JPH08286830A - Hand-written input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve a cost performance and an operability by identifying a type of an input device based on the input area or shape of a hand-written input device detected by an identification section and executing graphic drawing processing corresponding to the identification. CONSTITUTION: In the hand-written input device which executes picture drawing corresponding to an input operation by a hand-written input device (input pen 4 and an eraser 5 or the like) onto an input face (input coordinate detection panel) 3, an input device identification section 9 detects an input area or an input shape of the input device onto the input coordinate detection panel 3 and identifies the kind of the hand-written input device making an input operation based on the detected input area or input shape. A picture drawing processing section 10 selects the processing mode based on the identification information from the input device identification section 9 and processes the input coordinate data by the input pen 4 or the like fed from an input coordinate communication section 7 according to the selected processing mode to generate picture drawing data and provides an output of the data to a display use VRAM 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handwriting input device for drawing a locus corresponding to an input locus of a handwriting input device such as an input pen on a display screen, and more particularly to a technique for recognizing the type of the handwriting input device. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a handwriting input device used for an electronic blackboard, a palmtop computer, an electronic notebook, etc. of a teleconferencing system, characters, pictures, diagrams, etc. manually written by a person using an input pen or the like are displayed on the screen. Displayed above.

Such a handwriting input device has a display panel for performing various displays and an input coordinate detection panel which is stacked on the display panel and detects a coordinate position designated by a handwriting input device such as an input pen. However, the locus corresponding to the input locus of the handwriting input device is displayed on the display panel.

By the way, the drawing by the handwriting input device has an erasing function in addition to the writing function.
Conventionally, the following method has been used to distinguish these functions.

(1) The input pen is provided with a drawing mode switch for selecting an erase mode (eraser mode) and a writing mode (pen mode), and the drawing mode is selected by the drawing mode switch to perform an input operation. (2) Display A menu button corresponding to the above drawing mode switch is provided on the screen, and a drawing mode is selected by this menu button to perform input operation. (3) In addition to an input pen with a writing function, an erasing input device such as an eraser. Prepare these input devices, and removably arrange these input devices at the respective predetermined positions of the system casing, detect that the operator has removed these input devices from the respective predetermined positions with an infrared sensor, etc. Perform the input operation of the corresponding drawing mode.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In the methods (1) and (2), the drawing mode switch or the menu button has to be selected every time the drawing mode is switched, and the operation is complicated, and the selection operation is not intuitive. . Also, in these methods (1) and (2),
After the selection operation, diagonally to specify the erase area 2
You have to perform certain operations such as specifying points,
The operation is complicated.

Further, in the above method (3), since the input pen and the eraser are separate, there is an advantage that the selection operation is intuitive, but on the other hand, when something other than the eraser is placed at the eraser attaching / detaching part, There is a problem that leads to malfunction.

It should be noted that, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-9023, two position indicating members for indicating the erase area are provided inside the eraser, a tilt sensor for detecting the tilt of the eraser on the surface of the electronic blackboard, and a chamfer. The eraser is mounted with a switch for detecting which part of the end portion is used as the eraser, and the writing area side detects the pointing area by the position pointing member, and the detection output of the tilt sensor and the switch is written on the writing surface. There is disclosed an eraser for an electronic blackboard which transfers to the side and specifies the eraser range on the writing surface side, thereby making it possible to specify various erase areas by using an eraser having a shape conforming to a rectangle.

However, in this conventional eraser for an electronic blackboard, there is no particular disclosure regarding the technique for identifying the eraser and the pen. Also, in this electronic blackboard eraser, since various sensors are built in the eraser side, the eraser becomes heavy and the usability deteriorates, and the information of various sensors is transferred from the eraser side to the writing side. Therefore, there is a problem that the system cost becomes high, and when a plurality of erasers are prepared, a configuration for transferring the identification information of each eraser to the writing surface side is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables the operator to identify the type of the handwriting input device without performing a special selection operation, and thus the handwriting input with good cost performance and operability. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in the handwriting input device for executing drawing corresponding to the input operation on the input surface (3) of the handwriting input device (4, 5), the input surface (3) is drawn. Identification means for detecting the input area or input shape of the handwriting input device (4,5) and identifying the type of the handwriting input device (4, 5) that has performed the input operation based on the detected input area or input shape ( 9)
And a drawing processing means (10) for executing drawing processing corresponding to the type identified by the identifying means (9).

[0012]

According to the invention, the identifying means detects the input area or the input shape of the handwriting input device, and identifies the type of the handwriting input device that has performed the input operation based on the detected input area or input shape. . The drawing processing means executes a drawing process corresponding to the type of the identified handwriting input device.

Since the type of the handwriting input device is automatically identified based on its input area or input shape,
Cost performance and operability can be improved without forcing the operator to perform a special selection operation.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. A screen panel 1 is a display panel 2 for displaying various kinds of handwritten input images, and an input device (input pen 4) stacked on the display panel 2. , The eraser 5, etc.) and the input coordinate detection panel 3 for detecting the coordinate position designated by the eraser 5.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, a pen-shaped input pen 4 and a rectangular eraser 5 are provided as input devices. The input pen 4 is for writing writing, and the eraser 5 is for handwritten characters,
This is for erasing figures and the like.

The input coordinate detection panel 3 is a pressure-sensitive type,
There are various methods such as a capacitive coupling method, an ultrasonic method, and an electromagnetic transfer method, and FIG. 3 shows a conceptual configuration of a pressure-sensitive panel.

In the pressure sensitive panel 3 of FIG. 2, a large number of X
The electrodes x1 to xn and the Y electrodes y1 to yn are stacked and arranged so as to intersect with each other. Normally, the X electrode and the Y electrode are separated by a dot spacer (not shown) provided between the X electrode and the Y electrode. However, when the panel 3 is pushed by the input pen 4 or the eraser 5, the X electrode and the Y electrode at a portion corresponding to the pushed position come into contact with each other,
Form a current loop. By detecting this current loop, the coordinates on the panel 3 corresponding to the pressed portion are detected. The area 13 shown by cross-hatching in FIG. 3 indicates a pressed portion, and in this case, coordinates (x4, y4), (x4, y5), (x
5, y4) and (x5, y5) are in contact with the X and Y electrodes.

The input coordinate detecting section 6 detects the coordinates on the input coordinate detecting panel 3 pushed by the input pen 4 or the like. When the input coordinate detecting panel 3 is a pressure sensitive type, the input coordinate detecting section 6 operates as follows. The pressed coordinate position is detected as follows.

That is, when the time series pulses as shown in FIG. 4 are sequentially applied to the Y electrodes y1 to yn while the X electrodes x1 to xn are pulled up to Vcc, the Y axis is moved by the pressure applied by the input pen 4. Only when the X electrodes contacting each other are input with the time-series pulse, it becomes “L”. That is, the input coordinate detecting unit 6 specifies the Y-axis coordinates based on the application timing of the time-series pulse, and also specifies the X-axis coordinates by detecting the L potential on the X electrodes x1 to xn.

Input pen 4 detected by input coordinate detector 6
The input coordinate data such as is output to the input coordinate communication unit 7. The input coordinate communication unit 7 is, for example, RS232C,
When the input coordinate data is input, the input coordinate data is output to the control unit 8 together with the interrupt request signal.

The control unit 8 is a CPU or MPU that executes various controls. In this case, only the input device identification unit 9 and the drawing processing unit 10 are the only constituent elements that execute the functions directly related to the operation of the present invention. Is shown.

The input device identification unit 9 detects the input area or input shape of the input device for the input coordinate detection panel 3, and determines the type of the handwriting input device that has performed the input operation based on the detected input area or input shape. It identifies and outputs this identification information to the drawing processing unit 10. When the input coordinate detection panel 3 is a pressure-sensitive panel, the area or shape of the area touched simultaneously or almost simultaneously with the panel 3 is detected, and the type of the input device touched is detected based on the detected area or shape. Identify. Figure 5
An example of a touch area by various input devices is shown in FIG. The cross-hatched area is the touch area.

