JPS61237121A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input information of a character code and a position coordinate, etc. with simple constitution, by inputting the character code, etc. by depressing a touch panel with a finger or a position indicator, and simultaneously, inputting a handwriting character, and a graphic form by operating a position indicator on the touch panel. CONSTITUTION:An input device is constituted of an input/output panel 1, a control device 2, an input pen 3 functioning as a position designating magnetic generator, and a power source unit, and a back light 30 and a liquid crystal display panel 40 are placed through a shield plate 20 onto a tablet 10 of the panel 1. They are contained in a nonmagnetic metallic case 50, on which a transparent touch panel 60 is superposed so that it an be opened and closed freely. Also, the control device 2 is constituted of a tablet controlling circuit 5, a touch panel controlling circuit 6, and a liquid crystal display panel controlling circuit 7, which have been connected to an electronic computer 8. In this state, a character code and a position coordinate, etc. are inputted by operating the input pen with simple constitution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an input device that is capable of inputting character codes, handwritten character figures, etc. with a simple configuration.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, predetermined character codes, numeric codes, or instruction codes (hereinafter referred to as character codes, etc.) are used for electronic computers, etc.
When inputting text, use a keyboard input device that associates the on/off of a specific switch with a circuit that generates the character code, etc. When inputting handwritten characters or figures, use a panel-shaped tablet and a position indicator such as a stylus pen, and uses a tablet input device (digitizer) or the like that detects and inputs the position coordinates of the tablet in two directions, the X-axis and the Y-axis, specified by the position indicator. was.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, since the keyboard input device and the bullet input device are usually configured separately, they have the disadvantage that the entire device becomes large and the space required for its installation increases. there were. Furthermore, a compact device that combines a tablet and a thin keyboard that can be mounted on the tablet has already been proposed, but there is a problem in that the two cannot be used at the same time.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, on the tablet of the tablet input device that detects and inputs the specified position coordinates with a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field, A touch panel having a switch matrix configuration was attached, or a translucent touch panel having a switch matrix configuration and a flat display panel were attached below the touch panel.

(Function) According to the above configuration, character codes etc. can be input by pressing the touch panel with a finger or a position indicator, and at the same time, by operating the position indicator on the touch panel, User-friendly characters and figures can be entered, and if a display panel is attached, input operations can be performed while displaying input character codes, position coordinates, and other information.

(Example) Figure 1 shows the basic configuration of the present invention.
2 is an input/output panel, 2 is a control device, 3 is a magnetic generator for position designation, and 4 is a power supply device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the input/output cover panel 1 has a backlight 30 and a liquid crystal display panel 40 placed on top of the tablet 10 via a shield plate 20.
These are housed in a case 5o, and a translucent touch panel 60 is superimposed on the case 5o on the rear end side so as to be openable and closable.

Further, the control device 2 includes a tablet control circuit 5, a touch panel control circuit 6, a liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7, and an electronic tightening device 8, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of the tablet 10, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line v--v in FIG. In the same figure, 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes magnetostrictive transmission media, and a plurality of magnetostrictive transmission media are arranged in each of the X direction and the Y direction, substantially parallel to each other. Magnetostrictive transmission medium 1
1 can be any ferromagnetic material, but in order to generate strong magnetostrictive vibration waves, a material with a large magnetostrictive effect, such as an amorphous alloy containing a large amount of iron, is particularly desirable. Further, it is preferable to use a material with a small coercive force that is difficult to magnetize even when a magnet is brought close to the material. Examples of amorphous alloys include Fe6□Co
18B14S11 (atomic%), Fe81B13゜ss
I 3.502 (atomic %) etc. can be used. The magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 has an elongated shape, and its cross section is preferably a rectangular thin strip or a circular linear shape, and in the case of a thin strip, the width is about several layers and the thickness is about several μm to several tens of μm, which is easy to manufacture. It also has good characteristics.

Since amorphous alloys can be manufactured into thin pieces with a thickness of 20 to 50 μm, they can be cut into thin plates or lines. In this embodiment, a magnetostrictive transmission medium made of Fe81B13.53IC (atomic %) and having a width of 2 mm and a thickness of 3.52 mm and 0.02 m is used.

12 is an elongated cylindrical reinforcing material made of synthetic resin or the like;
The magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 is housed therein.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an X-direction first coil disposed on the reinforcing member 12 at one end of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 disposed in the X direction. This X-direction first coil 13 is twisted between adjacent reinforcing members 12 and wound in opposite directions for each adjacent magnetostrictive transmission medium 11, so that when a current is passed through the coil 13, each magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 When a magnetic flux is generated from a portion corresponding to the coil 13 or a magnetic flux in one direction is applied to the coil 13, the voltage generated at each portion is in the opposite direction. For this reason,
Pulse noise and external induction generated when a pulse current is passed through the coil 13 are weakened by canceling each other out between adjacent portions of the coil 13. Note that although the number of turns is one in the illustrated example, it may be wound two or more times. This X
The first coil 13 is for generating instantaneous magnetic field fluctuations to generate magnetostrictive vibration waves in each winding portion of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11, and one end of the coil 13 is connected to the tablet control circuit 5. , the other end is grounded.

