JPH02231618A - Coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the defect due to the output of the unnecessary coordinate information by inhibiting the output of coordinates to a host equipment when this equipment is set in a mode where no input of coordinates is required. CONSTITUTION:An output means detects the position of the coordinates designated on an input board surface and outputs the coordinate position to a host equipment. A setting means 80 sets the host equipment in a mode where no input of coordinates is required. Then a control means 51 inhibits the output of coordinates to an output means when the means 80 decides the unnecessity for input of coordinates. Thus the input of coordinates is permitted only when it is required by a copying machine, and otherwise the input of coordinates is inhibited. Consequently, the ineffective input of coordinates that is not desired by an operator is eliminated and the copying errors can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a coordinate input device that outputs specified position coordinates on a coordinate input panel surface. [Prior Art] Some coordinate input devices detect the coordinate position of a pressed board surface using the pressure of pressing down on the board surface, magnetic force, or electrostatic coupling. Among such coordinate input devices, for example, in a pressure-sensitive type coordinate input device, determination as to whether or not there is a coordinate input is made by comparing the contact resistance voltage of the upper and lower resistors when the input surface is pressed and a predetermined reference voltage. Because it was compared, when the input panel was pressed, the pressed coordinate position was output as coordinate data, regardless of whether the coordinate data was valid or invalid. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In recent years, copying machines and the like equipped with such coordinate input devices have been commercially available. Some copying machines that are capable of inputting such coordinates are capable of specifying an area of a copy document using a coordinate input device, changing the color of the specified portion, or enlarging or reducing the document image. In such copying machines, the coordinate input device is generally attached to the document holding plate in consideration of operability. The document holding plate of this copying machine is opened and closed every time a document is copied and is touched frequently. Therefore, when copying a document, the input surface of the coordinate input device may be touched against the operator's intention. When pressed, coordinates were input to the copying machine itself, causing problems such as the originally input coordinate data being lost or converted to different data. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and it determines whether the host-side device that inputs the output coordinate information is in a mode in which no coordinate information is input, and when it is in a mode in which no coordinate information is input, The purpose of this invention is to provide a coordinate input device that does not output coordinate information even if the coordinate input surface is manipulated. [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the coordinate input device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a coordinate input device that is connected to a host device or the like and outputs specified coordinate values to the host device, detects a specified coordinate position on the input panel surface, and outputs the coordinate position to the host device. output means for setting the host device to a mode that does not require coordinate input;
When the setting means sets that coordinate input is not necessary,
and control means for controlling to prohibit coordinate output by the output means. [Function] In the above configuration, the coordinate input device detects a specified coordinate position on the input panel surface and outputs the coordinate position to a connected host device, and the host device does not require coordinate input. When the mode is set to "no mode", coordinate output to the host device is prohibited.

[Example] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.6 [Description of coordinate input device (Figures 1 to 4)] Figure 1 shows the coordinate input device of the embodiment. This is a diagram showing the structure of the tablet portion of the device, and 16 indicates the cross-sectional structure of the tablet portion.

A lower resistor 13 (y resistor) is stacked on the metal base plate 15. An upper resistor (X resistor) 1 is placed on the upper surface of the lower resistor 13 so that the conductor portion does not come into contact with the upper resistor 12 when no pressure is applied.
A plurality of dot spacers 14 are provided to support the dots 2. There is a protective sheet 1l on the top surface of this input tablet, and the above-mentioned parts form a laminated structure to constitute the tablet section. Further, each of the upper and lower resistors has electrodes arranged at equal intervals in each of the x and y directions as shown in the figure, so that the potential of each electrode is kept uniform. Figure 2 is an external perspective view of the tablet of the example. In the figure, 17 is an input pen for specifying coordinates by pressing down on the coordinate input surface 19, and 18 is a mounting table on which the input pen 18 is placed. A switch for detecting the presence or absence of the input pen 17 is provided at the lower part of the mounting table 19, so that it can be detected whether the pen 17 is stored in the mounting table l8. 19 is a coordinate input surface, and 20 is an operation section of this coordinate input device. The basic principle of coordinate position detection using a coordinate input device is described below. FIG. 3 shows the x. It is a diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a y resistor. Now, if you press a certain point on the coordinate input surface 19 that you want to input with a protrusion such as the input pen 17, x will appear as shown in FIG.
The resistor 12 and the y-resistor 13 are connected via a contact resistance Rc. At this time, if the transistor switch TXHITXL on the X resistor 12 side is turned on and the transistor switches TvH, TYL on the y resistor l3 side are turned off, the voltage at the contact portion 31 of the X resistor 12 will be equal to the y resistance. Appears in the big-up bin of body 13. At this time, this voltage is V. , x Big-up bins ((N+1) bins, (N+
2) Let the voltage of each bin be V s * V
If H*+ and the distance between adjacent big-up bins are β, then the X coordinate is expressed as follows.

This causes transistor switch TXM. After turning on TXL and turning off TYH and TYL, turn on V. is obtained from the big-up bin of y resistor l3, and the voltage V H
．． By taking in VH*1 from the Nth bin and (N+1)th bin of the X resistor, the X coordinate can be found using the above formula. ? In addition, when determining the Y coordinate, turn on the transistors T'yo and TYL, and turn on the transistor TXH of the X resistor 12.
and T■L are both turned off, and the contact part 32 of the y resistor l3 is turned off.
The potential ■, is read from the big-up bin of the X resistor l2. Then, there are big-up bins ((N◆1) bins, (N
The voltages of +2) and 2) are Vs' and Vs, respectively.
*+', and if the distance between adjacent big-up bins is β, the Y coordinate can be more easily determined. thus,
From these two coordinate values, the pressed point on the input coordinate plane can be specified.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the voltage V8 and the distance L when determining the input coordinate position from the voltage V8 of the contact portion 31 of the X resistor 12. In the figure, X is the X of the contact portion 31.
It represents the coordinates. [Explanation of the tablet control circuit (
FIG. 5)] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the coordinate input device of the embodiment. In the figure, 51 is a CPU, a one-chip microprocessor (for example, NEC's μ
COM87AD). 61 is a ROM that stores control programs and various data for the CPU 5i, and 62 is a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU 51 and also temporarily stores various data. 52.
53 is an 8-channel multiplexer for electrode selection that inputs a signal from the X resistor l2, and 54.55 is an 8-channel multiplexer that inputs a signal from the Y resistor 13.
The signals from these multiplexers are sent to the A/D converter 5.
6, the voltage at the resistor contact part is converted to a digital value and input to CPU 5 1. CPU 51 calculates the X and Y coordinate values from this input digital voltage value and sends the result through serial communication. It is sent to the copier main body via the interface.

Also. Reference numeral 57 denotes a switch for detecting the presence or absence of an input pen provided on the table 18 on which the input-only ben 17 is placed, and the signal from this switch 57 is input to the input boat P1.
Based on this signal, the CPU 51 can detect the presence or absence of the input vent 17. Input signals from various switches provided on the tablet operating section 20 are input to the input boat P2. Moreover, this CPU 5 1 is connected to the LED of the operation section 20.
It is also equipped with an output boat for turning on/off the lights. [Communication processing with the copying machine (Figs. 6 to 9)] Fig. 6 is a timing chart showing the timing of serial communication between the tablet section and the main body of the copying machine. The main body of the copying machine (not specifically shown in the figure) periodically turns on and outputs the REQ signal to the tablet section. C
When the PU 51 confirms that the REQ signal is turned on, it immediately turns on the ACK signal and sends it back. After confirming that this ACK signal is turned on, the copying machine main body transmits 8 byte data (see Figure 7 (B) via the RxD signal line.
)) is sent to the tablet section. After the tablet section also turns on the 80K signal, it transmits 8-byte data (Fig. 7 (A)) to the main body of the copying machine via the signal line TxD. After the copying machine receives 8 bytes of data from the tablet, it turns off the REQ signal. Further, after receiving the 8-byte data from the copying machine main body, the tablet section also turns off the ACK signal when it confirms that the REQ signal has been turned off. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the format of serial communication data between the tablet unit and the copying machine main body. ) shows an example of the format of data received from the copier main body to the tablet unit.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the operation section 20 of the tablet section. In the figure, 80 is an input key for mode setting. 81
is the setting mode clear key. 82 is a setting mode indication mark. Reference numeral 83 denotes a mode display LED, which is provided corresponding to the mode instruction key 80. Here, for example, we will consider five cases, including the normal setting mode. The normal mode is a mode in which a normal copying operation is performed without using the tablet section to specify an area on the document. The trimming 1 mode is a mode in which the area specified by the tablet unit is copied in black and white, and the image outside the area is erased without being copied. Conversely, the masking l mode is a mode in which the area outside the area specified on the tablet section is copied in black and white, and the image within the area is erased. The trimming 2 mode is a mode in which a monochromatic color copy is made within the area specified by the tablet section (for example, red) and a black and white copy is made of the image outside the area.

Furthermore, the masking 2 mode is a mode in which monochromatic color copying is performed outside the area specified by the tablet section (for example, red), and black and white copying is performed for images within the area. Figure 9 shows the data format for setting the mode of the tablet section. MODEO shown here
~MODE7 is included in the serial communication data format shown in the transmission data format to the copying machine in FIG. 7(A). That is, in the normal mode (when neither the trimming nor masking switch of the operation unit 20 is pressed), MODEO to MODE7
are all “0” and sent to the copying machine. For example, when trimming 2 is designated from the operation unit 20, as shown in FIG.
Only MODEQ and MODEI of the transmission data shown in A) are set to '1' and are sent to the copying machine.This allows the copying machine to input the coordinate values, recognize the current operating mode, and read them. Copy operations corresponding to each mode can be executed. [Explanation of operation of the tablet section (Figures 10 and 11)] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing mode setting processing in the tablet section, and this processing is executed. The control program is stored in the ROM 61. After the power is turned on, this program performs a power-on reset on the CPU 51.
It is executed after various initialization processes, initial checks, and initial data sets are completed. First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the mode clear key 81 has been pressed. If it has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S2, where the setting mode is set to normal mode and the process ends. If the clear key 81 is not pressed in step $1, the process advances to step S3, and it is determined whether the trimming l key is pressed. If it has been pressed, the process advances to step S4, sets the mode to trimming 1, and ends the process. If the trimming 1 key is not pressed in step S3, the process advances to step S5, where it is determined whether the masking 1 key of the operation unit 20 is pressed. If the masking l key is pressed, the process advances to step S6, where the setting mode is set to masking 1 mode and the process ends. Similarly, in step S7, it is determined whether the trimming 2 key on the operation unit 20 has been pressed. If it has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S8, and the setting mode is set to trimming 2. If the determination in step S7 is negative, the process advances to step S9 to determine whether the masking 2 key is pressed. If the masking 2 key is pressed, the setting mode is set to masking 2 in step SIO. Note that if the masking 2 key is not pressed in step S9, it is determined that no tablet unit settings are made, and the process returns without setting the mode. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the coordinate position determination process when the coordinate input screen on the tablet unit is pressed.
The control program that executes this process is R of CPU51.
First, in step S21, it is checked whether the tablet unit setting mode is normal or not. If it is normal, the process proceeds to step S22, and the setting mode is set to normal (all of MODEO-MODE7 are set to "0").
Then, in step S23, the input permission flag EDON to the tablet section is set to "O" and the data is transmitted to the copying machine in the format shown in FIG. 7(A). In this normal mode, no coordinate input operation is performed even if the coordinate input surface of the tablet section is pressed.

If the setting mode key is pressed and the mode is other than normal mode (for example, mode such as trimming 1), in step S24, the tablet unit input permission flag E
DON is set to "1", the corresponding setting mode specified in step S25 is sent to the copying machine (MODEO-MODE?), and the machine enters a coordinate input waiting state. If this mode is set and the clear key 81 is pressed before the coordinates are input, that is, the setting mode becomes normal mode, the process immediately returns to step S21 and the setting mode is changed again. Waiting for input. If there is an input to the coordinate plane in step S26, step 5
28 and 329 are the X coordinates. The Y coordinate value is calculated and the coordinate value is sent to the copying machine in step S30. At this time, the coordinate confirmation flag EDP in the data format of FIG. 7(A)
ICK is set to "1" and transmitted, and in step S31, the copying machine waits for the coordinate reception completion flag PAKCATCH to be set to "1". PKACA in step S32
When data whose TCH is "1" is received, step S3
3, the coordinate confirmation flag EDPICK is set to "0" and transmitted to the copying machine, and in step S34 it waits for data with the coordinate reception end flag PKCATUCH to be "O" to be received from the copying machine. In step S34, PKCATCH is set to "0". #
When received, the process proceeds to step S35, and a counter that counts up every time there is a coordinate input operation is checked. If the value of this counter does not exceed the specified maximum number N, the process advances to step S39, and the system enters a coordinate input waiting state again. Further, in step S35, the value of the counter is set to the specified maximum number N.
If the value exceeds the input point, the process advances to step S36 to make the input points full, and in step S37, the input permission flag EDON of the tablet section is set to "O". This prohibits further input of coordinates, and this state is maintained until the mode clear key 81 is pressed and the setting mode changes to normal mode.

In the above, we have explained that the mode settings for the copying machine and the permission/prohibition of coordinate input are controlled on the tablet side, but the operation of the coordinate input device included in the communication information serially transmitted from the coordinate input device to the copying machine Switch information (SW
O~SW7) and the input prohibition flag ED INH of the tablet unit sent from the copying machine to the tablet unit.
Control may be performed on the copying machine side.

