JPH11327789A - Color display and electronic blackboard system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clear characters and images by automatically changing writing colors or background colors. SOLUTION: When graphics, etc., are inputted by bringing a pen into contact with a tablet 3, each coordinate of a position to which the tip of the pill is transferred is successively detected and stored in a frame memory 7 by a coordinate detecting part 6. Pieces of background color data of each coordinate position stored in the frame memory 7 and specified writing color data stored in a writing color storage part 10 are read and compared with each other by a color signal comparing part 8. When the background color and the specified writing color of the inputted coordinate position are regarded as the same, the specified writing color stored in the writing color storage part 10 is changed and a part equivalent to the coordinate position of the frame memory 7 is rewritten with the changed and specified writing color by a writing color generating part 9. Coordinate data stored in the frame memory 7 is read and each coordinate position of inputted trace is displayed on a color display means 2 (display panel 2a, etc.), with the specified writing color by an image output control part 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a tablet-integrated color display device for inputting characters and figures to a computer or the like, and a display surface and a writing surface of an electronic blackboard using the color display device and the touch input device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic blackboard system, and more particularly, to a color display device and an electronic blackboard for improving the visibility of an overwritten image (an input character or figure) when the overwritten image (input character or figure) is superimposed on an already displayed image. About the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In computer graphics, in order to improve operability and the like, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-325666, items on an input screen, background colors, and the like are displayed in different colors. . In addition, a so-called pen input type computer for inputting using a pen instead of a keyboard or a mouse is used in a portable information terminal device or an electronic conference system. For example, a liquid crystal display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-114591 recognizes coordinate data of a position pointed by a pen when a pen is input on a color liquid crystal panel, and designates a trajectory based on the recognized coordinate data in advance. The displayed color is displayed on the display panel, and the locus of the pen input is displayed in color.

Further, a color display device having a touch input device capable of directly inputting with a finger or the like instead of the pen input is also provided.

On the other hand, there has been an electronic blackboard apparatus that reads handwritten information written on a writing surface such as a whiteboard or a writing sheet using a writing implement with a dedicated scanner and outputs the information to recording paper with a dedicated printer. A known electronic blackboard device is used as a so-called copy board.

There is also provided an electronic blackboard system in which a touch panel is arranged on a writing surface of the electronic blackboard and information written by hand on the writing surface is input in real time. For example, a soft board manufactured by Microfield Graphics, Inc. (Microfield Graphics, Inc.) has an optical touch panel on a whiteboard that is a writing surface, and displays visuals such as characters and pictures written on this whiteboard. This is a touch input device that can capture data in real time into a connected personal computer (personal computer). In an electronic blackboard system using this software board, visual data captured by the software board is input to a personal computer and displayed on a CRT, displayed on a large screen using a liquid crystal projector, or printed on a recording paper by a printer. It is possible to output.
It is also possible to project the screen of the personal computer to which the software board is connected on the software board with a liquid crystal projector, and operate the personal computer screen on the software board using a dedicated pen.

Further, a display device for displaying characters and images, a touch input device having a touch panel surface provided on the front surface of the display device, and control for performing display control of the display device based on an input from the touch input device There is also provided an electronic blackboard system that includes a display device and a touch input device and configures a display surface and a writing surface of the electronic blackboard. For example, Smart Technologies (SMAR
T Technologies Inc.) uses a liquid crystal projector connected to a personal computer to project images of characters, pictures, figures, and graphics onto a panel, which is arranged in front of the projection surface (display surface) of the panel. Using a pressure-sensitive touch panel (writing surface), the handwritten information is taken into a personal computer, the handwritten information and the image information are combined in the personal computer, and can be displayed again in real time via a liquid crystal projector.

As described above, in such an electronic blackboard system, an image input using the touch input device can be displayed as an overwrite image on an image on the screen displayed by the display device. It has already been widely used for meetings, presentations, education, etc., and its use effect has been highly evaluated.

[0008]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional color display device, when a character or image is input with a pen in color, generally, a writing color is designated before writing and then input. . When this writing color is specified, the background color and the writing color may be specified to be the same or significantly close to each other due to a user's operation error or a determination error, and there is a problem that the writing locus becomes difficult to see. Was.

In the case of a color display device which always reads other information in the background through a network or the like, the background color changes at any time and the writing locus may be suddenly lost. In particular, when it is important for a plurality of people to simultaneously view drawn characters and images, such as a large color display device used in an electronic blackboard device or an electronic blackboard system, the overwritten image is difficult to visually recognize. This is a serious drawback, and there is a problem that convenience and workability are reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to provide a color display device in which characters or images drawn by automatically changing the writing color or the background color can be clearly recognized. With the goal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic blackboard system capable of always improving the operability and convenience by allowing the overwritten image to be clearly visible. And

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a color display device according to the present invention has a transparent coordinate input means and a writing means arranged in contact with the color display means, and a writing means. In the color display device for inputting the coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to the writing position by the user and displaying the color writing locus at the position of the color display means corresponding to each input writing coordinate, the selected writing color and writing position Are compared, and when the writing color and the background color at the writing position are the same or within a preset range, the writing color is changed.

The color display device according to claim 2 is
A transparent coordinate input means and a writing means arranged in contact with the color display means, inputting coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to a writing position by the writing means, and a color display means corresponding to each input writing coordinate In a color display device that displays a color writing locus at a position, all background colors at each input coordinate position are stored, and the frequency of appearance of the selected writing color and all background colors at each input coordinate position is averaged. The background color evaluation value evaluated by the above is compared, and when the writing color and the background color evaluation value are the same or within a preset range, the writing color is changed.

Further, the color display device according to claim 3 is:
3. The color display device according to claim 2, wherein when evaluating all the background colors at each of the input coordinate positions, the appearance frequency of the background color at each of the coordinate positions is calculated, and the distance from the hue with high frequency becomes longer. As described above, each appearance frequency is weighted.

The color display device according to claim 4 is
4. The color display device according to claim 2, wherein when a part of the input coordinate position is erased, the background color of the coordinate position to be erased is read from among all the background colors of the input coordinate position. It is to restore.

The color display device according to claim 5 is
5. The color display device according to claim 1, wherein a hue signal is used for comparing the writing color and the background color.

The color display device according to claim 6 is
Color coordinate display means having transparent coordinate input means and writing means arranged in contact with the color display means, inputting coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to a writing position by the writing means, and corresponding to each input writing coordinate In the color display device that displays the color writing locus at the position of, the selected writing color and the background color of the writing position are compared, and when the writing color and the background color of the writing position are the same or within a preset range, It changes the background color.

Further, the color display device according to claim 7 is:
The color display device according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a selection unit for selecting whether to change the writing color or the background color.

Further, the color display device according to claim 8 is:
Color coordinate display means having transparent coordinate input means and writing means arranged in contact with the color display means, inputting coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to a writing position by the writing means, and corresponding to each input writing coordinate In a color display device that displays a color writing locus at a position, when the input characters or figures are difficult to visually recognize, the colors are simultaneously changed to different writing colors selected by the user.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic blackboard system according to a ninth aspect has a color display device for displaying characters and images, and a touch panel surface provided in front of the color display device. A touch input device; and a control device that controls display of the color display device based on an input from the touch input device. The display surface and writing of an electronic blackboard using the color display device and the touch input device In the electronic blackboard system configuring a surface, when the control device displays an overwrite image input via the touch input device on an image displayed in advance on the color display device, the specified overwrite is performed. Compare the color of the image with the background color of the display position,
When the color of the overwritten image and the background color are the same or within a predetermined range, the color of the overwritten image is changed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic blackboard system, comprising: a color display device for displaying characters and images; a touch input device having a touch panel disposed in front of the color display device; A control device that performs display control of the color display device based on an input from, and at least an electronic blackboard system that configures a display surface and a writing surface of the electronic blackboard using the color display device and the touch input device, When the control device displays an overwrite image input via the touch input device on an image previously displayed on the color display device, the color of the overwrite image is set to the background color or the color of the maximum image area. It is set to a complementary color.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic whiteboard system according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the overwritten image includes characters, ruled lines, and figures.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic whiteboard system according to any one of the ninth to eleventh aspects, the control device recognizes a handwritten character input through the touch input device. A handwritten character recognition function for generating character information by using the handwritten character recognition function.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a color display device and an electronic blackboard system of the present invention will be described with reference to [Color Display Device of Embodiment 1], [Color Display Device of Embodiment 2],
The electronic blackboard system according to the third embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Color Display Apparatus of First Embodiment] The color display apparatus of the present invention is a color display means, a tablet provided in contact with the surface of the color display means, and a character or graphic input by contacting the tablet. Holding a pen.
The tablet is, for example, of a pressure-sensitive resistance type, and inputs coordinate data corresponding to a writing position with a pen. The color display means displays a color writing locus at a position corresponding to the input writing coordinates. The control unit of the color display device includes a coordinate detection unit, a frame memory, a color signal comparison unit, a writing color generation unit, a writing color storage unit, and an image output control unit. The coordinate detection unit sequentially detects the coordinates of the pen writing position based on a signal output from the tablet. The frame memory stores display information such as coordinate data detected by the coordinate detection unit and a plurality of color data of a background color. The color comparing unit compares the background color data at the designated coordinate position stored in the frame memory with the designated writing color. The writing color generator changes the writing color at each coordinate position of the locus to be displayed based on the comparison result of the color comparing unit. The writing color storage unit stores the writing color changed by the writing color generation unit as a designated writing color.
The image output control unit reads the coordinate data stored in the frame memory, and displays the input locus on the color display unit in the designated writing color.

In the color display device constructed as described above, when a pen or a tablet is brought into contact with a tablet to input a character or a figure, the coordinate detecting unit sequentially detects each coordinate of the position to which the pen tip moves, and detects the detected coordinate data. Is stored in the frame memory. The color signal comparison unit reads the background color data of each coordinate position stored in the frame memory and the designated writing color data stored in the writing color storage unit, and reads out the background color data and the designated writing color data of each read coordinate position. Are compared to determine whether the background color data at each coordinate position and the designated handwriting color data are within the same range. The writing color generation unit compares the background color at the input coordinate position with the designated writing color as a result of the comparison by the color signal comparison unit.
Change the designated writing color stored in the writing color storage unit,
The part corresponding to the coordinate position in the frame memory is rewritten with the changed designated writing color. The image output control unit is a frame memory 7
Is read out, and each coordinate position of the input locus is displayed on the color display means in the designated writing color.

FIG. 1 is an external view of the color display device according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the color display device 1 includes a color display means 2, a tablet 3 provided on the surface of the color display means 2, and a pen 4 for inputting characters and graphics by making contact with the tablet 3. Here, the tablet 3 has, for example, two transparent electrodes in parallel, and uses a pressure-sensitive resistance method in which the position touched by the pen pressure of the pen 4 is detected by electric resistance, and coordinate data corresponding to the writing position of the pen 4 Enter The color display means 2 displays a color writing locus at a position corresponding to the input writing coordinates.

The control unit 5 of the color display device 1
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, a coordinate detection unit 6, a frame memory 7, a color signal comparison unit 8, a writing color generation unit 9, a writing color storage unit 10, and an image output control unit 11 are provided.

