JP3639919B2 - Coordinate input and barcode input device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coordinate input and bar code input combined device having a coordinate input function of a capacitive coupling type, an electromagnetic coupling type, or a resistance film type pressure sensitive sheet type and a bar code input function by a coordinate pointing pen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional coordinate input / barcode input combined device turns on the light emitting element for barcode illumination by pressing the push button switch provided on the side of the coordinate instruction / barcode scanning pen when inputting the barcode. I was reading the barcode. It was possible to omit the push button switch on the side of the pen by always lighting the light emitting element for barcode illumination (even during coordinate input). It has also been known to provide a pressure-sensitive switch at the tip of the pen to light up the barcode illumination light emitting element when the pen is pressed against the barcode surface or the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The currently known bar code illumination light emitting means, whether LED (light emitting diode) or laser diode, will deteriorate with long-term use, but those that are lit by the push button on the side of the pen have been unsatisfactory in terms of operability. In addition, there is a problem that even if the coordinates are input, if the finger touches the push button switch, the light turns on. In addition, there is a problem that the light by the pressure-sensitive switch at the tip of the pen is lit even during coordinate input.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in view of the problem of lyricism, and has an electrostatic capacity coupling type, electromagnetic coupling type or resistance film type pressure sensitive sheet type coordinate input function and a bar code input function using a coordinate pointing pen. A coordinate board as a coordinate matrix of the coordinate input function, a pen that also scans a coordinate instruction and a barcode on the coordinate board, and a feeling of disconnection by a constant writing pressure of 15 gf to 100 gf at the tip of the pen A pressure switch and a signal processing unit, both of the coordinate search cycle and the next secondary coordinate search cycle at the moment when the pen pressure at the tip of the pen increases and the pressure sensitive switch contacts or disconnects When the signal for coordinates is not detected, the time from the end of the secondary coordinate search cycle until the signal processing unit recognizes the disconnection or contact of the pressure sensitive switch is expressed as the signal. Processing section is a barcode operation period and proposes a coordinate input and the bar code input shared device for a period other than the operation period for the bar code and coordinates for operation period.
[0005]
[Action]
Only when the coordinate signal is detected, and when the pen pressure at the tip of the pen is increased and the pressure sensitive switch that detects the pen pressure is touched or disconnected, the bar code illumination light-emitting element emits light. The operation period for code.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This device cyclically searches for the coordinate signal, but detects the coordinate signal during the search cycle when the pressure-sensitive switch at the tip of the pen is touched or disconnected (when the pen pressure exceeds a certain value). When a coordinate signal is detected during the next secondary search cycle, the signal processing unit of the present apparatus regards it as a coordinate input period and does not turn on the light emitting element for barcode illumination. In addition to the above period, when the pressure-sensitive switch at the tip of the pen is touched or disconnected (when the pen pressure exceeds a certain value), it is regarded as a barcode input period, and the barcode illumination light-emitting element is turned on. Input.
[0007]
【Example】
Details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main part of a coordinate input and barcode input combined apparatus according to the present invention. When the barcode 2 is read by the coordinate input / barcode input device of FIG. 1, the pen 1 is used by tracing the coordinate instruction and the barcode scanning pen 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as “pen 1”) on the barcode 2. The brightness / darkness information of the barcode 2 is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the signal processing unit 4.
[0008]
When performing coordinate input, when the tip of the pen 1 is on the surface of the coordinate board (tablet) 3, the coordinates of the tip of the pen 1 on the coordinate board 3 are read. First, in the case of the capacitive coupling method, a plurality of grid-like electrode lines 5, 5,... Parallel to the Y direction and the X direction arranged on the coordinate board 3 are controlled by the signal processing unit 4. Electrical signals are sequentially applied to 5, 6, 6,..., 6 via the X-axis and Y-axis electrode line driving units 7 and 8. A pulse, a sine wave or the like is used as the applied signal.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tip portion of the pen 1. The core of the tip of the pen 1 is a part of the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 and the optical structure 17 embedded in an insulating material. The coordinate reading in the X direction will be described. Each X-axis electrode wire 5, 5,... 5 disposed in the coordinate board 3 and the coordinate signal sensor conductor embedded in the insulating material at the tip of the pen 1. 9 has a small capacity but a capacitance (coupling capacity), and the electrical signals of the X-axis electrode lines 5, 5,... Each is transmitted to the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in the material.
[0010]
The electrical signal transmitted to the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in the insulating material (detected by the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in the insulating material) is transmitted to a circuit (not shown) of the circuit board 11 where it is amplified. Or directly transmitted to the signal processing unit 4. The coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in the insulating material more strongly detects an electric signal from the electrode wire 5 located in the vicinity thereof. The signal processing unit 4 determines the position of the pen 1 from the relationship between the timing at which the electrode lines 5, 5,... 5 are sequentially driven and the signal level detected by the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in the insulating material. The X coordinate on the coordinate board 3 at the tip is determined. Next, each Y-axis electrode line 6, 6,..., 6 is driven, and the Y coordinate is obtained in the same manner as the X axis.
[0011]
The series of X-direction and Y-direction coordinate reading operations described above is one coordinate signal search cycle, and about 10 to 200 coordinate signal search cycles are performed per second. If no coordinate signal is detected during one coordinate signal search cycle, the signal processing unit 4 determines that the tip of the pen 1 is not on the coordinate board 3.
[0012]
Next, a brief description will be given of the case of performing coordinate input by the electromagnetic coupling method. The outline of the operation is the same as that of the capacitance coupling method described above, but the signal transmission method from the coordinate board 3 to the pen 1 is different, and signal transmission is performed by inductive coupling between the coils described below. . In that case, the X-axis and Y-axis electrode line driving units 7 of the X-axis electrode lines 5, 5,... 5 and the Y-axis electrode lines 6, 6,. As shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1, two ends that are not on the 8 side are connected two by two, and each of the two electrode wires 5, 5, etc., 6, 6, etc. has one loop coil (1 Turn coil).
[0013]
1 and 2, the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in the insulating material is wound as a coil. .. And 6, 6,... Are sequentially driven by the X-axis and Y-axis electrode line driving units 7 and 8 to generate magnetic lines of force in sequence. The magnetic field lines are detected by the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 (coil) embedded in the insulating material at the tip of the pen 1 and transmitted as a current to the circuit of the circuit board 11. The signal processing unit 4 determines the pen 1 based on the relationship between the timing of sequentially driving the loop coils 5, 5, 6, 6, and the like and the signal detected by the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 (coil) embedded in the insulating material. The coordinates on the coordinate board 3 of the tip of the are determined. Even in this electromagnetic coupling method, one coordinate reading operation in the X and Y directions is one coordinate signal search cycle, and about 10 to 200 coordinate signal search cycles are performed per second. Furthermore, when no coordinate signal is detected during one coordinate signal search cycle, the signal processing unit 4 determines that the tip of the pen 1 is not on the coordinate board 3.
[0014]
In the above description, both the capacitive coupling method and the electromagnetic coupling method are the transmission direction of the coordinate signal from the coordinate board 3 to the pen 1, but the coordinate signal is transmitted from the pen 1 in the opposite direction. In this case, the coordinate signal search cycle is exactly the same as in the above-described embodiment.
[0015]
Next, the pen coordinate input in the resistive film type pressure sensitive sheet system will be outlined (not shown). In this case, there is no coordinate signal transmission between the coordinate board and the pen. The coordinate board is composed of two layers of resistive films facing each other. A voltage gradient is applied to one or both layers, and the two layers come into contact with each other at the point pressed by the tip of the pen. The coordinate value is determined by measuring the voltage of. Even in this case, one coordinate reading operation in the X direction and Y direction is one coordinate signal search cycle, and about 10 to 200 coordinate signal search cycles are performed per second. In this case as well, if no pen press (or press with another hardened tip) is detected during one coordinate signal search cycle, the control unit determines that no coordinate is designated.