[Explanation of coordinate input processing of the copying machine (Fig. 12)] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the coordinate input control processing on the copying machine side. In step S41, the copying machine constantly monitors the switch information of the operation section of the tablet section sent from the tablet section, and if none of the setting mode switches are pressed, it is determined that the mode is normal mode, and in step S42, input from the tablet section is performed. Set the inhibition flag EDINH to 11" and send it to the tablet section.The tablet section sets the input inhibition flag EDINH to 11".
If is "1", the configuration is such that no coordinate input operation is performed. If it is determined from the data from the tablet that one of the setting mode SWs has been pressed, the process advances to step S43, and a copy mode corresponding to the selected switch is established. Next, the process advances to step S44, where the editor-only-response flag E is set.
Send it to the tablet unit as DINH “0”. Thereafter, it is checked whether the mote clear switch 81 of the operation section 20 of the tablet section has been pressed, and if it has been pressed, the process advances to step S46, sets the copy mode to normal mode, and returns to the beginning of the program (step S41) again. If the mode clear switch 81 is not pressed in step S45, the process advances to step S47 and waits for the coordinate confirmation flag EDPICK to be "1" sent from the tablet unit. When EDPICK becomes “1”, step 3
Proceeding to step 48, the copier determines the x,y coordinates. Next, the process advances to step S49, where the coordinate reception end flag PKCATCH is
Set it to “1” and send it to the tablet section. Next, the process advances to step S50, and the tablet unit outputs EDPICK of “0”.
”, and when EDPICK=O, the process advances to step S51 and the PKCATC is sent to the tablet section.
Set H to “0” and send. Next, the process proceeds to step S52, and the copying machine checks the number of input points, and if it is less than the specified maximum number N, it enters the state of receiving coordinates from the tablet unit again, and proceeds to step S45. If the number of input points exceeds N, step S53
, proceed to S54 and send the EDINH data to the tablet section.
1'' and send the message to put the tablet unit in an input prohibited state.Next, proceed to step S55, wait for the mode clear switch 8l of the operation unit 20 to be pressed, and if the clear switch 81 is turned on, proceed to step S56. Proceed to cancel all input coordinates, set the mode to normal mode, and return to the beginning of the program. Note that these steps S55 to S
At 56, the copying machine is in a state where it can start copying, so when a copy start instruction is input from the operation panel of the copying machine, an edited copy according to the copying mode and designated area can be obtained.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, coordinate input is allowed only when the copying machine requires it, and coordinate input is prohibited when coordinate input is not required, so that invalid coordinate input that is not intended by the operator is avoided. This has the effect of preventing problems such as coby errors. Although this embodiment has been explained in the case of a coordinate input device used with a copying machine, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a coordinate input device connected to a personal computer, word processor, etc. Of course. Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described using a pressure-sensitive coordinate input device, the present invention is not limited to this, and any type of device such as an electrostatic type, a magnetic force type, or a vibration type may be used. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the host-side device that inputs the output coordinate information determines whether or not it is in the mode in which coordinate information is not input, and determines whether the mode is in which the coordinate information is not input. In this case, no coordinate information is output even if the coordinate input surface is operated, which has the effect of eliminating problems caused by outputting unnecessary coordinate information.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a coordinate input device tablet according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the coordinate input device according to an embodiment, Fig. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing the principle of address detection of the coordinate input device; Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the voltage of the contact part and the coordinate position, Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the control part of the coordinate input device of the embodiment, and Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the tablet part and the copying machine. Figure 7 (A) and (B) are diagrams showing examples of the format of serial communication data, Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the operation section of the tablet, and Figure 9 is for specifying the copy mode. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the mode setting process of the tablet unit in this embodiment, FIG. 11 is a flowchart for determining the input coordinate position by the tablet unit in the embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a data format. 3 is a flowchart showing coordinate input processing in a copying machine. In the figure, 11...protective sheet, l2...upper resistor (
X resistor), 13...lower resistor (y resistor), 14
...Dot spacer, l5...Metal base plate, 17
... Dedicated pen for input, 18 ... Dedicated bench for input, 19 ... Coordinate input surface, 20 ... Tablet operation section, 31. 32 ... Contact part, 51 ... CPU ,5
2 to 5 5-...Multiplexer, 56...A/D converter, 5 7-...Input pen presence/absence switch, 6l...
...ROM, 62--RAM, 80...Setting mode input key 8 1-...Setting mode clear key 82...
・Setting mode instruction mark, 83...LE for mode display
It is D. Patent applicant Canon Inc. Figure 6 Figure 1 y (A) (B) Figure 2 Figure 7 tLv Figure 11 (B)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A coordinate input device that is connected to a host device or the like and outputs specified coordinate values to the host device, the device detects a specified coordinate position on an input panel surface, and outputs the specified coordinate value to the host device. an output means for outputting to a host device; a setting means for setting the host device to a mode that does not require coordinate input; and when the setting means sets that coordinate input is not required;
A coordinate input device comprising: a control unit configured to inhibit output of coordinates by the output unit.