JPH0695792A - Input pen and pen input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An input pen that generates pulsed magnetism, an input pen that switches between constant-strength magnetism and pulse-shaped magnetism, and a device body that distinguishes between constant-strength magnetism and pulsed magnetism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pen input device that switches and switches to input / delete data by eliminating the inconvenience of instructing an operation in a mode switching region. [Structure] 1) In a device which is composed of an input pen 2 and a device main body 3 and which detects a designated point on a magnetic input screen 4 of the input pen 2 to input data, the input pen 2 generates a pulsed magnetism. The magnetic field generating means 10 is provided. 2) Input pen 2
1st magnetic generation means 10, 2nd magnetic generation means 20 which generate | occur | produces magnetism of a fixed intensity | strength, 1st and 2nd magnetic generation means 10,2.
0 switching means 11 is provided. 3) The input pen 2 includes first and second magnetism generating means 10 and 20, and first and second magnetism generating means.
The apparatus main body 3 is provided with a switching means 11 for switching between 10, 20 and a discriminating means 14 for determining whether the magnetism has a constant intensity or a pulse shape.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input pen and a pen input device for inputting data by touching an input screen, and more particularly to an input pen that generates a pulsed magnetism and an input pen and a magnet of constant strength. An input pen for switching pulsed magnetism, and a pen input device capable of inputting data or erasing data according to the determination result by providing a device body with means for discriminating between magnetism of constant strength and pulsed magnetism. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a conventional pen input device. In the figure, a pen input device 1 is composed of an input pen 2a and a device body 3a, and the device body 3a is composed of a tablet 4a, a position detection section 5, a data processing section 6, a display section 7 and a control section 8.

The input pen 2a is fitted with a magnet 20a at its tip, and the magnetism of the magnet 20a is sensed by the tablet 4a by bringing the tip into contact with and moving (writing characters or figures) on the input surface of the tablet 4a. .

The tablet 4a senses the magnetism of the tip of the input pen 2a on the input surface, and data such as characters and figures is input. Further, as shown by a dashed line in the figure, a mode switching area A (normally an input mode) for switching a data input mode and an erase mode described later is set at a predetermined position on the input surface.

The position detector 5 detects the magnetism of the tip of the input pen 2a sensed by the tablet 4a when the input pen 2a is touched and moved on the tablet 4a, as a contact position and a movement locus to obtain coordinate information. It is sent to the data processing unit 6.

The data processing unit 6 includes a mode program unit 6
0, a mode switching processing unit 61 and a mode storage unit 62 are provided. The mode program section 60 is a data writing mode (writing and pointing: hereinafter referred to as mode 1)
And erase mode (erasing: hereinafter referred to as mode 2)
A program for performing the two processes

The mode switching processing section 61 has a mode switching area A
When is touched with the input pen 2a, the detection of the position detection unit 5 is recognized and the mode 1 is switched to the mode 2, and when touched again, the mode is switched to the mode 1. That is, the mode program section
Switch mode 1 and mode 2 of 60.

The mode storage unit 62 stores mode 1 and mode 2
When is switched to, the mode is updated and stored. The display unit 7 is composed of, for example, a CRT, and is a tablet.
Input data from the tablet 4a is displayed in one-to-one correspondence with the coordinates of 4a.

The control unit 8 includes a CPU and a control program (not shown), and the CPU controls the above-mentioned units according to the control program, and the mode 1 designated on the tablet 4a is selected.
Also, the input data from the tablet 4a is displayed and the displayed figure is erased by any one of the programs of mode 2 and mode.

Since the input pen 2a is brought into contact with and moved to a certain point on the tablet 4a, the position detection unit 5 detects the contact position and the movement locus, and the coordinate information is obtained. Is notified to the data processing unit 6. The data processing unit 6 confirms the mode storage unit 6 by the input mode switching processing unit 61, and performs lighting processing according to the current input mode, for example, in the case of mode 1, and makes contact display on the display unit 7. If you move the input pen 2a continuously, it becomes handwriting,
Character input or line drawing is established. At this time, input pen 2a
Each time the tablet 4a is touched, the storage mode of the mode storage unit 6 is confirmed and processed.

When erasing the displayed input data, when the mode switching area A is touched with the tip of the input pen 2a, the mode switching processing unit 61 switches to the mode 2 program of the mode program unit 60 and the mode 2 Is stored in the mode storage unit 62, and the contact is erased from the screen of the display unit 7 as an erase process. If the input pen 2a is continuously moved, the handwriting is erased and the drawing line is erased.

In this way, data input and data erase are performed.

[0013]

According to the above-mentioned conventional method, the switching between the mode 1 and the mode 2 is performed when the data processing unit recognizes by pen-touching the mode switching area of the tablet. That is, the operation of touching the mode switching area with the input pen is inserted between the operations of “writing” and “erasing” or between “erasing” and “writing”. It causes a great deal of trouble.

Further, since the specific area of the tablet is used for mode switching, the data input area or other function input area is narrowed, and effective use of the tablet input surface is hindered. There is a problem. The above-mentioned problems are especially desired to be improved in a portable pen input device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pen input device in which the operation is complicated and the input surface can be effectively used by performing mode switching on the input pen side.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention. (A) is a block diagram corresponding to claim 1, (b) is a block diagram corresponding to claim 2, and (b) is It is a block diagram corresponding to claim 3.

1) Means corresponding to claim 1 In FIG. 1 (a), 2 is an input pen, 3 is a device main body, 4 is an input screen, and 10 is a first magnetism generating means for generating pulsed magnetism. is there.

Therefore, the first magnetism generating means 10 is configured to generate a pulsed magnetism to instruct the input screen 4 of the apparatus main body 3 to input data. 2) Means corresponding to claim 2 In FIG. 1 (b), 2 is an input pen, 3 is a device body, 4 is an input screen, 10 is a first magnetism generating means for generating pulsed magnetism, and 20 is constant. The second magnetism generating means for generating magnetism having the strength of 11 is a switching means for switching between the first magnetism generating means 10 and the second magnetism generating means 20.

Therefore, the switching means 11 is configured to switch between the first magnetic generation means 10 and the second magnetic generation means 20 to indicate on the input screen 4 of the apparatus main body 3 to input data.

3) Means corresponding to claim 3 In FIG. 1 (c), 2 is an input pen, 3 is a device main body, 4 is an input screen, 10 is provided on the input pen 2, and a magnetic field having a constant strength is provided. First magnetic generating means 20 for generating are provided in the input pen 2, second magnetic generating means 20 for generating pulsed magnetism, 11 are provided in the input pen 2, and the first magnetic generating means 10 are provided.
And a switching means for switching the second magnetism generating means 20, 14 is provided in the main body 3 of the apparatus, and the magnetism generated by the input pen 2 instructing on the input screen 4 is magnetism of a certain strength, It is a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not it is a pulse.

Therefore, based on the discrimination result by the discriminating means 14, either the input of the data or the erasing of the data associated with each other in advance is carried out.

[0022]

[Action]

1) Operation corresponding to claim 1 The data is input by instructing on the input screen 4 of the device body 3 by the pulsed magnetism generated from the first magnetism generating means 10.
Since it can be erased (or erased), an erase-only pen can be obtained. Therefore, by providing the apparatus main body 3 with a function corresponding to this, it is possible to use this erasing-only pen separately from the input-only pen provided separately, and to switch between data input and data erasing in the mode switching area on the input surface 4. It is possible to eliminate the hassle of instructing with a pen touch.

