JPS61255426A - Position detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible to take out a timing signal only by pressing an inputting pen against a touch panel by superposing a touch panel having switch matrix constitution on a tablet. CONSTITUTION:A back light 30 and a flat plane type display panel 40 are placed on a tablet 10 through a shielding plate 20 in an inputting/outputting panel 1 and these are encased in a body in a case made of nonmagnetic metal etc. The rear end of a transparent touch panel 60 is attached rotatably on the upper face of the case 50. A tapered bar magnet is attached to the tip of a magnetizer (pen) for position designation 3. Normally, each electrode of the touch panel 60 is separated by a dot spacer 63 and not in conduction. However, when it is pressed by the pen 3 to the substrate 64 side from above a protective sheet 65, electrodes intersecting at that position are brought into contact to each other and thereby timing of contact of the pen 3 is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a position detection device capable of detecting coordinate values on a tablet indicated by a magnetic generator.

(Prior Art) In a conventional position detection device of this type, a position indicator is provided with a switch means in order to designate only the coordinate position to be input on the tablet, and a timing signal is generated when the switch means is turned on (or off). was configured to send the information to a control device via a cord or using ultrasound or infrared radiation.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case where the timing signal is sent via a code, the code impairs the operability of the position indicator;
In devices that send timing signals using ultrasonic waves or infrared rays, the position indicator must be equipped with these transmitters, signal generation circuits, batteries, etc., making the configuration complicated and expensive, and also large and heavy. In this case as well, there was a problem in that the operability during input was poor.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a position detection device that detects a specified position on a tablet using a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field. A touch panel having a switch matrix configuration is superimposed on the touch panel, and a timing detection means is provided for selecting a switch on the detected coordinates of the touch panel and detecting the timing at which the magnetic generator comes into contact with the switch,
Alternatively, a flat display panel is superimposed on the tablet, a translucent touch panel having a switch matrix configuration is further superimposed thereon, and a timing detection means similar to the above is provided.

(Function) According to the above configuration, a timing signal can be extracted simply by pressing the input pen on the touch panel. Therefore, an input pen equipped only with a magnetic generator can be used, and it feels as natural as a normal writing instrument. In addition, since the timing signal is not extracted only from the switch on the detected coordinates, there is no risk of the timing signal being output even if a hand other than the input pen touches the touch panel, and therefore incorrect coordinate values can be generated. If the device is equipped with a display panel, the user can operate the device without inputting it, while displaying the input characters and figures.

(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 includes a backlight 30 and a flat display panel, for example, a liquid crystal display panel 40, which are mounted on a tablet 10 via a shield plate 20. The body is housed in a case 50 made of non-magnetic metal or the like.

Further, a translucent touch panel 60 is rotatably attached to the upper surface of the case 50 at its rear end.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 2 includes a tablet control circuit 5 that controls the tablet 10, a touch panel control circuit 6 that controls the touch panel 60, a liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7 that controls the liquid crystal display panel 40, and controls these. It consists of an electronic computer 8 that controls the system.

The magnetic generator for position designation (hereinafter referred to as input pen) 3 has a pen shaft 301 made of synthetic resin or the like, as shown in FIG.
A bar magnet 303 with a tapered tip is housed in one end 302 of the magnet. Further, a protective cover 304 made of plastic or the like is attached to the tip of the bar magnet 303.

The power supply device 4 includes a well-known rectifier, transformer, DC-OC converter, etc., and supplies necessary power to the backlight 30 and each circuit in the control device 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the structure of the tablet 10, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line Vl--Vl in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes magnetostrictive transmission media, and a plurality of magnetostrictive transmission media are arranged substantially parallel to each other in the X direction and the Y direction. Although any ferromagnetic material can be used as the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11, it is particularly desirable to use a material with a large magnetostrictive effect, such as an amorphous alloy containing a large amount of iron, in order to avoid generating strong magnetostrictive vibration waves. 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 Fe67COH2
S 148! 1 (atomic%)・F” 81B13
．． 5SiC (atomic %) etc. can be used. Magnetostriction Transmission 3.52 The delivery medium 11 has an elongated shape, and its cross section is preferably a rectangular thin strip or a circular line. If it is a thin strip, the width is about several layers and the thickness is from several μm to several tens of μm. It is easy to manufacture and has good properties. Amorphous alloys are manufactured due to
Since a thin product with a thickness of 20 to 50 μm can be made, it is sufficient to cut this into a thin plate shape or a linear shape. In this example, Fe8
Width 2 xttx made of 1B13.5SiC (atomic %)
, a magnetostrictive transmission medium with a thickness of 3.52 0.02 am is used.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an elongated cylindrical reinforcing member made of synthetic resin or the like, each of which accommodates the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 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 applied to the coil 13 in one direction, or a magnetic flux is applied to the coil 13 in one direction, a voltage is generated in each of the sections in the opposite direction. For this reason,
Pulse noise generated when a pulse current is passed through the coil 13 and external induction are weakened by canceling each other out between adjacent parts 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 used to generate instantaneous magnetic field fluctuations to generate magnetostrictive vibration waves at 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. In addition,
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, for example, as shown in FIG. 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 direction of the voltage and current generated in each coil 16 when a magnetic flux in one direction is applied to all the coils 16, or the direction of the magnetic flux generated in each coil 16 when an IR current is passed through 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 designating 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.

FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram that does not show the 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 panel 3 passes through the touch panel 60 to the shield plate 20, and
Direction: On the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 at a distance 11 in the X-axis direction from the center of the coil surface of the first coil 13, and in the Y direction, the first coil 1
4 is placed on the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 at a distance of 12 from the center of the coil surface in the Y-axis direction, and magnetism is applied to the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 to the extent that the electromechanical coupling coefficient becomes large.

When the electronic computer 8 sends a measurement start command signal to the microprocessor 501 of the tablet control circuit 5, the microprocessor 501 receives the X and Y switching signals.
A switching signal to select multiplexers 502 and 50
3, selects the X-direction pulse current generator 504 and the X-direction second coil 16, and sends the trigger pulse to the X-direction pulse current generator 5 via the multiplexer 502.
04, a pulse current is applied to the first coil 13 in the X direction.

In addition, the trigger pulse is a monostable multivibrator (
It is also applied to a counter 506 via a monomultiple) 505, which counter 506 is reset and starts counting clock pulses supplied from a clock generator 507. The pulse repetition frequency of the clock pulse of the clock generator 507 is, for example, 100 MHz.

When the X-direction pulse current generator 504 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, and this 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.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a temporal change in the induced electromotive force generated in the second coil 16 in the X direction, assuming that the time when the pulse current is applied to the first coil 13 in the X direction is 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. The reason why the amplitude of the induced electromotive force becomes large immediately after time 1-0 is due to the electromagnetic induction effect between the first X-direction coil 13 and the second X-direction coil 16, and one cycle of amplitude increases at time 1-1-12. The amplitude of the induced electromotive force (induced voltage due to magnetostrictive oscillating waves) increases because the magnetostrictive oscillating waves generated at the winding portion of the first coil 13 in the X direction propagate through the magnetostrictive transmission medium 11 and directly below the input ben 3. This is because the electromechanical coupling coefficient becomes large at that point. When the input ben 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, time t. From t
By measuring the time from 1 to t2, the position in the X direction designated by the input ben 3, that is, the distance 11, can be calculated. As shown in FIG. 9, the propagation time for calculating the position is, for example, the time t3 when the amplitude of the induced voltage due to magnetostrictive vibration becomes smaller than the threshold value -El, and the threshold value E1.
A larger time point t4 may be used, or a zero crossing point t5 may be used.

The induced electromotive force generated in the X-direction second coil 16 described above is sent to an amplifier 508 via a multiplexer 503 and amplified, and further sent to a comparator 509. The comparator 509 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 506 to stop the counter 506 from counting.

At this time, the counter 506 records the value of the second coil 16 in the X direction from the time when the pulse current was applied to the first coil 13 in the X direction.
A digital value corresponding to the time it takes for an induced voltage to appear due to magnetostrictive vibration waves is obtained. In addition, this value is determined by the distance 11 in the X direction from the first coil 13 in the X direction to the input bend 3 because the magnetostrictive vibration wave travels at a speed of 5000 m per second.
It corresponds to The microprocessor 501 reads the count value of the counter 506 at this time, that is, the X-direction position data.

Next, the microprocessor 501 sends a Y-direction switching signal to the multiplexers 502 and 503 to select the Y-direction pulse current generator 510 and the Y-direction second coil 17, and in the same manner as described above, input the Y-direction position data of the input bend 3. Load.

The X and Y coordinate values of the digital values thus obtained are temporarily stored in the memory within the microprocessor 501 and sent to the computer 8, but only after the signal indicating the start of measurement is issued. During this time, measurements as described above are repeated and the values are updated.

The electronic calculation 1118 sends the X and Y coordinate values to the touch panel control circuit 6 and, if necessary, to the liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7 to display them on the liquid crystal display panel 40.

Furthermore, when a timing signal is sent from the touch panel 60 and the touch panel control circuit 6 as described later, the X and Y coordinate values at that time are input as designated coordinate values.

In the embodiment described above, the first coil 13 in the X direction. Y direction first
The coil 14 is used for generating magnetostrictive vibration waves, and the second
Coil 16. Although the second coil 17 in the Y direction is used for detecting magnetostrictive vibration waves, it may be used in the opposite manner, in which case it should be placed directly under the input ben 3! A distorted vibration wave is generated, and the second coil 13
．． An induced voltage will be generated at 14.

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 I-culm light 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 a well-known liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7.

The touch panel 60 includes a transparent base film 61 such as a polyester film, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12.
Indium oxide (InO3), tin oxide (S
A plurality of band-shaped transparent resistance layers (electrodes) 61b-1 to 61b-2 each having a width of about 10 to 15III+ made of nO3), etc.
4, a conductive film 61 which is vapor-deposited approximately in parallel with a predetermined interval, a base film 62a similar to this, and an electrode 6.
2b-i to 62b-16, and the electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-24 and the electrode 62b-1.
62b-16 are orthogonal to each other and are opposed to each other via transparent spacers 63 made of silicone resin or the like, which are provided vertically and horizontally at predetermined intervals on the conductive film 62. It is sandwiched between a base substrate 64 and a protective sheet 65 such as a polyester film, and is further surrounded by a frame 66 made of non-magnetic metal such as aluminum. The touch panel 60 is attached to the case 50 via a hinge 67 with a protective sheet 65 facing upward. Note that the dot spacer 63 may be provided on the conductive film 61 side, or the dot spacer 63 may be provided on the conductive film 61 side.
Instead of electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-24 and 62b-
You may use the spacer provided with the frontage corresponding to the intersection part of 1-62b-16.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, the width of the electrode is such that on average, the part A that the hand holding the input ben 3 on the touch panel 60 presses, and the part B that the other hand presses are wider than the pen tip @C. This setting is made because the distance is 20 am or more, but there is no particular limitation to this, and the point is that the switch matrix including the portions A and 8 and C can be recognized completely separately.

Each of the electrodes 61b-1 to 61b-24 and the electrode 62b-
1 to 62b-16 are normally separated by the dot spacer 63 and are not electrically conductive; however, when pressed from above the protective sheet 65 toward the board 64 with a finger or the magnetic generator 3 for specifying position, the dots are separated at the suppressed position. Connected electrodes 61b-1 to 61b
-24 and the electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-16 form a matrix of key switches 68-1 to 68-384. Each of the electrodes 61b-1 to 61b
-24 and electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-16 are signal lines 69
are respectively connected to the touch panel control circuit 6 via the touch panel control circuit 6. Note that FIGS. 10 and 12 are shown enlarged only in the thickness direction.

The touch panel control circuit 6 constitutes timing detection means for selecting a switch on the detected position coordinates in the touch panel 60 and detecting the timing at which the input ben 3 contacts the switch. Show the configuration. In the figure, 601 is a microprocessor;
2 is an address decoder, 603 to 605 are latch circuits,
606 and 607 are decoder drivers, 608 to 610
620 is a multiplexer, and 620 is a level determination circuit.

As mentioned above, the tablet control circuit 5 performs electronic calculation t1.
8, when the X and Y coordinate values of the input bench 3 are sent to the microprocessor 601, the microprocessor 601 compares the pre-stored position and coordinates of the tablet 10 with each switch on the touch panel 6°. Based on the positional relationship, the position of the switch including the coordinate value of the input ben 3, for example 68-78, is detected, and this is converted into data (BCD code) corresponding to the position of the electrode of the touch panel 6o, and the latch circuits 603 to 605 Send to. Note that this data is sent to each latch circuit from the data bus, and at this time, predetermined data is selectively stored in each latch circuit by the address decoder 602.

The data sent to the latch circuit 603 is decoded by the decoder drivers 606 and 607, and the data sent to the electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-1 to
Selected one of b-16, here 61b-4
Apply a high level (+5V) voltage to. On the other hand, the data sent to the latch circuits 604 and 605 are decoded by multiplexers 608 to 610, and the data sent to the electrodes 6ib-i to 61
Selected one of b-24, here 62b-6
is connected to the level determination circuit 620.

The level determination circuit 620 consists of an operational amplifier 621, a reference voltage source 622, a resistor, etc., and the input voltage is the reference voltage V□
If the voltage is below, a low level (OV) signal is output, and if a voltage equal to or higher than the reference voltage v1 is input, a high level signal is output.

At this time, even if a switch other than the selected switch 68-78 is pressed by a hand holding the input vent 3 and becomes conductive, the input voltage remains at a low level, but the switch 68-78
When pressed by the input ben 3, a high level voltage is input to the level determination circuit 620, and therefore a high level signal, ie, a timing signal, is outputted from the level determination circuit 620.

This timing signal is sent from the microprocessor 601 to the electronic computer 8.

When the electronic computer 8 receives the timing signal, the computer 8 controls the tablet 10 and the tablet control circuit 5 at that time.
The X and Y coordinate values are recognized as designated coordinate values.

When the input bezel 3 is moved, the position of the selected switch on the touch panel 60 changes accordingly, and similarly, only the position indicated by the input bezel 3 is recognized by the computer 8 as a specified coordinate value.

Further, the designated coordinate values can be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 40 as is or after being subjected to predetermined program processing in the same manner as described above.

Therefore, the handwriting of characters and figures written with the input ben 3 from above the input/output panel 1 can be displayed in the same handwriting by optical display on the liquid crystal display panel 40, and this display can be performed through the translucent 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, the touch panel 60 is lifted upward, a form or the like on which a figure or the like is drawn in advance is sandwiched between the liquid crystal display panel 40 and the touch panel 60, and the touch panel 60 is
If you trace the figure, etc. from above, you can easily input the position of the figure, etc. 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.

In the above embodiment, the touch panel is translucent, but it may be opaque with conductive rubber sandwiched between electrodes. However, in this case, it is not possible to display an image on the display panel or to sandwich a form under the touch panel.

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 provided, and liquid crystal 45 is sealed between them. Also,
Reference numerals 46 and 47 denote a pair of polarizing plates provided on both sides of the transparent substrates 41 and 42, and the upper surface of the upper polarizing plate 46 is provided with the electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-16 (
However, only one of them is shown in the drawing. ) is deposited, and a dot spacer 63 is further provided. Further, the conductive film 61 and the protective sheet 65 are provided above the electrodes 62b-1 to 62b-16 with the dot spacer 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 has a shield plate T1 from above.
0az magnetic plates 720a, 720b.

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

Conductor plates 730c, 730d, ! i sex body plate 72
0e, 720f.

It consists of 12 layers of shield plates 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.

There are a plurality of magnetic plates 720a to 720f (8 in the illustrated example).
In this structure, long magnetic bodies 121 (1) are arranged substantially in parallel, sandwiched between two insulating substrates such as glass epoxy, and integrated by heat compression bonding or the like. Here, the magnetic material 721 is difficult to be magnetized even if a magnet is brought close to it,
That is, a material with low coercive force and high magnetic permeability (μ), such as an amorphous wire with a circular cross-section and a diameter of about 0.1H, is used.

As the amorphous wire, for example (F e 1-x
COx)75Si1oB15 (atomic %) (XG, tFe
It indicates the ratio of CO to CO, and takes a value of O 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, and forming a plurality (17 in the illustrated example) of conductors having land holes at both ends. It is what it is.

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

The substrates 720d and 720e and 720f are bonded and fixed by heat compression bonding, and the other substrates are bonded and fixed via an adhesive sheet. At this time, magnetic plates 720a, 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 Li material plates 720a and 720b, the conductor plate 730a, the conductor plate 730b, and the Li material plate 720 are not formed.
c, 720d, a set of conductor plates 730C, conductor plates 730d, fa conductor plates 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 5 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' constitute a path for the magnetic flux generated around the excitation line by the magnetic body 121 therein, and are used to obtain larger electromagnetic induction, and do not need to be provided. In addition, the shield plate 7
10a and 710b are for preventing the incorporation of normal noise from the outside and the emission of induced noise to the outside, and do not need to be provided in particular.

Each of the conductors of the conductor plates 730b and 730d is connected to the conductors that overlap each other by through-hole processing at one end of the land hole, and an excitation line in the X direction is wound around the magnetic body 721 in the magnetic body plate 720d. Detection lines 740a to 1401 and detection lines 750a to 750h are alternately formed. Excitation line 1
The other ends of the conductor plate 730b side of the excitation wires 740a to γ40i are connected to the other ends of the adjacent excitation wires 740a to 7401 on the conductor plate 730d side, that is, they are connected in series, and the other ends of the excitation wires 740a and the other ends of the excitation wires 7401 The end is a position detection circuit 80 which will be described later.
connected to the drive current source within the In addition, each detection line 750a~
The other end of the conductor plate 730b side of 750h is connected to the multiplexer 780, and the detection lines 750a to 750
The other end of the conductor plate 730d side of the conductor plate 730d is commonly grounded.

Each of the conductors of the conductor plates 730a and 730C is connected to the vertically overlapping conductors by through-hole processing at one end of the land hole, and the Y-direction excitation Nm 760a is wound around the magnetic body 721 in the magnetic body plate 720C. 7601 and detection lines 770a to 770h are alternately formed. Excitation line 16
The other ends of the conductor plate 730a side of the excitation wires 0a to 7601 are connected to the other ends of the adjacent excitation wires 760a to 7601 on the conductor plate 130C side, that is, they are connected in series, and the other ends of the excitation wires 760a and the other ends of the excitation wires 7601 The end is connected to a drive current source. Further, the other ends of the detection lines 770a to γ70h on the conductor plate 730a side are respectively connected to the multiplexer 190, and the other ends of the detection lines 710a to 770h on the conductor plate 730C side are commonly grounded.

FIG. 17 is a circuit block diagram showing a specific configuration of the tablet control circuit 9 corresponding to the tablet 70. below,
The operation will be described in detail along with a description of each circuit block.

When the tablet control circuit 9 is powered on, the excitation lines 740a to 740i, 760a to the tablet 70
A sinusoidal alternating current is applied to the line 760i from the current source 901. At this time, detection lines 750a to 750h and 7
70a to 770h are the excitation lines 740a to 74
An induced voltage is generated by electromagnetic induction based on the alternating current flowing through Oi and 760a to 7601. Since this electromagnetic induction occurs via the magnetic bodies 721 of the magnetic plates 720a to 720f, the higher the magnetic permeability of the magnetic bodies 121, the greater the voltage value of the induced voltage.

By the way, the magnetic permeability of the magnetic body 721 can be greatly changed by a 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 1 gradually increases.
21. The amount of magnetic bias applied to the magnetic body 721 increases as the angle at which the magnetic flux and the magnetic body 721 intersect decreases, 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 slight magnetic bias amount, Distance X in the X direction from the detection line 750a to the tip of the input ben 3, and detection @ 770a
Distance y in the Y direction from

When pressed against input surface positions separated by a distance, for example, the detection lines 150a to 750h in the X direction are generated at the detection line closest to the position where the input ben 3 is placed (designated position), as shown in Fig. 19. Induced voltages v1 to v8 are generated which gradually decrease as the voltage value becomes a maximum value and move away from the specified position. In FIG. 19, the horizontal axis is the detection a 750a~
The coordinate positions in the X direction are shown with the positions of 150h being x1 to x8, respectively, and the vertical axis shows the voltage value.

On the other hand, at this time, when the electronic computer 8 sends a command signal to start measurement to the arithmetic processing circuit 902 as described above, the arithmetic processing circuit 902 sends a control signal to the multiplexer 780 via the output buffer 903 to detect the X direction. line 750a
~750h of induced voltages are sequentially input to the amplifier 904.

Each of the induced voltages is amplified by an amplifier 904, and a detector 90
5, it is rectified and converted into a DC voltage, further converted into a digital value by an analog-to-digital (A/D'') converter 906, and then sent to the arithmetic processing circuit 902 via an input buffer 907.
will be sent to.

The arithmetic processing circuit 902 calculates each induced voltage (digital value).
are temporarily stored in the memory 908, and the coordinate value X in the X direction is determined from these.

There are various methods for calculating the coordinate value There is a method of finding a function and finding the coordinate value X as the coordinate of the maximum value of the function. Here, for example, if the interval between each detection line 750a to 150h is ΔX and the coordinates from coordinate x3 to coordinate x5 in FIG. 18 are approximated by a quadratic function (indicated by a solid line in the figure), then It can be calculated. First, from the voltage and coordinate values of each detection line, V = a
(X3x,) 10b =...=(1)V4=a
(x4-x,) +b...-(2)V5
-a (x5-x,) +b =----(3)
becomes. Here, a and b are constants (ago).

Also, ×4−×3−Δx ・−・−(4)x
s x 3 = 2 A x ”・
=・(5). Expressions (4) and (5) are converted into (2) and (3)
Substituting it into the formula and rearranging it, we get x −x +Δx/2((3v3−4v4+V
)/(V −2V4+V5)) (6) Therefore, 1i750c is detected according to the above formula (6).

750d, 750eG:ll t8 voltage v3. v4
．． By substituting and calculating the coordinate value x 3 (known) of the detection line 150C and the coordinate value of the detection line 150C, the X coordinate value X can be obtained.

The arithmetic processing circuit 902 first selects an induced voltage V having a maximum value (in this case, the maximum voltage 1i1) from among the respective induced voltages.
, to detect. Furthermore, the arithmetic processing circuit 902 is connected to the memory 90
8, the induced voltage vk and the induced voltage v before and after it
, vk+1, and convert them into voltages v3°V and V in equation (6) above, respectively.
5, the arithmetic processing of equation (6) is performed to obtain the X coordinate value X.

Next, the arithmetic processing circuit 902 sends a control signal to the multiplexer 790 via the output buffer 903, sequentially inputs the induced voltages of the detection lines 770a to 770h in the Y direction, and performs the same processing as described above 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 908 and sent to the computer 8, but while the signal indicating the start of measurement is being issued, as described above, Measurements and calculations are repeated at predetermined intervals, and the values are updated.

Similarly to the above, the computer 8 sends the X and Y coordinate values to the touch panel control circuit 6 and, if necessary, to the liquid crystal display panel control circuit 7 to display them on the liquid crystal display panel 40. Further, as described above, when a timing signal is sent from the touch panel 60 and the touch panel control circuit 6, the X and Y coordinate values at that time are input as designated coordinate values.

FIG. 20 shows a specific example of the drive current source 901. In the figure, reference numeral 901a denotes an integrating circuit, which takes as an input signal the clock pulse of the arithmetic processing circuit 902 (or a pulse obtained by frequency-dividing the clock pulse), integrates this, and converts it into a triangular wave signal. 901b is a bandpass filter that converts the triangular wave signal into a sine wave signal. 901C is a power driver, which consists of an operational amplifier and a current amplifier, and current amplifies the sine wave signal to excite @740a~
740i.

760a to 7601. Note that the tablet control circuit 9 uses clock pulses as the reference (input) signal.
This is to synchronize with.

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.

Also, the interval between the detection lines is 2 to 6. It has been confirmed through experiments that position detection can be performed with relatively high accuracy if the distance is about w. Further, the position specifying magnetic generator is not limited to a bar magnet, and may be a plate, a ring, an inner body, etc., or 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 EL display panel, etc. may also be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, in a position detection device that detects a position on a tablet specified by a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field, a switch matrix configuration is provided on the tablet. In addition to overlapping the touch panels having the touch panels, a timing detection means is provided for selecting a switch on the detected coordinates of the touch panel and detecting the timing at which the magnetic generator comes into contact with the switch, so that an input pen is pressed on the touch panel. Therefore, an input pen equipped with only a magnetic generator can be used, and it can be operated with a natural feeling like a normal writing instrument, and the timing signal can be extracted only from a switch on the detected coordinates. Therefore, even if a hand other than the input pen touches the touch panel, there is no possibility that a timing signal will be output, and therefore, erroneous coordinate values will not be input. In addition, according to a device in which a flat display panel is superimposed on a tablet, a translucent touch panel having a switch matrix configuration is superimposed on the tablet, and a timing detection means similar to that described above is provided, it is possible to detect the input characters. It has advantages such as being able to operate while displaying and displaying figures and figures.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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 N2, and FIG. 4 is a partially omitted enlarged sectional view showing the schematic structure of the input pen 3.
5 is a plan view showing the structure of the tablet 10, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line Vl-Vl in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of magnetic bias versus electromechanical coupling coefficient, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram of the tablet control circuit 5, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the tablet control circuit 5.
10 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the touch panel 60, FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the touch panel 60, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts; FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the hand holding the input ben 3 on the touch panel, the other hand, and the position of the pen tip of the input ben 3;
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 a block diagram of the touch panel control circuit 6. 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 block diagram of the tablet control circuit 80.
The figure is an electric circuit diagram showing a specific example of the drive current a81. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Input/output panel, 2... Control device, 3... Input pen, 4... Power supply device, 5... Tablet control circuit, 6... Touch panel control circuit, 7... Liquid crystal display Panel control circuit, 10...Tablet, 40
...Liquid crystal display panel, 60...touch panel. Patent Applicant Wacom Co., Ltd. Patent Attorney Furu 1) Takashi Sei Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 11 It) 1 to Figure 7 Figure 9 Figure 8 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 15 Figure 17

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a position detection device that detects a specified position on a tablet using a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field,
A touch panel having a switch matrix configuration is superimposed on the tablet, and a timing detection means is provided for selecting a switch on the detected coordinates of the touch panel and detecting the timing at which the magnetic generator comes into contact with the switch. A position detection device characterized by: (2) In a position detection device that detects a specified position on a tablet using a magnetic generator that generates a steady magnetic field,
A flat display panel is superimposed on the tablet, and a translucent touch panel having a switch matrix configuration is superimposed on top of the flat display panel, and a switch on the detected coordinates of the touch panel is selected and applied to the switch. A position detection device characterized by comprising timing detection means for detecting the timing at which the magnetic generator makes contact. (3) The position detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that a touch panel and a display panel are integrated.