11 + L21) ² (7-1) This conditional expression (7-1) is , The distance between the calculated position of the coordinate x (1), y (1) and the position of the coordinate x (2), y (2) is the distance between the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the indicator 1-1 (L11 + L21) is equivalent to that, and the indicator that has instructed the coordinate input position for which the coordinate is to be calculated is actually the indicator 1-1, and x (1), x (2), y (1), y (2) are distances LaK1, LaK2 and LbK1, LbK2
Only if it is calculated correctly based on the correct combination of. In the case of other indicators 1-2 and 1-3, the distance L1
Since 1 ′, L11 ″ is different from the distance L11, the conditional expression (7-1) above is not satisfied. Therefore, if this is satisfied,
x (1), x (2), y (1), y (2) is output as the correct x and y coordinates of the outlets K1 and K2, and the indicator that gives the coordinate input position is the indicator. 1-1 (outlet K
The distance between 1 and K2 is (L11 + L21)), and the attribute information relating to the input function given to the indicator 1-1 is output.

If not satisfied, x (1), x (2), y (1), y based on other combinations of the distances LaK1, LaK2 and LbK1, LbK2.
(2) is calculated, and it is further determined whether or not this satisfies conditional expression (7-1). If there is a satisfying combination, the procedure is the same as that described above. Is another indicator, for example indicator 1
Assuming −2, the above distance calculation, coordinate calculation, and conditional expression determination are performed. In this case, the equation for obtaining the distance LaK1 is LaK1 = V · TK1- (L11 '+ L12) (1-2), and the equation for obtaining the distance LaK2 is the same as the above equation (2'). Also, the conditional expression for making the above judgment is (x (2) -x (1)) ² + (y (2) -y (1)) ² = (L11 '+ L21) ² … (7-2) Becomes

If any of the coordinates calculated by each of the plurality of combinations of the above distances satisfies this conditional expression, the coordinates are output and the indicator for instructing the coordinate input position. Is the indicator 1-2 and outputs the attribute information of the indicator 1-2.

If nothing is satisfied, it is determined that the indicator that has instructed the coordinate input position is not the indicator 1-2, and the indicator that has instructed the coordinate input position is the indicator 1-3. Assuming that, the above distance calculation, coordinate calculation, and conditional expression determination are performed. If the conditional expression is satisfied, the coordinates are output, and the indicator that has instructed the coordinate input position is the indicator 1-3. And the attribute information of the indicator 1-3 is output. In this case, the equation for obtaining the distance LaK1 is LaK1 = V · TK1- (L11 "+ L12) (1-3), and the equation for obtaining the distance LaK2 is the same as the above equation (2 '). The conditional expression to make the above judgment is (x (2) -x (1)) ² + (y (2) -y (1)) ² = (L11 "+ L21) ² … (7-3) .

As described above, the microcomputer 3
1 indicates the coordinate input position in the indicators 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 (corrects the coordinates of the positions of the outlets K1, K2 of the indicator that generated the detected ultrasonic wave). Can be calculated, and the indicators are 1-1, 1-2, 1
-3 can be discriminated, and the information of the attribute relating to the coordinate input function given to the discriminated indicator can be output. Moreover, the determination is performed by software, and it can be easily performed without requiring a special hardware configuration.

The above indicators 1-1, 1-2, 1-
In the configuration of No. 3, if the distance between the outlets K1 and K2 is different for each indicator, the outlets K1 and K2 and the ultrasonic wave generation means 3
Of course, the positional relationship of may be different from that of FIG. Further, although there are three types of indicators, it goes without saying that two types or four or more types may be used.

By the way, in the above, three types of indicators having different distances between the delivery ports K1 and K2 are used.
With one type of indicator, an indicator that can change the distance between the plurality of outlets for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the air outside the housing to different plurality of distances is used for each of the plurality of distance states. Different attributes related to the coordinate input function may be added so that the information of the previous period attribute can be input together with the coordinate input.

FIG. 22 shows an example of the structure of such an indicator. In the configuration of the indicator 1, the three outlets K
1, K2 and K3 are provided at the rear end portion, the front end portion, and the intermediate portion of the hollow casing 2, respectively, and the reflection members 91, 92, and 93 are provided near the inside of each. The ultrasonic wave generating means 3 is provided at a position between the reflecting members 92 and 93.

Further, in the housing 2, a switching member 12 for switching the propagation path of ultrasonic waves in the housing 2 is provided near the outlet K3 and the reflecting member 93. This switching member 12 is operated by the operator, and the
As shown in (a), the position where the outlet K3 is closed so that ultrasonic waves are not transmitted from the outlet K3, and the position where the periphery of the reflecting member 93 is closed as shown in (b), the ultrasonic waves are emitted from the outlet K1. It can be moved to a position where it is not sent out.

In the switching state (a), the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 in both directions propagate inside the housing 2 and are reflected by the reflecting members 91 and 92 to be sent out from the outlets K1 and K2.
Is sent to the air outside the housing 2. The distance between the outlets K1 and K2 is (L111 + L211).

In the switching state of (b), the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means 3 in both directions propagate inside the housing 2 and are reflected by the reflecting members 92 and 93 to be sent out from the outlets K2 and K3.
Is sent to the air outside the housing 2. The distance between the outlets K2 and K3 is (L211 + L311).

That is, in the indicator 1, the switching member 12 allows the effective combination of two outlets K1, K2 or K2 among the three outlets K1, K2, K3 to actually transmit ultrasonic waves. The distance between the two outlets selected by K3 is set to (L111 + L211) or (L211).
It can be set by switching to + L311). Here, using the indicator 1 by changing the distance means that two types of indicators having different distances between the two outlets K1 and K2 in the configuration of FIG. 21, for example, 1-1 and 1 are used. -2, or equivalent to using 1-1 and 1-3.

Therefore, the calculation of the coordinates when the indicator of FIG. 22 is used and the determination of the switching state between (a) and (b), that is, the effective two outlets for actually transmitting the ultrasonic waves at present The determination of whether the distance between them is set to (L111 + L211) or (L211 + L311) is performed by using the coordinate calculation method and the instruction when the plural kinds of indicators of FIG. 21 described above are used. The method of discriminating containers can be applied as it is to the microcomputer 31.

In that case, the distances LaK1, LaK2, LaK3 from the delivery ports K1, K2, K3 to the ultrasonic sensor 7a are expressed by the above-mentioned equations.
It is calculated by the following formula corresponding to (1) or (2).

LaK1 = V ・ TK1- (L111 + L112)… (1-1) 'LaK2 = V ・ TK2- (L211 + L212)… (2)' LaK3 = V ・ TK1- (L311 + L312)… ( 1-1) "Further, the distances LbK1, LbK2, LbK3 from the delivery ports K1, K2, K3 to the ultrasonic sensor 7b are also obtained in the same manner.

In the case of (a), the distances LaK1, LaK2, Lb
Combination of K1 and LbK2, in the case of (b), distance LaK2, LaK3, LbK
Based on the combination of 2, LbK3, by the same equations as the above equations (3) to (6), the x-coordinates x (1), x (2) and the y-coordinate y (1), of the two delivery ports.
y (2) is required.

The correctness of the calculated coordinates and the above (a)
The states of (b) and (b) can be determined by the following conditional expression corresponding to the conditional expression (7) described above.

(X (2) -x (1)) ² + (y (2) -y (1)) ² = (L111 + L211) ² … (7-1 ′) (x (2) -x ( 1)) ² + (y (2) -y (1)) ² = (L311 + L211) ² … (7-1 ") And if conditional expression (7-1 ') is satisfied, coordinates at that time Is output as the correct coordinates, and it is determined that the current state is (a), and the attribute (mode) information related to the coordinate input function assigned corresponding to the state (a) is output.

If conditional expression (7-1 ") is satisfied, the coordinates at that time are output as correct coordinates, and it is determined that the current state is (b), and the state of (b) is set. It outputs the information related to the coordinate input function that is assigned correspondingly.

As described above, the coordinates can be calculated, and a plurality of attribute information relating to the coordinate input function, that is, a plurality of modes can be switched with a simple structure with one indicator.

In the above description, the ultrasonic wave propagation paths of the two systems are switched in the housing of the indicator so that the effective distance between two effective ultrasonic wave outlets is two predetermined distances. However, by further providing another outlet and switching means, the distance between two effective outlets that actually transmit ultrasonic waves can be changed to three or more different predetermined distances. The mode may be changed so that three or more modes can be switched. Note that the number of effective delivery ports that actually deliver ultrasonic waves may be three or more. Further, the above-described configuration can be applied to an indicator as shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment that does not use a reflecting member and has three or more delivery ports.

