JPH10177448A - Inputting device and data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inputting device in which information indicating an operational position and the strength of the operation can be obtained. SOLUTION: When a substrate 10 equipped with piezoelectric elements 1-4 is beaten, the beat impulse is propagated through the substrate, and the propagated impulse is converted into a voltage by the piezoelectric elements. The applied impulse is detected by an analog/digital converter 15 by using the four piezoelectric elements attached to previously decided coordinates as one unit, and each output voltage is compared by an arithmetic circuit 19A so that the beaten position is relatively obtained. Moreover, the attenuation of the impulse is estimated by the arithmetic circuit 19A so that beat strength is obtained. The position information and the strength information are encoded by encoders 21 and 22, and outputted to the outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device using a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and more particularly to an input device capable of detecting an input position and an input strength, for example, applied to an input device of a computer or a game machine. And effective technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, and the like are widely used as typical input devices applied to computers and the like. For example, a keyboard is provided with a switch for each key, and detects the position of the operated key by turning on the switch. Further, the mouse has a mechanical system for detecting the amount of movement of the mouse two-dimensionally, and outputs position information obtained thereby. In the graphic user interface, the mouse cursor is moved using the position information from the mouse, and the script embedded in the location pointed to by the mouse cursor is selected by a click operation with the mouse button.

[0003]

However, the information obtained by a conventional input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device is only the position information by turning on / off a switch. According to the study of the present inventor, it is considered that the strength of the operation reflects the emotions and intentions of the operator, so if information on the strength of the operation can be detected together,
It has been found that human emotions can be added to the elements of data processing and that the performance of man-machine interfaces can be improved.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device capable of acquiring information indicating the strength of an operation together with information on an operated position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an input device capable of inputting information specified in a three-dimensional space.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a data processing system using such an input device.

[0007]

The following is a brief description of an outline of a typical invention among the inventions disclosed in the present application.

That is, when the substrate provided with the piezoelectric element is hit, the shock wave propagates through the hit shock wave substrate, and the transmitted shock is converted into a voltage by the piezoelectric element. By detecting the applied shock in parallel with, for example, four piezoelectric elements attached to predetermined coordinates, and comparing the respective output voltages,
Get the hit position relatively. Further, if the hit position is known, the impact strength is obtained by estimating the attenuation of the impact. The present invention is based on the above-mentioned principle, and in order to realize the above-mentioned principle, an input device is provided on a substrate, and when an impact is given by hitting the substrate, the impact is transmitted to a position where the impact is applied. Four piezoelectric elements for generating a voltage corresponding to the strength of the analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter for sampling voltage signals output from the respective piezoelectric elements and converting them into digital data, Calculating means for calculating the strength of an impact given within the range of a polygon having the four piezoelectric elements as vertices or a similar shape using the obtained digital data and the position at which the impact was given;
Output means for encoding the position information and the strength information obtained by the arithmetic means and outputting the encoded information to the outside, wherein information equal to or more than the number of piezoelectric elements provided on the substrate can be input. Things. The input device is assumed to focus on four piezoelectric elements, and is the minimum unit of the input device.

An input device in which the configuration of such a minimum unit is expanded to a configuration of a larger scale is arranged in a matrix on a substrate, and when an impact is given by hitting the substrate, the input device propagates to a position where it is attached. An even number of four or more piezoelectric elements that generate a voltage corresponding to the strength of the shock to be applied, an analog-to-digital converter that samples voltage signals output from the respective piezoelectric elements and converts them into digital data, The four adjacent piezoelectric elements are defined as one unit, and each digital data converted by the analog-to-digital converter is used for each of the units to specify one unit of the piezoelectric element closest to the position where the impact is applied. Then, using the digital data corresponding to the specified one unit of the piezoelectric element, the digital data is applied to a range of a rectangle having the four piezoelectric elements as vertices. Calculating means for calculating the strength of the given impact and the position to which the shock was applied, and output means for encoding the position information and the strength information obtained by the calculating means and outputting the encoded information to the outside; It is configured such that information more than the number of piezoelectric elements provided on the substrate can be input.

For example, as shown in FIG.
Consider a configuration in which a number of piezoelectric elements (PED) are arranged in a matrix on P). At this time, the following processing is performed on the output voltages from all the piezoelectric elements. The first is a process of determining the approximate position of the hit, and selects the four piezoelectric elements closest to the hit position from the output voltages of all the piezoelectric elements. For example, in FIG. 1, four piezoelectric elements surrounding a hatched area are specified. The second is a process of estimating the precise position and strength of the hit, and using the output voltages of the specified four piezoelectric elements, the tapping is performed in a square area surrounded by the four piezoelectric elements. Estimate the position and strength of the movement.

When obtaining an output voltage from the piezoelectric element, the impact of striking the substrate is assumed to be an impact close to a static load, and an oscillating impact is ignored.

According to the experiment, the output when hitting the surface of the aluminum plate with the piezoelectric element attached to the back surface by hand, when the pachinko ball is dropped freely, and when hitting with the tip of a stick having rubber attached to the tip. Observing the waveform with an oscilloscope,
The results of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 were obtained. In each figure, one scale on the horizontal axis is 10 [ms]. As is clear from each figure, one peak appears approximately 5 [ms] after the impact. The peak value is used to estimate the position and strength when the substrate is hit. Hereinafter, the output voltage of the piezoelectric element is simply the output voltage as the peak value.

When the position and strength of the hit are determined from the output voltage of the piezoelectric element, the following points are focused on the relationship between the hitting strength and location and the output voltage. For example, a rod having a mass of 34.6 [g] with rubber attached at the tip is attached at a height of 2.5
The output voltage obtained from the piezoelectric element when the rod was naturally dropped from the tip to several points on the surface of the aluminum plate as [cm], 5 [cm], and 7.5 [cm] was examined. The result was obtained. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the displacement [mm] of the falling point from the piezoelectric element. Dividing the result obtained in FIG. 5 by the maximum value (output voltage when x = 0) and plotting it result in the characteristic waveform shown in FIG. It will be understood from FIG. 6 that the same waveform can be obtained by dividing by the maximum voltage even when the drop height is different.

From the results shown in FIG. 6, the relationship between the hit position with respect to the piezoelectric element and the output voltage of the piezoelectric element is obtained by dividing the output voltage by its maximum value (output voltage when x = 0). Regardless, the waveform is the same. Further, FIG. 5 shows that the output voltage attenuates exponentially as the distance between the hit location and the piezoelectric element increases.

In the present invention, since the position and the strength of the hit are estimated from the output voltage of the piezoelectric element, an approximate expression for easily obtaining an inverse function is considered. For example, the above results, it is assumed that the output voltage Z [V] and Z = e ^-C · X = exp [-c · x]. In the above equation, e is the base of the natural logarithm, x is the distance between the hit location and the piezoelectric element, c is the slope of the characteristic waveform as illustrated in FIG. The slope of the waveform obtained from the value obtained by dividing the output voltage obtained from the piezoelectric element by tapping by the maximum value of the output voltage, and the value x corresponding thereto. When the above approximate expression is applied to FIG. 6, the waveform can be accurately approximated by c = 0.04.

An example of a calculation method for estimating the struck position and the strength from the output voltages of the four piezoelectric elements using the above approximation formula will be described. When the coordinates P (x, y) on the aluminum plate are hit as illustrated in FIG.
4, the output voltage of Z1 to Z4, the variable representing the striking strength is A, and the characteristic waveform obtained from the relationship between the position from the piezoelectric element and the output voltage output by the piezoelectric element when an impact is applied at the position. Assuming that the inclination is c, the value of half the distance between adjacent piezoelectric elements is a, and the base of the natural logarithm is e, Z ₁ = A · exp [c · {(x + a) ² + (y + a) ² }]. 1), Z ₂ = A · exp [c · {(x−a) ² + (y + a) ² }] (2), Z ₃ = A · exp [c · √ ｛(x + a) ² + (y) −a) ² }] (3), and Z ₄ = A · exp [c · {(x−a) ² + (ya) ² }] (4).

[0017] it takes a ln the above equation (1) to (4), and the square, ln = w, lnA = v Distant, and to organize to erase the ^{_{v 2, w 1 2 -w 2}} 2 = 4 · ^{a · c 2 · x + 2} · v (w 1 -w 2) ... (5), w 1 2 -w 3 2 = 4 · a · c 2 · y + 2 · v (w 1 -w 3) ... (6), w ₁ ² −w ₄ ² = 4 · a · c ² · x + 4 · a · c ² · y + 2 · v (w ₁ −w ₄ ) (7)

By solving the above equations (5) to (7), the following equation (8) is obtained.

[0019]

(Equation 1)

Here, consider a case where the solution of -k = w ₁ -w ₂ -w ₃ + w ₄ becomes 0. From the symmetry of FIG.
It is sufficient to consider the case where x and y are 0 or more as a representative.
Also, temporarily, a = 2 (x and y are arbitrary numbers between 0 and 2)
Even if the value of a is fixed, generality is not lost.

FIG. 8 shows the solution of -k = w ₁ -w ₂ -w ₃ + w ₄ (where x and y are 0 or more and a = 2).

As is clear from FIG. 8, x = 0 or y =
Only at locations of 0 the above matrix has no solution. This is a geometrically acceptable result. That is, when on the straight line of x = 0 is (x, y), since Z ₁ and Z _2, Z ₃ and Z ₄ is exactly the same value, it become a k = 0. Also, x = 0
And where k is very close to y = 0, the denominator k in equation (8) is 0
, X, with a small error in Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ , Z ₄
The values of y and v are greatly changed. That is, x = y = 0
The error increases near.

The matrix of equation (8) can be understood as a three-dimensional column vector. When the substrate is hit, the calculation means of the input device specifies, for example, four piezoelectric elements forming the vertices of a square including the one having the largest output voltage of the piezoelectric element. In this way, the approximate position of the hit is determined. Then, the arithmetic means calculates each digital data (digital value Z of the output voltage of the piezoelectric element) converted by the analog-to-digital converter using the specified four piezoelectric elements as one unit based on equation (8). ₁ , v 2 is calculated from Z ₂ , Z ₃ , and Z ₄ ). In addition, an impact was given within a quadrangular area having the four piezoelectric elements as vertices using the digital data Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ , and Z ₄ corresponding to the four piezoelectric elements specified above. The position x, y is calculated. Absolute coordinates (Xi, Yi) are given to the origin (origin 0 in FIG. 7) of many groups of four piezoelectric elements arranged on the substrate. When acquiring the x and y (coordinates relative to the origin of the group of four piezoelectric elements), the computing means acquires the position information where the impact was applied as (Xi + x, Yi + y). This position information is precise position information that has been hit, and the position information and the impact strength information relating to the position information are encoded and output to the outside. The encoded information is defined as, for example, a character code and an operation strength code,
Or it will be defined as having another meaning. Further, the position information is information on a two-dimensional plane,
By combining the strength information with the information, the input device can input information specified in the three-dimensional space.

[0024] The data processing system using the input device includes code information capable of specifying information in a three-dimensional space, such as an input position code and an input strength code which are coupled to the input device and supplied from the input device. Data processing means for decoding and processing the data. The data processing unit recognizes the type of the input information by decoding the input position code, and recognizes the emotion of the operator who performed the input operation based on the strength code. The strength and strength of the operation reflects the emotion and will of the operator, and information on the strength of the operation can also be detected. This makes it possible to add human emotions to data processing elements. The performance of the machine interface can be improved.

[0025]

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of an input device according to the present invention. Although not particularly limited, the input device shown in FIG. 9 has nine piezoelectric elements 1 to 9. The nine piezoelectric elements 1 to 9 are fixed to an aluminum plate (substrate) having a thickness of about 1 [mm], for example, in a matrix at a regular interval of about D [mm]. For example, when an input is to be detected at intervals of D / 5 [mm], a pitch of D / 5 [mm] is provided on the surface of the aluminum alloy plate 10 in accordance with the positions where the piezoelectric elements 1 to 9 are attached. Thus, a large number of illustrations (not shown) are drawn in which outlines corresponding to keys and the like of a keyboard are associated with characters.

Since the piezoelectric element itself is publicly known, its details are not shown in the drawings, but metal electrodes are vapor-deposited on the front and back of a piezoelectric ceramic which generates an electromotive force in accordance with a stress-strain state, and one of them is grounded. And the other is used as a signal electrode. The nine piezoelectric elements 1 to 9 generate a voltage corresponding to the strength of the shock transmitted to the position where the shock is applied to the opposite surface of the aluminum plate 10 to which the nine piezoelectric elements 1 to 9 are stuck. generate.

In this example, input detection processing is performed using four piezoelectric elements as one unit. That is, the piezoelectric elements 1, 2, 4,
5, piezoelectric elements 4, 5, 7, 8 and piezoelectric elements 2, 3, 5, 6
Then, the input detection process is performed in four groups of the piezoelectric elements 5, 6, 8, and 9. Reference numerals 11 to 14 denote multiplexers (MPX) respectively corresponding to four groups of piezoelectric elements. The MPX 11 sequentially selects the outputs of the piezoelectric elements 1, 2, 4, and 5 one by one. MPX12 has piezoelectric elements 4, 5, 7,
8 are sequentially selected one by one. The MPX 13 sequentially selects the outputs of the piezoelectric elements 5, 6, 8, and 9 one by one. MP
X14 selects the outputs of the piezoelectric elements 2, 3, 5, and 6 one by one. The selection operations of the multiplexers 11 to 14 are sequentially performed by the clock signal CLK1.

Reference numerals 15 to 18 denote MPX11 to MPX11.
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting the analog output voltage selected at 14 into a digital signal. Each of the ADCs 15 to 18 performs a conversion operation in parallel in synchronization with the clock signal CLK2. The clock signal C
LK1 and CLK2 have a frequency of, for example, 20 KHz and are output from the timing generator 20. The phase of the clock signal CLK2 is slightly delayed as compared with CLK1 so that the input is sampled after the selection operation by the multiplexers 11 to 14 is determined. Have been. Although the original oscillation of the timing generator 20 is not particularly limited, it is a system clock signal CK supplied from the outside.

In FIG. 9, the digital data output from the ADCs 15 to 18 is input, and each digital data converted by the ADC is set using four adjacent piezoelectric elements as one unit. Is used to identify the unit of piezoelectric element closest to the position where the impact was applied, and using the digital data corresponding to the identified unit of piezoelectric element, a square having the four piezoelectric elements as vertices This is an arithmetic circuit that calculates the strength of the impact given within the range and the position where the impact was given. The arithmetic circuit 19 can be configured by hard-wired logic, or can be realized by microprogram control using a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

The calculation method by the calculation circuit 19 is based on the above equation (8), and the four analog elements adjacent to each other are used as one unit.
From each digital data (digital value of the output voltage of the piezoelectric element) converted by 18, a group of four piezoelectric elements including the maximum voltage is specified. Then, using the digital data corresponding to the specified four piezoelectric elements, the position x, y where the impact is applied and the strength of the impact that has been hit within the range of the quadrangle having the four piezoelectric elements as vertices. The variable v is calculated. Absolute coordinates (Xi, Yi) are given to the origin (origin 0 in FIG. 7) of many groups of the four piezoelectric elements arranged on the aluminum plate 10 respectively. When the arithmetic circuit 19 obtains the x and y (coordinates relative to the origin of the group of four piezoelectric elements), the arithmetic circuit 19 obtains the position information where the impact was applied as (Xi + x, Yi + y). This position information is encoded by the encoder 21 and output as an input position code SGa such as a character code or a function code. The impact strength information is encoded by the encoder 22 and output as a strength code SGb.

According to the input device, the input position and the input strength can be detected. From another point of view, if the information on the input position is grasped as position information on a two-dimensional plane, and the strength information is grasped as information in a depth direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane, the input device can perform three-dimensional information. It can be positioned as an input device. Further, the number of input detection elements or devices such as input switches can be significantly reduced. Further, an operating power supply is not required for the piezoelectric element. If a drive voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, the input device can function as a speaker.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic input device of FIG. Although not particularly limited, the input device shown in FIG. 10 has four piezoelectric elements 1 to 4. The four piezoelectric elements 1 to 4 have a thickness of 1 mm, for example.
Attached and fixed to an aluminum plate (substrate) of the same order at regular and equal intervals of about D [mm] in length and width. This example
Since the input is to be detected at intervals of D / 7 [mm], the surface of the composite aluminum plate 10 is arranged at a pitch of D / 7 [mm] corresponding to the position where the piezoelectric elements 1 to 4 are attached. In addition, a large number of illustrations (not shown) are provided in which outlines corresponding to keys and the like of a keyboard are associated with characters.

In the case of FIG. 10, four piezoelectric elements 1 to
The arithmetic circuit 19A detects the strength of the impact given to the inside surrounded by 4 and its position, so that the arithmetic circuit 19A is closest to the struck position among the output voltages of all the piezoelectric elements as in the example of FIG. It is not necessary to perform a process of determining the approximate position of the hit, such as selecting four piezoelectric elements. That is, the arithmetic circuit 19A sends the MPX11 and the ADC1 from the piezoelectric elements 1-4.
4 using the digital data input through
The strength of the impact given within a rectangular range having the piezo elements 1 to 4 as vertices and the position where the impact is given are calculated. The arithmetic circuit 19A calculates v from each digital data (digital value of the output voltage of the piezoelectric element) converted by the analog / digital converter 15 based on the equation (8) as described above, and calculates four piezoelectric elements. Element 1
The position x, y at which the impact is applied is calculated within the range of the quadrangle having 頂点 as a vertex. The position information (x, y) is encoded by the encoder 21 and output as an input position code SGa such as a character code or a function code. The impact strength information v is encoded by the encoder 22 and output as a strength code SGb.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a data processing system using the input device described with reference to FIG. 9 or FIG. FIG. 12 shows the appearance of the data processing system. In FIG. 11, what is indicated by 30 is a microprocessor. The microprocessor includes a CPU (not shown) and an FPF (Floating Point Uniform).
t), a functional module such as a cache memory or a bus controller is built in and formed on one semiconductor substrate. The microprocessor 30 is connected to a system bus 32 via a secondary cache memory 31. The system bus 32 includes, but is not limited to, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33 serving as a work area or a data temporary storage area of the microprocessor 30, an OS (Operating System) of the microprocessor 30, or a BIOS.
(R) that stores (Basic Input Output System)
ead Only Memory) 34 and a peripheral interface controller 35 are connected. The peripheral interface controller 35 includes a display device 36, a disk device 37, and the input device 38 described with reference to FIG. 9 or FIG.
Is connected. The clock signal CK shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a system clock signal of the data processing system, and is, for example, an external clock signal output from the microprocessor 30.

The peripheral interface controller 35
Receives the input position code SGa and the input strength code SGb from the input device 38, and decodes them to obtain input information. Upon acquiring the input information, the peripheral interface controller 35 requests a predetermined interrupt from the microprocessor 30. When the interrupt is accepted, the microprocessor 30 acquires the character information or the function information input from the input device 38 and reflects the information on the data processing. At this time, the microprocessor 30 can recognize the emotion of the operator who performed the input operation based on the strength code. The strength and strength of the operation reflects the emotion and will of the operator, and information on the strength of the operation can also be detected. This makes it possible to add human emotions to data processing elements. The performance of the machine interface can be improved.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention. No.

For example, the number of piezoelectric elements is not limited to the above example and can be changed as appropriate. Further, the range in which the position information is obtained is not limited to the rectangular range having the vertices of the four piezoelectric elements, but may be obtained in a range similar to that. Further, it can be applied to a pointing device. Further, when the characteristics of a large number of piezoelectric elements are not uniform, weighting for correction may be performed on equation (8).
Further, the input device of the present invention is not limited to a device used in place of a keyboard for inputting characters such as Japanese or English in a computer such as a personal computer, and may be applied as a new input device of a game machine. It is possible.

[0038]

According to the input device of the present invention, the input position and the input intensity can be detected. If the input position information is grasped as position information on a two-dimensional plane and the strength information is grasped as information in a depth direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane, the input device can be positioned as a three-dimensional input device. Can be. Further, the number of input detection elements or devices such as input switches can be significantly reduced.

The data processing system using the input device can recognize the emotion of the operator who has performed the input operation from the strength information. The strength and strength of the operation reflects the emotion and will of the operator, and information on the strength of the operation can also be detected. This makes it possible to add human emotions to data processing elements. The performance of the machine interface can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a large number of piezoelectric elements are arranged in a matrix on a substrate.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram obtained by observing, with an oscilloscope, an impact waveform obtained when the surface of an aluminum plate having a piezoelectric element attached to its back surface is hit with a hand.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram obtained by observing, with an oscilloscope, an impact waveform when a pachinko ball is freely dropped on the surface of an aluminum plate having a piezoelectric element attached to the back surface.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram obtained by observing, with an oscilloscope, an impact waveform when the front surface of an aluminum plate having a piezoelectric element adhered to its back surface is hit with the tip of a rod having rubber attached to the tip.

