WO2011114590A1

WO2011114590A1 - Position input device, position input system, position input method, position input program and computer-readable recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2011114590A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/072385
Authority: WO
Inventors: 幸史佐藤; 之雄水野
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2010-03-16
Filing date: 2010-12-13
Publication date: 2011-09-22

Abstract

A touch panel (1) is provided with a tactile surface (1a) upon which a light pen (27) for designating input of a position is caused to come into tactile contact and a sensor surface (16a) including a light receiving surface of an optical detection sensor (16) for receiving projected light (28) from the light pen (27); wherein the light pen (27) acquires a position for designating input by detecting a position of the projected light (28) to the sensor surface (16a), and the tactile surface (1a) and the sensor surface (16a) are disposed apart. The touch panel (1) is provided with a representative coordinate calculation unit (32) for calculating representative coordinates representing the position within the sensor surface (16a) of the projected light (28) to the sensor surface (16a), and a coordinate correction unit (37) for calculating the designated position (p) which is the position where input has been designated by the light pen (27) within the sensor surface (16a). Accordingly, it is possible to improve input accuracy of the position.

Description

Position input device, position input system, position input method, position input program, and computer-readable recording medium

The present invention relates to a position input device equipped with a light detection sensor.

A touch panel that reads the position of the pen as coordinates is realized by bringing the pen into contact with the contact surface.

Furthermore, in recent years, an optical pen type touch panel that inputs coordinates using a light pen that emits light from the pen tip has been developed. Such a light pen type touch panel has a built-in light detection sensor, and the light detection sensor receives light emitted from the light pen in contact with the contact surface, so that the light pen in contact with the contact surface. Is read as coordinates.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an optical pen type touch panel.

The touch panel 201 is provided with a sensor surface 202 on which a light detection sensor is arranged and a protective plate 203 for protecting the sensor surface 202. A surface of the protective plate 203 opposite to the side on which the sensor surface 202 is disposed is a contact surface 204.

When the user brings the optical pen 205 emitting light from the pen tip into contact with the contact surface 204, the light emitted from the pen tip of the optical pen 205 is projected onto the sensor surface 202. The touch panel 201 receives the light 206 projected on the sensor surface 202 by a light detection sensor disposed on the sensor surface 202. As a result, the touch panel 201 reads the position indicated by the optical pen 205 as coordinates.

Further, Patent Document 1 discloses an information input device that inputs coordinates using a vibration pen provided with a vibrator. This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional information input device.

As shown in FIG. 17, the information input device 300 includes an input tablet including a vibration transmission plate 308 having three vibration sensors 306 provided at the corners, a vibration pen 303 including a vibrator, and a display including a CRT. 311.

The vibration transmission plate 308 transmits the vibration transmitted from the vibration pen 303 to the vibration sensor 306. As a result, the input tablet composed of the vibration transmission plate 308 performs coordinate input with the vibration pen 303, and an input image is displayed on the display 311 arranged to overlap the input tablet in accordance with the input coordinate information.

Japanese Patent Publication “Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 64-2128 (Published Jan. 6, 1989)”

However, the touch panel 201 shown in FIG. 16 has a distance (gap) between the sensor surface 202 and the contact surface 204. For this reason, unless the user touches the optical pen 205 perpendicularly to the contact surface 204, the position of the light 206 projected on the sensor surface 202 and the correct pen position in contact with the contact surface 204 of the optical pen 205 Therefore, a deviation (parallax) occurs.

For this reason, there arises a problem that coordinates cannot be input accurately.

On the other hand, in the information input device 300 of FIG. 17, the transmission time of the ultrasonic vibration transmitted from the vibration pen 303 to the vibration sensor 306 via the vibration transmission plate 308 is measured, so that the vibration pen 303 and the vibration sensor 306 are connected. The distance between them is detected, and the coordinates of the vibration pen 303 on the vibration transmission plate 308 are detected. Thus, in the information input device 300, the input position and the display position for the operator are matched by correcting the position of the display information corresponding to the input information.

However, the information input device of Patent Document 1 is a method using vibration. For this reason, the case where light is emitted from the pen tip is not taken into consideration, and cannot be applied to an optical pen type touch panel.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to improve the input accuracy of the position of the touch panel provided with the light detection sensor.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a position input device of the present invention includes a contact surface that contacts an indicating device that instructs position input, and a light receiving surface of a light detection element that receives projection light from the indicating device. A position detection device for obtaining a position at which the pointing device directs input by detecting a position of the projection light on the light detection surface, the contact surface, and the light A representative position calculating means for calculating a representative position representative of the position in the light detection surface of the light projected onto the light detection surface; and correcting the representative position, It is characterized by comprising position correction means for calculating an indicated position, which is a position at which the pointing device in the light detection surface instructs input.

In order to solve the above problems, a position input method according to the present invention is configured to contact a pointing device for instructing position input and to be separated from the contact surface, and to receive projection light from the pointing device. A position at which the pointing device obtains a position for instructing input by detecting a position of the projection light on the light detecting surface of a position input device including a light detecting surface including a light receiving surface of the light detecting element An input method, a representative position calculating step for calculating a representative position representative of the position in the light detection surface of the projection light to the light detection surface, and correcting the representative position to correct the representative position in the light detection surface. And a position correction step of calculating an indicated position, which is a position where the pointing device directs input.

According to the above configuration, since the light detection surface includes the light receiving surface of the light detection element, the position of the projection light projected on the light detection surface is detected from the pointing device in contact with the contact surface. Can do. Thereby, based on the detected position of the projection light, the position pointed to by the pointing device can be acquired as an input.

According to the above configuration, the contact surface and the light detection surface are provided apart from each other. For this reason, since an indicating device does not contact a light detection element directly, a light detection element can be protected.

According to the above configuration, the position correcting unit corrects the representative position and calculates an indicated position that is a position where the pointing device in the light detection surface instructs input. Thereby, even if there is a deviation between the representative position and the indicated position due to the contact surface and the light detection surface being provided apart from each other, the indicated position is accurately set. Can be calculated. Therefore, the position input accuracy can be improved.

A position input device according to the present invention includes a contact surface that contacts an instruction device that instructs position input, and a light detection surface that includes a light receiving surface of a light detection element that receives projection light from the instruction device. A position input device that acquires a position at which the pointing device instructs input by detecting a position of the projection light on a detection surface, wherein the contact surface and the light detection surface are provided apart from each other. And representative position calculating means for calculating a representative position representative of the position of the projection light on the light detection surface in the light detection surface, and correcting the representative position so that the pointing device in the light detection surface Position correction means for calculating an indicated position that is an input instruction position.

The position input method of the present invention includes a contact surface that contacts an indicating device that instructs position input, and a light receiving surface of a light detection element that is spaced apart from the contact surface and receives projection light from the indicating device. A position input method for acquiring a position at which the pointing device directs input by detecting a position of the projection light on the light detecting surface of a position input device having a light detecting surface, the light detecting surface A representative position calculating step for calculating a representative position representative of a position in the light detection surface of the light projected onto the surface, and a position at which the pointing device in the light detection surface instructs to input by correcting the representative position. Including a position correction step of calculating a specified position.

Therefore, the position input accuracy can be improved.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the position input system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing showing the structure of the liquid crystal panel of the touchscreen which concerns on this Embodiment. (A) is a figure showing a mode that the optical pen is made to contact perpendicularly to the contact surface of a liquid crystal panel, (b) is a top view showing the mode of the projection light of a sensor surface. (A) It is a figure showing a mode that the optical pen is made to incline and contact the contact surface of a liquid crystal panel, (b) is a top view showing the mode of the projection light of a sensor surface. (A) is a figure showing a mode that the optical pen is made to largely contact with the contact surface of a liquid crystal panel, (b) is a top view showing the mode of the projection light of a sensor surface. (A)-(c) is a figure showing the shape of various projection light, (a) represents the mode of the projection light when a light pen inclines to the X-axis plus direction, (b) is light FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating the state of projection light when the pen is tilted in the Y-axis minus direction, and FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating the state of projection light when the optical pen is tilted in the X-axis minus direction and the Y-plus direction. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of the position input system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the position input system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the light quantity of the projection light projected on the sensor surface from the optical pen which contacted the contact surface of the touch panel. (A) (b) is a top view showing the mode of the projection light of a sensor surface, (a) is a figure showing the case where the inclination angle of the optical pen with respect to the perpendicular of a contact surface is small, (b) is a contact surface. It is a figure showing the case where the inclination-angle of the optical pen with respect to the perpendicular of is large. (A)-(c) is a figure showing the shape of the various projection light projected on the sensor surface from the optical pen, (a) is a projection light when the optical pen inclines in the X-axis plus direction. (B) represents the state of the projection light when the optical pen is tilted in the Y axis minus direction, and (c) is the projection when the light pen is tilted in the X axis minus direction and the Y plus direction. It is a figure showing the mode of light. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of the position input system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the position input system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure showing the case where the inclination angle of the optical pen with respect to the perpendicular of a contact surface is small, (b) is a figure showing the case where the inclination angle of the optical pen with respect to the perpendicular of a contact surface is large. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of the position input system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the conventional optical pen type touch panel. It is a figure showing the structure of the conventional information input device.

[Embodiment 1]
A first embodiment of a touch panel 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the liquid crystal panel 10 of the touch panel 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the touch panel (position input device) 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 10 including a light detection sensor (light detection element) 16, and a liquid crystal drive circuit 25 that controls driving of each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 10. A light detection sensor control unit 30 that controls driving of the light detection sensor 16 and an output from the light detection sensor 16 and a backlight 20 are provided.

The touch panel 1 is provided with a light detection sensor 16 for each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 10.

The touch panel 1 is a sensor surface on which a contact surface 1a that makes contact with a light pen (instruction device) 27 that instructs position input and a light receiving surface of a light detection sensor 16 that receives projection light 28 from the light pen 27 are arranged. (Light detection surface) 16a. And the touch panel 1 acquires the position where the optical pen 27 directs input by detecting the position of the projection light 28 on the sensor surface 16a. And the touch panel 1 is mounted in an electronic device, and outputs the information according to the input position with respect to the said electronic device.

Furthermore, the touch panel 1 is a liquid crystal display device-integrated touch panel that can display an image on the liquid crystal panel 10 and has an image display function.

The optical pen 27 is used by the user to bring the pen tip into contact with a contact surface 1 a (described later) of the touch panel 1 in order to instruct the position on the touch panel 1. The light pen 27 includes a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), for example, and is configured such that light emitted from the light emitting element is emitted from the pen tip.

The backlight 20 is a light source that illuminates the liquid crystal panel 10, and is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 10. The surface opposite to the surface on which the backlight 20 of the liquid crystal panel 10 is disposed is the contact surface 1a.

The liquid crystal panel 10 has pixels for displaying an image arranged in a matrix. The liquid crystal panel 10 includes an active matrix substrate 11, a liquid crystal layer 13, a counter substrate 12,

polarizing plates

14 a and 14 b, and a protective plate 15.

The active matrix substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12 are arranged to face each other with the liquid crystal layer 13 interposed therebetween. On the outside of the active matrix substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12, a front-side polarizing plate 14a and a back-side polarizing plate 14b are provided, respectively.

Each

polarizing plate

14a, 14b plays a role as a polarizer. For example, when the liquid crystal material sealed in the liquid crystal layer 13 is a vertical alignment type, the polarization direction of the front side polarizing plate 14a and the polarization direction of the back side polarizing plate 14b are arranged so as to have a crossed Nicols relationship. Thus, a normally black mode liquid crystal panel 10 can be realized.

The active matrix substrate 11 is provided with a TFT (not shown) which is a switching element for driving each pixel, an alignment film (not shown), a light detection sensor 16 and the like.

The counter substrate 12 is provided with a color filter layer, a counter electrode, an alignment film, and the like. The color filter layer is composed of colored portions having respective colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and a black matrix.

The protective plate 15 is made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin or glass, and is a member for protecting the surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. The protective plate 15 is disposed on the opposite side of the liquid crystal panel 10 from the backlight 20 with a gap from the polarizing plate 14a.

The surface of the protective plate 15 (that is, the surface opposite to the side on which the liquid crystal panel 10 is disposed) is a contact surface 1 a for contacting the optical pen 27.

Thus, since the contact surface 1a and the sensor surface 16a are provided apart from each other, the optical pen 27 does not directly contact the polarizing plate 14a or the light detection sensor 16. For this reason, the polarizing plate 14a and the light detection sensor 16 can be protected.

The light detection sensor 16 is composed of a photodiode or a phototransistor, and is provided for each pixel. In the present embodiment, a plane including the light receiving surface of the light detection sensor 16 is referred to as a sensor surface 16a.

The light detection sensor 16 receives light projected from the light pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a on the light receiving surface, and passes a current according to the intensity of the received light, thereby projecting the projected light projected on the sensor surface 16a. Can be detected. Thus, the function as the position input device of the touch panel 1 is realized by acquiring the position at which the optical pen 27 instructs input based on the position of the projection light detected by the light detection sensor 16.

The photodetection sensor 16 and the TFT can be formed monolithically on the active matrix substrate 11 by substantially the same process. That is, some constituent members of the light detection sensor 16 may be formed simultaneously with some constituent members of the TFT.

In the present invention, the light detection sensor 16 is not necessarily provided for each pixel. For example, the light detection sensor 16 is provided for each pixel having any one of R, G, and B color filters. The provided structure may be sufficient.

In addition, a light shielding film may be provided on the back surface of the light detection sensor 16 to prevent light emitted from the backlight 20 from entering the light detection sensor 16 from the back surface of the light detection sensor 16. .

The user touches the touch surface 1 a of the liquid crystal panel 10 of the touch panel 1 with respect to such a touch panel 1 in order to instruct the touch panel 1 to input coordinates. Then, the light emitted from the pen tip of the optical pen 27 that has contacted the contact surface 1a is projected onto the sensor surface 16a.

Then, when the light detection sensor 16 receives the projection light 28 projected on the sensor surface 16a, a current corresponding to the amount of the received light is passed.

