JPH08194576A - Input/output device with composite function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the compact and high-resolution input/output device with a composite function which requires a smaller arrangement and operation space and hardly suffers from the influence of noise. CONSTITUTION: An ultrasonic transmitting element 3 and three ultrasonic receiving elements 2, 4, and 5 are arranged. The ultrasonic waves from the element 3 is sent to an ultrasonic reflection body 9 which moves in the ultrasonic wave field of the elements 2 to 5. It is reflected from the reflection body 9 and is accepted by the elements 2, 4, and 5. Based on the time difference of transmission and reception from the element 3 to the elements 2, 4, and 5, the movement coordinate position of the reflection body 9 is obtained as coordinate information and is inputted to a personal computer 16. The elements 2, 4, and 5 can accept voices and the sound source position of the voice can be detected based on the voice receiving information which is accepted by the elements 2, 4, and 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-function input / output device for inputting information such as coordinate information to a device such as a small information terminal device or for communicating between terminal devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a method of designating an arbitrary position on the screen of a small information terminal device such as a personal computer, a word processor, a general-purpose / dedicated portable terminal, a pointing input device called "mouse" is used to display the screen. X above,
It is common practice to input coordinate information of Y coordinates (coordinates formed by orthogonal X axis and Y axis).

The "mouse" functions as a movable input device of a coordinate information input device for inputting coordinate information to a coordinate information input device such as a personal computer, and has a rotatable rubber roller built therein. . Then, when this "mouse" is moved on a desk or on a dedicated pad, the rubber roller is rotated along with the movement,
Based on the number of rotations and the direction of rotation of the rubber roller, the moving position of the "mouse" is input as X and Y coordinate information to a terminal device such as a personal computer.

As a pointing input device, in addition to a movable device such as a "mouse", a fixed input device for a coordinate information input device having a rotatable roller is also used. In a fixed type coordinate information input device, the roller is directly rotated by a fingertip or the like, and coordinate information is input in the same manner as above based on the number of rotations and the rotation direction.

As a method of designating an arbitrary position on the screen of a personal computer or the like, a light pen method, a touch panel method or the like is also used. The light pen method detects a scan beam on the screen with a light pen and inputs the movement position as coordinate information, and the touch panel method arranges a transparent electrode film on the screen side and uses a fingertip or the like. It touches an arbitrary position on the screen, and the position is detected by the transparent electrode film and used as coordinate information.

Furthermore, recently, in certain applications,
It is also practiced to give a voice instruction (voice input) to a personal computer or the like, and to operate the personal computer or the like and input data according to the instruction.

[0007]

By the way, in order to speed up information processing, it is necessary to perform the coordinate information input operation as described above quickly and accurately. It is important to make the input device easy to handle. In addition, recently, with the space saving of a small information terminal device such as a personal computer,
It is desired to reduce the size and thickness of the coordinate information input device, save the operation space, and save the connection space between the coordinate information input device and a personal computer.

However, when inputting coordinate information by moving a mobile type input device such as the "mouse" on a desk or the like, a wide movement space for moving the "mouse" is required. It is difficult to save the operating space, and considering the ease of operating the "mouse" etc., there is a limit to the size and thickness of the mouse. Therefore, there is also a limit to the size and thickness of the coordinate information input device. There was such a problem.

Also, the fixed type coordinate information input device provided with a rotatable roller has a limit to miniaturization and thinning because of its easiness of operation, and fixed type coordinate information input device. When the input device is used, the roller has to be rotated by a fingertip or the like, so that there is a problem in that the operability is not good as compared with a "mouse" or the like even if it is formed in a size that is easy to operate.

On the other hand, in principle, the light pen method is applied only to a small information terminal device provided with a light emitting display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tude) display device or a beam scanning display device. It is difficult to input the coordinate information because it is difficult to increase the resolution because the gap length (spacing) between the light emitting surface and the light pen due to the thickness of the surface glass such as CRT is large. There was a problem that the operation could not be performed very accurately. In addition, it is necessary to provide a connection cable between the light pen and a small information terminal device such as a personal computer.
It was difficult to save the space for connecting the light pen and a personal computer.

Further, when the touch panel system is used, the resolution is greatly reduced if the screen is dirty or scratched, and then, like the light pen system, the coordinate information input operation cannot be performed accurately. However, this method has a problem that the cost is high.

Further, although the operation of the terminal device and the data input by the voice input are highly convenient, at present, they are easily affected by ambient noise and the like, for example, when a voice is spoken near the terminal device, an erroneous input or a malfunction is caused. It has a high possibility that it is difficult to use in a place where there is a person other than the operator of the terminal device or in a place where there is noise, and thus it has been considered difficult to put into practical use.

As described above, conventionally, a device capable of voice input with little influence of ambient noise or the like, a connection space with a personal computer or the like is small, and information input such as coordinate information or a personal computer or the like is provided. A device that can accurately perform the operation of in a small space has not been put to practical use.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to save the space for connecting to a personal computer and the like and the operation space, and to reduce the influence of ambient noise and the like. (EN) It is possible to provide a multi-function input / output device which is capable of inputting voice with almost no reception, and is small in size and has high resolution.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is constructed as follows. That is, the present invention has one or more ultrasonic wave transmitting elements and three or more ultrasonic wave receiving elements, and the ultrasonic wave receiving element has a wider directivity than the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and transmits ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arranged so that the directivity of the element is included in the directivity of the ultrasonic wave receiving element, and at least three ultrasonic waves among the ultrasonic wave receiving elements are arranged. A function as a voice receiving element for receiving voice is added to the receiving element, which is emitted from the ultrasonic transmitting element and reflected from an ultrasonic reflector moving in the ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic receiving and transmitting element. There is a calculation logic that calculates the moving coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector as coordinate information based on the time difference between each transmission and reception from the ultrasonic transmission element to each ultrasonic reception element until it is received by each ultrasonic reception element. And the arithmetic logic A voice position having an information input means for inputting coordinate information obtained by calculation to the input device of the coordinate information and detecting and tracking the sound source position of the voice based on the voice reception information received by each voice receiving element. It is characterized by having a detection means.

Further, the plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting elements are arranged in an array to form a transmitting element mounting portion, and the plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving elements are arranged in an array and are arranged in the transmitting element. It is also a characteristic configuration of the present invention that the receiving element arrangement portion is formed independently of the portion.

Further, the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arranged on an arcuate surface through a resin portion, and the ultrasonic wave receiving surface of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are disposed. The ultrasonic wave receiving surface is formed as an arcuate curved surface protruding in an arc shape, and the radius of curvature of the arcuate curved surface is greater than the radius of curvature of the arcuate surface on which the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arranged. It is also a characteristic configuration of the present invention that it is formed small.

Further, at least one ultrasonic transmitting element is provided on the side end side of the transmitting element mounting layer formed in an arc shape through the resin portion, and the ultrasonic receiving element is formed in an arc shape through the resin portion. A circle that is provided on three or more side edges of the formed receiving element arrangement layer and that absorbs the vibration of the ultrasonic transmitting element during ultrasonic transmission between the transmitting element arrangement layer and the receiving element arrangement layer. It is also a characteristic configuration of the present invention that an arc-shaped vibration damping layer is interposed and the vibration damping layer, the transmitting element mounting layer, and the receiving element mounting layer form a multilayer structure. .

Further, at least one of the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements is an ultrasonic communication transmitting element, and at least one of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements is an ultrasonic communication receiving element, and the directivity of the ultrasonic communication receiving element. Forming the directivity of the ultrasonic receiving element and the ultrasonic transmitting element so as to be more than the directivity of the transmitting element of the ultrasonic communication, and adding a code modulation / demodulation logic function for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves for communication. Also has a characteristic configuration of the present invention.

[0020]

In the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element are reflected by the ultrasonic wave reflector moving in the ultrasonic wave field of the ultrasonic wave receiving and transmitting element and received by each ultrasonic wave receiving element. , The moving coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector is calculated as coordinate information by the calculation logic based on the time difference between each transmission and reception from this ultrasonic transmission element to each ultrasonic reception element, and calculated by this calculation logic. The coordinate information is input to the input device of the coordinate information by the information input means.

Further, of the ultrasonic receiving elements, a voice receiving element having a function of receiving a voice is used to receive, for example, a voice from an operator of the coordinate information input device, and based on the voice receiving information. Thus, the sound source position of the sound is detected and tracked by the sound position detecting means.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of essential parts of a multi-function input / output device according to the present invention together with a personal computer 16. In the figure, the coordinate information input device is provided with one ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and three ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5, and the coordinate information input device includes amplifiers 22, 23 and 2
4, 25, A / D converters 26, 28, 42, D / A converter 27, microprocessor unit 6, data memory 1
3, a program memory 11 and an interface circuit 8 are provided.

The microprocessor unit 6 includes a transmitter 47 for applying an ultrasonic wave transmission command to the ultrasonic wave transmitter 3 and receivers 44, 45 for receiving ultrasonic wave reception signals from the ultrasonic wave receivers 2, 4, 5. , 46, a timing circuit (synchronous circuit) 48 for notifying the ultrasonic wave reception timing of the ultrasonic wave transmission timing from the ultrasonic wave transmission element 3, a time difference detection section 49, and an arithmetic logic.
It is configured with 10.

Further, the coordinate information input device is provided with a bandpass filter circuit 29 and switches 30 and 31 as necessary, and these switches 30 and 31 may be used to issue coordinate information input instructions and cancel instructions. You can do it.

The coordinate information input device of this embodiment is a PC.
MCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card Internatio)
nal Association) standard circuit configuration and is adapted to be matched with the circuit of a terminal device such as a personal computer 16 or a word processor that functions as an input device of coordinate information.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 are provided with the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2 and 2, respectively.
4 and 5 are arranged so as to be sandwiched by the resin part 7, and the distance from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to the ultrasonic wave receiving element 2 and the distance from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to the ultrasonic wave receiving element 4 and ultrasonic wave transmission The distance from the element 3 to the ultrasonic receiving element 5 is
Both are equal at 1 / 2d. In order to make the description of the present embodiment easier to understand, 1 / 2d is shown large in FIG. 3, but the value of 1 / 2d is actually 3.5, for example.
It is formed to be very small so as to be less than mm.

The ultrasonic element portion 20 in which the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3, 4, 5 are arranged is formed on the front side of the personal computer 16 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in the figure, each of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 has an ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3
The ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 has a wider directivity than that of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3, so that the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 has the directivity included in the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4, 5, 5. , Are provided. Then, these ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3,
An appropriate ultrasonic reflector 9 such as a ball-point pen is movably arranged in the ultrasonic field formed by 4 and 5.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a function of receiving voice is added to each of the three ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4, and 5. Both can be received.

The microprocessor unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 detects and grasps coordinate information in accordance with programs such as a pulse wave method and an FM modulation burst (chirp) wave method which are input in advance in the program memory 11. The waveform data input to the data memory 13 is read and the digital signal of the waveform data is transmitted by the transmitter.
It is adapted to be added to the D / A converter 27 via 47, and the D / A converter 27 converts the digital signal into an analog signal and applies it to the amplifier 23. The amplifier 23 receives the analog signal, amplifies the signal, and adds it to the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3. The ultrasonic wave transmission element 3 transmits ultrasonic waves based on the amplified signal.

The ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 respectively receive the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and reflected from the ultrasonic wave reflector 9 such as the ballpoint pen. The sound wave reception signals are amplified by the amplifiers 22, 24 and 25, respectively, and are applied to the A / D converters 42, 26 and 28. Each A / D converter 42, 26, 28 is an amplifier
The analog signals applied from 22, 24 and 25 are converted into digital signals and applied to the respective receiving units 44, 45 and 46 of the microprocessor unit 6. Bandpass filter circuit
When 29 is provided, the signals from the amplifiers 22, 24, 25 can be converted into digital signals via the bandpass filter circuit 29.

The microprocessor unit 6 is provided for each A /
Upon receiving the signals applied from the D converters 26, 28, 29,
The digital signal is sent to the data memory 13 at regular intervals.
To memorize.

The time difference detection unit 49 of the microprocessor unit 6 reflects the signal transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 from the ultrasonic reflector 9 such as a ballpoint pen which moves in the ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic wave receiving and transmitting elements 2 to 5. Then, the time difference between each transmission and reception from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to each ultrasonic wave receiving element 2, 4, 5 until the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4, 5 are received is detected.

The arithmetic logic 10 provided in the microprocessor unit 6 and the program memory 11 storing the control procedure for the arithmetic logic are arranged from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 detected by the time difference detecting section 49 to the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 respectively. , 5 for calculating the moving coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector 9 as coordinate information based on the time difference between transmission and reception. It is calculated using various calculation methods such as the above, and is obtained as coordinate information of X and Y coordinates (coordinates formed by the orthogonal X axis and Y axis).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operating principle of an active system which is an example of a system for obtaining the coordinate information of the ultrasonic reflector 9 by the arithmetic logic 10 and the program memory 11. Focusing on the transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5, the operation principle of the active system will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the ultrasonic receiving element 4 and the ultrasonic receiving element 5 are arranged on the X axis, and the pitch interval between the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 is d.
It is assumed that the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is arranged at the center position of the line connecting the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5. A line passing through the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and orthogonal to the X axis is defined as a Y axis, and a position where the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is arranged is set as an origin of the X and Y coordinates. Further, the ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 3, 4, 5 is formed on the front side (lower side in the figure) of the X axis.

At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, assuming that the ultrasonic reflector 9 is arranged at the position p1 in the figure, a line r1 connecting the X axis and p1 to the origin is formed. Angle θ
1 (θ1 ≦ 90), the length of p1 and the origin is R1, and the component of the coordinate position p1 in the X-axis direction (X component) is x1, and the component of p1 in the Y-axis direction (Y component) is y1. , Y1 can be expressed by the following equations (1) and (2), respectively.

X1 = R1 · cos θ1 (1)

Y1 = R1 · sin θ1 (2)

Similarly, when the ultrasonic reflector 9 is arranged at the position p2 in the figure, that is, when the angle formed by the line r2 connecting the X axis and p2 and the origin is θ2 (θ2 is 90 ° If p2 and the length of the origin are R2,
The X component x2 at the coordinate position p2 and the Y component y2 at the coordinate position p2 are expressed by the following equations (3) and (4).

X2 = R2 · sin (θ2-90) = R2 · (−cos θ2) (3)

Y2 = R2 · cos (θ2-90) = R2 · sin θ2 (4)

Therefore, both when the ultrasonic reflector 9 is at the position p1 and when it is at the position p2 (in other words, the angles θ1 and θ2 formed by the ultrasonic reflector 9 and the X axis are
The distance between the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic wave reflector 9 (R1, R2) even if it is within 90 ° or more than 90 °
If the above θ1 and θ2 are known, X of the ultrasonic reflector 9
The coordinate position in Y coordinate is known.

In FIG. 5, the value of d is shown large in order to make the explanation easy to understand, but in reality, the value of d is a small value such as 7 mm or less in this embodiment, It is much smaller than the values of R1 and R2.

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, assuming that the ultrasonic reflector 9 is at the position p1 in the figure, p
The line connecting 1 and the ultrasonic receiving element 5 is r12 and its length is R12, and the line connecting p1 and the ultrasonic receiving element 4 is r11 and its length is R11, and the line r11 and the X axis are The angle is θ1 '.

In this embodiment, as described above, in practice,
Since the value of d in the figure is much smaller than the length R1 of the line r1, the length R1 of the line r1 and the length R1 of the line r11 are shown.
11 and the length R12 of the line r12 are not so different as shown in the figure. For example, after the length R12 is emitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and reflected by the ultrasonic wave reflector 9. , The transmission / reception time T12 before returning to the ultrasonic wave receiving element 5 and the ultrasonic wave propagation velocity (sound velocity) V ₀ , the following equation (5)
Can be approximated by

R12≈ (T12 · V ₀ ) / 2 ... (5)

Similarly, the length R11 is calculated by the following equation from the transmission / reception time T11 until the ultrasonic wave is returned from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 reflected by the ultrasonic wave reflector 9 to the ultrasonic wave receiving element 4. It can be approximated by (6) (V ₀ is the speed of sound).

R11≈ (T11 · V ₀ ) / 2 (6)

When obtaining the transmission / reception times T12 and T11, for example, when the waveform data is read from the data memory 13 by the microprocessor unit 6 and thereafter, the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is transmitted. Is received by each of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5, and the waveform data is input to the data memory 13, the shift of the memory address is obtained.

Next, the line connecting the perpendicular line of the line r1 and the ultrasonic receiving element 5 is extended to the line r11 to form the line r13, and the intersection a of the line r13 and the line r11 and the ultrasonic receiving element 4 are connected. If the distance of the line r4 is A,

A = R11-R12 (7)

In addition, as in this embodiment, d in FIG.
If the value of is much smaller than the length R1 of the line r1, then
The angle θr ′ between the line r13 and the line 4a becomes almost right angle, and θ1
Since it can be approximated as = θ1 ′, the value of A can be expressed by the following equation (8).

A≈d · cos θ1 (8)

Therefore, the following equation (9) is derived from the equations (7) and (8), and the value of θ1 can be obtained from this equation (9).

Cos θ1≈A / d = (R11−R12) / d = {(T11 · V ₀ ) / 2− (T12 · V ₀ ) / 2} / d = (T11−T12) V ₀ / 2d · ... (9)

On the other hand, the length R1 of r1 is the length R11 of r11.
Since it can be approximated by the following formula (10) by the length R12 of r12 and r12, the following formula (11) is derived by substituting the formulas (5) and (6) into the formula (10). The length R1 can be calculated from the equation (11).

R1≈ (R11 + R12) / 2 ... (10)

[0057] _{R1 ≒ {(T11 · V 0} ) / 2 + (T12 · V 0) / 2} 2 = {(T11 · V 0) + (T12 · V 0)} / 4 = (T11 + T12) V 0/4 (11)

Then, as described above, equation (9),
The values of θ1 and R1 obtained from (11) are given by the above equation (1),
By substituting into (2), the X component x1 and the Y component y1 of p1 are obtained, and they are obtained as coordinate information when the ultrasonic reflector 9 is at the position of p1. Also, the ultrasonic reflector 9 is p2
Also at the position of, similarly, the values of θ2 and R2 are similarly obtained and substituted into the above equations (3) and (4) to calculate the X component x of p2.
2 and Y component y2 to obtain the coordinate information at the position of p2, and also when the ultrasonic reflector 9 moves to a position other than p1 and p2, the moving position of the ultrasonic reflector 9 is similarly set. Ask for information.

In the active system, θ1 is approximated as described above to obtain θ1, but in reality, θ1 and θ1 ′ are not completely equal, so an error occurs. Is the angular difference between θ1 and θ1 ′ (|
If θ1−θ1 ′ |) is 8 ° or less, cos 8 ° = 0.99
It is 03, and the error can be less than 1%. That is, when expressed as the ratio of d and R1, tan 8 ° = 0.1405, and when the value of d satisfies the value of d / R1 ≦ 0.14, the error of A can be less than 1%.

Therefore, when the distance between the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 is 7 mm or less as in this embodiment, R1
Is 5 cm or more, the above value can be satisfied, and by reducing the error of the value of A in this way, the error of θ1 obtained by the above method can be reduced.

The principle of operation of the active system is as described above. From the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 being reflected by the ultrasonic wave reflector 9 to being received by the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5. The position of the ultrasonic reflector 9 on the XY plane formed in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is obtained as coordinate information based on the time difference between transmission and reception.

The method of obtaining the coordinate information of the ultrasonic reflector 9 is not limited to the above active method, but may be obtained by an appropriate method.
From the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to the ultrasonic wave receiving element 2 and the time from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to the ultrasonic wave receiving element 4; The time when the ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received by the ultrasonic wave receiving element 2 and the time when the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3
The position of the ultrasonic reflector 9 can be obtained as three-dimensional coordinate information by utilizing the difference from the time until the ultrasonic wave is received.

The coordinate information obtained by the arithmetic logic 10 and the program memory 11 by using an appropriate arithmetic method such as an active method is added to the interface circuit 8 from the microprocessor unit 6 as shown in FIG. The interface circuit 8 uses the arithmetic logic 10 and the coordinate information (the coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector 9) obtained by the arithmetic operation by the program memory 11 to the personal computer 16.
And the like function as information input means for inputting to the terminal device.
In addition, the interface circuit 8 is connected to the PCMCIA P
A bus interface circuit conforming to the C card standard,
Matched with the circuit on the PC 16 side.

By the way, the microprocessor unit 6
2 has a voice position detecting means 56 as shown in FIG. 2, and the voice position detecting means 56 is configured to have a sound source position calculating section 51, a determining section 52, and a waveform collating section 53.

The sound source position calculation unit 51 calculates the sound source position of the sound based on the sound reception information received by each of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5. For example, the following method is used. Calculate the sound source position.

As shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the sound source position of the sound is at the position P in the figure, and this P and the ultrasonic receiving element 4,
Assuming that the distances from the sound sources 5 and 2 are L ₁ , L ₂ and L ₃ , respectively, when L ₁ <L ₂ <L ₃ , the sound from the sound source is generated by the ultrasonic receiving elements 4, 4, as shown in FIG. It will arrive sequentially in the order of 5, 2.

Then, each of the ultrasonic receiving elements 4, 5, 2
It can be seen from the audio reception information that the ultrasonic receiving element 4 of the ultrasonic receiving elements 4, 5 and 2 is closest to the position P of the sound source and the ultrasonic receiving element 2 is farthest from the position P of the sound source. Further, the difference between the peak top (t ₁ ) of voice reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 4 and the peak top (t ₂ ) of voice reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 5 is as shown in FIG.
It can be seen that this corresponds to the difference between L ₂ and L ₁ (the difference between the distance L ₂ from the sound source position P to the ultrasonic receiving element 5 and the distance L ₁ from the sound source position P to the ultrasonic receiving element 4). Similarly, as shown in (b) of the figure, the peak top (t ₃ ) of voice reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 2 and the ultrasonic receiving element 4
Difference from the peak top (t ₁ ) of voice reception by the distance L
_This corresponds to the difference between ₃ and L ₁ (FIG. 8), and as shown in (c) of the figure, the peak top (t ₃ ) of voice reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 2 and the voice reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 5 It can be seen that the difference from the peak top (t ₂ ) corresponds to the difference between the distances L ₃ and L ₂ .

From the above, L ₂ −L ₁ = t ₂ −
t ₁ , L ₃ −L ₁ = t ₃ −t ₁ , L ₃ −L ₂ = t ₃ −t
The position P of the sound source can be calculated by obtaining the position that satisfies the three expressions of ₂ . Then, the sound source position calculation unit 51 adds the information on the sound source position obtained as described above to the determination unit 52.

The waveform matching unit 53 is provided for each ultrasonic receiving element 2,
In order to confirm whether or not voices 4 and 5 have received voices from the same sound source and added the voice reception information from the respective receivers 44, 45 and 46 to the voice position detector 51, the respective ultrasonic receiving elements 2,
The waveforms of the sound waves received by 4 and 5 are collated. For example, when the sound waves received by the ultrasonic receiving elements 4, 5, and ₂ are in the state shown in FIG. 7, the peak top of the sound reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 5 is t ₂ −t ₁
By shifting only the peak of the sound reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 4 and superimposing it, and similarly shifting the peak of the sound reception by the ultrasonic receiving element 2 by t ₃ -t _{1 and} receiving the sound by the ultrasonic receiving element 4. The peaks are overlapped with each other, the peaks are compared to see if they have substantially the same waveform, and the comparison result is added to the determination unit 52.

The judging section 52 receives both the waveform matching result added by the waveform matching section 53 and the sound source position calculating result added by the sound source position calculating section 51, and calculates the sound source position calculated by the sound source position calculating section 51. Is calculated for the sound from the same sound source, and when it is determined that the sound source position of the sound from the same sound source is calculated by the sound source position calculation unit 51, the sound source position is added to the interface circuit 8. When it is determined that the sound source positions calculated by the sound source position calculation unit 51 are not from the same sound source,
The value of the sound source position is not added to the interface circuit 8.

Further, the judgment unit 52, while taking the judgment result into the data memory 13, carries out the judgment at every short time, for example, every 0.1 seconds, and the memory unit at every unit time.
When the sound source position to be added to 13 moves significantly beyond the range given in advance, the person who makes a voice, etc.
Since it is difficult to move significantly during a very short unit time such as seconds, it is determined that the sound source position calculation unit 51 has calculated the sound source position from another person, and the sound source position calculation result at this time Except that the sound source position determination result is added to the interface circuit 8 only when the sound source position moves within the predetermined range. And like this,
The sound position detecting means 56 determines that the sound source position of a specific sound is a sound source position having substantially the same waveform and having a moving range per unit time within a predetermined range. Is detected and tracked, and the detection and tracking result is added to the interface circuit 8.

The switching between the sound reception and the ultrasonic reception by the ultrasonic receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 is performed by the switch 33 in FIG.
Alternatively, for example, when the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3, the ultrasonic wave is received by the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5, and in other cases, the sound is received. It is also possible to provide an automatic switching means for automatically switching between and to perform the switching by this automatic switching means.

The present embodiment is configured as described above,
Next, the coordinate information input operation of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. First,
In step 101, start the personal computer 16 to which this coordinate information input device is connected, and in step 102, personal computer
Clear the data area for work on the side of 16 and enable pointer setting. When it is confirmed in step 103 that the coordinate information can be input from the coordinate information input device, the microprocessor unit 6 is operated in step 104 according to the program in the program memory 11.
To read the waveform data from the data memory 13,
The digital signal is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 27, amplified by the amplifier 23, and then ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3. When it is confirmed in step 105 that the series of operations have been completed, the process proceeds to step 106.

In step 106, an echo (ultrasound signal) emitted from the ultrasound transmission element 3 and reflected by the ultrasound reflector 9 movably arranged in the ultrasound field of the ultrasound transmission / reception elements 3 to 5 is transmitted. ) Is the ultrasonic receiving element 4 (# 1 receiving element)
Is received by the amplifier 24, amplified by the amplifier 24, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 26, and then input to the data memory 13. In step 107, similarly, the echo reflected from the ultrasonic reflector 9 is transmitted to the ultrasonic receiving element 5 (#
2 receiving element), amplifies with amplifier 25, A / D
After being digitally converted by the converter 28, the data is input to the data memory 13. Note that step 106 and step
The operation of 107 is sampled at the same time. And
When it is confirmed in step 108 that these operations are completed, the process proceeds to step 109.

In step 109, the echo (ultrasonic signal) received by the ultrasonic receiving element 4 (# 1 receiving element) is detected by the time difference detecting section 49 in the microprocessor unit 6 as shown in FIG. 7, for example. The ultrasonic wave is received from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 until the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is detected by the ultrasonic wave reflecting element 9 after being detected at the peak (peak top). The transmission / reception time T11 to the element 4 is calculated from, for example, the address shift of the data memory 13, and in step 110, the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is reflected by the ultrasonic reflector 9 in the same manner. Then, the transmission / reception time T12 from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to the ultrasonic wave receiving element 5 until it is received by the ultrasonic wave receiving element 5 (# 2 receiving element) is calculated. The operations of step 109 and step 110 are performed on the simultaneous sampling data.

Next, in step 111, the transmission / reception time T
Time difference between 11 and T12 (| T11-T12 |), that is, until the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3, reflected from the ultrasonic wave reflector 9 and received by the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5. , The time difference between each transmission / reception from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to each ultrasonic wave receiving element 4 and 5 is obtained, and based on the value, the arithmetic logic 10 performs the step 112 in step 112, for example, by various methods such as the active method. The coordinate position (moving coordinate position) of the sound wave reflector 9 is calculated by calculation. Then, in step 113, the coordinate position is input to the personal computer 16 by the interface circuit 8 as X, Y coordinate data (coordinate information).

As shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, switches 30 and 31 for inputting or canceling coordinate information are provided, and switches 30 and 31 are used to input coordinate information from the interface circuit 8 to the personal computer 16. Alternatively, a cancel instruction may be issued, or another instruction function may be provided so that coordinate information can be input or a cancel instruction can be given.

According to this embodiment, by the above coordinate information input operation, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and reflected from the ultrasonic wave reflector 9 which moves in the ultrasonic wave field of the ultrasonic wave receiving and transmitting elements 3-5. Until it is received by each ultrasonic receiving element 4, 5.
The moving coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector 9 is calculated as coordinate information by the calculation logic 10 on the basis of the time difference between each transmission / reception from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 to each ultrasonic wave receiving element 4 and 5; It is possible to obtain coordinate information in the computer and input the obtained value to the personal computer, so that the device can have a high resolution.

Further, according to the present embodiment, by using the method as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the audio reception information received by each of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 functioning as an audio receiving element is converted. Based on this, the sound source position of the sound is calculated by the sound position calculation unit 51, and on the other hand, whether or not the sound reception information is from the same sound source is confirmed by the waveform matching by the waveform matching unit 53. Only the sound source position of the sound is selectively judged by the judging unit 52, and the sound source position of the specific sound can be accurately detected without being influenced by the sound source position of the sound other than the specific sound.

Further, the judging section 52 judges the sound source position of the sound for each unit time, and even when the sound source position largely moves beyond the predetermined range, the sound source is in a short time such as 0.1 seconds. It is determined that there is no possibility of significant movement, and such sound source position information is excluded, and when the sound source position moves only within the above range, in order to detect and track the sound source position, a specific voice The sound source position can be accurately detected and tracked.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the essential parts of a second embodiment of a multi-function input / output device according to the present invention. In addition,
A front view of the element unit 20 of the coordinate input device is shown in (a) of the same figure, and a sectional view taken along line AA of this figure is shown in (b) of the same figure.
2B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. As shown in these figures, in the coordinate information input device according to the present embodiment, three ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3, three ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, and two ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5 are provided as resin portions. It is arranged on the arc-shaped surface through the line 7, and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3, 4, and 5 are arranged and formed on the arc-shaped surface in this manner. This is a characteristic feature different from the first embodiment. The structure of this embodiment is otherwise the same as that of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 33 (curvature radius B ₂ ) of each ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving surfaces 34, 35 (curvature radius B of each ultrasonic wave receiving element 4, 5). ₃ ) are both arc-shaped curved surfaces protruding in an arc shape, and the curvature radii of these arc-shaped curved surfaces are both B ₂ > B _3, and these curvature radii B ₂ and B ₃ are ultrasonic waves. It is formed smaller than the radius of curvature B ₁ of the arcuate arrangement surface of the ultrasonic element portion 20 in which the element 3 and the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 are arranged (B ₁
> B ₂ > B ₃ ). And, in this embodiment, like this,
By projecting the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 33 of each ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving surfaces 34, 35 of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4, 5 in an arc shape, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 3, 4, 5 The directivity is wide, and the radii of curvature B ₂ , B ₃ of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surfaces 33, 34, 35 are smaller than the radius of curvature B ₁ of the arcuate arrangement surface of the ultrasonic element portion 20. By doing so, the directivity expanding effect of each of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 3, 4, 5 is further enhanced.

In FIG. 10C, the radius of curvature of the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 55 of each ultrasonic wave receiving element 2 is B _3, which is smaller than the radius of curvature B ₁ of the ultrasonic wave element portion 20. As described above, the directivity expanding effect of the ultrasonic receiving element 2 can be enhanced.

As shown in (a), (b) and (c) of FIG. 10, the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 includes the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 2.
The ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5 are alternately provided so as to be sandwiched between the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3 and the adjacent ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3. Distance between the ultrasonic wave receiving element 4 and the adjacent ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3
And the distance between the ultrasonic receiving element 5 and the ultrasonic transmitting element 3
And the ultrasonic receiving element 2 are equal to each other at 1 / 2d. The ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4, 5 have a wider directivity than the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3, and in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 has a higher directivity. The sound wave receiving elements 2, 4, and 5 are included in the directivity. And, these ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2 to
An ultrasonic wave reflector 9 such as a ballpoint pen is movably arranged in the ultrasonic wave field 5.

As shown in FIG. 11, the directivity of each ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is formed so as to partially overlap with each other. By doing so, the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is formed.
The ultrasonic wave receiving surface 33 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 depends on the directivity of
The detection area of the ultrasonic reflector 9 disposed on the side can be continuously covered without omission. Also, at this time,
The portion A in the figure is not covered by the directivity of the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3, but the arrangement interval between the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3 is actually narrow, so that the portion A in the figure is also actually It is extremely small, and it is a small area that can be almost ignored in practical use.

This embodiment is constructed as described above,
The same operation as that of the first embodiment can be achieved and the same effect can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, since the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3, 4, 5 are arranged on the arcuate surface via the resin portion 7, The directivity (ultrasonic field) of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3, 4, 5 is formed in a wide range, and the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 33 of each ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is formed.
And the ultrasonic receiving surfaces 55, 34 of the ultrasonic receiving elements 2, 4, 5
By projecting 35 in an arc shape, the directivity of each of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3, 4, 5 can be formed wider.

Then, the radius of curvature B ₂ of the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 33,
Set the radius of curvature B ₃ of the ultrasonic receiving surfaces 55, 34, 35 to the ultrasonic element section.
By forming the radius of curvature B ₁ of the arcuate arrangement surface of 20 to further enhance the directivity expansion effect of each ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 2, 3, 4, 5. By forming the radius of curvature B ₃ of the ultrasonic wave receiving surfaces 55, 34, 35 smaller than the radius of curvature B ₂ of the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 33, the directivity of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4, 5 transmits the ultrasonic wave. Wider than the directivity of the element 3, the ultrasonic receiving elements 2, 4,
5 can be included in the directivity.
As a result, the ultrasonic fields of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3, 4, 5 can be made extremely wide, and the movement detectable range of the ultrasonic reflector 9 such as a ballpoint pen can be made very wide. It is possible to reliably detect the coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector.

FIG. 12 shows the main configuration of the third embodiment of the coordinate information input device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 has a resin portion 7
Seven ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5 are provided on the side end side of the transmitting element disposition layer 38 formed in an arc shape via the resin element 7, and the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 are formed in an arc shape via the resin portion 7. 4 on the side of 39
They are provided one by one. The ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is provided between the transmitting element disposing layer 38 and the receiving element disposing layer 39.
An arc-shaped vibration damping layer 40 formed of, for example, rubber, which absorbs vibrations at the time of transmitting ultrasonic waves, is interposed, and the vibration damping layer 40, the transmitting element disposition layer 38, and the receiving element disposition are disposed. The layer 39 and the layer 39 form a multi-layer (three-layer) structure. Further, in this embodiment, the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5 are alternately arranged.

The coordinate information input device of the present embodiment has the same structure as that of the first embodiment except the above,
Also in this embodiment, for example, as shown by the arrow in (a) of FIG. 12, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and reflected by the ultrasonic wave reflector 9 are received by the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5. Thus, the same operation as that of the first and second embodiments can be achieved and the same effect can be obtained.

Further, in this embodiment, a three-layer structure is formed by the transmitting element disposing layer 38, the receiving element disposing layer 39, and the vibration damping layer 40, and the transmitting element disposing layer 38 and the receiving element disposing layer 38 are formed. It is possible to absorb the vibration of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 at the time of transmitting the ultrasonic wave by the vibration relaxation layer 40 provided between the ultrasonic wave receiving element 4 and the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 side. Since it can be prevented from being affected by the vibration of the ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic wave reception accuracy by the ultrasonic wave reception elements 4 and 5 can be improved, and the coordinate information input operation can be performed more accurately.

FIG. 13 shows an ultrasonic element unit 20 of a fourth embodiment of the multi-function input / output device according to the present invention.
It is to be noted that a front view of the ultrasonic element section 20 is shown in (a) of the same figure, and a top view of the ultrasonic element section 20 is shown in (b) of the same figure. This embodiment is different from the above-mentioned third embodiment in that four receiving element disposing layers 39 are provided, and vibration damping layers 40 are provided from above and below both sides of the transmitting element disposing layer 38.
That is, the ultrasonic element portion 20 is formed into a seven-layer structure so that the transmitting element disposing layer 38 is sandwiched by two receiving element disposing layers 39. In addition, in the present embodiment, the transmission element disposition layer 38
The respective ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3 and the respective ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5 of the receiving element disposition layer 39 are arranged on the same straight line in the vertical direction of the figure with a gap therebetween.

This embodiment is constructed as described above,
This embodiment also operates in the same manner as the third embodiment and can achieve the same effect. Further, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic element portion 20 is arranged longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction in the figure, thereby widening the directivity in the vertical direction of the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5, and In the horizontal direction, by disposing the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 3, 4, 5 on the surface of the arc-shaped resin portion 7, it is possible to widen the directivity in the horizontal direction in the drawing. . Therefore, the receivable range of ultrasonic waves and voices by the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4 and 5 can be widened, and stereoscopic coordinate information input and voice position detection can be performed more effectively.

FIG. 14 shows the fifth embodiment of the multi-function input / output device according to the present invention, which is the first and second personal computers 16a and 16b.
Is shown with. In this embodiment, the components shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are provided on the personal computer 16a side to form a first multi-function input / output device, and similarly, on the personal computer 16b side,
Although the components shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are provided to form a second multi-function input / output device, which is not shown in FIG. Similar to the embodiment, the time difference detection section 49, the arithmetic logic 10, and the voice position detection means 56 are also provided.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3a and 3b are ultrasonic wave transmitting elements and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2a, 4a, 5a and 2 are used.
b, 4b and 5b are ultrasonic communication receiving elements, and the first and second code modulation / demodulation logic functions for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves for communication by these ultrasonic communication transmitting and receiving elements 2a to 5a and 2b to 5b. Is added to each multi-function input / output device. Further, in this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the ultrasonic receiving elements 2a, 4a, 5a, 2b, 4b,
The directivity of each of the ultrasonic wave receiving / transmitting elements 2a to 5a, 2b to 5b is formed so that the directivity of 5b is equal to or higher than the directivity of the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3a and 3b as transmitting elements for ultrasonic communication. .

The code modulation / demodulation logic function is, for example,
It has a program memory 11, a data memory 13, and a code signal modulation / demodulation logic means 50. The program memory 11 stores a signal generation procedure and a signal detection procedure of ultrasonic communication, and the data memory 13 stores a code. Modulation corresponding waveform data is stored. Then, for example, when transmitting an ultrasonic signal, the code is modulated according to the code modulation corresponding waveform data of the data memory 13 according to the signal generation procedure of the program memory 11, and when receiving the ultrasonic signal, the program memory 11 The signal is demodulated in accordance with the code modulation-corresponding waveform data of the data memory 13 in accordance with the signal detection procedure.

Specifically, for example, the digital signal of the stored information stored in the first and second personal computers 16a and 16b is changed by an appropriate modulation method such as AM modulation, PM modulation, FM modulation and SS modulation. The modulated wave of the ultrasonic wave is formed by modulating, the modulated wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3a, 3b, and is received by the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4a, 5a, 4b, 5b, and then the modulated wave of the ultrasonic wave is generated. It demodulates to a digital signal, and by doing so, the first and second personal computers
Information stored in 16a and 16b can be transmitted to each other.

The coordinate information input device of this embodiment is provided with a switch 32 for switching between the coordinate information input mode and the ultrasonic communication mode, as shown by the broken line in FIG. By switching the above modes by switching, in the coordinate information input mode,
According to the program (coordinate input program) stored in the program memory 11, the coordinate information input operation and the sound source position detection tracking operation similar to those in the first embodiment are performed, and stored in the program memory 11 in the ultrasonic communication mode. According to a program (communication program) different from the coordinate input program that is performed, the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception elements 3 to 5 may be configured to perform ultrasonic communication, or a mode selection signal or command input on the personal computer 16 side. For example, each operation may be performed by switching each mode.

This embodiment is configured as described above,
By placing the ultrasonic reflector 9 such as a ballpoint pen in the ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2a-5a on the personal computer 16a side and performing the same operation as in the first embodiment, the first personal computer 16a It is possible to input coordinate information and voice input to the same. Similarly, the coordinate information is transmitted by the ultrasonic reflector 9 arranged in the ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2b to 5b on the personal computer 16b side. It is possible to input to the second personal computer 16b or input voice, and it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, for example, the first and second
The code signal modulation / demodulation logic means 50 provided in each of the multi-function input / output devices of
The ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 is modulated by modulating the digital signals of a and 16b.
a, 3b to ultrasonic receiving elements 2b, 4b, 5b, 2a,
4a, 5a side, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the ultrasonic receiving element 2
b, 4b, 5b, 2a, 4a, 5a respectively receive and transmit ultrasonic waves, and the received signals are demodulated by the code modulation / demodulation logic circuit to produce the first and second personal computers 16
By inputting to a and 16b, it becomes possible to perform data transmission between the first personal computer 16a and the second personal computer 16b.

Conventionally, a plurality of connectors and cables are required for data transmission between small information terminal devices such as data transmission between the first and second personal computers 16a and 16b. Although it was difficult to save the connection space and the operation space, in the present embodiment, the data between the first personal computer 16a and the second personal computer 16b can be exchanged without the need for connectors and cables. It becomes possible to perform transmission, and the operation space can be saved.

Further, according to this embodiment, a plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving elements are provided for ultrasonic wave communication.
Even if a failure of reception occurs due to a failure of one ultrasonic receiving element, the reception can be performed by another ultrasonic receiving element, so that reliable reception is possible. Further, the waveform, phase difference, and time difference of the communication signal received by each ultrasonic receiving element are known in advance, and any waveforms such as dissimilarity that are out of these conditions can be removed as external noise. Therefore, an information communication function that is resistant to external noise and has a stable reception function can be configured.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various embodiments can be adopted. For example, the number of the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 is not particularly limited, and it is sufficient that at least one ultrasonic wave transmitting element is provided. It suffices that three or more are provided, and the number thereof is set appropriately. Also, the disposition interval between the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element is not particularly limited and may be set appropriately.

When two or more ultrasonic wave transmitting elements 3 are provided and four or more ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 are provided as in the above embodiment, usually, for example, one ultrasonic wave transmitting element is transmitted. Only the element 3 and the three ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 are operated, and the other elements 2 to 5 are also operated as necessary. It can also be selected and operated. And if it does so, energy saving can be achieved.

Further, in the second to fourth embodiments, the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 33 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2,
The surfaces of the ultrasonic receiving surfaces 55, 34 and 35 of 4,5 are formed as arc-shaped curved surfaces protruding in an arc shape, respectively, and these surfaces 55, 33, 34 and 35 are formed.
The radii of curvature B ₂ and B ₃ are both smaller than the radius of curvature B ₁ of the arcuate arrangement surface on which the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 are arranged. Ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface
The radii of curvature B ₂ and B ₃ of 33, 55, 34 and 35 may be formed to be larger than the radius of curvature B ₁ of the arcuate arrangement surface of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2, 3, 4, and 5. Absent. In the above embodiment, the ultrasonic wave receiving surfaces 55, 3 of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4, 5 are used.
Although the radii of curvature of 4 and 35 are all made equal, the radii of curvature of the ultrasonic wave receiving surfaces 55, 34 and 35 of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4 and 5 may be formed to have different sizes.

Further, the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3
33 and the ultrasonic receiving surfaces 55, 34 of the ultrasonic receiving elements 2, 4, 5
Not all the surfaces of 35 are formed in an arcuate curved surface, and at least one surface of the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface 33 and the ultrasonic wave receiving surfaces 55, 34, 35 may be formed in an arcuate curved surface. You may form by surfaces (for example, flat surface) other than an arcuate curved surface. However, if the ultrasonic wave receiving / transmitting surfaces 33 to 35, 55 are formed into an arcuate curved surface, the directivity of the ultrasonic wave receiving / transmitting surfaces can be expanded. It is desirable to form the curved surface, and by forming the radius of curvature smaller than the radius of curvature of the arcuate arrangement surface of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2 to 5, the effect of expanding the directivity can be further improved. .

Further, in the third embodiment, between the transmitting element arrangement layer 38 in which the ultrasonic transmitting element 3 is arranged and the receiving element arrangement layer 39 in which the ultrasonic receiving elements 4 and 5 are arranged. Vibration relaxation layer
40 is provided to form a multi-layered structure of three layers, and in the fourth embodiment, the vibration relaxation layer 40 is formed by the receiving element disposing layers 39 of two layers each.
A 7-layer structure is formed by sandwiching the transmission element disposition layer 38 through
You may form a multilayer structure of the number of layers other than that.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2 to 5 are arranged on the plane surface or the arcuate convex surface. As shown in 16 (a), it may be arranged on a concave surface. In this case, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 2-5
Has a directivity shown in, for example, (b) of the figure, and in this case as well, the same operation as that of the above-described embodiment produces the same effect.

Further, in the above embodiment, the function as a voice receiving element for receiving a voice is added to all the ultrasonic receiving elements 2, 4 and 5, but when four or more ultrasonic receiving elements are provided, The function as the sound receiving element may be added only to at least three ultrasonic wave receiving elements.

Further, in the fifth embodiment, all the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2a, 4a, 5a, 2b, 4b, 5b are ultrasonic wave receiving elements.
Only a and 4b may be the receiving elements for ultrasonic communication. In this way, at least one of the ultrasonic receiving elements is used as an ultrasonic communication receiving element, and at least one of the ultrasonic transmitting elements is used as an ultrasonic communication transmitting element, and code modulation / demodulation for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves for communication is performed. If a logic function is added, ultrasonic communication becomes possible as in the fifth embodiment.

Furthermore, when ultrasonic communication is performed between the coordinate information input devices as in the fifth embodiment, for example, the supercomputer on the first multi-function input / output device side provided on the personal computer 16a side is used. A sound wave transmission cable can be attached to a transmission / reception element for ultrasonic wave communication and a transmission / reception element for ultrasonic wave communication on the side of the second multifunctional input / output device provided on the personal computer 16b side, and ultrasonic wave communication can be performed via the sound wave transmission cable. It may be configured to perform.

As described above, when the ultrasonic wave transmitting cable and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arranged so that the sound wave propagating cables can be attached to the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element of the ultrasonic wave communication can be used. A cable for transmitting sound waves is provided between them, and it becomes possible to perform ultrasonic communication through the cable. At this time, the personal computer 16 or the like provided with each multi-function input / output device transmits ultrasonic waves. If it is installed in the ultrasonic cutoff device that can cut off, even if there is a lot of ultrasonic noise near the installation location of the personal computer 16 etc., it will be possible to perform ultrasonic communication very accurately, and it will be a small computer etc. Data transmission between information terminal devices can be performed accurately.

Further, as in the fifth embodiment, various functions such as an error check system for mutually confirming transmitted data and received data and a frame system when ultrasonic communication is performed by the coordinate information input device. It is also possible to add these, and by adding those functions, the communication operation of the personal computer 16 or the like can be enhanced.

Further, as in the fifth embodiment, when ultrasonic communication can be performed between the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3 and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2, 4, 5, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 2 is used. ~
The arrangement of No. 5 may be formed as in the second to fourth embodiments, or may be other arrangements.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ultrasonic element section 20
Is provided on the front side of the keyboard section of the personal computer 16, but the ultrasonic element section 20 may be provided on the side end side of the keyboard section, for example, as shown in FIG. The PC card 14 may be provided as shown in (b) of the figure, or the ultrasonic element unit 20 may be provided as an information input device separately from the personal computer 16 and the PC card 14. As described above, the installation location of the ultrasonic element section 20 and the installation location of other components are not particularly limited,
It is set appropriately.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ultrasonic reflector 9
As an example, a ball-point pen has been described as an example, but various objects such as a mechanical pencil and a fingertip are applied to the ultrasonic reflector 9, and the multi-function input / output device of the present invention is applied to these ultrasonic reflectors. The moving coordinate position of the body 9 can be obtained as coordinate information, and the obtained coordinate information can be input to the information terminal device such as the personal computer 16.

In each of the second and third embodiments, the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements are alternately arranged. However, the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements and the ultrasonic wave receiving elements are not necessarily alternately arranged. For example, when the ultrasonic wave transmitting element is A and the ultrasonic wave receiving element is B, the arrangement of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element A and the ultrasonic wave receiving element B is ABBABBA ...
.. or BAABAA ... may be used.

Furthermore, the multi-function input / output device of the present invention is
As in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is not always used only for inputting coordinate information and voice information to a personal computer, etc., or for communicating between personal computers, but by the multi-function input / output device of the present invention, for example, a driver of a car The multi-function input / output device of the present invention is widely applied to various uses, such as inputting the voice of (1) to the car stereo so that the car stereo can be operated by the voice.

[0119]

According to the present invention, by the arithmetic logic,
From the ultrasonic wave transmitting element transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element to the ultrasonic wave receiving element which is reflected in the ultrasonic wave reflecting element moving in the ultrasonic wave field of the ultrasonic wave receiving element and is received by the ultrasonic wave receiving element Based on the time difference between each transmission and reception up to, the moving coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector is calculated as coordinate information, the coordinate information obtained by the calculation, by the information input means,
In order to input the coordinate information to the input device, very accurate coordinate information can be input to the coordinate information input device, and the voice reception received by the voice receiving element of the ultrasonic receiving elements. Based on the information, the sound source position can be accurately detected and tracked by the sound position detecting means with almost no influence of ambient noise or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, since the coordinate information is input by moving an ultrasonic reflector such as a ballpoint pen or a fingertip in the ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element, the coordinate information is input. There is no need to move the components on the information input device side, and you can easily input coordinate information in a space-saving manner by using ultrasonic reflectors such as ballpoint pens, mechanical pens, and fingertips, without using special equipment. In addition, it is also possible to accurately input voice, and it will be an epoch-making multi-function input / output device that can accurately operate PCs, air conditioners of vehicles, navigation, car stereos, etc. be able to.

The plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting elements are arranged in an array to form a transmitting element arrangement portion, and the plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving elements are arranged in an array shape to form the transmitting element arrangement portion. According to the present invention in which the receiving element disposing portion is formed independently of, the ultrasonic transmitting elements and the ultrasonic receiving elements are arranged in an array to improve the resolution when detecting and inputting coordinate information. It is possible to raise it.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arranged on the arcuate surface through the resin portion. By arranging on the surface of, the directivity (ultrasonic field) of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element can be formed in a wide range, and the coordinate information detectable range can be widened when the coordinate information is input. it can. Then, the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface of each ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving surface of each ultrasonic wave receiving element are projected in an arc shape, and the radius of curvature of the ultrasonic wave receiving and transmitting surface is set to an arcuate arrangement surface of these ultrasonic element. By making it smaller than the radius of curvature of the ultrasonic wave, it is possible to further enhance the directivity expansion effect of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element, and to make the movement detectable range of the ultrasonic reflector extremely wide with a small number of transmitting / receiving elements. You can

Further, at least one ultrasonic transmitting element is provided on the side end side of the transmitting element disposing layer formed in an arc shape through the resin portion, and the ultrasonic receiving element is formed in an arc shape through the resin portion. Three or more are provided on the side edge side of the formed receiving element arrangement layer,
An arc-shaped vibration relaxation layer that absorbs vibrations of the ultrasonic transmission element at the time of ultrasonic transmission is interposed between the transmission element arrangement layer and the reception element arrangement layer, and the vibration relaxation layer and the transmission element are provided. According to the present invention in which the disposition layer and the receiving element disposition layer have a multi-layer structure, the ultrasonic wave is suppressed by the vibration relaxation layer interposed between the transmitting element disposition layer and the receiving element disposition layer. Since it is possible to absorb the vibration of the transmitting element when transmitting ultrasonic waves and prevent the ultrasonic receiving element side from being affected by the vibration of the ultrasonic transmitting element side, ultrasonic reception by the ultrasonic receiving element is possible. The accuracy can be improved and the coordinate information input operation can be performed more accurately.

Further, according to the present invention, when inputting the coordinate information, if the moving coordinates of the ultrasonic reflector are continuously detected, handwriting input information other than pointing information can be input to the input device. When the ultrasonic receiving elements are formed by receiving elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, X,
The coordinate information of the Y and Z axes can also be detected, and three-dimensional information can be input.

The arithmetic logic provided on the coordinate information input device side, the information input means, and the voice position detecting means can be made compact by forming a small circuit, and the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element can also be made compact. Therefore, the coordinate input device can be downsized, the installation space of the device can be reduced, and the easiness of handling the device can be improved.

Further, at least one of the ultrasonic wave transmitting elements is a transmitting element for ultrasonic communication, and at least one of the ultrasonic receiving elements is a receiving element for ultrasonic communication, and a code for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves for communication. According to the present invention to which the modulation / demodulation logic function is added, the data stored in the input device of the coordinate information is transmitted and received by using the transmitting element of ultrasonic communication and the receiving element of ultrasonic communication. It is possible to exchange information such as the above between the input devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a control unit of a first embodiment of a multi-function input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a voice position detecting means of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an ultrasonic element portion of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement positions of the ultrasonic element portions and the directivities of the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving elements 2 to 5 in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of obtaining a moving coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector 9 by an active method.

FIG. 6 is a sound source position P and each ultrasonic receiving element 2, 4,
5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a positional relationship with FIG.

7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing audio reception information detected by each of the ultrasonic wave receiving elements 4, 5, 2 when the sound source position of audio is at P in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart specifically showing the coordinate information input operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing how to determine the time of transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving elements 4 and 5 transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting element 3.

FIG. 10 is a main part configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the multi-function input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the ultrasonic element unit 20 and the directivity of the ultrasonic transmission element 3 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a main part configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the multi-function input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing an ultrasonic element portion of a fourth embodiment of the multi-function input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block configuration diagram showing a main part configuration of a fifth embodiment of a multi-function input / output device according to the present invention together with a personal computer.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the directivity of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the multi-function input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing still another embodiment of the multi-function input / output device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2, 4, 5 Ultrasonic wave receiving element 3 Ultrasonic wave transmitting element 6 Microprocessor unit 8 Interface circuit 10 Arithmetic logic 20 Ultrasonic element section 38 Transmitting element arrangement layer 39 Receiving element arrangement layer 40 Vibration relaxation layer 56 Audio position detecting means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic wave transmitting element having one or more ultrasonic wave transmitting elements and three or more ultrasonic wave receiving elements, wherein the ultrasonic wave receiving element has a wider directivity than the ultrasonic wave transmitting element. The ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arranged so that the directivity of the ultrasonic wave receiving element is included in the directivity of the ultrasonic wave receiving element, and at least three ultrasonic wave receiving elements among the ultrasonic wave receiving elements are received. The element is added with a function as a voice receiving element for receiving voice, and is reflected from an ultrasonic reflector that is transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitting element and moves in the ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic receiving and transmitting element. It has a calculation logic for calculating the moving coordinate position of the ultrasonic reflector as coordinate information based on the time difference between each transmission and reception from the ultrasonic transmission element to each ultrasonic reception element until it is received by each ultrasonic reception element. , Played by the arithmetic logic While having the information input means for inputting the coordinate information obtained by the calculation to the input device of the coordinate information,
A multi-function input / output device comprising voice position detecting means for detecting and tracking a voice source position based on voice reception information received by each of the voice receiving elements. 2. A plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting elements are arranged in an array to form a transmitting element mounting portion, and a plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving elements are arranged in an array to form the transmitting element mounting portion. 2. The multi-function input / output device according to claim 1, wherein a receiving element arrangement portion is formed independently of the receiving element arrangement portion. 3. The multi-function input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arranged on an arcuate surface with a resin portion interposed therebetween. . 4. The ultrasonic wave receiving surface of the ultrasonic wave transmitting element and the ultrasonic wave receiving surface of the ultrasonic wave receiving element are arc-shaped curved surfaces protruding in an arc shape, and the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped curved surface is the ultrasonic wave transmitting element. 4. The multi-function input / output device according to claim 3, wherein the multi-function input / output device is formed so as to have a smaller radius of curvature than an arcuate surface on which the ultrasonic receiving element is arranged. 5. One or more ultrasonic wave transmitting elements are provided on a side end side of a transmitting element disposing layer formed in an arc shape via a resin portion, and the ultrasonic receiving element is formed in an arc shape via the resin portion. A circle that is provided on three or more side edges of the formed receiving element arrangement layer and that absorbs the vibration of the ultrasonic transmitting element during ultrasonic transmission between the transmitting element arrangement layer and the receiving element arrangement layer. 5. An arc-shaped vibration relaxation layer is interposed, and the vibration relaxation layer, the transmission element disposition layer, and the reception element disposition layer form a multilayer structure. The multi-function input / output device according to any one of claims. 6. At least one of the ultrasonic transmission elements is used as a transmission element for ultrasonic communication, and at least one of the ultrasonic reception elements is used.
As an ultrasonic communication receiving element, and the directivity of the ultrasonic communication receiving element and the directivity of the ultrasonic receiving element are formed so that the directivity of the ultrasonic communication receiving element is equal to or more than the directivity of the transmitting element of the ultrasonic communication. The multi-function input / output device according to claim 1, further comprising a code modulation / demodulation logic function for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves for communication.