Further, instead of switching the propagation paths of a plurality of systems, the propagation path of one system can be changed continuously or discontinuously, that is, the part on one end side of the housing 2 is changed to the part on the other end side. On the other hand, it is made movable continuously or discontinuously along the axial direction of the housing 2 by a screw or a slide structure, and a plurality of delivery ports formed at the one end side portion and the other end side portion. The distance between them and the propagation distance of the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave generating means to at least one of the outlets may be changed and set to different predetermined distances. It is needless to say that the coordinate calculation in this case, the determination of the distance between the currently set plural outlets of the indicator, and the like are performed in the same manner as in the case of using the indicator 1 shown in FIG. Further, this configuration can also be applied to the indicator as shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment which does not use a reflecting member.

[0151]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an input indicator of a coordinate input device of the aerial ultrasonic system, in which one ultrasonic wave is transmitted in the ultrasonic wave propagation space inside the housing. By the configuration in which the sound wave generating means is arranged and the ultrasonic wave outlets are provided at a plurality of positions of the housing, or by the configuration in which the reflecting member is further provided in the housing in the vicinity of the ultrasonic wave outlets, which can be realized extremely easily and inexpensively, The coordinates of the positions of multiple points (ultrasonic wave outlets) of the input indicator can be detected to detect the orientation or orientation of the input indicator, which can be further reduced in size and weight, and the configuration of the drive circuit of the ultrasonic wave generation means. It is possible to provide an excellent input indicator that can be easily performed and that can reduce power consumption.

Further, in the airborne ultrasonic coordinate input device using this input indicator, the coordinates of the positions of a plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator can be detected (calculated), and the direction of the input indicator can be detected. It is possible to provide an excellent coordinate input device capable of detecting a posture.

Further, the above-mentioned input indicator is an aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device that uses a plurality of types of input indicators having different distances between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets, and indicates the coordinate input position. It is possible to distinguish the input indicator (the input indicator that emits the detected ultrasonic wave), and if the attribute related to the coordinate input function that is different for each input indicator is given, the coordinate An excellent coordinate input device capable of inputting information can be provided.

Furthermore, in addition to the structure of the input indicator,
Within the ultrasonic wave propagation space within the housing, the switching means for switching the ultrasonic wave propagation path to a plurality of states actually sends ultrasonic waves to the plurality of effective ultrasonic wave outlets at different predetermined distances. With the configuration that is switched and set, it is possible to provide an excellent input indicator capable of inputting the attribute information related to the coordinate input function together with the coordinate.

Further, in the aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device using this input indicator, it is possible to discriminate the distances between a plurality of effective ultrasonic wave outlets currently set by the input indicator. Thus, it is possible to provide an excellent coordinate input device capable of inputting the attribute information related to the coordinate input function together with the coordinate.

Further, in addition to the structure of the input indicator,
With a configuration having a changing unit for changing and setting the distance between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets and the propagation distance of the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave generating unit to at least one ultrasonic wave outlet to a plurality of different predetermined distances. It is possible to provide an excellent input indicator capable of inputting the attribute information related to the coordinate input function together with the coordinate.

Further, in the airborne ultrasonic coordinate input device using this input indicator, it is possible to discriminate the distance between a plurality of currently set ultrasonic outlets, and thereby coordinate and coordinate. An excellent coordinate input device capable of inputting attribute information relating to the input function can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of an input indicator of an aerial ultrasonic wave coordinate input device and a propagation state of ultrasonic waves according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an arithmetic control circuit of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of each signal processed by the first configuration example of the detection signal processing circuit of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a first configuration example of a detection signal processing circuit of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of each signal processed by the second configuration example of the detection signal processing circuit of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second configuration example of the detection signal processing circuit of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating calculation and erroneous calculation of coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the input indicator when the coordinate input device has two ultrasonic sensors.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram similarly illustrating calculation of coordinates.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating calculation and erroneous calculation of coordinates of the positions of the delivery ports K1 and K2 of the input indicator when the coordinate input device has three ultrasonic sensors.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a two-dimensional input mode and a three-dimensional input mode of the coordinate input device.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a first configuration example of an input indicator according to a second embodiment, a propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an ultrasonic wave propagation state and the like when the modification of the first configuration example of the input indicator is used.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a second configuration example of the input indicator, a propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a modification of the second configuration example of the input indicator, a propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a third configuration example of the input indicator, the propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a fourth configuration example of the input indicator, the propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a fifth configuration example of the input indicator, a propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a sixth configuration example of the input indicator, the propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a coordinate input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of three types of input indicators used in the same apparatus, the propagation state of ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of an input indicator and a state of switching the propagation path of ultrasonic waves and the like in another configuration example of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1-1,1-2,1-3 input indicator 2 housing 3 Ultrasonic generator 4 Ultrasonic generator driving circuit 5 Operation control circuit 6 flat plate 7a-7d ultrasonic sensor 8 Detection signal processing circuit 10 display 11 Display drive circuit 12 Switching member 31 Microcomputer 33 timer 91, 92, 93, 94 Reflecting member K1, K2, K3 ultrasonic wave outlet