Thereby, the touch panel 1 acquires a light reception signal from each of the light detection sensors 16 included in the projection light 28 that is light projected onto the sensor surface 16a. From the light reception signals acquired from the respective light detection sensors 16, coordinates indicating the position of the projection light 28 are read as representative coordinates. The representative coordinates indicate coordinates in the projection light 28 on the sensor surface 16a, and are, for example, the center coordinates of the projection light 28.

As described above, the touch panel 1 reads the position of the projection light 28 projected on the sensor surface 16a with the light detection sensor 16, and inputs information to the electronic device on which the touch panel 1 is mounted, or a target operation. Can be executed. Thus, in the touch panel 1 of the present embodiment, the touch panel function can be realized by the light detection sensor 16.

Note that the touch panel 1 does not necessarily have an image display function, and the touch panel function may be realized by the light detection sensor 16.

(Position input system)
Next, the configuration of the position input system 39 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the position input system 39 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the position input system 39 includes an optical pen 27 and a touch panel 1.

The touch panel 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 10 including a light detection sensor 16, a liquid crystal driving circuit 25, and a light detection sensor control unit 30.

The light detection sensor control unit 30 includes a received light amount calculation unit 31, a representative coordinate calculation unit (representative position calculation unit) 32, a long axis calculation unit 33, a correction amount calculation unit (correction amount calculation unit) 35, and a correction direction. A calculation unit (correction direction calculation unit) 36, a coordinate correction unit (position correction unit) 37, and an interface unit 38 are provided.

Further, the light detection sensor control unit 30 is a timing generation circuit (illustrated) that generates a timing signal for controlling the operation of each circuit in synchronization, and light that supplies power to drive each light detection sensor 16. A detection sensor driving circuit (appended) is provided.

The light pen 27 projects the light emitted from the pen tip onto the light detection sensor 16 of the liquid crystal panel 10 when indicating the input position.

The light detection sensor 16 receives the light projected from the light pen 27 and outputs a current having a different value according to the amount of received light to the received light amount calculation unit 31 as a received light signal.

The received light amount calculation unit 31 receives a received light signal from each light detection sensor 16 that passes a current having a different value according to the received light amount, and calculates the received light amount of each light detection sensor 16.

The representative coordinate calculation unit 32 calculates representative coordinates (representative position) which are coordinates representing the position of the projection light 28 on the sensor surface 16a. The representative coordinate calculation unit 32 calculates the representative coordinates of the projection light 28 projected on the sensor surface 16 a based on the received light amount of each light detection sensor 16 calculated by the received light amount calculation unit 31.

The long axis calculation unit 33 calculates the length of the long axis of the projection light 28 projected on the sensor surface 16a.

Specifically, the correction amount calculation unit 35 calculates the correction amount for the designated position p of the representative coordinates from the length of the long axis of the projection light 28 calculated by the long axis calculation unit 33.

Here, the designated position p is a position in the sensor surface 16a where the user instructs the input. In other words, the designated position p is a center coordinate in the projection light 28 when the optical pen 27 is brought into contact with the contact surface 1a perpendicularly.

The correction direction calculation unit 36 calculates a correction direction for the designated position p of the representative coordinates. Specifically, the correction direction calculation unit 36 calculates a correction direction for the designated position p of the representative coordinates from the major axis of the projection light 28 and the curvature of the circumference of the projection light 28 that intersects the major axis.

The coordinate correction unit 37 corrects the representative position of the projection light 28, and calculates a designated position p, which is a position where the light pen 27 in the sensor surface 16a directs input. That is, the coordinate correction unit 37 uses the representative position of the projection light 28 actually projected on the sensor surface 16a in the projection light projected on the sensor surface 16a when the optical pen 27 is brought into contact with the contact surface 1a perpendicularly. Correct to the position of the center coordinate.

Specifically, the coordinate correction unit 37 calculates the indicated position p from the representative coordinates, the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit 35, and the correction direction calculated by the correction direction calculation unit 36.

The interface circuit 75 uses the information on the designated position p calculated by the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 to control other control units (for example, the liquid crystal driving circuit 25) in the touch panel 1 and the electronic device on which the touch panel 1 is mounted. Output to the section.

(Position correction)
Next, a method for correcting the representative coordinates of the projection light 28 will be described with reference to FIGS.

3A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the optical pen is vertically contacted with the contact surface of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 3B is a plan view illustrating the state of the projection light on the sensor surface.

4A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the optical pen is tilted and brought into contact with the contact surface of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating the state of the projection light on the sensor surface.

5A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the optical pen is in contact with the contact surface of the liquid crystal panel with a large inclination, and FIG. 5B is a plan view illustrating the state of the projection light on the sensor surface.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the user brings the light pen 27 into contact with the contact surface 1a perpendicularly, the light emitted from the light pen 27 remains in the vertical direction (−Z (Axial direction) is projected onto the sensor surface 16a. Thus, the projection light 28a projected on the sensor surface 16a has a circular shape with a diameter r, as shown in FIG.

For this reason, even if there is a gap between the contact surface 1a of the liquid crystal panel 10 and the sensor surface 16a, the user touches the contact surface 1a with which the optical pen 27 is contacted in order to instruct position input. The designated position p, which is the coordinate position in the sensor surface 16a based on the position (contact position p ′), and the position of the representative coordinates (representative position q) where the light detection sensor 16 has read the projection light 28a projected on the sensor surface 16a. There is no gap between the two.

However, as shown in FIG. 4A, the user usually causes the optical pen 27 to contact the contact surface 1a with a slight inclination with respect to the normal of the contact surface 1a. In FIG. 4A, it is assumed that the optical pen 27 is tilted in the positive direction of the X axis from the perpendicular of the contact surface 1a.

As described above, when light emitted from the optical pen 27 that is inclined with respect to the perpendicular to the contact surface 1 a and is in contact with the contact surface 1 a is projected onto the sensor surface 16 a, the user inputs coordinates to the touch panel 1. Therefore, the indication position p by the contact position p ′ where the optical pen 27 is brought into contact with the contact surface 1a and the position of the representative coordinates (representative position q1) read by the touch panel 1 by the projection light 28b projected on the sensor surface 16a. There is a gap between them.

As described above, when a deviation occurs between the designated position p and the representative position q1, as shown in FIG. 4B, the shape of the projection light 28b collapses from the circular shape.

By calculating the degree of collapse of the projection light 28a from the circular shape, it is possible to calculate the deviation amount (correction amount) and the correction direction of the representative position q1 with respect to the designated position p. By correcting the representative coordinates using the deviation amount and the correction direction calculated in this way, even if there is a deviation between the designated position p and the representative position q1, an input is instructed by the optical pen 27. The indicated position p can be accurately calculated.

For example, the case where the distance in the major axis direction of the projection light 28b and the magnitude of the curvature of a circle around the circumference intersecting with the major axis of the projection light 28b are calculated as the degree of collapse of the projection light 28b from the circular shape will be described.

Specifically, unlike the circular shape, the projection light 28b has a shape with the X direction as the major axis direction. By calculating the difference between the circular diameter r and the distance r1 in the major axis direction of the projection light 28b, the amount of deviation between the indicated position p and the representative position q1 can be calculated. The deviation amount (correction amount) may be obtained by multiplying or adding a constant according to the distance between the contact surface 1a and the sensor surface 16a and the refractive index between the contact surface 1a and the sensor surface 16a.