FIG. 5 shows a rod having a mass of 34.6 [g] having a rubber attached to a tip thereof having a height of 2.5 [cm], 5 [cm], and 7.5 [cm].
FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram obtained by examining output voltages obtained from piezoelectric elements when the rod is naturally dropped from the tip to several points on the surface of the aluminum plate.

FIG. 6 is a characteristic waveform diagram obtained by dividing the result obtained in FIG. 5 by its maximum value (output voltage when x = 0) and plotting the result.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a calculation method for estimating a hit position and strength from output voltages of four piezoelectric elements using an approximate expression Z = exp [−c × x]. It is.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a solution of −k = w ₁ −w ₂ −w ₃ + w ₄ .

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic input device of FIG. 9;

11 is an example block diagram of a data processing system using the input device described in FIG. 9 or FIG.

FIG. 12 is an external view of the data processing system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 BP board PED Piezoelectric elements 1 to 9 Piezoelectric element 10 Substrate 11 to 14 Multiplexer 15 to 18 Analog / digital converter 19, 19A Operation circuit 20 Timing generator 21, 22 Encoder 30 Microprocessor 35 Peripheral interface controller 38 Input device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Four piezoelectric elements provided on a substrate for generating a voltage in accordance with the strength of an impact transmitted to a position where the impact is applied when the substrate is hit by hitting the substrate. An analog converter that samples voltage signals output from the respective piezoelectric elements and converts the voltage signals into digital data.
Using a digital converter and the digital data converted by the analog / digital converter, the magnitude and impact of an impact given within a polygon or a similar shape having the four piezoelectric elements as vertices are given. Calculating means for calculating the position of the piezoelectric element, and output means for coding the position information and the strength information obtained by the calculating means and outputting the coded information to the outside, the number of piezoelectric elements provided on the substrate. An input device characterized in that the above information can be input. 2. A matrix is arranged on a substrate, and when a shock is given by hitting the substrate, a voltage is generated according to the strength of the shock transmitted to the position where the shock is applied.
A plurality of piezoelectric elements, an analog-to-digital converter that samples voltage signals output from the respective piezoelectric elements and converts them into digital data, and the analog-to-digital converter including four adjacent piezoelectric elements as one unit. Each digital data converted by the converter is used for each unit to specify a unit of piezoelectric element closest to the position where the impact is given, and to use the digital data corresponding to the specified unit of piezoelectric element. 4
Calculating means for calculating the strength of the impact given within a quadrangular range having the piezo elements as vertices and the position at which the impact was given; and the position information and the information on the strength obtained by the calculating means. Output means for encoding and outputting to the outside,
An input device characterized in that it is possible to input information equal to or more than the number of piezoelectric elements provided on the substrate. 3. The arithmetic means has a data processor and an operation program thereof, and outputs output voltages obtained from four piezoelectric elements constituting one unit to Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ , Z ₄ , and an output of an impact. A variable representing the strength is represented by A, and a value obtained by dividing an output voltage obtained from the piezoelectric element by a maximum value of the output voltage when an impact is applied to a number of points having different distances from the piezoelectric element and corresponding thereto. The impact was given when the slope of the characteristic waveform obtained from the relationship with the distance from the piezoelectric element was c, the value of half of the distance between adjacent piezoelectric elements was a, and the center position of the four piezoelectric elements was the origin. Assuming that the coordinates of the position are x, y, and e as bases of natural logarithms, the data processor follows the operation program and Z ₁ = A · exp [c · √ ｛(x + a) ² + (y +
a) ² }], Z ₂ = A · exp [c · √ ｛(x−a) ² + (y +
a) ² ｝], Z ₃ = A · exp [c · √ ｛(x + a) ² + (y−
a) ² }], Z ₄ = A · exp [c · √ ｛(x−a) ² + (y−
^{3. The method} according to claim 2, wherein a solution of A and x, y is calculated based on a) ² }] to obtain the strength of the impact and the position to which the impact was applied. Input device. 4. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the input position code is coupled to the input device, and an input position code supplied from the input device and an input strength code are decoded and processed. A data processing system comprising: