JP2013065278A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of eliminating information on an unnecessary part by sensing the unnecessary part such as a little finger of a hand holding a pen when information on a character and the like is inputted with the pen.SOLUTION: A input device A comprises a square frame shaped optical waveguide W with a quadrangular input hollow part S, and control means C provided on the outside of one side of the optical waveguide W, which are provided on a surface of a square frame shaped retainer plate 30 and covered with a square frame shaped protection plate 40. The control means C comprises: a light emitting device 5 connected to end parts of a plurality of cores 2a for light emission in the optical waveguide W; a photo detector 6 connected to end parts of a plurality of cores 2b for light incidence in the optical waveguide W; and a CPU in which a program is embedded for recognizing a shielding range of a hand Q longer than that of a pen P from a difference in the shielding ranges as unnecessary information when sensing a shielding range by the pen tip of the pen P and the shielding range by the hand Q holding the pen P in the input hollow part S.

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device having an optical position detection means.

  Conventionally, as an input device, an optical position detection device (for example, see Patent Document 1) including a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements has been proposed. This is formed in a square frame shape, and a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in parallel on one of a pair of L-shaped parts constituting the square frame, and a plurality of light receiving elements facing the light emitting elements are arranged in parallel on the other side. It has become. The rectangular frame-shaped optical position detection device is installed along the periphery of the quadrangular display, and by moving the pen within the quadrangular frame, information such as characters is input and displayed on the display. Be able to.

  That is, in the square frame, the light runs in a lattice pattern by the plurality of light emitting elements, and when the pen is moved within the square frame, the light from the light emitting elements is blocked by the pen tip. The light-receiving element facing the light-emitting element senses the light shielding, thereby detecting the locus of the pen tip (input information such as characters). The trajectory is output as a signal to the display.

Japanese Patent No. 3682109

  However, since the rectangular frame-shaped optical position detection device is installed along the periphery of the display, the inside of the rectangular frame is widened. Therefore, when trying to input characters or the like in the square frame with the pen, not only the tip of the pen but also the little finger of the hand holding the pen and the base portion (the little finger ball) are also in the square frame. Touch the surface of the display. In this case, since the entire portion in contact with the surface of the display is detected within the square frame, unnecessary portions (the little finger, the base portion thereof, etc.) are also detected, and thereby unnecessary information is also displayed on the display. There is a problem of being displayed. So, if you try to input characters with the pen so that the little finger or its base part does not touch the surface of the display, the characters will be disturbed and you will not be able to input properly. Happens.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when inputting information such as characters with a pen, if an unnecessary portion such as a little finger of a hand holding the pen is detected, the information on the unnecessary portion is excluded. An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device according to the present invention includes a frame-shaped plate that is a hollow portion for input by an input body held in a space surrounded by a frame, and one of the frame-shaped plates facing each other. And a light receiving means for receiving light emitted from the light emitting means provided in the other part of the frame-like plate, and the emitted light is formed in a lattice shape in the input hollow portion. An input device that uses as input information a light shielding portion of the emitted light by the tip input portion of the input body in the input hollow portion, and has a light shielding range by the tip input portion of the input body and the hand longer than that. When a light shielding range is detected, unnecessary part recognition means for recognizing the longer light shielding part as unnecessary information due to the difference in the light shielding range is adopted.

  In the input device according to the present invention, in the input hollow portion, when an input body such as a pen is held in the hand and information such as characters is input to the area in the input hollow portion, the input information is input together with the tip input portion such as the pen tip. Although the unnecessary little finger of the hand is also detected, the input device of the present invention includes unnecessary part recognition means. Can be distinguished from the little finger or the like (unnecessary portion), and the light shielding portion having the longer light shielding range can be recognized as unnecessary information. Thereby, the unnecessary information is excluded, and for example, it can be prevented from being displayed on the display or stored as data.

  In particular, when the light-shielding range having a length of 5 mm or more is set as the unnecessary information, a pen or the like that is generally marketed (input body) may be tilted or used. Can be recognized separately from the little finger of the hand (unnecessary part).

