JPH11237950A - Ultrasonic digitizer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic digitizer device which detects and calculates the absolute time difference data on the transmission of ultrasonic signals, corrects the sound wave transmission velocity and also attains the digitized input on a free plane. SOLUTION: This digitizer device consists of a digitizer pen part 1 which includes a reference signal generation means that generates a reference signal, i.e., the reference of coordinate signals, an ultrasonic wave output element 14 and a 2nd communication transmitting means 16, ultrasonic wave receiving elements 2a and 2b which receive the coordinate signals, a 2nd communication receiving element 3 which receives the reference signal, and a digitizer control part 5 which includes a reference signal generation means, plural coordinate signal detection means, a time difference calculation means which calculates and outputs the time difference data, a distance calculation means which calculates the distance data from the time difference data and a coordinate calculation means which calculates and outputs the coordinate data on the part 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic digitizer having a large-screen display as a digitized display screen, and more particularly to an ultrasonic wave having a digitizer pen section comprising ultrasonic output means and second communication means for transmitting a reference signal. Related to the digitizer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional ultrasonic digitizer. The ultrasonic digitizer device includes a digitizer pen unit 1 having an ultrasonic output unit 14.
A plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements 2; a time difference calculating means for demodulating the ultrasonic signals received by the plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements 2 to calculate and output a time difference; and a display screen (display) of an ultrasonic signal transmitting source based on the time difference. And 6) a digitizer control unit 5 having a coordinate calculating means for calculating and outputting the coordinates on 6. The ultrasonic signals transmitted from the ultrasonic output means 14 are received by the ultrasonic receiving elements 2 such as ultrasonic microphones arranged at three upper positions of the display 6 and are converted into electric signals. The time difference data between the three ultrasonic receiving elements is calculated and output from the electric signal by the time difference calculating means, and the coordinate calculating means calculates the coordinates on the screen of the display 6 based on the sound wave propagation speed (about 348 m / sec) from the time difference data. The data is calculated and output, and the coordinate data is used as a digitizer input. However, the time difference data is not the absolute time of the reference timing transmitted by the digitizer pen unit 1 and the signal timing received by the three ultrasonic receiving elements 3 but the relative time between the three ultrasonic receiving elements. , Detection errors are likely to occur. Further, the propagation speed of the ultrasonic signal constantly changes due to the temperature, the atmospheric pressure, and the like, but is not corrected. Further, the digitizing input screen or the digitizing input surface is fixed in advance, and there is a problem that digitizing input on a free plane is difficult.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these problems, the present invention detects and calculates absolute time difference data of ultrasonic signal propagation, corrects the sound wave propagation speed, and performs digitized input on a free plane. It is intended to provide a possible ultrasonic digitizer device.

[0004]

In a digitizer device using a large screen display such as a PDP or a liquid crystal projector as a display screen for digitizing, a reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal as a reference of a coordinate signal, An ultrasonic output element for outputting a sound wave, a digitizer pen unit having a second communication transmitting unit for communicating and outputting a reference signal, a plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements for receiving coordinate signals output by the digitizer pen unit, and a digitizer pen unit A second communication receiving means for receiving the reference signal output by the reference signal; a reference signal generating means for receiving and demodulating the received reference signal to generate a time reference signal; and a plurality of coordinate signals for detecting a coordinate timing signal from the received coordinate signal. Detecting means; time difference calculating means for calculating and outputting time difference data for each of the time reference signal and the coordinate timing signal; Comprise a digitizer controller comprising: a distance calculating means for calculating output from the distance data data, and coordinate calculation means for calculating outputs coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit from a plurality of distance data.

Further, second communication receiving means for receiving and inputting a reference signal, reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal synchronized with the received and input reference signal, and an ultrasonic output element for outputting a coordinate signal by ultrasonic waves. A digitizer pen portion having
A plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements for receiving coordinate signals output by the digitizer pen unit; a second communication transmitting unit for transmitting a reference signal to the digitizer pen unit; and a reference signal generating unit for generating a reference signal to be transmitted to the digitizer pen unit A plurality of coordinate signal detecting means for detecting a coordinate timing signal from the received ultrasonic signal, and a time difference calculating means for calculating and outputting a time reference signal and time difference data for each coordinate timing signal,
The digitizer control unit includes a distance calculation unit that calculates and outputs distance data from time difference data, and a coordinate calculation unit that calculates and outputs coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit from a plurality of distance data.

Further, a plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements are installed on an ultrasonic receiving element mounting base which can be mounted at an arbitrary distance.

[0007] Further, the digitizer pen unit includes a reference signal generator for generating a reference signal, a communication modulator for modulating a carrier signal with the reference signal and outputting a modulation reference signal, and transmitting the modulation reference signal to the second communication transmitter. A transmitting unit for transmitting and outputting by means, a modulating unit for modulating an ultrasonic signal with a reference signal and modulating and outputting a coordinate signal, and an ultrasonic output element for ultrasonically outputting a coordinate signal obtained by modulating an ultrasonic carrier with a reference signal. A receiving unit configured or configured to receive a modulation reference signal by the second communication reception unit, a communication demodulation unit demodulating a reference signal from the modulation reference signal, and generating a reference signal synchronized with the demodulated reference signal. A reference signal generator, a modulator that modulates an ultrasonic signal with the reference signal and modulates and outputs a coordinate signal, and an ultrasonic output element that outputs a coordinate signal obtained by modulating the ultrasonic carrier with the reference signal as an ultrasonic signal To configure.

Further, the ultrasonic output element is an ultra-small ultrasonic speaker, or a ceramic electrostrictive element which generates electrostriction by voltage input.

Further, the second communication output means is a wired communication means for connecting the digitizer pen unit and the digitizer control unit with a conductor cable or an optical cable and directly or modulating and transmitting a reference signal. As a visible light transmitting means using the element, as an infrared transmitting means using an infrared light emitting element such as a laser diode,
Alternatively, it is a wireless transmission means using a weak radio wave.

Further, a SW1 for performing a click input and the like and a SW for performing a drag input and the like are provided in the digitizer pen unit.
2 and an additional operation unit composed of:

Further, an operating portion is provided on a SW1 shaft having a flange portion at a center portion slidably from a tip end portion of the digitizer pen portion housing, a pressing spring for pushing the SW1 shaft outward from inside, and the other end of the SW1 shaft. A switch SW1 having a switch mechanism disposed therein; a switch SW2 having a slidable push button inserted into a through hole of a grip portion of the digitizer pen housing and a switch mechanism disposed at an inner end of the push button; It consists of. Further, the switch mechanism has a configuration in which a magnet piece is fixed to the other end of the SW1 shaft or the inner end of the push button by adhesion or fusion, and a magnetoresistive element is arranged inside the digitizer pen unit housing. A magnet piece is fixed to the other end of the shaft or the inner end of the push button by a fixing means, and a magnetic reed switch is arranged inside the digitizer pen unit housing.

Further, the ultrasonic receiving element is an ultrasonic microphone, or a ceramic ultrasonic sensor for converting an ultrasonic signal into an electric signal.

[0013] Further, the digitizer control section includes a receiving section by a second communication receiving means for receiving the reference signal output from the digitizer pen section, a communication demodulation section for demodulating the received reference signal, and a demodulation reference signal. A reference signal generation unit for generating a time reference signal of a calculation reference; a plurality of coordinate signal detection units for detecting a coordinate timing signal from the received coordinate signal; and a time difference for calculating and outputting time reference data and time difference data for each coordinate timing signal A computing unit, a distance computing unit that computes and outputs distance data from time difference data, a coordinate computing unit that computes and outputs coordinate data of a digitizer pen unit from a plurality of distance data, and an operation input unit that performs operation input of a digitizer control unit. A system memory storing an operation sequence program of the digitizer control unit, and a system memory storing the operation sequence program in the system memory. Constituted by a control unit which issues a control command to each portion of the device based on the operation sequence program that,
Alternatively, a reference signal generation unit that generates a time reference signal of a calculation reference, a communication modulation unit that modulates a carrier with the generated time reference signal, and transmission by a second communication transmission unit that transmits the modulation reference signal to a digitizer pen unit Unit, a plurality of coordinate signal detectors for detecting coordinate timing signals from the received coordinate signals, a time difference calculator for calculating and outputting time difference data for each of the time reference signal and the coordinate timing signal, and calculating and outputting distance data from the time difference data. A distance calculation unit, a coordinate calculation unit that calculates and outputs coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit from a plurality of distance data, an operation input unit that performs an operation input of the digitizer control unit, and an operation sequence program of the digitizer control unit. Of the device based on the system memory and the operation sequence program stored in the system memory. Constituted by a control unit which issues a control command to the part.

Further, an inter-element distance sensor for automatically detecting a mounting interval of the ultrasonic receiving elements is additionally installed on the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base.

Further, a distance reference point at which the distance to the ultrasonic receiving element is set in advance on the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base or the display screen, and a digitizer control unit for correcting the ultrasonic velocity to calculate the ultrasonic propagation velocity. An arithmetic unit and a sound velocity coefficient memory that stores a sound velocity that is a reference for distance calculation are additionally installed, and ultrasonic signals are calculated using time difference data obtained by receiving and calculating coordinate signals of the digitizer pen from the distance reference point. The propagation speed is corrected and calculated.

Further, the digitizer control section includes a distance detecting section between the receiving elements for detecting the mounting distance data between the ultrasonic receiving elements, and a reference storing the reference coordinate data of the ultrasonic receiving element as a reference for the coordinate calculation. Additional installation of coordinate memory,

Further, the digitizer control unit is additionally provided with an operation function memory for storing in advance a function for performing a coordinate operation, and a section unit setting section for setting a section unit of output coordinate data. Further, the area unit setting of the area unit setting unit is set to XY coordinate axes orthogonal to each other, and coordinates are calculated using the number of images on the display screen as a unit. XY coordinate axes that are orthogonal to each other, and the coordinate calculation is performed in units of relative distances where the maximum segment distance is 100.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an ultrasonic digitizer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the ultrasonic digitizer according to the present invention. . The ultrasonic digitizer device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal serving as a reference for a coordinate signal, an ultrasonic output element 14 for outputting the coordinate signal ultrasonically, A digitizer pen unit 1 having second communication transmitting means 16 for performing communication output;
Two ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b which are installed on the upper part and receive coordinate signals output by the digitizer pen unit 1,
Second communication receiving means 3 for receiving the reference signal signal output by the digitizer pen unit 1, reception signal demodulation for receiving and demodulating the received reference signal to generate a time reference signal, and generating a coordinate timing signal from the received coordinate signal. Two coordinate signal detecting means for detecting, a time difference calculating means for calculating and outputting time difference data for each of the time reference signal and the coordinate timing signal, a distance calculating means for calculating and outputting distance data from the time difference data, and a digitizer based on the two distance data The digitizer control unit 5 includes a coordinate calculation means for calculating and outputting coordinate data of the pen unit.

In the digitizer pen unit 1, an ultrasonic modulation coordinate signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic output element 14 based on the reference signal generated by the reference signal generating means, and at the same time, the reference signal is transmitted in the second communication having a different signal transmission speed. It is transmitted from the transmission means 16. The coordinate signal from the digitizer pen unit 1 is displayed on the display unit 6
Are received by the ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b such as an ultrasonic microphone or a ceramic ultrasonic sensor that converts an ultrasonic signal into an electric signal, and two coordinate timing signals are detected by the coordinate signal detecting means. Is output. The reference signal is received by the second communication receiving means 3, and the reference signal generating means generates a time reference signal for calculating time difference data. The time difference calculating means calculates and outputs time difference data between the time reference signal and the two coordinate timing signals. The distance calculating means calculates and outputs distance data between the digitizer pen unit 1 and the two ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b based on the fact that the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave is about 348 m / sec from the two time difference data. I do. The coordinate computing means computes and outputs coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit 1 from coordinate data of two ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b which are set in advance and two distance data based on the received coordinate signal. And

The ultrasonic digitizer of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises a second communication receiving means 18 for receiving and inputting a reference signal, and a reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal synchronized with the received and input reference signal. Digitizer pen unit 1 having means and an ultrasonic output element 14 for ultrasonically outputting a coordinate signal
And two ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b that are arranged on the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base 7A and receive the coordinate signals output by the digitizer pen unit 1, and a second that transmits a reference signal to the digitizer pen unit 1. Communication transmitting means 3A, reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal to be transmitted to the digitizer pen unit 1, multiple coordinate signal detecting means for detecting a coordinate timing signal from the received ultrasonic signal, time reference signal and coordinate timing signal Digitizer control having a time difference calculating means for calculating and outputting time difference data of the digitizer, a distance calculating means for calculating and outputting distance data from the time difference data, and a coordinate calculating means for calculating and outputting coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit 1 from a plurality of distance data. It is composed of a unit 5.

The detailed description of the operation will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. In the digitizer control unit 5, the reference signal generating means generates the reference signal by itself, and the second communication transmitting means 3
A sends out. In the digitizer pen unit 1, the reference signal is received by the second communication receiving unit 18. The reference signal generating means generates a reference signal synchronized with the reference signal,
A coordinate signal obtained by modulating an ultrasonic carrier with the reference signal is output as an ultrasonic wave by the ultrasonic output element 14. The following operation is the same as that of the first embodiment and will not be described. Although the detailed configuration is not shown, the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base 7A placed on the upper part of the display unit 6 has a sliding groove for sliding the two ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b so as to be slidable. A stopper for fixing the ultrasonic receiving element and an inter-element distance sensor for detecting distance data of the fixed position of the ultrasonic receiving element are provided. The distance data from the inter-element distance sensor is stored in the digitizer controller 5.
Is input to Since the distance between the elements of the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base 7A can be arbitrarily selected, it is possible to cope with various dimensions of the digitizer working surface. On the screen of the display unit 6, four cross symbols 8 representing the reference points of the divisions are displayed at preset coordinate positions. By performing the coordinate input operation with the digitizer pen unit 1 placed on these reference points, calculation correction during coordinate calculation can be performed. Since the reference point of this area can be set with an arbitrary dimension on an arbitrary plane other than the screen of the display unit 6, the correction of the coordinate calculation can be applied to a wide range of digitizing work surfaces.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the digitizer pen according to the present invention. (A) is the first embodiment, in which the reference signal generating unit 11 is 100 μm at 5 msec intervals.
A second reference signal is generated. Modulation unit 12 is 100KH
The ultrasonic wave carrier of z is modulated and a coordinate signal is modulated and output.
The coordinate signal is amplified by the driving unit 13 and drives an ultra-small ultrasonic speaker or an ultrasonic output element 14 such as a ceramic electrostrictive element that generates an electrostriction by voltage input. On the other hand, the communication modulating unit 15 similarly modulates the carrier and drives the transmitting unit 16 of the second communication output unit. The second communication output means 16 includes a digitizer pen unit 1 (not shown).
And a digitizer device 5 connected by a conductor cable or an optical cable, a wired communication means for directly or modulating and transmitting a reference signal, a visible light transmission means using a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, and an infrared light emitting element such as a laser diode. Infrared transmission means or wireless transmission means using weak radio waves are selected. The operation unit 17 includes an SW 1 for performing a click input and the like and an SW 2 for performing a drag input and the like.
Is superimposed on the coordinate signal and modulated and output.

(B) is a digitizer pen unit which is replaced by a receiving unit 18 for receiving a reference signal sent from the digitizer 5 and a communication demodulation unit for demodulating the received reference signal. The reference signal generator 11 generates a reference signal synchronized with the demodulated reference signal.

FIG. 4 is a structural view of a digitizer pen according to various embodiments of the present invention. . The detailed operation of the structure and configuration of the digitizer pen will be described with reference to the drawings. (I)
Shows a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment. An ultrasonic wave output element 14 is arranged near the tip of the digitizer pen housing 1, and a plurality of LEDs or phototransistors 16 of the second communication means are arranged near the tip. Both have directivity in all directions. Next, the switch mechanism of the operation units (SW1, SW2) will be described. S having a flange portion 30b at the center slidably from the tip of the digitizer pen housing
SW1 comprising a W1 shaft 18a, a pressing spring 30c for pushing the SW1 shaft outward from the inside, a switch mechanism 30 disposed at the other end of the SW1 shaft 30a, and a through hole of a grip portion of the digitizer pen unit housing. And a switch SW2 composed of a slidable push button 31a inserted into the push button 31a and a switch mechanism 31 disposed at an inner end of the push button 31a.
The switch mechanism is composed of a switch piece having a contact welded to a leaf spring and a metal piece 32 connected to the ground end of the circuit. (B) Magnet pieces 30d and 31b are fixed to the other end of the SW1 shaft 30a or the inner end of the push button 31a by bonding or fusion, and the magnetoresistive element is mounted on the printed board 32 inside the digitizer pen unit 1 housing. 32a and 32b are arranged. The description of the ON / OFF operation of the circuit is omitted. (C) is a magnet piece 30d, 31b fixed to the other end of the SW1 shaft 30a or the inner end of the push button 31a by a fixing means such as adhesion or fusion, and is mounted on the printed board 32 inside the digitizer pen unit 1 housing. The configuration is such that the magnetic reed switches 32c and 32d are arranged. The description of the ON / OFF operation of the circuit will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a main part of an embodiment of a digitizer control unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main part of various embodiments of a coordinate signal detecting unit according to the present invention. FIG.
The digitizer control unit 5 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
A receiving unit 51 of the second communication receiving unit 3 for receiving the reference signal signal output from the digitizer pen unit 1, a communication demodulation unit 52 for demodulating the received reference signal, and generating a time reference signal from the demodulated signal. A reference signal generator 53; two coordinate signal detectors 54A and 54B for detecting a coordinate timing signal from the received coordinate signal; and a time difference calculator 55 for calculating and outputting time difference data between the reference signal and each coordinate signal.
A distance calculation unit 56 for calculating and outputting distance data from the time difference data; a coordinate calculation unit 57 for calculating and outputting coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit 1 from two distance data; and an operation input unit for performing operation input of the digitizer control unit 63, a system memory 64 that stores an operation sequence program of the digitizer device, and a control unit 65 that issues a control command to each unit of the device based on the operation sequence program stored in the system memory 64. I have.
Further, for the purpose of improving the calculation accuracy of distance data calculation, coordinate data calculation, etc., a sound speed correction calculation unit 58 that corrects and calculates the sound speed based on the propagation time of the actual ultrasonic signal, the sound speed data serving as the basis of the distance calculation A stored sound velocity coefficient memory 59, a distance detecting unit 66 between the receiving elements for detecting the distance of the setting coordinates of the ultrasonic receiving element from the distance data from the element distance sensor 7 installed on the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base 7A; A reference coordinate memory 67 for storing the reference coordinates of each receiving element from the distance data of the installation coordinates of the ultrasonic receiving element, and a maximum area memory 6 for storing the coordinates of the maximum point of the detected area.
8 are additionally installed. In addition, in order to support various coordinate data formats, an operation function memory 61 storing an operation function of the coordinate operation unit 57 and a block unit setting unit for setting a reference coordinate axis and a coordinate unit of output coordinate data are additionally provided. Have been.

The digitizer control unit 5 receives the reference signal output from the digitizer pen unit 1 by the receiving unit 51 of the second communication receiving unit 3 and demodulates the reference signal by the communication demodulation unit 52.
The reference signal generation unit 53 generates a time reference signal serving as a reference for time difference calculation from the demodulated reference signal. The coordinate signal output by the digitizer pen unit 1 is composed of two ultrasonic receiving elements 2 arranged at a distance of 100 cm from left to right on the upper part of the PDP.
(a) and (2b), and a coordinate timing signal is detected and output by coordinate signal detectors 54A and 54B connected to each ultrasonic receiving element. The time difference calculator 55 calculates and outputs time difference data t1 and t2 of each coordinate timing signal starting from the time reference signal. The distance calculating unit 56 calculates the distance between the two ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b and the digitizer pen unit 1 based on the propagation speed Vt (about 348 m / sec) of the ultrasonic signal in the air and the time difference data t1 and t2. L1 and L2 are calculated and output based on the following formula. (1) L1 = Vt × t1 (2) L2 = Vt × t2 The coordinate calculation unit 57 calculates the digitizer pen unit 1 from the distances L1 and L2 and the coordinate data of the ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b set in advance. Is output to the output terminal OUT and input as coordinate data of the ultrasonic digitizer.

The sound velocity correction calculation unit 58 calculates the propagation speed of the ultrasonic signal based on the time difference data of the coordinate signal from the reference point of the area where the distance between the ultrasonic receiving element and the digitizer pen is predetermined. The calculation is performed, and the sound speed data in the sound speed coefficient memory 59 is updated. The distance calculation unit 56 adds the time difference data to the updated sound velocity data and calculates and outputs distance data. The inter-receiving element distance detecting unit 66 detects the installation coordinate data of the ultrasonic receiving element from the distance data from the inter-element distance sensor 7 installed on the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base 7A.
The installation coordinate data is stored in the reference coordinate memory 67, and is used as reference coordinates when the coordinate calculation unit 57 calculates the coordinates.

The maximum area memory 68 stores the coordinate data of the maximum area when the relative dimensions are set in the area unit of the coordinate calculation output. The coordinate calculation unit 57 calculates and outputs the relative coordinates of the coordinate input point with the coordinate data of the maximum area stored in the maximum area memory as 100%.

The division unit setting section 62 can set the following division units in order to correspond to various coordinate data formats calculated and output by the coordinate calculation section 57. (1) XY coordinate axes orthogonal to each other are calculated, and the coordinates are calculated using the number of images on the display screen as a unit. (2) XY coordinate axes orthogonal to each other are calculated, and the coordinates are calculated using the absolute distance as a unit. (3) Alternatively, coordinate calculation is performed using XY coordinate axes orthogonal to each other as a unit and a relative distance as a unit where the maximum segment distance is 100%.

In the digitizer controller 5 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, a reference signal generator 53A generates a reference signal by itself and supplies one to a time calculator 55, and the other a communication modulator 52A. And is input to the transmission unit 51 by the second communication transmission unit 3A.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main parts of various embodiments of the coordinate detecting unit according to the present invention. The details of the method for detecting a coordinate signal will be described with reference to the drawings. (A) is a circuit block diagram of a coordinate signal detection unit of the first embodiment. The received coordinate signal is transmitted to the digitizing input unit 1 and the ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b.
Is not constant, the level of the input coordinate signal is 10
It has a level difference of 0 times or more, and it is necessary to control the peak value of the received coordinate signal to a constant value when extracting the coordinate timing signal. The input coordinate signal is supplied to the detector 5
4c having a control terminal for controlling an amplification factor by a detection output voltage of 4c.
The output is amplified by the variable amplifier 54a. From the output signal, only a carrier component is taken out by a BPF 54b of 100 KHz, inputted to a linear detector 54d and a detector 54c.
, And is fed back to the control terminal of the variable amplifier 54a. As a result, the peak amplitude of the coordinate signal output from the variable amplifier 54a is controlled to a constant amplitude. The linear detector 54d performs envelope detection of the input coordinate signal and inputs the signal to the Schmitt circuit 54f. The Schmitt circuit 54f converts the output from “0” to “1” when the input value reaches a certain threshold. This output signal is output to the time difference calculator 55 as a coordinate timing signal. (B) is the second embodiment, and the first half is the same as the first embodiment and is omitted. The coordinate signal input to the limiter circuit 54g is subjected to limiter processing of a fixed level, an intermittent signal of a fixed amplitude is output, and the linear detector 54d performs envelope detection to generate a coordinate timing signal. (C) is a third embodiment, in which the output of the linear detector 54d is converted into digital data by the A / D 54h and input to the threshold determination unit 54i. When the input digital data reaches a preset threshold, the threshold determination unit 54i converts the output from “0” to “1”. This output signal is used as a coordinate timing signal as a time difference calculating unit 55.
To enter. (2) is a fourth embodiment, in which A / D 54h
Are converted into digital data and input to the threshold determination unit 54i. When the input digital data reaches a preset threshold value, the threshold value judging unit 54i changes the output from “0” to “1”. This output signal is input to the time difference calculator 55 as a coordinate timing signal,
The first rising pulse is used as a time difference calculation coordinate timing signal.

FIG. 7 is a time chart of an ultrasonic coordinate signal according to the present invention and an explanatory diagram of a coordinate calculation. In the time chart of the ultrasonic coordinate signal of (a), (a) is 5 ms.
100 μsec reference signal at c intervals, (b) 100K
Hz output coordinate signal obtained by modulating an ultrasonic carrier wave, (c)
(D) shows a reception signal obtained by normalizing the amplitude of the ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b. The time difference calculation unit 55 generates time difference data t1 of each coordinate pointing signal starting from the time reference signal (a).
(C) and t2 (d) are calculated and output. In the coordinate calculation of (b), the distance calculation unit 56 determines the time difference data t1, t2
Then, the distances L1 and L2 between the two ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b and the digitizer pen unit 1 are calculated and output. Coordinate calculator 5
7 performs a vector operation on the distances L1 and L2 and the distance data L0 and the distances L1 and L2 of the ultrasonic receiving elements 2a and 2b which are set in advance to calculate and output coordinates x and y on the XY axes. .

[0033]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above, and has the following effects. The digitizer pen unit outputs a coordinate signal from the ultrasonic output element based on the reference signal and outputs the reference signal from the second communication transmitting unit having a different signal transmission speed, and the coordinate signal passes through a plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements. Then, a time difference is calculated between the coordinate detection signal and the time reference signal, and the coordinates on the XY axes are calculated and output based on the time difference calculation result, and can be used as detitizer input data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an ultrasonic digitizer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the ultrasonic digitizer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main part block diagram of an embodiment of a digitizer pen unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a structural view of various embodiments of a digitizer pen unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a main block diagram of an embodiment of a digitizer control unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main part of various embodiments of a coordinate detection unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a time chart of an ultrasonic coordinate signal and coordinate calculation according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic digitizer device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digitizer pen part 2a, 2b Ultrasonic receiving element 3 Second communication receiving means 3A Second communication transmitting means 5 Digitizer control part 6 Display part 7 Element distance sensor 11 Reference signal generating part 12 Modulating part 14 Ultrasonic output element 15, 52A communication modulation section 16, 51A transmission section 17 operation section 18, 51 reception section 19, 52 communication demodulation section 53, 53A reference signal generation section 54A, 54B coordinate signal generation section 55 time difference calculation section 56 distance calculation section 57 coordinate calculation section 58 Sound speed correction calculation unit 59 Sound speed coefficient memory 61 Calculation function memory 62 Division unit setting unit 63 Operation input unit 64 System memory 65 Control unit 66 Reception element distance detection unit 67 Reference coordinate memory 68 Maximum division memory

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. A digitizer device using a large-screen display such as a PDP (Plazma Display Panel) or a liquid crystal projector as a display screen for digitizing, reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal serving as a reference for a coordinate signal, and the coordinate signal An ultrasonic output element that outputs ultrasonic waves, a digitizer pen unit having a second communication transmitting unit that communicatively outputs the reference signal, and a plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements that receive coordinate signals output by the digitizer pen unit. Second communication receiving means for receiving a reference signal signal output by the digitizer pen unit; reference signal generating means for receiving and demodulating the received reference signal to generate a time reference signal; and coordinate timing based on the received coordinate signal. A plurality of coordinate signal detecting means for detecting a signal; and a time difference data for each of the time reference signal and the coordinate timing signal. A digitizer control unit comprising: a time difference calculating means for calculating and outputting; a distance calculating means for calculating and outputting distance data from the time difference data; and a coordinate calculating means for calculating and outputting coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit from the plurality of distance data. The digitizer pen unit outputs a coordinate signal from an ultrasonic output element based on the reference signal and outputs the reference signal from a second communication transmitting unit having a different signal transmission speed.
The ultrasonic digitizer device is characterized in that the coordinate signals are received and detected by a plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements, and the coordinates on the XY axes are calculated and output from the received and detected coordinate timing signals and used as digitizer input data. 2. A digitizer device using a large screen display such as a PDP or a liquid crystal projector as a display screen for digitizing, a second communication receiving means for receiving and inputting a reference signal, and a reference signal synchronized with the received reference signal. A digitizing pen unit having a reference signal generating means for generating the ultrasonic signal and an ultrasonic output element for ultrasonically outputting the coordinate signal; a plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements for receiving the coordinate signal output from the digitizing pen unit; and the digitizer A second communication transmitting unit that transmits a reference signal to the pen unit; a reference signal generating unit that generates a reference signal to be transmitted to the digitizer pen unit; and a plurality of coordinate signal detection units that detect a coordinate timing signal from the received coordinate signal. Means for calculating and outputting time difference data for each of the reference signal and the coordinate timing signal A digitizer control unit comprising: a distance calculator that calculates and outputs distance data from the time difference data; and a coordinate calculator that calculates and outputs coordinate data of the digitizer pen unit from the plurality of distance data. The unit receives the reference signal by a second communication receiving unit having a different signal transmission speed, and outputs a coordinate signal from an ultrasonic output element based on the reference signal, and the coordinate signal is output by a plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements. An ultrasonic digitizer device, wherein reception is detected, coordinates on the XY axes are calculated and output from the received and detected coordinate timing signal, and the data is used as digitizer input data. 3. The ultrasonic receiving element according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements are mounted on an ultrasonic receiving element mounting table which can be freely mounted at an arbitrary interval, and digitizing input is possible on an arbitrary work plane other than said display screen. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A digitizer pen unit comprising: a reference signal generator for generating the reference signal; a communication modulator for modulating a carrier signal with the reference signal and outputting a modulation reference signal; A transmitting unit for transmitting and outputting by a communication transmitting unit, a modulating unit for modulating an ultrasonic signal with the reference signal and modulating and outputting a coordinate signal, and an ultrasonic wave for ultrasonically outputting a coordinate signal obtained by modulating an ultrasonic carrier with a reference signal; 2. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic digitizer comprises an output element. 5. A receiving section for receiving said modulation reference signal by said second communication receiving means, a communication demodulation section for demodulating a reference signal from said modulation reference signal, and said demodulated reference signal. A reference signal generator for generating a reference signal synchronized with the reference signal, a modulator for modulating an ultrasonic signal with the reference signal and modulating and outputting a coordinate signal, and outputting a coordinate signal obtained by modulating an ultrasonic carrier with the reference signal as an ultrasonic wave. 3. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 2, comprising an ultrasonic output element. 6. The ultrasonic digitizer device according to claim 4, wherein said ultrasonic output element is an ultra-small ultrasonic speaker. 7. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic output element is a ceramic electrostrictive element that generates an electrostriction by a voltage input. 8. The second communication output means is a wired communication means for connecting the digitizer pen unit and the digitizer control unit with a conductor cable or an optical cable and transmitting the reference signal directly or by modulating the reference signal. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 4 or 5, wherein 9. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 4, wherein said second communication output means is a visible light transmitting means using a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode. 10. An ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 4, wherein said second communication output means is an infrared transmission means using an infrared light emitting element such as a laser diode. 11. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 4, wherein said second communication output means is a wireless transmission means using a weak radio wave. 12. An operation unit comprising a switch SW1 for performing a click input or the like and a switch SW2 for performing a drag input or the like is additionally provided on the digitizer pen unit, and a click & drag operation function is added to the digitizer pen unit. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: 13. The SW1 shaft having a flange portion at a center portion slidable from a distal end portion of the digitizer pen housing and the S portion from the inside.
A push spring for pushing the W1 shaft outward, a switch SW1 having a switch mechanism disposed at the other end of the SW1 shaft, and a slidable push button inserted into a through hole of a grip portion of the digitizer pin housing. 13. The ultrasonic digitizer device according to claim 12, comprising: a SW2 having a switch mechanism disposed at an inner end of the push button. 14. A configuration in which the switch mechanism is configured such that a magnet piece is fixed to the other end of the SW1 shaft or the inner end of the push button by bonding or fusion, and a magnetoresistive element is arranged inside the digitizer input unit housing. 14. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The switch mechanism, wherein a magnet piece is fixed to the other end of the SW1 shaft or the inner end of the push button by fixing means, and a magnetic reed switch is arranged inside the digitizer pen unit casing. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 13, wherein: 16. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements are ultrasonic microphones. 17. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements are ceramic ultrasonic sensors that convert an ultrasonic signal into an electric signal. 18. A digitizer control unit comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a reference signal output from the digitizer pen unit by a second communication receiving unit; a communication demodulation unit for demodulating the received reference signal; and a demodulated signal. A reference signal generation unit that generates a time reference signal of a calculation reference, a plurality of coordinate signal detection units that detect a coordinate timing signal from the received ultrasonic signal, and time difference data for each of the time reference signal and the coordinate timing signal A time difference calculation unit that calculates and outputs a distance calculation unit that calculates and outputs distance data from the time difference data, and a coordinate calculation unit that calculates and outputs coordinate data of the digitizer input unit from the plurality of distance data.
An operation input unit for performing an operation input of the digitizer control unit; a system memory storing an operation sequence program of the digitizer control unit; and a control command to each unit of the apparatus based on the operation sequence program stored in the system memory. 2. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic digitizer comprises: 19. A digitizer control unit, comprising: a reference signal generation unit that generates a time reference signal of a calculation reference;
A communication modulator that modulates a carrier with the generated time reference signal, a transmission unit that transmits the modulation reference signal to the digitizer pen unit, and a coordinate timing signal detected from the received ultrasonic signal. A plurality of coordinate signal detection units, a time difference calculation unit that calculates and outputs time difference data for each of the time reference signal and the coordinate timing signal, a distance calculation unit that calculates and outputs distance data from the time difference data, and the plurality of distances A coordinate calculation unit for calculating and outputting coordinate data of the digitizer input unit from data, an operation input unit for performing an operation input of the digitizer control unit, a system memory storing an operation sequence program of the digitizer control unit, and the system Control system that issues control commands to each part of the device based on the operation sequence program stored in the memory Ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 2, characterized in that configured in the section. 20. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 3, further comprising an inter-element distance sensor for automatically detecting a mounting interval of the ultrasonic receiving elements on the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base. 21. A distance reference point in which a distance from the ultrasonic receiving element is set in advance on the ultrasonic receiving element mounting base or the display screen, and an ultrasonic wave propagation velocity is corrected by the digitizer control unit. A time difference data obtained by additionally installing a sound speed correction calculating unit to calculate and a sound speed coefficient memory storing a sound speed to be a reference in distance calculation, and receiving and calculating a coordinate signal of the digitizer pen unit from the distance reference point. 20. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the ultrasonic wave propagation velocity is corrected and calculated using: 22. The digitizer control section, wherein a distance detecting section between receiving elements for detecting mounting distance data between the ultrasonic receiving elements, and reference coordinate data of the ultrasonic receiving elements serving as a reference for coordinate calculation are stored. The reference coordinate memory is additionally installed, and a straight line connecting the arbitrary two ultrasonic receiving elements is used as a reference axis, and one ultrasonic receiving element is set as a base point, and the mounting distance data is used as the other reference coordinate data. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 18 or 19, wherein: 23. The digitizer control unit further includes an operation function memory for storing the function for performing the coordinate operation, and a division unit setting unit for setting a division unit of the output coordinate data. 20. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 18, wherein the operation function is read from the operation function memory, and the coordinate data is calculated and output in an arbitrary area unit set by the area unit setting unit. 24. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 23, wherein the division unit setting of the division unit setting unit is set to XY coordinate axes orthogonal to each other, and coordinates are calculated using the number of images on the display screen as a unit. apparatus. 25. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 23, wherein the division unit setting of the division unit setting unit is set to XY coordinate axes orthogonal to each other, and coordinates are calculated using absolute distance as a unit. 26. A zone unit setting of the zone unit setting unit is set to XY coordinate axes orthogonal to each other, and a maximum zone distance is set to 100.
24. The ultrasonic digitizer according to claim 23, wherein coordinates are calculated in units of relative distances set as%.