JP2989306B2 - Coordinate input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for an information processing apparatus having a display device, such as a computer or a word processor, for inputting characters, figures, and the like, and for determining a position (coordinate) on the display device. The present invention relates to a coordinate input device such as a tablet used when giving an instruction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows an example of a device configuration when a mouse, which is most frequently used as a conventional coordinate input device, is used.
It is a figure showing an example. In the device using the mouse 101, C
When pointing to an arbitrary position on an RT (cathode ray tube) 102, the cursor 103 is displayed on the CRT 102, and the mouse 101 at hand is moved back and forth and right and left on a desk or the like to move the cursor 103 to a position to be instructed. Is configured to input coordinates.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a device configuration when a tablet is used. In general, tablet 201
Plate-shaped coordinate input unit 2 provided with a plurality of coils or electrodes
02, and a position indicator 203 such as a stylus pen. There is also a so-called display-integrated device in which a display unit such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) is superimposed below the coordinate input unit 202.

In the apparatus using the mouse 101, a space for operating the mouse 101, that is, a so-called mouse playground is required, for example, on a work desk on which the apparatus is installed, which hinders effective use of the space. In addition, since the position designation by the mouse 101 is an indirect method of moving the cursor 103 on the CRT 102 with the mouse 101 at hand, it hinders thinking, and an operation of linking the movement of the cursor 103 and the mouse 101 is performed. Some people find it difficult.

On the other hand, in a device using the tablet 201, particularly in a device in which the tablet 201 is integrated with the display unit, unlike the device using the mouse 101, a position to be pointed on the display unit is indicated by a stylus pen. An instruction can be given directly by the user 203, and a natural result can be input by displaying the detection result by echo back, and there is an advantage that no hindrance is hindered and no useless space is required. However, tablets that are generally commercially available are more expensive than mice and the like, and are therefore hardly popular.

Therefore, as a coordinate input device that solves the above-mentioned problem, the following device has been proposed. This coordinate input device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-16403.

In this coordinate input device, the coordinate designating unit and the coordinate detecting unit are integrated, and the coordinate detecting unit is constituted by a detecting element in which an acceleration sensor, an integrating circuit and an arithmetic circuit are formed on one chip. Alternatively, the coordinate pointing unit may be of a pen type, or may be of a very small size that can be attached to a fingertip. Therefore, a special place for inputting coordinates such as a mouse is not required, and the entire apparatus can be made inexpensive.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing one example of a circuit of the detection element. This circuit includes an acceleration sensor 110 that extracts acceleration during movement as a change in capacitance (ΔC),
A ΔC detection circuit 120 for detecting the change ΔC;
ΔC / g conversion circuit 130 for converting C into acceleration (g)
A comparison circuit 140, an analog switch 150, a two-time integration circuit 180 for calculating a moving distance from the acceleration,
An arithmetic circuit 190 for calculating a position on the display screen from the moving distance is provided.

The acceleration sensor 110 is formed on a Si (silicon) substrate 11 by a micromachining technology (a technology for three-dimensionally forming an electromechanical structure on the order of μm on the substrate).
1 and the Si substrate 111
Two glass plates 11 provided on both sides of the cantilever beam 112 so as to sandwich the cantilever 112 and having electrodes 113 and 114 inside.
5 and 116 of the condenser 117.

The cantilever beam 112 is a relatively thin beam 11.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a structure for supporting the mass of the large area portion 119 at the tip. When acceleration acts in the normal direction of the large area portion 119, the large area portion 119 swings due to the acceleration, and the capacitance of the capacitor 117 changes due to the swing of the large area portion 119. The change in the capacitance (ΔC) is detected by the ΔC detection circuit 120, and the ΔC / g conversion circuit 130 converts the capacitance into acceleration.

