JP4080647B2 - Coordinate input / detection device, information storage medium, and coordinate input / detection method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coordinate input / detection device, and in particular, is used integrally with an electronic blackboard or a large display, or an instruction member such as a pen or a finger to input or select information in a personal computer or the like Touch panel type coordinate input / detection device and information storage medium for detecting the coordinate position indicated by as well as The present invention relates to a coordinate input / detection method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of coordinate input / detection device detects an electrical change by electrostatic or electromagnetic induction when the coordinate input surface is pressed with a pen or when the pen approaches the coordinate input surface. .
[0003]
As another method, there is an ultrasonic touch panel coordinate input / detection device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-239322. In short, the surface acoustic wave sent onto the panel is touched on the touch panel to attenuate the surface acoustic wave and detect its position.
[0004]
Further, those filed by the present applicant as Japanese Patent Application No. 10-127,35, those disclosed in JP-A-5-173699, or those disclosed in JP-A-9-319501, Furthermore, there is an optical touch panel type coordinate input / detection device represented by the one previously filed by the present applicant as Japanese Patent Application No. 10-230960. In particular, an optical touch panel type coordinate input / detection device is positioned as a powerful tool for inputting and selecting information with the spread of personal computers and the like. In the case of these optical touch panel type coordinate input / detection devices, the touch panel itself does not have a coordinate detection function, unlike the case of the ultrasonic method, etc., and is optically located in a spatial position slightly away from the touch panel surface to the surface side. A coordinate input / detection area is set.
[0005]
In any touch panel system, the user draws desired characters, figures, and other drawings by moving an instruction means such as a pen and a fingertip on the touch panel surface.
[0006]
For example, the case of a coordinate input / detection device with a display in the ultrasonic method will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 12, the touch panel 100 corresponds to the resolution of the display 102 integrated with the touch panel 100 (for example, the number of pixels 1024 in the X-axis direction and the number of pixels 768 in the Y-axis direction) touched by the pointing unit 101 such as a finger. The two-dimensional coordinates = X and Y coordinates on the display 102 are detected and transmitted to the control device 103 such as a PC as coordinate data. Further, the image developed in the image memory 104 is displayed and output on the display 102 integrated with the touch panel 100. In addition, the coordinate input unit 105 in the control device 103 receives coordinate data detected by the touch panel 100 using communication means such as RS232C or USB. Further, the touch panel control unit 105 extracts coordinate data instructed from the coordinate input unit 105, and sets the previous coordinate and the extracted current coordinate to a predetermined thickness and color (thickness and color are the users of the control device 103). The image is rendered on the image memory 104. RGB image data is developed on the image memory 104, and is output on the display 102 by the video output means and displayed as a color image.
[0007]
Here, the touch panel 100 periodically transmits coordinate data while the pointing means 101 such as a finger is touching (touched state), and detects that the pointing means 101 such as the finger is separated from the touch panel 100 (detached). In this case, the detach information is transmitted and output once, and thereafter, when it is detected that the instruction means 101 such as a finger touches the touch panel 100 (touch) again, X and Y coordinate data are transmitted and output again from that point. Is done.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the operation of drawing a character or a figure so as to follow the movement of the fingertip or the like touching the touch panel 100, the fingertip or the like is lifted off the surface of the touch panel 100 when touching the touch panel 100 lightly or trying to draw quickly, The character or figure to be drawn is interrupted, and the discontinuous portion appears in the reproduced drawing image by the display 102 as faint. Here, “faint” means that the coordinates between the indicated positions obtained by touching and moving the fingertip etc. to the touch panel 100 are drawn with a specific color and thickness, or as a continuous line. A phenomenon in which a drawing line is interrupted when a fingertip or the like slightly floats from the touch panel 100.
[0009]
In particular, since the ultrasonic method is based on the premise of fingertip input, when the pen input is made with a material that absorbs on the touch panel 100 (soft and elastic material) and a straight line is drawn, Then, stable attenuation can be obtained, but sufficient contact cannot be obtained when the pen is moved, and the straight line is interrupted. However, if you press the pen with more force than necessary to obtain sufficient contact, the force of the pen will cause distortion due to the elasticity of the pen, causing it to return during movement. Work. Therefore, once an attempt is made to draw a curve at the time of pen input, the force to press the pen becomes weak and the force to restore the distortion is superior, so that it is recovered and stable attenuation cannot be obtained, and it is determined that the input is interrupted. Of course, not only such an ultrasonic method but also an optical type or the like may cause such a faint portion if it is a touch panel method.
[0010]
When such a faint portion occurs, it is difficult to see as it is, so it is troublesome because it is necessary to redraw the portion that has been faint due to the interruption or to redraw the whole again.
[0011]
To make matters more complicated, when a broken line is intentionally drawn, as a result, a discontinuous portion is generated, so it is necessary to distinguish it from the unintentional faint portion as described above.
[0012]
Therefore, the present invention does not require redrawing even if a blur occurs during the drawing of characters, figures, etc. on the touch panel surface, and automatically detects it and automatically detects the blurred portion as a continuous portion. Input / detection device and information storage medium as well as An object is to provide a coordinate input / detection method.
[0013]
Further, the present invention can automatically distinguish between discontinuity due to blurring and discontinuity in intentional broken line drawing, and can process them according to each, so that it is not regarded as a continuous line in the case of intentional broken line drawing. Coordinate input / detection device, information storage medium as well as An object is to provide a coordinate input / detection method.
[0014]
Furthermore, the present invention provides a coordinate input / detection device and an information storage medium capable of correcting a blurred portion as a natural curve corresponding to the blurred portion in the case of a blurred curve. as well as An object is to provide a coordinate input / detection method.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A coordinate input / detection device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a coordinate input / detection device for detecting an instruction position of an instruction means with respect to a two-dimensional touch panel that is flat or substantially flat, and is directed to the touch panel surface of the instruction means. Coordinate detection means for sequentially detecting two-dimensional coordinates of the indicated position at predetermined time intervals, touch / detach detection means for detecting touch / detach of the indication means with respect to the touch panel surface, and predetermined time intervals by the coordinate detection means A vectorizing unit that vectorizes the direction and length of the change between the two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected in step (a), and a detach / retouch of the touch / detach detection unit is detected. Coordinate vector Based on the value, it is determined whether or not the instruction line by the instruction means is interrupted, and when the determination result is affirmative, Coordinate vector A fading judgment means for judging whether or not it is fading based on a value, and a fading correction processing means for making the fading portion continuous as an instruction line when the fading judgment means determines that the discontinuity portion is a faint portion. The determination means includes a coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detachment is detected and a coordinate where the retouch is detected, and a coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detachment is detected and the coordinates detected immediately before the detachment. When the displacement falls within a predetermined range, it is determined that the instruction line is interrupted, and the coordinate vector length calculated based on the moving speed from the coordinate where the detach is detected to the coordinate where the retouch is detected When the difference from the average coordinate vector length is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that the discontinuous portion is a faint portion.
[0016]
Therefore, it indicates not only the coordinate information but also the direction and length of the change in the indicated position by the indicating means. Coordinate vector If the detach / retouch detection on the touch panel is detected by sequentially converting the vector coordinates as a value by the vectorization means, Coordinate vector By referring to the value, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the drawn instruction line is interrupted. In addition, the movement speed of the pointing means such as the fingertip on the touch panel differs between the interruption that occurs in the case of the intended broken line drawing and the interruption that occurs due to unintentional blurring, and this is expressed as a vector Coordinate vector Paying attention to the point that the vector length becomes shorter in the case of the intended broken line drawing, it appears as a difference in length information in the value, Coordinate vector Based on the difference in the drawing speed in the value, it is automatically determined whether it is faint or broken in the broken line drawing. In the case of fading, the part is automatically corrected so that the part is continued by the blur correction processing means. Thus, drawing without interruption due to fading is possible, and in the case of the intended broken line drawing, there is no problem that the interruption is continued.
[0017]
The operation and effect of the invention described in claim 1 is as follows. 7 It is implemented by the described invention. That is, the information storage medium of the invention described in claim 4 is a computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for detecting the pointing position of the pointing means for a two-dimensional touch panel that is flat or substantially flat. A coordinate detecting function for sequentially detecting two-dimensional coordinates of the pointing position of the pointing means with respect to the touch panel surface at a predetermined time interval; and a touch / detach detecting function for detecting touch / detaching of the pointing means with respect to the touch panel surface; A vectorization function that vectorizes the direction and length of the change between the two-dimensional coordinates that are sequentially detected at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate detection function, and a detach / retouch detected by the touch / detach detection function. If Coordinate vector Based on the value, it is determined whether or not the instruction line by the instruction means is interrupted, and when the determination result is affirmative, Coordinate vector A blur determination function for determining whether or not to blur based on a value, and a blur correction processing function for causing the blur portion to continue as an instruction line when the blur determination function is determined to be a blur portion by the blur determination function. In the blur determination function, the coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates where the retouch is detected, and the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates detected just before the detach When the displacement with the coordinate vector value falls within a predetermined range, it is determined that the instruction line is interrupted, and based on the moving speed from the coordinate where the detach is detected to the coordinate where the retouch is detected When the difference between the calculated coordinate vector length and the average coordinate vector length is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that the discontinuous portion is a faint portion. And wherein the door.
[0018]
Claim 7 The coordinate input / detection method for detecting a pointing position of the pointing unit with respect to a two-dimensional touch panel that is flat or substantially flat is a predetermined two-dimensional coordinate of the pointing position with respect to the touch panel surface of the pointing unit. A coordinate detection step for sequentially detecting at a time interval, a touch / detach detection step for detecting a touch / detach of the instruction means on the touch panel surface, and the two-dimensional detection sequentially detected at a predetermined time interval by the coordinate detection step. A vectorizing step for converting the direction and length of the change between coordinates into vector coordinates, and when detachment / retouching is detected by the touch / detach detection step, it is determined whether or not the instruction line by the instruction means is interrupted. And when the determination result is affirmative, Coordinate vector A fading judgment step for judging whether or not it is fading based on a value, and a fading correction processing step for making the fading portion continuous as an instruction line when the discontinuity portion is judged to be a fading portion by the fading judgment step. In the determination step, a coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and a coordinate where the retouch is detected, and a coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates detected immediately before the detachment When the displacement falls within a predetermined range, it is determined that the instruction line is interrupted, and the coordinate vector length calculated based on the moving speed from the coordinate where the detach is detected to the coordinate where the retouch is detected And the average coordinate vector length is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that the discontinuous portion is a faint portion. .
[0019]
A second aspect of the present invention is the coordinate input / detection device according to the first aspect, wherein the blur correction processing means includes the front and rear portions of the blur portion. Coordinate vector A straight line / curve determination means for distinguishing whether the blurred portion is linear or curved based on the presence or absence of similarity of values, and if it is determined that the blurred portion is linear, the blurred portion Straight line blur correction processing means for linearly continuing, and when the blurred portion is determined to be curved, the blurred portion is the portion before and after the blurred portion. Coordinate vector Curve blur correction processing means for approximating the curve using a complementary coordinate vector value based on the value and making it curve-continuous.
[0020]
Therefore, fading may occur not only during line drawing but also during curve drawing. Coordinate vector Since it can be judged by the presence or absence of similarity of values, if it is judged that blurring has occurred in the curve part, it does not become a continuous line that approximates a straight line, but before and after the blurring part Coordinate vector It is possible to correct appropriately by approximating the curve using the complementary coordinate vector value based on the value and making it curve-continuous.
[0021]
Such an operation / effect of the invention according to claim 2 is also executed by the invention according to claim 5. That is, the claim 5 The information storage medium according to the present invention is the information storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the blur correction processing function is performed before and after the blur portion. Coordinate vector A straight line / curve determination function for discriminating whether the faint portion is linear or curved based on the similarity of values, and the faint portion when it is determined that the faint portion is linear A straight line blur correction processing function that makes a straight line continue, and if the blurred portion is determined to be curved, the blurred portion is the portion before and after the blurred portion. Coordinate vector And a curve blur correction processing function in which a curve is approximated by using a complementary coordinate vector value based on the value to be continuously curved.
[0022]
A third aspect of the present invention is the coordinate input / detection device according to the second aspect, wherein the straight line / curve determination means is configured to detect the front and rear of the blurred portion. Coordinate vector For the value, the coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates where the retouch is detected and the coordinate vector length thereof, and the coordinates between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates detected immediately before the detach A vector value and a coordinate vector length thereof are compared, and when both are similar, it is determined that the blurred portion is linear.
[0023]
According to the present invention, it is possible to more appropriately determine whether or not the blurred portion is linear.
[0024]
The operation and effect of the invention as set forth in claim 3 is also carried out by the invention as set forth in claim 6.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The present embodiment is applied to a so-called recursive light blocking type touch panel type coordinate input / detection device 1, and the principle thereof will be described with reference to FIG. A coordinate input / detection area (touch panel) 3 that is an internal space of the coordinate input / detection member 2 having a rectangular housing structure has a two-dimensional shape that forms a plane (or a substantially plane) and electronically displays an image. A white board for writing with a pen such as a display surface or a marker can be considered. Consider a case where the coordinate input / detection area 3 is touched by an instruction means 4 that functions as a light blocking means such as an operator's finger, pen, or indicator bar made of an optically opaque material. The purpose of such an optical coordinate input / detection device 1 is to detect the coordinates of the instruction means 4 at this time.
[0026]
Light emitting / receiving means 5 are mounted at both upper ends of the coordinate input / detection area 3. A light beam bundle (probe light) of L1, L2, L3,..., Ln is irradiated from the light emitting / receiving means 5 toward the coordinate input / detection region 3. Actually, it is a fan-shaped light wave traveling along a plane parallel to the coordinate input plane extending from the point light source 6.
[0027]
A retroreflective member 7 is attached to the peripheral portion of the coordinate input / detection region 3 with the retroreflective surface facing the center of the coordinate input device 3.
[0028]
The retroreflective member 7 is a member having a characteristic of reflecting incident light in the same direction regardless of the incident angle. For example, when attention is paid to one beam 8 among the fan-shaped plate-like light waves emitted from the light receiving / emitting means 5, the beam 8 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 7, and the same optical path is used as the retroreflected light 9 again. Proceed to return toward. The light receiving / emitting means 5 is provided with a light receiving means to be described later, and it is possible to determine whether or not the recursive light has returned to the light receiving means for each of the probe lights L1 to Ln.
[0029]
Consider a case where the operator touches the position P with a finger (instruction means 4). At this time, the probe light 10 is blocked by the finger at the position P and does not reach the retroreflecting member 7. Accordingly, the recursive light of the probe light 10 does not reach the light receiving / emitting means 5, and an indication on the extension line (straight line L) of the probe light 10 is made by detecting that the recursive light corresponding to the probe light 10 is not received. It can be detected that an object has been inserted. Similarly, the probe light 11 is also irradiated from the light emitting / receiving means 5 installed in the upper right of FIG. 1 to detect that the return light corresponding to the probe light 11 is not received, thereby extending the probe light 11 ( It can be detected that the pointing object has been inserted on the straight line R). If the straight line L and the straight line R can be obtained, the coordinates at which the pointing means 2 is inserted can be obtained by calculating the intersection coordinates of the P points by calculation.
[0030]
Next, the structure of the light receiving / emitting means 5 and the mechanism for detecting which probe light is blocked among the probe lights L1 to Ln will be described. An outline of the internal structure of the light emitting / receiving means 5 is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a view of the light emitting / receiving means 5 attached to the coordinate input surface of FIG. 1 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the coordinate input / detection area 3. Here, for the sake of simplicity, description will be made on a two-dimensional plane parallel to the coordinate input / detection region 3.
[0031]
The schematic configuration includes a point light source 6, a condenser lens 12, and a light receiving element 13. The point light source 6 emits light in a fan shape in a direction opposite to the light receiving element 13 when viewed from a light source (not shown). The fan-shaped light emitted from the point light source 6 is considered to be a set of beams traveling in the arrows 14 and 15 and other directions. The beam traveling in the direction of the arrow 14 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 7 in the direction of the arrow 16, passes through the condenser lens 12, and reaches the position 17 on the light receiving element 13. Further, the beam traveling in the direction of the arrow 15 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 7 in the direction of the arrow 18, passes through the condenser lens 12, and reaches the position 19 on the light receiving element 13. Thus, the light emitted from the point light source 6, reflected by the retroreflecting member 7, and returned through the same path reaches each different position on the light receiving element 13 by the action of the condenser lens 12. Therefore, when the instruction means 4 is inserted at a certain position in the coordinate input / detection region 3 and a certain beam is blocked, the light does not reach a point on the light receiving element 13 corresponding to the beam. Therefore, by examining the light intensity distribution on the light receiving element 13, it is possible to know which beam is blocked.
[0032]
The above-described operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the light receiving element 13 is installed on the focal plane (focal length f) of the condenser lens 12. Light emitted from the point light source 6 toward the right side of FIG. 3 is reflected by the retroreflecting member 7 and returns along the same path. Therefore, the light is condensed again at the position of the point light source 6. The center of the condenser lens 12 is installed so as to coincide with the point light source position. Since the retroreflected light returning from the retroreflective member 7 passes through the center of the condensing lens 12, it travels in a symmetrical path behind the lens (on the light receiving element side).
[0033]
At this time, the light intensity distribution on the light receiving element 13 is considered. If the instruction means 4 is not inserted, the light intensity distribution on the light receiving element 13 is substantially constant. However, when the instruction means 4 for blocking light is inserted at the position P as shown in FIG. The beam is blocked, and a region with low light intensity is generated at the position Dn on the light receiving element 13 (dark spot). This position Dn corresponds to the output / incident angle θn of the blocked beam, and θn can be known by detecting Dn. That is, θn is a function of Dn
θn = arctan (Dn / f) ………………………… (1)
It can be expressed as. Here, θn is replaced with θnL and Dn is replaced with DnL in the light receiving / emitting means 5 at the upper left of FIG.
[0034]
Further, in FIG. 4, the angle θL formed by the instruction unit 4 and the coordinate input / detection region 3 is expressed as ( As a function of DnL obtained by equation (1),
θL = g (θnL) ………………………… (2)
However, θnL = arctan (DnL / f)
It can be expressed as.
[0035]
Similarly, for the light receiving / emitting means 5 on the upper right in FIG. 1, the symbol L in the above equations (1) and (2) is replaced with the symbol R, and the right light receiving / emitting means 5 and the coordinate input / detection area 3 are connected. By the conversion coefficient h of the geometric relative positional relationship,
θR = h (θnR) ………………………… (3)
However, θnR = arctan (DnR / f)
It can be expressed as.
[0036]
Here, if the mounting interval of the light emitting / receiving means 5 on the coordinate input / detection area 3 is w shown in FIG. 4 and the origin coordinates are as shown in FIG. The two-dimensional coordinate (x, y) of the point P indicated is
x = w · tanθnR / (tanθnL + tanθnR) (4)
y = w · tanθnL · tanθnR / (tanθL + tanθnR) (5)
Thus, x and y can be expressed as a function of DnL and DnR. That is, the positions of the dark spots DnL and DnR on the light receiving element 13 on the left and right light receiving / emitting means 5 are detected, and the geometrical arrangement of the light receiving / emitting means 5 is taken into consideration, so that the point P indicated by the indicating means 4 Two-dimensional coordinates can be detected.
[0037]
Next, an example in which the optical system described above is installed in the coordinate input / detection region 3, for example, the surface of the display will be shown. FIG. 5 shows an example in which one of the left and right light emitting / receiving means 5 described in FIGS. 1 and 2 is installed on the display surface.
[0038]
Reference numeral 20 in FIG. 5 denotes a cross section of the display surface (touch panel surface), which is viewed in the direction from the negative to the positive y-axis shown in FIG. In other words, FIG. 5 mainly shows the xz direction, but the part surrounded by the two-dot chain line also shows the configuration when the same object is viewed from another direction (xy direction, yz direction). Yes.
[0039]
The light emitting means of the light receiving / emitting means 5 will be described. A light source capable of narrowing a spot to some extent, such as a laser diode or a pinpoint LED, is used as the light source 21 that is a light emitting means.
[0040]
Light emitted from the light source 21 perpendicular to the display surface 20 is collimated only in the x direction by the cylindrical lens 22. This collimation is because the light is distributed as parallel light in a direction perpendicular to the display surface 20 after being folded back by the half mirror 23 later. After exiting the cylindrical lens 22, the light is condensed with respect to the y direction in the figure by two cylindrical lenses 24 and 25 having a curvature distribution orthogonal to that of the cylindrical lens 22.
[0041]
Due to the action of these cylindrical lens groups (lenses 21, 24, 25), a linearly condensed region is formed behind the cylindrical lens 25. Here, a slit 26 narrow in the y direction and elongated in the x direction is inserted. That is, the linear secondary light source 6 is formed at the slit position. The light emitted from the secondary light source 6 is folded back by the half mirror 23, and does not spread in the vertical direction of the display surface 20, but is parallel light, and spreads in a fan shape around the secondary light source 6 in the direction parallel to the display surface 20. , Along the display surface 20. The advanced light is reflected by the retroreflecting member 7 installed at the peripheral edge of the display, and returns in the direction of the half mirror 23 (arrow C) through the same path. The light transmitted through the half mirror 23 travels parallel to the display surface 20 and enters the light receiving element 13 through the cylindrical lens 12.
[0042]
At this time, the secondary light source 6 and the cylindrical lens 12 are both disposed at a distance D with respect to the half mirror 23 and have a conjugate positional relationship. Therefore, the secondary light source 6 corresponds to the point light source 6 in FIG. 3, and the cylindrical lens 12 corresponds to the lens 12 in FIG.
[0043]
FIG. 6 shows a configuration block diagram of a control circuit for the light source (LD) 21 and the light receiving element (PD) 13. This control circuit performs light emission control of the LD 21 and calculation of output from the PD 13. As shown in the figure, the control circuit has a configuration in which a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an interface driver 34, an A / D converter 35, and an LED driver 36 for storing programs and data are bus-connected with a CPU 31 as a center. Here, the CPU 31, the ROM 32 and the RAM 33 constitute a microcomputer as a computer. To such a microcomputer, an FDD (FD driver) 38 loaded with an FD 37, a CD-ROM driver 40 loaded with a CD-ROM 39, and the like are connected.
[0044]
As a circuit for calculating the output from the PD 13, an amplifier 41, an analog calculation circuit 42, and the like are connected to the output terminal of the PD 13 as shown in the figure. The output (light intensity distribution signal) from the PD 13 is input to the amplifier 41 and amplified. The amplified signal is processed by the analog arithmetic circuit 42, further converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 35, and passed to the CPU 31. Thereafter, the CPU 31 calculates the light receiving angle of the PD 13 and the two-dimensional coordinates of the instruction means 4.
[0045]
This control circuit may be incorporated in the same housing as one of the light emitting / receiving means 5 or may be incorporated in a part of the coordinate input / detection area 3 as a separate housing. Further, it is preferable to provide an output terminal for outputting coordinate data calculated to a personal computer or the like via the interface driver 34.
[0046]
A characteristic configuration example of the present embodiment using such a recursive light blocking type touch panel type coordinate input / detection device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram functionally showing the coordinate input / detection apparatus 1 according to such a characteristic configuration example. In the figure, the touch panel corresponds to the coordinate input / detection area 3, and when the pointing means 4 such as a finger is inserted near the surface (when touched), the pointing means 4 is two-dimensionally displayed on the touch panel 3. A coordinate detection unit (coordinate detection unit) 51 that detects coordinates and a touch / detach detection unit (touch / detach detection unit) 52 are provided. As described above, when the pointing unit 4 such as a finger is inserted in the vicinity of the surface of the touch panel 3, the coordinate detection unit 51 converts the two-dimensional coordinates of the pointing unit 4 on the touch panel 3 to a predetermined time interval associated with the sampling signal. Detect in time series. Further, the touch / detach detection unit 52 determines whether or not the instruction unit 4 is at a position where the light receiving element 13 or the like interferes with the detection light regardless of whether or not the instruction unit 4 such as a fingertip is actually in contact with the surface of the touch panel 3. As long as it can detect.
[0047]
A vectorization unit (vectorization means) 53 is provided following the coordinate detection unit 51. The vectorization unit 53 preliminarily sets the direction of change between the two-dimensional coordinates obtained sequentially in time series by the coordinate detection unit 51 under the insertion state (touch detection state) of the instruction means 4 and the length indicating the change. Using the vector data set and stored in the vector table 54, a vector coordinate is converted and stored in a memory such as the RAM 33.
[0048]
Here, a method of calculating the coordinate vector value will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, the previously detected two-dimensional coordinate is (X1, Y1), and the two-dimensional coordinate obtained this time is (X2, Y2). From the change amount ΔX = X2−X1 in the X coordinate direction and the change amount ΔY = Y2−Y1 in the Y coordinate direction, a coordinate vector value is calculated by ΔY / ΔX. In this case, as shown in Table 1, the coordinate vector values are digitized at intervals of 10 degrees from the X-axis direction and stored in advance in the vector table 154, but this interval (10 degrees) may be arbitrarily set. In addition, an approximate value of a calculation result is used as the coordinate vector value. For example, if ΔY / ΔX = 0.900 for −ΔY and −ΔX, the coordinate vector value = 24.
[0049]
[Table 1]
[0050]
In FIG. 8, the coordinate vector value between coordinates in each sampling is calculated as described above, and the vector length L between coordinates is, for example, the vector length between coordinates (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2). If L1,
L1 = √ {(Y2−Y1) ² + (X2-X1) ² }
Is calculated by In this way, the coordinate vector value and the length information thereof are calculated for each sampled two-dimensional coordinate, and stored in the memory such as the RAM 33 in the vector data storage unit 55.
[0051]
Subsequent to the vectorization unit 53, a blur determination unit 56 that operates in accordance with a detection signal from the touch / detach detection unit 52 is provided. The fading determination unit 56 includes an interruption determination unit 57 and a blur / broken line determination unit (interruption type determination unit) 58. When the touch / detach determination unit 52 detects the detachment / retouch of the instruction unit 4 with respect to the touch panel 3, the break determination unit 57 performs before / after the detach / retouch stored in the memory from the vector data storage unit 55. Coordinate vector It is determined whether or not there is a break by referring to the value. Even if a detach / retouch is detected, Coordinate vector If the values are extremely different (extremely different or extremely different directions), it is determined that there is no continuity of writing between detachment and retouching, and it is not an interrupted portion, and the normal processing unit 59 It is used for normal coordinate input / detection processing. In other cases, there is continuity of writing between detaching and retouching, and it is determined that it is an interrupted portion, and is used for determination by the fading / broken line determination unit 58.
[0052]
The fading / broken line determination unit 58 stores the data in the memory by the vector data storage unit 55 when detachment / retouch is detected. Coordinate vector By using the value information, the coordinate vector length at the time of detachment is compared with the average coordinate vector length. If the coordinate vector length at the time of detachment is extremely short, the break between detachment and retouch is intended By determining that there is a break in the broken line drawing and outputting it to the normal processing unit 59, no particular correction processing is performed on the break portion. That is, in the case of the broken line drawing, the interrupted portion is reproduced as it is.
[0053]
Such a determination is based on the fact that the drawing speed (moving speed) of the pointing means 4 such as the fingertip on the touch panel 3 is different between the interruption generated in the case of the intended broken line drawing and the interruption generated due to unintended blurring. is there. This point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 (a) exaggerates the movement of the fingertip and the like on the touch panel 3 when an unintended break A occurs, and FIG. 9 (b) shows the case where the intended break B occurs in the broken line drawing. The state of movement of a fingertip or the like on the touch panel 3 is exaggerated. In the case of unintentional fading A, the touch panel 3 is only slightly moved unintentionally, so the fingertip movement before and after the detach / retouch is continuous as shown by the broken line in FIG. That is, while there is almost no change in the drawing speed, in the case of the broken line drawing, the movement of the fingertip or the like is intentionally formed as shown by the broken line in FIG. Since the drawing speed is lowered as if the movement once stopped and moved away from the touch panel 3 surface and then touched on the touch panel 3 surface again, the drawing speed is greatly different from the case of the blur A. This difference in drawing speed can be obtained when the coordinate values at the same sampling interval are expressed as vectors. Coordinate vector In the case of the intended broken line drawing, the vector length becomes extremely short in the process of stopping once. Therefore, by comparing with the average vector length as described above, it is possible to see the interruption due to the blur A. It is possible to distinguish between breaks B in broken line drawing.
[0054]
When the blur / broken line determination unit 58 determines that the interruption is caused by the blur, the straight / curve determination unit (straight line / curve determination means) 60 uses the determination. The fading / broken line determination unit 58 Coordinate vector Based on the similarity of values, it is determined whether the blurred portion is linear or curved. Here, this determination method will be described. When detachment / retouch is detected, the coordinate vector length is calculated together with the coordinate vector value between detachment and retouching using the detach coordinates at the time of detach detection and the retouch coordinates at the time of retouch. The coordinate vector length is
(Coordinate vector length)
= (Length between detachment and retouching) × {(coordinate input cycle) / (time between detachment and retouching)}. Then, the coordinate vector value between the detachment and the retouch and the coordinate vector length thereof are compared with the coordinate vector value immediately before the detachment and the coordinate vector length thereof, and when both are similar, the linear blur portion is assumed. The straight line blur correction processing unit (straight line blur correction processing means) 62 in the blur processing means 61 is subjected to correction processing. For example, if a blur occurs during line drawing, Coordinate vector Since there is no large change in the value before and after the detachment / retouching and there is a similarity, this can be determined. In the straight line blur correction processing unit 62, when it is determined that the blur is a straight line, the color in which the blur part is determined between the detachment and the retouch (the coordinate vector value between the detachment and the retouch and the coordinate vector length), It is processed so as to be drawn continuously in a straight line by thickness.
[0055]
On the other hand, the coordinate vector value between detachment and retouch and the coordinate vector length thereof are compared with the coordinate vector value immediately before detachment and the coordinate vector length thereof, and when both are not similar, the coordinate vector value up to the detach position and A coordinate vector value after retouching is calculated (the sampling number is an optimum value obtained experimentally). The amount of change of these coordinate vector values is calculated, and if the amount of change is similar, it is determined that the portion is a curve-like blurred portion, and the curve blur correction processing unit (curve blur correction in the blur processing means 61) is determined. Processing means) 63 for correction processing. The curve fading correction processing unit 63 performs processing such that the detachment and retouching are approximated by a curve and drawn in a continuous curve.
[0056]
Here, the curve interpolation method by the curve blur correction processing unit 63 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in the vector diagram shown in FIG. 10, when curve drawing starts from (1), the coordinate vector value and coordinate vector length from (1) to (2) are calculated and stored in the memory when the coordinates of (2) are input. To do. Similarly, the coordinate vector value and coordinate vector length from (2) to (3) are calculated when the coordinates of (3) are input, and stored in the memory. Hereinafter, similarly, each time a new coordinate is input, a coordinate vector value and a coordinate vector length are calculated and stored in the memory (the sampling number is an optimum value obtained experimentally). In such a process, for example, when the coordinates of (4) and (5) are not inputted, the change amount of the coordinate vector value until the coordinate input of (3) (coordinate vector value of (3) − (2) (Coordinate vector value), the average value of the coordinate vector length is calculated. Next, in (3), the amount of change is added to (or subtracted from) the coordinate vector value between (2) and (3) to obtain a complementary coordinate vector value, and the coordinate vector angle is obtained with reference to Table 1. Then, coordinates (X4, Y4) corresponding to (4) from the average coordinate vector length and coordinate vector angle are expressed as X4 = cos (coordinate vector angle) × (average coordinate vector length) + (or −) X3Y4 = sin (coordinate (Vector angle) × (average coordinate vector length) + (or −) Y3 (see the vector diagram shown in FIG. 11), a color defined between coordinates (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4), Process to draw with thickness. Such a curve complementing process is repeated in the same manner up to the retouch coordinates (in the case of FIG. 10, the position of (6)). However, if the length from the complemented coordinates to the coordinates of the retouch position is less than the average coordinate vector length, the line from the complemented coordinates to the coordinates of the retouch position is drawn linearly continuously. Process.
[0057]
In this way, when fading occurs in the curved portion, the detaching / retouching is not approximated as a straight line A in FIG. Before and after the part Coordinate vector It is possible to correct appropriately by approximating the curve using the complementary coordinate vector value based on the value and continuing the curve as indicated by (4) and (5).
[0058]
The operation of the present embodiment can also be executed by causing a computer to read a program stored in advance in an FD, a CD-ROM, or the like. Referring to the example shown in FIG. 6, in addition to ROM 32, RAM 33, etc., FD 37, CD-ROM 39, etc. are provided as information storage media that can provide software (program) stored in advance to a computer, particularly CPU 31. A control program for causing the CPU 31 to execute various processing operations, particularly processing functions corresponding to the operations shown in this characteristic configuration example, is preset as software. Such a control program is, for example, a CD- Stored in the ROM 39 in advance. Such software is preinstalled in the ROM 32 or the like, and is copied to the RAM 33 when the CPU 31 is activated and read by the CPU 31 during operation. As described above, since the CPU 31 reads various programs and executes corresponding processes to implement various processing functions, the computer executes the coordinate input / detection process as described above.
[0059]
Here, in the case of the present embodiment, a coordinate detection function for sequentially detecting the two-dimensional coordinates of the designated position with respect to the touch panel 3 surface of the indication means 4 with respect to the information storage medium such as the CD-ROM 39. A touch / detach detection function for detecting the touch / detach of the instruction means 4 with respect to the touch panel 3 surface, and a direction and length of change between two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate detection function. When the discontinuity of the indication line by the indication means is detected by the vectorization function to be converted and the detach / retouch detection by the touch / detach detection function Coordinate vector A blur determination function that determines whether or not the image is blurred based on the value, and a blur correction processing function that causes the blurred portion to continue as an instruction line when this blurred determination function is determined to be blurred. It is only necessary to store a program for executing the program. Alternatively, a coordinate detection function that sequentially detects the two-dimensional coordinates of the pointing position of the pointing means 4 on the touch panel 3 surface at a predetermined time interval, and a touch / detach detection function that detects touch / detach of the pointing means 4 on the touch panel 3 surface. The vectorization function for converting the direction and length of the change between the two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate detection function into vector coordinates, and the instruction means 4 by detachment / retouch detection by the touch / detach detection function When a break in the indicator line due to is detected Coordinate vector Discontinuity type determination function that determines whether it is faint or broken in broken line drawing based on the difference in drawing speed in the value, and if the discontinuity part is determined to be faint by this discontinuity type determination function, indicates the faint part It is only necessary to store a program for causing a computer to execute a blur correction processing function that is continuous as a line. In these cases, the blur correction processing function Coordinate vector A straight line / curve determination function that distinguishes whether the blurred portion is linear or curved based on the similarity of values, and if it is determined that the blurred portion is linear, the blurred portion is Straight line blur correction processing function that continues linearly, and if it is judged that the fading part is curved, the fading part before and after the fading part Coordinate vector The curve blur correction processing function is obtained by performing curve approximation using a complementary coordinate vector value based on the value and making it curve-continuous.
[0060]
Further, the present embodiment has been described as an application example to the so-called recursive light blocking type touch panel type coordinate input / detection device 1, but the touch panel type coordinate input / detection device is the same regardless of the type. Applicable to. For example, not only an ultrasonic touch panel type coordinate input / detection device as shown in FIG. 12 (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-239322) but also a camera imaging type touch panel type coordinate using an image input means. Input / detection device, rotational scanning using laser scanning + reflector-mounted pen type touch panel type coordinate input / detection device, LED array type touch panel type coordinate input / detection device (see JP-A-5-173699, etc.) Or the like.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
Claims 1 and 4 And 7 According to the described invention, not only the coordinate information regarding the indication position by the indication means but also the direction and length of the change are indicated. Coordinate vector If the detach / retouch detection on the touch panel is detected by sequentially converting the vector coordinates as a value by the vectorization means, Coordinate vector By referring to the value, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the drawn instruction line is interrupted. In addition, the movement speed of the pointing means such as the fingertip on the touch panel differs between the interruption that occurs in the case of the intended broken line drawing and the interruption that occurs due to unintentional blurring, and this is expressed as a vector Coordinate vector Paying attention to the point that the vector length becomes shorter in the case of the intended broken line drawing, it appears as a difference in length information in the value, Coordinate vector Based on the difference in the drawing speed in the value, it is automatically determined whether it is faint or broken in the broken line drawing. In the case of fading, the part is automatically corrected so that the part is continued by the blur correction processing means. Thus, drawing without interruption due to fading is possible, and in the case of the intended broken line drawing, there is no problem that the interruption is continued.
[0062]
According to the inventions of claims 2 and 5, blurring may occur not only during straight line drawing but also during curve drawing. Coordinate vector Since it can be judged by the presence or absence of similarity of values, if it is judged that blurring has occurred in the curve part, it does not become a continuous line that approximates a straight line, but before and after the blurring part Coordinate vector It is possible to correct appropriately by approximating the curve using the complementary coordinate vector value based on the value and making it curve-continuous.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a principle configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention in principle.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a configuration example of an internal structure of the light emitting / receiving means.
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view for explaining the detection operation;
FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing an attachment interval and the like of light receiving / emitting means.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of installation on the front surface of a display or the like.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the control system.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram functionally illustrating a characteristic configuration example of the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a vector diagram for explaining a coordinate vector value calculation method.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram exaggeratingly showing the movement of a fingertip when blurring occurs and when a broken line is drawn.
FIG. 10 is a vector diagram for explaining a curve interpolation method when blurring occurs during curve drawing.
FIG. 11 is a vector diagram.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ultrasonic coordinate input / detection device.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Touch panel
4 instruction means
51 Coordinate detection means
52 Touch / detach detection means
53 Vectorization means
56 Fading judgment means
58 Discontinuity type judgment means
60 Straight / curve judgment means
61 Blur correction processing means
62 Straight line blur correction processing means
63 Curve blur correction processing means

Claims (7)

A coordinate input / detection device for detecting an indication position of an indication means for a two-dimensional touch panel that is flat or substantially flat,
Coordinate detecting means for sequentially detecting two-dimensional coordinates of the indicated position of the pointing means with respect to the touch panel surface at predetermined time intervals;
Touch / detach detection means for detecting touch / detach of the instruction means to the touch panel surface;
Vectorization means for vectorizing the direction and length of the change between the two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate detection means;
When detachment / retouch of the touch / detach detection means is detected, based on the coordinate vector value, it is determined whether the instruction line by the instruction means is interrupted, and the determination result is affirmative Fading judgment means for judging whether or not to fading based on the coordinate vector value;
A blur correction processing means for continuing the blur portion as an instruction line when the discontinuity portion is determined to be a blur portion by the blur determination means,
The blur determination means includes a coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and a coordinate where the retouch is detected, and a coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates detected immediately before the detach. Coordinates within the predetermined range, the coordinates are calculated based on the moving speed from the coordinates where the detach is detected to the coordinates where the retouch is detected. A coordinate input / detection device, wherein when the difference between a vector length and an average coordinate vector length is smaller than a predetermined value, the discontinuous portion is determined to be a faint portion. The blur correction processing unit includes a straight line / curve determination unit that distinguishes whether the blur part is linear or curved based on the similarity of the coordinate vector values before and after the blur part, and the blur part. Linear blur correction processing means for linearly continuing the blurred portion when it is determined that the blur portion is linear, and when it is determined that the blur portion is curved, the blur portion is the blur portion. The coordinate input / detection device according to claim 1, further comprising: a curve blur correction processing unit that approximates a curve by using complementary coordinate vector values based on the preceding and following coordinate vector values and makes the curve continuous. The straight line / curve determination means detects, for the coordinate vector values before and after the fading portion, the coordinate vector value between the coordinate where the detachment is detected and the coordinate where the retouch is detected, and the coordinate vector length thereof, and the detachment detects A coordinate vector value between the coordinates detected and the coordinates detected immediately before the detachment and the coordinate vector length thereof are compared, and if the two are similar, it is determined that the blurred portion is linear. The coordinate input / detection device according to claim 2. A computer-readable information storage medium that stores a program for detecting an indication position of an indication means for a two-dimensional touch panel that is flat or substantially flat,
A coordinate detection function for sequentially detecting two-dimensional coordinates of an indication position with respect to the touch panel surface of the indication means at a predetermined time interval;
A touch / detach detection function for detecting the touch / detach of the instruction means with respect to the touch panel surface, and a vector coordinate indicating the direction and length of the change between the two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate detection function. Vectorization function
When detachment / retouch by the touch / detach detection function is detected, based on the coordinate vector value, it is determined whether the instruction line by the instruction means is interrupted, and the determination result is affirmative A blur determination function for determining whether to blur based on the coordinate vector value;
When the blur determination function determines that the discontinuous portion is a faint portion, the computer executes a blur correction processing function that continues the blur portion as an instruction line,
In the blur determination function, a coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates where the retouch is detected, and a coordinate vector between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates detected immediately before the detach When the displacement with the value falls within a predetermined range, it is determined that the indicator line is interrupted, and is calculated based on the moving speed from the coordinate where the detach is detected to the coordinate where the retouch is detected. An information storage medium characterized in that when the difference between the coordinate vector length and the average coordinate vector length is smaller than a predetermined value, the discontinuous portion is determined to be a faint portion. The blur correction processing function includes a straight line / curve determination function that distinguishes whether the blur portion is linear or curved based on the presence or absence of similarity of the coordinate vector values before and after the blur portion, and the blur portion. When it is determined that the blurred portion is linear, the blurring correction processing function that linearly continues the blurred portion, and when the blurred portion is determined to be curved, the blurred portion is the blurred portion. The information storage medium according to claim 4 , further comprising a curve blur correction processing function that approximates a curve by using complementary coordinate vector values based on the preceding and following coordinate vector values and continues in a curved manner. In the straight line / curve determination function, with respect to the coordinate vector values before and after the fading portion, the coordinate vector value between the coordinate where the detach is detected and the coordinate where the retouch is detected, the coordinate vector length thereof, and the detach The detected coordinate and the coordinate vector value between the coordinates detected immediately before the detachment and the coordinate vector length thereof are compared, and if the two are similar, it is determined that the blurred portion is linear. The information storage medium according to claim 5 . A coordinate input / detection method for detecting a pointing position of a pointing device with respect to a two-dimensional touch panel that is flat or substantially flat, and sequentially detects two-dimensional coordinates of the pointing position of the pointing device with respect to the touch panel surface at a predetermined time interval. A coordinate detection step, a touch / detach detection step for detecting a touch / detach of the instruction means on the touch panel surface, and a direction of change between the two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected at predetermined time intervals by the coordinate detection step. When a detachment / retouch is detected by the vectorizing step for converting the length into a vector coordinate and the touch / detach detection step, it is determined whether or not the instruction line by the instruction means is interrupted. If it is positive, blurring-format for determining whether blur based on the coordinate vector value And a blur correction processing step of continuing the blur portion as an instruction line when the discontinuity portion is determined to be a blur portion by the blur determination step, and in the blur determination step, the coordinates at which the detach is detected and If the displacement between the coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the retouch is detected and the coordinate vector value between the coordinates where the detach is detected and the coordinates detected immediately before the detachment falls within a predetermined range, the indication A difference between the coordinate vector length calculated based on the moving speed from the coordinate where the detach is detected to the coordinate where the retouch is detected, and the average coordinate vector length is determined to be a predetermined value. A coordinate input / detection method characterized by determining that the discontinuous portion is a faint portion if smaller.