JPH10177447A - Device for inputting information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for inputting information in which the loss of a pen type instructing member can be exactly prevented, and of which excellent portability can be attained. SOLUTION: Relating to an information inputting device equipped with a pen input member for instructing an arbitrary position on a liquid crystal panel 2, a pen type instructing member 3 is connected through a cord-shaped member 6 with a case 1, and the case 1 is provided with a housing part 7 for housing the pen type instructing member 3. Then, when the pen type instructing member 3 is housed in the housing part 7, the pen type instructing member 3 is restrained by a restraining member 73 so that the pen type instructing member 3 is prevented from coming out of the housing part 7 even when the case 1 is inclined or swung about, and the loss of the pen type instructing member is exactly prevented. Thus, the pen top of the pen type instructing member 3 is prevented from being erroneously brought into contact with a liquid crystal panel 2, and power consumption is reduced. Also, in this state, the cord-shaped member 6 is used as a hanging cord, that is, a strap so that the information inputting device is easily carried.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input device for inputting various information by designating an arbitrary position on a flat plate such as a touch panel with a pen-type designating member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A touch panel comprising a liquid crystal panel or the like and a pen-shaped pointing member are provided, and the pen tip of the pen-shaped pointing member is brought into contact with a desired position on the touch panel to be provided at the pen tip of the pen-shaped pointing member. A coordinate input device that detects a contact position by a detection electrode is known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-1820).
No. 95). The pen-type indicating member can be handled in the same manner as a normal writing instrument, and is used as an information input device of an information device such as a computer.

[0003]

Since the pen-type indicating member can be used only for the device in many cases, the user must pay attention to the loss, and in order to prevent the loss, the pen-type indicating member is attached to the main body of the device. There has also been proposed an apparatus in which a storage place for members is provided in advance.

However, not only when the user himself stores the pen-type indicating member, but also when the pen-type indicating member is stored in the main body of the apparatus, the pen-type indicating member is not stored when the apparatus is carried. There were many opportunities to lose the pen-type pointing member due to slipping off the pen.

For this reason, it is conceivable to connect the pen-type indicating member and the apparatus main body with a string-shaped member to prevent the pen-shaped indicating member from being lost. Since the member easily hits a surrounding object, the pen tip or the like may be broken or stained.

On the other hand, in order to reduce power consumption, an information input device that automatically turns on the power only when the pen tip of the pen-type pointing member is brought into contact with the touch panel is conceivable.
If the pen-type pointing member is not stored properly, the pen tip may touch the touch panel unintentionally and the power may be turned on, causing problems such as shortening the life of the battery.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information input device which can reliably prevent the pen-type pointing member from being lost and is excellent in carrying.

[0008]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 showing an embodiment of the present invention. -Claim 1-The invention according to claim 1 is a casing 1 having a flat plate 2 formed of a predetermined material, a pen-shaped pointing member 3 capable of pointing an arbitrary position on the flat plate 2, and a casing. 1 is applied to an information input device provided with a pen position detecting means 11 a for detecting a pointing position on the flat plate 2 by the pen-shaped pointing member 3, and is connected to the housing 1 and the pen-shaped pointing member 3. It has a cord-like member 6, a storage part 7 provided in the housing 1 and capable of storing the pen-shaped pointing member 3, and a locking member 73 for locking the pen-shaped pointing member 3 stored in the storage part 7. Thereby, the above object is achieved. According to the first aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, one end of the string-shaped member 6 is connected to the housing 1 (for example, the suspension ring 4 in FIG. 1), and the other end is connected to the pen-type indicating member 3 (for example, , FIG.
5). Then, the housing 1 is provided with a storage section 7 capable of storing the pen-type indicating member 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the pen-type pointing member 3 is stored in the storage portion 7, the pen-type pointing member 3 is locked by the locking member 73.
Thus, in a state where the pen-shaped indicating member 3 is stored in the storage portion 7, the pen-shaped indicating member 3 does not fall out of the storage portion 7 even when the string-shaped member 6 is pulled, and the string-shaped member 6 is used as a shoulder strap. it can. -Claim 2-The invention according to Claim 2 includes an unlocking member 74 for unlocking the pen-type indicating member 3 by the locking member 73. According to the second aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the locking of the pen-type pointing member 3 by the locking member 73 can be released by the locking release member 74. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the casing 1 is provided with an annular member 21 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pen-shaped indicating member 3 and capable of penetrating the string-shaped member 6. The member 6 penetrates the annular member 21 and connects to the housing 1 and the pen-shaped pointing member 3. According to the third aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, an annular member 21 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is attached to the outer surface of the housing 1 or the like.
1 and a pen-shaped pointing member 3
And connect to. -Claim 4-In the invention according to claim 4, the information storage means 13 for storing information corresponding to the pointing position detected by the pen position detecting means 11a, and the pen-type pointing member 3 are stored in the storage section 7. Storage detecting means 8 and 12 for detecting whether or not the pen-shaped indicating member 3 has been stored in the storage section 7.
And a storage prohibition unit for prohibiting the storage of information in the information storage unit when detected by the detection unit.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is stored in the storage portion 7, storage of information corresponding to the pointing position of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is prohibited, and power consumption is reduced.

In the meantime, in the section for solving the above-mentioned problem which explains the constitution of the present invention, a diagram of one embodiment of the present invention is used in order to make the present invention easy to understand. Is not limited to one embodiment.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. -First Embodiment- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information input device according to a first embodiment. A liquid crystal panel 2 functioning as a touch panel is integrally mounted on a front surface of an apparatus body 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a housing), and suspension rings 4, 5 are provided on the housing 1 and a rear end of the pen-type indicating member 3, respectively. Is attached. One end of the string member 6 is engaged with the suspension ring 4, and the other end of the string member 6 is engaged with the suspension ring 5.

The housing 1 is provided with a storage portion 7 capable of storing the pen-shaped pointing member 3, and the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is stored with a pen point downward from a storage hole 71 formed on the upper surface of the housing 1. Part 7
Is stored in. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the pen-type indicating member 3 is stored in the storage section 7, and is a view as viewed from a direction A in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the storage portion 7 is provided with a locking member 73 urged toward the center of the storage hole 71 by a spring 72. When the pen-type indicating member 3 is stored in the storage portion 7, the locking member 73 is provided. Reference numeral 73 locks the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 to prevent the pen-shaped pointing member 3 from falling off.

When the pen-type indicating member 3 is stored in the storage portion 7, the tip of the unlocking member 74 is pushed out from the outer surface of the housing 1, and in this state, the tip of the unlocking member 74 is pushed. When pushed, the pen-shaped indicating member 3 by the locking member 73
Is released, and the pen-type indicating member 3 can be taken out of the storage section 7. A pen storage detecting member 8 for detecting whether or not the pen-type indicating member 3 is stored in the storage section 7.
Is provided. The pen storage detecting member 8 is formed of, for example, a photoreflector, and detects whether or not the pen-type indicating member 3 is stored by irradiating the storage unit 7 with light and receiving the reflected light.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the information input device according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 3 denotes a control circuit that controls the entire apparatus, and is configured by, for example, a CPU. Inside the control circuit 11, a coordinate detecting section 11a for detecting a contact position of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 on the liquid crystal panel 2 is provided. The coordinate detecting unit 11a may be configured by hardware or may be configured by software processing by a CPU.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a detection switch (detection SW) that is turned on when the pen storage detecting member 8 detects that the pen-type indicating member 3 is stored. The control circuit 11 includes a coordinate detector 11a.
The information corresponding to the pen pointing position detected by the memory 1
3 and controls the power of the battery 14 and the display of the liquid crystal panel 2. Specifically, when it is detected that the pen tip of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 has come into contact with the liquid crystal panel 2, the output voltage of the battery is supplied to the entire device, and the movement locus of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 2. 2 and the control circuit 11 stores information corresponding to the designated position of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 in the memory 13. On the other hand, when the detection switch 12 detects that the pen-type indicating member 3 is stored in the storage section 7, the control circuit 11 stops the power supply from the battery 14 to reduce the power consumption.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is connected to the housing 1 by the string-shaped member 6 and the housing 1 is used to store the pen-shaped pointing member 3 in the housing 1. The pen-shaped pointing member 3 is locked by the locking member 73 when the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is stored in the storage portion 7.
Loss of the pen-shaped indicating member 3 can be reliably prevented,
Even if the housing 1 is tilted or swung, the pen-shaped pointing member 3 does not fall out of the storage section 7. This prevents the pen tip of the pen-type pointing member 3 from accidentally coming into contact with the liquid crystal panel 2, thereby reducing power consumption. In the state where the pen-shaped indicating member 3 is stored, the string-shaped member 6 can be used as a hanging string, that is, a strap, so that it is easy to carry and the portability is improved.

Second Embodiment In a second embodiment, instead of attaching an annular member to the housing 1, the structure of the storage section is simplified.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the information input device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a front view. On the outer surface of the housing 1a,
An annular member 21 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pen-shaped indicating member 3 and capable of penetrating the cord-shaped member 6 is attached. The string-shaped member 6 penetrates the annular member 21, one end of the string-shaped member 6 is engaged with the suspension ring 4 of the housing 1 a, and the other end is connected to the rear end of the pen-type indicating member 3. .

On the outer surface of the housing 1a, there is provided a housing 7 for holding the pen-shaped pointing member 3 therebetween, and the housing 7 is provided with two locking members for holding the outer peripheral surface of the pen-shaped pointing member 3 therebetween. It is composed of a nail 7a. When the pen-shaped indicating member 3 is not used, the pen-shaped indicating member 3 is sandwiched and fixed by the locking claw 7a. When the pen-shaped indicating member 3 is used, the pen-shaped indicating member 3 is held at the tip of the locking claw 7a. Pull it out of the storage unit 7 in the direction.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the string-shaped member 6 for connecting the housing 1a and the pen-shaped pointing member 3 is formed of an annular member having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pen-shaped pointing member 3. 21, the string-shaped member 6 is strongly pulled to connect the housing 1 and the pen-shaped pointing member 3.
The pen-shaped pointing member 3 is retained by the annular member 21 even when the. Therefore, the storage unit 7
Therefore, there is no need to provide the locking member 73 and the locking releasing member 74 as in the first embodiment, and the structure of the storage section 7 can be simplified.

In the above-described second embodiment, an example is described in which the housing 7 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 1a. However, as in the first embodiment, the housing 7 is provided inside the housing 1. It may be provided. In this case, even if the pen-type indicating member 3 comes out of the storage portion 7, the pen-shaped indicating member 3 is retained by the annular member 21, so that the locking member 73 is not required as in the first embodiment, and the structure of the storage portion 7 is simplified. Can be

In each of the above embodiments, the pen-type pointing member 3
Has been described, the so-called non-contact pen position is used to detect the pointing position of the pen-type pointing member 3 in a state where the pen-type pointing member 3 is brought close to the liquid crystal panel 2 without making contact with the liquid crystal panel 2. A detection function may be provided.

In the embodiment thus constructed, the liquid crystal panel 2 is a flat plate, the coordinate detector 11a is a pen position detector, the memory 13 is an information storage means, the pen storage detector 8 and the detector The switch 12 corresponds to the storage detecting means, and the control circuit 11 corresponds to the storage inhibiting means 14, respectively.

[0023]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the housing and the pen-shaped indicating member are connected by the string-shaped member, and the housing for accommodating the pen-shaped indicating member is provided in the housing. Since the pen-shaped pointing member is locked by the locking member when the pen-shaped pointing member is stored in the storage portion, the pen-shaped pointing member does not fall out of the storage portion even when the string-shaped member is pulled. In a state where the pen-shaped indicating member is stored, the string-shaped member can be used as a shoulder strap. Therefore, even when the information input device is carried around, the pen-type indicating member can be reliably prevented from being lost, and the pen-type indicating member can be carried in a state of being stored in the storage portion, so that the pen-type indicating member may be damaged or stained. Nor. Further, if a lock releasing member for releasing the lock of the pen-type pointing member stored in the storage portion is provided, the locking of the pen-type pointing member can be easily released, thereby improving the usability. Further, if an annular member having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pen-shaped indicating member is provided in the housing, and the string-shaped member is penetrated through the annular member and connected to the housing and the pen-shaped indicating member, the pen-shaped indicating member Even if the member comes out of the storage portion, the pen-type indicating member can be retained by the annular member, so that there is no need to provide a locking member in the storage portion, and the structure of the storage portion can be simplified. Further, when it is detected that the pen-type indicating member is stored in the storage portion, the information input by the pen-type indicating member is prohibited, so that the power consumption of the power supply of the information input device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information input device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a pen-type input member is stored in a storage unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the information input device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an information input device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the information input device according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body (housing) 2 Liquid crystal panel 3 Pen-shaped indication member 4, 5 Hanging ring 6 String-like member 7 Storage section 8 Pen storage detection member 11 Control circuit 11a Coordinate detection section 12 Detection switch 13 Memory 14 Battery 21 Ring member 71 Storage hole 72 Spring 73 Locking member 74 Lock release member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a flat plate formed of a predetermined material; a pen-shaped indicating member capable of indicating an arbitrary position on the flat plate; and a pen-shaped indicating member provided on the housing, and provided by the pen-shaped indicating member. An information input device comprising: a pen position detecting means for detecting a pointing position on a flat plate; a string-shaped member connected to the housing and the pen-shaped pointing member; and the pen-shaped member provided on the housing. An information input device, comprising: a storage portion capable of storing a pointing member; and a locking member that locks the pen-type pointing member stored in the storage portion. 2. The information input device according to claim 1, further comprising an unlocking member for unlocking the pen-type pointing member by the locking member. 3. The casing is provided with an annular member having an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the pen-shaped indicating member and capable of penetrating the string-shaped member. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the information input device is penetrated and connected to the housing and the pen-type pointing member. 4. An information storage unit for storing information corresponding to an indicated position detected by the pen position detection unit; and a storage detection unit for detecting whether the pen-type indicating member is stored in the storage unit. And a storage prohibition unit for prohibiting information storage in the information storage unit when the storage detection unit detects that the pen-type indicating member is stored in the storage unit. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.