The comparison circuit 140 includes a judgment circuit 141 and N
It comprises an OR (logical sum negation) circuit 142 and an AND (logical product) circuit 143, and compares the output of the conversion circuit 130 with the output of another detection element. That is, the determination circuit 141 determines that the output of the conversion circuit 130 is
, A high-level signal is output, and otherwise, a low-level signal is output. If the output of the determination circuit 141 and the outputs of the other detection elements input from the terminals 145 and 146 are both at a high level or at a low level, either the output of the NOR circuit 142 or the output of the AND circuit 143 is at a high level. And the output of the comparison circuit 140 becomes high level.

On the other hand, whether the output of the determination circuit 141 is at a high level and the output of the other detection element is at a low level, or the output of the determination circuit 141 is at a low level, and the output of the other detection element is Is high level, N
The outputs of the OR circuit 142 and the AND circuit 143 both go low, and the output of the comparison circuit 140 goes low.

When the output of the comparison circuit 140 goes high, the analog switch 150 is turned on, and the acceleration signal from the conversion circuit 130 is input to the integration circuit 180 twice. The two-time integration circuit 180 includes the operational amplifier 16
1, a resistor 162, 163, 164 and a capacitor 16
5 is connected to the operational amplifier 171.
, Resistors 172, 173, 174, and capacitor 175
And the acceleration signal is integrated twice to obtain the moving distance. The arithmetic circuit 190 calculates a position on the display screen from the moving distance.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a pen-type position pointing device which performs position detection using the three detection elements described above. This position pointing device is a pen-type pointing device 1.
81 (hereinafter abbreviated as a pen), three detection elements 182 a, 182 b, and 182 fixed inside the pen 181.
c, and a detector 182. here,
The detection elements 182a and 182c are mounted so that the detection directions are the same, and the detection element 182b is mounted so that the detection direction is orthogonal to these detection directions.

The detection element 182a detects movement in the X direction,
The detection element 182b detects the movement in the Y direction
2c, in combination with the detection element 182a, detects that the output of the acceleration sensor is the movement in the X direction when the output has the same sign, and that the output is the rotational movement of the pen 181 when the output is different. Thereby, these detecting elements 182a, 182b, 1
Since the movement trajectory including the rotation of the pen 181 can be detected from each output of 82c, the position can be specified.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of the detector 182. 12, the same components as those in the circuit diagram of FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the suffixes a,
b and c are detection elements 182a, 182b, and 182, respectively.
c. The detection element 182c is provided with a NOR circuit 191c and a rotation angle calculation circuit 192c.

Here, a case where the pen 181 is used in combination with a display device 193 as shown in FIG. 13 will be described.
The pen 181 is displayed on a display screen 194 of the display device 193.
When moved upward, the acceleration sensors 110a and 110c respectively detect acceleration in the same X direction,
10b detects the acceleration in the Y direction. Here, a signal of the same sign is output from the two acceleration sensors 110a and 110c, and thus a high-level signal is output from the comparison circuit 140c.

The analog switches 150a and 150b are turned on by the high level signal, and the acceleration signal in the X direction is input from the ΔC / g conversion circuit 130a to the integration circuit 160a, and the acceleration signal in the Y direction is output from the ΔC / g conversion circuit 130b. Is input to the integration circuit 160b. Therefore,
A signal indicating the X coordinate is output from the arithmetic circuit 190a, and a signal indicating the Y coordinate is output from the arithmetic circuit 190b.
93.

On the display device 193, the position indicated by the coordinates is displayed by a cursor, or the detection result is displayed on the screen by echo back, so that the position can be input by a pen-like operation.

On the other hand, when the pen 181 is rotated at one point on the display screen 194, the two acceleration sensors 110
a and 110c detect accelerations in the X direction different from each other and output signals with different signs. At this time, a low-level signal is output from the comparison circuit 140c, and the analog switches 150a and 150b remain non-conductive.
The output of the OR circuit 191c becomes high level. The rotation angle calculation circuit 192c receives the high-level signal, calculates the rotation angle, and outputs a signal representing the rotation angle. The signal representing the rotation angle is used to instruct, for example, the rotation of the figure.

[0021]

The structure shown in FIG.
For example, using a coordinate input device
The display screen 1 which is a coordinate input unit,
A coordinate input direction corresponding to a coordinate axis preset on 94
Is specified, the operator holds the pen 181 and
When entering for the first time, move the cursor on the display screen.
I need to correct the direction of holding the pen 181 while watching the track
It is not troublesome.

[0022]

An object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problems and to provide a coordinate input device with improved operability.

[0024]

A coordinate input according to claim 1.
The device comprises two first modules arranged in the same sensing direction.
The speed sensor is orthogonal to the detection direction of the first acceleration sensor.
And a second acceleration sensor arranged in the coordinate pointing unit.
And the output of the first and second acceleration sensors
Coordinate input device that detects coordinates and rotation angles based on
The coordinate axes of the coordinate indicating unit according to the rotation angle.
Correction to the coordinate axes of the coordinate input panel
Features. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coordinate input device.
In the coordinate input device described above, the coordinate axis of the coordinate indicating unit is
And the predetermined coordinate axes on the coordinate input panel
An indicator part for setting is provided in the coordinate indication part.
And features. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coordinate input device.
Item 1. The coordinate input device according to Item 1, wherein the direction of the coordinate indicating unit is
Reset switch for initial setting
It is characterized by being provided in the indicating part.

[0025]

According to the coordinate input device of the first aspect, the coordinate input is performed.
Predetermined coordinate axis directions on the force panel and coordinates of the coordinate indicator
Correction can be made so as to coincide with the axial direction. Claim
According to the coordinate input device of Item 2, the coordinate axis of the coordinate indicating unit
And a predetermined coordinate axis on the coordinate detection panel
You can use the coordinate axis of the coordinate designator and the coordinate input panel
It can be made to coincide with a predetermined coordinate axis. Claim
According to the coordinate input device described in No. 3, when starting coordinate input,
By operating the set switch, the coordinate axis of the coordinate designator
Can be set in a desired direction.

[0026]

[0027]

FIG. 1 shows a coordinate designating section according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a detection pen 1 as a first embodiment. On the outer surface 8 of the detection pen 1, a projection 7 serving as an index member is provided, and the operator holds the detection pen 1 with the projection 7 as a reference (for example, facing upward) to perform detection. The coordinate input direction of the pen 1 is made to coincide with a preset detection coordinate axis direction.

The detection pen 1 is provided with a relatively small-diameter sliding portion 2 whose tip is machined into a spherical shape. The sliding portion 2 is provided with a spherically processed tip protruding from the detection pen 1. The sliding portion 2 is urged in the direction of arrow R2 by urging means such as a spring (not shown), and is stopped at a predetermined position by a locking member (not shown).

A conductive rubber 3 is attached to an end of the sliding portion 2 on the inner side of the detection pen 1, and an electrode 4 is arranged at a slight distance from the conductive rubber 3. . The conductive rubber 3 and the electrode 4 constitute a pressing detection switch 5.

Therefore, when the detecting pen 1 is pressed on a display screen of a display means 95, which will be described later, which is a coordinate input panel, the sliding portion 2 slides in the direction of arrow R1. And the electrode 4 come into contact with each other, and the pressure detection switch 5 is turned on, and is output as a pressure detection signal S1. Thus, it is possible to detect that the coordinate input by the detection pen 1 is being performed.

Further, a detection element 6 using an acceleration sensor described later is arranged near the tip of the detection pen 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a coordinate input device using the detection pen 1. As shown in FIG. Detection pen 1
Are supplied to a coordinate calculation circuit 93 described later, and the X coordinate signal and the Y coordinate signal calculated by the coordinate calculation circuit 93 are supplied to a control circuit 94 including a microcomputer or the like. The control circuit 94 displays the input coordinates on the display device 95 based on the given coordinate signals.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram related to the detection element 6. As shown in FIG. 1 described above, the detection element 6 includes three detection elements 6a, 6b, and 6c. The detection elements 6a and 6c are mounted so that the detection directions are the same, and the detection element 6b is mounted so that the detection direction is orthogonal to these detection directions. The detection element 6a detects movement in the X direction, the detection element 6b detects movement in the Y direction, and the detection element 6c cooperates with the detection element 6a. If the output of the acceleration sensor has the same sign, the movement in the X direction is different. In the case of the sign, it is detected that it is the rotational movement of the detection pen 1. Therefore, the movement trajectory including the rotation of the detection pen 1 can be detected based on the outputs of the detection elements 6a, 6b, 6c, and the position on the display device 95 can be indicated.

In FIG. 3, the subscripts a, b, and c indicate that they are provided in relation to the detecting elements 6a, 6b, and 6c, respectively. The detection element 6c has N
An OR circuit 91c and a rotation angle calculation circuit 92c are provided.

Here, the configuration related to the detection element 6a will be mainly described. The detection element 6a includes an acceleration sensor 10a that extracts the acceleration at the time of movement of the detection pen 1 as a change in capacitance (ΔC), a ΔC detection circuit 20a that detects the change ΔC, and converts the change ΔC into acceleration (g). ΔC / g
It comprises a conversion circuit 30a, a comparison circuit 40a, an analog switch 50a, a two-time integration circuit 80a for obtaining a moving distance from the acceleration, and an arithmetic circuit 90a for calculating a position on the display screen from the moving distance. .

The acceleration sensor 10a includes a cantilever 12a formed on a Si (silicon) substrate 11 by a micromachining technology (a technology for three-dimensionally manufacturing an electromechanical structure on the order of μm on the substrate), Si substrate 11
a, two glass plates 15 having electrodes 13a, 14a inside which are provided so as to sandwich the cantilever 12a.
a, 16a and a capacitor 17a. The cantilever 12a has a structure in which a relatively thin beam 18a supports the mass of the large area portion 19a at the tip. When acceleration acts in the normal direction of the large area portion 19a,
The large area 19a swings due to the acceleration, and the capacitance of the capacitor 17a changes due to the swing of the large area 19a. The change in the capacitance (ΔC) is detected by the ΔC detection circuit 20a, and the ΔC / g conversion circuit 30a converts the change into acceleration.

The comparison circuit 40 includes decision circuits 41a and 41c.
, A NOR circuit 42, and an AND circuit 43, and compares the output of the conversion circuit 30a with the output of the detection element 6c.

That is, the judgment circuit 41a outputs a high-level signal when the output of the conversion circuit 30a is higher than the voltage level of the power supply 44a, and outputs a low-level signal otherwise. If the output of the determination circuit 41a and the output of the detection element 6c are both at the high level or both are at the low level, the output of either the NOR circuit 42 or the AND circuit 43 becomes the high level, and the output of the comparison circuit 40 Becomes high level.

On the other hand, the output of the determination circuit 41a is at a high level and the output of the detection element 6c is at a low level, or the output of the determination circuit 41a is at a low level and the output of the detection element 6c is at a high level. N for level
The outputs of the OR circuit 42 and the AND circuit 43 both go low, and the output of the comparison circuit 40 goes low.

When the output of the comparison circuit 40 goes high, the analog switch 50a is turned on, and the acceleration signal from the conversion circuit 30a is input to the integration circuit 80a twice.

The two-time integration circuit 80a includes an operational amplifier 6
1a, resistors 62a, 63a, 64a and capacitor 65a
A second integrating circuit 70a including an operational amplifier 71a, resistors 72a, 73a, 74a, and a capacitor 75a connected in series to a first integrating circuit 60a including
The movement distance is obtained by integrating the acceleration signal twice. The arithmetic circuit 90a calculates a position on the display screen from the moving distance.

When the detection pen 1 is moved on the display screen of the display device 95, the acceleration sensors 10a and 10c detect the same acceleration in the X direction, and the acceleration sensor 10b detects the acceleration in the Y direction. At this time,
A signal of the same sign is output from the two acceleration sensors 10a and 10c, and thus a high-level signal is output from the comparison circuit 40.

The analog switches 50a and 50b are turned on by this high level signal, and the ΔC / g conversion circuit 30
The acceleration signal in the X direction from a is input to the integration circuit 60a, and the acceleration signal in the Y direction from the ΔC / g conversion circuit 30b is input to the integration circuit 60b. Therefore, the operation circuit 9
A signal representing the X coordinate is output to the display device 95 from 0a, and a signal representing the Y coordinate is output from the arithmetic circuit 90b.

In the display device 95, the position indicated by the coordinates is displayed by a cursor, or the detection result is displayed on the screen by echo back, so that the position can be input by a normal pen-like operation.

On the other hand, when the detection pen 1 is rotated at one point on the display screen, the two acceleration sensors 10a and 10a are rotated.
c detects accelerations in the X direction different from each other, and outputs signals with different signs. At this time, a low-level signal is output from the comparison circuit 40, and the analog switches 50a,
50b remains non-conductive, and the output of the NOR circuit 91c goes high.

The rotation angle calculation circuit 92c receives the high-level signal, calculates a rotation angle, and outputs a signal representing the rotation angle. The signal representing the rotation angle is used to instruct, for example, the rotation of the figure.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the coordinate detecting operation. Referring to FIG. 4, for example, FIG.
The case of inputting the character of the hiragana "a" shown in (1) will be described. Referring to FIG. 5 (2), first, stroke ST
At the start point P1s, the detection pen 1 is pressed on the screen, and the sliding portion 2 slides in the direction toward the inside of the detection pen 1, thereby deforming the conductive rubber 3. Deformed conductive rubber 3
Is in contact with the electrode 4 and the electrode 4 is turned on, so that the pressing switch 5 is turned on. Stroke ST
1, the detection element 6 provided in the detection pen 1
The coordinates are calculated in a time sequence based on the acceleration generated in. At the end point P1e of the stroke ST1, the pressing of the detection pen 1 on the display screen is released, the sliding portion 2 slides outward of the detection pen 1, the conductive rubber 3 is separated from the electrode 4, and the electrode 4 is The non-conducting state is established, and therefore the push switch 5 is turned off.
State.

Next, the detection pen 1 moves to the starting point P2s of the stroke ST2. During this movement, since the pressure detection switch 5 is in the OFF state, it is not regarded as a stroke constituting a character, but the detection element 6 continues to calculate the movement amount of the detection pen 1, that is, the movement amount of coordinates. The end point P1e of the stroke ST1
The positional relationship between the coordinates of the start point P2s of the stroke ST2 and the start point P2s is detected. Hereinafter, similarly, the strokes ST2 and S
Input of T3 is performed. Thus, each stroke ST
Start points P1s, P2s, P3s and end point P1 of 1 to ST3
e, P2e, and P3e and coordinate detection in a time series are performed, and character input using the detection pen 1 becomes possible.

Further, in the detection pen 1 shown in FIG. 1, a projection 7 is formed to indicate the direction of the detection pen 1, but as shown in FIG. The concave portion A1 and the convex portion A2 may be provided along the finger of the person.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a detection pen 1a according to another embodiment of the present invention. The features of this embodiment are as follows.
Reset switch R for setting the direction of detection pen 1
S is provided on the outer surface 8 of the detection pen 1. At the time when the input of coordinates by the detection pen 1 is started, the reset switch RS is moved (clicked) upward, for example, so that the upper direction of the detection pen 1a is the detected coordinate Y.
The positive direction of the axis, that is, the direction of 90 degrees clockwise, is set as the positive direction of the X axis of the detected coordinates. Further, a micro switch is used as the press detection switch 5.