  Furthermore, when the light-shielding range by the tip input part of the input body and the light-shielding range by the hand that floats in the air shorter than that are sensed, the input that has been recognized so far due to the difference in the position of the light-shielding part The light-shielding part of the hand that has been recognized at a predetermined set value or more away from the position of the light-shielding part of the body is determined to be misrecognized, and the light-shielding part of the input body that is within the range below the set value In the case of providing a misrecognition preventing means for recognizing information, even if the hand floats in the air and the light shielding range by the hand is shorter than the light shielding range by the tip input part of the input body, Since the erroneous recognition preventing means is provided, it is possible to appropriately recognize the light-shielding portion by the tip input portion of the input body as input information due to the difference in the position of the light-shielding portion.

  The light emitting means includes a light emitting element and a plurality of light emitting cores of an optical waveguide connected to the light emitting element, and the light receiving means includes a light receiving element and a light guide connected to the light receiving element. A plurality of light incident cores of the waveguide, and the tip of the light emitting core and the tip of the light incident core face each other while being positioned at the inner edge of the frame plate Since the optical waveguide is formed on the frame-shaped plate and the optical waveguide can be formed thin, the input device of the present invention obstructs the use of the input body when inputting with the input body. It is easier to input.

  On the other hand, the light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting elements, the light receiving means comprises a plurality of light receiving elements, and the plurality of light emitting elements and the plurality of light receiving elements are positioned at an inner edge of the frame-shaped plate. When the light emitting element and the light receiving element face each other, the light emitting element and the light receiving element have a certain thickness. Therefore, the input device of the present invention is also formed to be thick to a certain extent as a whole, and the input device has rigidity and strength. can do.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of an input device of the present invention. (A) is a top view which shows typically the optical waveguide of the said input device, (b) is an enlarged view of the X1-X1 cross section of (a), (c) is X2 of (a). It is an enlarged view of -X2 cross section. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flowchart of the program of CPU in the said input device. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows typically an example of the manufacturing method of the said input device. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows typically the preparation methods of the input device following the process shown in the said FIG. (A)-(b) is explanatory drawing which shows typically the preparation methods of the input device following the process shown in the said FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows typically the preparation methods of the input device following the process shown in the said FIG. 6, (b) is X3-X3 sectional drawing of (a). It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the preparation methods of the input device following the process shown in the said FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the assumption in other embodiment of the input device of this invention. It is a top view which shows typically an example when input information is misrecognized. It is a top view which shows typically other embodiment of the input device of this invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an input device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 2 (b) is an X1-X1 cross section of FIG. 2 (a). 2C is an enlarged view, and FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of the X2-X2 cross section of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the input device A of this embodiment is formed in a rectangular frame shape having a square input hollow portion (window portion) S. Inside the input device A, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a rectangular frame-shaped optical waveguide W having the input hollow portion S, and a light emitting element connected to the optical waveguide W 5 and a control means C having a light receiving element 6. The optical waveguide W and the control means C are provided on the surface of a rectangular frame-shaped holding plate (frame plate) 30 having the input hollow portion S, and the square frame having the input hollow portion S. It is covered with a protective plate 40. Then, the light H from the light emitting element 5 passes through the light emitting core 2a of the optical waveguide W, and in a lateral direction [from right to left in FIG. It is emitted in the direction of the direction] and in the vertical direction (the direction from the bottom to the top in FIG. 2A) and runs in a grid pattern.

  In addition to the light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6, the control means C also includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) that controls the input device A, and the CPU has an input hollow. In the part S, the light H shielding range (vertical length and horizontal length of the light shielding part) by the pen tip (tip input part) of the pen (input body) P is longer than that (the vertical length of the light shielding part). When a light-shielding range (the light-shielding range of the light H by the little finger of the hand Q holding the pen P) is sensed, the longer one is detected due to the difference in the light-shielding range. A program for recognizing the light shielding portion as unnecessary information (unnecessary portion recognition means) is incorporated.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the rectangular frame-shaped optical waveguide W is produced by individually producing a strip-shaped optical waveguide portion on each side of the rectangular frame shape. It is connected in a square frame shape. In this embodiment, both end edges of each of the strip-shaped optical waveguide portions are formed in stepped portions, and the adjacent optical waveguide portions and the optical waveguide portions are connected in a state of positioning using the stepped portions. Has been. Each band-shaped optical waveguide portion includes an under cladding layer 1, a light emitting core 2a and a light incident core 2b formed in a predetermined pattern on the surface of the under cladding layer 1, and the cores 2a, 2a, The over clad layer 3 is formed on the surface of the under clad layer 1 in a state of covering 2b. The under-cladding layer 1 is attached to the surface of the rectangular frame-shaped holding plate 30. Since FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view on the light incident side, the light emitting core 2a is not shown in FIG. 2B.