In the following explanation, the plus / minus directions of the X and Y axes are based on the representative position.

The projection light 28b has a relative curvature of the circumference located in the plus direction of the X direction in the circumference including the respective points where the major axis and the circumference intersect. It is larger than the curvature. Thus, it can be seen that the X-axis plus direction circumference of the projection light 28 a is closer to the pen tip of the optical pen 27 and the X-axis minus direction circumference is far from the pen tip of the light pen 27. Thus, the correction direction of the representative position q1 with respect to the designated position p can be calculated by calculating the magnitude of the curvature of the circumference intersecting the major axis of the projection light 28a.

In other words, from the representative position q1 of the projection light 28b, the X axis plus direction, which is the direction in which the point where the circumference having a large curvature intersects with the major axis, is used as the correction direction, and from the distance r1 in the major axis direction, The difference between the diameters r is used as a shift amount (correction amount), and the representative position q1 is corrected as shown by the arrow in FIG. Thereby, the designated position p can be calculated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), when the angle of the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 with respect to the perpendicular is increased, that is, when the optical pen 27 is greatly inclined in the X axis plus direction, the indicated position p and the sensor surface The amount of deviation from the representative position q2 due to the projection light 28c projected onto 16a also increases.

At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5B, the degree of collapse of the projection light 28b from the circular shape also increases. That is, the distance r2 in the major axis direction that is the X-axis direction of the projection light 28b is longer than the distance r1 in the major axis direction of the projection light 28b.

Thus, depending on the angle of the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 with respect to the perpendicular, the distance r2 of the projection light 28c in the major axis direction and the curvature of the circumference including the point intersecting the major axis change. Therefore, by correcting the distance r2 in the major axis direction and the magnitude relationship between the curvatures of the circumferences intersecting the major axis, the indication position p and the representative position q2, which is the position of the representative coordinates of the projection light 28c, are corrected. The amount and correction direction will be known.

In FIG. 5B, the X axis plus direction, which is the direction in which the point where the circumference having a large curvature intersects with the major axis, exists from the representative position q2, which is the position of the representative coordinate of the projection light 28c, as the correction direction. The coordinate of the representative position q2 is corrected as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5B using the difference between the long-axis direction distance r2 and the circular diameter r as a correction amount. Thereby, the designated position p can be calculated.

As described above, since the correction amount and the correction direction are known from the shape of the light projected on the sensor surface 16a, by correcting the position of the light projected on the sensor surface 16a from the correction amount and the correction direction. The exact position of the light pen 27 in the surface of the pen tip can be calculated.

6A to 6C are views showing various shapes of projection light projected from the light pen 27 onto the sensor surface, and FIG. 6A is a view in which the light pen 27 is inclined in the plus direction of the X axis. (B) represents the state of the projection light when the light pen 27 is tilted in the Y-axis minus direction, and (c) represents the state of the projection light when the light pen 27 is tilted in the X-axis minus direction and the Y plus direction. It is a figure showing the mode of the projection light in case it inclines to.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the projection light 28d is deformed from a circular shape so that the X direction is the major axis direction. Thus, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 that has contacted the contact surface 1a is in contact with the contact surface 1a while being inclined in the X-axis direction, which is the major axis direction, from the perpendicular of the contact surface 1a.

In addition, the projection light 28d has a relative X axis out of the curvature of the circumference in the X axis plus direction and the curvature of the circumference in the minus direction of the X axis including the respective points where the major axis and the circumference intersect. The curvature of the circumference in the plus direction is larger. Thereby, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a is inclined in the plus direction of the X axis from the perpendicular to the contact surface 1a. That is, it can be seen that the correction direction of the representative position q3, which is the representative coordinate of the projection light 28d, is the X axis plus direction.

Therefore, from the representative position q3 of the projection light 28d, the X axis plus direction is the correction direction, and the difference between the major axis direction distance r3 and the circular diameter r is the correction amount, as shown by the arrow in FIG. The coordinates of the representative position q3 are corrected. Thereby, the contact position p can be calculated.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the shape of the projection light 28e is broken from the circular shape so that the Y direction becomes the major axis direction. Thereby, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a is tilted in the Y-axis direction from the perpendicular of the contact surface 1a and is in contact with the contact surface 1a.

Further, the projection light 28e has a relative Y axis between the curvature of the circumference in the Y axis plus direction and the curvature of the circumference in the Y axis minus direction including the respective points where the major axis and the circumference intersect. The curvature of the circumference of the minus direction is larger. Thereby, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a is inclined in the Y-axis minus direction from the perpendicular to the contact surface 1a. That is, it can be seen that the correction direction of the representative position q4, which is the position of the representative coordinates of the projection light 28e, is the Y-axis minus direction.

Therefore, from the representative position q4 of the projection light 28e, the Y-axis minus direction is the correction direction, and the difference between the major axis direction distance r4 and the circular diameter r is the correction amount, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. Then, the coordinates of the representative position q4 are corrected. Thereby, the contact position p can be calculated.

As shown in FIG. 6 (c), the projection light 28f is deformed from a circular shape so as to be in the major axis direction from the X-axis plus and Y-axis minus to the X-axis minus and Y-axis plus directions. Yes. Thereby, the optical pen 27 that has contacted the contact surface 1a is inclined from the perpendicular of the contact surface 1a in the X-axis minus and Y-axis plus directions (upper left direction in the drawing) and is in contact with the contact surface 1a. Recognize.

Further, the projection light 28f has a curvature of the circumference in the X axis plus / Y axis minus direction including each point where the major axis and the circumference intersect, and a curvature of the circumference in the X axis minus / Y axis plus direction. Among them, the curvature of the circumference in the X-axis minus / Y-axis plus direction is relatively larger. Thereby, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a is inclined in the X-axis minus / Y-axis plus direction from the perpendicular to the contact surface 1a.

That is, it can be seen that the correction direction of the representative position q5, which is the position of the representative coordinates of the projection light 28f, is the X axis minus and the Y axis plus direction.

Therefore, from the representative position q5 of the projection light 28f, the X axis minus and the Y axis plus direction is the correction direction, and the difference between the major axis direction distance r5 and the circular diameter r is the correction amount (c) in FIG. ), The coordinates of the representative position q5 are corrected. Thereby, the contact position p can be calculated.

(flowchart)
Next, the processing flow of the position input system 39 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the position input system 39.

The user brings the pen tip of the optical pen 27 emitting light from the pen tip into contact with the contact surface 1a of the liquid crystal panel 10. Then, the light emitted from the pen tip of the optical pen 27 that has contacted the contact surface 1 a is projected onto the sensor surface 16 a of the touch panel 1. The light detection sensor 16 included in the projection light 28 receives the projection light 28 onto the sensor surface 16a on the light receiving surface. Each light detection sensor 16 that has received the projection light 28 outputs a current corresponding to the amount of received light to the received light amount calculation unit 31 as a received light signal.

When receiving the light reception signal from each light detection sensor 16, the light reception amount calculation unit 31 calculates the light reception amount of each light detection sensor 16 that has output the light reception signal (step S11). Then, the received light amount calculation unit 31 outputs the calculated received light amount of each light detection sensor 16 to the representative coordinate calculation unit 32, the long axis calculation unit 33, and the correction direction calculation unit 36 as a received light amount signal.

When the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 acquires the received light amount signal from the received light amount calculation unit 31, the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 calculates representative coordinates from the acquired received light amount signal (step S12). Then, the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 outputs the calculated representative coordinates to the coordinate correction unit 37.

Further, when the long axis calculation unit 33 acquires the received light amount signal from the received light amount calculation unit 31, the long axis calculation unit 33 extracts the long axis of the projection light 28 from the acquired received light amount signal. That is, the long axis calculation unit 33 extracts the coordinates of two points at the end of the long axis of the projection light 28, and calculates the length of the long axis from the extracted coordinates of the end of the long axis (step S13). ). Then, the long axis calculation unit 33 outputs the calculated length of the long axis of the projection light to the correction amount calculation unit 35 and the coordinates of two points at the end of the long axis of the projection light to the correction direction calculation unit 36. Output.

When the correction amount calculation unit 35 acquires the length of the long axis of the projection light from the long axis calculation unit 33, the correction amount (correction amount) of the representative coordinates of the projection light is calculated from the length of the long axis of the acquired projection light. Is calculated (step S14). Here, the correction amount calculation unit 35 uses a value obtained by dividing the length of the major axis of the projection light 28 by the length of the diameter r when the projection light has a circular shape. Calculate as Then, the correction amount calculation unit 35 outputs the calculated deviation amount of the representative coordinates to the coordinate correction unit 37.

When the correction direction calculation unit 36 acquires the received light amount signal from the received light amount calculation unit 31 and acquires the coordinates of the end of the long axis of the projection light 28 from the long axis calculation unit 33, the correction direction calculation unit 36 The correction direction of the representative coordinates is calculated from the acquired received light amount signal and the coordinates of the end of the long axis of the projection light (step S15).

That is, the correction direction calculation unit 36 compares the curvatures of the circumferences in the vicinity of the coordinates of the two points at the end of the long axis among the circumferences of the projection light. Then, the correction direction calculation unit 36 calculates a direction in which the end of the long axis included in the circumference having a large curvature is located as the correction direction.

Then, the correction direction calculation unit 36 outputs the calculated correction direction to the coordinate correction unit 37.

When the coordinate correction unit 37 acquires a signal indicating the representative coordinates from the representative coordinate calculation unit 32, acquires a deviation amount of the representative coordinates from the correction amount calculation unit 35, and acquires a correction direction from the correction direction calculation unit 36, the acquisition is performed. The corrected coordinates are calculated from the representative coordinates, the deviation amount of the representative coordinates, and the correction direction (step S16), and the calculated coordinates are output to the interface unit 38 as indicating the designated position p. Then, the interface unit 38 outputs the designated position p acquired from the coordinate correction unit 37 to an external device such as an electronic device connected to the interface unit 38 as a position input by the user.

In this way, the touch panel 1 acquires the coordinates output from the coordinate correction unit 37 to the interface unit 38 as the designated position p designated by the user.

(Program, computer-readable recording medium)
In addition, each block of the touch panel 1, in particular, the representative coordinate calculation unit 32, the long axis calculation unit 33, the correction amount calculation unit 35, the correction direction calculation unit 36, and the coordinate correction unit 37 may be configured by hardware logic. However, it may be realized by software using a computer as follows.

That is, the representative coordinate calculation unit 32, the long axis calculation unit 33, the correction amount calculation unit 35, the correction direction calculation unit 36, and the coordinate correction unit 37 are a CPU (central processing unit that executes a command of a control program that realizes each function. ), A ROM (read only memory) storing the program, a RAM (random access memory) for expanding the program, and a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is to provide a control program for the representative coordinate calculation unit 32, the long axis calculation unit 33, the correction amount calculation unit 35, the correction direction calculation unit 36, and the coordinate correction unit 37, which is software that implements the functions described above. A recording medium on which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) is recorded so as to be readable by a computer is represented by a representative coordinate calculation unit 32, a long axis calculation unit 33, a correction amount calculation unit 35, a correction direction calculation unit 36, This can also be achieved by supplying the data to the coordinate correction unit 37 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

Examples of the recording medium include tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks / hard disks, and disks including optical disks such as CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

Further, the representative coordinate calculation unit 32, the long axis calculation unit 33, the correction amount calculation unit 35, the correction direction calculation unit 36, and the coordinate correction unit 37 are configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code is transmitted via the communication network. You may supply. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Further, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the position input system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those in the drawings explained in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the position input system 49 according to the second embodiment.

The position input system 49 includes a light pen 27 and a touch panel (position input device) 40.

Unlike the touch panel 1, the touch panel 40 does not calculate the correction amount and the correction direction of the representative coordinates from the shape of the projection light 28, but is obtained from the position of light of a brighter portion of the projection light 28. 1 and different. That is, the touch panel 40 calculates the correction amount and the correction direction of the representative coordinates from the coordinates having a high light amount in the projection light and the representative coordinates of the projection light.

As shown in FIG. 8, the touch panel 40 includes a light detection sensor control unit 41 instead of the light detection sensor control unit 30 of the touch panel 1.

The light detection sensor control unit 41 includes a received light amount calculation unit 31, a representative coordinate calculation unit 32, a high light quantity coordinate extraction unit 43, a correction direction calculation unit (correction direction calculation unit) 46, and a correction amount calculation unit (correction amount calculation unit). 45, a coordinate correction unit 37, and an interface unit 38.

The high light quantity coordinate extracting unit 43 extracts the coordinates having the highest light quantity in the projection light 28 as the high light quantity position.

The correction direction calculation unit 46 calculates the direction from the representative position to the high light quantity position as the correction direction for the designated position of the representative position.

The correction amount calculation unit 45 calculates a correction amount for the designated position of the representative position from the distance between the high light quantity position and the representative position.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the light amount of the projection light projected on the sensor surface from the optical pen that has contacted the contact surface. The Z-axis direction in FIG. 9 represents the light amount of the projection light 28b. FIG. 9 shows that the light amount of the projection light 28b increases as it goes in the plus direction of the Z-axis.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the user slightly tilts the vertical direction of the X axis with respect to the normal of the contact surface 1a to bring the optical pen 27 into contact with the position p1 contact surface 1a, thereby Projection light 28b is projected from the pen tip 27 onto the sensor surface 16a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the high light quantity region 29b having a high light quantity in the projection light 28b approaches the X axis plus direction. Further, in the high light quantity region 29b, the high light quantity position s1, which is the coordinate with the highest (brightest) light quantity, is in the X axis plus direction from the center of the high light quantity region 29b, that is, the pen tip of the optical pen 27 is in contact with the contact surface 1a. Close to the direction of contact.

By calculating the distance and direction between the high light amount position s1 and the representative position q1, which is the position of the representative coordinates of the projection light 28b, the deviation amount (correction amount) and the correction direction of the representative position q1 with respect to the contact position p are calculated. can do. By correcting the representative coordinates using the deviation amount and the correction direction calculated in this way, it is possible to correct the coordinates to a position at which the user intends to input.

