JPH0255806B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a coordinate input device for inputting image information of an image information medium made of a transparent material such as a negative film and having specific image information as absolute coordinate values. It is related to.

(Prior art) Conventionally, when calculating the area of a specific cell from a photograph of a biological cell, a computer or the like uses a specific image made of a translucent material such as a negative film, positive film, or X-ray photograph. When attempting to input image information from an image information medium containing information, the image information medium is converted into an electrical video signal via a television camera, etc., and the signal is digitally processed to extract the necessary information, or Place the image information medium together with a coordinate input sheet provided with a scale indicating the coordinate position on a fluoroscopic device equipped with a translucent light uniform plate and a light source that shines light onto the plate from below and transmits the light. The necessary coordinate values were read from the coordinate input form by visual observation, and the coordinate values were then input using a keyboard or the like.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, the former requires expensive equipment such as a television camera and has the drawback that the processing program is complicated, while the latter is prone to errors in reading coordinate values, and The drawback was that it took a huge amount of time to complete and was prone to input errors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate these conventional drawbacks and provide an inexpensive coordinate input device that can easily and accurately input desired image information from an image information medium.

(Means for Solving the Problems) FIG. 1 shows the configuration of main parts of a coordinate input device of the present invention, in which 1 is a tablet, 2 is a position indicator such as a stylus pen, 3 is a perspective device, 4 is a position detection circuit, 5 is a power supply section of the fluoroscopic device 3, and 6 is a computer. By operating the position indicator 2 on the input section 7 of the tablet 1, arbitrary absolute coordinate values are input to the computer 6 via the position detection circuit 4. The see-through device 3 is formed thin and includes a light guide plate (not shown) that guides the light emitted from the horizontal direction vertically upward, and the light guide plate allows the input range of the input section 7 to be A portion (hereinafter referred to as a transparent portion) 8 is formed which has approximately the same area and receives power supply from the power supply section 5 to emit uniform light. The see-through device 3 is placed on the tablet 1 so that the see-through section 8 and the input section 7 are aligned. Then, an image information medium 9 is placed on the transparent part 8, and the image information medium 9 is
The user places the position indicator 2 on the image to be extracted and operates the switch.

(Function) According to the above configuration, light can be applied from the lower surface of the image information medium 9 by the light guide plate of the transparent part 8,
Since the image on the image information medium 9 can be observed in detail, the position indicator 2 can be accurately placed on the position of the image to be taken out, and therefore, the image information can be read absolutely by simply operating the position indicator 2. You can input coordinate values.

(Embodiment) FIGS. 2 to 11 show an embodiment of the coordinate input device of the present invention. These will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the tablet 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A' in FIG. In the figure, 101 is a magnetostrictive transmission medium in the X direction;
A plurality of Y-direction magnetostriction transmission media 02 are arranged substantially parallel to each other. Although any ferromagnetic material can be used for the magnetostrictive transmission media 101 and 102, a material with a large magnetostrictive effect, such as an amorphous alloy containing a large amount of iron, is particularly desirable in order to generate strong magnetostrictive vibration waves. Further, it is preferable to use a material with a small coercive force that is difficult to magnetize even when a magnet is brought close to the material. As the amorphous alloy, for example, Fe ₆₇ CO ₁₈ B ₁₄ Si ₁ (atomic %), Fe ₈₁ B _13.5 Si _3.5 C ₂ (atomic %), etc. can be used. The magnetostrictive transmission media 101 and 102 have an elongated shape, and the cross section is preferably a rectangular thin strip or a circular linear shape, and in the case of a thin strip, the width is about several mm and the thickness is about several μm to several tens of μm. It is easy to use and has good properties. Due to the manufacturing process, amorphous amorphous alloys have a certain thickness.
Since a thin piece of 20 to 50 μm can be made, it is sufficient to cut this into a thin plate shape or a linear shape. In this example
Width 2 mm, thickness consisting of Fe ₈₁ B _13.5 Si _3.5 C ₂ (atomic %)
A 0.02mm magnetostrictive transmission medium is used.

Reference numerals 103 and 104 are elongated cylindrical reinforcing materials made of synthetic resin or the like, which are used for the magnetostrictive transmission medium, 101 and 1.
02 are housed inside each.

105 is a reinforcing material 1 at one end of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101
03, the first electromagnetic transducer in the X direction, for example, the first coil in the X direction. This X-direction first coil 105 is twisted between adjacent reinforcing members 103,
Each adjacent magnetostrictive transmission medium 101 is wound in the opposite direction, and when current is passed through the coil 105, magnetic flux is generated from a portion corresponding to each magnetostrictive transmission medium 101, or magnetic flux in one direction is applied to the coil 105. The voltages generated in the respective parts when the voltage is applied are in opposite directions. Therefore, pulse noise and external induction generated when a pulse current is passed through the coil 105 are canceled out and weakened between adjacent portions of the coil 105. Note that although the number of turns is one in the illustrated example, it may be wound two or more times. This X-direction first coil 105 is used to generate instantaneous magnetic field fluctuations to generate magnetostrictive oscillation waves in each winding portion of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101, and one end of the coil 105 is connected to a position detection circuit to be described later. The other end is connected to the pulse current generator No. 4, and the other end is grounded.

Further, 106 is a Y-direction first electromagnetic transducer, for example, a Y-direction first coil, which is disposed on the reinforcing material 104 at one end of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 102, and is twisted between the adjacent reinforcing materials 104, and the adjacent magnetostrictive Each transmission medium 102 is wound in the opposite direction. One end of this Y-direction first coil 106 is connected to a pulse current generator like the coil 105, and the other end is grounded. Note that the action is similar to that of the coil 105.

107 and 108 are reference position designating magnetic generators;
For example, a square magnet is used to apply a bias magnetic field parallel to the longitudinal direction to the wound portion of the first coil 105 in the X direction of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101 and the wound portion of the first coil 106 in the Y direction of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 102, respectively. belongs to. The reason for applying the bias magnetic field in this manner is to enable the generation of large magnetostrictive vibration waves with a small amount of current, and to specify the generation position of the magnetostrictive vibration waves. That is, the magnetostrictive transmission medium 10
Electromechanical coupling coefficient of 1,102 (coefficient indicating conversion efficiency from mechanical energy to electrical energy or from electrical energy to mechanical energy)
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the maximum value is reached at a certain bias magnetic field, so by applying such a magnetic bias to the wound portions of the first coil 105 in the X direction and the first coil 106 in the Y direction, Magnetostrictive vibration waves can be generated efficiently.

109 is almost the entire length of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101 excluding the one end (however, if there is a part that is not disposed between the first electromagnetic transducer and the first electromagnetic transducer to avoid electromagnetic induction due to magnetic flux leaking from the first electromagnetic transducer) etc.) arranged on the reinforcing material 103.
A directional second electromagnetic transducer, for example a coil. The coils 109 are all wound in the same direction (left-handed in this embodiment) on each magnetostrictive transmission medium 101, and are connected in series such that adjacent coils have opposite polarities. Therefore, all coils 1
When magnetic flux in one direction is applied to 09, each coil 10
9, the direction of the current, or the voltage occurring in the coil 10
When a current is passed through the entire coil 9, the direction of magnetic flux generated in each coil 109 is opposite between adjacent coils, and external induction and noise cancel each other between adjacent coils and are weakened.

The winding pitch of the coil 109 is gradually wound from one end on the side close to the first coil 105 in the X direction toward the other end on the opposite side, so that the induced voltage becomes smaller due to the attenuation of the magnetostrictive vibration waves. It is supplementing. Generally, in order to increase the induced electromotive force, it is preferable to have a larger winding pitch. This X-direction second coil 109 is for detecting the induced voltage due to magnetostrictive vibration waves propagating through the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101.
One end is connected to the pulse detector of the position detection circuit 4, the other end is grounded, and the wound area becomes the position detection area.

110 is almost the entire length of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 102 excluding the one end (however, in order to avoid electromagnetic induction due to magnetic flux leaking from the first electromagnetic transducer, there is a portion that is not disposed between it and the first electromagnetic transducer). A Y-direction second electromagnetic transducer, e.g. The coils are wound in a left-handed manner, and are connected in series so that adjacent coils have opposite polarities. Moreover, the winding pitch of this coil 110 is the same as that of the first coil 104 in the Y direction.
It is wound gradually more densely from one end close to the coil 109 to the other end on the opposite side, one end of which is connected to the pulse detector like the coil 109, and the other end is grounded. There is. Note that the action is similar to that of the coil 109.

Reference numeral 111 denotes an ultrasonic wave receiver, which receives an ultrasonic signal transmitted from a position indicator 2, which will be described later. This receiver 11 is connected to a receiver of a position detection circuit 4 which will be described later.

The above-mentioned X-direction position detection unit consisting of the X-direction magnetostrictive transmission medium 101, the reinforcing material 103, the first X-direction coil 105, and the second X-direction coil 109 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the non-magnetic metal case 112. The magnetostrictive transmission medium 102 and the reinforcing material 1 are inserted into the recess.
04, a first Y-direction coil 106, and a second Y-direction coil 110.
It is superposed perpendicularly on the direction position detection section and fixed with an adhesive or the like as necessary. Also,
The reference position specifying square magnets 105 and 106 are fixed to the inner bottom surface of the metal case 112 so as to face the ends of the magnetostrictive transmission media 101 and 102, but are located above, below, and to the sides of the magnetostrictive transmission media 101 and 102. They may be arranged in parallel. The top of the metal case 112 is covered with a lid 113 made of non-magnetic metal. Further, the wave receiver 111 is attached to an inner corner of the metal case 112, and a small opening is provided in a corresponding portion of the lid 113.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the position indicator 2. As shown in FIG. In the figure, 201 is a cylindrical bar magnet, which is attached to the tip of a pen-shaped container 202 with its north pole facing down. Further, 203 is a signal generator that generates a predetermined signal indicating the start of measurement, which is activated by turning on the operation switch 204, and transmits the signal indicating the start of measurement from the ultrasonic transmitter 205 to the receiver inside the tablet 1. It is converted into an ultrasonic signal and sent to the wave transducer 111.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the position detection circuit 4. As shown in FIG. The coordinate input operation by the tablet 1, position indicator 2, and position detection circuit 4 will be described in detail below.

Now, the position indicator 2 is pointing to the first position in the X direction of the tablet 1.
Distance in the X-axis direction from the center of the coil surface of the coil 105
l ₁ on the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101 and on the magnetostrictive transmission medium 102 at a distance l ₂ in the Y-axis direction from the coil surface center of the first coil 106 in the Y direction, and magnetostrictively transmits magnetism to the extent that the electromechanical coupling coefficient becomes large. medium 101,
102.

In this state, when the operating switch 204 of the position indicator 2 is turned on, the transmitter 205 transmits an ultrasonic signal indicating the start of measurement. The ultrasonic signal is received by a receiver 111 and converted into an electrical signal, amplified and waveform-shaped by a receiver 401, and sent to an input buffer 402. The control circuit 403 reads the measurement start signal from the input buffer 402, recognizes the start of measurement, resets the counter 405 via the output buffer 404, and operates the X-direction pulse current generator 406. The counter 405 receives clock pulses from a clock generator 407 (pulse repetition frequency is, for example, 100MHz).
Start counting.

When the X-direction pulse current generator 406 operates and a pulse current is applied to the X-direction first coil 105, an instantaneous magnetic field fluctuation occurs in the X-direction first coil 105, which causes the A magnetostrictive vibration wave is generated in the winding portion of the first coil 105. This magnetostrictive vibration wave is transmitted to the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101 at a propagation speed (approximately 5000 m/sec) specific to the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101.
01 is propagated along the longitudinal direction. During this propagation, mechanical energy is converted into magnetic energy at a portion of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 101 where the magnetostrictive vibration wave exists, depending on the magnitude of the electromechanical coupling coefficient at that portion, so that Direction 2nd
An induced electromotive force is generated in the coil 109.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a temporal change in the induced electromotive force generated in the second coil 109 in the X direction, with the time t=0 when a pulse current is applied to the first coil 105 in the X direction. As shown in the figure, the amplitude of the induced electromotive force changes immediately after time t=0 and from time t0 to _t1 ~
It becomes larger after t ₂ seconds and becomes smaller at other times. Immediately after time t=0, the amplitude of the induced electromotive force becomes large because the first coil 105 in the X direction and the
This is due to the electromagnetic induction effect between the second coils 109 in the X direction, and the reason why the amplitude of one cycle of induced electromotive force (induced voltage due to magnetostrictive vibration waves) increases at time t=t ₁ to _{t 2} is due to the electromagnetic induction effect between the second coils 109 in the X direction. The magnetostrictive vibration waves generated in the winding portion of the coil 105 are transmitted to the magnetostrictive transmission medium 1.
This is because the electromechanical coupling coefficient becomes large at that portion after propagating the signal 01 and reaching the vicinity directly below the position indicator 2. When the position indicator 2 is moved along the longitudinal direction X of the magnetostrictive transmission medium, the voltage induced by the magnetostrictive vibration waves also moves on the time axis accordingly. Therefore, by measuring the time from time t0 to _t1 to _t2 , the position in the X direction specified by the position indicator 2, that is, the distance _l1 can be calculated. As the propagation time for calculating the position, for example, the seventh
As shown in the figure, the time point _t3 when the amplitude of the induced voltage due to magnetostrictive vibration becomes smaller than the threshold value _-E1 , the time point _t4 when it becomes larger than the threshold value _E1 may be used, or the zero crossing point _t5 may be used. You may do so.

The induced electromotive force generated in the X-direction second coil 109 described above is input to the X-direction pulse detector 408. The X-direction pulse detector 408 is composed of an amplifier, a comparator, etc., and outputs its output while the induced electromotive force is greater than the aforementioned threshold value _E1 , that is, when it detects the positive polarity portion of the induced voltage due to the magnetostrictive oscillation wave. is considered a high level. When the control circuit 403 reads this high level signal through the input buffer 402, it outputs a stop signal to the counter 405 through the output buffer 404 to stop counting. At this time, the counter 405 obtains a digital value corresponding to the time from the time when the pulse current is applied to the first coil 105 in the X direction until the induced voltage due to the magnetostrictive vibration wave appears in the second coil 109 in the X direction. Also, this value means that the magnetostrictive vibration waves are approximately
By moving at a speed of 5000 m, the distance in the X direction from the first coil 105 in the X direction to the position indicator 2 l ₁
It corresponds to The X-direction position data thus obtained as a digital value by the counter 405 is sent to the control circuit 40 via the input buffer 402.
3 and then sent to the computer 6.

Next, the control circuit 403 resets the counter 405 again, operates the Y-direction pulse current generator 409, monitors the output of the Y-direction pulse detector 410, and reads the Y-direction position data of the position indicator 2 in the same manner as described above. and sends it to the computer 6.
Thereafter, by repeating this process, it is possible to obtain position data that is instructed one after another.

According to the above configuration, a slight bias magnetic field (2
~4 oersted) to Tablet 1 to specify the position, that is, input the coordinates.
The position indicator 2 can be operated and used from 2 to 3 cm above the input section 7 of the tablet 1.

In the embodiment, the first coil 105 in the X direction and the first coil 106 in the Y direction are used for generating magnetostrictive vibration waves, and the second coil 109 in the X direction and the second coil 110 in the Y direction are used for detecting magnetostriction vibration waves. However, it may be reversed, and in that case, magnetostrictive vibration waves are generated directly below the position indicator 2, and the second coils 109, 11
At 0, an induced pressure will be generated.

Note that in the above description, an electromagnetic converter refers to an element or device that converts magnetic field (magnetic flux) fluctuations into changes in voltage, current, etc., or converts changes in voltage, current, etc. into magnetic field fluctuations. Although a coil was used as an electromagnetic transducer in the example, it is not limited to this.
In particular, if a magnetic head is used instead of the first coil in the X direction and the first coil in the Y direction, the magnetic flux leaking to the outside will be extremely reduced, making it possible to detect coordinate positions with higher accuracy.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the see-through device 3, and FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway sectional view. In the figure, reference numeral 310 denotes a casing, which is made by processing a stainless steel plate into a substantially U-shaped cross section.The transparent part 8 is provided approximately in the center of the top surface 311, and the tablet 1 is housed in the bottom surface 312. A possible storage recess 313 is formed. A light uniform plate 320 made of, for example, a white semi-transparent acrylic plate is attached to a portion of the upper surface 311 corresponding to the transparent part 8, and a light guide plate 33 is attached below the light uniform plate 320.
0 and a reflecting mirror 340 are housed therein, and furthermore, fluorescent lamp tubes 350 and 360 are housed on the left and right sides thereof.

The light guide plate 330 and the reflecting mirror 340 are mounted on the platform 314 forming the storage recess 313 via a spacer 315. Further, around the fluorescent lamp tubes 350, 360, reflective plates 351, 361 having a substantially cylindrical cross section with a portion cut out are attached. The fluorescent lamp tubes 350, 360 are attached to the housing 310 via sockets (not shown), and are further connected to the power supply unit 5 via a connection cord. The power supply unit 5 includes a well-known ballast, power switch, etc., and is connected to a commercial power source via a power cord. The light from the fluorescent lamp tubes 350 and 360 illuminates the light uniform plate 320 via the light guide plate 330 and the reflecting mirror 340, as will be described later, to form the transparent section 8.

Additionally, an opening 31 provided at the rear of the housing 310
6 is a receiver 111 on the side of the tablet 1 that transmits a timing signal by ultrasonic waves emitted from the position indicator 2.
It is intended to reach.

Next, the detailed structure and operation of the light guide plate 330, the reflecting mirror 340, and the fluorescent lamp tubes 350, 360 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The light guide plate 330 is made of a transparent material, for example, colorless and transparent acrylic, and its upper surface 331 is formed flat, and its lower surface 332 has an end surface, for example, a cylindrical hole slightly distant from a pair of end surfaces 333 and 334 facing each other. A pair of inclined surfaces 335 and 336 are formed so as to gradually approach the upper surface 331 toward the center. Furthermore, the inclined surfaces 335, 33
6 has fine irregularities on its surface. The reflecting mirror 340 is a colorless and transparent acrylic plate 341 with a reflecting surface 342 provided on the back surface, and is similar to the light guide plate 330.
It is installed opposite to the inclined surfaces 335 and 336 of.
Further, the fluorescent lamp tubes 350 and 360 are installed close to the end surfaces 333 and 334 of the light guide plate 330. Note that in FIG. 5, for convenience, the size in the vertical direction is shown larger than in the horizontal direction.

According to the above configuration, most of the light that reaches the inclined surfaces 335, 336 among the light that enters from the fluorescent lamp tubes 350, 360 through the end surfaces 333, 334 is totally reflected and radiated to the central part on the upper surface 331 side. but,
Because there are minute irregularities on the inclined surfaces 335 and 336,
A portion of it is randomly reflected toward the reflecting mirror 340 and the upper surface 331. Normally, the distance from the fluorescent lamp tubes 350, 360 is longer near the center of the top surface 331 than near the end surfaces 333, 334, and more light is absorbed, so the amount of light is smaller. The light guide plate 330 is concentrated near the center, and the light guide plate 330 out of the amount of light reflected from the reflecting mirror 340
Since the amount of light that is not absorbed by the upper surface 331 and reaches the upper surface 331 is larger near the center, uniform light is emitted from the portion 337 of the upper surface 331 facing the inclined surfaces 335 and 336. Therefore, the light uniform plate 320 disposed on this portion 337 is uniformly irradiated, and a transparent portion 8 with uniform light is obtained.

Here, the reason why the reflective mirror 340 is made of acrylic is to make the light emitted from the light guide plate 330 white, but it may be made of glass or other materials as long as it is not particularly necessary to be white. . Further, the light guide plate 330 or the light uniform plate 320 may be colored to emit colored light. Furthermore, although the light guide plate 330 has two inclined surfaces here, it may be three or more, and the number of inclined surfaces may be increased to an infinite number to form a conical shape. In this case, a light source body is provided on all end faces. Furthermore, the reason why the inclined surfaces 335 and 336 are provided slightly to the right is to align the see-through section 8 with the input range of the input section 7 of the tablet 1.

In this way, according to the embodiment, the fluorescent lamp tube 35
0,360 are arranged at both left and right ends of the housing 310,
Since only the light guide plate 330 and the reflecting mirror 340 are arranged below the light uniform plate 320, the part located above the input section 7 of the tablet 1 can be made thin enough (2 to 3 cm) to allow data input. Therefore, it can be placed on the tablet 1 and used, making it possible to input data from an image information medium.

Note that instead of the light uniform plate 320, a liquid crystal cell is installed on the inclined surfaces 335, 33 of the upper surface 331 of the light guide plate 330.
It may be arranged on the part 337 facing 6,
If the liquid crystal cell is stopped displaying, it can be used for illuminating a film or the like as described above, and if displaying is enabled, it can be used as a coordinate input device with a display.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for inputting image information of an image information medium including specific image information made of a transparent material such as a negative film as absolute coordinate values. , a fluoroscopy device equipped with a light guide plate that guides light irradiated from a horizontal direction vertically upward is mounted on a tablet that detects a position specified by a position indicator; A translucent image information medium is placed, and the position indicator is operated from above the medium to input image information on the medium in absolute coordinates, so light cannot be applied from the bottom surface of the image information medium. , the image information of the image information medium can be clearly displayed, which allows the position indicator to be accurately applied to the desired position of the image information, and therefore does not require expensive equipment. There are advantages such as the ability to easily and accurately input desired image information in absolute coordinate values by simply operating the position indicator without having to do so.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part configuration of the coordinate input device of the present invention;
2 to 11 show an embodiment of the coordinate input device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of a tablet, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A' in FIG.
Fig. 4 is a characteristic diagram of magnetic bias versus electromechanical coupling coefficient, Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the position indicator, Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the position detection circuit, and Fig. 7 is the second coil 109 in the X direction. Fig. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the fluoroscopic device, Fig. 9 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view, and Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the light source part. The perspective view and FIG. 11 are cross-sectional views showing how light travels. 1...Tablet, 2...Position indicator, 3...
Fluoroscopy device, 4... position detection circuit, 5... power supply section,
6... Computer, 7... Input unit, 9... Image information medium.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device for inputting image information of an image information medium made of a transparent material such as a negative film and having specific image information as absolute coordinate values, which is specified by a position indicator. A fluoroscopic device equipped with a light guide plate that guides light irradiated from a horizontal direction vertically upward is mounted on the tablet for detecting the position, and the translucent image information medium is placed on the fluoroscopic device. A coordinate input device characterized in that image information on the medium is input in absolute coordinates by operating the position pointing device from above the medium. 2. The fluoroscopic device includes: a light guide plate having a flat upper surface and at least two inclined surfaces directed from the ends toward the center; a light source provided near the ends; and a light source that directs light from the light source toward the upper surface. and a light uniform plate disposed on the upper surface to uniformize the light irradiated in the direction of the upper surface. Input device. 3 A liquid crystal cell is mounted on the top surface of the light guide plate, and
3. The coordinate input device according to claim 2, wherein the information medium is placed on the top surface of the coordinate input device, and absolute coordinates of image information on the recording medium are inputted using the position indicator.