JPH04302318A - Coordinate information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve visibility so as to make input information easy to observe by an operator and to miniaturize a device itself by providing a lighting display means in the input area of a tablet. CONSTITUTION:A display LED 14 is provided in the inside of a mode designation area on which a zoom key 13A, a masking key 13B, a trimming key 13C, and a clear key 13D are provided and also, at a part neighboring to an original placing area 12 side. An original 16 is positioned and placed on the original placing area 12 in a tablet area 15 as shown, for example, in attenuate long and two short dashes line. A part A enclosed with an alternate long and short dash line and for which hatched line is applied is set as a designation area point-inputted for mode designation from the original 16. For example, assuming that the operator performs image processing by masking on the area A, the original 16 is placed, and thereafter, the four corners of the area A are pressed by an input pen, thence, the masking key 13B is depressed. Thereby, a report by a buzzer is issued, and also, a LED for masking mode display is lit, and the operation of the operator can be confirmed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a coordinate information input device, and more specifically, a pointing device type coordinate information input device that is installed in an image forming device such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer and used as an input device for an editor. The present invention relates to an information input device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of coordinate information input device has been provided as a man-machine interface in connection with display means of equipment equipped with computer functions, and is used to edit images within and outside a designated area. It has been used as a suitable device for designation devices. In addition, there are two types of input devices: those that input coordinates from a keyboard via a numeric keypad, and those that are configured as a flat plate such as a touch panel or tablet and that specify an area on that plane. However, recently, the latter type has become popular because it is relatively easy to operate.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a tablet-type digitizer (hereinafter referred to as a tablet). Here, 20 is the main body of the input device, 21 is the top surface of the panel, 22 is the document placement area of the tablet, and 23 is each key for specifying various image processing modes such as zooming, trimming, and masking. mode specification area,
Reference numeral 24 denotes an indicator light (display LED) that is turned on to recognize the specified mode setting. Although not shown, the main body 20 has a built-in buzzer for notifying the completion of coordinate input. In addition, the mode specification area 23
In the tablet area 25 including the document placement area 22, as shown in FIG. is covered with a top sheet 26,
Further, the lower surface side is configured to be supported by a support plate 27.

[0004] In the coordinate information input device configured as described above, the operator places and positions a document (not shown) to be processed on the document placement area 22 with reference to, for example, the upper right corner (positioning section) 28. placed. For example, when a special input pen (not shown) is used to press down on the panel surface 21 from above the document and specify a point, the electrodes 25X and 25Y arranged to cross each other come into contact with each other at the specified part. By doing so, the coordinate information is recognized and the information is sent to the control unit. In this way, the coordinates are further transmitted from the control unit to the image forming apparatus and provided for corresponding image processing. Furthermore, when coordinate input is performed, a notification is made by, for example, a buzzer or the like to confirm the input. Further, when a mode is designated in the mode designation area 23 after the area is set by inputting coordinates in this way, image processing according to the mode is performed and a display is performed by lighting the corresponding display LED.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional coordinate information input device as described above, the indicator light is located far away from the area where coordinate input is performed, which not only makes it difficult to see, but also makes the device itself difficult to read. It becomes something big.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to focus on such problems, and in order to solve the problems, to improve visibility so that the operator can easily check input information, and to reduce the size of the device. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a coordinate information input device that contributes to the invention.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tablet capable of inputting coordinates for specifying an area and image processing information related to the specified area, and a tablet capable of inputting image processing information related to the specified area. The coordinate information input device is characterized in that the lighting display means is provided within an input area of the tablet.

[0008]

[Function] By providing a lighting display means to display the input of image processing information within the input area of the tablet, reliability of operation is increased due to improved visibility, and the device can be made smaller. , it is possible to realize a coordinate information input device that is easy to handle.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described in detail and specifically below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. here,
10 is the main body of the input device, 11 is the top surface of its panel, 12 is the document placement area, and 13 is the zoom key 1, as in this example.
3A, a masking key 13B, a trimming key 13C, and a clear key 13D are provided in this mode designation area, and in this embodiment, a display LED 14 is provided within this mode designation area 13 and close to the document placement area 12 side. FIG. 2 shows a tablet area 1 in the device 10 shown in FIG.
5, a document 16 is positioned and placed in the document placement area 12 of the tablet area 15 as shown, for example, by a two-dot chain line. Further, here, a portion A surrounded by a dashed line and shaded indicates a designated area where a point is input from the original 16 for mode designation. Note that 17X and 17Y are support frames in the X and Y directions that limit this tablet area 15, and 18 is a positioning portion limited to a corner by these support frames 17X and 17Y, which are perpendicular to each other.

FIG. 3 shows the display L in the tablet area 15.
This shows a cross section near where the ED 14 is provided. In this example, the coordinate electrodes 25X and 25Y and the support plate 27 are cut out only in the area where the display LED 14 is provided, so that the light from the display LED 14 is cut out. Top sheet 2
Transmit 6. That is, the light-transmitting portion 26A of the top sheet 26 has been subjected to diffusion printing, so that the display LED
The light from 14 can be diffused upward.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration related to the coordinate information input device of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a controller equipped with a CPU function, and the controller 1 sets the area to be processed based on the X coordinate 2X and Y coordinate 2Y input with the pointer in the document placement area 12, and also inputs the input data if necessary. Notification will be made by buzzer 3 each time. Further, when there is a key input from the mode designation keys 13A to 13D, the image processing device 4 is requested to perform an operation corresponding to the mode for the previously set area, and the buzzer 3 notifies the user and the display LEDs 13A to 13C A confirmation display can be displayed.

The operating procedure will be explained below.

When an operator performs image processing by masking, for example, on area A in FIG. Press the four corners of A. In this way, if confirmation is obtained by the notification by the buzzer 3, it is only necessary to press the masking key 13B in the mode designation area 13. As a result, the masking mode display LED 14 is lit together with the notification by the buzzer 3, and the operation is confirmed. is confirmed.

Further, when canceling the mode, by pressing the clear key 13D, the corresponding display LED 14 is turned off and the set of the mode is cleared.

[0016] In the above-described embodiment, holes were formed in the area used as the screen editor, leaving the top sheet 26 at the position where the display LED 14 would be provided. This is because such screen editors are generally pressure-sensitive, making the overall structure opaque.For example, screen editors that use ultrasonic waves have a uniform surface. It is possible to use transparent glass, since it only needs to be made of a material that is transparent.
Instead of the above configuration, it is also possible to arrange each display LED directly under the transparent editor.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a tablet capable of inputting coordinates for specifying an area and inputting image processing information related to the specified area, and a tablet capable of inputting the image processing information. In the coordinate information input device, the lighting display means is provided within the input area of the tablet, so that the operator can be assured that the setting mode input has been made to the coordinate input area. It is possible to improve the visibility by allowing the user to recognize the device, and also to reduce the size of the device itself.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a tablet area according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the vicinity of the display LED installation part according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional configuration.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a tablet area according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Controller 2X, 2Y coordinates 3 Buzzer 10 Coordinate information input device 12 Original placement area 13 Mode specification area 13A-13D Mode input key 14 Display LED 15 Tablet area 26　Top sheet 27 Support plate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coordinate information input device comprising a tablet capable of inputting coordinates for specifying a region and inputting image processing information related to the specified region, and lighting display means for displaying input of the image processing information. 2. A coordinate information input device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting display means is provided within an input area of the tablet.