Moreover, 14 is a Y-direction first coil arranged on the reinforcing material 12 at one end of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 arranged in the Y direction, and is twisted between the adjacent reinforcing materials 12, so that the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 adjacent to each other is twisted. Every 11th wire is wound in the opposite direction. One end of this Y-direction first coil 14 is connected to the tablet control circuit 5 similarly to the coil 13, and the other end is grounded. Note that the action is similar to that of the coil 13.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a magnetic generator for specifying a reference position, such as an inner magnet, for applying a bias magnetic field parallel to the longitudinal direction to the winding portion of the first coil 13 in the X direction and the winding portion of the first coil 14 in the Y direction, respectively. It is something. The reason for applying the bias magnetic field in this manner is to enable generation of large magnetostrictive vibration waves with a small amount of current, and to specify the generation position of the magnetostrictive vibration waves. That is, the electromechanical coupling coefficient (coefficient indicating the conversion efficiency from mechanical energy to electrical energy or from electrical energy to mechanical energy) of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 is determined by a bias magnetic field as shown in FIG. 6, for example. Therefore, by applying such a magnetic bias to the wound portions of the first coil 13 in the X direction and the first coil 14 in the Y direction, magnetostrictive vibration waves can be efficiently generated.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an X-direction second coil disposed on the reinforcing member 12 over a wide range of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 disposed in the X-direction. The coils 16 are all wound in the same direction (left-handed in this embodiment) on each magnetostrictive transmission medium 11, and are connected in series such that adjacent coils have opposite connection polarities.

Therefore, the voltage generated in each coil 16 when magnetic flux in one direction is applied to all the coils 16, the direction of the current 111, or the direction of the magnetic flux generated in each coil 16 when current is applied to the entire coil 16 are adjacent to each other. The directions of the coils are opposite to each other, and external induction and noise are canceled out and weakened between adjacent coils.

The winding pitch of the coil 16 is such that it is wound gradually more densely from one end on the side close to the first coil 13 in the X direction toward the other end on the opposite side, and the induced voltage is small due to the attenuation of the magnetostrictive vibration waves. It makes up for becoming. Generally, in order to increase the induced electromotive force, it is preferable that the winding pitch be large. This X-direction second coil 16 is for detecting the induced voltage due to magnetostrictive vibration waves propagating through the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11.
One end is connected to the tablet control circuit 5, and the other end is grounded, and the wound area becomes a position detection area.

Further, reference numeral 17 denotes a Y-direction second
The coils 17 are all wound in the same direction (left-handed in this embodiment) on each magnetostrictive transmission medium 11, and are connected in series such that adjacent coils have opposite polarities. . Further, the winding pitch of this coil 17 is such that it is wound gradually more densely from one end on the side close to the first coil 14 in the Y direction toward the other end on the opposite side, and the one end is The terminal is connected to the tablet control circuit 5, and the other end is grounded. Note that the action is similar to that of the coil 16.

The
a position detection unit in the Y direction, a magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 in the Y direction, a reinforcing material 12, a first coil 14 in the Y direction, and a second coil 17 in the Y direction.
The Y-direction position detecting section consisting of the above Y-direction position detecting section and the Y-direction position detecting section are stacked perpendicularly to each other, housed in the bottom of the case 50, and fixed with an adhesive or the like. Further, the reference position specifying inner magnet 15 is fixed to the bottom of the case 50 so as to face the end of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11, but it may also be arranged in parallel above, below, or to the side of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11. good.

The shield plate 20 is made of a non-magnetic metal, such as a metal plate made of aluminum or copper, or a synthetic resin plate with a non-magnetic metal deposited on the surface.

The backlight 30 includes, for example, a phosphor layer in which phosphor powder is dispersed in a high dielectric constant medium between a transparent planar electrode and a back electrode, and emits light by applying an alternating current voltage between the electrodes. The well-known electroluminescence (EL)
A lighting device that utilizes electroluminescence (electroluminescence) is used. Note that the AC voltage is supplied from the power supply device 4.

The liquid crystal display panel 40 uses, for example, a well-known matrix type display cell in which liquid crystal is interposed between a plurality of crossed horizontal electrodes and vertical electrodes, and is driven and controlled by the liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7.

The case 50 is made of non-magnetic metal or the like, and has an infrared transmitting window 51 at its rear end, as shown in FIG. 1, and an infrared light receiving diode, which will be described later, is provided inside the case 50.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the touch panel 60 includes indium oxide (InO) and tin oxide (Sn03) on the surface of a transparent base film 61a such as a polyester film.
), etc., a plurality of band-shaped transparent resistance layers (electrodes > 61
A conductive film 61 in which electrodes b-1 to 61b-8 are vapor-deposited approximately parallel to each other separated by a predetermined distance, and a conductive film 62 consisting of a base film 62a similar to this and electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-8. , the electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-8
and electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-8 are arranged to face each other orthogonally through a transparent spacer 63 made of silicone resin or the like, and then mounted on a transparent base substrate 64 made of acrylic resin or the like.
and a protective sheet 65 such as a polyester film, and further these are placed between a frame 6 of non-magnetic metal such as aluminum.
It is surrounded by 6. The touch panel 60
is attached to the upper surface of the case 50 via a hinge 67 on the rear end side with the protective sheet 65 facing upward so as to be openable and closable.

Each of the electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-8 and the electrode 62b-1
~ 62b-8 are normally separated by the spacer 63 and are not electrically conductive, but when pressed from above the protective sheet 65 toward the board 64 with a finger or position designating magnetic generator 3, etc., they intersect at the pressed position. The electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-8 and the electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-8 are electrically connected to form a matrix of key switches 68-1 to 68-64. Each of the electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-8 and the electrode 62b
-1 to 62b-8 are respectively connected to the touch panel control circuit 6 via signal lines 69, and when any of the key switches 68-1 to 68-64 is pressed as described later,
A preset specific code is generated corresponding to that position. Note that FIGS. 7 and 9 are shown enlarged only in the thickness direction.

Power bag! ! 4 is a well-known rectifier, transformer, DC-OC
It consists of a converter, etc., and has the above 200V.

In addition to the AC 81 voltage of about 400H2, necessary power is supplied to each circuit in the control unit @2.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the position specifying magnetic generator (hereinafter referred to as input pen) 3, and FIG. 11 is its electric circuit diagram. In the figure, 301 is a pen-shaped container made of synthetic resin or the like, and a bar magnet 302 with a tapered tip is housed in one end of the pen-shaped container so as to be slidable in the axial direction. In addition, an infrared transmitting window 303 made of transparent plastic or the like is provided along the circumferential direction on the other end side of the container 301, and inside the window 303 there is a reflector 30 that is made of a cone with chrome plating or the like applied to the circumferential surface.
4 and an infrared light emitting diode 305 are housed. 306 and 307 are operation switches, and operation switch 3
06 is attached to one side of the tip side of the container 301, and an operation switch 307 is attached opposite to the other end of the bar magnet 302. Further, 308 is a signal generation circuit, and 309 is a battery, which are housed in appropriate locations within the container 301. The signal generation circuit 308 converts a plurality of (in this case, three) commands to the control device 4, such as measurement start and position input, into a plurality of code signals based on a combination of several pulse signals. It includes a signal generator 312 and a diode driving transistor 313, and generates a code signal to drive the light emitting diode 305 according to the on/off combination of operation switches 306 and 307. When the operation switch 306 is turned on, an infrared signal indicating a code to start measurement is transmitted from the diode 305 to the reflector 3.
04, the signal is transmitted through the transparent window 303, and when the tip of the bar magnet 302 with the cover 314 attached is pressed against the input surface, the bar magnet 302 slides and the switch 30
7 is turned on, and an infrared signal indicating a position input code signal is transmitted.

FIG. 12 is a circuit block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the tablet control circuit 5. As shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of position detection by the tablet 10 will be described in detail along with a description of each circuit block.

Now, in the input/output panel 1, the input pen 3 is connected to the first coil 1 in the X direction of the tablet 10 via the touch panel 60.
on the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 at a distance j1 in the X-axis direction from the center of the coil surface of No. 3, and on the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 at a distance o in the Y-axis direction from the center of the coil surface of the first coil 14 in the Y direction,
It is assumed that magnetism is applied to the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 to the extent that the electromechanical coupling coefficient becomes large.

When the switch 306 of the input pen 3 is turned on, the light emitting diode 305 emits an infrared signal indicating a code to start measurement. The infrared signal is received by an infrared receiving diode 501 provided in an infrared transmitting window 51 of the input/output panel 1, amplified and waveformed by an amplification/waveform shaper 502, and returned to the original code signal. The microprocessor 50 converts it into a command signal to start measurement.
Sent on 4th. When the microprocessor 504 reads the measurement start command signal, it sends a switching signal for selecting X out of the X and Y switching signals to multiplexers 505 and 506, and
While selecting the second coil 16 in the X direction, a trigger pulse is applied to the X direction pulse current generator 507 via the multiplexer 505, and a pulse current is applied to the first X direction coil 13. Further, the trigger pulse is sent to a counter 509 via a monostable multivibrator (mono multi) 508.
The counter 509 is reset and starts counting clock pulses supplied from the clock generator 510. The pulse repetition frequency of the clock pulse of the clock generator 510 is, for example, 100 MH2.
It is.

When the X-direction pulse current generator 507 operates and a pulse current is applied to the X-direction first coil 13, an instantaneous magnetic field fluctuation occurs in the X-direction first coil 13, which causes the Magnetostrictive vibration waves are generated in the winding portion of the first coil 13. This magnetostrictive vibration wave travels through the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 at a propagation speed (approximately 5000 m/sec) unique to the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11.
propagates along the longitudinal direction. During this propagation, mechanical energy is converted into magnetic energy at a portion of the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 where the magnetostrictive vibration wave exists, depending on the magnitude of the electromechanical coupling coefficient at that portion, and therefore, in the X direction. An induced electromotive force is generated in the second coil 16.

13 shows an example of a temporal change in the induced electromotive force generated in the second coil 16 in the X direction, with the time when the pulse current is applied to the first coil 13 in the X direction being 1-0. As shown in the figure, the amplitude of the induced electromotive force is immediately after time 1-0 and at time t. It becomes large after t1 to t2 seconds have passed since then, and becomes small at other times. Immediately after time 1-0, the amplitude of the induced electromotive force becomes large in the first coil 13 in the X direction.
This is due to the electromagnetic induction effect between the second coil 16 in the X direction and the second coil 16 in the X direction. This is because the magnetostrictive vibration waves generated in the wound portion of the coil 13 propagate through the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 and reach the vicinity directly below the input pen 3, and the electromechanical coupling coefficient becomes large at that portion. When the input pen 3 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the magnetostrictive transmission medium, the induced voltage due to the magnetostrictive vibration waves also moves on the time axis accordingly. Therefore, by measuring the time from time 10 to t1 to t2, the input pen 3
The position in the X direction specified by , that is, the distance 11 can be calculated. The propagation time for calculating the position is:
For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the time point t3 when the amplitude of the induced voltage due to magnetostrictive vibration becomes smaller than the threshold value -El, the time point t4 when it becomes larger than the threshold value E1 may be used, or the zero crossing point t5 may be used. It's okay.

The induced electromotive force generated in the X-direction second coil 16 described above is sent to the amplifier 511 via the multiplexer 506 and amplified, and further sent to the comparator 512. The comparator 512 compares this induced electromotive force with a reference voltage, for example, the aforementioned threshold value E1, and when the induced electromotive force becomes larger than the threshold value E1, that is, when the positive polarity portion of the induced voltage due to the magnetostrictive vibration wave is detected, a counter is activated. A stop pulse is sent to the counter 509 to stop the counter 509 from counting.

At this time, the counter 509 records the value of the second coil 1 in the X direction from the time when the pulse I current was applied to the first coil 13 in the X direction.
6, a digital value corresponding to the time until the induced voltage appears due to the magnetostrictive vibration wave is obtained. Also, this value is determined by the distance 1 in the X direction from the first coil 13 in the X direction to the input pen 3 because the magnetostrictive vibration wave travels at a speed of 5000 m per second.
It corresponds to 1. The microprocessor 504 reads the count value of the counter 509 at this time, that is, the X-direction position data.

Next, the microprocessor 504 sends a Y-direction switching signal to the multiplexers 505 and 506, selects the Y-direction pulse current generator 513 and the Y-direction second coil 17, and in the same manner as described above, inputs the Y-direction position data of the input pen 3. Load.

The X and Y coordinate values of the digital values obtained in this way are temporarily stored in the memory within the microprocessor 504, and are sent to the electronic calculator 118 as necessary, but the signal indicating the start of measurement is While this is occurring, measurements as described above are repeated and the values are updated. Next, press the tip of the input pen 3 firmly against the input surface and press the switch 30.
7 is turned on, the light emitting diode 305 emits an infrared signal indicating a position input code, which is sent to the microprocessor 504 in the same manner as described above. When the digital value is identified, the X and Y coordinate values of the digital value at that time are sent to the computer 8 as input values. Thereafter, by repeating this process, position data can be obtained one after another.

On the other hand, the position data consisting of the coordinate values in the X direction and Y direction sent to the computer 8 is transmitted to the liquid crystal display panel as it is or after being subjected to predetermined program processing via the well-known liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7. 4
Displayed as 0.

Therefore, the handwriting of characters and figures written with the input pen 3 from above the input/output panel 1 can be displayed as the same handwriting by optical display on the liquid crystal display panel 40, and this display is performed through the transparent touch panel 60. Visible.

At this time, if the backlight 30 is activated, a clear display can be obtained even when the surroundings are dark, and the shield plate 2
0, noise can be blocked and position detection accuracy will not deteriorate. In addition, by opening the touch panel 60, sandwiching a form on which a figure, etc. is drawn in advance between the liquid crystal display panel 40 and the touch panel 60, and tracing the figure, etc. from above the touch panel 60, the position of the figure, etc. can be easily input. becomes possible. Further, the input results are displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 40 in the same manner as described above when the form is removed.

Further, in the embodiment, the first coil 13 in the X direction and the first coil 14 in the Y direction are used for generating magnetostrictive vibration waves, and the second coil 16 in the X direction is used for generating magnetostrictive vibration waves. Although the second coil 17 in the Y direction is used for detecting magnetostrictive vibration waves, it may be reversed. In that case, magnetostrictive vibration waves are generated directly under the input pen 3, and the second coil 13
．． An induced voltage will be generated at 14.

FIG. 14 is a circuit block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the touch panel control circuit 6. As shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the code generation operation by the touch panel 60 will be described in detail along with a description of each circuit block.

One end of the electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-8 of the touch panel 60 is connected to the output port AD-AD of the microprocessor 603 via a driver circuit 601 and a latch circuit 602.
Also, one end of the electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-8 is connected to the microprocessor 60 through one input terminal of the comparators 604 to 611 and a gate circuit 612.
3 input ports BD1 to BD8. In addition, the other input terminals of the comparators 604 to 611 have
A predetermined threshold voltage v0 is applied from a DC power supply V via a variable resistor 613.

When the operation switch (not shown) of the touch panel 60 is turned on, the microprocessor 603 controls the output port AD.
- First, a voltage value corresponding to the logical value r10000000J is given to AD8. This voltage value is held in latch circuit 602. The driver circuit 601 applies a predetermined DC voltage only to the column electrode, ie, 61b-1, which holds the logic value "1" in the latch circuit 602, that is, the high level (+5V) voltage.

At this time, the key switches 68-1 to 68-1 including the electrode 61b-1
68-8, for example, the switch 68-1, is pressed with a finger or the input pen 3, and the electrode 61b-1 and the electrode 62b-1 are electrically connected, the DC voltage is applied to the electrode 62b-1. is sent to comparator 604 through.

Since this voltage is larger than the threshold voltage v■, the output of the comparator 604 becomes low level. On the other hand, since the voltage is not output to the other electrodes 62b-2 to 62b-8, the outputs of the comparators 605 to 611 are at a high level. The signals of these comparators 604 to 611 are inverted by a gate circuit 612 and have a logic value of r1000000.
It is sent to input ports BD1 to BD8 as 0J. Microprocessor 603 reads the value of the input port;
According to the combination with the logical value of the output port, it is converted into a code indicating the position of the pressed key, and this is sent to the computer 8. Below, r to the output boat AD-AD8.
ol 000000J, rooiOOOOOOJ...
It sequentially outputs the signals of ..., reads the signals of the input ports at that time, and converts them into codes. Hereinafter, these operations are repeated at a predetermined period while the operation switch is on.

On the other hand, on the computer 8 side, the code indicating the key position is converted into a predetermined character code etc. and processed according to a program input in advance.

Further, these character codes, etc. are sent to a well-known pattern generator (not shown) in the computer 8, converted into character patterns, and roughly displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 40 via the liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7. be done.

The relationship between the code indicating the key position and the character code etc. is as follows.
It can be changed arbitrarily by changing the program in the electronic computer 8. In addition, the relationship between each key switch and character code etc. can be determined by inserting a menu sheet showing the correspondence between the liquid crystal display panel 40 and the touch panel 60, or by inserting a menu sheet showing the correspondence between the liquid crystal display panel 40 and the touch panel 60, or by using the liquid crystal display panel under the key switch of the touch panel 60. By displaying a character pattern on 40, it can be clearly indicated,
It can be operated like a normal keyboard. Further, at this time, if the area of the key switches that are activated is limited (for example, only the keys 68-1 to 68-16 in the upper two rows), the tablet 10 and the touch panel 60 can be used at the same time.

Further, the position code of any one of the key switches (particularly preferably those on the periphery) of the touch panel 60 is associated with the code for starting measurement by the input pen 3, and the position codes of all other key switches are associated with the input pen 3. Tablet 10
When using the touch panel 60, codes for starting measurement and position input can be sent to the tablet control circuit 5 via the computer 8, and the input pen 3 can be used without a signal generation circuit or battery. .

Further, the character code etc. may be directly generated by the touch panel control circuit 6.

In addition, although the touch panel was made translucent in the above embodiment, it may be non-transparent. However, in this case, it goes without saying that it is not possible to display images on the display panel or use a menu sheet.

FIG. 15 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch panel and a liquid crystal display panel are integrated. In the figure, reference numerals 41 and 42 indicate transparent substrates made of plastic film or the like, and well-known horizontal electrodes 43. A large number of vertical electrodes 44 are arranged, and a liquid crystal 45 is sealed between them. Also,
Reference numerals 46 and 47 denote a pair of polarizing plates provided on the inner and outer sides of the transparent substrates 41 and 42, and the upper surface of the upper polarizing plate 46 is provided with electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-8 of the touch panel 60 (however, in the drawing, (shows only one of them) are deposited. Further, the conductive film 61 and the protective sheet 65 are provided above the electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-8 with spacers 63 interposed therebetween. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the lower base film and base substrate can be omitted compared to the above-mentioned embodiments, the structure is simpler, and the reduction in display light from the liquid crystal display panel 40 is reduced. This allows for clearer display. By the way, the light transmittance of one conductive film is approximately 80%, which corresponds to this in the case of this example, but in the above example, there are two conductive films, and the transmittance is approximately 64%. Become.