2) Action corresponding to claim 2 By the switching means 11 of the input pen 2, the first magnetism generating means.
The input pen 2 is switched by switching between 10 and the second magnetism generating means 20.
Since it is possible to input data and erase data by instructing on the input screen 4 of the apparatus main body 3 by,
Second magnetic field generating means 10 for data input
By providing the device main body 3 with a function corresponding to this for erasing data 20, the input pen 2 side can be switched and used properly, and the switching of data input and data erasing can be performed in the mode switching area on the input surface 4. It is possible to eliminate the hassle of instructing with a pen touch.

3) Action corresponding to claim 3 The switching means 11 provided in the input pen 2 switches to the first magnetism generating means 10 or the second magnetism generating means 20, and the input screen 5 is operated by the input pen 2. When the above is instructed, the discriminating means 14 discriminates whether the magnetism generated by the input pen 2 has a constant strength or a pulse shape, and based on the discrimination result, the constant strength is determined. Data is input when the magnetic field is magnetic, data is erased when the magnetic field is pulsed, or data is erased when the magnetic field has a certain strength, and data is input when the magnetic field is pulsed. By either inputting data or erasing data, the input pen 2 is switched to the first magnetism generating means 10 or the second magnetism generating means 20 to input data or erase data. So you can type Since it is not necessary to instruct the mode switching area on the surface 4 with a pen touch, the troublesomeness of the switching instruction is eliminated, and the mode switching area on the input surface 4 can be effectively used as a data input area or the like.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the embodiment. The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings.

The tablet 4a and slide switch 11 shown in FIG.
a, the input mode discriminating unit 14a, and the magnet 20b correspond to the input screen 4, the switching unit 11, the discriminating unit 14, and the second magnetic generating unit 20 of FIG. 1, respectively, and the pulse generating unit 10a and the coil of FIG. The magnet 13 and the magnet 20b correspond to the first magnetism generating means 10 of FIG.

As shown in the side view of the input pen of FIG. 2 (a), the input pen 2b includes a pulse generator 10a, a slide switch 11a, a battery 12, and a magnet 20b having a coil 13 wound around its rear end. It is composed of. The slide switch 11a is provided so that an operator holding the input pen 2b can easily switch it with his / her finger.

Therefore, when the switch 11a is OFF, the tip of the input pen 2b becomes a magnet 20b of a certain strength, and when the slide switch 11a is turned ON, electric power is supplied from the battery 13 to the pulse generator 10a to generate a pulse. A current is generated, and a pulse current flows through the coil 13 so that the magnetism of the magnet 20b becomes pulsed.

In the block diagram of the pen input device of FIG. 2B, the tablet 4b is the tablet 4a described in the conventional example.
Therefore, the mode switching area A is omitted. The input mode discriminating unit 14a discriminates whether the magnetism at the tip of the input pen 2b which is in contact with the tablet 4b has a constant strength or pulse magnetism. When the magnetism has a constant strength, the mode 1 or When the magnetism is pulsed, the mode information of mode 2 is notified to the data processing unit 6a.

The data processing unit 6a includes the mode switching processing unit 61 and the mode storage unit 62 from the data processing unit 6 described in the conventional example.
Is omitted, and a mode program unit 60 for processing two modes of mode 1 and mode 2 is provided.

The control unit 8 controls each unit in the above example to perform data input and data deletion. Since it has such a configuration and functions, its operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when inputting data, if the slide switch 11a is turned off, the magnet 20b at the tip of the input pen 2b generates magnetism of a certain strength, and brings the input pen 2b closer to or in contact with the tablet 4b. By doing so, the tablet 4b senses magnetism, the position detection unit 5 detects the contact position and the movement trajectory, and notifies the data processing unit 6a of coordinate information.

On the other hand, the input mode discriminating unit 14a discriminates that the magnetic state sensed by the tablet 4b has a constant strength and notifies the data processing unit 6a of the mode information of the mode 1. The data processing unit 6a performs a writing process in the mode 1 of the mode program unit 60 according to the notified mode information and coordinate information, and displays it on the display unit 7. If the input pen 2b moves in the mode 1, the moving line is drawn on the display unit 7.

Next, when erasing the data, when the slide switch 11a is turned on, a pulse current is generated by the battery 12 and the pulse generator 10a, and a pulsed magnetism is generated by the magnet 20b by the pulse current flowing through the coil 13. To do.

When the input pen 2b is brought close to or in contact with the tablet 4b, the tablet 4b senses the pulsed magnetism, the position detecting unit 5 detects the contact position and the movement locus, and notifies the data processing unit 6a of coordinate information. .

On the other hand, the input mode discriminating section 14a discriminates that the magnetic state sensed by the tablet 4b is pulse-like, and notifies the data processing section 6a of the mode information of mode 2. The data processing unit 6a erases the display data of the display unit 7 in the mode 2 of the mode program unit 60 according to the notified mode information and coordinate information. If the input pen 2b moves in the mode 2, the line is erased along with it. If you trace over the written line, it will be completely erased.

FIG. 4 shows a side sectional view of an erase-only pen as a different embodiment (corresponding to claim 1). The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same objects. As shown in FIG. 4, the erasing pen 2c is provided with an electromagnet 21 (corresponding to the electromagnet of claim 4), and the coil 13a of the electromagnet 21 corresponds to the pulse generator 10a (corresponding to the pulse generating means of claim 4). ing)
Are linked to. The apparatus main body has the same configuration as that of the above embodiment.

With this construction, when the slide switch 11a is OFF, no magnetism is generated from the tip of the erase pen 2c, and when the slide switch 11a is turned ON, a pulse current is generated by the battery 12 and the pulse generator 10a. Then, the electromagnet 21 is magnetized in a pulse shape by the pulse current flowing through the coil 13a, and pulse magnetism is generated.

Therefore, as in the case of the above embodiment, when the tip of the erasing pen 2c is brought close to or in contact with the tablet 4b, the pulsed magnetism is sensed and the input mode discriminating unit 14a on the side of the apparatus main body 3b detects this. And the mode information of mode 2 is notified to the data processing unit 6a, the erasing process is performed.

As an application example of the different embodiment,
Although not shown, the upper end of FIG. 4 has the same shape as the lower end, and the magnet 20a described in the conventional example is provided at the front end, so that the magnet 20a side is used for data input and the other side is held and slid. When the switch 11a is turned on, the electromagnet 21 can be used for erasing data.

Thus, in the embodiment, the input pen 2b
By turning on / off the slide switch 11a, the magnetic generation state is changed, and the corresponding mode 1 or mode 2 is set from the magnetic state to perform data input and data deletion, and in a different embodiment, By turning on the slide switch 11a of the erasing pen 2c, pulse-like magnetism is generated, mode 2 is set, and the erasing process is performed.
Unlike the conventional example, there is no need to touch the mode switching area A on the tablet 4a for switching between the mode 1 and the mode 2, and the troublesome switching operation is eliminated.

Further, it is not necessary to provide the mode switching area A in the tablet 4b, and it can be effectively used as an area for data input and the like. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the mode discrimination of the apparatus main body 3a is dealt with, such as data input when the magnetism has a constant strength and data erasure when the magnetism has a pulse shape, has been described. Data may be erased when the magnetic field is magnetic, and data may be input when the magnetic field is pulsed, and the same effect is obtained.