  In the optical waveguide W formed in a square frame shape, a light emitting core 2a is branched into a plurality of surfaces on one surface of a pair of L-shaped portions constituting the square frame of the under cladding layer 1. A plurality of cores 2b for light incidence are formed in parallel on the other surface. The leading ends of the cores 2a and 2b are positioned at the inner edges (inner peripheral edges of the square frame) of the pair of L-shaped portions, and the leading end of the light emitting core 2a and the leading end of the light incident core 2b Are formed in a state of facing each other. Further, an over clad layer 3 is formed in a square frame shape on the surface of the under clad layer 1 in a state of covering the light emitting core 2a and the light incident core 2b. In this embodiment, the tip portions of the cores 2a and 2b positioned at the inner peripheral edge of the square frame are formed as convex lens portions having a curved surface having a substantially ½ arc shape in plan view. The tip of the over clad layer 3 that covers the lens part is formed in a convex lens part 3a having a partially spherical lens curved surface. In FIG. 2A, the cores 2a and 2b are indicated by chain lines, and the thickness of the chain line indicates the thickness of the cores 2a and 2b. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the number of cores 2a and 2b is omitted.

  On the other hand, in addition to the light emitting element 5, the light receiving element 6 and the CPU described above, the control means C receives information (information on the movement trajectory of the pen tip) input to the area in the input hollow portion S of the optical waveguide W. ) Output module (not shown), storage means (not shown) for storing the information, a battery (not shown) serving as a power source, and the like. The light emitting element 5, the light receiving element 6, the CPU, the output module, the storage means, the battery, and the like are mounted on a circuit board and electrically connected appropriately. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the light emitting element 5 is connected to end portions of a plurality of light emitting cores 2a of the optical waveguide W, and the light receiving element 6 is connected to the optical waveguide. The waveguide W is connected to the ends of a plurality of light incident cores 2b.

  Then, as described above, in the input hollow portion S, the CPU has a light shielding range of the light H by the pen tip and a longer light shielding range (the little finger of the hand Q holding the pen P, etc. A program for recognizing the longer light-shielding portion as unnecessary information when the light H is sensed is incorporated. That is, when inputting with the pen P to the input hollow portion S, the little finger of the hand Q holding the pen P which is unnecessary for input information is also detected, but is blocked by the program incorporated in the CPU. From the difference in the range, it is possible to distinguish the pen tip having a short light shielding range from the little finger (unnecessary portion) of the hand Q having a long light shielding range, and the light shielding portion having the longer light shielding range can be recognized as unnecessary information. . Thereby, the unnecessary information is excluded, and for example, it can be prevented from being displayed on the display or stored as data.

  Here, the position of the light shielding portion can be determined from the position where the amount of change in the detected voltage from the light receiving element 6 shows a peak. Therefore, in the input device A shown in FIG. 2 (a), in the case of a right-handed person, it is also possible to determine the peak at the leftmost and uppermost position as the pen tip (in the case of a left-handed person, the most Right and top position). The light shielding range can be determined from the peak width. Therefore, when a right-handed person uses the input device A and a left hand or the like is detected by the input hollow portion S, it is possible to determine that the pen tip has the narrowest peak width.

  Furthermore, since the peak width may be narrowed for a moment when the hand Q starts to be sensed, it may be erroneously recognized as a pen tip. Therefore, it may be added to the program built in the CPU so that the detection with the pen tip or the hand Q is invalid for a short period of time at the start of detection. Or, even if the hand Q that has started to be sensed is misrecognized as a pen tip and displayed on the display, when the hand Q is recognized as the hand Q, it is incorporated in the CPU so that the display is erased. It may be added to the existing program.

  In addition, if dust or the like is present in the input hollow portion S, the dust or the like is detected as being the same as the pen tip. Therefore, if there is an input with the pen P in that state, it is detected at two or more locations. Become. In such a case, an alarm may be added to the program built in the CPU. By doing so, it is possible to know that there is dust or the like in the input hollow portion S. Furthermore, when the operating environment of the input device A is very bright (outdoors etc.), even if light is blocked by the pen tip, strong light is incident from the tip of the light incident core 2b, and the pen tip (light blocking portion). May not be detected. Therefore, when such strong light is detected, it may be added to the program incorporated in the CPU so as to give an alarm.

  In the input device A including the optical waveguide W and the control means C having such a configuration, the light H from the light emitting element 5 passes through the light emitting core 2a, passes through the lens portion at the tip thereof, The light is emitted from the surface of the lens portion 3a of the over clad layer 3 that covers the surface. As a result, the light H travels in a lattice pattern in the region within the input hollow portion S of the rectangular frame-shaped optical waveguide W as described above. Divergence of the light H running in the lattice shape is suppressed by the refractive action of the lens portion at the tip of the light emitting core 2a and the lens portion 3a of the over clad layer 3 covering the lens portion. The light H passes through the lens portion 3a of the light-receiving side overclad layer 3, passes through the lens portion at the tip of the light incident core 2b, passes through the light incident core 2b, and passes through the light receiving element 6b. To reach. The light incident on the light incident core 2b is focused and converged by the refractive action of the lens portion 3a of the over clad layer 3 and the lens portion at the tip of the light incident core 2b.

  When inputting information using the input device A, for example, the input device A is placed on paper, the pen P is held in the hand Q, and the light H is in a lattice shape as described above. Characters, drawings, marks, and the like are written with the pen P on the portion of the paper exposed from the input hollow portion S that runs. Thus, the light H traveling in the lattice shape is shielded by the pen tip of the pen P and the hand Q, and the light interception is detected by the light receiving element 6, whereby the locus of the pen tip and the hand Q The position is detected. The locus of the pen tip becomes input information such as characters, diagrams, and marks.

  Here, in this embodiment, control is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 by a program incorporated in the CPU of the control means C, for example. That is, holding a pen P in the hand Q and writing characters, figures, marks, etc. with the pen P on the paper portion exposed from the input hollow portion S as described above, the pen tip of the pen P and the hand Light shielding portions are formed by Q, and the light receiving element 6 senses these light shielding portions. Then, the center position of the pen tip and the hand Q is determined from the peak width of the change amount of the detection voltage from the light receiving element 6, and the thickness of the pen tip and the hand Q (a predetermined value from the center) is determined. Determined. Next, it is determined whether or not the pen tip and the hand Q are within the writing effective area. In the case of a right-handed person, this writing effective area is an area on the left side and above the hand Q, and in the case of a left-handed person, it is an area on the right side and above the hand Q. The entire input hollow portion S is set as a write effective area). Next, when the pen tip and the hand Q are in the writing effective area, it is determined whether or not the thickness of the pen tip and the hand Q (the peak width) is smaller than a predetermined value. If the thickness is smaller than the default value, the pen tip is recognized, and the locus is displayed as input information on the display. If the thickness is equal to or greater than the default value, the hand (unnecessary information) Q is recognized. Is not displayed on the display. Thereafter, a new write effective area is set. In addition, it is preferable to set the predetermined value to 5 mm from the viewpoint of easily distinguishing the pen tip and the hand Q of a commercially available pen.

  Such an input device A is used together with, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “personal computer”). That is, when displaying information such as documents on the display of the personal computer and adding information such as characters, figures, marks, etc. to the displayed information, the inside of the input hollow portion S of the input device A as described above In this area, information such as characters is input with the pen P. Thereby, the locus of the pen tip is detected by the input device A, and is transmitted as a signal to the personal computer wirelessly or via a connection cable, and can be displayed on the display. Thereby, the information such as the characters input by the input device A is displayed on the display in a state where the information such as the material is superimposed on the information.

  The personal computer used here has the input hollow of the input device A in order to display characters or the like input in the input hollow portion S of the input device A at the position of the display corresponding to the input position. Software (program) for converting the coordinates of the area in the part S into the coordinates of the screen of the display and displaying characters or the like input by the input device A on the display is incorporated.

  Note that the information such as the material is normally stored in advance in an information storage medium such as a hard disk in the personal computer or an external USB memory, and is output from the information storage medium. Then, information obtained by superimposing information such as the material displayed on the display and information such as characters input by the input device A can be stored in the information storage medium.

  Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the input device A will be described. In this embodiment, the rectangular frame-shaped optical waveguide W is manufactured by individually manufacturing a strip-shaped optical waveguide portion on each side of the rectangular frame shape and connecting it to the rectangular frame shape. 4A to 4C and FIGS. 5A to 5C cited in the description of the method for manufacturing the optical waveguide W are portions corresponding to the X1-X1 cross section of FIG. Show.

  First, a substrate 10 (see FIG. 4A) for forming a strip-shaped optical waveguide portion is prepared. Examples of the material for forming the substrate 10 include metal, resin, glass, quartz, and silicon.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, a strip-like under cladding layer 1 is formed on the surface of the substrate 10. The under cladding layer 1 can be formed by photolithography using a photosensitive resin as a forming material. The thickness of the under cladding layer 1 is set within a range of 5 to 50 μm, for example.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, a light emitting core 2a and a light incident core 2b having the pattern are formed on the surface of the under cladding layer 1 by photolithography. The pitch of the tips of the cores 2a and 2b {the pitch of the light H in the input hollow portion S [see FIG. 2 (a)]} is preferably small from the viewpoint of increasing the detection accuracy of the pen tip position. , 0.05 to 0.45 mm. As a material for forming the cores 2a and 2b, a photosensitive resin having a refractive index higher than that of the material for forming the under cladding layer 1 and the following over cladding layer 3 (see FIG. 5B) is used. Since FIG. 4B is a sectional view on the light incident side, the light emitting core 2a is not shown in FIG. 4B. The same applies to FIGS. 5A to 5C described below.

  Here, as shown in FIG.4 (c), the shaping | molding die 20 which has translucency for over clad layer formation is prepared. The mold 20 is provided with a recess 21 having a mold surface corresponding to the surface shape of the overcladding layer 3 (see FIG. 5B). Then, the molding die 20 is placed on a molding stage (not shown) with the concave portion 21 facing up, and the concave portion 21 is filled with a photosensitive resin 3A that is a material for forming the over clad layer 3.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the cores 2a and 2b patterned on the surface of the under cladding layer 1 are positioned with respect to the recess 21 of the mold 20, and in this state, the under cladding layer 1 is pressed against the mold 20, and the cores 2a and 2b are immersed in the photosensitive resin 3A which is a material for forming the over clad layer 3. In this state, the photosensitive resin 3A is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like through the mold 20 to expose the photosensitive resin 3A. Thereby, the photosensitive resin 3A is cured, and the over clad layer 3 is formed in which the portion of the over clad layer 3 corresponding to the tip portions of the cores 2a and 2b is formed in the lens portion 3a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (b) (shown upside down from FIG. 5 (a)), the overcladding layer 3 is removed from the mold 20 (see FIG. 5 (a)). Then, the substrate 10, the under clad layer 1 and the cores 2a and 2b are removed from the mold.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the substrate 10 [see FIG. 4B] is peeled off from the under cladding layer 1 to form a belt-like shape composed of the under cladding layer 1, the cores 2a and 2b, and the over cladding layer 3. An optical waveguide part is obtained.

  Next, as shown in a plan view in FIG. 6A, a circuit board 8 is prepared, and a CPU (not shown) for controlling the light emitting element 5, the light receiving element 6, and the input device A (see FIG. 1) is prepared. ), An output module (not shown) for outputting information inputted to a region in the input hollow portion S of the optical waveguide W (see FIG. 1), the storage means (not shown), a battery (not shown) Etc. are mounted to produce the control means C.

  Here, as shown in a plan view of FIG. 6B, a square frame-shaped holding plate 30 having an input hollow portion S is prepared. Examples of the material for forming the holding plate 30 include metal, resin, glass, quartz, and silicon. Among these, stainless steel is preferable because it is excellent in maintaining flatness. The thickness of the holding plate 30 is set to about 0.5 mm, for example.

  7A is a plan view, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view [X3-X3 cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A], on the surface of the rectangular frame-shaped holding plate 30. Then, the above-mentioned band-shaped optical waveguide portion is adhered to produce a rectangular frame-shaped optical waveguide W. At this time, the light emitting element 5 is connected to the light emitting core 2a, and the light receiving element 6 is connected to the light incident core 2b.

  Thereafter, as shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 8, the top surface excluding the lens portion 3 a of the over clad layer 3 and the control means C are covered with a protective plate 40. Examples of the material for forming the protection plate 40 include resin, metal, glass, quartz, and silicon. The thickness of the protective plate 40 is set to, for example, about 0.5 mm if it is made of metal and about 0.8 mm if it is made of resin.

  In this way, the input device A can be manufactured. In this input device A, the portion of the optical waveguide W can be formed as thin as about 3 mm even when the holding plate 30 and the protective plate 40 on the front and rear surfaces are combined. Even when the holding means 30 and the protective plate 40 on the front and rear surfaces of the control means C are combined, the total thickness can be reduced to about 3 mm. In this embodiment, the portion of the optical waveguide W and the portion of the control means C are formed with the same thickness.

In another embodiment of the input device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, when a character or the like is written on the paper K with the pen P, the hand Q holding the pen P is separated from the paper K. It is assumed that it floats in the air. That is, when the hand Q is separated from the paper K and floats in the air, the light shielding part G ₂ due to a part of the hand Q may be thinner than the light shielding part G ₁ due to the pen tip. At that time, the light-shielding portion G ₂ due to a part of the hand Q is erroneously recognized as input information, and the light-shielding portion G ₁ due to the pen tip is recognized as unnecessary information. For example, when writing the letter “D”, if the hand Q floats in the air away from the paper K, the letter “D” is a part of the hand Q floating in the air as shown in FIG. When the light-shielding portion G ₂ (see FIG. 9) is erroneously recognized as input information, the erroneously recognized portion G ₃ becomes a distorted character. In order to prevent such misrecognition, in this embodiment, when the position of the narrower light-shielding portion that is continuously recognized is recognized at a predetermined distance or more, it is referred to as misrecognition. A program (erroneous recognition preventing means) for recognizing input information at a position of the light-shielding portion within the range less than the set value is incorporated in the CPU even if the light-shielding portion is thicker. The set value is typically a pen tip, is set equal to or less than the distance between the part of the hand Q to make a light shielding portion G ₂ (little finger and the base portion, etc.), for example, in the range of 5~20mm Is set. Other parts are the same as those in the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 8), and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts.

  In this embodiment, since the erroneous recognition preventing means is provided, even if the hand Q is separated from the paper K and floats in the air during input, the erroneous recognition as described above does not occur and the input is properly performed. can do. Moreover, there exists an effect | action and effect similar to the said embodiment (refer FIGS. 1-8).

  In each of the above-described embodiments, in order to improve the light transmission efficiency in the input hollow portion S in the rectangular optical waveguide W of the input device A, the tip of the light emitting core 2a and the light The tip of the incident core 2b is formed in the lens portion, and the tip of the over clad layer 3 covering the same is also formed in the lens portion 3a. However, the light transmission efficiency in the input hollow portion S is sufficient. If so, the lens portion may be formed only on one of the cores 2a and 2b or the over clad layer 3, or not both. When the lens portion is not formed, a separate lens body may be prepared and installed along the peripheral edge in the input hollow portion S of the optical waveguide W.

  FIG. 11 shows still another embodiment of the input device of the present invention. The input device B according to this embodiment includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (light emitting means) on one edge of the square frame-shaped holding plate having a square input hollow portion S opposed to the input hollow portion S. 11 are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of photodiodes (light receiving means) 12 are arranged in parallel on the other peripheral edge, and the light emitting part of the light emitting diode 11 and the light receiving part of the photodiode 12 face each other. The input device B is not provided with the optical waveguide W (see FIG. 1). The light emitting diodes 11 and the photodiodes 12 are mounted on a square frame circuit board 8 provided on the surface of the holding plate. Similarly to the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 8), the circuit board 8 has a CPU for controlling the input device B and an output for outputting information input to the area in the input hollow portion S. Modules, storage means, batteries, and the like are mounted, and a protective plate 40 is also provided. In FIG. 11, the numbers of the light emitting diodes 11 and the photodiodes 12 are omitted.

  Also in this embodiment, the plurality of light emitting diodes 11 causes the light H to run in a lattice pattern in the region in the input hollow portion S. Then, when the pen P is moved in the region within the input hollow portion S, the light H running in the lattice shape is shielded by the pen tip, and the light shielding is sensed by the photodiode 12, thereby The locus of the nib is detected. In other words, the input device B of this embodiment is also used in the same manner as the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 8), and has the same operations and effects.

  In each of the above embodiments, the pen (writing instrument) P is used as the input body. However, the input body is a tool used for inputting characters or the like in the input hollow portion S, and is written on paper. If it is not necessary, a thin rod or the like may be used as the input body.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the input devices A and B are used together with a personal computer, and the input information to the input device is displayed on the display of the personal computer, but the same function as the function of the personal computer in each of the above embodiments. May be added to the input devices A and B or the display, and displayed on the display without using a personal computer.

  Next, examples will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the examples.

[Example 1]
[Formation material of under cladding layer]
Component A: 75 parts by weight of an epoxy resin containing an alicyclic skeleton (manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, EHPE3150).
Component B: 25 parts by weight of an epoxy group-containing acrylic polymer (manufactured by NOF Corporation, Marproof G-0150M).
Component C: 4 parts by weight of a photoacid generator (manufactured by Sun Apro, CPI-200K).
These components A to C were dissolved in cyclohexanone (solvent) together with 5 parts by weight of an ultraviolet absorber (manufactured by Ciba Japan Co., Ltd., TINUVIN479) to prepare an undercladding layer forming material.

[Core forming material]
Component D: 85 parts by weight of an epoxy resin containing a bisphenol A skeleton (manufactured by Japan Epoxy Resin Co., Ltd., 157S70).
Component E: 5 parts by weight of an epoxy resin containing a bisphenol A skeleton (manufactured by Japan Epoxy Resin, Epicoat 828).
Component F: 10 parts by weight of an epoxy group-containing styrene polymer (manufactured by NOF Corporation, Marproof G-0250SP).
A core forming material was prepared by dissolving these components D to F and 4 parts by weight of the component C in ethyl lactate.

[Formation material of over clad layer]
Component G: 100 parts by weight of an epoxy resin having an alicyclic skeleton (manufactured by Adeka, EP4080E).
By mixing this component G and 2 parts by weight of the above component C, a material for forming the over clad layer was prepared.

[Production of optical waveguide]
The undercladding layer forming material was applied to the surface of a stainless steel substrate (thickness: 50 μm), followed by heat treatment at 160 ° C. for 2 minutes to form a photosensitive resin layer. Subsequently, the photosensitive resin layer was irradiated with ultraviolet rays to be exposed to an integrated light quantity of 1000 mJ / cm ² to form an under cladding layer (refractive index of 1.510 at a wavelength of 830 nm) having a thickness of 10 μm.

Next, after the core forming material was applied to the surface of the under cladding layer, a heat treatment was performed at 170 ° C. for 3 minutes to form a photosensitive resin layer. Next, ultraviolet rays were irradiated through a photomask (gap 100 μm), and exposure with an integrated light amount of 3000 mJ / cm ² was performed. Subsequently, a heat treatment at 120 ° C. for 10 minutes was performed. Thereafter, development is performed using a developer (γ-butyrolactone) to dissolve and remove the unexposed portion, followed by drying at 120 ° C. for 5 minutes, and a core having a width of 30 μm and a height of 50 μm (refractive index at a wavelength of 830 nm). 1.570) was patterned.

  Here, a mold having translucency for forming an overcladding layer was prepared. In this mold, a recess having a mold surface corresponding to the surface shape of the overcladding layer is formed. Then, with the concave portion facing up, the mold was placed on the molding stage, and the concave portion was filled with the material for forming the over clad layer.

Next, the core patterned on the surface of the under cladding layer is positioned with respect to the concave portion of the molding die, and in this state, the under cladding layer is pressed against the molding die, The core was soaked. Then, in this state, ultraviolet rays are irradiated through the mold to the over clad layer forming material to perform exposure with an accumulated light amount of 8000 mJ / cm ² , and a portion of the over clad layer corresponding to the tip of the core Was formed on the convex lens part. The convex lens portion had a lens curved surface (curvature radius of 1.4 mm) having a substantially circular arc shape in a side sectional shape.

  Next, the over clad layer was removed from the mold together with the substrate, the under clad layer, and the core.

  And the said board | substrate was peeled from the under clad layer, and the strip | belt-shaped optical waveguide part (total thickness 1mm) which consists of an under clad layer, a core, and an over clad layer was obtained.