Further, the coordinate detecting section 6 sequentially detects the coordinates of the writing position of the pen 4 based on the signals output from the electrodes 3X and 3Y of the tablet 3. The frame memory 7 stores display information such as coordinate data detected by the coordinate detection unit 6 and a plurality of color data of a background color. The color comparing section 8 compares the background color data at the designated coordinate position stored in the frame memory 7 with the designated writing color.

The writing color generator 9 changes the writing color at each coordinate position of the locus to be displayed based on the comparison result of the color comparing unit 8. The writing color storage unit 10 stores the writing color changed by the writing color generation unit 9 as a designated writing color. The image output control unit 11 reads out the coordinate data stored in the frame memory 7 and displays the input locus on the display panel 2a of the color display unit 2 in the designated writing color.

The operation of the color display device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a character or a figure is input by touching the pen 4 with the tablet 3, the coordinate detecting unit 6 sequentially detects each coordinate of the position where the pen tip of the pen 4 moves, and stores the detected coordinate data in the frame memory 7 ( Step S1, Step S2). The color signal comparing section 8 reads the background color data of each coordinate position stored in the frame memory 7 (step S3), and subsequently reads the designated writing color data stored in the writing color storage section 10 (step S4).

Thereafter, the color signal comparing section 8 compares the read background color data at each coordinate position with the designated handwriting color data (step S5). For example, when comparing the background color data at a certain coordinate position with the designated writing color data in the primary color system,
The designated writing color is R0, G0, B0, and the background color is R,
G, B, (R0-R) + (G0-G) + (B0
When −B) is equal to or smaller than a preset threshold, the background color at the coordinate position and the designated writing color are regarded as the same color, and when the difference is equal to or larger than the threshold, the background color at the coordinate position and the designated writing color are different. And

The writing color generation unit 9 compares the background color at the input coordinate position with the designated writing color as a result of the comparison by the color signal comparing unit 8 and determines that the writing color storage unit 10 has the same color.
The designated writing colors R0, G0, and B0 stored in are changed (step S6). This designated writing color R0, G0, B
If the amount by which 0 is changed is a complementary color to the background color at the input coordinate position, the recognition of the written locus improves, but since the locus is continuous, a color close to the designated color and a recognizable color is obtained. desirable. Therefore, the designated writing colors R0, G
The algorithm for determining the amount by which 0 and B0 are changed may be not only linear processing such as simple addition and multiplication, but also non-linear processing such as a neurocomputer that learns and considers human perception.

Next, the portion corresponding to the coordinate position of the frame memory 7 is rewritten with the changed designated writing color (step S).
7). The image output control unit 11 reads out the coordinate data stored in the frame memory 7 and displays each coordinate position of the input trajectory in the designated writing color on the display panel 2 a of the color display means 2.
(Step S8).

In this way, when the writing color and the background color at the position are the same or remarkably similar, the writing color is changed and displayed, so that the written character or figure can be clearly recognized.

[Color Display Apparatus of Second Embodiment] In the color display apparatus of the first embodiment described above, the background color data of each input coordinate position is compared with the designated handwriting color data. Although the case where the writing color at each coordinate position is changed when the background color and the designated writing color are the same or similar has been described, all the background colors at each input coordinate position are evaluated and the writing color is changed. You may do it.

In the second embodiment, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the control unit 5a that evaluates all the background colors at the input coordinate positions and changes the writing color includes Frame memory 7, color signal comparing section 8, writing color generating section 9, writing color storage section 10, and image output control section 1.
1 together with the background color storage unit 12 and the background color evaluation unit 1
3 The background color storage unit 12 stores all background color data corresponding to each input coordinate. The background color evaluation unit 13 evaluates all background colors at each coordinate position stored in the background color storage unit 12.

The operation of the color display device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a character or an image is input by bringing the pen 4 into contact with the tablet 3 (step S11), the coordinate detector 6 sequentially detects each coordinate of the position to which the pen tip of the pen 4 moves, and stores the detected coordinate data in the frame memory 7. As well as the background color storage unit 12 (step S12).

When the coordinate data of the position to which the pen tip has moved is input, the background color storage unit 12 outputs the background color data corresponding to the coordinate data stored in the frame memory 7, that is, the background erased by the locus input by the pen 4. The color is read and stored (step S13). When the pen 4 is separated from the tablet 3 in this state, the background color evaluation unit 13
Calculates the length of each color data, that is, the appearance frequency from all the background color data corresponding to each coordinate data stored in the background color storage unit 12 so far, and converts it into a weighted color evaluation value (step S14). . For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a locus 15 is drawn with a pen 4 at a plurality of different background colors A to D, the locus 15 extends within the background color B by a length L1.
When the image traverses only the background color A, traverses the background color A by the length (L2 + L4), traverses the background color C by the length L3, and traverses the background color D by the length L5, the length traverses the background colors A to D Color evaluation is performed from L1 to L5. This color evaluation may be a simple average value calculation or a value with a weight function.

After that, the color signal comparing section 8 reads out the color evaluation values of all the background color data corresponding to each coordinate data from the background color evaluating section 13, and subsequently, the writing color storage section 10.
Is read (step S15), and the read color evaluation value is compared with the designated handwritten color data (step S16).

When the color evaluation value and the designated writing color are regarded as the same color as a result of the comparison by the color signal comparing section 8, the writing color generating section 9 compares the designated writing color stored in the writing color storage section 10 with the designated writing color. The part is changed (step S17), and the part corresponding to the coordinate position of the frame memory 7 is rewritten with the changed designated writing color (step S18).

The image output control section 11 reads out the coordinate data and the designated writing color data stored in the frame memory 7, and displays the input locus on the display panel 2a of the color display means 2 in the designated writing color (step S19).

By evaluating all the background colors at each coordinate position thus input and changing the writing color,
By changing the writing color in units of display pixels, the continuity of lines and figures can be lost, and when there are multiple backgrounds, it is possible to eliminate the risk of losing recognizability with other backgrounds. And a clear color trajectory of the figure or figure can be displayed.

In the second embodiment, the background color evaluator 13 calculates the length of each color data, that is, the appearance frequency from all the background color data corresponding to each coordinate data, and calculates a simple average value or attaches a weighting function to the color evaluation. However, by evaluating the line length and the distance across each background color by using a non-linear function, it is possible to prevent the writing color from being drawn on a short background and making it difficult to visually recognize it. .

Since the background color data corresponding to each coordinate data is also stored in the background color storage unit 12 as the locus inputted by the pen 4, when a part of the locus inputted by the eraser is erased, Movement of the coordinate detector 6
By reading the background color data corresponding to the detected coordinate data in the background color storage unit 12 and writing it in the frame memory 7, it is possible to restore the background color erased when the locus is input and perform partial erasure. it can.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the entire primary color signal is used for comparing the background color and the writing color has been described. However, these signals are information in which the luminance and the hue are mixed, and the evaluation value is used. And the result of the change may be difficult to recognize. For example, if the background color is constant luminance and constant hue,
Changing the brightness alone does not improve the recognition. Thus, for example, like a television signal, the luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C, that is, the RY signal and the BY signal may be temporarily converted and evaluated and changed in a two-dimensional color difference signal coordinate system. This hue signal is R, G, B in addition to the above color difference signal.
The signal obtained by subtracting the signal with the lowest value, for example, when B is low, the RB signal and the GB signal may be used. By using the hue signal in this way, the background color and the writing color can be more clearly compared.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the writing color is changed when the writing color and the background color at the position are the same or remarkably similar has been described, but the background color may be changed. good.

In each of the above embodiments, when the writing color and the background color at the position are the same or remarkably similar,
Although the case where the writing color is automatically changed has been described, the user may be able to select whether or not to change the writing color and the place to be changed by using a switch or a menu. As described above, if the user can arbitrarily select whether or not to change the writing color, when the user gives meaning to the writing color, the trajectory as intended by the user is displayed. be able to.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the writing color and the background color are automatically changed when the writing color and the background color at the position are the same or remarkably similar has been described. If the input characters and figures are difficult to recognize when the characters and figures are input and visually recognized by the user, the colors may be simultaneously changed to different writing colors selected by the user.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the pressure-sensitive resistance type tablet 4 is used as the coordinate input means has been described, but the electromagnetic input is used as the coordinate input means, and the position sensor built in the input pen 4 is used. Or a method of reading the display points of the color display means 2 by optical means.

[Embodiment 3] An electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 in which a display surface and a writing surface of an electronic blackboard are configured by using a color display device and a touch input device, and a color display is performed in advance. When displaying the overwrite image input via the touch input device on the image displayed on the device, the color of the specified overwrite image is compared with the background color of the display position, and the color of the overwrite image is compared with the color of the overwrite image. When the background color is the same or within a preset range, the color of the overwritten image is changed.

Hereinafter, an electronic blackboard system according to the third embodiment will be described. 1. System configuration Operation 3. The effects will be described in detail in order of effects with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. System Configuration FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic blackboard system according to the third embodiment. Electronic blackboard system 100 shown in FIG.
Are a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as “PDP”) 101 as a color display device, and a PDP 10
1 and a touch input device 102 capable of inputting a character or a figure by touching a touch surface (writing surface) with a fingertip or a touch pen, and a coordinate position on the touch surface touched by the fingertip or the touch pen. A controller for a touch input device (hereinafter referred to as a “controller”) 103 for performing calculations and the like, coordinate position information is input from the controller 103, and is input via the touch input device 102 based on the input coordinate position information. A computer 104 (personal computer) that controls the entire system, such as processing for drawing characters and graphics on the PDP 101, is provided.

Various peripheral devices can be connected to the computer 104 of the electronic blackboard system 100. FIG. 7 shows, as an example, a state in which a scanner 105 for reading an image of a document and a printer 106 for outputting image data to recording paper are connected to a computer 104. Further, the electronic blackboard system 100 can be connected to the network 107 via the computer 104. Data created by another computer connected to the network 107 can be displayed on the PDP 101, or data created by the electronic blackboard system 100 can be displayed. Can be transferred to another computer.

Further, although not shown, the PD
The P101 is provided with a video input terminal and a speaker. The PDP 101 can be used as a large-screen monitor by connecting various information devices and AV devices such as a laser disk player, a DVD player, and a video camera, in addition to the video player 108. Can be.

Here, as the PDP 101, a large screen type such as 40 inches or 50 inches which can be used as an electronic blackboard is used. Plasma displays can be made larger, have high brightness, do not need to darken the room as in the case of using a projector, have a wide viewing angle unlike liquid crystal displays, and have the feature that video can be played smoothly. is there. For this reason, in the third embodiment, a plasma display is adopted as the color display device. Since the plasma display is used as described above, the color display device can be made thinner (smaller) in the electronic blackboard system according to the third embodiment.

As the touch input device 102, an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type touch input device is used. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a touch input device used in the electronic blackboard system; This touch input device 102
And a transmitting transducer 202 for transmitting a surface acoustic wave to one surface of a substrate 200 which has a transparent substrate 200 and serves as a touch surface (writing surface) 201 for writing characters and graphics with a fingertip or a touch pen. , A receiving transducer 203 for receiving a surface acoustic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer 202, and a reflection array 204 for reflecting the surface acoustic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer 202 and guiding the surface acoustic wave to the receiving transducer 203. Similarly, 205, a transmitting transducer 206 for transmitting a surface acoustic wave, a receiving transducer 207 for receiving a surface acoustic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer 206, and a surface acoustic wave transmitted from the transmitting transducer 206. To the receiving transformer. And a reflective array 208, 209 for guiding a surface acoustic wave inducer 207. Note that the touch surface 201 has a size corresponding to the screen size of the PDP 101.

In FIG. 8, the transmitting transducer 2
02.206 and receiving transducer 203.2
07 is a cable 210 and a connector 211, respectively.
Is connected to the controller 103 via the. The cable 210 is preferably routed along the edge of the substrate 200 so as to pass through the shortest distance to the transmitting transducers 202 and 206 and the receiving transducers 203 and 207, but is not shown here.

When the cable 210 and the receiving transducers 203 and 207 are connected, the cable 2
10 shield layer is peeled off and the receiving transducer 2
03.207 must be connected. Therefore, the portion of the cable 210 from which the shield layer has been removed becomes an antenna and picks up electromagnetic waves generated from the PDP 101 as noise. Therefore, a shielding member, for example, a copper shield tape (copper foil tape) is provided between the PDP 101 and the substrate 200. ). This shield tape is
The present inventors have found that when the PDP 101 is combined with the ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type touch input device 102, the touch input device 102 does not function with high accuracy due to the influence of the electromagnetic waves generated from the PDP 101. It is provided based on the result.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the shield tape. FIG. 9 shows a state in which a portion where the receiving transducers 202 and 206 are provided on the substrate 200 is viewed from the touch surface 201.
PDP 1 of substrate 200 with masking tape 301 interposed
01 (the surface opposite to the touch surface 201). The shield tape 300 shown in FIG. 9 has an L-shaped shape, and as a result of the experiment, the width is 35 mm ± 3 m.
m, length in the vertical direction with respect to the substrate 200 is 70 mm ± 20
mm, the horizontal length with respect to the substrate 200 is 130 mm ±
A size of 20 mm has been found to be optimal.

In FIG. 9, a shield tape 30 is provided so as to cover the receiving transducers 203 and 207.
0 is provided between the PDP 101 and the substrate 200, but by further providing a similar shield tape on the touch surface 201 side, noise countermeasures can be strengthened. In this case, the receiving transducers 203 and 207 may be covered with one shield tape. However, when a shield tape is provided on the touch surface 201 side, care must be taken so that the shield tape does not contact the reflective arrays 205 and 209.

As the substrate 200, any type of material such as glass and plastic may be used as long as it is transparent and can propagate surface acoustic waves. Further, for example, when the substrate 200 is a glass substrate, the reflection arrays 204, 205, 208, and 209 screen-print a glass paste,
0 is formed by firing at a predetermined temperature.

Next, an outline of a method for specifying the coordinates of the touch position when the user touches the touch surface with a fingertip or a touch pen will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for describing the process of specifying the coordinates of the touch position.
In FIG. 10, the transmitting transducer 202 and the receiving transducer 203 are used to detect the position of the touch position in the X-axis direction, and the transmitting transducer 206 and the receiving transducer 207 detect the touch position in the Y-axis direction. Used to
Here, for convenience of explanation, the description will focus on the processing for detecting the position in the X-axis direction.

The process of specifying the coordinates of the touch position is executed by the touch input device 102 and the controller 103. The transmitting transducer 202 receives an electric signal from the controller 103 and converts the inputted electric signal into mechanical vibration. As a result, a surface acoustic wave that propagates along the surface or interface of the touch surface 201 of the substrate 200 is generated.

The surface acoustic waves generated by the transmitting transducer 202 are sequentially reflected by the reflecting elements constituting the reflecting array 204 at 90 degrees from the side closer to the transmitting transducer 202, and propagate on the touch surface 201. become. That is, the phenomenon that a part of the surface acoustic wave is reflected and a part of the surface acoustic wave is repeated by each of the reflective elements constituting the reflective array 204 is repeated.
Surface acoustic wave propagates over the entire surface of. The surface acoustic waves reflected by each reflective element constituting the reflective array 204 propagate in the touch surface 201 in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the touch surface 201 and with a time difference based on the position of the reflected reflective element. Go. Then, the reflection array 205
Reflects the surface acoustic wave propagating through the touch surface 201 by 90 degrees, and guides the reflected surface acoustic wave to the receiving transducer 203.

The receiving transducer 203 receives the surface acoustic wave, converts it into an electric signal, and
To enter. After amplifying the input electric signal, the controller 103 performs rectification and A / D conversion processing. Then, the controller 103 processes the A / D-converted signal along the time axis so that the position on the touch surface 201 in the X-axis direction corresponds to time.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that the user has touched an arbitrary position on the touch surface 201 with a fingertip. In this case, the surface acoustic wave propagating at the touch position is absorbed or scattered by the fingertip, and is greatly attenuated. By specifying the point at which such attenuation has occurred based on the result of the above-described signal processing, the position of the touch position in the X-axis direction can be specified. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a solid line crossing the touch surface 201 is specified as the position of the touch position in the X-axis direction.

As for the position of the touch position in the Y-axis direction,
It can be specified by performing the same processing as the processing for specifying the position in the X-axis direction using the transmitting transducer 206, the receiving transducer 207, and the reflection arrays 208 and 209. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a dotted line crossing the touch surface 201 indicates the touch position Y.
It is specified as a position in the axial direction.

The controller 103 sets X
The position in the axial direction and the position in the Y-axis direction are specified and input as coordinate position information to the computer 104 shown in FIG. Based on the input coordinate position information, the computer 104 executes various processes described later, such as displaying the mouse cursor on the position touched by the user on the touch surface 201 on the PDP 101, and the like.

The receiving transducer 203.2
07, the surface acoustic wave is attenuated by the reflection by each reflection array and the propagation of the touch surface 201,
The electric signals output from the receiving transducers 203 and 207 are very small. Therefore, when noise such as an electromagnetic wave generated from the PDP 101 is mixed, it becomes impossible to detect the attenuation of the surface acoustic wave due to the touch of the touch surface 201 due to the influence of the noise. The shield tape 300 shown in FIG. 9 is provided to prevent such a situation from occurring.
In the third embodiment, coordinate detection of a touch position with high accuracy can be performed due to the presence of. In other words, the shield tape 300 has a large role to enable a plasma display to be employed as a display device used with the ultrasonic elastic wave touch input device 102.

Subsequently, the computer 104 shown in FIG.
Will be described. FIG. 11 shows the computer 104.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration. Computer 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 04 denotes a personal computer, which is a CPU 500 for controlling the entire system, a ROM 501 storing a boot program and the like, a RAM 502 used as a work area of the CPU 500, and for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like. A keyboard 503, a mouse 504 for moving a cursor, selecting a range, and the like; a multitasking operating system (OS) 505 having a multi-window function;
, An electronic whiteboard software 506 that makes the computer function as an electronic whiteboard, character recognition software 514 that recognizes handwritten characters input through the touch input device 102 to generate character information, and a computer 104 that uses the touch input device 102 and the controller 103 as coordinate input devices. A hard disk 509 storing a touch panel driver 507 and various application programs 508 such as word processors and spreadsheet software to be operated on the above, a graphics board 510 connected to the PDP 101 and controlling display of an image on the PDP 101, and an electronic blackboard system A network card 511 (or a modem) for connecting the network 100 to the network 107 via the computer 104 is connected to the controller 103, the scanner 105, the printer 106, and the like. Interface for (I /
F) 512 and a bus 513 for connecting the above components
And

In FIG. 11, for convenience of explanation, an interface for connecting a peripheral device to the computer 104 is shown by one block called I / F 512. Specifically, the I / F 512 includes, for example, the controller 103. A serial interface such as RS-232C for connection, a parallel interface such as Centronics for connecting the printer 106, and a SCSI for connecting a scanner are provided.

Although the controller 103 is configured to be independent of the computer 104 as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 103 may be built in the computer 104. Although not shown in FIG. 11, the computer 104 includes a floppy disk drive, a CD-ROM drive,
A drive device and the like are mounted.

The devices constituting the electronic blackboard system 100 described above are housed in a housing unit and integrated, so that the overall system can be reduced in size, operability, handling, and convenience. The storage of the electronic blackboard system 100 in the housing unit in this manner is performed by the electronic blackboard system 100.
Is composed of a plurality of devices as shown in FIG.
If these are managed separately, a large installation space is required, and there is a problem that it takes time to move.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the housing unit housing the electronic blackboard system 100 as viewed from the front side.
Is a perspective view as seen from the rear side. The housing unit 600 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 has a panel unit 601 that houses the PDP 101 and the touch input device 102, a controller housing unit 602 that houses the controller 103, and a panel unit 601 and the controller housing unit 602 that have a predetermined height. A device storage 604 having a stand 603 for supporting the computer 104, a scanner 105, a printer 106, a video player 108, etc.,
Consists of

PDP 101 and Touch Input Device 102
Are integrated such that the touch input device 102 is located on the front surface of the PDP 101, and as shown in FIG.
1 is housed in the panel unit 601 so that it appears. As described above, the panel unit 601 houses the PDP 101 and the touch input device 102, and forms the display surface and the writing surface (touch surface 201) of the electronic blackboard.

As shown in FIG. 13, the controller 103 is housed in a controller housing 602 provided on the back of the panel section 601. Then, the panel unit 60
Reference numeral 1 is attached to and supported by a stand 603 of a device storage unit 604 via a stay 605 such that an image display surface of the PDP 101 and a touch surface 201 of the touch input device 101 are located at predetermined heights. Further, the controller storage section 602 is similarly attached to the stand 603.

On the front side of the panel section 601 shown in FIG. 12, 606 is a speaker, and 607 is a PDP 10
1 power lamps. Although a detailed description is omitted, in the electronic blackboard system 100 according to the third embodiment, switching of an image output source for the PDP 101 such as the computer 104 and the video player 108, volume adjustment, and the like can be performed by a remote controller. It is possible, and 608 corresponds to a remote control light receiving unit that receives light from the remote control.

On the back side of the panel unit 601 shown in FIG. 13, 609 is a handle for moving the electronic blackboard system 100, 610 is an operation panel for setting the brightness and contrast of the PDP 101, and 611 will be described later. The angle adjustment lever for adjusting the angle of the panel unit 601 is shown. Although not shown, a computer 10 is provided on the bottom surface of the controller housing 602.
4, a connector panel for connecting the video player 108 and the like to the PDP 101, the controller 103 and the like is provided.

That is, the image output cable and the audio output cable of the computer 104 are connected to the PDP 101 via this connector panel, and the computer 104 and the controller 103 are connected via this connector panel. In addition, video player 1
Various information devices such as 08 and AV devices are also connected to the PDP 101 via this connector panel.

The device storage section 604 of the housing unit 600
Is a computer storage unit 612 for storing the computer 104 from below in the vertical direction, a video player 108, a laser disk player, a DV
A video storage unit 613 for storing various information devices and AV devices such as a D player, and a printer storage unit 614 for storing the printer 106 are provided. As described above, by arranging heavy equipment from below in the vertical direction, even when the board unit 601 having the PDP 101 and the touch input device 102 exists above, even when the board unit 601 is moved and installed, The stability of the body unit 600 can be ensured. Note that the device storage section 604 does not have a storage portion for storing the scanner 105 shown in FIG. 7, but as long as the condition that a heavy device is arranged from below in the vertical direction is maintained, the scanner A storage section for the storage 105 may be provided.

Both sides of the computer storage section 612 are doors so that a floppy disk or a CD-ROM can be inserted and removed. The front of the video storage unit 613 is a door so that a video tape, a laser disk, or the like can be inserted and removed. Further, the front of the printer housing 614 is also a door, which allows the user to operate the printer 106. The door has a touch pen (not shown) for touching the touch surface 201 of the touch input device 102. Can be stored. In addition, the rear surface of the printer housing section 614 is not covered by the housing, and the printer 106 can be housed so that the paper feed tray is located outside the housing unit 600 (see FIG. 14), thereby improving operability. Have been.

On the front side of the device storage section 604 shown in FIG. 12, reference numeral 615 denotes a keyboard base on which the keyboard 503 of the computer 104 can be always used, and 616 denotes the electronic blackboard system 100 and the housing unit 600. Each of the casters for moving each of them is shown. Further, on the rear side of the device storage section 604 shown in FIG.
3, a power tap for supplying power to the computer 104, etc., 618, a cable guide for wiring various cables, and 619, a main power switch of the electronic blackboard system 100.

As described above, by storing the electronic whiteboard system 100 in the housing unit 600, the electronic whiteboard system 100 can be easily moved and installed simply by moving the housing unit 600. In addition, the device storage section 604 of the housing unit 600 has a gravity direction (vertical direction).
Since the heavy devices are arranged in order from the bottom, the stability of the housing unit 600 at the time of moving and setting can be ensured.

Further, in consideration of the possibility that the light of, for example, a fluorescent lamp directly enters the display surface of the PDP 101 and the image displayed on the PDP 101 becomes difficult to see, An angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angle of the display 601 (display surface and writing surface of the electronic blackboard) is provided. Therefore, a configuration example of the angle adjusting mechanism will be described.

FIG. 14 shows the housing unit 6 viewed from the right side.
FIG. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 800 denotes a rotation fulcrum, and 801 denotes a rotation guide.
Numeral 1 is rotatably attached to a stunt 603 existing on the left and right sides of the housing unit 600 via a stay 605 with a rotation fulcrum 800 as a fulcrum. In other words, the board unit 601 can be turned around the turning fulcrum 800 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
The angle can be adjusted so that the light of the fluorescent lamp is not reflected on the PDP 101. Here, the rotation guide 801 is
The angle of the board part 601 that rotates about the rotation fulcrum 800 is regulated.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an angle adjustment by rotating the board unit 601 via a mechanism described later.

In the third embodiment, the angle of the board part 601 is changed from 0 degree (the state in which the board part 601 stands upright) to five degrees (the board part
01 is tilted downward). The rotation fulcrum 800, the rotation guide 801,
The angle adjusting mechanism 802 is configured by the angle adjusting lever 611 and the components described below.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 803 denotes a tray of the printer 106 housed in the printer housing 614. As shown in FIG. 14, the angle adjustment lever 611 for adjusting the angle of the board unit 601 is
3 is provided at a position where the recording paper is not obstructed when the recording paper is fed.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show the configuration of the angle adjusting mechanism 802 as viewed from above, and FIG.
FIG. 16 shows a state where the angle of 1 is 5 degrees, and FIG. 16 shows a state where the angle of 0 is 0 degrees. FIG. 17 is a side view of the angle adjustment mechanism 802 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, and corresponds to a state in which the angle of the board unit 601 shown in FIG. 16 is 0 degrees.

15 to 17, reference numeral 900 denotes a PDP angle rotatably mounted between stays 605 by a PDP fulcrum 901, and reference numeral 902 denotes a stand 603.
A stunt stay attached to a lever pedestal 904 that is rotatably attached to a stand fulcrum 903 and used when adjusting the angle of the board unit 601 together with the angle adjusting lever 611 is shown.

The angle adjusting lever 611 has such a shape as to sandwich the PDP angle 900 and the stand stay 902, and has a lever fulcrum 905 on the PDP angle 900 side.
Is mounted to be rotatable. In addition, the angle adjusting lever 611 has a flat portion 906 and a slope portion 907 of a lever receiving base 904 attached to the stand stay 902.
And a bearing 908 that rotates with the rotation of the angle adjustment lever 611 is provided.

Here, it is assumed that the state of the angle adjusting mechanism 802 is in the state shown in FIG. 15, and the angle of the board part 601 is inclined at 5 degrees. When the user operates the angle adjustment lever 611 to the left (in the direction of the arrow in the figure),
The angle adjustment lever 611 rotates about the lever fulcrum 905, and accordingly, the bearing 908 of the angle adjustment lever 611 moves on the flat portion 906 of the lever receiving base 904 and climbs the slope of the slope portion 907, resulting in a PDP. A force is generated that pushes the angle 900 forward. That is, the lever receiving base 904 is fixed to the stand 603 via the stand stay 902, and the PDP angle 900 is connected to the board portion 6 at the turning fulcrum 800 and the turning guide 801.
01 is attached to the stay 605 which rotatably supports the PD 01, so that the operation of the angle adjustment lever 611 allows the PD
The board 601 can be rotated together with the P angle 900 (the lower end of the board 601 can be pushed forward).

By operating the angle adjusting lever 611, the angle adjusting mechanism 802 changes from the state shown in FIG. 15 to the state shown in FIG.
It can be changed from degrees to 0 degrees. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16, by increasing the interval between the PDP angle 900 and the stand stay 902 from L1 to L2, the angle of the board part 601 is changed from 5 degrees to 0 degree.
Can be changed at any time.

Similarly, from the state shown in FIG. 16, the user moves the angle adjustment lever 611 rightward (in the direction of the arrow in the figure).
The angle of the board part 601 can be changed from 0 degree to 5 degrees by operating the above.

Although not shown, the angle of the angle adjustment lever 611 shown in FIG. 17 also changes with the change of the angle of the board 601. However, the PDP stay 900 and the stand stay 90
2 are rotatably fixed, so that they are not affected by an angle change of the board unit 601.

As shown in FIG. 18, by providing one or more springs 1200 between the PDP angle 900 and the stand stay 902, the operability of the angle adjusting lever 611 can be improved. This is because the weight of the board unit 901 and the angle adjustment lever 611
This takes into account that the operation of the angle adjustment lever 611 becomes heavy depending on the length of the angle adjustment lever 611. Therefore,
The operability can be further improved by adjusting the number of springs 1200 and the spring force according to the weight of the board portion 601.

The lever receiving base 904 is fixed to the stand stay 902 with, for example, a screw or the like, and a hole (not shown) of the stand stay 902 through which the screw is passed may be formed as a rectangular hole. preferable. As a result, since the fixing position of the lever receiving base 904 can be changed as desired, the angle range of the adjustable board portion 601 can be changed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
04 is provided on the PDP stay 900, and a lever fulcrum 905 is provided on the stand stay 902.
Even if the configuration is opposite to the angle adjustment mechanism 802 shown in
Similarly, the angle of the board unit 601 can be adjusted.

The configuration of the angle adjusting mechanism 802 described above is merely an example, and various designs and changes can be made. For example, the constituent members of the angle adjustment lever 611 may be provided on the upper side of the board unit 601, and the positions of the rotation fulcrum 800 and the rotation guide 801 may be reversed.

As described above, by providing the housing unit 600 with the angle adjusting mechanism 802 for adjusting the angle of the board unit 601, disturbance light enters the PDP 101, and in particular, light from a lighting fixture such as a fluorescent lamp on the ceiling. Can be avoided. Therefore, the screen is easy to see, and the convenience of the electronic blackboard system 100 can be improved.

2. Operation Next, the electronic blackboard system 100 having the above-described configuration will be described.
(1) Overview (2) When using the system as an electronic blackboard (3) When using the system as a computer (4) Adjustment of touch input device (5) Use of AV equipment (6) Network connection ( 7) The overwriting image changing process, which is the main part of the third embodiment, will be described in this order. The change of the color of the overwritten image, which is a feature of the electronic blackboard system according to the third embodiment, will be described in “(7) Overwrite image changing process that is a main part of the third embodiment”.

(1) Overview The electronic blackboard system 100 according to the third embodiment combines a large-screen PDP 101 with a touch input device 102 of an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave method, and has a large screen like a projector, Free writing on the screen with a touch pen,
This is a communication tool that enables clear display of computer data and can be used for meetings and meetings.

Specifically, the user operates the touch input device 10
By writing characters and figures on the touch surface 201 of the second screen with a fingertip or a touch pen, the written characters and figures
01 can be displayed. In addition, the screen of a word processor or spreadsheet software can be captured, characters and figures can be written on the captured screen, and a part of the screen can be emphasized with a pen tool.

In the system, since the screen displayed on the PDP 101 is one page and the written information is managed in page units, editing processing such as displaying a list of all pages, rearranging pages, adding and deleting pages, and the like is performed. It can be carried out. Each created page can be saved as a file, and when a meeting of the same agenda is held several times, it can be called and used as many times as necessary. Then, the called file can be processed and reused for creating new material.

A file created by another computer using the presentation software is transferred to the network 1
07, etc., and it is also possible to give a presentation using the file. Since the presentation can be performed using the data of the file, the OHP film required for the presentation using the projector is unnecessary. As described above, while performing the presentation, the touch input device 1 is displayed on the screen on which the file created by the presentation software is opened.
02, and a more effective presentation can be made.

Further, the present invention can be used as a normal computer, and can be used for education of a method of operating a computer by using the PDP 101 having a large screen.

(2) When using the system as an electronic blackboard Next, when using the electronic blackboard system 100 as an electronic blackboard, 1) electronic blackboard software 2) writing of characters and figures by handwriting 3) handwritten characters and figures 4) Drawing of figures 5) Character input by handwritten character recognition 6) Creation of new page 7) Open file created before 8) Import screen of word processor, spreadsheet software, presentation software 9) During creation A list of pages is displayed. 10) Save the created page. 11) Print processing. 12) Others.

1) Electronic blackboard software The electronic blackboard software 506 shown in FIG.
Can be operated as an electronic blackboard. This electronic blackboard software 506 is similar to various application programs 508 such as word processors and spreadsheet software.
This is a type of application program that operates under the control of S505. In the third embodiment, when the main power switch 619 of the system shown in FIG.
The electronic blackboard software 506 immediately after the activation of the OS 505
It is preferable in terms of workability that the setting is made to be activated. However, the desktop screen provided by the OS 505 may be displayed when the system is started, and the electronic blackboard software 506 may be started by selecting an icon displayed on the desktop screen.

When the electronic blackboard software 506 is started, an electronic blackboard screen 1400 as shown in FIG.
Displayed above. The electronic blackboard screen 1400 corresponds to, for example, a writing surface of a whiteboard. Touch surface 201 of touch input device 102 located in front of PDP 101 displaying electronic blackboard screen 1400
When the user draws a character or figure on top with a fingertip or touch pen,
The electronic blackboard screen 140 on the PDP 101 displays the characters and graphics written by the user on the touch surface 201 as if the characters and graphics were written on the whiteboard with the pen via the touch input device 102, the controller 103, and the computer 104.
0 is drawn.

The electronic blackboard software 506 is configured to manage information on a page-by-page basis, and the electronic blackboard screen 1400 corresponds to an information writing area for one page managed by the electronic blackboard software 506. The user can operate the electronic blackboard software 506 to create a plurality of pages, and display any page among them on the electronic blackboard screen 1400.
Can be displayed as

Further, the electronic blackboard software 506 is provided in FIG.
23, a toolbar 1401 including a plurality of buttons for performing various operations is displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400. Here, an outline of functions assigned to each button in the toolbar 1401 will be described. As will be described later, the toolbar displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 includes an extended toolbar (see FIG. 21) and a graphic drawing toolbar (see FIG. 22) in addition to the toolbar 1401.

Computer screen button 1402: PD
The display on P101 is switched to a computer screen (a desktop screen or a screen of another application program). Pen button 1403: A character or line can be written on PDP 101 by handwriting (use of pen tool is specified). -Eraser button 1404: A handwritten character or line can be erased. -Previous page button 1405: Displays the previous page.・ Page number window 1406: Current electronic blackboard screen 1
The number of pages displayed as 400 is displayed. Next page button 1407: Displays the next page. Print button 1408: Prints the page of the file currently being created by printer 106. Thumbnail button 1409: Displays a list of pages making up the file currently being created. Exit button 1410: Terminates the electronic blackboard software 506. Extension button 1411: extension toolbar 1 shown in FIG.
Display 500. When an extension button 1411 in the extension toolbar 1500 is touched, the screen returns to the toolbar 1401 shown in FIG. A handwritten character recognition input button 1412: A handwritten input board (see FIG. 34) described later is displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400. Characters input by handwriting on the handwriting input board can be recognized, and the recognized characters can be displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

The function assigned to each button in the extension toolbar 1500 displayed when the extension button 1411 is touched will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same buttons as those in the toolbar 1401 shown in FIG. 20 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

File button 1501: A new page can be opened or a previously created file can be opened. Save button 1502: Saves the currently created file. Display button 1503: Switches between thumbnail display, whole display, and window display, and can set zoom (enlarge) display. Graphic drawing button 1504: A graphic drawing toolbar 1600 shown in FIG. 22 is displayed, and a line, a rectangle, and an ellipse can be drawn (use of a graphic drawing tool is designated). Each button in the graphic drawing toolbar 1600 will be described later. Background setting button 1505: A background color of the electronic blackboard screen 1400 displayed on the PDP 101 can be set. Option button 1506: display of the electronic blackboard software 506 at the time of power-on and at the time of termination, and setting of page insertion when capturing another screen described later can be performed. In addition, a setting for changing a work folder can be made. Help button 1507: A help screen on which operation and function descriptions are described can be displayed.

Further, a graphic drawing toolbar 1600 displayed when the graphic drawing button 1504 is touched
The function assigned to each of the buttons inside will be described with reference to FIG.

Select button 1601: When editing a created figure, a figure to be edited can be selected. Straight line button 1602: A straight line can be drawn. -Square button 1603: A square can be drawn. Ellipse button 1604: An ellipse can be drawn. Edit button 1605: Edits the created figure.

Note that the electronic blackboard software 506 can know which button the user has touched based on the coordinate position information input from the controller 103.

Further, the user can move the toolbar to a desired place by touching a predetermined position of each toolbar shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 with the fingertip and moving the fingertip as it is.

The electronic blackboard screen 140 shown in FIG.
0 is a display form called so-called full-screen display
It is displayed on the entire display area 101. The user touches the display button 1503 in the extension toolbar 1500 and performs a predetermined operation, so that the electronic blackboard screen 14
00 can be switched to window display. Further, since the electronic blackboard software 506 is a type of application program that operates on the OS 505, the display of the PDP 101 is displayed by touching a computer screen button 1402 in the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1500) as described later. It is possible to easily switch from the electronic blackboard screen 1400 to a desktop screen or a display screen of a word processor or the like.

Further, the operation of the touch input device 102 (touch on the touch surface 201) is performed in addition to the fingertip and the touch pen.
The operation may be performed using any material that can attenuate surface acoustic waves. Therefore, in the following description, for example, “touch with a fingertip”
Is described, the same operation can be performed by touching with a touch pen or another object.

2) Writing of Characters and Figures by Handwriting Next, various operations using the above-described electronic blackboard software 506 will be described in order. Here, a method of writing characters and figures by handwriting will be described.

The electronic blackboard software 506 is provided with a pen tool for writing characters and figures on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 by hand using a user's fingertip or touch pen like a real pen. The pen tool is used when the user operates the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 150).
By touching the pen button 1403 in 0), it becomes available. The user can display a corresponding character or line on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 by writing a character on the blackboard or whiteboard by handwriting and writing a character or line on the touch surface 201 with a fingertip or a touch pen. it can. With this pen tool, the user's fingertip or touch pen becomes like a real pen, and it is also possible to set the color and line thickness of characters and figures that can be written with the fingertip.
FIG. 23 shows that the result of writing characters and lines by hand is PDP10.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state displayed on an electronic blackboard screen 1400 above the first electronic blackboard;

Here, the process of displaying characters on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 7, 11 and 12. When the user writes a character on the touch surface 201 with a fingertip, the surface acoustic wave propagating on the touch surface 201 is attenuated. As a result, the controller 103
The coordinate position information corresponding to the trajectory of the fingertip can be obtained based on the attenuation of the surface acoustic wave, and the obtained coordinate position information is sequentially input to the computer 104. Computer 104
, The electronic blackboard software 506 and the OS 505
When coordinate position information is input from the controller 103, drawing information for drawing a line with a preset color and thickness is generated, and the video information of the graphics board 510 (shown in FIG. )). Graphics board 510
Converts the image signal into the PDP 10 according to the contents of the video memory.
1 to control the process of displaying the same character on the PDP 101 as the character written on the touch surface 201 by the user.

To put it simply, since the computer 104 recognizes the touch input device 102 and the controller 103 as a pointing device such as a mouse, the computer 104 writes characters using a mouse on drawing software. Will be performed. It should be noted that the following processes such as erasing characters and drawing graphics are also performed in the process described above.

3) Erasing Handwritten Characters / Figures By touching the eraser button 1404, the user can erase characters and figures written by hand on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 with an eraser. When the user touches the eraser button 1404, the user's fingertip or touch pen can be used like a real eraser, and the size of the eraser, that is, the range in which characters and figures can be erased at one time can be set. FIG. 24 shows an eraser 1 for erasing handwritten characters and lines shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when erasing is performed at 800.

In this handwritten character erasing mode,
As shown in FIG. 25, a handwritten character or line
The characters and lines in the frame 1900 can be erased at a time by enclosing with 900 (enclosing).

4) Drawing of Graphic The electronic blackboard software 506 is provided with a graphic drawing tool for drawing a graphic such as a straight line, a rectangle or an ellipse.
This graphic drawing tool can be used via the drawing toolbar 1600 shown in FIG. The user touches the extension button 1411 of the toolbar 1400 (see FIG. 20) to open the extension toolbar 1500.
Is displayed (see FIG. 21), and the extended toolbar 1500 is displayed.
By touching the drawing button 1504 of FIG.
The drawing toolbar 1600 shown in FIG.
Can be displayed above.

Drawing a Straight Line When drawing a straight line, the user touches a straight line button 1602 in the drawing toolbar 1600 with a fingertip, and then touches an arbitrary point on the touch surface 201, which is a starting point of the straight line, with the fingertip to directly set an end point. The fingertip may be moved to a certain location, and the fingertip may be separated from the touch surface 201. As a result, a straight line is drawn on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 as shown in FIG.

Drawing a Rectangle When drawing a rectangle, the user must use the drawing toolbar 1600.
After touching the middle square button 1603 with the fingertip, the user touches an arbitrary place on the touch surface 201 with the fingertip, moves the fingertip in any direction as it is, and separates the fingertip from the touch surface 201. As a result, a rectangle is drawn on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 as shown in FIG.

In the electronic blackboard software 506,
A function is provided for easily creating a table using the rectangle drawn as described above. First, the user touches a background setting button 1505 in the extended toolbar 1500 to display a setting screen (not shown).
A setting is made to display a grid on the background of 0. At this time, the vertical and horizontal intervals of the grid, the left start position, and the upper start position can be specified. In addition, for convenience in creating a table using a grid, a setting is provided for displaying the drawn rectangle so that it matches the grid.

When the settings related to the grid are made, the grid is displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 as shown in FIG. Then, by repeatedly drawing the square as described above, a table as shown in FIG. 29 can be created. Note that, when the grid is set, if the setting is made so that the drawn rectangle is displayed so as to match the grid, the electronic blackboard software 506 executes a process of drawing the rectangle along the grid.

Drawing an Ellipse When drawing an ellipse, the user touches an elliptical button 1604 in the drawing toolbar 1600 with a fingertip, then touches an arbitrary place on the touch surface 201 with the fingertip, and moves the fingertip in an arbitrary direction as it is. The fingertip may be separated from the touch surface 201. As a result, an ellipse is drawn on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 as shown in FIG.

Deformation of a Drawn Graphic When deforming a rendered graphic, the user touches a selection button 1601 in the drawing toolbar 1600 with a fingertip, and then touches a line of the graphic to be transformed to select the graphic. As a result, as shown in FIG.
0 is displayed.

When the user touches one of the handles 2500 with the fingertip and moves the fingertip as it is, the size and shape of the figure can be changed in accordance with the movement. FIG. 31B shows a state in which the lower right handle 2500 of the handles 2500 shown in FIG. 31A is moved to enlarge the figure.

Moving a Drawn Graphic When moving a rendered graphic, the user touches a selection button 1601 in the drawing toolbar 1600 with a fingertip, and then touches a line of the graphic to be transformed to select the graphic. As a result, as shown in FIG. 32A, the handle 2500 is displayed diagonally above, below, left, and right of the selected figure.

When the user touches the line of the figure with the fingertip and moves the fingertip as it is, the figure can be moved in accordance with the movement. FIG. 32 (b)
FIG. 7A illustrates a state in which the graphic illustrated in FIG.

Editing of a drawn figure Here, editing of a drawn figure means cutting or copying of the figure. First, when cutting and pasting a drawn figure at an arbitrary position, the user touches a selection button 1601 in the drawing toolbar 1600 with a fingertip, and then touches a line of the figure to be cut to select a figure. Then, when an edit button 1605 in the drawing toolbar 1600 is touched with a fingertip, an edit menu 2700 shown in FIG. 33 is displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400.
Thereafter, when the user touches “Cut” in the edit menu 2700, the selected figure is cut.

To paste the cut figure, display the edit menu 2700 again, touch “Paste”, and then touch an arbitrary place on the electronic blackboard screen 1400. Pasted.

If the user wants to paste the cut figure on another page instead of the currently displayed page, the user can click the previous page button 140 in the extension toolbar 1600.
After touching 5 or the next page button 1407 to display a desired page, the above-described pasting operation may be performed.

When the drawn figure is copied and pasted at an arbitrary location, the same operation as in the above-described cut may be performed except for touching “copy” in the edit menu 2700.

Next, a case where a drawn figure is deleted will be described. As explained in the cut operation for shapes,
A figure to be deleted is selected, and an edit menu 2700 is displayed. Then, when "delete" is touched on edit menu 2700, the selected figure is deleted.

If you want to select all the drawn figures and cut / copy / delete them, use the edit menu 27
When the user touches “select all” of 00, all the drawn figures are selected, and cut, copy, and delete operations can be performed on all the figures. Note that when "select all" is touched, handles are displayed on all the figures, so that all the figures can be moved with a fingertip.

5) Character Input by Handwritten Character Recognition The electronic blackboard software 506 has already been shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 for facilitating use of the character recognition software 514 in the electronic blackboard system 100 and improving convenience. As described above, the handwritten character recognition input button 1412 for enabling the character recognition software 514 to be activated on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 is integrated and displayed in the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1500). Therefore, unlike a conventional electronic blackboard system, it is not necessary to perform the complicated work of returning to the screen of the OS 505 and launching the character recognition software once during a meeting using the electronic blackboard. Become.

When the user touches handwritten character recognition input button 1412 in toolbar 1401 (or extended toolbar 1500), character recognition input button 1412 is displayed.
The character recognition software 514 associated with is activated,
A handwriting board (character input window) 2850 as shown in FIG. 34 is displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400. The handwriting board 2850 includes a handwriting area 2852 for handwriting one character, a recognition character area 2853 for displaying a result of character recognition, and a recognition character area 253.
And an input button 2854 for displaying the recognition character displayed on the screen 853 on the electronic blackboard screen 1400.
The other configuration of the handwriting board 2850 will be described later.

When the handwritten board 2850 is displayed, the user designates a display area 2851 at an arbitrary position on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 for displaying a recognition character of an arbitrary size as a result of the handwritten character recognition.

Then, the user enters the handwriting area 2852
One of the characters is handwritten with a fingertip or a touch pen. For example, in each handwriting area 2852, the characters "ken"
When the characters "" and "" are sequentially handwritten, the character recognition software 514 inputs coordinate position information corresponding to the user's handwriting via the touch input device 102 and the controller 103, and responds to the input coordinate position information. In addition to displaying characters handwritten by the user in the corresponding handwritten area 2852, character recognition processing is performed and the result is displayed in the recognized character area 2853.

After that, the user presses the input button 285
When 4 is touched, the electronic blackboard software 506 receives the character code of the recognized character from the character recognition software 514,
The recognition character is displayed in the display area 2851 specified by the user.

In the handwriting board 2850, 2
Reference numeral 855 denotes a conversion button that, when the recognized character is Hiragana, passes the Hiragana recognized character to a Kana-Kanji conversion engine (not shown) to perform Kana-Kanji conversion. Therefore, if the kanji is not known, by inputting the hiragana by handwriting and touching the conversion button 2855, the recognition character converted into the kanji can be obtained in the recognition character area 2853.

Reference numeral 2856 denotes a symbol button for inputting a symbol, 2857 denotes a clear button for clearing a recognized character in the recognized character area, and 2858 denotes a display area.
Cursor buttons for moving the cursor displayed in 51 are displayed, 2859 is an edit button for editing characters displayed in display area 2851, and 2860 is a 10 key for directly inputting characters in display area 2851. And the like, and keyboard display buttons for displaying various keys such as on the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

As described above, the electronic blackboard software 506 sets the handwritten character recognition input button 1412 for starting the character recognition software 514 on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 in the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1500). The toolbar 1401 is displayed even when the electronic blackboard software 506 is being used.
Can easily activate the character recognition software 514. In other words, use of the character recognition software 514 in the electronic blackboard system 100 is facilitated, and convenience can be improved.

Note that the handwritten character recognition input button 1412
, An icon for scanning is provided in the toolbar 1401, and when this icon is touched,
The original is read by a scanner, and the characters in the read original are recognized and processed by character recognition software 514, and the electronic blackboard screen 14
It can also be displayed on 00.

6) Creation of New Page When creating a new page other than the page currently displayed as the electronic blackboard screen 1400, the user touches the next page button 1407 of the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1500). good. When the next page button 1407 is touched, the electronic blackboard software 506
A new page is generated and displayed as the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

If a plurality of pages are currently created, touch the next page button 1407 to display the last page, and then touch the next page button 1407 again to create a new page. Can be.

When the user wants to open the previous page, the user can use the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1501).
What is necessary is just to touch the previous page button 1405 of 0). When the previous page button 1405 is touched, the electronic blackboard software 506 displays the corresponding page as the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

7) Opening a previously created file To open a previously created file, use the extended toolbar 1
The user touches a file button 1501 of 500 to display a file menu (not shown), and touches “Open” in the file menu to display a dialog box 2800 shown in FIG. Then, by touching and selecting a desired file name and touching an “open” button 2801, the page of the corresponding file is displayed as the electronic blackboard screen 1400. The file can also be opened by touching the file name twice consecutively (hereinafter, referred to as “double touch”), as in a so-called “double click”.

When the contents of a previously created file are lost, a file list is displayed using the file thumbnail function, the contents are confirmed, and the operation of opening the target file is performed. be able to. To use the file thumbnail function, a “thumbnail” button 2802 in the dialog box 2800 is used.
By touching, a thumbnail dialog box 2900 is displayed as shown in FIG. 36, and a list of files is displayed in the thumbnail dialog box. The thumbnail image displayed here is the first page of each file.
Then, by touching and selecting a desired thumbnail and touching an “open” button 2901 or by double-touching a desired thumbnail image, a page of a corresponding file is displayed as an electronic blackboard screen 1400.

To create a new file, touch the file button 1501 on the extension toolbar 1500 to display a file menu (not shown), and touch “create new” in the file menu to open a new page. It is displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

8) Capture screen of word processor / spreadsheet / presentation software (capture function) The electronic blackboard software 506 captures the contents of a file created by the word processor / spreadsheet / presentation software as the background of the electronic blackboard screen 1400. For "capture" function. Below, using this capture function, word processor, spreadsheet software,
The process of capturing the screen of the presentation software will be described.

First, when the user touches the computer screen button 1402 of the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1500), the display of the PDP 101 is switched from the electronic blackboard screen 1400 to the computer screen 3000 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 37, reference numeral 3001 denotes a capture toolbar displayed when the screen is switched to the computer screen 3000.
The functions of each button in the capture toolbar 3001 are as follows.

Electronic blackboard screen button 3002: Switches from the computer screen 3000 to the electronic blackboard screen 1400. -Capture button 3003: Computer screen 300
Capture the screen displayed on 0. Mouse button 3004: Assigned to the right mouse button in an environment where the right button of a two-button mouse can be used (for example, when Microsoft Windows (registered trademark) is used as the OS). Make the feature available.

Then, the user operates the computer screen 3000 shown in FIG.
After touching (double-touching) the icon of the program or the icon of the desired file to start the corresponding application program, and displaying the target file on the PDP 101, the capture button 300 is displayed.
Touch 3. As a result, the electronic blackboard software 506
The currently displayed screen is captured, and as shown in FIG. 38, the display of the PDP 101 is switched to the electronic blackboard screen 1400, and the captured screen is displayed as the background of the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

Then, as shown in FIG. 39, the user can write characters and graphics on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 by the method described above. Thus, a word processor
Since screens such as spreadsheet software and presentation software can be easily captured as the background of the electronic blackboard screen 1400, an effective presentation can be performed using the electronic blackboard system 100.

That is, when a presentation is performed using presentation software on the electronic blackboard system 100, if the user touches the capture button 3003 when he wants to write something on the screen and explain it, the current screen is immediately captured. The screen is switched to the electronic blackboard screen 1400 shown in FIG. 38, and desired items can be written on the screen. When the user wants to return to the presentation software, the user immediately touches the computer screen button 1402 to immediately switch to the presentation software screen (computer screen 3000). The screen on which the characters and the like are captured and written can be saved as described later.

Here, the computer screen 3
000 is displayed, and a desired screen is captured after the application program is started. However, by specifying a file of a word processor or a spreadsheet software directly from the electronic blackboard software 506, the electronic blackboard screen 1400 is directly displayed. The specified file can also be opened by starting the corresponding application program. Then, when it is desired to capture the screen of the application program, the same operation as described above may be performed. Further, when another screen of the application program is captured, by touching a next page button 1407, the screen of the application program can be displayed on the PDP 101 again.

9) Displaying a List of Pages Under Creation In the electronic blackboard software 506, all pages currently being created can be displayed as thumbnails. When displaying the page list by the thumbnail display, the user can use the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1500).
Touch the thumbnail button 1409 of. When the thumbnail button 1409 is touched on the electronic blackboard software 506, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

This thumbnail display dialog box 3
At 300, 3301 is an open button, 3302 is a close button, 3303 is a forward button, 330
4 is the next move button, 3305 is the insert button before,
3306 indicates an insert button, 3307 indicates a delete button, and 3308 indicates a print button.

Thumbnail display dialog box 330
When 0 is displayed, the user can perform the following operation.

Opening by Specifying a Page Touching and selecting a desired thumbnail (page) in the thumbnail display dialog box 3300 and touching an open button 3301 can display the selected page as the electronic blackboard screen 1400. it can. Also,
By double-touching a desired page, the page can be similarly displayed as the electronic blackboard screen 1400.

Move Page Touch and select a page to be moved in the thumbnail display dialog box 3300. To move to a position before the current page, touch the move button 3303 before and select a position after the current page. When moving, a move button 3304 is touched next. By moving the page in this way, a page switching operation can be performed.

Insert New Page In the thumbnail display dialog box 3300, touch and select a page to be the previous or next page of the page to be newly inserted, and insert it before inserting the selected page. If the user touches the button 3305 and inserts it after the selected page, the user touches the insert button 3306 next. By such an operation, a new page can be inserted at a desired position.

By selecting the last page and then touching the insert button 3306, the same operation as the above-described operation of touching the next page button 1407 and creating a new page can be performed.

Deleting a Page By touching and selecting a page to be deleted in the thumbnail display dialog box 3300 and touching a delete button 3307, the selected page can be deleted.

Printing a Page By touching and selecting a page to be printed in the thumbnail display dialog box 3300 and touching a print button 3308, the selected page can be printed. Various settings can be made when printing is performed. The print settings will be described later.

10) Saving the Created Page As described above, the page created on the electronic blackboard software 506 can be saved as a file. To save, click the save button 150 on the extended toolbar 1500.
Touch 2 to select overwrite save or save as. When “Save as” is selected, the electronic blackboard software 506 presents, as a default, a file name including the current date and the serial number of the day. The user can save the created page as a file by inputting a file name and specifying a folder as necessary, and instructing to save. The file name can be input using the keyboard 503 (see FIG. 11).

On the other hand, when the overwrite saving is selected, the electronic blackboard software 506 overwrites and saves the corresponding file.

The electronic blackboard software 506 manages the electronic blackboard screen 1400 in a plurality of layers. For example, a background layer that manages the background of the electronic blackboard screen 1400 (including the captured screen: bitmap data), a grid layer that manages grid lines (vector data), and a figure (vector data) drawn by a figure drawing tool are managed. And a character information layer for managing recognized characters (character codes) which are the result of character recognition processing. Then, when the above-described storage is designated, the electronic blackboard software 506 generates one file while maintaining these layers. Therefore, when the data is read again, the contents of each page can be easily processed. Depending on the setting, it is also possible to convert data of a plurality of layers into one bitmap data and save it as a bitmap file.

In the third embodiment, the graphic layer, the handwritten layer, and the character information layer, excluding the background layer and the grid layer, correspond to the overwritten image.

11) Printing Process To print a page currently being created, the user touches the print button 1408 on the toolbar 1401 (or the extended toolbar 1500) and touches "print" on the print menu (not shown). The electronic blackboard software 506 displays a print dialog box 3400 shown in FIG. 41 according to a user operation. When the user specifies a print range and the number of copies in a printer setting column 3401, a print range setting column 3402, and a print copy number setting column 3403 in the print dialog box 3400, and touches an OK button 3404, the set printer (printer 10
The printing is executed according to 6). To stop printing, the user touches a cancel button 3405.

Here, the electronic blackboard screen 1400 can be printed with the background color set to a white background. When executing such a printing process, the user touches and selects a “print background color in white” check box 3406 and then clicks OK.
What is necessary is just to touch the button 3401. Electronic blackboard software 5
06 is a “print background color in white” check box 340.
When 6 is selected, the printing process is executed assuming that the background color of the electronic blackboard screen 1400 is a white background. By providing such settings, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink or toner consumed by the printer.

Further, it is also possible to print the line drawn by hand in black. When performing such a printing process,
The user touches and selects the “Print freehand line in black” checkbox 3407 and then presses the OK button 34.
Just touch 01. Electronic blackboard software 506
"Print freehand lines in black" checkbox 340
When 7 is selected, the print processing is executed assuming that the line drawn by hand is black.

Although detailed description is omitted,
It is also possible to set the size and margin of the recording paper to be printed, and to display a print image.

12) Others By touching the display button 1503 of the extension toolbar 1500 to open the menu, the electronic blackboard screen 1400 is displayed.
Of the electronic blackboard screen 1400 at the time of displaying a window or the like, and the display magnification of the characters and the like displayed in the window can be set.

By touching the background setting button 1505 of the extension toolbar 1500 to open the menu, the background color of the electronic blackboard screen 1400 can be set using a color palette.

Further, by touching the option button 1506 of the extension toolbar 1500 to open the menu, it is possible to set a work folder in which files used by the electronic blackboard software 506 are collectively stored.

(3) When Using the System as a Computer To use the electronic blackboard system 100 as a computer, touch the computer screen button 1401 on the electronic blackboard screen 1400 as in the case of using the above-described capture function. Or electronic blackboard software 506
Is switched to the computer screen 3000 as shown in FIG. By switching the display of the PDP 101 to the computer screen 3000, the electronic blackboard system 100 can be used as a computer. The electronic blackboard system 100 is a large-screen PD
Since it has P101, it can be effectively used for computer operation education and the like.

Since the touch input device 102 can be used as a pointing device such as a mouse, various application programs can be operated on the screen. Further, the mouse button 300 shown in FIG.
By touching 4, the function assigned to the right button of the mouse can be used with a fingertip or a touch pen in an environment where the right button of a two-button mouse can be used.

(4) Adjustment of Touch Input Device The touch panel driver 507 shown in FIG.
The display position of the mouse cursor on 101 and the touch surface 20
A tool is prepared to match the touch position 1 with a fingertip or a touch pen with a touch pen. Hereinafter, a position correction operation for matching the display position of the mouse cursor with the touch position will be described.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen of the touch input device 102. Setting screen 3 shown in FIG.
When the user touches the calibrate button 3501 in 500, a display screen of the PDP 101 and a correction screen for adjusting the coordinates of the touch surface 201 of the touch input device 102 are displayed on the PDP 101. This display screen is, for example, P
The three correction points are displayed at the upper left, upper right, lower right, etc. of the DP 101. The user only has to touch three points on the PDP 101 with a fingertip or a touch pen.

When three correction points are touched by the user, the touch panel driver 507 executes a position correction process for matching the display position of the mouse cursor with the touch position based on the touched positions, and the position correction result is obtained. To a predetermined file.

However, since the above-described position correction operation is performed in advance when the electronic blackboard system 100 is actually shipped as a product, there is no need for the user to perform the position correction operation unless the resolution or the like is changed. .

The outline of other setting items on the setting screen 3500 will be described. A mouse button emulation mode setting column 3502 is used to set what processing is performed when the touch surface 201 is touched with a fingertip or a touch pen. Mouse button
In the emulation mode setting column 3502, for example, a setting that is considered as a click when the touch surface 201 is touched with a fingertip or a touch pen, a setting that is considered as a click when the touch surface 201 is touched and released with a fingertip or a touch pen, A setting that considers moving when touched with a fingertip or a touch pen as a drag. When touching the touch surface 201 twice (double touch) with a fingertip or a touch pen, it is regarded as a double click, and the touch surface 201 is touched with a fingertip or a touch pen. A setting can be made such that a movement when touched and moved is regarded as a drag (when the electronic blackboard software 506 is used, this setting is used).

Reference numeral 3503 denotes a touch sound output setting check box.
Is checked, a beep sound is output each time the touch surface 201 is touched. Reference numeral 3504 denotes a setting button. When the user touches the setting button 3504, a screen for setting a connection method of the controller 103 is displayed. Further, reference numeral 3505 denotes an information button for displaying information on the controller 103 and the touch panel driver 507, reference numeral 3506 denotes a help button for displaying a help screen, reference numeral 3507 denotes an OK button for validating items set in the setting screen 3500, and reference numeral 3508 denotes A cancel button for invalidating items set in the setting screen 3500 is shown.

(5) Use of AV Equipment As shown in FIG.
Various information devices and AV devices such as a laser disk player, a DVD player, and a video camera, as well as a video player 108, are connected to the 101 so that video and audio can be reproduced. Further, an external speaker can be connected to the PDP 101 via an amplifier, and powerful sound can be enjoyed on a large-screen display. The information device, the AV device, or the computer 104
Can be easily switched using a remote controller or the like (not shown).

As described above, various information devices and AV devices can be connected to and operated by the PDP 101 without using the computer 104, and the PDP 101 can be used as a large-screen monitor. Not
The operability, handling, and convenience of the electronic blackboard system 100 can be improved.

(6) Network Connection Further, as shown in FIG.
Can be connected to a network such as a LAN or the Internet. Therefore, the electronic blackboard software 506
Transmitting the materials of the meeting created in the above to another computer, reading data created by the other computer and using it for the meeting, connecting a plurality of electronic whiteboard systems 100 to conduct a remote meeting, The application range of the electronic blackboard system 100, such as application to a system, can be expanded. In addition, the electronic blackboard system 100 can be connected to a network wirelessly using a PHS.

(7) Process of Changing Overwritten Image as Main Part of Embodiment 3 Next, the process of changing the overwritten image as the main part of Embodiment 3 will be described. The electronic blackboard software 506 of the computer (control device) 104 displays the overwrite image input via the touch input device 102 on the image displayed on the plasma display 101 in advance, and displays the overwrite image specified. The color and the background color at the display position are compared, and if the color of the overwritten image and the background color are the same or within a preset range, the color of the overwritten image is changed. Here, the overwrite image corresponds to an image written in the graphic layer, the handwritten layer, and the character information layer excluding the background layer and the grid layer, as described in “10) Saving the created page” described above. . In other words, the overwritten image includes characters, ruled lines, figures, and character information generated by the handwritten character recognition function.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart of the overwriting image changing process. First, when an overwrite image (characters, ruled lines, figures, character information generated by the handwritten character recognition function, etc.) is input via the touch input device 102 (step S4).
401), each coordinate of the input overwrite image is detected, and the detected coordinate data is stored in a frame memory (not shown) (step S4402).

Next, the background color data at each coordinate position stored in the frame memory is read (step S440).
3) Subsequently, the designated writing color data stored in advance is read (step S4404).

Next, the read background color data at each coordinate position is compared with the designated handwriting color data (step S4).
405). For example, when the background color data at a certain coordinate position and the designated writing color data are compared in the primary color system, if the designated writing color is R0, G0, B0 and the background colors are R, G, B, (R0−R) + ( When G0-G) + (B0-B) is equal to or less than a preset threshold, the background color at the coordinate position and the designated writing color are regarded as the same color. When this difference is equal to or greater than the threshold, the background at the coordinate position is determined. It is assumed that the color and the designated writing color are different.

As a result of the comparison in step S4405, when the background color at the input coordinate position is determined to be the same as the designated writing color, the designated writing colors R0, G of the overwritten image are determined.
0 and B0 are changed (step S4406). The amount by which the designated writing colors R0, G0, B0 are changed is desirably a color close to the designated color desired by the user and recognizable. For this reason, the algorithm for determining the amount by which the designated writing colors R0, G0, B0 are changed may perform not only linear processing such as simple addition and multiplication, but also non-linear processing such as a neurocomputer that learns and considers human perception. .

Next, the portion corresponding to the coordinate position in the frame memory is rewritten with the changed designated writing color (step S44).
07). After that, the computer 104 displays the contents of the frame memory on the display screen of the PDP 101 (step S4408).

When the writing color of the overwritten image and the background color at that position are the same or significantly similar, the writing color of the overwritten image is changed and displayed. And figures (overwrite images) can be clearly recognized.

Further, as a process of changing the overwritten image, for example, the color of the overwritten image may be set to a background color or a complementary color of the color of the maximum image area. In this case, since the color of the overwritten image is always set to the background color or the complementary color of the color of the maximum image area, the overwritten character or graphic (overwritten image) can be displayed in the most visible state.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart of a change process for changing the color of the overwritten image to a complementary color. First, the overwritten image (character, ruled line, graphic, and character information generated by the handwritten character recognition function) via the touch input device 102 is displayed. ) (Step S4501), the background color of the image already displayed on the PDP 101 or the color of the maximum image area is input to obtain its complementary color (S4502), and the designated writing colors R0, G0, B0 is changed to a complementary color (step S4503). Next, the portion corresponding to the coordinate position in the frame memory is rewritten with the changed designated writing color (complementary color) (step S4504). Then, the computer 10
4 displays the contents of the frame memory on the display screen of the PDP 101 (step S4505).

By automatically setting the color of the overwritten image to the background color or the complementary color of the maximum image area, the following advantages can be obtained.

For example, the electronic blackboard screen 140 shown in FIG.
0 is displayed on the PDP 101, the background color (maximum image area) is blue, the designated writing color (color) is yellow, and the overwritten image (character: maximum sales) is written.
When the overwrite image is continuously input after switching to the next page screen shown in FIG. 47, since the background color (maximum image area) is yellow in FIG. 47, the color (yellow) of the previous overwrite image is used as it is. When writing, there occurs a problem that the overwritten image becomes invisible, but in the third embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, since the color of the overwritten image is automatically changed to a complementary color of the background color (maximum image area), the overwritten image is written in a state where the overwritten image can be visually recognized without worrying about the color of the overwritten image. be able to.

[0207] 3. Effect As described above, according to the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3, when the writing color of the overwritten image and the background color at the position are the same or significantly similar, the writing color of the overwritten image is changed and displayed. Thus, characters and graphics (overwritten images) overwritten using the touch input device 102 can be clearly recognized.

According to the electronic blackboard system of the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above effects. That is, a board unit 601 that forms a display surface and a writing surface of an electronic blackboard using the PDP 101 and the touch input device 102, and a device storage unit 604 that stores the computer 104, the video player 108, and the printer 106 in order from below vertically. Since the electronic blackboard system 100 is configured using the housing unit 600 having the
The system can be easily moved and installed. Further, since the heavy devices are arranged in order from the bottom in the direction of gravity (vertical direction), the stability of the housing unit 600 at the time of moving and installation can be ensured. further,
In the touch input device 102 of the ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type, the shield tape 300 that shields electromagnetic waves is provided on the surface on the PDP 101 side, so that the PDP 101 can be used as a display device, and the display device can be made thinner (smaller) and the display screen can be made smaller. Can be improved. That is, according to the electronic blackboard system 100 according to the third embodiment, the entire electronic blackboard system 100 can be reduced in size and integrated, and operability, handling, and convenience can be improved.