Here, the case of inputting the character of the hiragana "A" will be described with reference to FIGS. First, at the start point P1s of the stroke ST1, the detection pen 1a is pressed on the display screen, and the sliding portion 2 slides in the detection pen 1a, whereby the microswitch 5 is turned on. During the stroke ST1, the detection element 6 calculates coordinates in a time sequence based on the acceleration generated on the detection pen 1a. End point P1 of stroke ST1
In e, the pressing of the detection pen 1a on the display screen is released, and the sliding portion 2 slides outward of the detection pen 1a, whereby the microswitch 5 is turned off.

Next, the detection pen 1a moves to the starting point P2s of the stroke ST2. At this time, since the microswitch 5 is in the OFF state, it is not regarded as a stroke constituting a character. However, the moving amount of the detecting pen 1a, that is, the moving amount of coordinates is continuously calculated by the detecting element 6. Therefore, the positional relationship between the end point P1e of the stroke ST1 and the start point P2s of the stroke ST2 has been detected. Hereinafter, strokes ST2 and ST3 are similarly performed.
Is input.

The detecting pen 1 is provided between these strokes.
When a rotates, the rotation angle θ of the detection pen 1a is detected by the detection element 12c constituting the detection element 6. In the coordinate calculation circuit 93, the XY coordinate axis of the detection pen 1a is rotated by the angle -θ and sequentially corrected to the fixed coordinate axis based on the rotation angle θ.

Thus, it is possible to always make the input direction of the coordinate axes of the detection pens 1 and 1a coincide with the direction of the predetermined fixed coordinate axis. Therefore, the start point and the end point of the stroke can be determined, and a character such as a character can be input. Thereby, it is possible to provide a coordinate input device in which operability is significantly improved and a use range is expanded.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a detecting means for detecting the coordinate input state of the detecting pen and an index for determining the input direction of the detecting pen 1 so that the starting point and the ending point of the input stroke by the detecting pen can be determined. Is determined, and the input direction of the detection pen is made to coincide with the direction of a predetermined detection coordinate axis, so that character input and the like can be performed with good operability. Therefore, the detecting means,
The index for determining the input direction and the coordinate detecting element are not limited to those shown in the above-described embodiment.

[0056]

According to the present invention, the reserve on the coordinate input panel is provided.
Coincides with the coordinate axis direction of the coordinate designator
Can be corrected so that accurate coordinate input is possible
In addition, the operability is improved.

[0057]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a detection pen 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a coordinate input device using the detection pen 1.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration related to a detection element 6 provided in the detection pen 1;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating a coordinate detection operation performed by the detection pen 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining coordinate input using the detection pen 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional coordinate input device using a mouse 101.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional coordinate input device using a tablet 201.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a detection element used in a detection pen.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a basic configuration of a conventional detection pen.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of a detection element of the detection pen shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a coordinate input device using the detection pen shown in FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1a detecting pen 2 sliding part 3 conductive rubber 4 electrode 5 pressure detecting switch 6 detecting element 7 protrusion RS reset switch

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two detectors are arranged in the same detection direction.
The first acceleration sensor and the detection direction of the first acceleration sensor.
A second acceleration sensor intersected with the second acceleration sensor;
Provided in the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor.
Coordinate input device for detecting coordinates and rotation angle based on output
In accordance with the rotation angle, the input coordinate axes of the coordinate indicating section are set in advance.
Correction to the coordinate axes of the coordinate input panel
Coordinate input device to be characterized. 2. The coordinate axis of the coordinate indicating section and the coordinate input.
Indices for matching with predetermined coordinate axes on the panel
Wherein the unit is provided in the coordinate indicating unit.
The coordinate input device according to claim 1. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the coordinate indicating section is initially set.
Reset switch is provided in the coordinate indicating section.
2. The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein: