JP2014115752A - Pen type input device and electronic information board system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect an operation in a different direction.SOLUTION: A pen type input device 100 has a writing unit 100A provided at one end of a cylindrical main body 110, and has an erasure unit 100B provided at the other end of the cylindrical main body 110. The writing unit 100A has a pen tip movable part 120, a pen tip contact switch 140 and a pen tip spring 160 inside the main body 110. Further, the erasure unit 100B has a pen buttock movable part 130, a pen buttock contact switch 150 and a pen buttock spring 170 inside the main body 110. The pen tip spring 160 and the pen buttock spring 170 are respectively composed of a coil spring, and a spring constant is selected so as to generate a different spring force depending on a setting condition such as a wire diameter of a spring material, a winding diameter thereof, an overall length, the number of turns thereof and the like. For example, since a spring constant of the pen buttock spring 170 is set to be several times to several ten times larger than that of the pen tip spring 160, the pen buttock movable part 130 is much strongly pressed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pen-type input device and an electronic information board system.

  In recent years, an electronic information board called a so-called electronic blackboard or interactive whiteboard (IWB) has been developed. This type of electronic information board includes, for example, an image display device having a large screen (for example, a screen having a diagonal dimension of 40 to 60 inches) using a flat panel such as a liquid crystal panel or a plasma panel, and the image display. A coordinate detection device (touch panel) that detects the coordinates of the position touching the display surface of the device, and various images (characters and numbers) written on the display surface of the image display device based on the coordinate data output from the coordinate detection device , An image including a graphic) is combined with a control device for displaying (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Further, by connecting the electronic information board and the personal computer, the image displayed on the display on the personal computer can be enlarged and displayed on the electronic information board, which is also used for presentations in meetings.

  Also, in this electronic information board system, a pen-shaped input device (target to be detected) is brought into contact with the touch panel, so that the graphic of the handwritten character written by the pen-shaped input device is superimposed on the image on the display surface. Or a function of taking a screen of a personal computer and drawing a graphic written by a pen-type input device on the screen.

  As a pen-type input device, for example, a writing unit that detects a writing operation of a pen tip at one end, converts a writing detection signal into a wireless signal, and transmits the signal is provided, and the writing is erased at the other end opposite to the pen tip. An erasing unit is provided (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  And when writing using a pen-shaped input device, the coordinate of the contact position is determined by moving the pen-shaped input device along the display surface while keeping the writing unit in contact with the display surface of the electronic information board. Detected by the optical sensor, characters and figures can be written in the same way as a normal blackboard or whiteboard. Further, when erasing the writing on the display surface, the coordinates of the contact position are detected by the optical sensor by changing the pen-type input device 180 ° and bringing the erasing unit into contact with the display surface of the electronic information board. The writing of the contact position can be erased.

  Note that the pen-type input device is not limited to the one having the writing unit and the erasing unit, and for example, there is one provided with a plurality of writing units having different colors.

  It is possible to switch from writing operation to erasing operation, or switching from erasing operation to writing operation by changing the way of holding the pen-shaped input device so that it is inverted 180 °. However, for example, when holding the outer periphery of the pen-shaped input device with the fingertip so that the end of the pen-shaped input device faces the palm of the hand as when writing with chalk on a blackboard, the palm of the hand during the writing operation is held. May press the erasing unit. When such an erroneous operation is performed, the character or figure written immediately before is erased by the erasure detection signal transmitted from the erasure unit, or the two detection signals are input simultaneously and the control processing is confused. Occur.

  As a method for eliminating such an erroneous operation, for example, it is conceivable to provide a pen-type input device with a mode switch for switching between a writing mode and an erasing mode. However, erasing due to an erroneous operation can be prevented by switching the changeover switch, but this changeover switch operation is troublesome and operability is also lowered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a pen-type input device and an electronic information board system that have solved the above problems.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following means.

The present invention is a pen-type input device that touches the display surface of the display unit and inputs the coordinates of the contact position,
A pen-shaped body,
A plurality of contact members that are provided on the main body and are in contact with the display surface and displaced;
A plurality of input detection members housed inside the main body and detecting an input operation by displacement of each contact member and outputting a detection signal;
A transmission unit that converts each detection signal output from the plurality of input detection members into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal;
A plurality of elastic members provided between the contact members facing each other and the input detection members, and compressed according to a displacement amount of the contact members;
With
The plurality of elastic members press each of the contact members with a pressing force having a different magnitude according to the displacement of each of the contact members.

  According to the present invention, each elastic member provided between each contact member and each input detection member presses each contact member with a different pressing force due to displacement of each contact member. The feel when pressing the member is different, and even if you try to press the contact member that is not in contact with the display surface by mistake, you can identify that the operator himself is an erroneous operation from the touch of the hand, even during the writing operation Incorrect operation can be prevented in advance.

It is a perspective view which shows the electronic information board system to which Embodiment 1 of the pen-type input device by this invention is applied. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows Embodiment 1 of the pen-type input device by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of an electronic information board. It is a figure which shows typically the principal part of an electronic information board system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the controller of an electronic information board. It is a figure which shows the structure of the touchscreen which detects a coordinate position. It is a figure which shows the case where the writing unit of the pen-type input device by this invention is made to contact a display surface. It is a figure which shows the case where the erasing unit side is pressed during writing operation of the pen-shaped input device by this invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control process executed by a controller according to the first embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows Embodiment 2 of the pen-type input device by this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a control process executed by a controller according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of electronic information board system]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electronic information board system to which Embodiment 1 of a pen-type input device according to the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic information board system 10 includes a display unit 20, a stand 40, and a device storage unit 50. The display unit 20 includes a flat panel such as a liquid crystal panel or a plasma panel, and a display surface 22 and a touch panel (coordinate detection unit) 24 for displaying images are formed on the front surface of the housing of the display unit 20.

  Furthermore, the electronic information board system 10 can write a character, a figure, etc. on the display surface 22 by contacting the pen tip of the writing unit of the dedicated pen-type input device 100.

  When the pen tip at one end is in contact with the display surface 22, the pen-type input device 100 transmits a writing detection signal as a wireless signal. And the display part 20 will display the character, figure, etc. which were written in the coordinate position detected by the touch panel 24, if the writing detection signal transmitted from the pen-shaped input device 100 is received.

  In addition, when the pen-shaped input device 100 is brought into contact with the display surface 22 at the other end, the pen-type input device 100 transmits an erasure detection signal as a wireless signal. Then, when the display unit 20 receives the erasure detection signal transmitted from the pen-type input device 100, the display unit 20 erases characters, graphics, and the like written at the coordinate position detected by the touch panel 24 from the display surface 22. As the display process by the erasing operation, the controller 60 performs a display process in which the detected coordinate position is the same color as the background (for example, white).

  The device storage unit 50 stores various devices such as a controller, a printer, and a video disk device, which will be described later. A keyboard 30 for performing an input operation is mounted on the upper surface of the device storage unit 50.

[Configuration of pen-type input device]
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a pen-type input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the pen-type input device 100 is provided with a writing unit 100 </ b> A at one end of a cylindrical main body 110 and an erasing unit 100 </ b> B at the other end of the main body 110. The writing unit 100 </ b> A includes a pen tip movable part (first contact member) 120, a pen tip contact switch (first input detection member) 140, and a pen tip spring (first elastic member) 160 inside the main body 110. Have. The erasing unit 100B includes a pen butt movable part (second contact member) 130, a pen butt contact switch (second input detection member) 150, and a pen butt spring (second elastic member) 170 inside the main body 110. And have.

  The pen tip contact switch 140 and the pen tip contact switch 150 are so-called push switches and have movable segments 142 and 152 that protrude in the axial direction, respectively. The movable segments 142 and 152 are separated from the pen tip movable unit 120 and the pen butt movable unit 130 via a minute gap. Therefore, the movable segments 142 and 152 are configured to output a detection signal when pressed when the pen tip movable unit 120 and the pen butt movable unit 130 move by a predetermined distance or more (more than the minute gap). .

  The nib spring 160 and the pen butt spring 170 are each made of a coil spring, and spring constants are selected so as to generate different spring forces depending on setting conditions such as the wire diameter, winding diameter, total length, and number of turns of the spring material. . That is, since the one nib spring 160 constitutes the writing unit 100A, the spring force is set to be relatively weak (for example, a spring force of about 0.1 to 0.5 N is set). Since the other pen butterfly spring 170 constitutes the erasing unit 100B, a relatively strong spring force is set (for example, a spring force of about 2 to 3 N is set). For example, since the spring constant of the pen butt spring 170 is set to be several times to ten or more times larger than the spring constant of the pen tip spring 160, the pen butt movable part 130 is pressed more strongly.

  The pen tip movable unit 120 is inserted into a recess 112 provided at one end of the main body 110 and is slidable in the axial direction (X direction). Further, the pen tip movable portion 120 is formed such that the tip 122 protruding from the recess 112 of the main body 110 is formed in a conical shape, and the outer periphery of the base end 124 slides on the inner wall of the recess 112. Further, the end surface of the base end 124 of the nib movable portion 120 has a circular groove 126 into which the end of the nib spring 160 is fitted, and a pressing portion 128 provided on the center line inside the circular groove 126. . Since the pressing portion 128 faces the movable section 142 of the nib contact switch 140, when the nib movable portion 120 comes into contact with the touch panel 24, the pressing portion 128 is slidable by a predetermined distance or more in the axial direction (X direction). It abuts on the section 142. Thereby, the pen tip contact switch 140 outputs a writing operation detection signal (first detection signal).

  The pen butt movable unit 130 is inserted into a recess 114 provided at the other end of the main body 110 and is slidable in the axial direction (X direction). Further, the pen butt movable portion 130 is formed such that the tip 132 protruding from the recess 114 of the main body 110 is formed in a hemispherical shape, and the outer periphery of the base end 134 slides on the inner wall of the recess 114. Further, the base end 134 of the pen butt movable unit 130 includes a circular groove 136 into which the end of the pen butt spring 170 is fitted, and a pressing part 138 provided on the center line inside the circular groove 136.

  Since the pressing portion 138 faces the movable section 152 of the pen butt contact switch 150, when the pen butt movable portion 130 comes into contact with the display surface 22, the pressing portion 138 slides a predetermined distance or more in the axial direction (X direction). It abuts on the movable piece 152. Thereby, the pen butt contact switch 150 outputs an erasing operation detection signal (second detection signal). Since the tip of the pen butt movable unit 130 is formed in a hemispherical shape, the pen tip movable unit 120 is different in appearance from the pen tip movable unit 120. Therefore, the operator can easily identify the pen tip movable unit 120 and the pen butt movable unit 130 from the difference in appearance shape.

  Here, since the spring force of the nib spring 160 and the nib spring 170 is greatly different, the nib movable part 120 or the pen nib can be seen without visually recognizing the external shapes of the nib movable part 120 and the nib movable part 130. It can be identified from the touch of the hand which one of the buttocks movable parts 130 has been pressed. For example, the pen tip movable unit 120 can be slid in the axial direction even with a small force, but the pen butt movable unit 130 is slid in the axial direction unless the force is several times stronger than the pen tip movable unit 120. I can't. Accordingly, when the operator tries to write, the pen bottom movable unit 130 is brought into contact with the display surface 22, and the pen bottom spring 170 has a strong spring force. Become. It can be seen from the hand feeling that the contact direction of the pen-type input device 100 is 180 ° reverse due to the difference in the pressing operation force at this time.

  Further, the pen-type input device 100 includes a circuit unit 180 housed inside the main body 110. Further, the circuit unit 180 includes a signal input unit 182, a signal processing unit 184, and a detection signal transmission unit 186.

  The signal input unit 182 receives detection signals from the pen tip contact switch 140 and the pen butterfly contact switch 150. The signal processing unit 184 converts the detection signal input via the signal input unit 182 into a radio signal. The detection signal transmission unit 186 transmits the radio signal (infrared ray) generated by the signal processing unit 184. In the present embodiment, infrared rays are used as radio signals, but the present invention is not limited to this, and signals such as radio waves, light, and sound waves may be used.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the main part of the electronic information board system. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the electronic information board. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the display unit 20 is controlled by the controller 60, and displays images captured from various screen operation units 26 and user PCs 90 that are input and operated on the display surface 22.

  The controller 60 also has a USB socket 72 to which a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 70 is connected, and a VGA input socket 82 to which a VGA (Video Graphics Array) cable 80 is connected.

  A user PC (Personal Computer) 90 is connected to the controller 60 via a USB socket 72 and a VGA input socket 82. The user PC 90 has a storage 94 composed of a magnetic disk device or the like. The storage 94 stores programs such as various contents and content display application software. Then, the operator selects the desired content from the content stored in the storage 94 to display the content on the monitor 92.

  Therefore, when the image data displayed on the monitor 92 of the user PC 90 is transferred via the USB cable 70 and the VGA cable 80, the controller 60 displays the image data displayed on the monitor 92 on the user PC screen 28 of the display unit 20. The same image as is displayed.

  The controller 60 is also connected to a network 204 such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network) via a communication line 200 such as an optical fiber and a network socket 202.

  Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the electronic information board system 10 includes a pen signal receiving unit 210 that receives a detection signal transmitted from the pen-type input device 100. When the pen signal receiving unit 210 receives the detection signal transmitted from the pen-shaped input device 100, the pen signal receiving unit 210 inputs the detection signal to the touch panel 24. Thereby, the touch panel driver unit 250 which is a control circuit of the touch panel 24 recognizes that the input operation by the pen type input device 100 is performed based on the detection signal from the pen type input device 100, and sends a detection signal to the controller 60. Output.

[Control system for electronic information board]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller of the electronic information board. As shown in FIG. 5, the controller 60 of the electronic information board system 10 includes a pen signal receiving unit 210, a controller operation system unit 220, an application unit 230, a video input device unit 240, and a touch panel driver unit 250. . The application unit 230 includes an event signal determination unit 231, a video input processing unit 232, an image drawing processing unit 234, a screen deletion processing unit 236, and a screen operation processing unit 238.

  The controller operation system unit 220 is a main control unit that manages and executes control processing performed by the controller 60.

  The application unit 230 writes when a control process for generating the entire image displayed on the display surface 22 of the display unit 20, a control process for display on the user PC screen 28, or a writing detection signal of the pen-type input device 100 is detected. A control process for displaying the displayed figure or character is performed.

  The event signal determination unit 231 monitors an event signal input from the controller operation system unit 220 and performs control processing according to the input event signal.

  The video input processing unit 232 performs control processing for displaying an image input from the user PC 90 on the user PC screen 28 of the display surface 22.

  The image drawing processing unit 234 generates a handwritten graphic based on the coordinate position data input from the touch panel 24 via the event signal determination unit 231, and superimposes the handwritten graphic on the already displayed image to display the display unit 20 display surfaces 22 are displayed.

  The screen erasure processing unit 236 generates a graphic with the background color of the currently displayed image based on the coordinate position information input from the touch panel 24 via the event signal determination unit 231, and adds the background to the already displayed image. The color graphic is superimposed and displayed on the display surface 22 of the display unit 20. As a result, the background color graphic is superimposed on the handwritten graphic displayed on the display unit 20 and apparently erased from the display surface 22.

  The screen operation processing unit 238 converts coordinate position information (signal) input from the touch panel 24 into a pointing device signal such as a mouse event, and turns on / off the screen operation unit 26 displayed on the display surface 22 of the display unit 20. Performs processing by turning off. Further, information on the coordinate position touched by the pen-type input device 100 detected by the light emitting / receiving sensors 300 and 310 of the touch panel 24 is transmitted to the controller operation system unit 220 together with the coordinate value as a mouse down event. Further, when the pen-type input device 100 is moved while being in contact with the display surface 22 of the touch panel 24, it is transmitted to the controller operation system unit 220 together with the coordinate value as a mouse up event.

  The touch panel driver unit 250 converts the coordinate position signal and the writing detection signal or the erasure detection signal input from the pen-type input device 100 and the touch panel 24 into predetermined event signals and transmits them to the controller operation system unit 220. When the pen signal receiving unit 210 receives a writing detection signal or an erasure detection signal from the pen-type input device 100, the touch panel driver unit 250 sends the writing detection signal or the erasure detection signal together with the coordinate position signal to the controller operation system unit 220. Transmit to.

[Coordinate detection method of pen-type input device]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch panel that detects a coordinate position. As shown in FIG. 6, in the touch panel 24, a pair of light emitting / receiving sensors 300 and 310 are arranged at the left and right corners on the upper side of the display surface 22. Reflecting plates 320, 330, and 340 are disposed on the left and right sides and below the display surface 22. The reflectors 320, 330, and 340 are provided along the left and right sides of the display surface 22 and the lower edges of the display surface 22, respectively, and are formed to have a width dimension of 7 to 10 mm in the direction perpendicular to the display surface 22. ing. For this reason, if there is an obstacle such as the pen-type input device 100 between the light emitting / receiving sensors 300, 310 and the reflectors 320, 330, 340, the reflected light at the coordinate position cannot be received.

  The light emitting / receiving sensor 300 disposed in the upper left corner irradiates the display surface 22 with infrared rays on a parallel vertical plane, and the direction of infrared irradiation is the entire area of the right reflector 330 and the lower reflector 340. It is. In addition, the light emitting / receiving sensor 310 disposed at the upper right corner irradiates the display surface 22 with infrared rays on a parallel vertical plane, and the infrared irradiation direction is the left reflecting plate 320 and the lower reflecting plate 340. It is the whole area.

  When nothing is in contact with the display surface 22, the infrared rays emitted from the light receiving / emitting sensors 300, 310 are reflected by the reflecting plates 320, 330, 340, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving / emitting sensors 300, 310. .

  Here, when the pen tip movable unit 120 or the pen butt movable unit 130 of the pen-type input device 100 is in contact with the display surface 22, the infrared rays emitted from the light emitting / receiving sensors 300 and 310 are blocked at the contact points. . Therefore, the light emitting / receiving sensor circuit 350 detects the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the location where the infrared rays are blocked based on the detection signals from the light emitting / receiving sensors 300 and 310, calculates the coordinate position with a triangulation formula, and XY Convert to coordinates. The coordinate position signal obtained by the light emitting / receiving sensor circuit 350 is transmitted to the image drawing processing unit 234, the screen erasing processing unit 236, and the screen operation processing unit 238 via the controller operation system unit 220.

[Operation Method of Pen-Type Input Device 100]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a case where the writing unit of the pen-type input device according to the present invention is brought into contact with the display surface. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a case where the erasing unit side is pressed during the writing operation of the pen-type input device according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the operator's hand H grips the outer periphery of the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the main body 110 of the pen-shaped input device 100, the tip of the pen-tip movable unit 120 of the pen-shaped input device 100. 122 is brought into contact with the display surface 22 of the display unit 20, and the main body 110 is pressed toward the display surface 22. As a result, the nib movable part 120 slides in the recess 112 of the main body 110 while compressing the nib spring 160, and the pressing part 128 contacts the movable segment 142 of the nib contact switch 140. Therefore, the pen tip contact switch 140 outputs a writing detection signal.

  When the pen-type input device 100 is moved while the pen-tip contact switch 140 is turned on in this way, the contact position of the pen-tip movable unit 120 moves and a handwritten character or figure is displayed on the display surface 22. . In this case, since the operator holds the outer periphery of the intermediate portion of the main body 110 of the pen-type input device 100, the hand H does not come into contact with the pen butt movable portion 130 protruding from the upper end of the main end 110, and the operator smoothly Can perform writing operations.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the operator's hand H holds the vicinity of the upper end of the pen-type input device 100, the palm comes into contact with the pen butt movable unit 130. In this case, when the main body 110 is strongly pressed toward the display surface 22 so as to bring the tip 122 of the pen tip movable portion 120 into contact with the display surface 22, the pen butt movable portion 130 slides in the concave portion 114 of the main body 110 and presses. The portion 138 comes into contact with the movable section 152 of the pen butt contact switch 150. Therefore, detection signals are simultaneously output from both the pen tip contact switch 140 and the pen butt contact switch 150.

  However, since the pen-type input device 100 is set to have a spring constant of the pen butterfly spring 170 that is several times to ten or more times larger than the spring constant of the pen tip spring 160 as described above, Even if 130 is pressed with the strength of the writing operation, the pen bottom spring 170 is hardly compressed. Therefore, when the operator performs a writing operation, the pen butt contact switch 150 is prevented from being turned on even if the pen butt movable unit 130 is accidentally pressed.

[Control processing of controller 60]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a control process executed by the controller 60 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the controller 60 checks whether or not an event monitoring loop is set in step S11 and a mouse event is detected in the next step S12. In step S12, when the event signal is not input by the operation of the user PC 90 or the screen operation unit 26 displayed on the display surface 22 (in the case of NO), the process enters a standby state in which the processes of S11 and S12 are repeated.

  In step S12, if an event signal is input by operating the user PC 90 or the screen operation unit 26 displayed on the display surface 22 (in the case of YES), the process proceeds to the next step S13, and the pen butt contact switch 150 is moved. Check whether there is a detection signal from. In step S13, when there is no detection signal from the pen butt contact switch 150 (in the case of NO), since the pen butt movable unit 130 is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In the next step S <b> 14, it is checked whether there is a detection signal from the pen tip contact switch 140 for the pen tip movable unit 120. In step S14, when there is no detection signal from the pen tip contact switch 140 (in the case of NO), the pen tip movable unit 120 of the pen-type input device 100 is not pressed, so the process returns to S11.

  In step S13, if there is a detection signal from the pen butt contact switch 150 (in the case of YES), since the pen butt movable unit 130 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S15, and the coordinate position signal is output from the touch panel 24. Check if it has been entered. If no coordinate position signal is input from the touch panel 24 in step S15 (NO), the pen butt movable unit 130 is not in contact with the display surface 22, and the process returns to step S13.

  In step S15, when a coordinate position signal is input from the touch panel 24 (in the case of YES), since the pen butt movable unit 130 is in contact with the display surface 22, the process proceeds to step S16 and is detected by the touch panel 24. Read coordinate position information (signal). Subsequently, in step S17, an event signal (a signal for erasing characters, graphics, etc.) in a state where the pen butt movable unit 130 is in contact with the display surface 22 is transmitted to the screen erasure processing unit 236 together with the information on the coordinate position. . As a result, the screen erasure processing unit 236 erases characters, graphics, and the like displayed at the coordinate position by superimposing a background color graphic at the coordinate position. Thereafter, the process returns to step S13, and in step S13, when there is a detection signal from the pen butt contact switch 150 (in the case of YES), since the erasing operation is performed again, the processes of S15 to S17 are executed. To do.

  In step S14, if there is a detection signal from the pen tip contact switch 140 (in the case of YES), the pen tip movable unit 120 of the pen-type input device 100 is pressed, and the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, it is checked whether or not a coordinate position signal is input from the touch panel 24. If the coordinate position signal is not input from the touch panel 24 in step S18 (NO), the pen tip movable unit 120 is not in contact with the display surface 22, and the process returns to step S14.

  If a coordinate position signal is input from the touch panel 24 in step S18 (YES), the pen tip movable unit 120 is in contact with the display surface 22, and thus the process proceeds to step S19, where the touch panel 24 detects the coordinate position. Read coordinate position information (signal). Subsequently, in step S20, an event signal (a signal representing a character, a figure, or the like) in a state where the pen tip movable unit 120 is in contact with the display surface 22 is transmitted to the screen drawing processing unit 234 together with the coordinate position information. Thereafter, the process returns to step S13, and the operator sequentially performs processing corresponding to the erase operation or the writing operation.

  Note that after the processes in steps S17 and S20, the process may return to the process in S11, and the processes in S13 to S20 may be executed after confirming the presence or absence of a mouse event in step S12.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing Embodiment 2 of the pen-type input device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, in the pen-type input device 400 of the second embodiment, a writing unit 400A is provided at one end of a cylindrical main body 110, and an erasing unit 400B is provided at the other end of the main body 410. The writing unit 400 </ b> A of the pen-type input device 400 includes a pen tip movable portion (first contact member) 120, a pen tip pressure sensor (first input detection member) 440, and a pen tip spring (first first) inside the main body 110. Elastic member) 160. In addition, the erasing unit 400B includes a pen butt movable part (second contact member) 130, a pen butt pressure sensor (second input detection member) 450, and a pen butt spring (second elastic member) 170 inside the main body 110. And have. The pen-type input device 400 has a configuration using a pressure sensor instead of the contact switch described above, and a description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  The nib pressure sensor 440 is elastically deformed according to the spring force of the nib spring 160 compressed by the nib movable unit 120 being pressed, and has a characteristic of changing a resistance value according to the elastic deformation amount. It consists of a conductive elastomer sensor. Therefore, the nib pressure sensor 440 detects a pressure value corresponding to the spring force of the nib spring 160 by a writing operation.

  Further, the pen butt pressure sensor 450 has a characteristic of elastically deforming according to the spring force of the pen butt spring 170 compressed by pressing the pen butt movable unit 130 and changing the resistance value according to the elastic deformation amount. It consists of a pressure sensitive conductive elastomer sensor. Therefore, the pen butt pressure sensor 450 detects a pressure value corresponding to the spring force of the pen butt spring 170 by the erasing operation.

  The spring constant of the pen butterfly spring 170 is set to be several times to several tens of times larger than the spring constant of the pen tip spring 160 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the pen butt pressure sensor 450 detects the pressing force of the pen butt spring 170 having a spring force larger than the spring force of the pen tip spring 160. Therefore, the threshold value of the detection signal of the pen butt pressure sensor 450 is set to a value higher than the threshold value of the pen tip pressure sensor 440 according to the difference in spring force.

  Further, the pen-type input device 400 includes a circuit unit 480 housed inside the main body 410. The circuit unit 480 includes a resistance-voltage conversion circuit 482, an A / D conversion circuit 484, a storage circuit 486, a threshold processing circuit 488, an output circuit 500, a signal processing unit 502, and a detection signal transmission unit 504. And have.

  The resistance-voltage conversion circuit 482 converts changes in resistance values of the pen tip pressure sensor 440 and the pen butt pressure sensor 450 due to writing operation and erasing operation into voltage.

  The A / D conversion circuit 484 converts the analog signal of the voltage value detected by each pressure sensor 440, 450 into a digital signal.

  The storage circuit 486 stores a threshold value for the voltage value detected by each of the pressure sensors 440 and 450.

  The threshold processing circuit 488 compares the pressure detection signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 484 with the threshold stored in the storage circuit 486, and turns on the detection signal when the pressure detection signal exceeds the threshold. When the pressure detection signal does not exceed the threshold value, the detection signal is turned off.

  The output circuit 500 outputs the logical value output from the threshold processing circuit 488 to the signal processing unit 502 via the input interface unit at a predetermined rate. The signal processing unit 502 converts a logical value signal input via the output circuit 500 into a wireless signal. The detection signal transmission unit 504 transmits the radio signal generated by the signal processing unit 502.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining control processing executed by the controller of the second embodiment. As FIG. 11 shows, since the process of step S21 and step S22 is the same as step S11 and step S12 mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step S23, it is checked whether or not the pressure detection signal detected by the pen butt pressure sensor 450 is larger than a preset threshold value B. In step S23, when the pressure detection signal detected by the pen butt pressure sensor 450 is smaller than the preset threshold B (in the case of NO), the pen butt movable unit 130 is not pressed, and the process proceeds to step S24.

  In the next step S24, it is checked whether or not the pressure detection signal detected by the pen tip pressure sensor 440 is larger than a preset threshold value A. In step S24, when the pressure detection signal detected by the pen tip pressure sensor 440 is smaller than the preset threshold A (in the case of NO), the pen tip movable unit 120 is not pressed, so the process of S11 is performed. Return. The threshold B for the erasing operation is set to a value several times larger than the threshold A for the writing operation (threshold A <threshold B).

  If the pressure detection signal detected by the pen butt pressure sensor 450 is greater than the preset threshold value B (YES) in step S23, the pen butt movable unit 130 is pressed, so step S25. The process of S27 is executed. In addition, since the process of step S25-S27 is the same as the process of step S15-S17 mentioned above, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step S24, when the pressure detection signal detected by the pen tip pressure sensor 440 is larger than the preset threshold A (in the case of YES), the processes of steps S28 to S30 are executed. In addition, since the process of step S28-S30 is the same as the process of step S18-S20 mentioned above, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the pen-type input device 400 of the second embodiment, the spring constant of the pen bottom spring 170 compressed by the sliding operation of the pen bottom movable unit 130 by the erasing operation is greater than the spring constant of the pen tip spring 160 compressed by the writing operation. Is set several times to more than a dozen times. Therefore, even if it is gripped from the upper end side of the main body 110 as shown in FIG. 8 described above, the pen butt spring 170 is hardly compressed even if the pen butt movable part 130 is pressed with the strength of the writing operation. Therefore, even when the operator performs a writing operation, even if the pen butt movable unit 130 is accidentally pressed, the pen butt pressure sensor 450 does not output a pressure detection signal and is prevented from being turned on.

  In the above embodiment, the pen-type input device when used in the electronic information board system 10 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to a display device or a terminal device having another touch panel. It can also be applied to input devices.

  In the above embodiment, a configuration in which a writing unit is provided at one end of the pen-type input device and an erasing unit is provided at the other end is given as an example. It can also be applied to those provided with a writing unit capable of selecting a plurality of colors.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic information board system 20 Display part 22 Display surface 24 Touch panel 28 User PC screen 60 Controller 70 USB cable 72 USB socket 80 VGA cable 82 VGA input socket 90 User PC
100, 400 Pen-type input device 100A, 400A Writing unit 100B, 400B Erase unit 110 Main body 120 Pen tip movable part (first contact member)
130 Pen bottom movable part (second contact member)
140 Pen tip contact switch (first input detection member)
142, 152 Movable section 150 Pen bottom contact switch (second input detection member)
160 Nib spring (first elastic member)
170 Pen bottom spring (second elastic member)
180, 480 Circuit unit 182 Signal input unit 184 Signal processing unit 186 Detection signal transmission unit 200 Communication line 202 Network socket 204 Network 210 Pen signal reception unit 220 Controller operation system unit 230 Application unit 231 Event signal determination unit 232 Video input processing unit 234 Image drawing processing unit 236 Screen erasing processing unit 238 Screen operation processing unit 240 Video input device unit 250 Touch panel driver unit 300, 310 Light emitting / receiving sensor 320, 330, 340 Reflecting plate 350 Light receiving / emitting sensor circuit 440 Pen tip pressure sensor (first input) Detection member)
450 Pen bottom pressure sensor (second input detection member)
482 Resistance-voltage conversion circuit 484 A / D conversion circuit 486 Storage circuit 488 Threshold processing circuit 500 Output circuit 502 Signal processing unit 504 Detection signal transmission unit

Japanese Patent No. 4627781 Japanese Patent No. 2767098

Claims (8)

A pen-type input device that touches the display surface of the display unit and inputs coordinates of the contact position,
A pen-shaped body,
A plurality of contact members that are provided on the main body and are in contact with the display surface and displaced;
A plurality of input detection members housed inside the main body and detecting an input operation by displacement of each contact member and outputting a detection signal;
A transmission unit that converts each detection signal output from the plurality of input detection members into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal;
A plurality of elastic members provided between the contact members facing each other and the input detection members, and compressed according to a displacement amount of the contact members;
With
The pen-shaped input device, wherein the plurality of elastic members press the contact members with different pressing forces according to the displacement of the contact members.   2. The pen-type input device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of elastic members includes a spring member, and the spring constant of each spring member is set to a different size.   The plurality of input detection members each output a detection signal when a corresponding one of the plurality of contact members is displaced to a position reaching a predetermined distance inside the main body by being pressed by the display surface. The pen-type input device according to claim 1, wherein the pen-type input device is a pen-type input device.   Each of the plurality of input detection members includes a corresponding one of the plurality of contact members that is pressed against the display surface and displaced to the inside of the main body, and the pressing force of the elastic member is greater than or equal to a desired threshold value. The pen-type input device according to claim 1, wherein a detection signal is output when the value reaches. The plurality of contact members are:
A first contact member provided at one end of the main body and in contact with the display surface when writing on the display surface;
A second contact member provided at the other end of the main body and in contact with the display surface when erasing an image displayed on the display surface;
The pen-type input device according to claim 1, comprising: The plurality of elastic members are:
A first elastic member that presses the first contact member;
A second elastic member that has a spring constant larger than that of the first elastic member and presses the second contact member;
The pen-type input device according to claim 5, comprising: The plurality of input detection members are:
When the first contact member is pressed against the display surface with a force stronger than the pressing force of the first elastic member and is displaced into the main body, a writing detection signal for writing on the display surface is output. A first input detection member;
An erasure detection for erasing an image displayed on the display surface when the second contact member is pressed by the display surface with a force stronger than the pressing force of the second elastic member and displaced inside the main body. A second input detection member for outputting a signal;
The pen-type input device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by comprising: A pen-shaped input device according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
A display unit having a display surface with which the pen-shaped input device is contacted;
Coordinate detection means for detecting coordinates when the pen-shaped input device contacts the display surface;
A controller for displaying on the display unit a graphic by contact of the pen-type input device at the coordinate position detected by the coordinate detection means;
Electronic information board system equipped with.

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