JP2015056064A - Coordinate input device and image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coordinate input device which triangulates a coordinate position of a pointing object which blocks an optical path between light-receiving/emitting means and retroreflection means arranged in different positions in a coordinate input area, while calculating the coordinate position of the pointing object even when the optical path is blocked by a hand or the like, or when a plurality of pointing objects touch the coordinate input area.SOLUTION: Light beams L1-Lm emitted from light-receiving/emitting means 41-1, 41-2 arranged at both upper ends of a coordinate input area 43 are reflected by a retroreflection member 44, and return to the light-receiving/emitting means 41-1, 41-2. When an electronic pen, not shown in Fig, touches the coordinate input area 43 and blocks an optical path, a touch position 42 is calculated by triangulation. Even if the optical path is blocked by a hand or the like or a plurality of pointing objects touch the coordinate input area 43, the touch position 42 can be calculated by use of outputs from an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor of the electronic pen.

Description

  The present invention relates to a coordinate input device, and more particularly to a coordinate input device that inputs a position designated by a pointing object such as a pen in order to input or select information in a personal computer or the like, and image processing including the coordinate input device. Relates to the device.

  A so-called “electronic information board” product in which a touch panel is mounted on a large display having a size of about 40 inches to 80 inches using a flat panel such as liquid crystal or plasma or a projector is commercially available.

  By connecting a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) to an electronic information board, it is possible to project a large screen of the PC, and it is used in presentations at meetings of companies and administrative institutions, educational institutions, and the like.

  Using the touch panel function mounted on the electronic information board, the PC that is displaying the screen is operated by directly touching the displayed screen instead of the mouse operation, “PC operation function via the touch panel”, Is provided.

  Furthermore, electronic blackboard application software that runs on a connected PC is provided with these devices. This application software provides a screen that acts as a blackboard, the function to draw handwritten characters etc. on the touch panel on it, the screen of the PC that provides this application is taken in, and handwritten characters etc. are superimposed on it "Handwriting function via touch panel" is provided.

  Specific product examples include, for example, “BIG PAD” (registered trademark) of Sharp Corporation, “Starboard” (registered trademark) of Hitachi Software Engineering Corporation, and “Cyber Conference” (registered trademark) of Pioneer Corporation. Trademark).

  When using an electronic information board with such a handwriting function, in the office meeting scene, etc., the display items for explanation are manipulated and the indicated items are directly written on the screen as needed. The screen contents including writing can be recorded. As a result, it is expected that the contents of the screen can be efficiently summarized by looking back at the end of the conference and reusing the screen contents.

  As an apparatus capable of inputting the contact position of the pointing object with respect to such an electronic information board, there are coordinate input apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. These coordinate input devices include light receiving / emitting means arranged at two locations in the coordinate input area, and recursivity for reflecting light emitted from each light receiving / emitting means toward the coordinate input area toward the light receiving / emitting means. And reflecting means. Then, the optical path of the light emitted from each light receiving / emitting means to the coordinate input area simultaneously (Patent Document 2) or sequentially (Patent Document 1), reflected by the retroreflecting means, and reaching each light receiving / emitting means is The coordinates at which the pointing object comes into contact by triangulation from the distance between each light emitting / receiving means and the angle formed by each light receiving / emitting means and the blocked light path when blocked by the pointing object touching the coordinate input area A position on the input area (hereinafter, coordinate position) is calculated.

  However, the coordinate input devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a problem that the coordinate position of the pointing object cannot be calculated because the optical path is blocked by a hand or the like. Further, when a plurality of pointing objects are used, there is a problem that the coordinate position of each pointing object cannot be calculated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical path between the light emitting / receiving means and the retroreflective means arranged at two locations in the coordinate input area as the pointing object. In the coordinate input device that calculates the coordinate position of the pointing object by triangulation when blocked, even if the optical path is blocked by a hand or the like, or a plurality of pointing objects contact the coordinate input area It is to be able to calculate the coordinate position of the object.

  The coordinate input device according to the present invention includes light receiving / emitting means arranged at two locations in the coordinate input area, and reflection for reflecting the light emitted from each light receiving / emitting means to the coordinate input area toward the light receiving / emitting means. And the light path of the light emitted from each light receiving / emitting means to the coordinate input area, reflected by the reflecting means, and reaching each light receiving / emitting means is blocked by the pointing object in contact with the coordinate input area, A first coordinate position calculating means for calculating a coordinate position where the pointing object contacts, based on a distance between the light receiving and emitting means and an angle formed between each light receiving and emitting means and the blocked optical path; The coordinate position cannot be calculated by the movement information calculation means for calculating the movement information including the movement amount and the movement direction of the pointing object by integrating the acceleration detection signal and the angular velocity detection signal, and the first coordinate position calculation means. When said Second coordinate position calculation means for calculating the coordinate position of the pointing object from the coordinate position calculated by one coordinate position calculation means and the movement information calculated by the movement information calculation means It is a coordinate input device.

  According to the present invention, when the light path between the light emitting / receiving means and the retroreflective means arranged at two places in the coordinate input area is blocked by the pointing object, the coordinate position of the pointing object is calculated by triangulation. In the coordinate input device, the coordinate position of the pointing object can be calculated even when the optical path is blocked by a hand or the like or a plurality of pointing objects contact the coordinate input area.

It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the image processing system containing the image processing apparatus by which the coordinate input device of embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the image processing system containing the image processing apparatus by which the coordinate input device of embodiment of this invention is mounted. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration and a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the coordinate input device of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the light emitting / receiving means in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement when a pointing object contacts the surface of the display part of an image processing apparatus, and a beam is interrupted | blocked. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of calculating a coordinate position based on the principle of triangulation. It is a figure which shows the state in which a hand etc. are contacting the surface of a display part other than a pointing object. It is a figure which shows the state which the two pointing objects are contacting the surface of a display part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic pen as embodiment of the pointing object of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a part of coordinate detection processing using a signal from the electronic pen illustrated in FIG. 9. It is a flowchart which shows the remaining part of the coordinate detection process using the signal from the electronic pen shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Image processing system including an image processing device on which a coordinate input device is mounted>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first example of an image processing system including an image processing device on which a coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

  The image processing system 100 includes an image processing apparatus 110 and user PCs 130a and 130b. The image processing apparatus 110 and user PCs 130a and 130b are connected by cables 124a and 124b, respectively.

