WO1990006549A1

WO1990006549A1 - Position indicator and method of inputting information

Info

Publication number: WO1990006549A1
Application number: PCT/JP1989/001228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Azuma Murakami; Yasuhiro Fukuzaki; Yukiyoshi Nakayama
Original assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1988-12-07
Filing date: 1989-12-07
Publication date: 1990-06-14
Also published as: JPH02155020A

Abstract

Provision is made of at least one position indicator which is so corresponded to a position detector as to indicate any particular information together with position information. The mode of the position indicator is so formed as to have a particular feature in relation to the particular information by the position indicator. In inputting information, use is made of a position indicator having the mode of a feature that corresponds to a particularly indicated content that is to be input, in order to automatically specify and input which content is designated for the position detector. The operation for inputting information can then be carried out correctly and efficiently.

Description

Specification

Position indicator and information input method

The present invention relates to a position indicator and an information input method for indicating to a position detecting device some other specified information together with position information by a position indicator.

Background art

Prior to this application, the applicant filed a Japanese patent application No. 61-216566 (filed on September 16, 1986) (hereinafter referred to as the prior application 1) and set a tablet and position designation. Proposes a method for identifying (detecting) the status of a position indicator by exchanging radio waves with the device, for example, the status of a position indicator that specifies the coordinates to be input. No. 2 1370 (filed on September 12, 1986) (hereinafter referred to as the prior application 2), the position indicator is transmitted by exchanging radio waves between the tablet and the position indicator. We proposed a position detection device that detects the indicated position and identifies its state.

To briefly explain the contents of the prior application 1, a signal of a predetermined frequency is applied to an antenna coil provided around the detection range of the tablet to transmit a radio wave, and the radio wave is received by a tuning circuit provided in the position indicator. At this time, the antenna coil in which the supply of the signal is stopped receives the radio wave transmitted from the coil of the tuning circuit that has resonated (tuned). to this Therefore, an induced voltage is generated in the antenna coil, and the tuning frequency of the tuning circuit is slightly changed in accordance with a change in the state of the position indicator, and the tuning frequency of the tuning circuit is changed. Is detected as a change in the phase of the induced voltage, and the state of the position indicator is identified.

Also, the content of the prior application 2 will be briefly described. A signal of a predetermined frequency is applied to one loop coil of a tablet in which a number of loop coils are juxtaposed in the position detection direction, and the one loop coil is formed. The tuning circuit provided in the position indicator receives the radio wave, and at this time, the radio wave transmitted from the coil of the tuning circuit that resonates (tunes) is transmitted to the tuning circuit. Make one loop coil receive. As a result, an induced voltage is generated in the one loop coil, and these are repeated for all of the plurality of loop coils, and the voltage value is maximized from the large number of induced voltages generated in each loop coil. , That is, the designated position of the position indicator is detected, and the tuning frequency of the tuning circuit is slightly changed according to the change of the state of the position indicator. It detects the change in the phase of the induced voltage and identifies the state of the position indicator.

When the tuning frequency of the tuning circuit is changed, there are cases in which the frequency is increased and cases in which the frequency is decreased.In either case, the change in the frequency is caused by the change in the phase of the induced voltage, That is, it is possible to identify the state of the position indicator by detecting that the frequency increases as a phase advance and detecting that the frequency decreases as a phase delay.

By the way, in the above-described state identification method and the position indicator of the position detecting device, one position indicator includes the entire range of the phase change described above.

Therefore, when there are a plurality of instruction contents, for example, an input position, an erasure position, a display color, a background color of a display screen, and the like, the instruction contents are selected using the position indicator, and then the position instruction is further performed. There was a problem that the contents of the instructions had to be specified using a container, which required a lot of work.

Disclosure of the invention

A main object of the present invention is to provide a position indicator capable of specifying which instruction content is to be instructed from the mode of the position indicator, and performing the operation easily and efficiently.

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a position indicator for indicating a position or the like to a position detection device, an aspect of the position indicator is specified on the side of the position detection device associated with the content of the instruction by the position indicator. Can be entered. According to this, by using a position indicator having a feature mode corresponding to a specific instruction content, it is possible to specify which of the instruction contents to the position detecting device is to be instructed and to input the information together with the position information. In addition, the input operation can be performed efficiently and accurately. A second object of the present invention is to provide a position pointing device capable of easily and visually or tactilely selecting an object corresponding to an instruction content.

In order to achieve this object, the outer shape of the casing of the position indicator has a specific characteristic associated with specific information by the position indicator. According to this, it is possible to easily and visually or tactilely select the one corresponding to the instruction content from the outer shape of the casing of the position indication device and provide the input operation.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a position indicator between a position indicator and a position detecting device, which can accurately specify the contents of the position indicator and characterize its mode.

In order to achieve this object, a tuning circuit and a housing for accommodating the tuning circuit are provided, a signal is transmitted and received between the position detecting device by radio waves, and a position and the like are transmitted to and from the position detecting device. In the position indicator to be instructed, the shape of the housing is associated with the instructed content, and the range of the signal transmitted from the tuning circuit is set to a predetermined range associated with the instructed content. According to this, when the position indicator having a mode corresponding to the instruction content is used, the signal is exchanged with the position detecting device within the range of the signal associated with the instruction content. Since the type of the content is specified, the mode of the position indicator and the content of the instruction can be accurately associated.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a position indicator capable of performing an input operation with good timing and more easily. In order to achieve this object, a position indicator, a tuning circuit, and a housing for accommodating the tuning circuit are provided, and a signal is transmitted and received between the position detecting device and the position detecting device by radio waves. In the position indicator that indicates the position, etc., a sensor circuit is provided that detects that the held portion of the housing is held and operates the tuning circuit. According to this, it is detected by the sensor circuit that the held portion of the casing of the position indicator is held, and based on the detection result, the tuning circuit of the position indicator operates, and the connection with the position detection device is established. Send and receive signals between When the held portion of the position indicator is not held, the tuning circuit does not operate, and no signal is exchanged with the position detecting device. Therefore, the operation starts only by holding the non-holding part of the housing of the position indicator, and since other position indicators can be placed on the tablet, the input operation can be performed with good timing. O It has advantages such as efficient

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a position indicator capable of easily inputting instruction contents and inputting position information with good timing and efficiently.

In order to achieve this object, a position indicator, a tuning circuit, and a housing for accommodating the tuning circuit are provided, and a signal is transmitted and received between the position detecting device and the position detecting device by radio waves. In the position indicator for instructing the position and the like, a sensor circuit for associating the form of the housing with the content to be instructed, detecting that the held portion of the housing is held, and operating the tuning circuit is provided. According to this, only when the non-holding portion of the casing of the position indicator having the mode corresponding to the instruction content is held, the signal transmission / reception with the position detection device within the range of the signal associated with the instruction content is performed. Is performed, whereby the type of the instruction content is specified. Therefore, only by holding the non-holding portion of the casing of the position indicator having a mode corresponding to the instruction content, it is possible to specify to the position detecting device which of the plurality of instruction contents is to be instructed, and At this time, since another position indicator can be placed on the evening tablet, the position input operation can be performed easily and efficiently with good timing as well as input of the instruction content.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an information input method capable of specifying which of a plurality of instruction contents is to be indicated from a mode of a position indicator and performing work efficiently. .

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a plurality of position indicators are provided, and each position indicator is associated with the position detection device so as to indicate some other specified information together with the position information, and The shape of the casing of the position indicator is formed so as to have specific characteristics associated with the specific information by the position indicator, and the information corresponding to the specific instruction to be input when inputting the information. By using a position indicator having a feature mode, it is possible to specify and input to the position detecting device which of the various instruction contents to the position detecting device. This With this arrangement, it is possible to easily and efficiently perform the position input operation by using a plurality of position indicators together with the input of the instruction content and at a good timing.

The purpose, structure, and effects other than those described above will be clarified in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a tuning circuit and a sensor circuit of a position indicator according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (d) are schematic structural diagrams showing examples of a position indicator, FIG. Is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a phase range set according to each instruction content, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a coordinate input device using the position indicator of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a tablet. 6 is a detailed configuration diagram of the loop coil group in the X and Y directions of FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a signal waveform diagram of each part in FIG. 4, FIG.

Figures 8 (a), (b), and (c) are timing diagrams showing the basic coordinate detection operation in the control circuit. Figure 9 is obtained from each loop coil during the first coordinate detection operation. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a detection voltage, and FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing a coordinate detection operation and a state identification operation after the second time.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electric circuit of a position pointing device according to the present invention. In the figure, 110 is a tuning circuit, and 120 is a sensor circuit.

The tuning circuit 110 includes a coil 111, a capacitor 112, 113, a resistor 114, and a momentary push button. Switch (hereinafter referred to as switch). One end of the coil 111 is connected to one end of each of the capacitors 112, 113 and the resistor 114. The other end of the capacitor 113 is connected to one end of the switch 115. The other end of each of the capacitor 112, the resistor 114, and the switch 115 is connected to a normally open contact of a relay 128 of a sensor circuit 120 described later, and to the other end of the coil 111. The terminals are connected to the contacts of the relay 128, respectively.

The sensor circuit 120 includes a detection plate 121 formed of a thin aluminum plate, resistors 122a to 122c, OT circuits 123a to 123c, a capacitor 124, and a variable resistor 125. , An NPN type transistor 126, an electrolytic capacitor 127, a relay 128 and a battery 129. The detection plate 1 2 1 is connected to one end of the resistor 122a and one end of the capacitor 124, respectively.The other end of the capacitor 124 is connected to one end of the resistor 122b and the input side of the NOT circuit 123a. It is connected. The other end of the resistor 122b is connected to the output of the N0T circuit 123a and one end of the variable resistor 125, and the movable terminal of the variable resistor 125 is connected to the N0T circuit 123b. Is connected to the input side. The output side of the NOT circuit 123b is connected to the input side of the NOT circuit 123c, and the output side of the NOT circuit 123c is connected to the base of the transistor 126 via the resistor 122c. Have been. The drive units of the electrolytic capacitor 127 and the relay 128 are connected in parallel, The negative electrode of the electrolytic capacitor 127 is connected to the collector of the transistor 126, and the positive electrode of the electrolytic capacitor 127 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 129. The other end of each of the resistor 122 a and the variable resistor 125 and the emitter of the transistor 126 are connected to the negative electrode of the battery 129.

Next, the operation of the tuning circuit 110 and the sensor circuit 120 will be described.

When the human body is not touching the detection plate 121, the output side of the NOT circuit 123a and the input side of the N0T circuit 123b are connected to the negative electrode of the battery 129 via the variable resistor 125. Therefore, it is kept at low level. Therefore, the output of the N 0 T circuit 123 b goes high, and the output of the N 0 T circuit 123 c goes low. The output signal of N 0 T circuit 123 c is input to the base of transistor 126 via resistor 122 c. Therefore, the transistor 126 is turned off, and no current flows to the drive section of the relay 128, so that the relay 128 is turned off and the tuning circuit 110 does not operate.

When the human body touches the detection plate 122, an induced voltage of AC 100 V voltage flowing through the power line is induced on the detection plate 122 through the human body. The NOT circuit 123a has its input and output connected by a resistor 122b, and the output level is in an unstable state. The induced voltage induced in the detection plate 1 2 1 is applied to the input side of this NOT circuit 123 a by the capacitor 1 2 Entered via 4. An AC signal corresponding to the induced voltage is output to the output side of the N 0 T circuit 1 23 a, and the AC signal is converted into a square wave signal by the N 0 T circuits 1 2 3 b and 1 2 3 c. After that, it is input to the base of the transistor 126 through the resistor 122c. As a result, the transistor 126 repeatedly turns on and off. When the transistor 126 is turned on, the electrolytic capacitor 127 is charged, and at the same time, a current flows to the drive unit of the relay 128, and the relay 128 is turned on. When the transistor 126 is off, the charge stored in the electrolytic capacitor 127 is discharged, and the relay 128 is turned on. Therefore, while the human body is in contact with the detection plate 122, the relay 128 is kept in the ON state. As a result, the tuning circuit 110 operates.

The tuning circuit 110 has a tuning frequency determined by the values of the coil 111 and the capacitor 112 when the switch 115 is off, and when the switch 115 is on. The capacitor 113 is connected in parallel with the capacitor 112 so that the tuning frequency is slightly shifted. This changes the state of the position indicator.

2 (a) to 2 (d) are schematic configuration diagrams showing examples of a position indicator provided with the tuning circuit 110 and the sensor circuit 120 described above.

FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic configuration diagram of an eraser 10 for erasing coordinates once input. The eraser 10 is made of a nonmetallic material such as synthetic resin, and is generally known as an eraser. The detection plate 121 is provided on a peripheral side surface of a casing 11 having a shape of an eraser. A tuning circuit 110 and a sensor circuit 120 are provided in the housing 11. Further, the switch 115 is disposed at a rear end portion of the housing 111, and a magnetic material penetrating the center of the coil 111 wound around the hollow cylindrical light core 12 is provided. The switch 13 is turned on when the tip of the housing 11 is pressed by the support shaft 13 composed of. The position indicated by the eraser 10 is the tip of the housing 11.

FIG. 2 (b) is a schematic configuration of a force sol 20 for indicating a display color of a coordinate input by an input pen. The cursor 20 is made of a nonmetallic material such as a synthetic resin, and the detection plate 121 is provided on a peripheral side surface of a housing 21 having a generally known shape of an ink jar. Further, a tuning circuit 110 and a sensor circuit 120 are provided in the housing 21. Further, the coil 1 ′ 11 is disposed so that its central axis is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the housing 21, and a switch 115 is provided between the body of the housing 21 and the lid. It is arranged so that switch 1 15 can be turned on and off by pressing the lid.

FIG. 2 (c) is a schematic configuration diagram of a cursor 30 for indicating the background color of the display. The cursor 30 is made of a non-metallic material such as a synthetic resin, and has the detection plate 1 2 1 over the side, back, and top surfaces of the housing 31 having a shape with a drawer on the front of the small box. Is provided. In addition, A tuning circuit 110 and a sensor circuit 120 are provided in the body 31. Further, the coil 111 is disposed so that its central axis is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the housing 31, and a switch 115 is provided on the front surface of the housing 31.

FIG. 2 (d) is a schematic configuration diagram of a force sol 40 for instructing the display screen to be erased. The cursor 40 is made of a non-metallic material such as a synthetic resin, and the detection plate 121 is provided on a peripheral side surface of a housing 41 in the shape of a generally known cylindrical trash can. Further, a tuning circuit 110 and a sensor circuit 120 are provided in the housing 41. Further, the coil 111 is disposed so that its central axis is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the housing 41, and a switch 115 is provided at the top of the housing 41, By pressing, switches 1 15 can be turned on and off.

The values of the capacitors 11 and 13 at the laser 10 and the cursors 20, 30, and 40 are set to the predetermined frequency f 0 when the switch 115 is off and on. Is selected so as to fall within the range of a plurality of ancestors set in advance corresponding to the above-described instruction contents. FIG. 3 shows an example of the range of the phase set according to each instruction content.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a coordinate input device using the position indicators 10 to 40, in which 220 is a tablet, 230 is a control circuit, and 231 is a signal generator. Circuit, 2 3 2 and 2 3 3 are X and Y direction selection circuits, 2 3 4 and 2 3 5 is a transmission / reception switching circuit, 236 is an XY switching circuit, 237 is a reception timing switching circuit, 238 is a bandpass filter (BPF), 239 is a detector, 240 is a low-pass filter (LPF), 24 1 , 242 is a phase detector (PSD), 24 3, 2

44 is a low-pass filter (LPF), 245 and 246 are drive circuits, 247 and 248 are amplifiers, 249 is a host combi- ter, and 250 is a display device.

Although FIG. 4 shows only the laser 10 as a position indicator, the reference numerals L 10 and 120 in the laser 10 indicate the tuning circuit 110 shown in FIG. And the sensor circuit 120.

FIG. 5 shows the details of the loop coil group 221 in the X direction and the loop coil group 222 in the Y direction, which constitute the tablet 220. The loop coil group 22 1 in the X direction has a large number, for example, 48 loop coils 22 1-1, 2 2 1-2, ... 22 1-48 arranged in parallel and overlapping with each other along the X direction. Also, a large number of loop coils 222 in the Y direction are arranged so as to be parallel and overlap with each other along the Y direction. Similarly, 48 loop coils 222-1, 222-2,... 222-48 force, The X-direction loop coil group 221 and the Y-direction loop coil group 222 are closely overlapped with each other (however, they are separated from each other in the drawing for easy understanding). It is housed in a case made of a non-metallic material (not shown). Here, each loop coil is 1 It consisted of turns, but may have multiple turns if necessary.

Next, the operation of the apparatus will be described together with its configuration. First, radio waves are transmitted and received between the tablet 220 and the laser 10 held by the operator. This will be described with reference to FIG.

The control circuit 230 is constituted by a well-known microprocessor or the like, controls the signal generation circuit 231 and, through the selection circuits 232 and 233 in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. It controls the switching of each loop coil of the tablet 220, and also controls the switching of the coordinate detection direction for the XY switching circuit 236 and the reception timing switching circuit 237. The output values from the filters 240, 243, 244 are converted to analog digital (A / D), and the arithmetic processing described later is executed to determine the input coordinates of the eraser 10 and The phase of the received signal is detected, the operating state of the switch 115, that is, the state of the switch 10 is identified, and these are sent to the host computer 249.

The selection circuit 2 32 is for sequentially selecting one loop coil from the X-direction loop coil group 2 2 1, and the selection circuit 2 3 3 is for selecting one loop coil from the Y-direction loop coil group 2 2 2 The loop coils are sequentially selected, and each operates according to the information from the control circuit 230.

'' The transmission / reception switching circuit 2 3 4 The loop coil is alternately connected to the drive circuit 245 and the amplifier 247.The transmission / reception switching circuit 235 connects the one loop coil selected in the Y direction to the drive circuit 246 and the drive circuit 245. These are alternately connected to the amplifiers 248, which operate according to a transmission / reception switching signal described later.

The signal generating circuit 231 outputs the frequency f 0, for example, a rectangular wave signal A having a frequency of 500 kHz, a signal B obtained by delaying the phase of the rectangular wave signal A by 90 °, a predetermined frequency fk, for example, 15.625. A transmission / reception switching signal C and a reception timing signal D of k Hz are generated. The rectangular wave signal A is sent to the phase detector 241, as it is, and is converted into a sine wave signal E by a low-pass filter (not shown). The square wave signal B is sent to the phase detector 242, and the transmission / reception switching signal C is sent to the transmission / reception switching circuits 2 3 4 and 2 3 5 The reception timing signal D is transmitted to the reception timing switching circuit 237.

Now, assuming that information for selecting the X direction is input from the control circuit 230 to the XY switching circuit 236 and the receiving timing switching circuit 237, the sine ¾ signal E becomes the driving circuit 224. 5 is converted to a balanced signal, and further transmitted to the transmission / reception switching circuit 234. The transmission / reception switching circuit 234 receives the driving circuit 245 or the amplifier 224 based on the transmission / reception switching signal C. 7, the signal output from the transmission / reception switching circuit 2 3 4 to the selection circuit 2 32 is time T (= 1 Z2 fk), which is a signal F that emits or does not emit a 500 kHz signal every second.

The signal F is sent to one loop connector 22 1-i (i = l, 2,..., 48) in the X direction of the tablet 220 through the selection circuit 232, and the loop coil 22 1-i is A radio wave based on the signal F is generated.

At this time, if the held portion of the casing of the eraser 10 located on the evening tablet 220 is held by the operator, the radio wave excites the coil 11 of the eraser 10. Then, an induced voltage G synchronized with the signal F is generated in the tuning circuit 110.

Thereafter, when the signal F enters a period in which there is no signal, that is, a reception period, and the loop coil 22 1 -i is switched to the amplifier 247 side, the radio wave from the loop coil 22 1 -i disappears immediately. The induced voltage G gradually decays according to the loss in the tuning circuit 110.

On the other hand, the current flowing through the tuning circuit 110 based on the induced voltage G causes the coil 111 to emit radio waves. The radio wave reversely excites the loop coil 221-i connected to the amplifier 247, so that an induced voltage is generated in the loop coil 22 1-i by the radio wave from the coil 11-1. The induced voltage is transmitted from the transmission / reception switching circuit 234 to the amplifier 247 and amplified to the reception signal H only during the reception period, and further transmitted to the reception timing switching circuit 237.

Receive timing switching circuit 237 has X or Y direction In this case, the selection information in the X direction and the reception timing signal D which is substantially the inverted signal of the transmission / reception switching signal c are input, and the signal D is high (H ) Level, the received signal H is output, and nothing is output during the (L) level, so that a signal I (effectively the same as the received signal H) is obtained at the output.

The signal I is transmitted to the band filter 238. The band filter 238 is a ceramic filter having a frequency f0 as a unique frequency, and the frequency f0 in the signal I is A signal J having an amplitude corresponding to the energy of the component (strictly speaking, when several signals I are input to the band filter 238 and converged) is converted into a detector 2339 and a phase detector 241, Send to 2 4 2.

After the signal J input to the detector 23 is detected and rectified to be a signal K, a voltage corresponding to almost half of the amplitude is applied to a low-pass filter 24 ° having a sufficiently low cutoff frequency. It is converted to a DC signal M having a value, for example V x, and sent to the control circuit 230.

The voltage value V x of the signal M indicates a value depending on the distance between the eraser 10 and the loop coil 2 2 1−i, and changes when the loop coil 2 2 1−i is switched. The control circuit 230 converts the voltage value Vx obtained for each loop coil into a digital value, and executes a later-described arithmetic processing on the voltage value Vx, so that the input coordinates in the X direction by the decoder 10 can be obtained. Desired. In addition, Y The input coordinates of the direction are similarly obtained.

On the other hand, the rectangular wave signals A and B are input to the phase detectors 24 1 and 242 as detection signals. At this time, it is assumed that the phase of the signal J substantially matches the phase of the rectangular wave signal A. The phase detector 241 outputs a signal N1 (substantially the same as the signal K) obtained by inverting the signal J to the positive side, and the phase detector 242 has a symmetrical waveform on the positive side and the negative side. Outputs signal N2.

The signal N1 is converted into a voltage value corresponding to approximately 1/2 of the amplitude of the signal J, that is, a DC signal 01 having Vx (substantially the same as the signal M) by the same low-pass filter 243 as described above. Then, the signal N2 is converted to a DC signal 02 by the same low-pass filter 244 and sent to the control circuit 230.Here, the signal N2 of the phase detector 242 is output to the positive side. And the negative component is the same, the voltage value of the output of the low-pass filter 244 is 0 [V].

The control circuit 230 converts the output values of the low-pass filters 243 and 244, here the signals 01 and 02, into digital values, and further uses the digital values to perform the arithmetic processing of the following equation (1), Calculate the phase difference between the signals added to the detectors 24 1 and 242, here, J and the square wave signal A.o

0 = —tan 1 (VQ no VP) (1) where VP is the digital value corresponding to the output of the low-pass filter 243, and VQ is the output of the low-pass filter 244. Indicates the corresponding digital value. For example, if the signal J as described above, a force voltage value of the signal 01 is Vx, the voltage value of the signal 02 is 0 [V], the phase difference = 0 ⁰ because that is, VQ = 0.

By the way, the phase of the signal J changes according to the tuning frequency in the tuning circuit 110 of each position indicator. That is, when the tuning frequency in the tuning circuit 110 is the frequency f 0, an induced voltage having the frequency f 0 is generated in the tuning circuit 110 during both the transmission period and the reception period of the signal. Since a current flows, the frequency and phase of the reception signal H (or I) match the rectangular signal A, and the phase of the signal J also matches the rectangular signal A.

On the other hand, when the tuning frequency in the tuning circuit 110 is slightly lower than the frequency f 0, for example, fi ?, an induced pressure of the frequency f 0 is generated in the tuning circuit 110 during the signal transmission period. At that time, an induced current with a phase delay flows through the tuning circuit 110, and during the signal receiving period, an induced voltage having substantially the frequency f & and an induced current synchronized therewith flow. The frequency of the received signal H (or I) is slightly lower than the frequency of the rectangular wave signal A, and its phase is slightly delayed. In the band filter 238, the shift of the frequency of the input signal to the lower side is output as a phase delay contrary to the above-described case, and therefore, the phase of the signal J is equal to the received signal H ( Or I) 'later. Conversely, when the tuning frequency in the tuning circuit 110 is a frequency fh slightly higher than the frequency f 0, an induced voltage of the frequency f 0 is generated in the tuning circuit 110 during the signal transmission period. At that time, an induced current with a phase advance flows through the tuning circuit 110, and an induced voltage having substantially the frequency fh and an induced current synchronized therewith flow during the signal receiving period. The frequency of H (or I) is slightly higher than the frequency of square wave signal A, and its phase is slightly advanced. As described above, since the frequency of the band filter 238 has only the frequency f O as the frequency, the shift of the frequency of the input signal to the higher side is output as the phase advance. The phase of the signal J is further advanced than the received signal H (or I) .o

As described above, the tuning frequency of the tuning circuit 110 is different for each position indicator, that is, for each laser 10 and each of the force sensors 20, 30, and 40. Since the frequency further changes, the phase difference により obtained by the above equation (1) also changes for each position indicator and each switch state.

The phase difference 0 is converted into information indicating the type of the position indicator in use and the state of the switch (hereinafter, referred to as state identification information), and the coordinate value in the X direction and the Υ direction is obtained. Both are sent to the host computer 249.

Next, coordinate detection operation and The state identification operation will be described in detail.

First, when the power of the entire apparatus is turned on and the measurement is started, the control circuit 230 sends information for selecting the X direction to the XY switching circuit 236 and the receiving timing switching circuit 237, and the tablet 220 Of the X-direction loop coil 221-1-1 to 221-48, the information for selecting the first loop coil 221-1 is sent to the selection circuit 232, and the loop coil 221-1-1 is transmitted and received. Connect to 234.

The transmission / reception switching circuit 234 alternately connects the loop coil 221-1 to the driving circuit 245 and the amplifier 247 based on the transmission / reception switching signal C described above. At this time, the driving circuit 245 is connected for 32 seconds. During the transmission period, 16 sine-wave signals of 500 kHz as shown in Fig. 8 (a) are sent to the loop coil 221-1-1. Are displayed only.)

The switching between the transmission and the reception is repeated seven times for one loop coil, here, 221-1, as shown in FIG. 8 (b). The seven transmission and reception repetition periods correspond to one loop coil selection period (448 選択 sec).

At this time, an induced voltage is obtained from the output of the amplifier 247 every seven reception periods for one loop coil, and this induced voltage is passed through the reception timing switching circuit 237 as described above. The signal is sent to the band filter 238, averaged, and then detected by the detector 239, the phase detector 241, 242, and the low-pass filter. It is sent to the control circuit 230 via the filters 240, 243, 244.

The control circuit 230 converts the output value of the low-pass filter 240 into an AZD and inputs the same, and outputs a position indicator, for example, a detection voltage depending on the distance between the inductor 10 and the loop coil 221-1, for example, Temporarily memorized as Vxl.

Next, the control circuit 230 sends information for selecting the loop coil 22 1-2 to the selection circuit 232, connects the loop coil 22-1-2 to the transmission / reception switching circuit 234, and sets the laser 10 and the loop coil A detection voltage Vx2 proportional to the distance from 22 1−2 is obtained and stored, and thereafter, the loop coils 2 2 1−3 to 22 1−48 are similarly connected to the transmission / reception switching circuit 234 sequentially in the same manner. As shown in Fig. 8 (c), the detection voltages Vxl to Vx48 are proportional to the distance in X direction from the eraser 10 for each loop coil. It is indicated by an expression.

As shown in FIG. 9, the actual detection voltage is obtained only at a few loops before and after the position (xp) where the laser 10 is placed.

The control circuit 230 checks whether the voltage value of the stored detection voltage is equal to or higher than a certain detection level. If the voltage value is equal to or lower than the certain detection level, the control circuit 230 again selects each loop coil in the X direction and detects the voltage. Is repeated, and if it is equal to or higher than a certain detection level, the process proceeds to the next processing.

Next, the control circuit 230 receives the XY switching circuit 236 and receives The selection information in the Y direction is sent to the timing switching circuit 23 7, the selection circuit 23 3 and the transmission / reception switching circuit 23 5 are switched in the same manner as described above, and the low frequency filter 240 0 when transmitting and receiving radio waves is used. The detection value depending on the distance between the laser 10 obtained by AZD conversion of the output value and the respective loop coils 2 2 2—1 to 2 2—48 in the Y direction is temporarily stored. Thereafter, the level check is performed in the same manner as described above. If the level is below a certain detection level, the process returns to the selection and voltage detection of each loop coil in the X direction. As will be described later, the coordinate values of the laser 10 in the X direction and the Y direction are calculated from the stored voltage values.

Next, the control circuit 230 sets the loop coil 2 in the X direction.

2 1 — 1 to 2 2 1 — 48 (or Y-direction loop coil 2

Among the 2 2-1 to 2 2 2-48), the information for selecting the loop coil (peak coil) for which the maximum detection voltage was obtained is sent to the selection circuit 2 3 2 (or 2 3 3), and the Transmission and reception are repeated a plurality of times, for example, seven times. At that time, the output values obtained from the low-pass filters 243 and 244 are subjected to AZD conversion, and the phase difference is calculated as described above.

The phase difference 変換 is converted into the above-mentioned state identification information, and transferred to the host computer 249 together with the X-direction and Y-direction coordinate values.

When the first coordinate detection operation and state identification operation are completed in this way, the control circuit 230 performs the second and subsequent coordinate detection operations as shown in FIG. Of the loop coils 221-1 to 221-48, select a fixed number before and after the center of the loop coil where the maximum detected voltage was obtained, for example, select information to select only 10 loop coils It is sent to the circuit 232 and the loop coil 222 in the Y direction. Of the loop coil from which the maximum detected voltage was obtained, and the constants before and after the loop coil and the information for selecting only the 10 loop coils are sent to the selection circuit 233, and the same as above. Then, an output value is obtained, a coordinate detection operation in the X and Y directions and a state identification operation are performed, and the obtained coordinate value and state identification information are transferred to the host computer 249, and thereafter, these operations are repeated.

The level check described above will be described in detail.It is checked whether the maximum value of the detection voltage has reached the detection level and which loop coil has the maximum value of the detection voltage. If the detection level has not been reached, the subsequent coordinate calculation and the like are stopped, and the center of the loop coil selected in the next coordinate detection operation and state identification operation is set.

As one method of calculating the coordinate value in the X direction or the Y direction, for example, the coordinate value xp, a waveform near the maximum value of the detection voltages Vxl to Vx48 is approximated by an appropriate function, and the maximum value of the function is calculated. There is a method for obtaining coordinates.

For example, in FIG. 8 (c), when the maximum detection voltage Vx3 and the detection voltages Vx2 and Vx4 on both sides are approximated by a quadratic function, it can be calculated as follows. —Coordinates of the center positions of the coils 211-11-1221-48 are xl-x48, and the interval is Δχ. ). First, from each voltage and coordinate value,

V x2 = a (X 2-X ρ) ² + b (2)

Vx3 = a (x 3-xp) ² + b …… (3)

V x4 = a (x 4-xp) ² + b …… (4) o where a and b are constants (a and 0). Also,

X 3 — X 2 = Δ X …… (5)

X 4-X 2 = 2 ΔX …… (6)

Substituting equation (6) into equations (3) and (4) and rearranging

X p = 2 + mm X Z 2 {(3 Vx2-4 Vx3

+ Vx4) / (Vx2-2 Vx3 + Vx4)} …… (7) O The detection voltage is extracted, and from this and the coordinate value (known) of the loop coil immediately before the loop coil from which the maximum detection voltage was obtained, the calculation corresponding to the above-mentioned equation (7) is performed. Thus, the coordinate value xp of the position indicator can be calculated.

On the other hand, the host computer 249 temporarily stores the data sent from the control circuit 230 in a buffer memory or the like, executes predetermined data processing according to the contents of the state identification information, and displays the result. For example, if the status identification information indicates the switch-off eraser 10, a mark indicating the eraser 10 is displayed at the corresponding coordinate position, for example, “mouth”. , And a switch If the ON laser is indicated, the image at the corresponding coordinate position is deleted.

Also, if the status identification information indicates the switch-off cursor 20 or 30, the menu screen with a palette containing multiple colors is displayed and the cursor is displayed at the corresponding coordinate position. If "10" is displayed, and the power of the switch-sol 20 or 30 is shown, the display color or background color is changed to the color corresponding to the position of the mark in the pallet and displayed.

In addition, if the state identification information indicates the switch-off force—sol 40, the message “Screen clear OK?” Is displayed, and if the switch-on cursor 40 is further displayed, the screen is displayed. Delete all images.

In the above-described embodiment, the outer shape of the housing of the position indicator is associated as the characterization of the position indicator corresponding to the instruction content of the position indicator. However, this is merely an example, and other aspects such as the position It goes without saying that various means such as coloring, patterning, and texting of the indicator can be adopted.

Claims

Scope of demand

1. In the position indicator that indicates the position etc. to the position detection device,

Relating the mode of the position indicator to the content of the instruction by the position indicator,

A position indicator characterized by the above-mentioned.

2. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the aspect is a housing of the position indicator.

3. The position indicator according to claim 2, wherein the aspect is an outer shape of a housing of the position indicator.

4. A position indicator having a tuning circuit and a housing for accommodating the tuning circuit, transmitting and receiving signals by radio waves to and from the position detecting device, and instructing the position detecting device of a position and the like. And

The mode of the housing is associated with the content to be instructed, and the range of the signal transmitted from the tuning circuit is set to a predetermined range associated with the content of the instruction.

A position indicator characterized by the above-mentioned.

5. The position indicator according to claim 4, wherein the aspect is an outer shape of a housing of the position indicator.

6. A sensor circuit is provided to detect the holding of the held part of the housing and operate the tuning circuit.

The position indication according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that:

¾tr o-

7. The position indicator according to claim 3, wherein the outer shape of the housing is in the shape of a known eraser.

8. The position indicator according to claim 3, wherein the outer shape of the housing is in the shape of a well-known ink pot.

9. The position according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the outer shape of the housing is in the shape of a small box with a well-known drawer.

10. The position finger according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the outer shape of the housing is in the shape of a well-known cylindrical trash can.

¾ o

11. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the instruction content indicates erasure of information.

12. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the instruction content indicates a display color.

13. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the instruction content indicates a display background color.

14. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the instruction content indicates that the display screen is erased.

15. A position indicator that has a tuning circuit and a housing that houses the tuning circuit, transmits and receives signals by radio waves to and from the position detection device, and indicates a position to the position detection device. And

A sensor circuit is provided to detect the holding of the held part of the housing and operate the tuning circuit.

A position indicator characterized by the above-mentioned.

16. A plurality of position indicators are provided, and each position indicator is associated with the position detection device so as to indicate some other specified information together with the position information, and the casing of the position indicator is provided. Is formed so as to have a specific feature associated with the specific information by the position indicator,

When inputting information, by using a position indicator having a feature mode corresponding to the specific instruction to be input, the position detector can determine which of the various types of instruction to the position detector. To be able to identify and input,

Information input method.

17. The information input method according to claim 17, wherein the aspect is an outer shape of a casing of the position indicator.

18. The information input according to claim 17, wherein the outer shape of one of the position indicators has a well-known eraser shape, and the instruction content indicates erasure of information. Method.

19. The information input according to claim 17, wherein the outer shape of one of the position indicators has a shape of a well-known ink jar, and the indication content indicates a display color. Method.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the outer shape of one of the position indicators has a small box shape with a well-known drawer, and the indication content indicates a display background color. Information input method.

21. The information according to claim 17, wherein the outer shape of one of the position indicators has a shape of a well-known cylindrical trash can, and the indication content indicates that the display screen is erased. input method.

22. In combination of a position detecting device and a position indicator for indicating a position or the like to the position detecting device,

The position indicator has an aspect associated with the content indicated by the position indicator,

The position detecting device has a function of specifying the content of the instruction by using the position indicator;

A combination of a position detecting device and a position indicator.

23. The combination of the position detector and the position indicator according to claim 22, wherein the mode is a case of the position indicator.

24. A position indicator that has a tuning circuit and a housing that houses the tuning circuit, transmits and receives signals by radio waves to and from the position detecting device, and indicates a position and the like to the position detecting device. ,

The range of the signal transmitted from the tuning circuit has been set to a predetermined range associated with the instruction content

A combination of the position detection device according to claim 23 and a position indicator.

25. The position detecting device according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the aspect is an outer shape of a casing of the position indicator. Combination with a position indicator.

. A sensor circuit is provided to detect the holding of the held part of the housing and operate the tuning circuit.

26. A combination of the position detection device according to claim 25 and a position indicator.

26. The position detecting device and position indicator according to claim 25, wherein the outer shape of the housing of the position indicator has a shape of a known eraser, and the instruction content indicates erasure of information. Combination of

26. The position detecting device according to claim 25, wherein the outer shape of the housing of the position indicator forms a well-known ink pot shape, and the content of the indication indicates a display color. Combination with a container.

The position detector and position indicator according to claim 25, wherein the outer shape of the housing of the position indicator has a small box shape with a well-known drawer, and the indication content indicates a display background color. Combination with a container.

26. The position detecting device and the position indicator according to claim 25, wherein the outer shape of the housing of the position indicator has a shape of a well-known cylindrical trash can, and the instruction content indicates erasure of a display screen. Combination with