JP2012137926A - Handwriting input system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To establish an electronic pen communication method with low power consumption.SOLUTION: A handwriting input system is an electronic pen that has one or more ultrasonic-electromagnetic wave emission circuit and an ultrasonic emission element which emit an ultrasonic signal and an electromagnetic wave signal for detecting position coordinates and a pen switch which is a sensor for detecting handwriting state and function keys; and emits an ultrasonic signal and an electromagnetic wave signal based on a signal table in which emission time intervals are predetermined. The handwriting input system having receiving device that includes an electromagnetic wave receiving element and at least two or more ultrasonic receiving elements for receiving the ultrasonic signal and the electromagnetic wave signal emitted by the electronic pen during handwriting and float writing to detect position coordinates of the electronic pen based on a difference in arrival time between the electromagnetic wave signal and the ultrasonic signal during handwriting and float writing. Time intervals of electromagnetic wave emission signals for obtaining position coordinates of the electronic pen are varied, and the variation of the time intervals of the electromagnetic wave signals is collated with a predetermined signal table on the receiving device side, and thereby ON/OFF information of the pen switch and the function keys is obtained.

Description

The present invention includes at least one ultrasonic wave electromagnetic wave transmission circuit and an ultrasonic wave transmission element for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and an electromagnetic wave signal for detecting position coordinates, and a pen switch for detecting a writing state. The above function keys (An example of the role of one or more function keys is to use the right and left buttons of the mouse connected to the PC, or to switch between writing and mouse states and the left button of the mouse. An electronic pen with a combination of the role of the Enter key when using the keyboard, etc.) is provided, and at the time of writing or floating writing (floating writing is the tip of the electronic pen after writing on the writing surface This includes a state in which the user has moved within a predetermined writing input range without touching the writing surface, and includes a state in which the function key is pressed in the state described above. An electromagnetic wave receiving element for receiving an electromagnetic wave signal emitted from the electronic pen to confirm movement, performing a cursor function on the LCD and moving the electronic pen.) And receiving the ultrasonic signal Handwriting input comprising at least two or more ultrasonic receiving elements and having the electromagnetic wave signal and a receiving device for detecting a position coordinate at the time of writing and floating writing of the electronic pen from a difference in arrival time of the ultrasonic signal In the system, between the electromagnetic wave signals (for example, the time interval of the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the electronic pen is 11 milliseconds when the pen switch is being written, and 13 milliseconds when the function key is pressed. By setting the signal interval of the electromagnetic wave to be different, the electronic device is informed of the status of the electronic pen.) Is about handwriting input system having a function capable of obtaining an on-off information of the function keys have.

  Conventionally, an electronic pen provided with a circuit that transmits infrared rays or electromagnetic waves and ultrasonic waves, and a sensor that can detect that the pen tip is written, a receiving element that receives an infrared signal transmitted from the electronic pen, and an ultrasonic signal A handwriting handwriting input system having a receiving device in which a plurality of receiving elements for receiving is incorporated has been developed. In this handwriting input system, when writing with an electronic pen, the receiving device receives ultrasonic signals and infrared signals transmitted from the electronic pen by a plurality of receiving elements, measures the position coordinates of the electronic pen, and determines the position coordinates and the pen. The previous on-off state is combined and detected as handwriting data. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a handwriting input system that recognizes written characters and figures as handwritten handwriting data by continuously detecting handwriting data.

The coordinate input system using ultrasonic and infrared did not have functions other than coordinate detection (functions realized using a mouse connected to a PC or application functions). Those with functionality and other application functions are appearing on the market. The above mouse function and other application functions (functions other than coordinate detection) are complicated means (timing other than the signal for starting the transmission of an ultrasonic wave when transmitting information from the electronic pen to the receiving device side). However, by transmitting an infrared signal a plurality of times, information is communicated to the receiving device side by using means such as the time interval, the number of repetitions, the light emission time, or Morse code or ASCII code. For this reason, the power consumption on the electronic pen side is large, and the external shape of the electronic pen has been increased by frequent battery replacement or using a large battery. In addition, those that use electromagnetic waves generated from the piezo and its peripheral circuit instead of infrared rays have the same problems as described above because they communicate with combinations of time intervals of multiple electromagnetic signals and multiple electromagnetic signals. .
JP-A-2004-310598 Infrared rays are used to transmit pen pressure information and pen information at the time of pen input by ultrasonic waves. The information transmission method is based on a bit string by turning on / off infrared rays. JP-A-2004-302761 At the time of pen input by ultrasonic waves, infrared rays are used to transmit pen pressure information and pen information. The information transmission method modulates infrared rays only when the state of the pen changes, and transmits the minimum infrared rays necessary for synchronization otherwise. JP-A-2004-302761 At the time of pen input by ultrasonic waves, ultrasonic waves and electromagnetic waves transmitted from the piezo element and its peripheral circuits are used to transmit pen information to the receiving device. However, it only transmits to the receiving device that the pen is in a writing state.