  The image processing apparatus 110 includes a display unit 112 and can display a display image of the user PCs 130a and 130b and can display a drawing image generated by the user. The user PCs 130 a and 130 b are information processing apparatuses that provide images to be displayed on the image processing apparatus 110. The user PCs 130a and 130b are provided with an interface for outputting image signals, and supply image signals for forming display images of the user PCs 130a and 130b to the image processing apparatus 110 at a predetermined rate (for example, 30 frames per second).

  In the present embodiment, the user PCs 130a and 130b include VGA output terminals (not shown) as interfaces, and can transmit VGA signals to the image processing apparatus 110 via cables 124a and 124b such as VGA cables. . In other embodiments, the user PCs 130a and 130b may transmit display images by wireless communication complying with various wireless communication protocols.

  In the embodiment shown in the figure, notebook PCs are used as the user PCs 130a and 130b. However, in other embodiments, image frames such as desktop PCs, tablet PCs, PDAs, digital video cameras, and digital cameras can be supplied. A simple information processing apparatus can be employed. In the image processing system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, two user PCs 130a and 130b are employed. However, in another embodiment, one user PC or three or more user PCs may be employed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a second example of an image processing system including an image processing device in which the coordinate input device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted. The image processing system 1000 will be described focusing on differences from the image processing system 100 shown in FIG.

  In the image processing system 1000, the image processing apparatus 110, the image processing apparatus 1010, and the user PC 130d are connected via a network 1014. The network 1014 is a network such as a LAN or the Internet, and communicates various data such as image data and events between the image processing apparatuses 110 and 1010 and the user PC 130d.

  The image processing apparatus 1010 is connected to the user PC 130c via the cable 124c.

  In the embodiment shown in this figure, the image processing apparatuses 110 and 1010 and the user PC 130d are connected via the network 1014. However, in other embodiments, these image processing apparatuses are not connected via the network 1014, such as a star type. You may connect directly with this connection form.

<Hardware configuration and functional configuration of image processing apparatus>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration and a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

  The image processing apparatus 110 includes an image input interface 232, and is connected to the user PCs 130a and 130b via this interface. The image input interface 232 is an interface that receives an image signal forming a display image of the user PCs 130a and 130b.

  In the present embodiment, a DVI connector configured by a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) terminal can be employed as the image input interface 232. The image input interface 232 receives a VGA signal from the user PCs 130 a and 130 b via a cable 124 such as a VGA (Video Graphics Array) cable and supplies the VGA signal to the image acquisition unit 206 provided in the image processing apparatus 110.

  In other embodiments, a VGA connector, an HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connector, a Displayport connector, or the like may be employed. In still another embodiment, the image input interface 232 may receive image signals from the user PCs 130a and 130b by wireless communication conforming to a wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or WiFi.

  The image processing apparatus 110 includes a processor 200, a ROM 202, a RAM 204, an image acquisition unit 206, a coordinate detection unit 224, a coordinate detection device 226, and a display unit 112.

  The processor 200 is a processing operation device such as a CPU or MPU, and operates OS such as WINDOWS (registered trademark) series, UNIX (registered trademark), LINUX (registered trademark), TRON, ITRON, μITRON, and the like of these OSs. Under the management, the program of this embodiment described in a programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, Java (registered trademark), JavaScript (registered trademark), PERL, RUBY, PYTHON, or the like is executed.

  The ROM 202 is a non-volatile memory in which a boot program such as BIOS or EFI is stored. A RAM 204 is a main storage device such as a DRAM or an SRAM, and provides an execution space for executing the program of the present embodiment.

  The processor 200 reads out a program from a hard disk device (not shown) for continuously holding a software program, various data, and the like, expands it in the RAM 204, and executes it.

  The program includes an event processing unit 210 which is a program module, an application image generation unit 212, a layout management unit 214, a drawing generation unit 216, a synthesis unit 218, a display control unit 220, a snapshot generation unit 222, a snapshot storage unit 236, A snapshot transmission unit 238 and a repository management unit 228 are included.

  The image acquisition unit 206 is a functional unit that acquires image signals from the user PCs 130a and 130b. When the image acquisition unit 206 receives an image signal from the user PCs 130a and 130b via the image input interface 232, the image acquisition unit 206 analyzes the image signal and generates an image frame that is a display image of the user PCs 130a and 130b formed by the image signal. Image information such as the resolution of the image and the update frequency of the image frame is derived and transmitted to the application image generation unit 212.

  Further, the image acquisition unit 206 forms image frames, which are display images of the user PCs 130a and 130b, using the image signals, and overwrites and saves them in the video RAM 208, which is a storage means capable of temporarily storing image data. To do.

  The application image generation unit 212 is a functional unit that generates various display windows to be displayed on the display unit 112. The display window includes a display window that displays an image frame that is a display image of the user PCs 130a and 130b, a display window that displays a drawing image generated by the user, buttons and menus for performing various settings of the image processing apparatus 110, and the like. A display window to be displayed, a display window of a file viewer, a Web browser, and the like are included. The application image generation unit 212 draws these display windows on an image layer in which the display window is to be drawn.

  The layout management unit 214 is a functional unit that draws the display images of the user PCs 130a and 130b on the display window generated by the application image generation unit 212. When the layout management unit 214 acquires the image information from the image acquisition unit 206, the layout management unit 214 acquires the image frame stored in the video RAM 208, and the application image generation unit 212 generates the size of the image frame using the image information. The image frame is changed so as to match the size of the display window, and the image frame is drawn on the image layer to be drawn.

  The coordinate detection device 226 is a functional unit that detects contact of the pointing object such as the drawing device 240. In the present embodiment, a coordinate input device using an infrared ray blocking method is employed as the coordinate detection device 226. In this coordinate input device, two light receiving and emitting devices installed at both lower ends of the display unit 112 emit a plurality of infrared rays in parallel to the display unit 112, and retroreflective provided around the display unit 112. The light reflected by the means on the same optical path is received.

  The coordinate detection device 226 notifies the coordinate detection unit 224 of infrared identification information emitted by the two light receiving and emitting devices blocked by the pointing object, and the coordinate detection unit 224 identifies the coordinate position that is the contact position of the pointing object. To do.

  In another embodiment, a capacitive touch panel that identifies a contact position by detecting a change in capacitance, a resistive film type touch panel that identifies a contact position based on a voltage change between two opposing resistance films, and a contact Various detection means such as an electromagnetic induction type touch panel that detects an electromagnetic induction generated when an object touches the display unit and identifies a contact position may be employed.

  The coordinate detection unit 224 is a functional unit that calculates a coordinate position that is a contact position of the pointing object with respect to the display unit 112 and issues various events. In the present embodiment, the coordinate detection unit 224 calculates the coordinate position of the pointing object using the blocked infrared identification information notified by the coordinate detection device 226.

  The coordinate detection unit 224 issues various events to the event processing unit 210 together with the coordinate position of the contact position. The event issued by the coordinate detection unit 224 is an event (TOUCH) for notifying that an object has touched or approached, and that the contact point or approach point has moved while the object is in contact with or approaching the display unit 112. An event (MOVE) and an event (RELEASE) notifying that the object has moved away (separated) from the display unit 112 are included. These events include coordinate position information that is contact position coordinates and approach position coordinates.

  The drawing device 240 is a device that draws in contact with the coordinate detection device 226 of the image processing device 110. The drawing device 240 has a pen shape provided with a contact detection means for detecting contact of an object at the tip, and when the contact detection means comes into contact with the object, a contact signal indicating contact is identified by the drawing device. It transmits to the coordinate detection part 224 with information.

  The drawing device 240 has a function of deleting the drawn drawing object. A mode selector switch for switching from the drawing mode to the erasing mode is provided on the side surface and the rear end. When the contact detection unit contacts the object in the erasing mode, a signal indicating that the object is in contact and a signal in the erasing mode are transmitted to the coordinate detection unit 224 together with the identification information of the drawing apparatus. The drawing device 240 allows the user to select an object such as a menu or button displayed on the display unit 112.

  For example, when the drawing device 240 is brought into contact with the display unit 112 of the image processing device 110 while the user presses the erase mode switch, the drawing device 240 includes the contact signal and the identification information of the drawing device. A mode type signal indicating the erase mode is transmitted. When the drawing device 240 is brought into contact with the display unit 112 of the image processing device 110 without the user pressing the erase mode switch, the drawing device 240 transmits a contact signal and identification information of the drawing device. To do.

  In this embodiment, the coordinate detection unit 224 receives the infrared identification information from the coordinate detection device 226, calculates the coordinate position that is the contact position of the pointing object, and then receives the contact signal from the drawing device 240, Publish an event. At this time, the coordinate detection unit 224 notifies the event processing unit 210 of information indicating the mode type (hereinafter referred to as “mode type information”) together with the event.

  In this embodiment, various signals are transmitted by near field communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). In other embodiments, various signals can be transmitted by wireless communication using ultrasonic waves or infrared rays.

  The event processing unit 210 is a functional unit that processes an event issued by the coordinate detection unit 224. When the event processing unit 210 receives an event from the coordinate detection unit 224, it is a drawing instruction event in the drawing area, an erasing instruction event, or an operation for selecting an icon for each function displayed on the display unit 112. And perform each function.

  The drawing instruction event is an event that instructs the image processing apparatus 110 to perform drawing. The erasure instruction event is an event for erasing an object drawn on the image processing apparatus 110. The drawing instruction event and the erasure event are issued due to the drawing device 240 touching the display unit 112.

  The selection notification event is an event indicating that various objects such as buttons and menu bars constituting the screen displayed on the display unit 112 have been selected. The selection notification event is issued due to the drawing device 240 touching the display unit 112. The event processing unit 210 issues a selection notification event when the coordinate position information included in the event issued by the coordinate detection unit 224 is within the coordinate area of the object.

  In the present embodiment, identification information is assigned to each of the drawing instruction event and the selection notification event, and the functional unit of the image processing apparatus 110 that operates using these events as a trigger refers to the identification information. Execute the process. Further, identification information of the selected object is added to the selection notification event, and the functional unit of the image processing apparatus 110 that operates using the selection notification event as a trigger refers to the identification information of the object to perform various processing. Execute.

  The drawing generation unit 216 is a functional unit that generates a drawing image drawn by the user using the drawing device 240. The drawing generation unit 216 generates an image layer in which the color of the coordinate position indicated by the coordinate position information is changed to a specific color. The drawing generation unit 216 stores the coordinate position as drawing information in the drawing information storage area of the RAM 204.

  The synthesizing unit 218 is a functional unit that synthesizes various images. The composition unit 218 includes an image layer in which the application image generation unit 212 should draw an image (hereinafter referred to as “application image layer”), and an image layer in which the layout management unit 214 should draw the display images of the user PCs 130a and 130b. (Hereinafter referred to as “image capture layer”) and the image layer (hereinafter referred to as “handwriting layer”) to which the drawing generation unit 216 should draw an image are synthesized.

  The display control unit 220 is a functional unit that controls the display unit 112. The display control unit 220 causes the display unit 112 to display the combined image generated by the combining unit 218. In the present embodiment, the composition unit 218 calls the display control unit 220 to display the composite image on the display unit 112. In another embodiment, the synthesizing unit 218 and the display control unit 220 may synthesize the image layers and display them on the display unit 112 at the same frequency as the update frequency of the image frame included in the image information.

