JP2008250897A - Coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coordinate input device capable of reducing electric power consumption, and capable of lengthening the service life of a light source part. <P>SOLUTION: An optical unit control part 1041 emits the light from two light sources. A coordinate detecting part 1042 detects coordinates contacted with a touch panel 101 from a position for shielding the emitted light. A node switching part 1044 switches a coordinate detecting mode of detecting the coordinates to a standby mode of not detecting the coordinates when a predetermined time passes from when the coordinates are detected by the coordinate detecting part 1042. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical coordinate input device.

  Conventionally, coordinate input devices using electrostatic or electromagnetic induction are generally known. In such a coordinate input device, when a coordinate input surface is pressed with a pen, an electrical change due to electrostatic or electromagnetic induction is detected and coordinates are input. However, since an electrical switch function is required on the coordinate input surface, the manufacturing cost is high, and a cable that connects the pen and the main body is required, so that there is a problem in operability.

  In order to solve such a problem, an optical coordinate input device is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). In such an optical coordinate input device, light is emitted from two light sources in a fan shape, and the position where the light emitted on the touch panel is shielded is detected as coordinates, and the coordinates are input with a relatively simple configuration. can do.

JP 2000-207126 A

  However, since the coordinate input device described in Patent Document 1 cannot determine when the touch panel surface is touched, it is necessary to always emit light from a light source in order to detect coordinates. There is a problem in that a large amount of power is consumed and the life of the light source unit is exhausted, shortening the useful life of the entire system.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input device that can reduce power consumption and extend the life of a light source unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a light emission control unit that emits light from two light sources, and a position where light emitted by the light emission control unit is shielded. A coordinate detection unit that detects a coordinate touched on the touch panel; and a coordinate detection mode that detects the coordinate when a predetermined time has elapsed since the coordinate detection unit detected the coordinate. Mode switching means for switching to a standby mode in which detection is not performed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the coordinate input device according to the first aspect, when the light emission control unit is switched to the standby mode by the mode switching unit, one of the two light sources is selected. Contact detection means for detecting contact with the touch panel according to whether light emitted from one of the light sources and the light emitted by the light emission control means is shielded, and the mode switching means, When contact with the touch panel is detected by the contact detection means, the standby mode is switched to the coordinate detection mode.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the coordinate input device according to the second aspect, the light emission control unit has a predetermined time for emitting light from one of the two light sources. When exceeding, the emission of the light from the light source is stopped and the light is emitted from the other light source.

  The invention according to claim 4 further includes storage means for storing the light source emitting light in the standby mode and the emission time in the coordinate input device according to claim 2 or claim 3, In the standby mode, the light emission control unit emits light from the light source stored in the storage unit, and a time obtained by adding the emission time stored in the storage unit to the time to emit light from the light source. When a predetermined time is exceeded, emission of light from the light source is stopped and light is emitted from the other light source.

  According to the present invention, when there is no contact on the touch panel for a predetermined time, the mode is switched to the standby mode in which the coordinates of the contact position are not detected, so that the power consumption can be reduced and the life of the light source unit can be extended. Play.

  Exemplary embodiments of a coordinate input device according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

  First, a configuration example of a coordinate input device to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the coordinate input device according to the present embodiment. A coordinate input device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a touch panel 101, an optical unit 102, a reflection unit 103, a system control unit 104, and an outer frame 105.

  The touch panel 101 includes an optical unit (L) 102A and an optical unit (R) 102B at both lower ends. The arrangement position of the optical unit 102 is not limited to this as long as it can emit light over the entire touch panel. In addition, the touch panel 101 includes a reflection unit 103 that reflects the fan-shaped light emitted from the optical unit 102 toward the emitted light source at the left and right ends and the upper end. The optical units 102 </ b> A and 102 </ b> B and the reflection unit 103 are arranged in the outer frame 105 of the touch panel 101 and have a structure that cannot be seen from the outside.

  The system control unit 104 controls the entire system. The system control unit 104 further includes an optical unit control unit 1041, a coordinate detection unit 1042, a contact detection unit 1043, a mode switching unit 1044, a timing unit 1045, an interface unit 1046, and a storage unit 1047. .

  The optical unit controller 1041 controls driving of the two optical units 102A and 102B and receives signals sent from the light receiving units of the optical units 102A and 102B. The optical unit control unit 1041 constitutes a light emission control unit according to the present invention.

  The coordinate detection unit 1042 detects the coordinates of the position where the finger or the like has touched on the touch panel 101 from the signals of both the optical unit 102A and the optical unit 102B received by the optical unit control unit 1041. Details will be described later.

  The contact detection unit 1043 detects that a finger or the like has touched the touch panel 101 from the signal of either the optical unit 102A or the optical unit 102B received by the optical unit control unit 1041.

  The mode switching unit 1044 switches between the coordinate detection mode and the standby mode. Here, the coordinate detection mode refers to a mode in which light is emitted from the two optical units 102A and 102B to detect the coordinates of the contact position. On the other hand, the standby mode refers to a mode in which light is emitted from one of the two optical units 102A and 102B and contact with the touch panel 101 is detected, but coordinates of the contact position are not detected.

  The timer unit 1045 measures the time when the touch panel 101 is not in contact in the coordinate detection mode. In addition, the timer unit 1045 measures the time during which one of the optical units 102A and 102B emits light in the standby mode.

  The interface unit 1046 transmits the coordinate position calculated by the coordinate detection unit 1042 to the connected external PC (personal computer) 10 and receives commands such as operation instructions transmitted from the driver of the external PC 10.

  The storage unit 1047 stores the optical unit that emits light every predetermined time and the emission time in the standby mode.

  Next, a configuration example of the optical unit will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the optical unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical unit 102 includes a light source unit 201, a lens 202 that diffuses light emitted from the light source unit 201 in a fan shape, a lens 203 that receives reflected light reflected from the reflecting unit 103, and A light receiving unit 204 and a half mirror 205 disposed on the optical axis are provided. The light receiving unit 204 uses a line sensor.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the coordinate input device according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a hardware configuration of the coordinate input device according to the present embodiment. The system control unit 104 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 3011, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 3012 storing a program for controlling the system, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3013 used as a work area, The interface control unit 3014 that controls the interface with the external PC 10, the analog signal from the SBU (Sensor Board Unit) 303 is converted into a digital signal, the image processing LSI 3015 that performs image processing, and the data for each line from the SBU 303 A data storage memory 3016 to be stored, a shading memory 3017 for storing data serving as a reference for shading correction, a timer control unit 3018 for measuring a time when the touch panel is not touched, and a storage unit for which data is not erased even when the power is turned off 3019 and Yes. The storage unit 3019 is, for example, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory).

  In this embodiment, the RAM 3013 used as a work area and the data storage memory 3016 are separated. However, these areas may be divided and used in one memory.

  Further, an LDU (Laser Diode Unit) 302 and an SBU 303 are arranged in the optical unit (L) 102A and the optical unit (R) 102B, respectively. The LDU 302 is mounted with an LD (Laser Diode) 3021 serving as a light source, and the SBU 303 is a substrate on which a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 3031 serving as a light receiving unit is mounted.

  Next, the basic operation of the touch panel will be described. In accordance with a command from the ROM 3012, the CPU 3011 transmits an LD lighting signal to the LDU 302. The LDU 302 lights the LD 3021. The CCD 3031 in the SBU 303 sends the received data to the image processing LSI 3015 in the system control unit 104. The image processing LSI 3015 digitally converts the received data. The image processing LSI 3015 corrects the shading of the digitally converted data using the reference data stored in the shading memory 3017 and stores the data in the data storage memory 3016. The CPU 3011 reads the data stored in the data storage memory 3016, performs dip detection, and calculates the coordinate position. The CPU 3011 sends the calculated coordinate position to the external PC 10 through the interface control unit 3014.

  Next, a method for calculating the coordinates of the detection position by the CPU 3011 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the light emitted from the optical unit and the detection position. Here, the distance W is a distance between the optical unit 102A and the optical unit 102B. The angle θL is an angle formed by a straight line passing through the optical unit 102A and the detection position 41 and the x axis. The angle θR is an angle formed by a straight line passing through the optical unit 102B and the detection position 41 and the x axis.

  Here, if the coordinates of the position at which the shielding object such as a finger touches the touch panel 101 are (X, Y), the contact position from the angles θL and θR detected by the shielding object blocking the light emitted from the light source. The equation for calculating the coordinates (X, Y) of is as follows.

  Next, a mode transition process by the coordinate input device configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mode transition in the coordinate input device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the coordinate input device 100 includes a coordinate detection mode and a standby mode. The coordinate input device 100 is set to the coordinate detection mode when the power is turned on, and shifts to the standby mode when there is no contact with the touch panel 101 for a predetermined time. When the touch on the touch panel 101 is detected in the standby mode, the mode shifts to the coordinate detection mode.

  Further, processing in each mode will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in the coordinate detection mode performed by the system control unit. 1 further includes a counter unit (not shown), and includes a counter A that counts the time when the touch panel 101 is not touched in the coordinate detection mode and a counter B that counts the time of the standby mode. .

  First, as described above, when the power is turned on, the coordinate input device 100 is first set to the coordinate detection mode. The system control unit 104 initializes the touch panel system (step S601). A specific initialization process is to clear the counter A or the like. The optical unit control unit 1041 reads the values of the optical unit and the counter B stored in the storage unit 1047 (step S602). This is the optical unit that was driven in the standby mode immediately before the power was turned off last time and the value of the counter B from the storage unit and detects the contact with the touch panel when the standby mode is entered. By taking over the value of the counter B, the driving times of the two optical units are averaged, and the lifetime of the entire system can be extended. The optical unit controller 1041 drives both the two optical units 102A and 102B (step S603). The coordinate detection unit 1042 determines whether or not there is a finger touch on the touch panel 101 (step S604).

  When it is determined that the touch panel 101 has not been touched by a finger or the like (step S604: No), the mode switching unit 1044 counts up the counter A (step S605). The mode switching unit 1044 determines whether or not the value of the counter A has exceeded a predetermined value Tt (step S606). Since the coordinate detection by the optical unit is performed every predetermined time, the value of the counter A is a time when the touch panel 101 is not touched by a finger or the like. Judgment can be made.

  When it is determined that the value of the counter A exceeds the predetermined value Tt (step S606: Yes), the mode switching unit 1044 switches from the coordinate detection mode to the standby mode. When it is determined that the value of the counter A does not exceed the predetermined value Tt (step S606: No), the process returns to step S604 to determine whether or not there is a contact.

  In step S604, when it is determined that the touch panel 101 is touched by a finger or the like (step S604: Yes), the mode switching unit 1044 clears the counter A (step S607). The coordinate detection unit 1042 detects the coordinates of the contact position (step S608). Specifically, the coordinates of the contact position are calculated by the calculation method described above. Thereafter, the process returns to step S604.

  Next, processing in the standby mode will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in a standby mode performed by the system control unit.

  First, the optical unit controller 1041 starts driving any one of the two optical units 102A and 102B (step S701). If the optical unit that has been driven in the standby mode when the power is turned on the last time is acquired from the storage unit 1047, the optical unit is driven from the acquired optical unit. The contact detection unit 1043 determines whether or not there is a finger touch or the like on the touch panel 101 (step S702). If it is determined that the touch panel 101 is touched by a finger or the like (step S702: Yes), the mode switching unit 1044 switches from the standby mode to the coordinate detection mode.

  When it is determined that the touch panel 101 has not been touched by a finger or the like (step S702: No), the optical unit control unit 1041 counts up the counter B (step S703). Further, the optical unit controller 1041 determines whether or not the time measured by the timer unit 1045 has elapsed x seconds from the reference time (step S704). When it is determined that the time measured by the time measuring unit 1045 has elapsed x seconds from the reference time (step S704: Yes), the optical unit control unit 1041 stores the value of the counter B in the storage unit 3019 (step S705). . In addition, the optical unit control unit 1041 stores the driving optical unit in the storage unit 3019 (step S706). When it is determined that the time measured by the time measuring unit 1045 has not elapsed x seconds from the reference time (step S704: No), the process proceeds to step S707.

  The optical unit controller 1041 determines whether or not the value of the counter B exceeds a predetermined value Tc (step S707). When it is determined that the value of the counter B has exceeded the predetermined value Tc (step S707: Yes), the optical unit control unit 1041 clears the counter B (step S708). The optical unit controller 1041 switches the optical unit to be driven (step S709), and returns to step S702. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the switching timing of the optical unit. As shown in FIG. 8, when the counter B exceeds Tc, the optical unit controller 1041 stops driving the optical unit 102A (stops emission of light from the optical unit 102A), and drives the optical unit 102B. (Light is emitted from the optical unit 102B). Further, the optical unit controller 1041 stops driving the optical unit 102B when the counter B exceeds Tc (stops emission of light from the optical unit 102B), and switches the driving to the optical unit 102A (optical unit). 102A emits light). When it is determined that the value of the counter B does not exceed the predetermined value Tc (step S707: No), the process returns to step S702.

  As described above, in the standby mode, only whether or not the touch panel is touched is detected, so that only one of the two optical units is driven and the other is not driven, thereby reducing power consumption. Further, the lifetime of the entire system can be extended by extending the life of the optical unit.

  In addition, by alternately switching the two optical units at regular time intervals, it is possible to prevent only one of the optical units from reaching the service life and shortening the service life of the entire system. That is, as a result, the useful life of the entire system can be extended.

  Further, the value of the counter B and the optical unit being driven are stored in the storage unit every predetermined time, and when the power is turned on again after the power is turned off, the value of the counter B stored in the storage unit By obtaining and using the optical unit that was last driven from the storage unit, the drive time of the two optical units during the drive period of the entire system can be averaged, so the useful life of the entire system can be reduced. Can be extended.

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of the coordinate input device concerning this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of an optical unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hardware constitutions of the coordinate input device concerning this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the light inject | emitted from an optical unit, and a detection position. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the mode transition in the coordinate input device concerning this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the coordinate detection mode which a system control part performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the standby mode which a system control part performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the timing of switching of an optical unit.

Explanation of symbols

100 Coordinate Input Device 101 Touch Panel 102A Optical Unit (L)
102B Optical unit (R)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 Reflection part 104 System control part 105 Outer frame 1041 Optical unit control part 1042 Coordinate detection part 1043 Contact detection part 1044 Mode switching part 1045 Timekeeping part 1046 Interface part 1047 Storage part 10 External PC

Claims (4)

Light emission control means for emitting light from two light sources;
Coordinate detection means for detecting coordinates touching the touch panel from a position where the light emitted by the light emission control means is shielded;
A mode switching means for switching from a coordinate detection mode for detecting the coordinates to a standby mode for not detecting the coordinates when a predetermined time has elapsed since the coordinates were detected by the coordinate detection means;
A coordinate input device comprising: The light emission control means emits light from one of the two light sources when switched to the standby mode by the mode switching means,
Contact detection means for detecting contact with the touch panel depending on whether or not the light emitted by the light emission control means is blocked;
The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the mode switching unit switches from the standby mode to the coordinate detection mode when the contact detection unit detects contact with the touch panel.   The light emission control unit stops emission of light from the light source when the time of light emission from either one of the two light sources exceeds a predetermined time and from the other light source. The coordinate input device according to claim 2, wherein light is emitted. Storage means for storing the light source emitting light in the standby mode and the emission time;
In the standby mode, the light emission control unit emits light from the light source stored in the storage unit, and a time obtained by adding the emission time stored in the storage unit to the time to emit light from the light source. 4. The coordinate input device according to claim 2, wherein when a predetermined time is exceeded, emission of light from the light source is stopped and light is emitted from the other light source. 5.

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