FIG. 16 shows another example of the tablet. As shown in the figure, the tablet 70 is fitted with a shield plate 71 from above.
0a, magnetic plates 720a, 720b.

Conductor plates 730a, 730b, magnetic plate 720c
, 720d.

Conductor plates 730c, 730d, magnetic plate 720e
, 720f consists of 12 layers of one shield plate 710b.

The shield plates 710a and 710b are printed circuit boards in which a copper plate 712 is attached to one side of an insulating substrate 711 made of glass epoxy or the like.

, the magnetic plates 720a to 720f are made by arranging a plurality (eight in the illustrated example) of long magnetic bodies 721 almost in parallel and sandwiching them between two insulating substrates such as glass epoxy.
It is integrated by heat compression bonding or the like. here,
As the magnetic body 721, a material that is difficult to be magnetized even when a magnet is brought close to it, that is, has a small coercive force and a high magnetic permeability (μ), for example, an amorphous wire with a circular cross section and a diameter of about 0.111 is used.

As the amorphous wire, for example (F e 1-x
COX ) 75S f 16B 1s (atomic %) (
It indicates the ratio of xG, tFe and CO, and takes a value of 0 to 1. ) etc. are suitable.

The conductor plates 730a to 730d are made by etching a printed circuit board with a copper plate attached to one side of an insulating substrate such as glass epoxy to form a plurality (17 in the illustrated example) of conductors having land holes at both ends. That's what happens.

Between the magnetic plates 720a and 720b, 720C.

The substrates 7206 and 720e and 720f are bonded and fixed by heat compression bonding, and the other substrates are bonded and fixed via adhesive sheets. At this time, the magnetic plates 72Ga, 7
The magnetic bodies of 20c and 720e are in the Y direction, and the magnetic body plate 72
0b.

The magnetic bodies 720d and 720f are arranged along the X direction, the conductors of the conductor plates 730a and 730C are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the Y direction, and the conductors of conductor plates 730b and 730d are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the X direction.

In addition, as another manufacturing method, two magnetic plates are heat-pressed so that their magnetic bodies are perpendicular to each other, a printed circuit board is bonded and fixed to the inside and outside of the plates, and then a conductor is formed by etching. Or, the set of the shield plate 710a, the magnetic plates 720a, 720b, the conductor plate 730a, the conductor plate 730b, and the magnetic plate 720 are not formed.
c, 720d, ) I body plate 730C set, average conductor plate 730d, magnetic plate 720e, 720f
.

A set of shield plates 710b may be created and these may be further bonded and fixed. The overall thickness of the tablet 70 is actually about 3 to 51 mm, but only the thickness direction is shown enlarged in the drawing.

Moreover, in the tablet 70, the magnetic plate 720a.

720b, 720e, and 720f are excited by the magnetic material 721 inside them! This is to form a path for the magnetic flux generated around the iml and to obtain greater electromagnetic induction, and there is no need to provide it. Further, the shield plates 710a and 710b are for preventing the incorporation of normal noise from the outside and the emission of induced noise to the outside, and there is no particular need to provide them.

Each of the conductors of the conductor plates 730b and 7306 is connected to the conductors that overlap each other by through-hole processing at one end of the land hole, and an excitation wire 740a in the X direction winds around the magnetic body 721 in the magnetic body plate 720d. 7401 and detection lines 750a to 750h are alternately formed. Excitation line 740
The other ends of the conductor plates 730 b of the excitation lines a to 740 i are connected to the other ends of the adjacent excitation lines 740 a to 740 1 of the conductor plates 730 d, that is, they are connected in series, and the excitation lines 740
The other end of a and the other end of the excitation line 7401 are connected to a drive source in a position detection circuit 80, which will be described later. Also, each detection line 7
The other ends of the conductor plates 730b of 50a to 750h are connected to the multiplexer 780, respectively, and the detection wires 750a
The other ends of the conductor plates 730d to 750h are commonly grounded.

Each of the conductors of the conductor plates 730a and 7300 is connected to the vertically overlapping conductors by through-hole processing at a land hole at one end, and is excited in the Y direction by winding around the magnetic body 721 in the magnetic body plate 720C. Detection lines 760a to 7601 and detection lines 710a to 770il are alternately formed. The other end of the conductor plate 730a side of the excitation wires 760a to 760i is connected to the conductor plate 73 of the adjacent excitation wires 760a to 760i.
The other end of the excitation line 760a and the other end of the excitation line 1601 are connected to the drive current source. Further, the other end of each of the detection lines 770a to 770h on the conductor plate 730a side is connected to the multiplexer 7
90, and the other ends of the detection Ills 770a to 770h on the conductor plate 130C side are commonly grounded.

FIG. 17 is a circuit block diagram showing a specific configuration of a tablet control circuit 80 corresponding to the tablet 70. Hereinafter, the operation will be explained in detail together with a description of each circuit block.

When the tablet control circuit 80 is powered on, the excitation lines 740a to 740i of the tablet 70 are turned on.

A sinusoidal alternating IR current is applied from the drive TI current source 1 to 760a to 760i. At this time, detection lines 750a to 7
50h and 770a to 770h are the excitation @ 7
An induced voltage is generated by electromagnetic induction based on the alternating current flowing through 40a to 740i and 760a to 1601. Since this electromagnetic induction occurs via the magnetic bodies 721 of the magnetic plates 720a to 120t, the higher the magnetic permeability of the magnetic bodies 721, the greater the voltage value of the induced voltage.

By the way, the magnetic permeability of the magnetic body 721 changes greatly depending on the magnetic bias applied from the outside. The state of the change varies depending on the composition of the magnetic material, the frequency of the alternating current, or the addition of heat treatment to the magnetic material, but here, as shown in Figure 18, it becomes maximum when a slight magnetic bias is applied. It is assumed that the more magnetic bias is applied, the more the magnetic bias is applied.

When the tip of the input pen 3 is positioned above the magnetic body 721, the magnetic flux emitted from the bar magnet 302 will flow directly under the tip of the magnetic body 721.
21, and on both sides, the magnetic material 7 gradually increases.
21. The amount of magnetic bias applied to the magnetic body 121 increases as the angle at which the magnetic flux intersects the magnetic body 721 becomes smaller, so it is smallest just below the tip of the input ben 3 and gradually increases as it moves away from there.

Therefore, when the tip of the input ben 3 is applied to the input surface normally formed on the upper part of the tablet 70, the amount of magnetic bias applied to the magnetic body 721 directly under the tip is set to the above-mentioned value, Distance X in the X direction from the detection line 750a to the tip of the input ben 3, and the detection line 770a
Distance y in the Y direction from

When pressed against a position on the input surface that is separated by a distance, for example, on the detection lines 750a to 750h in the Induced voltages v1 to v8 are generated which gradually decrease as the distance from the specified position increases, with the voltage value at which the specified position is taken as the local maximum value. In FIG. 19, the horizontal axis is the detection lines 750a to 7
The coordinate positions in the X direction are shown with the positions of 50h being x1 to x8, respectively, and the vertical axis shows the voltage value.

On the other hand, at this time, the switch 306 of the input vent 3 is
When turned on, the light emitting diode 305 emits an infrared signal indicating a code to start measurement.

The infrared signal is received by an infrared receiving diode 82;
Further, the signal is amplified and waveform-shaped by the receiver 83, converted into the original code signal, and then converted back into a measurement start command signal and sent to the input buffer 784. The arithmetic processing circuit 85 reads the command signal from the input buffer 84 and, upon recognizing the start of measurement, sends the command signal to the multiplexer 78 via the output buffer 86.
0, and the detection lines 750a to 750 in the X direction
The induced voltages of h are sequentially input to the amplifier 87. Each of the induced voltages is amplified by an amplifier 87, rectified by a detector 88, converted into a DC voltage, and further converted into an analog-digital (A/D) voltage.
) is converted into a digital value by the converter 89 and sent to the input buffer 8.
4 to the arithmetic processing circuit 85. The arithmetic processing circuit 85 stores each induced voltage (digital value) in the memory 81.
0, and calculate the coordinate value X in the X direction from these values.

Various methods can be considered for calculating the coordinate value X, but by focusing on the fact that the induced voltage takes the voltage directly below the input pen 3 as the maximum value and decreases on both sides thereof, the induced voltage near the maximum value is approximated. There is a method of finding a function and finding the coordinate value Xs as the coordinate of the maximum value of the function. Here, for example, if the interval between each detection line 7508 to 750h is ΔX and the coordinates x3 to x5 in FIG. 19 are approximated by a quadratic function (indicated by a solid line in the figure), can be released. First, from the voltage and coordinate values of each detection line, V3-a
(X3-X,) +b -”””(1)v4-a(
x4-x,) +b ・・・・・・(2) V5-a
(x5-x,) +b (3). Here, a and b are constants (a<Q).

Also, X −X proverb ΔX ・・・・・・(
4) Xs x3-2ΔX ・・・・・・
(5) becomes. Substituting equations (4) and (5) into equations (2) and (3) and rearranging, we get x −x3+Δx/2 ((3V3-4V4+v5)
/(v3-2v4+v5)) ......(6) It becomes. Therefore, the detection line 750c is included in the equation (6).

750d, 750eGC1t generated voltage V3, V
4, V5, and the coordinates of detection line 750c lI×3 (
By substituting and calculating the known), the X coordinate value X can be obtained.

The arithmetic processing circuit 85 first detects the induced voltage V having the maximum value (in this case, the maximum voltage value) from among the respective induced voltages. Furthermore, the arithmetic processing circuit 85 calculates the induced voltage V from within the memory 810, and the induced voltages vk-1 and vk-1 before and after the induced voltage V.
k+1 is taken out, and the voltages v3.degree.V and V5 in the above equation (6) are taken out, respectively, and the arithmetic processing of equation (6) is performed to obtain the x coordinate value X.

Next, the arithmetic processing circuit 85 sends a control signal to the multiplexer 790 via the output buffer 86 to
The induced voltages 70a to 770h are input in sequence, and the same processing as described above is performed to obtain the Y coordinate value y.

The X and Y coordinate values of the digital values obtained in this way are temporarily stored in the memory 810, but while the signal indicating the start of measurement is issued, the above-mentioned measurements and calculations are carried out for a predetermined period of time. The value is updated and sent to the electronic calculation 118 as necessary. Next, press the tip of the input ben 3 firmly against the input surface, and press the switch 307.
When turned on, the light emitting diode 305 emits an infrared signal indicating the position input code, and the light receiving diode 82
, reception 1183, and input buffer 784, the X and Y coordinate values of the digital value at that time are sent to the computer 8 as input values. Thereafter, by repeating this process, position data can be obtained one after another.

FIG. 20 shows a specific example of the drive current source 81.

In the figure, 81a is an integrating circuit, which is a clock pulse (or a pulse obtained by dividing this) of the arithmetic processing circuit 85.
is the input signal, integrates it, and converts it to a triangular wave signal. 81b is a bandpass filter that converts the triangular wave signal into a sine wave signal. A power driver 81c includes an operational amplifier and a current amplifier, and current amplifies the sine wave signal to generate the excitation lines 740a to 740i.

760a to 760i. In addition, the standard (input)
The reason why a clock pulse is used as a signal is to synchronize with the tablet control circuit 80.

Note that the numbers of magnetic bodies, excitation lines, and detection lines in the examples are merely examples, and it goes without saying that the numbers are not limited thereto.

Furthermore, it has been confirmed through experiments that position detection can be performed with relatively high accuracy if the distance between the detection lines is approximately 2 to 6+ nm. Furthermore, the magnetic generator for specifying the position is not limited to a bar magnet, but may be a plate, ring, hook body, etc., or may be an electromagnet.

In the above embodiments, a liquid crystal display panel was used as the flat display, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plasma display panel, an electronic display panel, etc. may also be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the tablet input device that detects and inputs position coordinates specified by a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field has a switch matrix configuration on the tablet. With the touch panel installed, you can input character codes, etc. by pressing the touch panel with your finger or position indicator, and at the same time, by operating the position indicator on the touch panel, you can input handwritten characters and A translucent touch panel with a switch matrix configuration and a flat display panel attached to the bottom of the touch panel allows for the input of figures, and allows input of character codes, position coordinates, and other information. It has advantages such as being able to input data while displaying it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing shows one embodiment of the input device of the present invention.
The figure is a perspective view showing the basic configuration, and Figure 2 is the input/output cover panel 1.
3 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of the control device 2, the fourth factor is a plan view showing the structure of the tablet 1o, and FIG. 5 is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram of magnetic bias versus electromechanical coupling coefficient, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the touch panel 60, FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the touch panel 60, and FIG. A sectional view of the main part of the touch panel 60, FIG. 10 shows the input pen 3
11 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of
2 is a block diagram of the tablet control circuit 5, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a temporal change in the induced electromotive force generated in the second coil 16 in the X direction, and FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the touch panel control circuit 6. FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the specific structure of another tablet 70, and FIG. 17 is another tablet control circuit 8.
0, FIG. 18 is a characteristic diagram of magnetic bias versus magnetic permeability, FIG. 19 is a graph showing an example of induced voltage generated in each detection line in the X direction, and FIG. 20 is a specific example of drive current fj81. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Input/output panel, 2... Control device, 3... Input pen, 4... Power supply device, 1o... Tablet, 4
0...Liquid crystal display panel, 60...Touch panel. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Funeral Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 13 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. Sir 4 Fig. 15 Fig. 1 Law 119 by 1 prong (Oe) Fig. 1 Powder drawing

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A tablet input device that detects and inputs positional coordinates on the tablet designated by a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field, and a touch panel having a switch matrix configuration, and the touch panel is mounted on the tablet. An input device characterized by: (2) A tablet input device that detects and inputs position coordinates on the tablet specified by a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field, a translucent touch panel with a switch matrix configuration, and a flat display panel. Equipped with
attaching the display panel on the tablet;
An input device further comprising the touch panel mounted on the display panel. (3) The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that a touch panel and a display panel are integrated.