To transmit information other than coordinate detection information to a receiving device in a coordinate input device using ultrasonic waves, serial communication using a cable, infrared transmission element using light or radio wave, or serial using a radio transmission element It was done by communication. Specifically, the infrared transmission element that transmits the transmission timing of the ultrasonic wave to the receiving device emits light a number of times, and complicated communication using bits and codes is performed. For this reason, the battery built in the electronic pen is quickly consumed. In addition, those that use electromagnetic waves generated from the piezo and its peripheral circuit instead of infrared rays have the same problems as described above because they communicate with combinations of time intervals of multiple electromagnetic signals and multiple electromagnetic signals. . Establishing a communication method between the electronic pen and the receiving apparatus that is simple and less affected by noise and consumes less power has been a major issue.
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to change the current ultrasonic and electromagnetic wave time intervals without providing special parts, and to turn on / off the pen switch and one or more function keys from that time interval. Provide a handwriting input system with a function to obtain off-information with lower power consumption.

The present invention is at least one ultrasonic electromagnetic wave oscillation circuit for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and an electromagnetic wave signal for detecting a position coordinate, an ultrasonic transmission element, and a sensor for detecting a writing state. It is equipped with a pen switch and one or more function switches, and the transmission cycle of ultrasonic signals and electromagnetic wave signals is based on a predetermined signal table for each combination of the pen switch and one or more function switches. An electronic pen for transmitting, at least two ultrasonic receiving elements for receiving an ultrasonic signal emitted from the electronic pen during writing and floating writing, and an electromagnetic wave receiving for receiving an electromagnetic wave signal emitted from the electronic pen Equipped with an element to detect the position coordinates of the electronic pen during writing and floating writing from the arrival time difference between the ultrasonic signal and electromagnetic wave signal And a handwriting input system comprising a receiving device provided with the same signal table as the signal table provided in the electronic pen in order to determine from the time interval between electromagnetic wave signals transmitted from the electronic pen, An electromagnetic wave signal is transmitted to the receiving device based on a signal table in which the time interval of the electromagnetic wave signal is determined in advance for each ON / OFF state of the pen switch provided on the electronic pen and one or more function switches provided on the electronic pen. Then, the handwriting input system which collates the transmission period of the electromagnetic wave signal transmitted from the electronic pen with the signal table | surface stored in the receiver, and receives the electromagnetic wave signal according to the use condition of an electronic pen is proposed.

In the present invention, one ultrasonic transmission signal and electromagnetic wave transmission signal are simultaneously sent from the electronic pen, and the position table measurement of the electronic pen is performed on the receiving device side. The position coordinate data is obtained continuously by repeatedly executing. In addition, the on / off information of the pen switch and one or more function keys (in addition to the on / off information of the pen switch and one or more function keys) From pen pressure information, pen tip color information, pen tip thickness information, pen tip change information, temperature information of human touching the writing part, grip pressure information and wetness Communication of condition information, pH information, etc.) can be obtained.
Only the time interval measurement of the electromagnetic wave signal transmitted from the electronic pen is increased on the receiving device side, and no components are added on the electronic pen side. In addition, during floating writing, the time interval between the ultrasonic wave transmission signal and the electromagnetic wave transmission signal of the electronic pen becomes long, so that power consumption can be greatly reduced. Further, since the information is transmitted every time except for the first time, the pen information can be transmitted very quickly. Further, if information is transmitted at a prime time interval or a time interval that is not an integral multiple, the lost information can be accurately restored even if the information is not transmitted once or a plurality of times.

The handwritten handwriting input system block diagram of a present Example. The electronic pen block diagram of a present Example. The electronic pen block diagram of a present Example. 1 is a configuration diagram of a receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment. The receiving device block diagram of a present Example. The signal table of a present Example. The electromagnetic wave signal timing diagram of a present Example. FIG. 6 is an ultrasonic signal / electromagnetic wave signal timing chart of the present embodiment.

  The present invention is applied to a coordinate detection apparatus using ultrasonic waves and electromagnetic waves. Usually, the ultrasonic wave attenuates exponentially as the distance from the electronic pen to the ultrasonic receiver increases. Detection of position coordinates during writing with ultrasonic waves is usually 100 to 50 pps every 10 to 20 msec. On the other hand, since the ultrasonic velocity is 330 m / sec, for example, in the case of a 0.4 m square coordinate detection device, the maximum detection distance between the ultrasonic receiver and the electronic pen is about 0.4 m × 1.41 = 0.57 m. In terms of time, 0.57 m / 330 m / sec = 1.8 msec. The remaining 80 to 90% or more of time is not used for coordinate detection using ultrasonic waves. By detecting the position coordinates at the above time intervals, a resolution of 1 mm or less can be obtained when writing a normal character or the like. In addition, a sufficiently smooth curve can be reproduced even when a long straight line or a long curve at the time of drawing is written at high speed. However, such fine position coordinates are not only necessary for floating writing, but are in the way. It is difficult for a person to keep the pen in space and the motion tends to be large. The time interval for measurement can be changed by reducing the number of times position coordinates are detected in this unnecessary state. Also, switch information (on / off information of the pen switch and one or more function keys). The change in the on / off information of the pen switch and one or more function keys is 20 to avoid problems such as chattering of the switch. It is changed after a time of ˜40 msec or more has elapsed. Therefore, each information 1-5 (refer FIG. 6) is transmitted continuously several times at least. Further, even if all the switches are turned off, the information 4 or the information 5 is continuously transmitted for one minute in order to continuously notify the position information of the pen to the receiving device side. This is repeated again if any switch is pressed. If all the switches are off for 1 minute or longer, transmission is stopped to save energy. On the receiving device side, pen switch and function key on / off information corresponding to the signal table of FIG. 6 is obtained from the change in the measurement time interval.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. 1 to 8 are schematic representations of simple configurations so that the apparatus drawings do not become complicated. The present invention is not limited to the following examples, and includes various modifications within the technical scope of the present invention. Moreover, in each Example, the same referential mark was attached | subjected about the same structure.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the handwriting input system of the present invention. The electronic pen 4 has a pen switch 7, a first function key 8, and a second function key 9. When any one of them is pressed, an electromagnetic wave 6 is transmitted from the electronic pen 4 and received by the receiving device 1. Simultaneously, the ultrasonic wave 5 is transmitted from the electronic pen 4 and is received by the receiving device 1 after a time proportional to the distance. Thereafter, after the time of information 1 to information 5 corresponding to the on / off state of the pen switch 7, the first function key 8, and the second function key 9 has elapsed (see FIG. 7), the electromagnetic wave 6 and the ultrasonic wave 5 are again transmitted to the electronic pen. 4 is received by the receiving device 1. Such information is communicated to the personal computer 3 connected to the receiving device 1 via the USB cable 2.

  In FIG. 2, the block diagram of the electronic pen 4 of this invention is shown. The electronic pen 4 has a pen switch 7 for sensing the writing state at the tip, and the electronic pen 4 has a first function key 8 and a second function key 9 on the side of the front. The electronic pen 4 is supplied with electric power from the battery 10 and is controlled by the circuit unit 11. The electromagnetic wave is mainly transmitted from the coil portion of the circuit unit 11, and the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic oscillation element 12.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electronic pen according to the present invention. The pen switch 7 is used for detection when the electronic pen 4 is written, and the first function key 8 and the second function key 9 are used for detection when the mouse mode is floating. The first function key 8 is used for switching to the mouse mode. The second function key 9 is used for the left button of the mouse mode. Information on the first function key 8 and the second function key 9 is individually communicated to the microcomputer 13. In correspondence with the mouse mode, the personal computer 3 is turned on / off so that the roles of the first function key 8 and the second function key 9 may be reversed so that the user can easily use them. Contact as off information. The battery 10 (see FIG. 2) supplies power to other blocks via the microcomputer 13.

  The voltage of the battery 10 is monitored by the battery voltage detection circuit 15, and an alarm is given to the microcomputer 13 when the voltage falls below a specified voltage. The ultrasonic electromagnetic wave transmission circuit 14 vibrates the ultrasonic oscillation element 12 according to an instruction from the microcomputer 13 and outputs ultrasonic waves and electromagnetic waves.

  If at least one of the pen switch 7, the first function key 8, and the second function key 9 is on, the electronic pen 4 selects the information 1 to 5 described in the signal table of FIG. 7 is transmitted according to the ultrasonic electromagnetic wave signal timing chart shown in FIG. 7 (the transmitting side is stored in the CPU inside the pen and the receiving side is stored in the CPU of the receiving device).

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of the receiving apparatus of the present invention. The receiving apparatus 1 has one electromagnetic wave receiving element 16 and two ultrasonic receiving elements 17 and is connected to the personal computer 3 by the USB cable 2.

  FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the receiving apparatus 1 of the present invention. The electromagnetic wave signal transmitted from the electronic pen 4 is received by the electromagnetic wave receiving element 16, and the signal is amplified and filtered by the electromagnetic wave receiving circuit 19, converted into a pulse signal, and sent to the electromagnetic wave signal analyzing circuit 21. The electromagnetic wave signal analysis circuit 21 sends the signal to the two ultrasonic distance measurement circuits 20 and the microcomputer 13.

  The ultrasonic signal transmitted from the electronic pen 4 propagates in the air at about 330 m / sec, is received by the two ultrasonic receiving elements 17 with a time delay corresponding to the distance, and the received ultrasonic signal is 2 The sine waveform is amplified and filtered by the two ultrasonic receiving circuits 18 and sent to the two ultrasonic distance measuring circuits 20. This is shown in the ultrasonic signal timing diagram of FIG.

  The two ultrasonic distance measuring circuits 20 start measuring time with the signals from the electromagnetic wave signal analyzing circuit 21, complete the time measurement with the signals from the two ultrasonic distance measuring circuits 20, and receive two ultrasonic waves. The arrival time is sent to the microcomputer 13. Up to this point, the process is completed in a maximum of 1.8 msec. Thereafter, the microcomputer 13 calculates the coordinate information of the electronic pen from the flight time of the two ultrasonic waves.

  The microcomputer 13 measures the time interval between the signal from the electromagnetic wave signal analysis circuit 21 and the previous signal, selects the corresponding information 1 to 5 from the electromagnetic wave signal timing diagram shown in FIG. 7, and is shown in FIG. On / off information of the pen switch 7, the first function key 8, and the second function key 9 is obtained from the signal table, and the USB I.D. F. 22 to 3 to the personal computer. Also, the battery inadequate information starts from when at least one of the three kinds of switches of the electronic pen 4 is turned on by selecting the corresponding information 5 from the electromagnetic wave signal timing diagram shown in FIG. Information 5 is transmitted to the receiving device 1 using the fact that there is an information communication time of one minute when all the switches are turned off. As a result, the current consumption is reduced to approximately half when all three types of switches are turned off. When the pen switch is turned off from on and the first or second function key is on, the current consumption is reduced to about 2/3. As a result, the life of the battery could be extended by 20 to 25% as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the information 1 is 11 msec, the information 2 is 13 msec, and the information 1 to 5 is a prime number or an integer that is a multiple of several times, so that the electromagnetic wave signal is a disturbance noise from the outside. For example, information can be prevented from being lost even if it cannot be received once or continuously several times.

1 receiver 2 USB cable 3 IBM-PC
4 Electronic pen 5 Ultrasonic wave 6 Electromagnetic wave 7 Pen switch 8 Function key 1
9 Function key 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Battery 11 Circuit part 12 Ultrasonic transmission element 13 Microcomputer 14 Ultrasonic electromagnetic wave transmission circuit 15 Battery voltage detection circuit 16 Electromagnetic wave reception element 17 Ultrasonic reception element 18 Ultrasonic reception circuit 19 Electromagnetic wave reception circuit 20 Ultrasonic distance measurement circuit 21 Electromagnetic wave Signal analysis circuit 22 USB I.I. F. circuit

Claims (1)

At least one ultrasonic wave electromagnetic wave transmission circuit for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and an electromagnetic wave signal for detecting position coordinates, an ultrasonic wave transmission element, a pen switch that is a sensor for detecting a writing state, and 1 An electronic device comprising at least one function switch and transmitting an ultrasonic signal and electromagnetic wave signal transmission cycle based on a predetermined signal table for each combination of ON and OFF states of the pen switch and at least one function switch. A pen, at least two ultrasonic receiving elements for receiving an ultrasonic signal emitted from the electronic pen during writing and floating writing, and an electromagnetic wave receiving element for receiving an electromagnetic wave signal emitted from the electronic pen And detecting the position coordinates of the electronic pen during writing and floating writing from the difference in arrival time between the ultrasonic signal and the electromagnetic wave signal. A handwriting input system comprising a receiver provided with a signal table identical to the signal table provided in the electronic pen in order to discriminate from the time interval between electromagnetic wave signals transmitted from the electronic pen. An electromagnetic wave signal is transmitted to the receiving device based on a signal table in which the time interval of the electromagnetic wave signal is determined in advance for each ON / OFF state of the provided pen switch and one or more function switches. The handwriting input system characterized by collating the transmission cycle of the electromagnetic wave signal transmitted from the signal table with the signal table stored in the receiving device, and receiving the electromagnetic wave signal according to the use state of the electronic pen.

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