[0016]
Next, a case where barcode input is performed will be described. In FIG. 2, a light emitting element 13 (light emitting diode, laser diode, etc.) and a light receiving element 14 (light / electricity conversion element such as a photodiode, phototransistor, etc.) are arranged inside the pen case 10 of the pen 1. The light emitting element 13 irradiates light mainly toward the illumination optical path 15 toward the optical structure 17, and the light receiving element 14 has a light receiving optical path 16 on which reflected light from the barcode surface 19 enters through the optical structure 17. Light in the direction is received and converted into an electrical quantity corresponding to the amount of light received. The optical structure 17 is made up of an optical lens, a light guide, and the like, and guides the light of the illumination light path 15 to the barcode surface 19 and efficiently reflects the reflected light from the barcode surface 19 to the light receiving element 14. At least one of the illumination light and the reflected light is focused on the barcode surface 19 or the light beam is narrowed down to form an optical structure in which only the reflected light from a narrow range of the barcode surface 19 is incident on the light receiving element 14. Therefore, the light receiving element 14 converts the amount of electricity into light according to light and darkness within a narrow range of the barcode surface 19. The electrical output of the light receiving element 14 is connected to the circuit of the circuit board 11 and is subjected to amplification and other signal processing. In FIG. 2, the optical structure 17 is illustrated as being disposed inside the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in an insulating material, but may be disposed outside or on both sides.
[0017]
Both the optical structure 17 and the coordinate signal sensor conductor 9 embedded in the insulating material are vertically moved in FIG. 2 according to the pen pressure of the pen 1 (contact pressure of the tip of the pen 1 to the barcode surface 19). Move. The movable member 18 as a cover of the optical mechanism is also moved in the vertical direction in accordance with the writing pressure of the pen 1 and the pressure sensitive switch 12 is disconnected (ON / OFF). In the present apparatus, the light emitting element 13 is turned on as a barcode operation, taking into account the state of the pressure sensitive switch 12 and the detection state of the coordinate signal in the coordinate signal search cycle.
[0018]
Next, a sequence related to the barcode operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram thereof. In this embodiment, reference numeral 20 is a state in which the pressure-sensitive switch 12 is OFF (no writing pressure or very small writing pressure), and reference numeral 21 is a state in which the pressure-sensitive switch 12 is ON (writing writing pressure). This apparatus determines whether or not the tip of the pen 1 is on the coordinate board 3 at the moment when the pressure-sensitive switch 12 is turned on (the moment when the writing pressure exceeds a certain level), and performs the barcode operation. Or the signal processing unit 4 decides whether to use the coordinate operation.
[0019]
Reference numeral 23 is a coordinate signal search cycle, and reference numeral 22 is a coordinate idle cycle. When the signal processing unit 4 detects the coordinate signal 24 (analog signal) in the coordinate signal search cycle 23, the tip of the pen 1 is on the coordinate board 3. At time point A in FIG. 3, since the coordinate signal 24 is detected in the coordinate signal search cycle 23.1 at that time, it is understood that the coordinate operation should be performed. What should be dealt with here is that the bar code operation is not performed even when the pen 1 is suddenly brought into contact with the coordinate board 3. At time point B in FIG. 3, in the coordinate signal search cycle 23.2, the search for the contact area of the coordinate board 3 where the tip of the pen 1 is suddenly contacted has already been completed. Although the coordinate signal 24 could not be detected in the cycle 23.2, the coordinate signal 24 was reliably detected in the next secondary coordinate signal search cycle 23.3. Do not use for operation. At the C time point, since the coordinate signal 24 is not detected in the coordinate signal search cycle 23.4 or in the next secondary coordinate signal search cycle 23.5, the coordinate signal search is performed at the C time point. From the end of the cycle 23.5 until the pressure-sensitive switch 12 is turned OFF, the bar code operation light emitting element lighting 25 is set as the bar code operation period.
[0020]
As described above, the present apparatus detects the coordinate signal 24 during the coordinate signal search cycle 23 at the time when the pressure sensitive switch 12 is turned on, or the next secondary coordinate at the time when the pressure sensitive switch 12 is turned on. When the coordinate signal 24 is detected during the signal search cycle 23, the coordinate operation is performed.