In the above example, the input screen is the tablet 4b.
Although the case has been described, the same can be applied to the case of inputting from the touch panel provided on the screen of the display unit 7. Furthermore, in the above example, the case where the slide switch 11a is provided on the input pen 2b and the erase pen 2c has been described, but a push button switch or the like may be used, and the built-in battery 12
However, it is needless to say that the rechargeable battery from the apparatus main body 1a may be used.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first aspect of the present invention is to generate pulsed magnetism in the input pen.
By providing the magnetic generation means of, it is possible to obtain an erase-only pen, and if the device body has a function corresponding to this, it is possible to use this erase-only pen and an input-only pen separately provided, It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of instructing a mode switching area on the input surface by a pen touch for mode switching of data input and data erasing in the conventional method.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the input pen includes a first magnetism generating means for generating pulsed magnetism, a second magnetism generating means for generating magnetism of a constant intensity, a first magnetism generating means and a first magnetism generating means. By providing a switching means for switching the second magnetic field generating means, the first magnetic field generating means and the second magnetic field generating means are provided by the switching means.
Since the magnetic field generating means can be switched, and the data input and the data erasing can be easily switched, for example, the first magnetic field generating means is used for data input, and the second magnetic field generating means is used for data erasing. If the main body has a function corresponding to this, it is possible to switch between data input and data erasing modes on the input pen side, and use the input surface 4 for data input and data erasing mode switching in the conventional method. It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of instructing the mode switching area with a pen touch.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the input pen has a first magnetism generating means for generating pulsed magnetism, a second magnetism generating means for generating magnetism of a constant intensity, and a first magnetism generating means. And switching means for switching the second magnetism generating means,
The apparatus main body is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating whether the magnetism generated by the input pen that has instructed on the input screen is magnetic with a constant strength or pulsed, and based on the discrimination result by the discriminating means, It is necessary to instruct a mode switching area on the input screen with a pen touch for mode switching of data input and data erasing as in the conventional example by performing either corresponding data input or data erasing in advance. This eliminates the inconvenience of the switching operation and eliminates the need to provide a mode switching area on the input screen, and can be effectively used as an area for inputting data and the like.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the first magnetic generation means comprises pulse generation means for generating a pulse current and an electromagnet provided at the tip, and the pulse current generated by the pulse generation means is passed through the electromagnet. With this, pulsed magnetism can be generated with a simple configuration. There is an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a different embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional pen input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1a is a pen input device, 2,2a, 2b is an input pen, 2c is an erasing pen, 3,3a, 3b is the device body, 4 is an input screen,
4a and 4b are tablets, 10 is a first generation means, 10a is a pulse generation section, 11 is a switching means, 11a is a slide switch, 14 is a discrimination means, 14a is an input mode discrimination section, 20 is a second generation means, 20a and 20b are magnets, 21 is an electromagnet,

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An input pen (2) and a device main body (3), wherein data is input when a pointing point on the input screen (4) is detected by magnetism generated from the tip of the input pen (2). In the pen input device, the input pen (2) comprises a first magnetism generating means (10) for generating pulsed magnetism. 2. An input pen (2) and a device main body (3), wherein data is input when a pointing point on the input screen (4) is detected by magnetism generated from the tip of the input pen (2). In the pen input device, the input pen (2) includes a first magnetism generating means (10) for generating pulsed magnetism and a second magnetism generating means (20) for generating magnetism of a constant strength.
And the first magnetism generating means (10) and the second magnetism generating means (2
An input pen comprising a switching means (11) for switching 0). 3. An input pen (2) and a device main body (3), wherein data is input when a pointing point on the input screen (4) is detected by magnetism generated from the tip of the input pen (2). A pen input device, wherein the input pen (2) comprises a first magnetism generating means (10) for generating pulsed magnetism and a second magnetism generating means (20) for generating magnetism of a constant strength. )
And the first magnetism generating means (10) and the second magnetism generating means (2
The device body (3) is provided with a switching means (11) for switching between 0), and the magnetism generated by the input pen (2) that points on the input screen (4) It is provided with a discriminating means (14) for discriminating whether it is pulse-shaped or pulse-like, and based on the discrimination result by the discriminating means (14), either pre-corresponding data input or data erasing is performed. A pen input device characterized by the above. 4. The first magnetism generating means (10) comprises pulse generating means for generating a pulse current and an electromagnet, and has a structure for supplying the pulse current generated by the pulse generating means to the electromagnet. The input pen and the pen input device according to claim 1, 2, or 3.