  The snapshot generation unit 222 is a functional unit that generates a snapshot image that is a composite image of the display images of the user PCs 130 a and 130 b and the drawing image generated by the drawing generation unit 216.

  When the snapshot generation unit 222 receives a selection notification event indicating that the snapshot button instructing acquisition of the snapshot displayed on the display unit 112 has been selected, the snapshot generation unit 222 combines the image capture layer and the handwriting layer, Generate a shot image. When generating the snapshot image, the snapshot generation unit 222 causes the repository management unit 228 to save the snapshot image in the storage device 230.

  The snapshot storage unit 236 is a functional unit that stores a snapshot image stored in the storage device 230 through the repository management unit 228 in an external storage device such as the USB memory 242 through the data output interface 234.

  When the snapshot saving unit 236 receives a selection notification event indicating that the snapshot saving button instructing saving of the snapshot displayed on the display unit 112 has been selected, the snapshot saving unit 236 is saved in the storage device 230 through the repository management unit 228. The snapshot image is acquired, and the snapshot image is output to an external storage device connected to the data output interface 234.

  The snapshot transmission unit 238 is a functional unit that transmits a snapshot image stored in the storage device 230 through the repository management unit 228 to a server (not shown) outside the image processing apparatus through the communication control unit 250.

  When the snapshot transmission unit 238 receives a selection notification event indicating that the snapshot transmission button instructing transmission of the snapshot displayed on the display unit 112 has been selected, the snapshot transmission unit 238 is stored in the storage device 230 through the repository management unit 228. The acquired snapshot image is acquired, and the snapshot image is output to the communication control unit 250.

  The communication control unit 250 is a functional unit that controls communication between image processing apparatuses via the network 1014. The communication control unit 250 communicates information such as authentication information, image data such as image frames and snapshot images, drawing information, and events via the communication unit 252. The communication unit 252 is a network interface with the network 1014.

  The repository management unit 228 is a functional unit that controls the storage device 230 that stores the snapshot image. As described above, the repository management unit 228 stores the snapshot image in the storage device 230 according to the instruction from the snapshot generation unit 222. Further, the repository management unit 228 acquires a snapshot image from the storage device 230 according to an instruction from the snapshot storage unit 236 or the snapshot transmission unit 238 and transmits the snapshot image to the data output interface 234 or the communication control unit 250.

  The data output interface 234 is a physical interface that outputs a snapshot image to an external device. In the present embodiment, a USB socket can be adopted as the data output interface 234.

<Schematic configuration of coordinate input device>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the coordinate input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The coordinate input device 40 is mounted as the coordinate detection device 226 in FIG.

  The coordinate input device 40 includes light emitting / receiving means 41-1 and 41-2, a coordinate input region 43, and a retroreflective member 44. The coordinate input area 43 has a quadrangular shape, and a coordinate input area is, for example, a touch panel that electronically writes on a display surface that displays characters and images electronically. The light emitting / receiving means 41-1 and 41-2 are arranged at two places on both ends of the upper part of the coordinate input area 43. In the present embodiment, the coordinate input device 40 is formed on the surface of the display unit 112 of the image processing device 110.

  The coordinate input device 40 is a device that detects the contact position 42 of the pointing object made of an optically opaque material on the coordinate input area 43 and transmits the coordinate position as position information to the coordinate detection unit 224. In the present embodiment, the pointing object is the drawing device 240 made of an electronic pen, but the coordinate position of the pointing position of the pointing stick or the finger can also be detected.

  At both upper ends of the coordinate input area 43, light emitting / receiving means 41-1, 41-2 are provided. From the light emitting / receiving means 41-1 at the upper left end toward the coordinate input area 43, L1, L2, L3,. . . A bundle of Lm light beams (probe light) is irradiated. Actually, it is a fan-shaped light wave extending from the point light source 61 and traveling in parallel to the surface of the coordinate input area 43.

  In addition, a retroreflecting member 44 as a reflecting means is provided in the peripheral portion of the coordinate input area 43 with the retroreflective surface facing the center of the coordinate input area 43. The retroreflective member 44 is a member having a characteristic of reflecting incident light in the same direction regardless of the incident angle.

  For example, when attention is paid to one beam 47 among the fan-shaped plate-like light waves emitted from the light receiving / emitting means 41-1, the beam 47 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 44 and receives the same optical path as the retroreflected light 46 again. It progresses so that it may return toward the light emission means 41-1. The light receiving / emitting means 41-1 is provided with a light receiving element as will be described later, and it is detected whether or not the recursive light has returned to the light receiving / emitting means 41-1 for each of the probe lights L1 to Lm. can do.

  Consider a case where the pointing object touches at the contact position 42. At this time, the probe light 45 is blocked by the pointing object at the contact position 42 and does not reach the retroreflective member 44. Accordingly, the retroreflected light of the probe light 45 does not reach the light emitting / receiving means 41-1, and on the extension line (straight line L) of the probe light 45 by detecting that the recursive light corresponding to the probe light 45 is not received. It is possible to detect that the pointing object has been inserted.

  Similarly, the probe light is emitted from the light emitting / receiving means 41-2 installed at the upper right end, and by detecting that the retroreflected light corresponding to the probe light 48 is not received, an extension line (straight line R) of the probe light 48 is detected. ) It is possible to detect that the pointing object has been inserted above. If the straight line L and the straight line R can be obtained, the coordinate position where the pointing object touches can be obtained by calculating the coordinate position of the intersection point by calculation.

<Internal structure of light emitting / receiving means>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the light emitting / receiving means 41-1 and 41-2 in FIG. This diagram is a diagram viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the coordinate input area 43. Here, for convenience of explanation, a two-dimensional plane parallel to the surface of the coordinate input area 43 will be described.

