JPS59214941A - Inputting device of position - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide functions easily with a simple constitution by providing a device generating the coordinate value of a point indicated on a tablet plate with a means detecting the simultaneous indication of two points or more. CONSTITUTION:The device generating the coordinate value of a point indicated on the tablet is provided with the means detecting that two points or more are simultaneously indicated. For instance, two electrode parts of a tablet 31 are connected to driving circuits 32, 33 and detecting circuits 34, 35 respectively and the coordinates or function of a point indicated by a tablet control part 36 on the basis of a signal between detecting lines detected by the detecting circuits 34, 35 is transferred to a CPU 37. Subsequently, the CPU 37 prepares output information by using information from the tablet control part 36 and transfers the information to a display part 38 to display characters, patterns, etc. When two points are simultaneously depressed, the distance, direction, etc. of the depressed two points are divided into several functions and transferred to the CPU 37.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a highly practical position input device such as a tablet device.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Conventionally, various position input devices have been realized as input devices for character/graphic information. This type of position input device detects and inputs the position coordinates on the tablet indicated by a pen or the like, and there are various methods. For example, in the past, methods prior to electromagnetic induction and magnetostrictive wire methods were often used, which required special pens and cords. Although this was inconvenient, it was possible to easily implement certain functions by incorporating switches and the like into the pen.

On the other hand, several methods are being considered that allow input without using a special pen. In this method, any pen can be used and instructions can be given directly by hand, so the inconvenience of the conventional method is greatly improved. However, since it does not use a special pen, it is not possible to do anything to the pen, so in order to input a function, it was necessary to attach a separate switch or define a specific area of the tablet as a function.

Figure 1 shows an example of this), Figure 1 (, ) is a diagram defining functions on the tablet board, Figure 1 (
b) is a diagram with separate function switches. This makes it very inconvenient to use, such as having to press another switch or specifying a different point twice when inputting a function.Additionally, if a separate switch is attached, the cost will increase. I was supposed to invite him. Moreover, this has forced the device to become larger or the area for inputting coordinates to be substantially smaller.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a position input device that has a simple configuration and can easily provide functions.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention is characterized in that a tablet device for inputting coordinates is provided with a circuit for detecting that a plurality of points are designated simultaneously. When two points are pointed at the same time with a pick, pen, finger, etc., the detected signal is input to a computer, etc., as a function, for example.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, characters, figures, etc. can be easily created without using a special pen, since functions can be easily entered without the need to provide a switch for specifying functions, etc. It is possible to manufacture a tablet at low cost. Also, the signal indicating that two points have been designated simultaneously can be used for various purposes other than functions.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an example of a tablet board used in this embodiment, and shows, for example, the structure of conductive wires arranged on a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet. A plurality of conductive wires aυ are arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch, and each conductive wire I is connected to a drive circuit (x
4a) (14b) and detection circuit (15a) (15b)
) are connected to each other, and the combination is such that adjacent conductive wires I are not connected to the same drive circuit and detection circuit. In Figure 2, 37 conductive wires (11) are shown arranged in parallel, and the odd-numbered conductive wires αυ are connected to the drive circuit (X4a) and the detection circuit (15a) through the electrode portion α bottle. Furthermore, the even-numbered conductor wires are connected to the drive circuit (1°4b) and the detection circuit (15b) via electrode portions. This drive circuit (14a) (14b) connects the power supply voltage +V to the conductor α
It is composed of switch circuits (16a) and (16b) that supply power to υ. Equiline (11
) are commonly connected at predetermined intervals to form a plurality of sets. In the example shown in this Figure 2, 12 x + 1.1
2 x+8.12 x+5~12 x+11 (x=0.
1.2) The conductive wires I are connected in common to form six sets. In addition, the electrode part (l barrel is the adjacent conductor (
11) are connected in common to a predetermined number of conductive wires (11) so that the combinations of the connected electrode parts (121 and electrode parts 113) are all different between adjacent conducting wires (11) to form a plurality of sets. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 2, 4x+127+2
, 4x+12y+4 (x, y=0.1.2)-th conducting wires are connected in common to form six sets.

Switches (16a) and (16b) are connected to the drive circuits connected to these 12 sets, respectively, and a voltage (1) is applied by turning on these switches.

Such a tablet board is arranged as shown in FIG. That is, the Z-plate tablet plates (21) El are stacked on top of each other with the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet (c) in between, and the directions of the conductive wires are perpendicular to each other. When pressure is applied locally due to a position indication operation using a pen, finger, etc., the resistance value of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet (c) decreases, and the two orthogonal conductive wires of the upper and lower tablet plates 121) (24) It is selectively and locally short-circuited.In this embodiment, when pressure is applied to any one point on the tablet with a pen or finger, two adjacent upper and lower conductive wires are simultaneously short-circuited. It is assumed that the pitch of the conductor wire is determined as follows.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of this embodiment using the tablet. Tablet) (The two electrode parts of 3υ are connected to the 0th floor of the drive circuit 0 and the detection circuit amC3s, respectively.

These two detection circuits (b) Gω are odd-numbered,
Detects the 4-way state of even-numbered conductors. FIG. 5 is a bit configuration diagram showing the state of the conduction point at which the designated position is detected in this detection circuit. Next, the tablet control unit (to) selects the designated point based on the signals of the detection line detected by the detection circuit Al34) and the detection line detected by the detection circuit B (to), according to the flow shown in FIG. The coordinate values or functions are sent to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 07). This CPU 17) creates output information using information from the tablet control section (to), sends the output information to the display section (to), and displays characters, figures, etc. In addition, the fourth
Although only one tablet is shown in the figure, two upper and lower taglets are connected to the tablet control section (G).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flow shown in FIG. First, for the lower tablet board C, set it to the drive section side by turning on all the switches of its drive circuit, and then turn on the upper tablet board (for 2υ,
By turning off all the switches of the drive circuit,
Set on the detection unit side.

When a position indication operation is performed, the conductive rubber sheet (c) at the specified position is not in a conductive state, and the voltage (current) supplied from the drive circuit side electrodes (22a) (22b)
is applied to the conductive wire (11) of the upper tablet board υ through the conductive rubber sheet (2). The tablet control section (g) searches for the conducting wire (b) where the above voltage appears in the detection circuit λG4) on the electrode section (21a) side of the tablet (21) on the upper surface side. If two points are pressed at the same time, the two conductive points are in the ON state as shown in the 6th section, so it can be easily detected. Then, the fact that two points are pressed at the same time is sent to the CPU as a function. If only one location is in the ON state, the same operation is performed on the detection circuit B (to) on the electrode portion (21b) side. In this way, if only one point is pressed, the specified position coordinate Y in one direction is determined from the combination of the detection lines detected by the detection circuit (b) and C (9. Then, the lower surface side tablet) H Turn off all the switches of the drive circuit of the tablet CD and set it on the detection unit side, and turn off all the switches of the drive circuit of the tablet CD on the top side.
By setting it to N, it is set on the drive unit side, and the same 7 as above is set.
The coordinate X is found by executing 4-. The result is sent to the determined location [(1f is CPU@7). In this flow, a function is sent when two or more points are pressed at the same time, but the distance between the two pressed points,
It can also be divided into several functions based on direction, etc. In addition, regarding this, it can be used not only on the tablet described above but also on any tablet that can detect when two points are pressed at the same time, and many functions can be expressed as 8 or more points instead of 2 points. It is also possible. Furthermore, although the control flow shown in FIG. 6 is executed by, for example, microprocessor control,
Of course, the detection control algorithm can be modified in various ways.

Next, an example of the operating procedure of this embodiment will be shown using FIG. A command menu (4) is defined in a part of the display screen (41) shown in FIG. For example, by moving to a circle command and specifying another appropriate point with another finger at the same time, the tablet will send a signal to the CPU that two points have been specified. Figure 7 (b
) is a diagram showing the situation at this time, and the tablet (4
It is operated with the thumb and eight fingers on the top. In this way the CPU
The user knows from the cursor position and the two-point designation signal that the "6 circle" command has been specified9, and waits for the center position and position on the circumference to be input.Next, the user selects the center position of the circle. If you move the cursor to the desired location with your finger and specify two points at the same time with another finger in the same way as above, the CPU interprets the cursor position as the center position of the circle. ), as shown in Figure 7(c), the CPU
draws a circle of the specified distance.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to perform both the simple movement of the cursor and the movement of the cursor to a position to be manipulated by an extremely easy operation.

Similarly, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that a function can be input without using a special pen or a switch for a function, but it does not necessarily have to be a function.
By specifying two or more points at the same time, it is possible to use it as a signal other than position designation input.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a board diagram of a conventional tablet, Fig. 2 is a polyacid diagram of a tablet board used in an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a tablet used in an embodiment of the present invention. ,
The fourth factor is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bit configuration diagram showing the state of the conduction point, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the operating procedure of this embodiment. 11... Conductor wire, 12.18-... Electrode part, 14a,
14b ・"Drive circuit, 15a, 15b ・"Detection circuit, 16a, 16b - Switch, 21.22
... Tablet board, 23 ... Pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet, 31 ... Tablet, 82.88 ... Drive circuit,
84.85...Detection circuit, 86...Tablet control unit, 87...CPU, 88...Display unit, 41°°・
Display screen, 42...Command menu, 48...Cursor, 44...Tablet board agent Patent attorney Nori Chika Megumi (and 1 other person) @ 1 Tsuri (ro) cooking paper Figure 2 n Bodai 4 figure n top”! L” Figure 6 Figure 7 j

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A position input device for generating coordinate values of points designated on a tablet board, characterized in that the device is provided with means for detecting that two or more points are designated at the same time.