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An input indicator used to indicate a position for inputting coordinates by an aerial ultrasonic coordinate input device, and a casing in which a propagation space in which ultrasonic waves propagate is formed, and the casing. One ultrasonic wave generating means arranged in the propagation space of the body, and the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic wave generating means are transmitted from the propagation space in the housing to the air outside the housing in the housing. An input indicator comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets provided at a plurality of locations, at least one of which is different in direction and distance from the ultrasonic wave generating means. 2. The ultrasonic wave is disposed in the vicinity of each of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets in the ultrasonic wave propagation space in the housing, and the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave generating means is transmitted to the ultrasonic wave outlets in the vicinity thereof. The input indicator according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reflecting members that reflect toward each other. 3. The ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic wave generating means at the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets have different propagation distances, and regardless of the difference, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets. 3. The input indicator according to claim 2, wherein the reflection performances of the plurality of reflection members are different so that the sound pressures of the two are substantially equal to each other. 4. The ultrasonic wave transmission device is provided with three or more ultrasonic wave outlets, and the ultrasonic wave is propagated in the housing so that two or more ultrasonic wave outlets are not selectively emitted. Switching means is provided for switching the propagation path of the ultrasonic wave to a plurality of states in the space, and by switching the switching means, a plurality of effective ultrasonic wave sending ports for actually sending ultrasonic waves are provided at different distances. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting is performed by switching to a predetermined distance.
The input indicator according to any one of 1 to 6 above. 5. The distance between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets and the propagation distance of ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generating means to at least one ultrasonic wave outlet are changed and set to a plurality of different predetermined distances. The input indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: 6. An aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device using the input indicator according to claim 1, comprising: an ultrasonic wave generation means in the housing of the input indicator. A plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions for detecting each of the ultrasonic waves emitted and propagating through the propagation space in the housing and transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets to the air outside the housing; A signal processing means for processing the ultrasonic detection signals of the plurality of ultrasonic detection means to generate a plurality of timing signals indicating respective arrival timings of the ultrasonic waves to the plurality of ultrasonic detection means; Timing means for timing each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time from the ultrasonic wave generating means of each of the ultrasonic waves from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means by a timing signal. Each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time measured by the time measuring means, each of the ultrasonic wave propagation distance from the ultrasonic wave generating means of the input indicator to the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets, and the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets A coordinate input device comprising: a calculation unit that calculates coordinates of respective positions of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets based on a distance between them. 7. The computing means includes each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time measured by the time measuring means and each of ultrasonic wave propagation distances from the ultrasonic wave generating means of the input indicator to a plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets. Based on, after calculating each of the distance from the plurality of ultrasonic outlets to the plurality of ultrasonic detecting means, each of the plurality of ultrasonic outlets based on a plurality of combinations of the distance. Calculating the coordinates of the position, at that time, determine whether the coordinates calculated based on each combination of the distance is correct coordinates by the correct combination based on the distance between the plurality of ultrasonic transmission ports,
The coordinate input device according to claim 6, wherein the coordinate determined to be correct is output. 8. The coordinates of an aerial ultrasonic system, wherein the input indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 uses a plurality of types of input indicators having different distances between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets. An input device, which is emitted from an ultrasonic wave generation means in the housing of any one of the plurality of types of input indicators, propagates through a propagation space in the housing, and is transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets to the outside of the housing. A plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions for detecting respective ultrasonic waves transmitted in the air, and a plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means for processing ultrasonic wave detection signals of the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means. Signal processing means for generating a plurality of timing signals indicating respective arrival timings of ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic wave, and the ultrasonic waves for each of the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator by the plurality of timing signals. Occurrence Means for measuring each of the ultrasonic wave transmission times from the means to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means, each of the ultrasonic wave transmission times timed by the time measuring means, and the ultrasonic wave generation in the plurality of types of input indicators Based on each of the propagation distance of the ultrasonic waves from the means to the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets and each of the distances between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets in the plurality of types of input indicators, the input that emitted the ultrasonic wave A coordinate input device comprising a calculation means for calculating coordinates of respective positions of a plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the indicator. 9. The plurality of ultrasonic waves in the plurality of types of input indicators when calculating the coordinates of the respective positions of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets of the input indicator that has emitted the ultrasonic waves. Based on the difference in the distance between the delivery ports, the input indicator that emitted the ultrasonic wave is discriminated to calculate the coordinates, and the information related to the result of the discrimination is output together with the calculated coordinates. The coordinate input device according to claim 8. 10. An aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device using the input indicator according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic wave is generated from an ultrasonic wave generating means in the housing of the input indicator and propagates in the housing. A plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions for propagating through the space and detecting each of the ultrasonic waves transmitted to the air outside the casing from the plurality of effective ultrasonic wave outlets through the switching means; Signal processing means for processing the ultrasonic detection signals of the plurality of ultrasonic detection means to generate a plurality of timing signals indicating respective arrival timings of the ultrasonic waves to the plurality of ultrasonic detection means; Timing of each ultrasonic wave transmission time from the ultrasonic wave generation means to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detection means of the ultrasonic waves from the plurality of effective ultrasonic wave transmission ports of the input indicator is measured by the timing signal. And a coordinate of each position of the plurality of effective ultrasonic wave outlets, the ultrasonic wave transmission time measured by the clocking means, and the ultrasonic wave generating means of the input indicator and all ultrasonic waves. Computation means for calculating based on each of the propagation distances of the ultrasonic waves between the sound wave outlets and each of the distances between the plurality of effective ultrasonic wave outlets that are set through the switching means. A coordinate input device characterized by. 11. The calculation means calculates a plurality of effective ultrasonic wave outlets set through the switching means when calculating coordinates of respective positions of the effective ultrasonic wave outlets. Based on the difference in the distance between the two, the distance between the currently set effective ultrasonic wave outlets is discriminated to calculate the coordinates, and the information related to the result of the discrimination is output together with the calculated coordinates. Claim 1 characterized by the above.
The coordinate input device according to 0. 12. An aerial ultrasonic type coordinate input device using the input indicator according to claim 5, wherein the coordinate indicator is transmitted from an ultrasonic wave generating means in the casing of the input indicator and propagates in the casing. A plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means arranged at different positions for detecting the ultrasonic waves propagating through the space and transmitted to the air outside the housing from the plural ultrasonic wave outlets, and the ultrasonic wave detecting means. Signal processing means for processing the ultrasonic detection signals to generate a plurality of timing signals indicating respective arrival timings of the ultrasonic waves to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means, and the plurality of ultrasonic waves by the plurality of timing signals. Time measuring means for measuring each of the ultrasonic wave transmission time from the ultrasonic wave generating means of each of the ultrasonic waves from the delivery port to the plurality of ultrasonic wave detecting means, and the ultrasonic sound timed by the time measuring means Each of the transmission time, each of the propagation distance of the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generating means to the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets including the distance changed by the changing means of the input indicator, and the changing means A coordinate input device comprising: a calculation unit that calculates coordinates of respective positions of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets based on the respective distances between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets that are set. . 13. The calculation means, when calculating the coordinates of the respective positions of the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets, between the plurality of ultrasonic wave outlets that are changed and set by the changing means. Based on the difference in the distance, the distance between the plurality of currently set ultrasonic outlets is discriminated, the coordinates are calculated, and the information related to the result of the discrimination is output together with the calculated coordinates. The coordinate input device according to claim 12.