JP2008250581A - Handwriting input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: though a known method of aslant placing a reception device to a paper sheet as a method for doing away with a dead point in miniaturization of the reception device is a good method in the case where a user performs writing-down of a specific range by use of a dedicated board, a large dead point occurs especially in a lateral direction of the reception device when desiring a use method except the placing of the reception device aslant to the paper sheet by a use situation of the user. <P>SOLUTION: This handwriting input device temporarily stores position coordinate data written-down by an electronic pen allowing the hand-writing with the writable paper sheet and having an ultrasonic transmission element and an infrared transmission element into the reception device provided with a storage device by use of infrared light and an ultrasonic wave emitted from the pen. The handwriting input device allows arbitrary setting of at least a distance between two ultrasonic receivers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic oscillating element that oscillates an ultrasonic signal, an electronic pen including an infrared light emitting element or an electromagnetic oscillating element that oscillates a trigger signal, and an ultrasonic signal and a trigger signal that are emitted from the electronic pen. , With a receiver that can detect the position coordinates of the electronic pen in the writing state from the difference between the arrival time of the ultrasonic signal and the trigger signal, especially in the area where there are few blind spots and the operability and portability are good The present invention relates to a use-type coordinate input device.

  Conventionally, an electronic pen having a generation circuit that oscillates infrared light and an ultrasonic signal, a sensor that can detect that the pen tip is in a writing state, a receiving element that receives an infrared signal oscillated 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 oscillated from the electronic pen by a plurality of receiving elements, measures the position coordinates of the electronic pen, The pen tip ON-OFF state (writing-non-writing state) is combined and detected as handwriting data. By continuously detecting handwriting data, written characters, figures, etc. are recognized as handwritten handwriting data. The handwriting input system has a pen tip that can be written, such as a ballpoint pen, at the tip of an electronic pen, and writes it on paper such as a notepad or notebook.

It is still common to bring your own memo pad, etc. to a meeting, etc., and use a pencil to write by hand in the memo pad, etc. The system is used for this purpose.
As a method of using the handwriting input system, there are a method of using a dedicated board and a method of using the receiving device by fixing it to a sheet.
FIG. 2A shows a method using a dedicated board. The dedicated board is provided with a method for fixing the receiving device, and is often provided with a clip or the like for fixing the paper. This method is convenient as a handwriting input system because the board is designed so that the receiving apparatus can be fixed at the most convenient position and the paper can always be fixed at the same position. However, boards are often larger than paper and lack portability.

2B and 2C show a method of using the receiving device fixed on a sheet. The receiving device is provided with a method such as a clip that can be fixed to a sheet of paper, and is used to fix the sheet to the sheet. In addition to the introduced method, it may be placed at an angle to the paper. FIG. 2D shows a usage method in a notebook in which paper is bundled by a ring, and FIG. 2E assumes use in a college notebook. As described above, the method of directly fixing the receiving device to the sheet is characterized in that any method can be used as long as the receiving device can be fixed to the sheet. In addition, in this method, it is only necessary to carry only the receiving device and the writing electronic pen in addition to the notebook, and the portability is good.
Since the system can be input without using a personal computer, the portability is considered important in consideration of carrying around by the user.

In order to improve portability, when the size of the receiving device is reduced, inconvenience arises if the distance between the plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements provided in the receiving device is simply reduced.
If the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements is simply reduced, a place where the angle between the two lines connected from the electronic pen to each ultrasonic receiving element as shown in the right of FIG. This is particularly noticeable in the longitudinal direction of the receiving apparatus. When the ultrasonic receiving element is viewed from the electronic pen in this area, the two ultrasonic receiving elements become particularly close to each other. The distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements as viewed from the electronic pen, this is called the apparent distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements, or simply the apparent distance.

If the apparent distance is too short, an area in which the other ultrasonic receiving element is hidden behind the ultrasonic receiving element close to the electronic pen appears as shown in the right of FIG. If this happens, ultrasonic waves cannot be received correctly, and position detection becomes impossible.
Even if the apparent distance is not so short, in the area where the apparent distance is short, even if the receiving device can not correctly identify the position of the electronic pen or the position of the electronic pen can be repeated repeatedly Only data with variations that cannot withstand inaccurate use can be detected. The repeatability in this case means that even if the electronic pen keeps outputting signals at the same position, the detection position of the receiving device changes every time due to the influence of air fluctuations on the spot. Point to.
If the repetition accuracy is too bad, the handwriting input device cannot be established, and the detection of the area must be invalidated in terms of software or hardware. Therefore, an area that cannot be used for handwriting input, that is, a blind spot occurs.

JP 2003-256126 A

  In order to reduce the size of the receiving device, a method of placing the receiving device obliquely with respect to the paper is known as a method for eliminating this blind spot. However, the method of downsizing the receiving device and placing it at an angle with respect to the paper is sufficient if the user writes in a specific range using a dedicated board, but the receiving device is inclined according to the usage situation of the user. When a method of use other than that in the case of desiring to be used is desired, a large blind spot is generated particularly in the lateral direction of the receiver.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and includes at least one ultrasonic transmission element that transmits an ultrasonic signal for detecting position coordinates, and an infrared light emitting element or electromagnetic transmission that transmits a trigger signal. An electronic pen including an element and a sensor capable of detecting the writing state; a receiving element for receiving the trigger signal emitted from the electronic pen at the start of writing; and at least two or more receiving the ultrasonic signal A handwriting input device comprising a receiving device having an interval between ultrasonic receiving elements on both sides of an extendable mechanism and arbitrarily setting a distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements, the trigger signal and the ultrasonic signal The difference between the arrival times of the two is converted into a distance to determine the distance between at least two ultrasonic receiving elements and the electronic pen. The function of one of the ultrasonic receiving elements provided on both sides of the extendable mechanism is changed to an ultrasonic transmitting element, and the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the other ultrasonic receiving element. Then, based on the time until the other ultrasonic receiving element receives the ultrasonic wave, the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements provided on both sides is measured via an extendable mechanism, and the electronic pen and the ultrasonic Proposed is a handwriting input device that detects the position coordinates of an electronic pen by using the distance between each ultrasonic wave receiving element and the measured distance between ultrasonic receiving elements provided through the extendable mechanism. Is.

  In the present invention, since the expansion / contraction mechanism is provided between the ultrasonic receiving elements, the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements can be varied. Therefore, if the distance between the receiving elements is reduced, the portability is increased. If the distance is increased, the apparent distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements can be increased, and in particular, the position of the electronic pen can be received in a wide range in the lateral direction of the receiving apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, an electronic pen 1 includes at least one or more ultrasonic oscillation elements 2 that oscillate an ultrasonic signal for detecting position coordinates, and an infrared light emitting element or electromagnetic oscillation element 3 that oscillates a trigger signal. A sensor capable of detecting a writing state by detecting on and off according to the pressure or displacement of the pen tip and a circuit board for driving them are incorporated. When the ultrasonic oscillation element 2, the infrared light emitting element 3, the electromagnetic oscillation element, or the sensor detects a writing state, the ultrasonic oscillation element 2 operates to generate an infrared signal or an electromagnetic wave as a trigger signal. The trigger signal emitted from the infrared light emitting element 3 or the electromagnetic oscillation element is oscillated simultaneously with or before the ultrasonic oscillation, and the time difference from the trigger signal oscillation to the ultrasonic signal oscillation is constant in order to reduce the measurement error. Is required.

  The receiving device is provided with at least two or more ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5, and the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 are electrically connected to each other. 5 is connected via a telescopic mechanism 121 (see FIG. 4). Further, the receiving device has a built-in receiving element for receiving the trigger signal, receives the trigger signal from the electronic pen 1, starts the built-in timer, and transmits the ultrasonic signals arriving late. The sound wave receiving element receives and measures the time from receiving the trigger signal to receiving the ultrasonic signal. Each measured time is converted into position coordinate data of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional electronic pen from the positional relationship of each ultrasonic receiving element.

  The receiving device may incorporate a non-volatile memory. Handwriting data can be stored by incorporating a non-volatile memory, the data can be transferred to the information processing device later, and stored in the information processing device, so that the handwriting data can be stored without carrying the information processing device. . Moreover, handwriting data can be collected in a free place by incorporating a battery inside.

  The ultrasonic transmission for measuring the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 is output while not being transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitting element 2 of the electronic pen 1. For example, the reception device side determines the moment when the sensor built in the electronic pen 1 changes from a writing state to a non-writing state, and transmits an ultrasonic wave transmitting element for distance measurement, so that an ultrasonic signal may interfere. Can be avoided. One of the at least two ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 is an element capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves. In some cases, it may be provided separately.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the time until the ultrasonic wave reaches the ultrasonic wave receiving element 5 from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 4 is defined as t1.
Further, T is a temperature measured by the temperature measuring element 6.
At this time, the sound velocity V is generally expressed as V = 331.5 + 0.61T.
From this equation, the distance S between the ultrasonic receiving elements is S = t1 × (331.5 + 0.6T)
As required. If the distance S between the ultrasonic receiving elements is used, the position of the electronic pen is specified by the principle of triangulation, and handwriting input becomes possible.

  The receiving device and the information processing device can be connected for communication. As a connection method, communication using a wired cable such as USB or RS-232C or wireless communication such as a wireless LAN and IrDA or BLUETOOTH can be used. However, it is used when a stylus pen or the like is used as a refill and inserted into the electronic pen and the actual writing is not performed on the paper, or when it is necessary to check the handwriting data such as the color and thickness of the pen. A person sometimes writes handwriting data while checking the data on the screen of the information processing apparatus. For this reason, a communication speed of 32 kbps or higher is required in order to reduce the time from writing to handwriting data being displayed on the screen.

  In the information processing apparatus, a handwriting processing program is activated in advance, and the position coordinate data and page number of the electronic pen from the receiving apparatus are received. In addition, the program for handwriting processing includes information on the pen, such as the color and thickness of the pen, and page information for classifying the handwriting data and the handwriting data in order to add expression power like an actual pen to the handwriting. It can be set by an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse connected to the information processing device and the handwriting input system of the present invention. These pen information, electronic pen position coordinate data, and page number can be combined and stored as handwriting data in the storage device of the information processing apparatus for each page number and displayed on the screen.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.
4, 5, and 6 schematically illustrate the configuration so that the apparatus drawing does 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. In each embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components.
The embodiment of FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a top view of the receiving device. a is a state in which the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements is fully extended. On the other hand, b is a contracted state. In this way, the receiving device can expand and contract. The receiving apparatus includes an ultrasonic receiving element 105 and an infrared light receiving element 106, and further a temperature measuring element 120 and a slide mechanism 121. The variable mechanism for the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements 122 and 123 may take any form as long as the parallelism of the ultrasonic receiving elements can be ensured. Also, there is a clip structure at the bottom to fix the receiving device and the paper. In consideration of fixing the paper at various positions, independent clip structures (not shown) are provided in the unit left portion 122 and the unit right portion 123, respectively. This clip structure may take any form as long as the receiving apparatus can be fixed to paper.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is a method of using the receiving apparatus assumed for the paper when the present invention is used. The user determines the width of the receiving device in advance before starting use.
FIG. 5A shows a case where paper is widely used in the horizontal direction with respect to the receiving apparatus. In this case, since a blind spot is likely to occur in the lateral direction of the apparatus, the distance is used as wide as possible. B is a method of using paper widely in the vertical direction with respect to the receiving apparatus. In this case, since the horizontal direction of the receiving device is narrow, a blind spot is relatively unlikely to occur in that portion. Therefore, even if the receiving apparatus is not expanded to the maximum, the receiving apparatus can be used and can be of an appropriate size. Of course, it may be expanded to the maximum, but the receiving device occupies a large area, so it is difficult to use for the user. C is a method of placing the receiving device at an angle. In this method, even if the width of the receiving device is narrow, it is difficult to generate a blind spot, so that the receiving device can be used while being narrow. The above three assume that the paper is much larger than the receiving device. If the paper is small, it is used in a size suitable for the paper as shown in FIG. Further, when the user carries the receiving device, it is carried in the most contracted state in order to improve portability.
As described above, by using the present invention, it is possible to cope with all the methods desired by the user.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a handwriting input system of the present invention. The electronic pen 101 includes an infrared light emitting element 102 and an ultrasonic oscillation element 103, and includes a sensor that can detect a writing state and a circuit board (not shown) that controls them. A refill such as a ballpoint pen is inserted in the pen tip of the electronic pen 101, and when writing, an internal sensor detects the writing state by weighting. When a writing state is detected, a circuit (not shown) built in the electronic pen 101 periodically gives signals to the infrared generation element 102 and the ultrasonic oscillation element 103 to emit infrared light and oscillate ultrasonic signals. At the same time. The receiving device 104 receives infrared light emission from the electronic pen 101 by the infrared light receiving element 106 and starts a built-in timer. The plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements 105 receive the ultrasonic signals that arrive late, and measure the time from receiving the infrared signal to receiving the ultrasonic signal. By converting this time into a distance, the distance between the plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements 105 and the electronic pen 101 is obtained.

  After that, the microprocessor electrically connected to the ultrasonic receiving elements provided in the receiver unit left part 122 and the unit right part 123 determines that the signal from the electronic pen 101 is interrupted, and then the electronic pen Prior to the ultrasonic wave that will come from 101, the function of one of the ultrasonic receiving elements 105 is changed from the ultrasonic receiving element to an ultrasonic transmitting element by an electrical switch or the like by the output of the microprocessor. After performing the function change, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted by a signal from the above-described microprocessor, and a timer built in the microprocessor is started. The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transmission element whose function has been changed is received by the other ultrasonic reception element whose function has not been changed, and the time is measured. The distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements is obtained based on the time taken and the ambient temperature measured by the temperature measuring element 120 (see FIG. 4). After that, the function of the ultrasonic transmitting element is changed, and the function of the ultrasonic receiving element is changed again by the output of the microprocessor to prepare for ultrasonic reception from the electronic pen 101 that will come next.

  Using each measured distance, the position relation data of each ultrasonic receiving element is converted into two-dimensional or three-dimensional position coordinate data of the electronic pen 101 using a triangle method. In order to convert these data, the receiving device 104 includes a calculation processing device and a memory. The obtained position coordinates are sent from the receiving device 104 to the information processing device 111 through the communication cable 110. In the embodiment, communication from the receiving device 104 to the information processing device 111 is connected by USB communication. In the information processing apparatus 111 such as a personal computer, a handwriting processing program created exclusively for the handwriting input system operates and receives position coordinate data of the electronic pen 101. In the handwriting processing program, information on the pen, such as the pen color and thickness, and page information for classifying the data of the handwriting are connected to the information processing device 111 in order to add expression power like an actual pen to the handwriting. It can be set by an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. These pen information and page information, the position coordinate data of the electronic pen 101, and the page number can be combined and stored as handwriting data in the storage device of the information processing device 111 for each page number and displayed on the screen.

Illustration of the present invention Illustration of background art Illustration of background art Explanatory drawing of an Example Explanatory drawing of an Example Explanatory drawing of an Example

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic pen 2 Ultrasonic transmission element 3 Infrared light emitting element 4 Ultrasonic receiving element 5 Ultrasonic receiving element 6 Temperature measuring element

Claims (1)

  An electronic pen comprising one or more ultrasonic wave transmitting elements for transmitting an ultrasonic signal for detecting position coordinates, and an infrared light emitting element or electromagnetic transmitting element for transmitting a trigger signal and a sensor capable of detecting a writing state And at both sides of the mechanism capable of expanding and contracting the distance between the receiving element that receives the trigger signal emitted from the electronic pen at the start of writing and at least two or more ultrasonic receiving elements that receive the ultrasonic signal. A handwriting input device comprising a receiving device for arbitrarily setting a distance between ultrasonic receiving elements, wherein a difference between arrival times of the trigger signal and the ultrasonic signal is converted into a distance, and at least two or more The distance between the ultrasonic receiving element and the electronic pen is obtained, and the ultrasonic wave provided on both sides of the extendable mechanism at a timing at which no ultrasonic wave is emitted from the electronic pen. Among the wave receiving elements, the function of one ultrasonic receiving element is changed to an ultrasonic transmitting element, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the other ultrasonic receiving element, and the other ultrasonic receiving element receives the ultrasonic wave. Based on the time, the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements provided on both sides is measured via an extendable mechanism, and the distance between the electronic pen and the ultrasonic receiving element and the measured extendable / contractible A handwriting input device that detects a position coordinate of an electronic pen using a distance between ultrasonic receiving elements provided via a mechanism.