Further, since the angle adjustment mechanism 802 for adjusting the angle of the board unit 601 accommodating the PDP 101 and the touch input device 102 is provided, incidence of disturbing light on the display surface of the PDP 101, particularly, such as a fluorescent lamp on the ceiling, etc. Light from lighting equipment can be avoided, the screen can be easily viewed, and convenience can be improved.

Furthermore, the PDP 101 can be used as a large-screen monitor by using a plurality of connection terminals for connecting various information devices such as a digital camera, a DVD player, and a video device, and AV devices.
It is possible to provide an electronic blackboard system 100 that allows connection and operation of various information devices and AV devices without the intervention of the electronic device 4.

Each process in the third embodiment described above is realized by executing a prepared program on a computer. This program includes hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM, MO,
The program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. This program also
It can be distributed via the recording medium or via a network.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, the transparent coordinate input means and the touch panel system of the touch input device are not particularly limited, and it is apparent that an optical touch panel or the like may be used. It is.

Further, it goes without saying that the color display devices shown in the first and second embodiments can be applied to an electronic blackboard system.

[0214]

As described above, the color display device of the present invention (claim 1) compares the writing color for color display with the background color at the writing position, and determines whether the writing color and the background color at the writing position are the same or different. When the color is within a preset range, the writing color is automatically changed, so that the visibility of displayed characters and graphics can be improved. Further, even when the writing color or the background color is erroneously input, the writing color is automatically changed, so that the operability can be improved.

Further, the color display device of the present invention (Claim 2) stores all background colors at each input coordinate position,
Since the selected writing color is compared with the background color evaluation value that evaluates all the background colors at each input coordinate position, the writing color is changed when the writing color and the background color evaluation value are recognized as the same, Characters and graphics can be displayed in the same color, and uniform and easy-to-view display can be performed.

Further, the color display device of the present invention (claim 3) calculates the appearance frequency of the background color at each coordinate position when evaluating all background colors at each input coordinate position, and By evaluating each appearance frequency with a weight so that the distance from the hue becomes longer, the visibility of characters and figures can be improved without being affected by a fine background.

In the color display device according to the present invention, when a part of the input coordinate position is to be deleted, the coordinate position to be deleted from among all the background colors of the input coordinate position is stored. By reading and restoring the background color, partial erasure can be easily performed.

Further, the color display device of the present invention (claim 5) can display characters and figures with higher visibility by comparing the writing color and the background color with the hue.

Further, the color display device of the present invention is characterized in that, when it is recognized that the writing color and the background color at the writing position are the same, the background color is changed so that the character of the color intended by the user is obtained. And figures can be displayed with good visibility.

Further, in the color display device of the present invention (claim 7), when the user selects whether or not to change the writing color or the background color, a character or a graphic having a color intended by the user is displayed. It can be prevented from disappearing.

Further, the color display device of the present invention (claim 8) simultaneously changes the writing color selected by the user to a different writing color when the input character or figure is difficult to visually recognize, thereby allowing the user to make an intention. It is possible to accurately display characters and figures of the changed color.

Further, the electronic blackboard system of the present invention (claim 9) is used when displaying an overwrite image input via a touch input device on an image previously displayed on a color display device. Compare the color of the overwritten image with the background color at the display position, and if the color of the overwritten image and the background color are the same or within a preset range, always change the color of the overwritten image. Can be clearly recognized, and workability and convenience can be improved.

Further, the electronic blackboard system of the present invention (claim 10) provides a method of displaying an overwrite image input via a touch input device on an image previously displayed on a color display device. Since the color is set to a background color or a color complementary to the color of the maximum image area, the overwritten image can be clearly recognized, and workability and convenience can be improved.

In the electronic blackboard system of the present invention (claim 11), since the overwritten image includes characters, ruled lines, and figures, workability and convenience when using the electronic blackboard can be improved. .

Further, the electronic blackboard system of the present invention (claim 12) includes character information generated by the handwritten character recognition function, so that workability and convenience when using the electronic blackboard can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a color display device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when evaluating all background color data.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a touch input device included in an electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a shield tape provided between a PDP and a substrate of a touch input device in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of specifying coordinates of a touch position in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a computer (personal computer) constituting an electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a housing unit accommodating the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention as viewed from the front side.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a housing unit that houses the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the housing unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention as viewed from the right side.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram when the angle adjusting mechanism according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is viewed from above the housing unit (the angle of the board is 5 degrees).

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram when the angle adjusting mechanism according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is viewed from above the housing unit (the angle of the board unit is 0 °).

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram when the angle adjustment mechanism unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is viewed from the side of the housing unit.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a modification of the angle adjustment mechanism according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing a modification of the angle adjustment mechanism according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an electronic blackboard screen and a toolbar displayed on a PDP in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an extended toolbar displayed on a PDP in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a drawing toolbar displayed on a PDP together with an extended toolbar in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state in which a result of writing a character or a line by hand on the touch surface is displayed on an electronic blackboard screen on a PDP in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; is there.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which handwritten characters and lines displayed on an electronic blackboard screen are erased with an eraser in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates a state in which a handwritten character or line displayed on the electronic blackboard screen is surrounded by a frame in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and the character or line in the frame is erased at a time. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a straight line is drawn on an electronic blackboard screen in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a rectangle is drawn on an electronic blackboard screen in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which grid display is performed as the background of the electronic blackboard screen in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a table is created on an electronic blackboard screen in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an ellipse is drawn on an electronic blackboard screen in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 31A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a graphic to be transformed is selected in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 31B is a diagram in which the graphic to be transformed is transformed. It is explanatory drawing which shows a situation.

32 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a graphic to be moved is selected, and FIG. 32 (b) is a diagram in which the selected graphic is moved in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a situation.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an edit menu displayed when editing a drawn figure in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a handwriting board for performing character input using character recognition software in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of opening a created file in the electronic blackboard system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of opening a created file using a thumbnail image in the electronic blackboard system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a computer screen and a capture toolbar displayed on a PDP in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state in which a screen of a captured application program is displayed as a background of the electronic blackboard screen in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the captured application program screen is displayed as the background of the electronic blackboard screen and characters and the like are written thereon in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; It is.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a thumbnail display dialog box displaying a list of pages being created is displayed in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a print dialog box for printing a page being created is displayed in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen of a touch input device in the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram illustrating network connection of the electronic blackboard system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart of an overwrite image changing process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart of a change process of changing a color of an overwrite image to a complementary color according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the effect of the third embodiment.

FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating an example of the effect of the third embodiment;

FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating an example of an effect of the third embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color display device 2 Color display means 3 Tablet 4 Pen 5 Control part 6 Coordinate detection part 7 Frame memory 8 Color signal comparison part 9 Writing color generation part 10 Writing color storage part 11 Image output control part 12 Background color storage part 13 Background Color evaluation unit 100 Electronic blackboard system 101 Plasma display panel (PDP) 102 Touch input device 103 Controller for touch input device 104 Computer 105 Scanner 106 Printer 107 Network 108 Video player 200 Substrate 201 Touch surface (writing surface) 202, 206 Transducer for transmission 203,207 Transceiver for reception 204,205,208,209 Reflection array 210 Cable 300 Shield tape 505 OS 506 Electronic blackboard software 507 Touch panel driver 514 Character recognition software 600 Housing unit 601 Panel section 602 Controller storage section 603 Stand 604 Equipment storage section 612 Computer storage section 613 Video storage section 614 Printer storage section 615 Keyboard base 802 Angle adjustment mechanism section 1400 Electronic blackboard screen 1401 Toolbar 1412 Handwritten character recognition input button 1500 Extended toolbar 2850 Handwritten input board 2851 Display area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 H 1/60 1/40 D 1/46 1/46 Z (72) Inventor Takashi Kitaguchi Tokyo 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomohiko Beppu 1-3-6, Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Kunikazu Tsuda, Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo 1-3-6, Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A transparent coordinate input means and a writing means arranged in contact with a color display means, and coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to a writing position by the writing means are inputted, and each of the inputted writing coordinates is inputted. In a color display device that displays a color writing locus at the position of the corresponding color display means, the selected writing color and the background color of the writing position are compared, and the writing color and the background color of the writing position are the same or a preset range. A color display device characterized by changing a writing color when it is inside. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transparent coordinate input means and writing means arranged in contact with the color display means, wherein coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to a writing position of the writing means is input, and each input writing coordinate is inputted. In a color display device for displaying a color writing locus at a position of a corresponding color display means, all background colors of each input coordinate position are stored, and a selected writing color and all background colors of each input coordinate position are stored. A color display device characterized by comparing the background color evaluation value evaluated by averaging the appearance frequency and changing the writing color when the writing color and the background color evaluation value are the same or within a predetermined range. . 3. When evaluating all background colors at each of the input coordinate positions, an appearance frequency of the background color at each coordinate position is calculated, and each appearance frequency is set so that a distance from a hue having a high frequency becomes longer. The color display device according to claim 2, wherein 4. When erasing a part of an input coordinate position, a background color of a coordinate position to be erased is read out from all stored background colors of each input coordinate position and restored. The color display device as described in the above. 5. The color display device according to claim 1, wherein a hue signal is used for comparing the writing color and the background color. 6. A transparent coordinate input means and a writing means arranged in contact with the color display means, and input coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to a writing position by the writing means,
In a color display device that displays a color writing locus at the position of the color display means corresponding to each input writing coordinate, the selected writing color and the background color of the writing position are compared, and the writing color and the background color of the writing position are the same. Alternatively, the color display device changes a background color when the color is within a preset range. 7. The color display device according to claim 5, further comprising a selection unit for selecting whether to change the writing color or the background color. 8. A transparent coordinate input means and a writing means arranged in contact with the color display means, and inputting coordinate data of the transparent coordinate input means corresponding to a writing position by the writing means,
In a color display device that displays a color writing locus at the position of the color display means corresponding to each input writing coordinate, if the input character or figure is difficult to see, the color is changed simultaneously to a different writing color selected by the user. A color display device characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. A color display device for displaying characters and images, a touch input device having a touch panel surface provided on the front surface of the color display device, and the color display device based on an input from the touch input device. And a control device for controlling display of the electronic blackboard, wherein at least a color display device and a touch input device are used to configure a display surface and a writing surface of the electronic blackboard. When displaying the overwritten image input via the touch input device on the image displayed on the, the color of the designated overwritten image and the background color of the display position are compared, and the color of the overwritten image is compared with the color of the overwritten image. An electronic blackboard system for changing the color of an overwritten image when the background color is the same or within a preset range. 10. A color display device for displaying characters and images, a touch input device having a touch panel surface provided on a front surface of the color display device, and the color display device based on an input from the touch input device. And a control device for controlling display of the electronic blackboard, wherein at least a color display device and a touch input device are used to configure a display surface and a writing surface of the electronic blackboard. When displaying an overwritten image input via the touch input device on an image displayed on the electronic device, the color of the overwritten image is set to a background color or a complementary color of the color of the maximum image area. Chalkboard system. 11. The electronic blackboard system according to claim 9, wherein the overwriting image includes characters, ruled lines, and graphics. 12. The control device has a handwritten character recognition function of recognizing handwritten characters input via the touch input device and generating character information, and the overwriting image is generated by the handwritten character recognition function. The electronic blackboard system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the electronic blackboard system includes character information.