[0021]
In this sequence, there is a delay of about 0.005 to 0.1 seconds from when the tip of the pen 1 comes into contact with the barcode surface 19 to scan the barcode 2 until the light emitting element 13 is turned on. There is no problem in practical use. Also, since the pressure sensitive switch 12 needs to be turned on to read the barcode 2, it is operated with a small writing pressure, but it is actually measured from 15 gf (about 0.15 N) to at most 100 gf (about 1 N). It is. The state of the pressure-sensitive switch 12 is not only used at the time of barcode input, but is also used as writing pressure status information and output together with coordinate data at the time of coordinate input. In the case of a resistance film type pressure sensitive sheet type coordinate input board, it is necessary to be able to input coordinates when the pen pressure switch is turned on on the coordinate board. The pen pressure switch needs to be turned on by the pen pressure. In this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive switch 12 is turned on when the writing pressure is increased. However, it is needless to say that the reverse operation can be performed.
[0022]
In this embodiment, the signal processing unit 4 detects a change in the barcode signal even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the barcode operation period in order to avoid the light emitting element 13 from being turned on for a long time. If not, or if a certain time has elapsed since the change in the barcode signal was interrupted, the signal processing unit 4 regards the pressure sensitive switch 12 to be off (OFF) and terminates the barcode operation period. It was appropriate that the maximum time of the bar code operation period was varied between 0.2 and 5 seconds in accordance with the actual operation of the pen 1. Also, automatically ending the bar code operation period is a reliable coordinate input even when the tip of the pen 1 enters the effective area from outside the effective area of the coordinate board 3 while the pressure sensitive switch 12 is turned on. Made possible.
[0023]
This device also adopts the circuit system described below. FIG. 4 shows an example of a circuit that superimposes a barcode signal and pressure-sensitive switch information on one signal line (connection cord between the pen and the main body). The electrical output of the light receiving element 14 is applied to the amplifier 30, amplified as a voltage level, and further applied to the base of the transistor 31. On the other hand, the state of the pressure sensitive switch 12 greatly changes the base voltage of the transistor 32 from the level of the power supply voltage 40 to the ground level. The resistor 33 is a pull-up resistor. The emitters of the transistors 31 and 32 are connected to each other, and the higher voltage of the bases of the transistors 31 and 32 is transmitted to the emitter. The resistor 34 is a pull-down resistor.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the superimposed signal waveform described above (the voltage waveform 41 of the connection cord portion 35). Since the output voltage of the amplifier 30 is set to about 1/2 to 1/4 of the power supply voltage level 42, the voltage waveform 41 of the connection cord portion is the period other than the period 46 in which the pressure sensitive switch 12 is ON. The level of the power supply voltage 42 is maintained, and the output of the amplifier 30, that is, the bar code signal (analog signal) is transmitted to the connection cord portion 35 during the period 46 when the pressure sensitive switch 12 is ON. Reference numeral 44 indicates a ground voltage level. In this apparatus, the bar code signal and the state signal of the pressure sensitive switch 12 are transmitted by one connection cord portion 35 by the above-described circuit. The bar code signal is transmitted only when the pressure sensitive switch 12 is ON. However, since the light emitting element 13 that illuminates the bar code surface 19 is turned on within this period, there is no problem in signal transmission.
[0025]
The superimposed signal transmitted through the connection cord part 35 is applied to the white / black bar discriminator 38 and the pressure sensitive switch state discriminator 39. The pressure-sensitive switch state discriminator 39 is a circuit that compares two input voltages, and applies a reference voltage (threshold level) to one input to identify the state of the pressure-sensitive switch 12. The state of the pressure sensitive switch 12 is identified by comparing the threshold level 43 (indicated by a broken line) of the pressure sensitive switch state discriminator 39 in FIG. This identification function operates in both the barcode operation period and the coordinate operation period. The reference voltage (threshold level) 43 is created by the DC voltage source 36 and the variable resistor 37 and applied to one input terminal of the pressure sensitive switch state discriminator 39.
[0026]
The white / black bar discriminator 38 discriminates and binarizes the white / black bar from the voltage waveform 41 (analog bar code signal) of the connection cord portion 35 transmitted during the period 46 when the pressure sensitive switch 12 is ON. The two-signal superimposing circuit described above is an example using a transistor, but can be realized by a circuit using a diode, a circuit using an operational amplifier, or a two-signal adding circuit using a resistor.
[0027]
This device also copes with the usage in which the pen pressure decreases and the pressure-sensitive switch 12 is turned off while the tip of the pen 1 is scanning the bar code 2. The signal processing unit 4 recognizes that the bar code operation period has ended after a predetermined time has elapsed since the pressure-sensitive switch 12 was turned off. The extended time to this recognition was appropriate between 0.05 and 0.7 seconds in many practical applications. In the case of the circuit example shown in FIG. 4, a capacitor (capacitor) may be added in parallel with the pressure sensitive switch 12.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
Operability can be improved without sacrificing conventional functions and the lifetime of the light emitting element. In addition, a dedicated push button switch mechanism for bar code illumination is not required, and the cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main part configuration of the device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tip of a pen. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of each operation. Circuit example for superimposing switch information [FIG. 5] Signal waveform example in which bar code signal and pressure-sensitive switch information in the circuit example shown in FIG. 4 are superimposed [Explanation of symbols]
1 Coordinate indication and barcode scanning pen 2 Bar code 3 Coordinate board (tablet)
4 signal processing unit 5 X-axis electrode line 6 Y-axis electrode line 7 X-axis electrode line drive unit 8 Y-axis electrode line drive unit 9 Coordinate signal sensor conductor 10 embedded in an insulating material Pen case 11 Circuit board 12 Pressure-sensitive switch 13 Light-emitting element 14 Light-receiving element 15 Illumination optical path 16 Light-receiving optical path 17 Optical structure 18 Movable member 19 Barcode surface or coordinate board surface 20 Pressure-sensitive switch OFF state (no writing pressure or very small writing pressure)
21 Pressure-sensitive switch ON state (writing pressure)
22 Coordinate idle cycle 23 Coordinate signal search cycle 24 Coordinate signal 25 Bar code illumination light emitting element lighting period 26 Coordinate operation period 27 Bar code operation period 30 Amplifier 31 Transistor 32 Transistor 33 Pull-up resistor 34 Pull-down resistor 35 Connection code portion 36 DC voltage source 37 Variable resistor 38 White / black bar discriminator 39 Pressure sensitive switch state discriminator 40 Power supply voltage 41 Signal waveform 42 of connecting cord section Power source voltage level 43 Threshold level of pressure sensitive switch state discriminator 44 Ground voltage level 45 Light-emitting element lighting 46 Time point indicated by time point B indicated by time point B indicated by time point B indicated by time period A indicated by time A A when the pressure sensitive switch is ON

Claims (5)

Capacitance coupling method, electromagnetic coupling method or resistance film type pressure sensitive sheet type coordinate input function and a bar code input function by a coordinate pointing pen, the coordinates as the coordinate matrix of the coordinate input function A pen, a pen for scanning a coordinate instruction and a bar code on the coordinate board, a pressure-sensitive switch that is connected to the pen tip by a constant writing pressure of 15 gf to 100 gf, and a signal processing unit. The secondary when the signal processing unit does not detect the coordinate signal in both the coordinate search cycle and the next secondary coordinate search cycle at the moment when the writing pressure increases and the pressure-sensitive switch contacts or disconnects. The time from the end of the coordinate search cycle until the signal processing unit recognizes the disconnection or contact of the pressure sensitive switch is defined as the bar code operation period. Coordinate input and the bar code input compatible apparatus, characterized by a period other than the operation period for the bar code and coordinates for operation period. During the barcode operation period, the signal processing unit recognizes that the pressure sensitive switch has been turned off or in contact after a certain period of time has elapsed since the pen pressure at the tip of the pen has decreased and the pressure sensitive switch has been turned off or turned on. The coordinate input / barcode input combined apparatus according to claim 1. 2. The coordinate input and barcode input according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit automatically recognizes that the pressure sensitive switch is disconnected or connected after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the barcode operation period. apparatus. 2. The coordinate input and barcode input device according to claim 1, wherein the barcode signal in the pen and the connection / disconnection information of the pressure sensitive switch are superimposed on one signal line. 2. The coordinate input / barcode input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection / disconnection information of the pressure sensitive switch is output together with the coordinate information during the coordinate operation period.

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