JPS60230230A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an input device to be used universally by detecting and inputting an ultrasonic wave from an input pen, by an ultrasonic sensor provided on the corner part of a display picture. CONSTITUTION:An input device is constituted of a display and computer body 4, an input control part 5, a liquid crystal panel 6, an input pen 7, and an ultrasonic sensor 8, etc. This input control part 5 derives the coordinate of the input pen 7 from the output of the ultrasonic sensor 8 fixed to the upper end of the right and left of the liquid crystal panel 6, sends it to said body 4, and also displays a display pattern sent from the body 4, on the liquid crystal panel 6. In this regard, the liquid crystal panel 6 displays a menu for selecting a type of the input device, and a key array pattern in case it is used as a keyboard, etc. Also, the input pen 7 is provided with an ultrasonic wave oscillator 9 and a switch SW on the tip part and the middle part, respectively. When an operator points onto the liquid crystal panel 6 by this pen 7, turns on the switch SW and emits an ultrasonic wave, its coordinate value is obtained through the ultrasonic sensor 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an input device that combines an ultrasonic position detection device and a display device.

[Prior art and problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a conventional input device.

In FIG. 1, 1 represents a keyboard, 2 represents a mouse, and 3 represents a digitizer. The input device as shown in FIG. 1 is as follows: (a) When attempting to operate the mouse 2 or digitizer 3, the operator must temporarily leave the keyboard 1.

(b) Separate operation space is required.

It has the following drawbacks.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and provides a key
The purpose is to provide an input device that can be used as a board, key file, mouse or digitizer.

[Structure of the invention]

Therefore, the input device of the present invention includes a display device having a small number of ultrasonic sensors (or ultrasonic transmitters) provided in two corners of the display screen, and ) is provided with an input pen.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 2, 4 indicates the computer main body and display, 5 indicates the input control unit, 6 indicates the liquid crystal panel, 7 indicates the input pen, 8-1 and 8-2 indicate the ultrasonic sensors, and 9 indicates the ultrasonic oscillator. .

A menu, input data, processed data, etc. are displayed on the display screen of the computer main body and display 4. The computer in the computer main body and display 4 controls the entire system. The input control unit 5 determines the coordinates of Ben 7 from the output of the ultrasonic sensor 8-1, 8-2,
It sends the coordinate position data to the computer main body and display 4, and displays the display pattern sent from the main system 4 on the liquid crystal panel 6. The liquid crystal panel 6 displays a menu for selecting the type of input device, a key arrangement pattern when used as a keyboard, a key arrangement pattern when used as a key file, etc., as necessary. An ultrasonic oscillator 9 is provided at the tip of the input pen 7, and a switch SW is provided in the middle thereof.

The ultrasonic sensor 8-1 is fixed to the upper left end of the liquid crystal panel 6, and the ultrasonic sensor 8-2 is fixed to the upper right end of the liquid crystal panel 6.

When the operator points the tip of the input pen 7 to a point on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 6 and turns on the switch SW, ultrasonic waves are emitted from the ultrasonic oscillator 9, and at the same time, the input control unit 5 activates the counter ( (not shown) to start time counting.

When the input control unit 5 receives a notification that ultrasonic waves have been received from the ultrasonic sensors 8-1 and 8-2, it stores the counter values TI and Tz at that time. Ultrasonic sensor 8-
Since the distance between 1 and 8-2 is known and the speed of the sound wave is also known, once T and T2 are known, the X and Y coordinate values of the point pointed with the input pen 7 can be calculated. I can know. Note that an ultrasonic sensor is provided in place of the ultrasonic oscillator 9 at the tip of the input pen 7, an ultrasonic oscillator is provided in place of the ultrasonic sensor 8-1, and similarly an ultrasonic sensor is provided in place of the ultrasonic sensor 8-2. An oscillator may also be provided. In this case, the frequencies of the two ultrasonic oscillators may be different, or they may be oscillated in a time-division manner.

3 to 5 show embodiments of the input pen 7. FIG. In Figures 3 to 5, 10 is the pen shaft of the input pen, 11 is a cylindrical oscillator (or receiver), 12 is a spark generator, 13 is an oscillator (or receiver), and 14 is a cone. are shown respectively.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical oscillator 11 is attached to the tip of the pen shaft 10. As the cylindrical oscillator 11, for example, one made of barium titanate ceramics can be used. When using the input pen 7 as an ultrasonic oscillator, when the switch SW is closed,
A voltage is applied to the cylindrical oscillator 11, and an ultrasonic wave is generated from this. Note that when the switch SW is closed, the input control unit 5 is notified of this fact. The cylindrical oscillator 11 made of barium titanate ceramics can be used as it is as a receiver. When used as a receiver, the output of the receiver is sent to a level detector via an amplifier. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a spark generator 12 is attached to the tip of the pen barrel 10. Sburr generation part 1
2 is composed of two electrodes, and the tips of the two electrodes are slightly apart. When the switch SW is closed, a voltage is applied to the spark generator 12, and a spark is generated at the tip of the electrode.
This generates ultrasonic waves.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
3 is housed therein, and a cone 14 is attached to the tip of the pen barrel 13. Note that the part that accommodates the cone 14 is
It is made up of wire mesh. The oscillator 13 is made of barium titanate ceramics, for example. When the input pen 7 is used as an ultrasonic oscillator, when the switch SW is closed, a voltage is applied to the oscillator 13, which emits ultrasonic waves.

The ultrasonic waves emitted from the oscillator 13 collide with the cone 14 and are reflected in all directions. That is, the cone 14 is for eliminating the directivity of the ultrasonic oscillator. The ultrasonic oscillator 13 made of barium titanate ceramics can be used directly as a receiver.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input pen 7 and the ultrasonic sensors 8-1, 8-2, with FIG. 6(a) being a plan view and FIG. 6(b) being a side view. When the input pen 7 points at one point on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 6 and the switch SW of the input pen 7 is closed, ultrasonic waves are emitted from the tip of the input pen 7. The ultrasonic waves emitted from the input pen 7 are transmitted to the ultrasonic sensor 8-1.
8-2.

FIG. 7 shows an example of means for ensuring that the ultrasonic sensors 8-1 and 8-2 receive ultrasonic waves from the input pen 7 no matter where the input pen 7 is located. It is a diagram. In FIG. 7, 15 indicates a cone. The bottom surface of the cone 15 and the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 6 are on the same plane, and the ultrasonic sensor 8-1 is arranged above the cone 15. The ultrasonic wave impinged on the side of the cone 15, as indicated by the arrow -.

is reflected upward and received by the ultrasonic sensor 8-1. The ultrasonic sensor 8-2 is also arranged in the same way as the ultrasonic sensor 8-1, and the cone 15 is placed below it.

FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram of one embodiment of the input control section. In FIG. 8, 16 is a processor, 17 is a ROM, and 18
is a RAM, 19 is a timing circuit, 20 and 21 are interface circuits, 22 is a driver, 23 is an OR circuit, 24
and 25 are AND circuits, and 26 and 27 are amplifiers, respectively. The processor 16 executes programs stored in the ROM 17.

The ROM 17 stores various programs.

The RAM 1B is provided with various buffer areas, work areas, and the like. The timing circuit 19 supplies various timing signals to the processor 16. The interface circuit 20 controls data transfer between the input control section 5 and the main body system 4 and between the input control section 5 and the liquid crystal panel 6. Interface circuit 2
1 reads the switch signal from the input pen 7, reads the output of the ultrasonic sensor 8-1, and the ultrasonic sensor 8-2.
This is used to read the output of the oscillator, drive the ultrasonic oscillator, etc. When the driver 22 receives the drive instruction signal, it amplifies it and applies it to the ultrasonic oscillator in the input pen 7. The AND circuit 24 determines that the signal FLAGA is logic "1".
”, the AND circuit 25 outputs the signal FLA through the output of the ultrasonic sensor 8-1 amplified by the amplifier 26.
When GB becomes logic "1", the output of the ultrasonic sensor 8-2 amplified by the amplifier 27 is passed. When the switch SW is turned on, the signal SW becomes logic "1".

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the measurement process of the input control section 5.

■ Check whether the switch SW of the input pen 7 is on. If Yes, perform the process (2); if No, wait until the switch SW is turned on.

■ Set FLAGA.

■ Set the counter to 0.

(2) Give a firing signal (drive instruction) to the driver 22;

■ Start the count amplifier.

■ Check whether the received waveform is above the slice level. If Yes, process ■; if NO, process ■
Return to processing.

■ Test FLAG. When FLAGA is on, process (2) is performed, and when FLAGB is on, process (2) is performed.

■ Store count data in RAM.

■ Reset FLAGA.

(+11 Sets FLAGB. Then returns to the process of (■).

■ Store count data in RAM.

@Reset FLAGB.

■ The X coordinate value and Y of the point pointed with the human pen 7
Calculate coordinate values.

FIG. 1O is a diagram showing an example of a display pattern displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6. When the system consisting of the main body system 4, input control section 5 and liquid crystal panel 6 is powered on, the main body system 4 sends display pattern data and display commands for menu selection to the input control section 5. 5 displays this on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 6. An example of a display pattern for menu selection is shown in FIG. 10(a). The display pattern for menu selection can also be displayed on the display screen of the main body system 4. When the operator makes a menu selection using the input pen 7, the input control unit 5
The coordinate position of the pointed point is calculated and sent to the main system 4. The main system 4 accesses the menu table based on the sent coordinate values and learns which menu has been selected. If the data read from the menu table indicates a keyboard selection, the main body system 4 sends a display pattern and a display command as shown in FIG. If the data read from the menu table indicates selection of a key file, the display pattern and display command as shown in FIG. If the selection ' is indicated, the display will be as shown in Figure 10 (E).

The pattern and display command are sent to the input control unit 5, and if the data read from the menu table indicates digitizer selection, the display pattern and display command as shown in FIG. send. The input control unit 5 causes the liquid crystal panel 6 to display the received display pattern.

In the keyboard operation mode in which a display pattern as shown in FIG. 10 (b) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6,
The operator points the key with the input pen 7 and presses the switch SW.
When turned on, the input control unit 5 calculates the coordinate position of the point and sends it to the main system 4. The main body system 4 reads and accesses the keyboard table based on this coordinate position and learns the type of the pointed key. In addition, the first
The display patterns in Figures 0 (b), (c), (published), (e), and (f) have a section that indicates which menu is currently selected, and the corresponding bar is marked in black, etc. Display it. In Figure 10 (b), the frame labeled Key Manpower is displayed in black.

If the key file menu is selected,
First, a display pattern as shown in FIG. 10(c) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6. When the operator points to a desired page number with the input pen 7 and turns on the switch SW, the input control section 5 calculates the coordinate position of the pointed point and sends it to the main body system 4.

The main body system 4 reads and accesses the page table based on this coordinate position, learns which page has been selected, and sends the display pattern of the corresponding page to the input control unit 5 along with the display command. The input control section 5 causes the liquid crystal panel 6 to display this display pattern. FIG. 10(d) shows an example of the display pattern of page 3 of the key file. When a desired key is pointed with the input pen 7 and the switch SW is turned on, the input control section 5 calculates the position coordinates of the pointed point and sends them to the main body system 4. The main body system 4 reads and accesses the key file table of the corresponding page based on this coordinate position, and learns which key is pointed to.

When the mouse menu is selected, a display pattern as shown in FIG. 10(e) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6. In this case, the functions provided for ease of use as a mouse are displayed in the corner of the screen and can be selected. In the mouse mode, when the switch SW is turned on, the input pen 7 emits ultrasonic waves at regular intervals. When the operator points the input pen 7 at a point on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 6 and moves the input pen 7, the input control unit 5 generates a coordinate point series p, .
These are sent to the main system 4 in order, including p and -.

If the digitizer menu is selected, the first
A display pattern as shown in the θ diagram (f) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6. In this case as well, functions can be displayed in the same way as with a mouse.

It is also possible to place the drawing to be digitized on the liquid crystal panel 6 and digitize it.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly versatile input device that can be used as a keyboard, key file, digitizer, or mouse.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Fig. 1 shows an outline of a conventional input device, Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 3 to 5 show an embodiment of an input pen. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input pen 7 and the ultrasonic sensor 8-1, 8-2, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input pen 7 and the ultrasonic sensor 8-1, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input pen 7 and the ultrasonic sensor 8-1. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the means for
An electric circuit diagram of the embodiment, FIG. 9 is a flowchart explaining measurement processing of the input control section, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on a liquid crystal panel. ■-keyboard, 2-mouse, 3-digitizer, 4-
Computer body & display, 5-human control unit, 6-liquid crystal panel, 7--human pen, 8-1 and 8-2-1 ultrasonic sensor, 9-ultrasonic oscillator, SW-switch. Patent Applicant Usatsuk Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Yotsube Kyotani 1 Figure f2 Figure Jv3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure (a) (b) Taotsushi (b) 7th figure, 8th figure Figure 9 (a) (one (e) ) (b) (f)

Claims (1)

[Claims] The display device includes an ultrasonic sensor (or ultrasonic transmitter) provided at at least two corners of a display screen, and an input pen provided with the ultrasonic transmitter (or ultrasonic sensor). An input device characterized by: