JP3231114B2 - Coordinate input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate input device capable of changing an output characteristic of a detected coordinate value according to a use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of devices used in a computer system, there is a coordinate input device also called a tablet input device or a digitizer. This device mainly has a coordinate indicator which can be manually held at an arbitrary position, and a sensing section in which a plurality of sensing lines and the like are two-dimensionally arranged, and exerts a physical action between them. At this time, the coordinate value on the sensing unit of the coordinate indicator is obtained from the obtained signal.

[0003] The use of the coordinate input device is as follows.
There are three main types. That is, first, paper or the like on which a figure is drawn in advance is placed on the sensing unit, and the figure is input by tracing the figure with a coordinate indicator (hereinafter, referred to as a trace). 2 is to input a specific point corresponding to the display screen (hereinafter referred to as pointing), and 3rd is to input characters and figures by freely moving the coordinate indicator on the sensing unit. (Hereinafter, referred to as graphics).

The characteristics of the apparatus required for the above-described tracing and pointing include a characteristic (hereinafter referred to as a characteristic) that outputs a coordinate value that is faithful and stable to the position of a coordinate indicator that is stationary or slowly moving at a certain point. The characteristic of the device required in the graphic is a characteristic of outputting a coordinate value following the position of the coordinate indicator moving at high speed (hereinafter, referred to as a dynamic characteristic). .

[0005]

In the above coordinate input device, generally, the above-described coordinate detection is performed at a rate of 10 times per second.
The coordinates are repeatedly obtained from 0 to several hundred times. At this time, each coordinate value obtained includes a variation due to noise or the like (hereinafter, referred to as jitter). Therefore, usually, the obtained coordinate values are not output as they are, but an average of a plurality of coordinate values is taken and used as an actual coordinate value. At this time, if the number of coordinate values to be averaged is increased, the jitter is reduced, the coordinate values become more stable and the static characteristics are improved, but the dynamic characteristics are deteriorated. For this reason, conventionally, the number of coordinate values to be averaged is set in consideration of a balance between the two characteristics, but in reality, when used for tracing and pointing, sufficient static characteristics cannot be obtained, and However, when used for graphics, there is a problem that sufficient dynamic characteristics cannot be obtained.

Further, in the coordinate input device, generally, the arrangement of the sense lines cannot be completely equalized, and a signal similar to that in the vicinity of the center cannot be obtained in the peripheral portion of the sense portion. The relationship between and the actual position of the coordinate indicator is not uniform over the entire sensing unit, and varies depending on the position of the sensing unit. For this reason, conventionally, the sensing unit was divided into a plurality of areas, and it was determined to which area the obtained coordinate values belong, and different corrections were made for each area. When the coordinate indicator moves from one area to another area at a high speed, there is a problem that the coordinate value suddenly changes near the boundary of the area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input device capable of obtaining excellent output characteristics of coordinate values when used for tracing and pointing or when used for graphics. .

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a coordinate indicator which can be manually held at an arbitrary position, and a plurality of sense lines are two-dimensionally arranged. In a coordinate input device having a sensing portion as a main configuration and exerting a physical action between them, a coordinate value on the sensing portion of the coordinate indicator is repeatedly obtained at predetermined time intervals from an obtained signal. First averaging means for averaging the determined coordinate values by a number sufficient to eliminate the jitter, and averaging the determined coordinate values by a number capable of following a high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator. A coordinate input device comprising a second averaging means and a switching control means for switching which one of the first and second averaging means is used based on predetermined information. Hand-operated coordinate finger at position And a sensing section in which a plurality of sense lines are two-dimensionally arranged, and a physical action is exerted between them, and at that time, a sensing section of the coordinate indicator is obtained from a signal obtained. A coordinate input device for repeatedly obtaining the above coordinate values at predetermined time intervals, a first averaging means for averaging the obtained coordinate values by a number sufficient to eliminate the jitter, and A second averaging means for averaging by a number capable of following the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator, and a switching control means for switching which one of the first and second averaging means is used based on predetermined information. A coordinate input device provided with coordinate value correcting means for performing different corrections on the coordinate values averaged by the first averaging means for each of a plurality of preset areas of the sensing unit.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the first averaging means is selected by predetermined information, for example, a command inputted from the outside, stable coordinate values without jitter, that is, suitable for trace and pointing are provided. When the second averaging means is selected, a coordinate value following the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator, that is, a good dynamic characteristic suitable for graphics is obtained. According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the first averaging means is selected by predetermined information, for example, a command input from the outside, the first averaging means is stable without jitter, and is corrected by the coordinate value correcting means. Coordinate values faithful to the position of the coordinate indicator, that is, good static characteristics suitable for tracing and pointing are obtained.
Is selected, coordinate values following the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator, that is, good dynamic characteristics suitable for graphics can be obtained.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a coordinate input device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a coordinate indicator which can be manually held at an arbitrary position, and 2 denotes a plurality of sense lines or the like. The sense units 3 arranged three-dimensionally are coordinate value calculating circuits for repeatedly obtaining coordinate values on the sense unit 2 of the coordinate indicator 1 at predetermined time intervals, and are the same as well-known coordinate input devices. 4 is a first averaging unit, 5 is a second averaging unit,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a switching control unit.

The first averaging unit 4 converts the coordinate values obtained by the coordinate value calculating circuit 3 into a number sufficient to eliminate the jitter,
For example, eight are averaged. Specifically, the coordinate value calculation circuit 3
Dt = (d0 + d1) where d0 is the current coordinate value output from the above, d1 is the previous coordinate value, d2 is the second previous coordinate value,..., And d7 is the seventh previous coordinate value. + D2 +... + D7) / 8 (1) is output as the actual current coordinate value.

The second averaging unit 5 averages the coordinate values obtained by the coordinate value calculation circuit 3 in a number that can follow the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator 1, for example, four. Specifically, when the current coordinate value output from the coordinate value calculation circuit 3 is d0, the immediately preceding coordinate value is d1, the second previous coordinate value is d2, and the third previous coordinate value is d3. , Dg = (d0 + d1 + d2 + d3) / 4 (2) are output as the actual current coordinate values.

The switching control unit 6 receives the first averaging unit 4 or the first averaging unit 4 based on predetermined information, a command input from an external device (not shown) used for tracing and pointing or used for graphics. Switching is performed between the two averaging units 5.

In the above configuration, if a command to use for tracing and pointing is input from an external device, the switching control unit 6 operates the first averaging unit 4. At this time, the coordinate value of the position indicated by the coordinate indicator 1 repeatedly obtained at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate value calculation circuit 3 includes the coordinate value at that time as described above by the first averaging unit 8. The coordinates are averaged and output as jitter-free coordinate values suitable for tracing and pointing.

If a command to use for graphics is input from an external device, the switching control unit 6 operates the second averaging unit 5. At this time, the coordinate value of the designated position of the coordinate indicator 1 repeatedly obtained at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate value calculation circuit 3 includes the coordinate value at that time as described above in the second averaging unit 4. Pieces,
It is averaged and output as coordinate values suitable for graphics and following the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator 1.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the coordinate values output in response to a command input from the outside are those having static characteristics suitable for tracing and pointing and those having dynamic characteristics suitable for graphics. Can be switched to

The command is not input from an external device, but is input by operating a position indicator by placing a menu sheet on the coordinate detection surface of the coordinate input device, or by providing a function switch or a dip switch. It is also possible to do so.

FIG. 2 shows a coordinate input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, 1 is a coordinate indicator, 2 is a sense unit, 3 is a coordinate value calculation circuit, 4 is a first averaging unit,
Denotes a second averaging unit, 6 denotes a switching control unit, and 7 denotes a coordinate value correction unit.

The coordinate value correcting section 7 performs different corrections on the coordinate value Dt averaged by the first averaging section 4 for each of a plurality of areas of the sensing section 2 which are set in advance. Specifically, it is determined to which area of the sense unit 2 the coordinate value output from the first averaging unit 4 belongs, and according to the result, a correction value is added or the corrected value is stored in a table beforehand. For example, processing such as replacement with coordinate values of

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the coordinate value of the coordinate indicator 1 used for tracing and pointing is stable without jitter, and the error caused by the position of the sensing unit 2 is corrected. The coordinate value Dt 'can be faithful to the position.

Although a cursor and a stylus pen are known as coordinate indicators, it is common to use a cursor for performing tracing and pointing, and a stylus pen for performing graphics. In the second embodiment, information indicating the type of the coordinate indicator, that is, whether the cursor or the stylus pen is used, may be used as the predetermined information. In particular, the present invention is applied to a device such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-279315, which can identify whether the coordinate indicator is a cursor or a stylus pen by merely bringing the coordinate indicator over the sensing section. For example, the above two characteristics can be automatically switched only by selecting the coordinate indicator.

[0022]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first averaging means for averaging the determined coordinate values by a number sufficient to eliminate the jitter, and the determined coordinate values Averaging means for averaging the numbers by a number that can follow the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator, and switching control means for switching between the first and second averaging means based on predetermined information. By switching to use the first averaging means, stable coordinate values without jitter, that is, good static characteristics suitable for tracing and pointing can be obtained, and the second averaging means can be obtained. Is used, coordinate values following high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator, that is, good dynamic characteristics suitable for graphics can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first averaging means for averaging the obtained coordinate values by a number sufficient to eliminate the jitter, and the obtained coordinate values of the coordinate indicator A second averaging means for averaging by a number capable of following a high-speed movement, a switching control means for switching whether to use the first or the second averaging means based on predetermined information, Correction means for performing different corrections on the coordinate values averaged by the averaging means for each of a plurality of preset areas of the sensing unit is provided. By switching to use the first averaging means, Stable without jitter and coordinate values faithful to the position of the coordinate indicator, that is, good static characteristics suitable for tracing and pointing are obtained.
By switching to use the second averaging means,
A coordinate value following the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator, that is, a good dynamic characteristic suitable for graphics can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a coordinate input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the coordinate input device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coordinate indicator, 2 ... Sense part, 3 ... Coordinate value calculation circuit,
4 first averaging unit, 5 second averaging unit, 6 switching control unit, 7 coordinate value correction unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/03 G06F 3/033-3/037

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A coordinate indicator which can be manually held at an arbitrary position, and a sensing unit in which a plurality of sense lines and the like are two-dimensionally arranged have a main configuration, and a physical action is exerted between them. At this time, in a coordinate input device that repeatedly obtains coordinate values on the sensing unit of the coordinate indicator at predetermined time intervals from the obtained signal, the obtained coordinate values are averaged by a number sufficient to eliminate the jitter. A first averaging means for averaging the obtained coordinate values by a number capable of following the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator; and a first or second averaging means based on predetermined information. Rutotomo provided a switching control means for switching the use of either of the averaging means
In addition, the coordinate indicator used on the sensing unit as predetermined information
A coordinate input device characterized by using information indicating a type . 2. A main part of a coordinate indicator which can be manually held at an arbitrary position, and a sensing part in which a plurality of sense lines and the like are two-dimensionally arranged, and exert a physical action between them. At this time, in a coordinate input device that repeatedly obtains coordinate values on the sensing unit of the coordinate indicator at predetermined time intervals from the obtained signal, the obtained coordinate values are averaged by a number sufficient to eliminate the jitter. A first averaging means for averaging the obtained coordinate values by a number capable of following the high-speed movement of the coordinate indicator; and a first or second averaging means based on predetermined information. Switching control means for switching which one of the averaging means to use, and a coordinate value averaged by the first averaging means,
A coordinate input device, comprising: a coordinate value correcting unit that performs different correction for each of a plurality of areas of a preset sensing unit. 3. The coordinate input device according to claim 2, wherein a command input from outside is used as the predetermined information. 4. The coordinate input device according to claim 2, wherein the information indicating the type of the coordinate indicator used on the sensing unit is used as the predetermined information.