JPH08115154A - Pen input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve operability at the time of specifying the thickness and color of a line to be hand-written and displayed and to sufficiently secure a display area of a display device to be practically used for plotting. CONSTITUTION: When one of plural selection switches fixed on a pen 9 is selected and an input is hand-written on a tablet by the pen 9, an oscillation part 93 in the pen 9 is electromagnetically coupled with respective coils of the tablet and generates a magnetic field with strength corresponding to the selected switch and the tablet side detects a dielectric voltage value corresponding to the strength of the magnetic field, selects the thickness and color of a line corresponding to each detected voltage value and displays the line on the display device. Consequently the necessity of a display area for displaying an indication command on the display device at the time of specifying the thickness and color of a line is eliminated and the operability can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pen input device comprising a tablet, a pen electromagnetically coupled to the tablet, and a display for displaying an instruction input to the tablet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pen used in a pen input device of this type has an oscillating portion composed of a coil and a capacitor. When such a pen is brought close to the tablet, electromagnetic coupling between the oscillation unit of the pen and the X-direction coil group and the Y-direction coil group arranged in a grid on the tablet grid plate of the tablet causes electromagnetic coupling on the tablet. A voltage is induced in the coil. The voltage thus induced is detected by sequentially and selectively scanning each coil in the X-direction coil group and each coil in the Y-direction coil group, and the coil having the highest induced voltage value is selected. From the address, the x, y coordinates of the pen on the tablet are calculated.

By displaying the calculated coordinate position on a display device such as an LCD provided on the lower surface of the tablet, the pointing position of the pen is displayed on the LCD. Therefore, when the pen is moved from one point on the tablet surface to another point, the display according to the movement trajectory of the pen is sequentially performed on the LCD and displayed as a line drawing.

[0004]

By the way, when the handwriting is displayed on the LCD by the pen, the thickness of the line is
It is specified by inputting a command for specifying the line thickness in advance on the tablet side. That is, by designating each command such as a thick line, a medium thin line, and a thin line displayed in a predetermined display area of the LCD with a pen, subsequent drawing is executed with the designated line thickness.

Further, a color display is provided as a display,
The same applies to the case where the lines displayed in handwriting are displayed in color. By designating each command such as red, blue, and yellow displayed in a predetermined display area of the LCD, the designated color display is performed. Therefore, the specifying operation is complicated and the LC
Since the above-mentioned command is constantly displayed in the predetermined display area of D, there is a problem that the display area used for actual drawing is limited. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the operability in designating the thickness and color of a line displayed by handwriting, and to sufficiently secure a display area used for actual drawing.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an oscillating unit consisting of a tablet having a grid plate in which each coil is arranged in a grid, a display, and a coil and a capacitor. In a pen input device that includes a pen that is electromagnetically coupled to each coil of the tablet and that displays the input status of the pen on the tablet on a display, a plurality of selection switches and a magnetic field having an intensity corresponding to the operated selection switch. The pen is provided with a switching means for generating an oscillating part from the oscillating portion, and the value of the induced voltage generated in the tablet is detected according to the strength of the magnetic field, and the control is performed to execute a predetermined process determined according to each detected voltage value. The means is provided on the tablet. Further, the control means is adapted to execute a process of selectively controlling the thickness of the line segment displayed on the display device according to the magnitude of the induced voltage value. Further, a display device capable of color display is provided as the display device, and the control means executes a process of selectively controlling the color of the line segment displayed on the display device according to the magnitude of the induced voltage value. .

[0007]

When one of a plurality of selection switches provided on the pen is selected and handwriting is input to the tablet by the pen, the oscillation unit of the pen is electromagnetically coupled to each coil of the tablet and responds to the selected switch. In addition to generating a strong magnetic field, the tablet side detects an induced voltage value according to the strength of the magnetic field, and executes a predetermined process according to each detected voltage value. As a result, for example, when designating the thickness and color of lines displayed by handwriting, it is sufficient to switch the selection switch of the pen without requiring a special display area on the display unit. The display area of can be used for actual drawing. In addition, the thickness of the line segment displayed on the display is selectively controlled according to the magnitude of the induced voltage value. As a result, when specifying the thickness of the line displayed on the display, it is only necessary to switch the pen selection switch, which improves operability and does not require a special display area on the display. become. Also, the color of the line segment displayed on the display is selectively controlled according to the magnitude of the induced voltage value. As a result, when the color of the line to be displayed is designated, it is sufficient to switch the selection switch of the pen, which improves the operability and eliminates the need for a special display area.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a tablet which constitutes the pen input device according to the present invention. In the figure,
The tablet 1 is configured as follows. That is, 2 is a grid plate, and the grid plate 2 is a grid plate 2A in which a transmission coil group including coils x1, x2, x3, ... Coils y1 and y for determining the coordinates in the Y direction orthogonal to
2, y3, ... And a grid plate 2B on which a receiving coil group is arranged.

Further, 3 is a drive circuit for sequentially selecting the transmitting coil groups and energizing them for driving, 4 is a detection circuit for detecting the voltage induced in the receiving coil group, and 5 is for converting the output of the detection circuit 4 into a digital signal. It is an A / D converter. A CPU 6 controls the drive circuit 3 to sequentially select each transmitting coil and sequentially captures voltage values on the receiving coil side to calculate coordinate values of a pen to be described later mounted on the grid plate 1.
Is. Further, 7 is connected to the tablet 1, a display control circuit such as an LCD controller or a video circuit for controlling conversion of display data output from the CPU 6 based on the calculated coordinate values, and 8 is connected to the display control circuit 7. And a display such as an LCD formed on the lower surface of the grid plate 2.

By the way, the drive circuit 3 is controlled by the CPU 6 at all times, and the oscillation coil x connected to the drive circuit 3 is connected.
An alternating current is sequentially supplied to 1, x2, x3, ... And a magnetic field is generated. Now, when a pen having a coil is placed on any of the transmitting coils, the transmitting coil and the pen are electromagnetically coupled to generate a magnetic field from the pen, and as a result, a voltage is induced on the receiving coil group side. It

On the other hand, in the detection circuit 4, the receiving coil group is controlled by the CPU 6 to form the receiving coil groups y1, y2, y3, ...
The voltage induced in the receiving coil is detected by scanning in the order of. Then, when the maximum induced voltage is detected in the detection circuit 4 and is inputted through the A / D converter 5, the CPU
6 calculates the coordinate position of the pen on the grid plate 2 from the position (Y address) of the receiving coil selected at this time and the position (X address) of the transmitting coil to which the current is supplied. Then, the calculated coordinates are sent to the display control circuit 7 as display data, and as a result, on the display 8,
The position corresponding to the calculated coordinate position of the grid plate 2 is displayed as the input position of the pen.

Here, if the pen is moved from one point on the surface of the grid plate 2 to another point, a display according to the movement trajectory of the pen is performed on the display 8 and a line display is possible. . When displaying a line segment by such handwriting input, it is possible to specify the thickness and color (color),
Conventionally, therefore, there has been a problem that a specific display area of the display unit 8 is provided for displaying a dedicated designated command, and the display area used for actual drawing is limited. Further, since the operation becomes complicated, improvement of these aspects has been demanded. Therefore, in the present invention, when changing the thickness and color of the line when displaying the line, the operability at that time is improved without providing a dedicated display area.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the above-mentioned pen. The pen 9 has a switch 9 as shown in FIG.
1A to 91F are provided. Among them, the switches 91A to 91C shown in FIG. 2A are switches for instructing the thickness of the line displayed on the display unit 8 as a thick line, a medium line, and a thin line, respectively. is there. Further, the switches 91D to 91F shown in FIG. 2B are switches for instructing the colors of the lines displayed on the display device 8 as red, blue, and yellow, respectively.

In the pen 9, as described above, FIG.
It has a coil L as shown in (b) and responds to the pressed state of each switch (in FIG. 2, the switches 91C and 91D indicate the pressed state) when electromagnetically coupled to each coil of the tablet. The strength magnetic field H is output to the tablet 1 side. Therefore, on the receiving coil side of the tablet 1, the pen 9
In addition to generating an induced voltage having a value corresponding to the pressed state of each switch, the CPU 6 gives an instruction to the display control circuit 7 according to the value of the induced voltage, and as a result, the display 8 is pressed by the switch Line thickness or color display is performed according to the state.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the pen 9. In the figure, reference numeral 91 is a switching unit including the above-mentioned switches, and 92 is a load unit. The resistors R1 to Rn forming the load portion 92 have different resistance values,
One end of each resistor is commonly connected to an oscillating unit 93 described later, and the other end of each resistor is connected to the switching unit 91. That is, when the switch 91A is pressed, the other end a of the resistor R1 is connected to the power supply unit 94 described later, and when the switch 91B is pressed, the other end b of the resistor R2 is connected to the power supply unit 94. , When the switch 91C is further pressed, the other end c of the resistor R3
The switching unit 91 operates so as to connect the power supply unit 94 and the power supply unit 94.

Further, 93 is an oscillating section, in which the above-mentioned coil L and capacitor C are connected in parallel. In addition,
Reference numeral 94 denotes a power supply unit, which is composed of a battery or controls the power supply on the tablet side to a constant voltage via a line (not shown) and applies it to each unit of the pen 9. Therefore, when a constant voltage is applied from the power supply unit 94 to the series connection portion including the switching unit 91, the load unit 92, and the oscillating unit 93, the value of each resistance selected by pressing each switch of the switching unit 91 is changed. Since they are different from each other, the oscillating voltage of the oscillating unit 93 becomes a voltage of a different value when each switch is pressed, and as a result, the oscillating unit 93 generates a magnetic field having a strength corresponding to the pressing of each switch.

A voltage corresponding to the strength of the magnetic field generated from the pen 9 is induced on the receiving coil side of the tablet as described above and detected by the CPU 6. On the other hand, CPU
In a memory (not shown) in FIG. 6, a table in which the voltage value of the receiving coil and the thickness of the display line are determined in advance (if the display 7 can display in color, the voltage value of the receiving coil and the color of the display line are displayed). Has been set in advance, and the CP
When U6 detects the induced voltage of the receiving coil of the grid plate 1, it determines the thickness of the display line corresponding to the detected voltage value by referring to the table, and the display control circuit 7 determines the determined thickness of the display line. To instruct the display 8 to display. Therefore, a line having a thickness corresponding to the pressed state of the switch is displayed on the display device 8. If the display device 8 is capable of color display, the display control circuit 7 is instructed to display on the display device 8 in a predetermined display line color. As a result,
On the display 8, color line display is performed according to the pressed state of the switch. Further, in addition to the designation of the thickness and color of the displayed line, the density of the line displayed on the display 8 can also be designated.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, when one of the plurality of selection switches provided on the pen is selected and handwriting is input to the tablet by the pen, the oscillation unit of the pen causes each of the tablets of the tablet to operate. While electromagnetically coupling with the coil to generate a magnetic field of the strength according to the selected switch,
Since the tablet side detects the induced voltage value according to the strength of this magnetic field and executes the predetermined processing according to each detected voltage value, for example, when specifying the thickness and color of the line displayed by handwriting. The display switch does not require a special display area, and only the selection switch of the pen needs to be changed over. Therefore, the entire display area of the display can be used for actual drawing. Also, since the thickness of the line segment displayed on the display unit is selectively controlled according to the magnitude of the induced voltage value, when specifying the line thickness displayed on the display unit, use the pen selection switch. It is only necessary to switch, so that the operability is improved, and in this case, a special display area on the display is unnecessary. In addition, since the color of the line segment displayed on the display unit is selectively controlled according to the magnitude of the induced voltage value, it is sufficient to switch the selection switch of the pen to specify the color of the displayed line. Therefore, operability is improved, and in this case, a special display area is unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a pen that constitutes a pen input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of the pen.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a tablet which constitutes the device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tablet, 2A, 2B ... Grid board, 3 ... Drive circuit, 4 ... Detection circuit, 5 ... A / D converter, 6 ... CPU, 7
... Display control circuit, 8 ... Display, 9 ... Pen, 91 ... Switching section, 91A to 91F ... Selection switch, 92 ... Load section, 9
3 ... Oscillation section.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tablet comprising a grid plate in which each coil is arranged in a grid pattern, a display, and a pen having an oscillating portion including a coil and a capacitor and electromagnetically coupled to each coil of the tablet, In a pen input device for displaying an input state of a pen on the tablet on the display, the pen includes a plurality of selection switches, and a switching unit for generating a magnetic field having an intensity corresponding to the operated selection switches from the oscillation unit. At the same time, the tablet is equipped with control means for detecting the value of the induced voltage generated in the tablet according to the strength of the magnetic field and executing a predetermined process determined according to each detected voltage value. Input device. 2. The pen input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a process of selectively controlling a thickness of a line segment displayed on the display according to a magnitude of an induced voltage value. Characteristic pen input device. 3. The pen input device according to claim 1, wherein a display device capable of color display is provided as a display device, and the control means displays a line segment displayed on the display device according to the magnitude of the induced voltage value. A pen input device, which executes a process of selecting and controlling colors.