JP2020197771A - Electronic pen and input system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic pen capable of stably performing communication regardless of a holding method.SOLUTION: An electronic pen comprises: a plurality of signal transmission units which transmits signals; an estimation unit which estimates the presence or absence of an obstruction obstructing the transmission covering the signal transmission unit, about each of the plurality of signal transmission units; and a transmission control unit which controls to transmit the signal from any of the signal transmission units. The transmission control unit controls the signal transmission unit to transmit the signal from the signal transmission unit in which it is estimated that there is no obstruction covering the signal transmission unit, based on the estimated result of the estimation unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic pen and an input system.

A technique for inputting data to a data input device such as an electronic blackboard or a tablet terminal using an electronic pen is known. Further, a technique of communicating by transmitting a wireless signal from an electronic pen and receiving it with a data input device such as an electronic blackboard or a tablet terminal is also known.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic pen and a display unit as writing instruments. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses that a wireless signal is transmitted and received between the internal antenna circuit of the electronic pen and the external antenna of the display unit.

In the conventional electronic pen, the antenna may be hidden by the handle depending on how the electronic pen is held. In that case, the radio wave propagating between the electronic pen and the display unit is blocked. Therefore, the communication between the electronic pen and the display unit may be hindered.

The present disclosure provides an electronic pen capable of stable communication regardless of how it is held.

The disclosed technology includes a plurality of signal transmission units that transmit signals, an estimation unit that estimates the presence or absence of an obstruction that covers the signal transmission unit and interferes with the transmission, and an estimation unit for each of the plurality of signal transmission units. The signal transmission unit includes a transmission control unit that controls the transmission of the signal of the signal transmission unit, and the transmission control unit is estimated to have no obstacles covering the signal transmission unit based on the estimation result of the estimation unit. An electronic pen that transmits the signal using a transmission unit.

According to the disclosed electronic pen, stable communication can be performed regardless of how to hold it.

It is an overall block diagram of the input system of this embodiment. It is a front view of the electronic pen of this embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the input system of this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the control circuit of the electronic pen of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing example of the electronic pen of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the use state of the electronic pen of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the use state of the electronic pen of this embodiment.

The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Overall system configuration>
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the input system 1 of the present embodiment.

The input system 1 of the present embodiment includes an electronic pen 100 and a position detecting device 200.

The electronic pen 100 transmits a radio signal Sigma from the front antenna 152 or the rear antenna 162, which will be described later. The electronic pen 100 transmits information such as pen tip pressure and pen ID to the position detecting device 200 by the wireless signal Sigma.

The position detection device 200 of the present embodiment is an electronic blackboard (electronic whiteboard, interactive flat panel display, etc.). The position detection device 200 receives the radio signal Sigma by the antenna 252 described later. The position detection device 200 draws on the display screen of the position detection device 200 based on the received wireless signal SIG. Based on the wireless signal Sigma transmitted by the electronic pen 100, the position detecting device 200 changes the drawing thickness or the color of each pen as an electronic blackboard with pen pressure.

<Hardware configuration>
[Electronic pen 100]
FIG. 2 is a front view of the electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment.

The electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment has a rod-like shape with a tapered tip. The electronic pen 100 includes a pen tip sensor 110 at its tip. Further, the electronic pen 100 includes a pen tail sensor 120 at the end. The pen tip sensor 110 and the pen tail sensor 120 detect that the tip or end of the electronic pen 100 has come into contact with the surface of the position detecting device 200. Then, when the electronic pen 100 detects that the contact has been made, the electronic pen 100 notifies the position detection device 200 of the contact by the wireless signal SIG. Details of the pen tip sensor 110 and the pen tail sensor 120 will be described later.

The electronic pen 100 of this embodiment includes two antennas, that is, a front antenna 152 and a rear antenna 162. The front antenna 152 is provided on the tip end side of the electronic pen 100. The rear antenna 162 is provided on the terminal side of the electronic pen 100.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the input system 1 of the present embodiment.

The electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment includes a pen tip sensor 110, a pen tail sensor 120, a control circuit 130, a front transmission circuit 151, a front antenna 152, a rear transmission circuit 161 and a rear antenna 162. It includes a state detection sensor 180.

The pen tip sensor 110 is a sensor that detects that the tip of the electronic pen 100 is in contact with the surface of the position detecting device 200 and is pressed. The pen tail sensor 120 is a sensor that detects that the end of the electronic pen 100 is in contact with the surface of the position detecting device 200 and is pressed. The pen tip sensor 110 and the pen tail sensor 120 are push button type switches. When the tip of the pen tip sensor 110 or the pen tail sensor 120 comes into contact with the surface of the position detection device 200, the push button type switch is pressed and the switch is turned on. Therefore, the electronic pen 100 can detect that the tip of the pen tip sensor 110 or the pen tail sensor 120 comes into contact with the surface of the position detecting device 200.

As described above, the electronic pen 100 includes a pen tip sensor 110 and a pen tail sensor 120. As a result, when the pen tip sensor 110 is in contact, the position detection device 200 writes on the screen with the pen. Further, when the pen tail sensor 120 is in contact with the pen tail sensor 120, the position detecting device 200 erases a part of the image drawn like an eraser.

The control circuit 130 controls the entire electronic pen 100. The control circuit 130 includes a storage device in which the program is readable and stored, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing the program, and the like. The control circuit 130 operates as a computer.

The front transmission circuit 151 is a circuit that drives the front antenna 152 to transmit a radio signal Sigma based on a command from the control circuit 130.

The rear transmission circuit 161 is a circuit that drives the rear antenna 162 in order to transmit the radio signal Sigma based on the command from the control circuit 130.

The state detection sensor 180 is a sensor that detects the state of the electronic pen 100.

[Position detector 200]
The position detection device 200 of the present embodiment includes a control circuit 210, a display unit 220, a touch panel 230, a reception circuit 251 and an antenna 252.

The control circuit 210 controls the entire position detection device 200. The control circuit 210 includes a storage device in which the program is readable and stored, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing the program, and the like.

The display unit 220 displays an image or the like on the screen. The touch panel 230 detects contact with the surface of the touch panel and detects the contacted position. The touch panel 230 is provided on the display screen of the display unit 220.

The receiving circuit 251 is a circuit for receiving the radio signal SIG transmitted from the electronic pen 100 via the antenna 252. The antenna 252 is an example of a signal receiving unit.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment.

The electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment includes a pen tip contact detection unit 111, a pen tail contact detection unit 121, a control unit 131, a front transmission drive unit 155, a front signal transmission unit 156, and a rear transmission drive unit. 165, a rear signal transmission unit 166, and a state detection unit 181 are provided.

The pen tip contact detection unit 111 detects whether or not the tip portion of the electronic pen 100 is in contact with the position detection device 200. The pen tip contact detection unit 111 is composed of a pen tip sensor 110.

The pen tail contact detection unit 121 detects whether or not the end portion of the electronic pen 100 is in contact with the position detection device 200. The pen tail contact detection unit 121 is composed of a pen tail sensor 120.

The front transmission drive unit 155 drives the front signal transmission unit 156. The front signal transmission unit 156 transmits a signal to the position detection device 200 by being driven by the front transmission drive unit 155. The front transmission drive unit 155 is configured by the front transmission circuit 151. The front signal transmitting unit 156 is composed of a front antenna 152.

The rear transmission drive unit 165 drives the rear signal transmission unit 166. The rear signal transmission unit 166 transmits a signal to the position detection device 200 by being driven by the rear transmission drive unit 165. The rear transmission drive unit 165 is composed of a rear transmission circuit 161. The rear signal transmission unit 166 is composed of a rear antenna 162.

The state detection unit 181 detects the state of the electronic pen 100, for example, the posture of the electronic pen 100 and the gripped state of the electronic pen 100. The state detection unit 181 is composed of a state detection sensor 180.

The control unit 131 controls the entire electronic pen 100. The control unit 131 is composed of a control circuit 130.

The control unit 131 includes an overall control unit 132, a transmission control unit 133, an estimation unit 134, and a pen sensor control unit 135.

The overall control unit 132 controls the transmission control unit 133, the estimation unit 134, the pen sensor control unit 135, and the like.

The transmission control unit 133 controls the front transmission drive unit 155 or the rear transmission drive unit 165 so that the radio signal Sigma is transmitted from either the front signal transmission unit 156 or the rear signal transmission unit 166.

The estimation unit 134 estimates the presence or absence of an obstruction covering the front signal transmission unit 156 and the rear signal transmission unit 166, specifically, a hand holding the electronic pen 100. The estimation unit 134 estimates the presence or absence of obstacles covering the front signal transmission unit 156 and the rear signal transmission unit 166 based on the detection result of the state detection unit 181.

The pen sensor control unit 135 acquires the detection results of the pen tip contact detection unit 111 and the pen tail contact detection unit 121. The detection result acquired by the pen sensor control unit 135 is transmitted to the position detection device 200 by, for example, the front signal transmission unit 156 or the rear signal transmission unit 166.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment. The electronic pen 100 is executed by the control method shown in the following step (procedure).

(Step S10) First, when the electronic pen 100 starts operation, it performs an initialization process for initializing the electronic pen 100. In the initialization process, for example, the control circuit 130, the pen tip sensor 110, the pen tail sensor 120, and the like are initialized. Further, the transmission control unit 133 sets whether to transmit the radio signal Sig from the front signal transmission unit 156 or the rear signal transmission unit 166.

(Step S20) Next, it is determined whether or not a specific event has occurred. When a specific event occurs (step S20: YES), the process proceeds to step S30. If a specific event has not occurred (step S20: NO), the process proceeds to step S60.

Here, a specific event will be described. The following four examples are given as specific events. (1) Timer event, (2) In Range event, (3) Tip Switch event, (4) Start of use event. The details of each event will be described below.

(1) Timer event A timer event is an event that occurs at substantially fixed intervals (for example, 1 second). By using a timer event, processing can be performed at substantially regular intervals.

(2) In Range Event The In Range event is an event that occurs when the position detecting device 200 detects that the electronic pen 100 has approached the display unit 220. When the electronic pen 100 enters the vicinity of the surface of the display unit 220, the position detecting device 200 can detect that the electronic pen 100 has entered. The position detection device 200 notifies the electronic pen 100 that the approach of the electronic pen 100 has been detected. When the electronic pen 100 receives the notification, the electronic pen 100 generates an in-range event.

(3) Tip Switch event The Tip Switch event is an event that occurs when the pen tip sensor 110 or the pen tail sensor 120 of the electronic pen 100 is pressed. When the pen sensor control unit 135 detects that the pen tip sensor 110 or the pen tail sensor 120 has been pressed, it generates a Tip Switch event.

(4) Use start event The use start event is an event that occurs when the electronic pen 100 starts to be used. For example, a use start event is generated when the electronic pen 100 is released from the charged state.

(Step S30) Next, the estimation unit 134 performs an estimation process for estimating the presence or absence of an obstacle that interferes with the transmission that covers the signal transmission unit. There are the following two processes as the estimation process. (1) Estimate processing by direction detection, (2) Estimation processing by detecting the gripped part. The details of each estimation process will be described below.

(1) Estimating Processing by Direction Detection FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a usage state of the electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment. It is assumed that the position detecting device 200 is placed perpendicular to the floor (ground). Assuming that the electronic pen 100 is held as shown in FIG. 6, the end portion close to the drawing surface, that is, the end portion on the fingertip side of the hand holding the electronic pen 100 is covered by the hand. Therefore, the antenna near the end near the drawing surface, that is, near the end on the fingertip side of the hand holding the electronic pen 100 is covered by the hand. For example, in the case of FIG. 6, the front antenna 152 is covered by hand.

Further, the positional relationship between the front antenna 152 and the rear antenna 162 will be examined. When the electronic pen 100 is held as shown in FIG. 6, the end close to the drawing surface, that is, the end on the fingertip side of the hand holding the electronic pen 100, is the end opposite to the drawing surface, that is, the electronic pen. It is higher than the wrist-side end of the hand holding the 100 with respect to the ground.

From the above examination, that is, it can be estimated that the antenna on the upper side is hidden by hand and the antenna on the lower side is not hidden by hand with respect to the ground of the electronic pen 100.

A method of detecting the vertical relationship of the antenna of the electronic pen 100 will be described. An acceleration sensor is used as the state detection sensor 180 of the electronic pen 100. Then, from the output of the acceleration sensor, it is determined which of the front antenna 152 and the rear antenna 162 of the electronic pen 100 is below the ground. The estimation unit 134 estimates that the antenna located on the ground has no hand (obstructor) that covers the antenna and interferes with transmission.

In the above, the acceleration sensor is used to detect the vertical relationship of the antenna, but it is not limited to the acceleration sensor. For example, a float may be placed in a cylinder enclosed in a liquid, and the vertical relationship of the antenna may be detected by utilizing the fact that the float moves upward by buoyancy. Further, the vertical relationship of the antenna may be detected by a mechanism such as a seesaw, a pulley, or a balance.

(2) Estimating Process by Detecting the Gripping Part FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a usage state of the electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment. It is also conceivable to have the electronic pen 100 as shown in FIG. In consideration of such a case, the place where the electronic pen 100 is actually held is estimated.

Specifically, as the state detection sensor 180, a temperature sensor is provided near the antenna. The temperature of the gripped portion of the electronic pen 100 rises depending on the body temperature. Therefore, by measuring the temperature near the antenna with the temperature sensor, it is presumed that the antenna having the lower temperature has no hand (obstructor) that obstructs the transmission covering the antenna.

The state detection sensor 180 is not limited to the temperature sensor. As the state detection sensor 180, any sensor may be used as long as the position of the hand can be detected. For example, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, an illuminance sensor, a capacitance sensor, or the like may be used in addition to the temperature sensor. Further, a plurality of sensors may be used in combination.

For example, in a pressure sensor, the part holding the pen is gripped, so pressure is applied. The humidity sensor utilizes the fact that the humidity of the part holding the pen rises due to the humidity of the hand. The illuminance sensor utilizes the fact that light from the outside is blocked when it is hidden by hand. The capacitance sensor utilizes the fact that the capacitance component of the part holding the pen changes.

(Step S40) Next, based on the estimation process of step S30, it is determined whether or not there is an obstacle in the vicinity of the antenna currently in use. If it is estimated that there is an obstacle (step S40: YES), the process proceeds to step S50. If it is estimated that there are no obstacles (step S40: NO), the process proceeds to step S60.

(Step S50) The transmission control unit 133 switches from the currently used antenna to an antenna that is presumed to have no hand (obstructor) that obstructs the transmission that covers the antenna. In this way, the transmission control unit 133 transmits the signal from the antenna estimated to have no obstruction covering the antenna based on the estimation result of the estimation unit 134, so that the front transmission drive unit 155 or the rear transmission unit transmits the signal. Controls the drive unit 165.

(Step S60) It is determined whether to end the process. When the process is terminated (step S60: YES), the process proceeds to step S70. If the process is not completed (step S60: NO), the process returns to step S20 and the process from step S20 is repeated.

(Step S70) A process for ending the process of the electronic pen 100 is performed.

In the input system 1, the position detection device 200 includes a step of receiving a signal transmitted from the front antenna 152 or the rear antenna 162 by the antenna 252.

<Action / effect>
By wirelessly communicating with the position detection device 200 using the electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the user from interfering with the wireless communication by the hand holding the electronic pen when writing with the pen close to the electronic blackboard. can do. Therefore, the quality of wireless communication between the electronic pen 100 and the position detecting device 200 can be improved.

Further, the energy used can be reduced by using an antenna having no obstacles among the plurality of antennas included in the electronic pen 100. In particular, since the electronic pen 100 is driven by a battery, the driving time can be extended by reducing the energy used.

<Modification example>
In the electronic pen 100 of this embodiment, two antennas (front antenna 152 and rear antenna 162) are used. However, the number of antennas is not limited to two. The electronic pen 100 may be provided with two or more antennas.

In the input system 1 of the present embodiment, an electronic blackboard is used as the position detection device 200. However, the position detecting device 200 is not limited to the electronic blackboard. For example, as the position detecting device 200, a tablet terminal, a personal computer provided with a touch sensor, or the like may be used.

In the electronic pen 100 of the present embodiment, the front antenna 152 and the rear antenna 162 are used as the signal transmission unit. However, the signal transmitting unit is not limited to an antenna that transmits radio waves, such as the front antenna 152 and the rear antenna 162. For example, the signal transmitting unit may be provided with an infrared or visible light emitting element. In that case, the electronic pen 100 and the position detection device 200 communicate with each other by infrared rays or visible light. Further, as the signal transmitting unit, an element that generates sound waves such as an ultrasonic oscillator may be used.

1 Input system 100 Electronic pen 133 Transmission control unit 134 Estimate unit 152 Front antenna 156 Front signal transmission unit 162 Rear antenna 166 Rear signal transmission unit 180 State detection sensor 181 State detection unit 200 Position detection device 252 Antenna

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-084310

Claims (9)

Multiple signal transmitters that transmit signals,
For each of the plurality of signal transmission units, an estimation unit that estimates the presence or absence of an obstacle that interferes with the transmission that covers the signal transmission unit, and an estimation unit.
A transmission control unit that controls to transmit the signal from any of the signal transmission units,
With
Based on the estimation result of the estimation unit, the transmission control unit controls the signal transmission unit so as to transmit the signal from the signal transmission unit estimated to have no obstacles covering the signal transmission unit. Electronic pen. Based on the estimation result of the estimation unit, the transmission control unit transmits the signal when it is estimated that the signal transmission unit transmitting the signal has an obstacle covering the signal transmission unit. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the unit switches to the signal transmission unit, which is presumed to have no obstruction covering the signal transmission unit. Further equipped with a state detection unit
The electronic pen according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the estimation unit estimates the presence or absence of an obstacle covering the signal transmission unit based on the detection result of the state detection unit. Based on the detection result of the state detection unit, the estimation unit uses the signal transmission unit located below the ground as the signal transmission unit that covers the signal transmission unit and has no obstacles that interfere with the transmission. The electronic pen according to claim 3. The estimation unit detects a state in the vicinity of the signal transmission unit based on the detection result of the state detection unit, and uses the detection result to indicate the presence or absence of an obstacle that interferes with the transmission that covers the signal transmission unit. The electronic pen according to claim 3. It is a control method of an electronic pen having a plurality of signal transmitters for transmitting signals.
For each of the plurality of signal transmission units, a procedure for estimating the presence or absence of an obstruction that covers the signal transmission unit and interferes with the transmission, and
A control method comprising a procedure for transmitting a signal using the signal transmission unit estimated to have no obstacle covering the signal transmission unit based on an estimation result of the presence or absence of the obstruction. For electronic pen computers equipped with multiple signal transmitters that transmit signals,
For each of the plurality of signal transmission units, a procedure for estimating the presence or absence of an obstruction that obstructs the transmission that covers the signal transmission unit, and
A program for executing a procedure for transmitting a signal by using the signal transmission unit estimated to have no obstacle covering the signal transmission unit based on the estimation result of the presence or absence of the obstacle. An input system including an electronic pen and a position detection device.
The electronic pen
Multiple signal transmitters that transmit signals,
An estimation unit that estimates the presence or absence of obstacles that cover the signal transmission unit,
A transmission control unit that controls transmission of the signal from any of the signal transmission units is provided.
Based on the estimation result of the estimation unit, the transmission control unit controls the signal transmission unit so as to transmit the signal from the signal transmission unit estimated to have no obstacles covering the signal transmission unit. ,
The position detection device is an input system including a signal receiving unit that receives a signal transmitted from the signal transmitting unit controlled by the transmission control unit to transmit the signal. A control method for an input system including an electronic pen including a plurality of signal transmitting units for transmitting signals and a position detecting device including a signal receiving unit for receiving the signals.
In the electronic pen, for each of the plurality of signal transmission units, a procedure for estimating the presence or absence of an obstacle that obstructs the transmission that covers the signal transmission unit, and
In the electronic pen, a procedure for transmitting the signal by using the signal transmission unit estimated to have no obstacle covering the signal transmission unit based on the estimation result of the presence or absence of the obstacle.
In the position detecting device, a procedure for receiving a signal transmitted by the signal transmitting unit, which is estimated to have no obstruction covering the signal transmitting unit, and a procedure for receiving the signal transmitted by the signal transmitting unit.
Control method including.

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