  The light receiving / emitting means 41-1 and 41-2 are constituted by a point light source 61, a condensing lens 51, and a light receiving element 50. The point light source 61 emits light in a fan shape in a direction opposite to the light receiving element 50 when viewed from the light source. The fan-shaped light emitted from the point light source 61 is considered to be a set of beams traveling in the directions of arrows 53 and 58 and other directions. The beam traveling in the direction of the arrow 53 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 44, and the retroreflected light 54 passes through the condenser lens 51 and reaches a position 57 on the light receiving element 50.

  Further, the beam traveling along the traveling direction 58 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 44, and the retroreflected light 59 reaches the position 56 on the light receiving element 50. Thus, the light emitted from the point light source 61, reflected by the retroreflecting member 44, and returned through the same path reaches the different positions 56 and 57 on the light receiving element 50 by the action of the condenser lens 51, respectively. To do.

  Therefore, when the pointing object is inserted at a certain coordinate position and the beam in a certain optical path is interrupted, the light does not reach the point on the light receiving element 50 corresponding to the beam. From this, by examining the distribution of light intensity on the light receiving element 50, it is possible to know which optical path is blocked.

<Detection of blocked beam>
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the pointing object contacts the surface of the display unit and the beam is blocked. In this figure, it is assumed that the light receiving element 50 is provided on the focal plane of the condenser lens 51.

  The light emitted from the point light source 61 toward the right in FIG. 6 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 44 and returns along the same path. Therefore, the light is condensed again at the position of the point light source 61. The center of the condensing lens 51 is provided so as to coincide with the point light source position. Since the retroreflected light returning from the retroreflective member 44 passes through the center of the condensing lens 51, it travels along a symmetrical path behind the lens (on the light receiving element side).

  At this time, when the light intensity distribution on the light receiving element 50 is examined, if the pointing object is not inserted, the light intensity distribution on the light receiving element 50 is substantially constant. When inserted, the beam passing therethrough is blocked, and on the light receiving element 50, a region (dark spot) having a low light intensity is generated at the position Dn.

This position Dn corresponds to the output / incident angle θn of the blocked beam, and θn can be calculated by detecting Dn.
That is, θn is a function of Dn,
θn = arctan (Dn / f) (1)
It can be expressed as. However, f is a distance between the condensing lens 51 and the light receiving element 50 and corresponds to the focal length of the condensing lens 51 as shown in the figure.

<Calculation of coordinates based on the principle of triangulation>
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating coordinates based on the principle of triangulation.
Here, θn is replaced with θnL and Dn is replaced with DnL in the light emitting / receiving means 41-1 at the upper left end of FIG.

The angle θL formed by the contact position 42 of the pointing object and the x axis of the coordinate input area 43 by the transformation g of the geometric relative positional relationship between the light emitting / receiving means 41-1 and the coordinate input area 43 is expressed by the equation [1].
As a function of DnL calculated by
θL = g (θnL) Equation [2]
It becomes.
However,
θnL = arctan (DnL / f) (3)
It is.

Similarly, for the light receiving / emitting means 41-2 at the upper right end in FIG. 4, the L symbol in the above equation is replaced with the R symbol, and the geometric relative position between the light emitting / receiving means 41-2 and the coordinate input area 43 is changed. By the relationship transformation h
θR = h (θnR) (4)
However,
θnR = arctan (DnR / f) (5)
It is.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the coordinate input area 43, the attachment interval of the light emitting / receiving means 41-1 and 41-2 is w, the left corner of the coordinate input area 43 is the origin 70, and the x and y coordinates are shown in FIG. Thus, the x-axis is taken in the horizontal direction and the y-axis is taken in the vertical direction.

In this case, the coordinate position (x, y) of the contact position 42 of the pointing object on the coordinate input area 43 is
x = wtan θR / (tan θL + tan θR) Equation [6]
y = wtan θL · tan θR / (tan θL + tan θR) (7)
From equations [3], [5], [6], and [7], x and y can be expressed as functions of DnL and DnR.

  That is, the positions DnL and DnR of the dark spots on the light receiving element 50 of the left and right light emitting / receiving means 41-1 and 41-2 are detected, and the geometrical arrangement of the light receiving and emitting means 41-1 and 41-2 is taken into consideration. Thus, the coordinate position of the contact position 42 of the pointing object 60 can be calculated.

  The coordinate position calculation method described above is based on the principle of triangulation, and is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

<When the coordinate position of the pointing object cannot be calculated>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a hand or the like other than the pointing object is in contact with the surface of the display unit, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which two pointing objects are in contact with the surface of the display unit. is there.

  In this way, the coordinate position of the pointing object is calculated based on the principle of triangulation. As shown in FIG. 8, in addition to the contact position 42 of the pointing object, a shield such as a hand 80 contacts the surface of the display unit 112. In this case, the light receiving / emitting means 41-1 at the upper left end cannot detect the coordinate position of the contact position 42.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the contact positions of the two pointing objects are T ₁ and T ₂ , when the coordinate position is calculated based on the principle of triangulation, the correct coordinate position indicating the contact positions T ₁ and T ₂ is obtained. In addition, since an incorrect coordinate position indicating the contact positions D ₁ and D ₂ is also calculated, an accurate coordinate position cannot be detected.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, an electronic pen that has an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor such as a gyro as the drawing device 240 and has a function of transmitting the sensor information and the start and end of the operation to the image processing device 110 is used. The problems shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are solved.

<Configuration of electronic pen and coordinate input operation>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic pen as an embodiment of the pointing object of the present invention.
As illustrated, the electronic pen 300 includes a pen tip pressure sensor 303 that detects the pressure of the movable pen tip 301 connected via the pen tip spring 302 and a movable pen tip 307 connected via the pen tip spring 308. And a pen butt pressure sensor 309 for detecting the pressure of the pen.

  The electronic pen 300 includes an acceleration sensor 305 for detecting the movement of the electronic pen 300 and an angular velocity sensor 306 for detecting the posture of the electronic pen 300. The acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306 are provided in the signal processing circuit 304. The detection signal from the pen tip pressure sensor 303 and the detection signal from the pen butt pressure sensor 309 are input to the signal processing circuit 304.

  The signal processing circuit 304 transmits a signal indicating the start and end of the operation of the electronic pen, such as writing and deletion, to the image processing apparatus 110 through the signal transmission unit 310 according to pressure changes of the pen tip pressure sensor 303 and the pen tip pressure sensor 309. To do. Further, the detection signals of the acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306 are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 110 through the signal transmission unit 310.

  By receiving these signals, the image processing apparatus 110 can calculate the attitude and position of the electronic pen 300 itself. As illustrated, the acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306 are both arranged to detect acceleration and angular velocity in a three-dimensional (xyz) direction. The acceleration sensor 305 detects the motion of the electronic pen 300 by detecting acceleration generated on the three axes of the electronic pen 300, and the angular velocity sensor 306 detects the angular velocity generated on the three axes of the electronic pen 300. 300 postures can be detected.

  The axial directions of these three axes change depending on how the electronic pen 300 is held and used. Therefore, the movement information including the movement direction and the movement amount of the electronic pen 300 is performed by reflecting the posture of the electronic pen 300 obtained by integrating (integrating) the detection signal of the angular velocity sensor 306 in the detection signal of the acceleration sensor 305 and performing the integration calculation. Can be calculated. From this movement information, the movement amount of the coordinate input area 43 in the two coordinate axes (x-axis and y-axis in FIG. 7) directions can be calculated. Therefore, if the coordinate position when the integral calculation is started is known, the coordinate position of the electronic pen 300 can be calculated by the integral calculation of the detection signals from the acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306.

  Therefore, while the electronic pen 300 is in contact with the display unit 112 of the image processing apparatus 110, the detection signal (hereinafter referred to as sensor information) of these two types of sensors or the coordinate position calculated based on the principle of triangulation is used. By using it, the coordinate position of the electronic pen 300 with respect to the position of the display unit 112 of the image processing apparatus 110 can be calculated.

  However, when writing is not performed with the electronic pen 300, that is, when the electronic pen 300 is not in contact with the display unit 112 of the image processing apparatus 110, sensor information of the acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306 is required until writing is started again. An error will occur between the coordinate position obtained through the integration operation and the actual coordinate position.

  In addition, some errors may occur during writing. Therefore, the coordinate position on the display unit 112 calculated from the information of the acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306 from the end of writing until writing again, the coordinate position calculated by triangulation, and the end of writing calculated respectively. Compare the difference of the coordinate position of.

  The coordinate position calculated by triangulation is set to an accurate value (reference value), a correction value is calculated from the difference, and the coordinate input area 43 moves in the two coordinate axes (x-axis and y-axis in FIG. 7) directions. It accumulates as data linked to the quantity. From this accumulated data, a correction value (corrected value 1) is calculated in accordance with the amount of movement in the two coordinate axis directions. Then, when the electronic pen 300 as the measurement target cannot be detected from the sensor and the coordinate position cannot be calculated from triangulation because the shielding object is on the surface of the display unit 112 as shown in FIG. When calculating the coordinate position on the display unit 112 from the information of the sensor 306, it is possible to calculate an accurate coordinate position by calculating the coordinate position using the correction value 1 for the coordinate position obtained by the integral calculation. Become.

  In addition, a correction value (correction value 2) is calculated in the same way in order to reduce errors during writing. These two types of correction values become more accurate values by using a statistical method such as averaging, and the shielding object is on the surface of the display unit 112 as shown in FIG. Thus, even when the coordinate position of the pointing object cannot be calculated, the electronic pen 300 can be drawn at the correct coordinate position.

  Also, when using a plurality of electronic pens, the coordinate position on the display unit 112 of each electronic pen can be grasped by using sensor information of the acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306 in addition to triangulation. Therefore, even in the case of FIG. 9, operations such as drawing and erasing can be performed accurately. Further, the display unit 112 uses a plurality of electronic pens more accurately by making it possible to discriminate using signals such as distinguishing signals transmitted from the respective electronic pens and managing the information separately. Operations such as drawing and erasing can be performed.

<Coordinate detection process using signal from electronic pen>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of the coordinate detection process using the signal from the electronic pen 300 described above, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of the coordinate detection process. This coordinate detection process is executed by the coordinate detection unit 224 in the image processing apparatus 110.

  This flow starts when a drawing start signal is received from the electronic pen 300. The drawing start signal is transmitted from the signal transmission unit 310 to the image processing device 110 when the pen tip pressure sensor 303 detects that the electronic pen 300 has contacted the display unit 112 of the image processing device 110.

  First, the flag t and the flag w are initialized (step S1). Here, when the flag t is set (t = 1), the coordinate position detection before the end of drawing is performed by triangulation, and when the flag is not set (t = 0), drawing is performed. It represents that the coordinate position detection before the end was performed with the sensor information, and the flag w represents whether the first drawing is performed with the electronic pen 300 (W = 0) or the second and subsequent times (W = 0).

  Next, triangulation is performed (step S2), and it is determined whether or not triangulation has been completed (step S3). Here, it is assumed that triangulation has been completed (step S3: Yes), and the drawing start coordinate position is calculated and stored (steps S4 and S5). Steps S4 and S5 are executed by the first coordinate position calculation means and the drawing start coordinate position storage means in the coordinate detection unit 224.

  Next, it is determined whether the value of the flag t is 0 (step S6). Since the flag t is initially 0 (initial value), the process proceeds to step S11, and the sensor information from the electronic pen 300 is initialized.

  Next, based on the information from the acceleration sensor 305 of the electronic pen 300, it is determined whether or not the electronic pen 300 has moved (step S12). First, the case where it has not moved (step S12: none) will be described. In this case, the drawing end signal is monitored (step S23), and when the drawing end signal is detected (drawing end signal: present), the coordinate position is stored (step S24). Step S24 is executed by the drawing end coordinate position storage means in the coordinate detection unit 224.

  Here, the drawing end signal is transmitted from the electronic pen 300 to the image processing apparatus 1010 when the pen tip pressure sensor 303 detects that the electronic pen 300 is separated (separated) from the display unit 112 of the image processing apparatus 110. Is done.

  As described above, when the electronic pen 300 contacts the display unit 112 of the image processing apparatus 110 but moves away without moving, the coordinate position stored in step S24 is the same as the coordinate position stored in step S5. .

  After storing the coordinate position in step S24, the flag w is set to 1 (step S25), and the sensor information is initialized (step S26).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the electronic pen 300 has moved (step S27). If the electronic pen 300 has moved (step S27: present), sensor information is accumulated (step S28), and the presence / absence of a drawing start signal is determined. Judgment is made (step S29). When not moving (step S27: No), the presence / absence of a drawing start signal is determined as it is (step S29). Step S28 is executed by the second coordinate position calculation means in the coordinate detector 224.

  If there is no drawing start signal (step S29: None), the process proceeds to step S27. If there is a drawing start signal (step S29: present), the process proceeds to step S2. That is, in step S28, the movement amount of the coordinate input area 43 of the electronic pen 300 in the two coordinate axes (x-axis and y-axis in FIG. 7) directions while the electronic pen 300 is away from the display unit 112 of the image processing apparatus 110. (Hereinafter, simply referred to as “movement amount”), that is, after calculating the movement amount from the coordinate position stored in step S24, the process proceeds to step S2.

  Next, when it is determined in step S12 that the electronic pen 300 is moving (step S12: present) will be described. In this case, triangulation is performed (step S13), and it is determined whether or not triangulation has been completed (step S14). Here, it is assumed that triangulation has been completed (step S14: Yes), and the coordinate position is stored (step S15).

  Next, the movement amount of the coordinate position is calculated from the sensor information (step S16). In step S16, movement information of the electronic pen 300 on the display unit 112 after the initialization in step S11 is obtained.

  Next, the correction value 2 is calculated and accumulated from the movement amount of the coordinate position by triangulation and the movement amount of the coordinate position accumulated from the sensor information (step S17).

  Here, the movement amount of the coordinate position by triangulation is a difference between the coordinate position stored in step S15 and the coordinate position stored in step S5. The movement amount of the coordinate position integrated from the sensor information is the value calculated in step S16.

  Further, the correction value 2 is a coefficient for correcting the integrated value of the sensor information generated based on the comparison between the two as described above. That is, this is a coefficient for correcting the movement amount of the coordinate position obtained by triangulation to an accurate value and correcting the movement amount of the coordinate position accumulated from the sensor information to an accurate value. The correction value 2 is a correction coefficient for sensor information during writing of the electronic pen 300.

  After storing the correction value 2, the flag t is set to 1 (step S18), drawing processing is performed (step S19), and the process proceeds to step S12. By this drawing process, the locus of the electronic pen 300 from the drawing start coordinate position stored in step S5 to the coordinate position stored in step S15 is displayed on the display unit 112.

  This time, it is determined that there is movement in step S12 (step S12: present), and it is assumed that triangulation cannot be performed (step S13 → step S14: impossibility). In this case, the correction value 2 is applied to the sensor information for correction, the coordinate position is calculated (step S19), and the coordinate position is stored (step S20). Then, the flag t is set to 0 (step S21), drawing processing is performed (step S22), and the process proceeds to step S12. Step S19 is executed by the second correction means in the coordinate detection unit 224.

  Next, the case where the flag t is 1 in step S6 will be described. Since flag t is set to 1 in step S18, flag t is set to 1 in step S6 when S6 is reached through steps S18 → S22 → S12 → S23 to S29 → S2 to S5. .

  In the next step S7, the movement amount of the coordinate position is calculated from the integrated value of the sensor information. Here, the calculated movement amount is the value calculated in step S <b> 28, that is, the movement amount of the electronic pen 300 while the electronic pen 300 is away from the display unit 112.

  Next, the correction value 1 is calculated and accumulated from the movement amount of the coordinate position by triangulation and the movement amount of the coordinate position accumulated from the sensor information (step S8). Here, the movement amount of the coordinate position by triangulation is a difference between the coordinate position stored in step S5 and the coordinate position stored in step S24. The movement amount of the coordinate position integrated from the sensor information is the value calculated in step S7.

  Further, the correction value 1 is a coefficient for correcting the integrated value of the sensor information generated based on the comparison between the two as described above. That is, this is a coefficient for correcting the movement amount of the coordinate position obtained by triangulation to an accurate value and correcting the movement amount of the coordinate position accumulated from the sensor information to an accurate value. The correction value 1 is a correction coefficient for the integrated value of the sensor information when the electronic pen 300 is not in contact with the display unit 112. After accumulating the correction value 1, the sensor information is initialized (step S11).

  If it is determined in step S3 that measurement is not possible (step S3: impossible), it is determined whether the flag w is 1 or 0 (step S9). If it is 0, the process proceeds to step S2, and if it is 1, the process proceeds to step S10. To do. In step S10, the coordinate position is calculated by applying the correction value 1 to the integrated value of the sensor information. Next, the coordinate position is stored (step S30), and the sensor information is initialized (step S11). Step S <b> 10 is executed by the first correction unit in the coordinate detection unit 224.

  Since the flag w is set to 1 in step S25, the flag w is set to 1 in step S9 when the process reaches step S9 through steps S25 to S29 → S2 → S3. Therefore, the coordinate position calculated in step S10 is an accurate value obtained by correcting the integrated value of the sensor information when the electronic pen 300 is not in contact with the display unit 112 with the correction value 1 after storing the coordinate position in step S24. Coordinates.

The outline of the flowchart described above is summarized as follows.
The movement amount of coordinates on the display unit 112 calculated from the information of the acceleration sensor 305 and the angular velocity sensor 306 from the end of writing until writing again (calculated in step S7 based on the result of integrating sensor information in step S28) Coordinate position), the movement amount of the coordinate position calculated by triangulation (the coordinate position calculated by performing triangulation in step S2 and calculated in step S5), and calculated in step S15 and stored in step S24. Compare the difference in coordinate position with the end of writing.

  The coordinate position calculated by triangulation is set to an accurate value, a correction value is calculated from the difference, and the amount of movement of the coordinate input area 43 in the two coordinate axis directions (x-axis direction and y-axis direction) (in step S2) Then, triangulation is started, and the start position is calculated in step S4) and stored in step S8.

  That is, for example, when the coordinate position in step S24 is stored at the end of writing, the sensor information is integrated in step S28 until writing is started next time. When the start of writing is detected in step S29, if the movement amount of the coordinate position is (xs1, ys1) from the value integrated in step S28, the movement amount obtained by triangulation is (xt1, yt1). ), The x coordinate correction value 1 is obtained by xt1 ÷ xs1, and the y coordinate correction value 1 is yt1 ÷ ys1.

  From this accumulated data, a correction value (correction value 1) according to the movement amount of the coordinate axis is calculated, and the coordinate position cannot be calculated from triangulation as shown in FIG. When the coordinate position is calculated from the information, the coordinate position is calculated in step S10 using the correction value 1 for the information on the movement amount integrated in step S28. That is, the coordinate position can be accurately calculated by setting the correction value 1 × the movement amount integrated in step S28 + the coordinate position stored in step S24.

  Similarly, in order to reduce the error during writing, in step S17, the correction value 2 is calculated from the difference between the amount of movement by the triangulation of S13 during movement of the electronic pen 300 and the amount of movement by the sensor information of step S16. Is calculated.

  In this way, the sensor integrated value in step S28 is corrected with the correction value 1 that brings the movement amount calculated from the past accumulated sensor integrated value to the movement amount measured by triangulation at the coordinate position stored in step S24. The writing start point is determined by calculating the coordinate position of the electronic pen 300. During writing, the coordinate position of the electronic pen is calculated by correcting the sensor integrated value in step S19 with the correction value 2 specialized for a short moving distance at the coordinate position stored in step S30 or step S20, and calculating the coordinate position of the electronic pen. Even when it cannot be calculated from surveying, it is possible to draw with an electronic pen at an accurate coordinate position.

As described above in detail, according to the image processing apparatus 110 of the embodiment of the present invention, the following effects (1) to (4) can be obtained.
(1) The coordinate position on the display unit 112 of the electronic pen 300 can be calculated even when a shield other than the electronic pen 300 is in contact with the surface of the display unit 112.
(2) Even when the plurality of electronic pens 300 are in contact with the display unit 112, the coordinate position on the display unit 112 of each electronic pen 300 can be calculated.
(3) The coordinate position based on the integrated value of the sensor information when not writing with the electronic pen 300 can be corrected.
(4) The coordinate position based on the integrated value of the sensor information when writing with the electronic pen 300 can be corrected.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 ... Coordinate input device, 41-1, 41-2 ... Light emitting / receiving means, 43 ... Coordinate input area, 44 ... Retroreflective member, 110, 1010 ... Image processing device, 112, 1012 ... Display part, 224 ... Coordinate detection 226 ... coordinate detection device 240 ... drawing device 300 ... electronic pen 305 ... acceleration sensor 306 angular velocity sensor

JP-A-9-91094 Japanese Patent No. 4340302

Claims (4)

Light emitting and receiving means arranged at two locations in the coordinate input area;
Reflecting means for reflecting the light emitted from each light receiving and emitting means to the coordinate input area toward the direction of each light receiving and emitting means;
Each light receiving / emitting means when the optical path of the light emitted from each light receiving / emitting means to the coordinate input area, reflected by the reflecting means, and reaching each light receiving / emitting means is blocked by the pointing object contacting the coordinate input area First coordinate position calculation means for calculating a coordinate position where the pointing object is in contact with each other from the distance between the light receiving and emitting means and the angle formed by the blocked optical path;
A movement information calculating means for calculating movement information including a movement amount and a movement direction of the pointing object by integrating the acceleration detection signal and the angular velocity detection signal from the pointing object;
When the coordinate position cannot be calculated by the first coordinate position calculation means, the instruction is obtained from the coordinate position when the first coordinate position calculation means can calculate and the movement information calculated by the movement information calculation means. Second coordinate position calculation means for calculating the coordinate position of the object;
A coordinate input device. The coordinate input device according to claim 1,
A drawing start coordinate position storage that receives a detection signal indicating contact with the coordinate input area from the pointing object, and stores the coordinate position calculated by the first coordinate position calculation unit at that time as a drawing start coordinate position Means,
A drawing end coordinate position storage that receives a detection signal indicating that the pointing object has left the coordinate input area and stores the coordinate position calculated by the first coordinate position calculating unit as a drawing end coordinate position at that time Means,
A first correction unit that corrects movement information calculated by the movement information calculation unit during a period based on a difference from the drawing end coordinate position to the next drawing start coordinate position;
A coordinate input device. The coordinate input device according to claim 1,
A drawing start coordinate position storage that receives a detection signal indicating contact with the coordinate input area from the pointing object, and stores the coordinate position calculated by the first coordinate position calculation unit at that time as a drawing start coordinate position Means,
A drawing end coordinate position storage that receives a detection signal indicating that the pointing object has left the coordinate input area and stores the coordinate position calculated by the first coordinate position calculating unit as a drawing end coordinate position at that time Means,
A second correction unit that corrects movement information calculated by the movement information calculation unit between the drawing start coordinate position and the drawing end coordinate position;
A coordinate input device. An image processing apparatus comprising the coordinate input device according to claim 1.

Images