[Production of input devices]
Next, a circuit board was prepared, and a light emitting element (manufactured by Optiwell, SM85-2N001), a light receiving element (manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics, S-10226), a CMOS drive CPU, a crystal resonator, a wireless module, two pieces A coin-type lithium battery (CR1216: thickness 1.6 mm, diameter 1.25 mm, voltage 3 V) and the like were mounted to produce a control means. The CPU program is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  Here, a square frame-shaped stainless steel holding plate (thickness 0.5 mm) was prepared. The hollow part for input of this holding plate was made into the square of 30 cm long x 30 cm wide. And the said strip | belt-shaped optical waveguide part was affixed on the outer part of the said hollow part for input among the surfaces of the said holding | maintenance board, while producing the square frame-shaped optical waveguide, the said control means was fixed. At this time, the light emitting element was connected to the light emitting core, and the light receiving element was connected to the light incident core. Thereafter, the top surface excluding the lens portion of the over clad layer and the fixed portion of the control means were covered with a rectangular frame-shaped stainless steel protective plate (thickness 0.5 mm) to obtain an input device.

[Example 2]
[Production of input devices]
A square-frame-shaped holding plate similar to that in Example 1 is prepared, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (manufactured by Sharp Corporation, GL4800E0000F) are arranged in parallel on the opposite peripheral edge of the input hollow portion, and on the other peripheral edge A plurality of photodiodes (manufactured by Sharp Corporation, PD411PI2E00P) were juxtaposed. Similarly to the first embodiment, a control means is manufactured by mounting a CMOS drive CPU, a crystal resonator, a wireless module, two coin-type lithium batteries, etc. on a circuit board and fixing it to the holding plate. did. The CPU program is shown in the flowchart of FIG. Here, the light emitting diode, the photodiode, and the control means were covered with a rectangular frame-shaped stainless steel protective plate (thickness 0.5 mm) to obtain an input device.

[Operation check of input device]
A USB memory and a personal computer storing information such as documents were prepared, and the storage information of the USB memory was displayed on the display of the personal computer using the personal computer. The personal computer is a software (program) for converting the coordinates of the area within the rectangular frame-shaped input hollow portion of the input device into the coordinates of the screen of the display, and displaying characters and the like input by the input device on the display. Is incorporated. The personal computer is provided with a receiving means so as to receive radio waves (information) from the wireless module of the input device, and the personal computer and the input device are connected so as to be able to transmit information wirelessly.

  Then, the input devices of Examples 1 and 2 were placed on paper with the stainless steel holding plate facing down. Next, a pen was held in the hand, and letters were written on the paper exposed from the region in the hollow portion for input with the pen. As a result, only the character was displayed in a state of being superimposed on the information such as the material displayed on the display, and the hand was not displayed.

  The input device of the present invention can be used to add new information such as characters, figures, and marks to a material or the like displayed on a display.

A input device S hollow portion for input W optical waveguide C control means P pen Q hand 2a, 2b core 5 light emitting element 6 light receiving element 30 holding plate 40 protective plate

Claims (5)

  A frame-shaped plate that is a hollow part for input by an input body held by a hand in a space surrounded by the frame, light-emitting means provided on one portion of the frame-shaped plate facing each other, and the frame-shaped plate A light receiving means for receiving light emitted from the light emitting means provided in the other portion, and the emitted light runs in a lattice shape in the input hollow portion, and is input by a tip input portion of the input body in the input hollow portion. An input device that uses the light-shielding portion of the emitted light as input information, and when the light-shielding range by the tip input portion of the input body and the light-shielding range by the hand longer than that are sensed, the difference in the light-shielding range And an unnecessary part recognizing means for recognizing the longer light-shielding part as unnecessary information.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the light shielding range of 5 mm or more is set as the unnecessary information.   When the light-shielding range by the tip input part of the input body and the light-shielding range by the hand floating in the air shorter than that are sensed, due to the difference in the position of the light-shielding portion, the input body that has been recognized so far The light-shielding part of the hand floating in the air that is recognized at a predetermined set value or more away from the position of the light-shielding part is determined to be misrecognized, and the light-shielding part of the input body that is within the range less than the set value The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a recognition error prevention means for recognizing.   The light emitting means includes a light emitting element and a plurality of light emitting cores of an optical waveguide connected to the light emitting element, and the light receiving means includes a light receiving element and an optical waveguide connected to the light receiving element. 2. The light emitting core includes a plurality of light incident cores, and a front end portion of the light emitting core and a front end portion of the light incident core face each other while being positioned at an inner edge of the frame-shaped plate. The input device as described in any one of -3.   The light emitting means is composed of a plurality of light emitting elements, the light receiving means is composed of a plurality of light receiving elements, and the plurality of light emitting elements and the plurality of light receiving elements are positioned on the inner edge of the frame-shaped plate The input device according to claim 1, which is opposed to each other.

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