The drawing processing section 10 includes an input device identifying section 9
A processing mode is selected on the basis of the identification information from, and the coordinate data sent from the input coordinate communication unit 7 is processed in accordance with the selected processing mode to create drawing data (including erased data). VRAM1 for display
Output to 1.

Display data to be displayed on the display panel 2 is stored in the VRAM 11 for one screen, and the display driver 12 drives the display panel 2 in accordance with the storage data in the VRAM 11 to correspond to the storage data in the VRAM 11. The display is executed on the display panel 2.

Hereinafter, a specific operation example of the input device identification section 9 in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

However, in this case, the input coordinate detection panel 3
Conceptually, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the sensors are arranged in a matrix in the −Y direction, and XY coordinate values are assigned to each sensor in advance.

Further, in this case, the following four types of devices are used as the input devices. The unit of size and area is one sensor.

(A) Fine pen size (3 horizontal x 6 vertical) Area 18 (b) Thick pen size (7 horizontal / 16 vertical) Area 112 (c) Eraser (small) Size (9 horizontal / 9 vertical) Area 81 (d) Eraser (Large) Size (horizontal 21 / vertical 21) area 441 The input device identification unit 9 executes the processing shown in FIG. 6 in order to identify the above four types of input devices.

That is, the input device identification unit 9 uses the coordinate data detected by the input coordinate detection unit 6 to first determine whether or not one or more sensors have reacted in this input (step 100). ).

Next, the input device identification unit 9 checks whether or not the number of responded sensors is within the range of 10 to 28 (step 110). If yes, the relational expression X_min + 6≤X_max. It is checked whether or not ≦ X_min + 4 y_min + 5 ≦ y_max ≦ y_min + 7 is satisfied (step 120), and if so, the current input device is recognized as a thin pen (step 130). In addition, X_min and y_min represent the minimum value of the x value in the reacted sensor, and y_min and y_max represent the maximum value of the y value in the reacted sensor.

Next, the input device identification unit 9 checks whether or not the number of responded sensors is within the range of 80 to 136 (step 140). If yes, the relational expression X_min + 6≤X_max. It is checked whether ≦ X_min + 8 y_min + 15 ≦ y_max ≦ y_min + 17 is satisfied (step 150), and if so, the current input device is recognized as a thick pen (step 160).

Next, the input device identification unit 9 checks whether or not the number of responded sensors is within the range of 60 to 100 (step 170). If yes, the relational expression X_min + 8≤X_max. It is checked whether or not ≦ X_min + 10 y_min + 8 ≦ y_max ≦ y_min + 10 is satisfied (step 180), and if so, it is recognized that the current input device is an eraser (small) (step 190).

Next, the input device identification unit 9 checks whether or not the number of reacted sensors is within the range of 400 to 484 (step 200).
It is checked whether or not the relational expression X_min + 20≤X_max≤X_min + 22 y_min + 20≤y_max≤y_min + 22 is satisfied (step 210), and if so, the current input device is recognized as an eraser (large) (step 220).

If none of the above conditions is met, it is assumed that a human hand or the like touches the input surface, and the current input is ignored (step 230).

When the input device identification unit 9 identifies a thin pen, the drawing processing unit 10 performs a drawing process using a thin line, and when the input device identifying unit 9 identifies a thick pen, a drawing process using a thick line is performed. When the small eraser is identified, the erasing process is performed according to the locus of the small eraser, and when the large eraser is identified, the erasing process is performed according to the locus of the large eraser.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the type of the input device is identified according to the touch area of the input device, and the subsequent processing mode is selected according to the identification result.

In the above embodiment, the type of the input device may be identified according to the input shape of the input device. In this case, the shape of the input surface of the input device may be changed for each input device, and the shape of the input area may be recognized on the screen panel panel side using a known graphic recognition technique.

Although the input pen and the eraser are separate bodies in the above embodiment, an input pen with an eraser as shown in FIG. 8 can be used as the input device.
That is, in the input device of FIG. 8, line drawing is performed by the core portion 14 on the pen side, and erase processing is performed by the eraser portion 15 at the rear end of the pen, and handwriting input is performed as with a normal pencil with an eraser. be able to.

The rectangular parallelepiped eraser 5 shown in FIG. 2 (b) has three different faces in terms of its shape and area. Therefore, if the contact areas of these three surfaces are made different from the contact area of the input pen, it is possible to perform erasing processing with different erasing areas using each surface of the eraser 5.

Further, a plurality of input pens having different contact areas are prepared, and different line attributes (for example, color, thickness, type (solid line, dotted line, etc.)) are respectively applied to the plurality of input pens.
If is set, the line attribute can be changed by selecting the input pen. For example, if a color is set as the line attribute, the line drawing color can be changed as if using a colored pencil.

Further, an erase level for selecting an erasable eraser may be set as an attribute of the drawn line, and the erasable eraser may be selected using this erase level. For example, as attributes of the drawn line, an erasable level 1 that can be erased only on the surface A of the eraser 20 in FIG. 9, an erasable level 2 that can be erased on any surface of the eraser 20, and an eraser 20 can erase. I can't
If you set a non-erasable level that can be erased only with a sand eraser with a different shape (not shown), sand eraser will behave like a normal eraser, similar to an oil-based pen, ballpoint pen, pencil, etc. It becomes possible to perform an erasing process for a drawing having such an attribute. Further, an input device such as a brush may be provided with a function of a correction fluid so that a drawing which cannot be erased by the eraser 20 can be corrected by overwriting.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, an input device having a compass function may be prepared to draw a circle on the handwriting screen panel 1. In this case, in order to distinguish the fulcrum 21 and the drawing point 22 of the compass, their areas and shapes are made different.

Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the pressure-sensitive panel, but other electromagnetic transfer system,
The present invention may be applied to an input coordinate detection method such as a capacitive coupling method or an ultrasonic method.

FIG. 11 shows a principle structure for detecting input coordinates by an electromagnetic transfer system. An input device 30 such as an input pen or an eraser has a resonance circuit composed of a coil 31 and a capacitor 32 built therein. . In addition, a plurality of X-axis direction sensor antenna coils 33a, 33b, on the back surface of a screen panel P (not shown) as a display surface,
33c, ... Are arranged in parallel in the X-axis direction, and similarly, a plurality of Y-axis direction sensor antenna coils (not shown) are arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction.

First, the switch 3 for switching between transmission and reception.
4 is connected to the side of the AC power supply 36, and the switch 35 for coil switching is connected to the coils 33a, 33b, 33.
.. are switched at high speed so that the coils 33a, 33b, 33c, ..
Magnetic fields are sequentially generated on the screen panel P by c, ....

As a result, a current corresponding to the magnetic field generated on the screen panel flows in the resonance circuit of the input device 30 located at an arbitrary position on the screen panel P.

In this state, the switch 3 for switching between transmission and reception
By switching the contact of No. 4 to the receiving circuit 37 side and switching the switch 35 at high speed so as to sequentially select each coil 33a, 33b, 33c, each coil 33a,
The receiving circuit 37 sequentially detects the currents generated in 33b and 33c.

That is, the coil 31 of the input device 30
Each coil 33a, 33b, 3 by the magnetic field generated from
The current generated in 3c is detected by the receiving circuit 37, and the X position of the input device 30 is specified based on this detection. That is, since the largest current is generated in the X-axis coil closest to the position of the input device 30, the X position of the input device 30 can be specified by examining the current generated in each coil.

Similarly, the Y position of the input device is also specified.

When the present invention is applied to such an electromagnetic input system, the input device 3 as shown in FIG. 12 is used.
0 is used. That is, FIG. 12A shows an input pen for fine writing, in which one resonance circuit including a coil 31 and a capacitor 32 is incorporated. FIG. 12B shows an input pen for bold writing, and the thickness (diameter) of the pen itself.
Is twice as large as a pen for fine writing, and a total of 4 (2 x
2) Built-in resonant circuits. FIG. 12 (c) shows a rectangular parallelepiped eraser, the length of one side of the input surface of which is four times the diameter of the fine writing pen, and a total of 16 (4 × 4) resonant circuits are provided inside the eraser. Are distributed.

As described above, if a plurality of input devices 30 having different numbers of resonance circuits are used, for example, the input pen for fine writing shown in FIG. 12A has one XY coordinate on the screen panel P. The position is detected by
The input pen for bold writing shown in 2 (b) is the screen panel P.
The position is detected by the upper several XY coordinates, and FIG.
The position of the eraser shown in (c) can be detected by more than ten XY coordinates on the screen panel P, and the type of the input device that has performed the input operation can be identified based on this position.

FIG. 13 shows the principle structure for detecting input coordinates by the capacitive coupling method.
0 is formed by forming an X electrode pattern and a Y electrode pattern on two sheets of glass, respectively, and laminating the two sheets of glass on which these electrode patterns are formed so that their electrode surfaces face each other. Such an input panel 40
The time series pulses as shown in FIG. 14 are sequentially applied to the Y electrodes y1 to yn, and the same time series pulses are also sequentially applied to the X electrodes x1 to xn. In this state, if the input pen (stylus pen) 50 is brought close to the input panel,
Due to the electrostatic capacitance generated between the pen tip and the electrode, the pulse applied to the electrode corresponding to the position where the input pen approaches is blunted. The input position coordinates are specified by detecting this rounding for each of the X electrode side and the Y electrode side.

When the present invention is applied to such a capacitive coupling method, the size (diameter) of the input device 50 is changed as shown in FIG. That is, FIG.
5 (a) shows an input pen for thin writing, FIG. 12 (b) shows an input pen for thick writing, and FIG. 12 (c) shows an eraser, but the diameters of these input devices are different. ing.

As a result, on the input panel 40 side, the number of XY coordinates in which the rounding occurs changes according to the input device, and based on this, the type of the input device that performed the input operation is identified. be able to.

[0056]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the handwriting input device detects the input area or input shape of the handwriting input device and performs the input operation based on the detected input area or input shape. Since the type of the handwriting input device is identified and the drawing process corresponding to the identified type is executed, the type of the handwriting input device can be identified without performing a special selection operation for the operator, and the cost performance and Operability is significantly improved compared to the conventional one. Further, since each input device can be used as if using a stationery, it can be effectively applied to a handwriting input device for an infant.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an input device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement mode of XY electrodes of a pressure-sensitive panel.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an applied pulse to a Y electrode of a pressure sensitive panel.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing input shapes of various input devices.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of input device identification processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conceptual configuration of an input coordinate detection panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another input device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another input device.

FIG. 11 is a principle diagram for detecting input coordinates by an electromagnetic transfer system.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an input device when the present invention is applied to an electromagnetic transfer system.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a capacitive coupling type input panel.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a pulse applied to a Y electrode of a capacitive coupling type input panel.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an input device when the present invention is applied to a capacitive coupling method.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Screen panel 2 ... Display panel 3 ... Input coordinate detection panel 4 ... Input pen 5 ... Eraser 6 ... Input coordinate detection unit 7 ... Input coordinate communication unit 8 ... Control unit 9 ... Input device identification unit 10 ... Drawing processing unit 11 ... VRAM 12 ... Display driver

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A handwriting input device that executes drawing corresponding to an input operation on an input surface of a handwriting input device, detects an input area or an input shape of the handwriting input device on the input surface, and detects the detected input area or A handwriting input device comprising: identification means for identifying the type of a handwriting input device that has performed an input operation based on an input shape; and drawing processing means for executing drawing processing corresponding to the type identified by the identification means.