10A and 10B are plan views showing the state of the projected light on the sensor surface, and FIG. 10A is a view showing the case where the tilt angle of the optical pen with respect to the normal of the contact surface is small. These are figures showing the case where the inclination angle of the optical pen with respect to the perpendicular of the contact surface is large.

As shown in FIG. 10A, from the representative position q1 that is the position of the representative coordinates of the projection light 28b, the X axis plus direction, which is the direction in which the high light quantity position S1 exists, is set as the correction direction, and the representative position q1 and the high position. Using the distance from the light amount position S1 as a shift amount (correction amount), the representative coordinates are corrected as indicated by the arrows in FIG. Thereby, the contact position p which is the contact position on the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 is computable.

Here, the shift amount (correction amount) may be calculated from the distance between the representative position q1 and the high light quantity position S1, and is obtained by multiplying by a constant according to the distance between the contact surface 1a and the sensor surface 16a. May be. In the present embodiment, twice the distance between the representative position q1 and the high light quantity position S1 is set as a shift amount (correction amount).

Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the angle of the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 with respect to the perpendicular is increased. That is, it is assumed that the light pen 27 is greatly inclined in the X axis plus direction.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, the distance between the high light amount position s2 of the high light amount region 29c in the projection light 28c and the representative position q2 increases. Therefore, by calculating the distance between the high light quantity position s2 and the representative position q2, the contact position p on the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 and the representative position q2 that is the position of the representative coordinates of the projection light 28c. The correction amount and the correction direction can be known.

In (b) of FIG. 10, twice the distance between the representative position q2 and the high light amount position S2 from the representative position q2 of the projection light 28b, with the X axis plus direction, which is the direction in which the high light amount position S2 exists, as the correction direction. Is a shift amount (that is, a correction amount), and the representative coordinates are corrected as shown by the arrow in FIG. Thereby, the contact position p which is the contact position on the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 is computable.

Thus, the correction amount and the correction direction can be determined from the position of the bright portion of the projection light projected onto the sensor surface 16a. For this reason, the correct position of the pen tip of the optical pen 27 can be calculated by correcting the position of the light projected on the sensor surface 16a from the correction amount and the correction direction.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are diagrams showing various shapes of projection light projected from the light pen 27 onto the sensor surface 16a. FIG. 11A shows the light pen 27 tilted in the plus direction of the X axis. (B) shows the state of the projection light when the light pen 27 is tilted in the Y-axis minus direction, and (c) shows the state of the projection light when the light pen 27 is tilted in the X-axis minus direction and Y plus. It is a figure showing the mode of the projection light in case it inclines in the direction.

As shown in FIG. 11A, in the projection light 28d, the high light quantity position s3, which is the coordinate with the highest light quantity in the high light quantity area 29d having the highest light quantity in the projection light 28d, is shifted from the representative position q3 to the X axis. Located in the plus direction. As a result, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a is in contact with the contact surface 1a while being inclined in the X-axis plus direction from the perpendicular of the contact surface 1a.

For this reason, the X-axis plus direction, which is the direction from the representative position q3 toward the high light quantity position s3, is used as the correction direction, and twice the distance between the representative position q3 and the high light quantity position s3 is used as the shift amount (that is, the correction quantity). 11, the representative coordinates are corrected as indicated by the arrow (a). Thereby, the contact position p which is the contact position on the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 is computable.

As shown in FIG. 11B, in the projection light 28e, the high light quantity position s4, which is the coordinate with the highest light quantity in the high light quantity area 29e having the highest light quantity in the projection light 28e, is shifted from the representative position q4 to the Y axis. Located in the negative direction. Thereby, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a is inclined in the Y-axis direction from the perpendicular of the contact surface 1a and is in contact with the contact surface 1a.

Therefore, the Y axis minus direction, which is the direction from the representative position q4 to the high light quantity position s4, is used as the correction direction, and twice the distance between the representative position q4 and the high light quantity position s4 is used as the shift amount (that is, the correction quantity). 11, the representative coordinates are corrected as indicated by the arrow (b). Thereby, the contact position p which is the contact position on the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 is computable.

As shown in FIG. 11C, in the projection light 28f, the high light quantity position s5, which is the coordinate with the highest light quantity in the high light quantity area 29f having the highest light quantity in the projection light 28f, is changed from the representative position q5 to the X Located in the direction of the axis minus and the Y axis plus. As a result, it can be seen that the optical pen 27 in contact with the contact surface 1a is in contact with the contact surface 1a while being inclined in the X-axis minus and Y-axis plus directions from the perpendicular of the contact surface 1a.

Therefore, with the X-axis minus and Y-axis plus directions that are directions from the representative position q5 toward the high light quantity position s5 as correction directions, twice the distance between the representative position q5 and the high light quantity position s5 is a deviation amount (that is, correction). As the amount), the representative coordinates are corrected as indicated by the arrows in FIG. Thereby, the contact position p which is the contact position on the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 is computable.

(flowchart)
Next, the processing flow of the position input system 49 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the position input system 49.

Note that step S11 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The received light amount calculation unit 31 outputs the received light amount of each light detection sensor 16 calculated in step S11 to the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 and the high light amount coordinate extraction unit 43 as a received light amount signal.

Similarly to step S12 of the first embodiment, the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 calculates a representative coordinate (step S12), and then sends a signal indicating the calculated representative coordinate to the coordinate correction unit 37 and the correction amount calculation unit 45. Output to.

When the high light quantity coordinate extracting unit 43 acquires the received light amount signal from the received light amount calculating unit 31, the high light quantity coordinate extracting unit 43 extracts the coordinate having the highest light amount in the projection light from the acquired received light amount signal (step S23). Then, the signal indicating the extracted coordinates is output to the correction amount calculation unit 45 and the correction direction calculation unit 46 as a signal indicating the high light quantity position.

When the correction amount calculating unit 45 acquires a signal indicating the representative coordinates from the representative coordinate calculating unit 32 and acquires a signal indicating the high light amount position from the high light amount coordinate extracting unit 43, the correction amount calculating unit 45 obtains a signal between the acquired representative coordinates and the high light amount position. A deviation amount (correction amount) of the representative coordinates of the projection light is calculated from the distance (step S24). Here, the correction amount calculation unit 45 calculates twice the distance between the representative coordinate and the high light quantity position as a deviation amount (correction amount) of the representative coordinate of the projection light. Then, the correction amount calculation unit 45 outputs the calculated deviation amount of the representative coordinates to the coordinate correction unit 37.

Further, when the correction direction calculation unit 46 acquires a signal indicating the representative coordinates from the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 and acquires a signal indicating the high light amount position from the high light amount position extraction unit, the acquired representative coordinates and the high light amount position are obtained. From this, the correction direction of the representative coordinates is calculated (step S25).

That is, the correction direction calculation unit 46 calculates the direction in which the high light quantity position is located as the correction direction with respect to the representative coordinates. Then, the correction direction calculation unit 36 outputs a signal indicating the calculated correction direction to the coordinate correction unit 37.

The coordinate correction unit 37 acquires a signal indicating the representative coordinates from the coordinate correction unit 37, acquires a signal indicating the amount of deviation of the representative coordinates from the correction amount calculation unit 35, and receives a signal indicating the correction direction from the correction direction calculation unit 36. When acquired, the corrected coordinates are calculated (step S16), and a signal indicating the calculated coordinates is output to the interface unit 38, as in step S16 of the first embodiment. In this way, the touch panel 40 acquires the coordinates output from the coordinate correction unit 37 to the interface unit 38 as the input position instructed by the user.

As described above, according to the configuration of the touch panel 40, the correction amount calculation unit 45 calculates the correction amount for the designated coordinates of the representative coordinates from the high light quantity position and the representative coordinates. Then, the correction direction calculation unit 46 calculates the direction from the representative coordinate to the high light quantity position as the correction direction with respect to the designated coordinate of the representative coordinate. As a result, the indicated coordinates indicated by the optical pen 27 can be accurately calculated from the light amount distribution of the projection light 28 on the sensor surface 16a.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, a third embodiment of the position input system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those in the drawings explained in the first and second embodiments are given the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the position input system 59 according to the third embodiment.

The position input system 59 includes a light pen (instruction device) 24 and a touch panel (position input device) 50.

In addition to the configuration of the optical pen 27, the optical pen 24 includes a direction sensor 26 (direction detection element) that detects an inclination angle of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction and an inclination direction of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction. Further, the optical pen 24 is connected to the touch panel 50 so as to be able to communicate with the touch panel 50. The optical pen 24 and the touch panel 50 may be electrically connected by wire or may be connected so as to be able to perform wireless communication with each other.

The direction sensor 26 includes a geomagnetic sensor and an acceleration sensor.

The optical pen 24 determines the inclination angle α (optical pen inclination angle signal) with respect to the vertical direction of the optical pen 24 and the inclination direction (optical pen inclination direction signal) with respect to the vertical direction of the optical pen 24 based on the geomagnetic sensor and the acceleration sensor. And detect. Then, by extracting output values from the geomagnetic sensor and the acceleration sensor, the optical pen direction sensor signal is output from the direction sensor 26 to the optical pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 of the touch panel 50.

In addition, the inclination angle α detected by the geomagnetic sensor and the acceleration sensor included in the direction sensor 26 and the inclination direction with respect to the vertical direction of the optical pen 24 are absolute information as directions.

As described above, the optical pen 24 and the touch panel 50 are connected so that they can communicate by wire or wirelessly. The timing of outputting the light pen direction sensor signal from the light pen 24 to the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 is not particularly limited, and may be output every time the direction of the light pen 24 changes. The output may be performed based on an output instruction output from the touch panel 50 to the optical pen 24.

The touch panel 50 does not calculate the correction amount and the correction direction from the light shape and light amount as in the touch panels 1 and 40, but the information indicating the correction amount and the correction direction from the direction sensor 26 provided in the optical pen 24. The difference is that the optical pen direction sensor signal is acquired.

The touch panel 50 includes a light detection sensor control unit 51 instead of the light detection

sensor control units

30 and 41 of the touch panels 1 and 40.

The light detection sensor control unit 51 includes a received light amount calculation unit 31, a representative coordinate calculation unit 32, a direction sensor 53, a correction direction calculation unit (correction direction calculation unit) 56, and a correction amount calculation unit (correction amount calculation unit). 55, a light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57, a coordinate correction unit 37, and an interface unit 38.

The direction sensor 53 detects the inclination of the touch panel 50 and the direction of the inclination of the touch panel 50. The direction sensor 53 includes a geomagnetic sensor and an acceleration sensor.

The direction sensor 53 includes a tilt angle β with respect to the vertical direction of the vertical line of the touch panel 50 (that is, a tilt angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the touch panel 50; a device tilt angle signal) and a tilt direction with respect to the vertical direction of the touch panel 50 (device tilt direction signal). Are detected by the geomagnetic sensor and the acceleration sensor as device direction sensor signals. Then, the device direction sensor signal is output from the direction sensor 53 by taking out the output values from the geomagnetic sensor and the acceleration sensor.

In addition, the inclination angle β detected by the geomagnetic sensor and the acceleration sensor included in the direction sensor 53 and the inclination direction with respect to the vertical direction of the vertical line of the touch panel 50 are absolute information as directions.

The direction sensor 53 does not necessarily need to be included in the light detection sensor control unit 51, and may be provided outside the light detection sensor control unit 51. For example, the direction sensor 53 is arranged in an electronic device including the touch panel 50, the correction amount calculation unit 55 acquires the device tilt angle signal of the electronic device output from the direction sensor 53, and calculates the device tilt direction signal as the correction direction. Any configuration that can be acquired by the unit 56 may be used.

The direction sensor 53 may be omitted when the touch panel 50 is used as a position input device of an electronic device that is used while being fixed.

The light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 acquires a light pen tilt angle signal and a light pen tilt direction signal as the light pen direction sensor signal from the light pen 24. Then, the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 outputs the light pen tilt angle signal acquired from the light pen 24 to the correction amount calculation unit 55. Further, the direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 outputs the optical pen tilt direction signal acquired from the optical pen 24 to the correction direction calculation unit 56.

The correction amount calculation unit 55 acquires the tilt angle of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction, and calculates the correction amount for the designated position p of the representative coordinates from the acquired tilt angle of the light pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction.

The correction amount calculation unit 55 acquires the device tilt angle signal from the direction sensor 53 and acquires the light pen tilt angle information from the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57. The correction amount calculation unit 55 calculates a correction amount for the designated position p of the representative seat amount from the device tilt angle signal and the light pen tilt angle signal. The correction amount calculation unit 55 outputs the calculated representative coordinate correction amount to the coordinate correction unit 37.

The correction amount calculation unit 55 previously stores distance information indicating a distance (gap) between the contact surface 1a of the liquid crystal panel 10 and the sensor surface 16a, and a refraction indicating a refractive index between the contact surface 1a and the sensor surface 16a. Rate information may be recorded. Then, the correction amount calculation unit 55 may calculate the correction amount for the designated position p of the representative seat amount from the apparatus tilt angle signal, the light pen tilt angle signal, the distance information, and the refractive index information.

When the direction sensor 53 is omitted, the correction amount calculation unit 55 includes only the light pen tilt angle signal output from the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 or the light pen tilt angle signal and distance information. From the refractive index information, the correction amount for the designated position p of the representative seating amount may be calculated.

The correction direction calculation unit 56 acquires a tilt direction with respect to the vertical direction of the light pen 24, and calculates a correction direction with respect to the designated position p of the representative coordinates from the acquired tilt direction with respect to the vertical direction of the light pen 24.

The correction direction calculation unit 56 acquires a device tilt direction signal from the direction sensor 53 and acquires a light pen tilt direction signal from the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57. The correction direction calculation unit 56 calculates the correction direction for the designated position p of the representative coordinates from the apparatus tilt direction signal and the light pen tilt direction signal. The correction direction calculation unit 56 outputs the calculated correction direction of the representative coordinates to the coordinate correction unit 37.

When the direction sensor 53 is omitted, the correction direction calculation unit 56 calculates a correction direction for the designated position p of the representative coordinates from only the light pen tilt direction signal that is a signal indicating the tilt direction of the light pen 24. May be.

(Position correction)
FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the optical pen is brought into contact with the contact surface of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 14B is a view in which the optical pen is brought into contact with the contact surface of the liquid crystal panel with a large inclination. It is a figure showing a mode made to do.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the optical pen 24 incorporates a direction sensor 26. Further, the touch panel 50 also includes a direction sensor.

As shown in FIG. 14A, it is assumed that the contact surface 1a of the touch panel 50 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Then, the user further tilts the optical pen 24 against the contact surface 1a with respect to the contact surface 1a disposed to be inclined from the horizontal direction.

The direction sensor 26 built in the optical pen 24 detects the inclination angle α1 of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction and also detects the inclination direction of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction. In the example shown in FIG. 14A, the inclination direction of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction is the X axis plus direction.

In addition, the direction sensor 53 built in the touch panel 50 detects an inclination angle β1 with respect to the vertical direction of the vertical line of the contact surface 1a of the touch panel 50 (that is, an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the touch panel 50). The inclination direction with respect to the vertical direction of the perpendicular line 1a is detected. In the example shown in FIG. 14A, the inclination direction of the perpendicular to the touch panel 50 is the X axis plus direction with respect to the vertical direction.

From this, the inclination angle θ1 with respect to the contact surface 1a of the light pen 24 can be obtained as follows.
θ1 = α1-β1
From this inclination angle θ1, the amount of deviation between the indicated position p and the representative position q1 of the projection light 28b of the optical pen 24 on the sensor surface 16a can be calculated as a correction amount.

Further, the distance between the contact surface 1a and the sensor surface 16a and the refractive index between the contact surface 1a and the sensor surface 16a are calculated in advance, and the calculated values are multiplied or added as constants to obtain a correction amount. May be calculated.

Further, the correction direction of the representative position q1 with respect to the indicated position p can be calculated from the inclination direction (X-axis plus direction) with respect to the vertical direction of the light pen 24 and the inclination direction of the vertical line of the touch panel 50 (X-axis plus direction). it can.

As shown in FIG. 14B, the angle of the contact surface 1a of the optical pen 27 with respect to the perpendicular is large, and the amount of deviation between the indicated position p and the representative position q2 due to the projection light 28c projected on the sensor surface 16a is large. However, similarly, the correction direction and the correction amount with respect to the designated position p of the representative position q2 of the projection light 28c can be calculated.

The direction sensor 26 built in the optical pen 24 detects the inclination angle α2 of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction and also detects the inclination direction of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction. In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the inclination direction of the optical pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction is the X axis plus direction.

In addition, the direction sensor 53 built in the touch panel 50 detects an inclination angle β2 of the vertical line of the contact surface 1a of the touch panel 50 with respect to the vertical direction (that is, an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the touch panel 50) and The inclination direction with respect to the vertical direction is detected. In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the inclination direction of the perpendicular to the touch panel 50 is the X axis plus direction with respect to the vertical direction.

From this, the inclination angle θ2 of the optical pen 24 with respect to the contact surface 1a can be obtained as follows.
θ2 = α2-β2
From this inclination angle θ, the amount of deviation between the indicated position p and the representative position q2 of the projection light 28b of the optical pen 24 onto the sensor surface 16a can be calculated as a correction amount.

Further, the correction direction of the representative position q2 with respect to the indicated position p can be calculated from the inclination direction (X-axis plus direction) of the light pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction and the inclination direction of the vertical line of the touch panel 50 (X-axis plus direction). it can.

(flowchart)
Next, the processing flow of the position input system 59 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the process flow of the position input system 59.

Also, the representative coordinate calculation unit 32 calculates a representative coordinate (step S12) and outputs a signal indicating the calculated representative coordinate to the coordinate correction unit 37, as in step S12 of the first embodiment.

Further, the direction sensor 26 of the light pen 24 detects the inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction of the light pen 24 (step S31) and detects the inclination direction of the light pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction (step S32). The light pen 24 is a light pen tilt angle signal that is a signal indicating the tilt angle α with respect to the vertical direction of the light pen 24 detected by the direction sensor 26 and a light pen tilt that is a signal indicating the tilt direction of the light pen 24 with respect to the vertical direction. The direction signal is output to the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 as a light pen direction sensor signal.

The light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 outputs a light pen tilt angle signal among the light pen direction sensor signals output from the light pen 24 to the correction amount calculation unit 55. The light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 outputs a light pen tilt direction signal among the light pen direction sensor signals output from the light pen 24 to the correction direction calculation unit 56.

The direction sensor 53 of the touch panel 50 detects the inclination angle β of the vertical line of the touch panel 50 with respect to the vertical direction (step S33) and detects the inclination direction of the vertical line of the touch panel 50 with respect to the vertical direction (step S34).

The direction sensor 53 outputs a device inclination angle signal, which is a signal indicating the inclination angle β with respect to the vertical direction of the detected vertical line of the touch panel 50, to the correction amount calculation unit 55. Further, the direction sensor 53 outputs a device tilt direction signal, which is a signal indicating a tilt direction with respect to the vertical direction of the detected vertical line of the touch panel 50, to the correction direction calculation unit 56.

The correction amount calculation unit 55 calculates the correction amount of the representative coordinates of the projection light from the light pen tilt angle signal acquired from the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 and the device tilt angle signal acquired from the direction sensor 53 ( Step S35). The correction amount calculation unit 55 outputs the calculated representative coordinate correction amount to the coordinate correction unit 37.

Further, the correction direction calculation unit 56 calculates the correction direction of the representative coordinates from the light pen tilt direction signal acquired from the light pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit 57 and the device tilt direction signal acquired from the direction sensor 53 (step S36). ). The correction direction calculation unit 56 outputs the calculated correction direction of the representative coordinates to the coordinate correction unit 37.

The coordinate correction unit 37 acquires a signal indicating the representative coordinates from the coordinate correction unit 37, acquires the correction amount of the representative coordinates from the correction amount calculation unit 55, and acquires the correction direction from the correction direction calculation unit 56. Similar to steps S16 and S16, the corrected coordinates are calculated (step S16), and a signal indicating the calculated coordinates is output to the interface unit 38. In this way, the touch panel 50 acquires the coordinates output from the coordinate correction unit 37 to the interface unit 38 as the input position instructed by the user.

As described above, according to the configuration of the touch panel 50, the correction amount calculation unit 55 calculates the correction amount of the representative coordinates of the projection light from the light pen tilt angle signal and the device tilt angle signal. Then, the correction direction calculation unit 56 calculates the correction direction of the representative coordinates from the optical pen tilt direction signal and the apparatus tilt direction signal. Thereby, the touch panel 50 can accurately calculate the designated coordinates designated by the optical pen 27.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, a correction amount calculating unit that calculates a correction amount of the representative position with respect to the designated position, and a correction direction calculating unit that calculates a correction direction of the representative position with respect to the designated position, the position correcting unit includes the representative position Preferably, the indicated position is calculated from the representative position calculated by the position acquisition unit, the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit, and the correction direction calculated by the correction direction calculation unit.

With the above configuration, the position correction unit includes the representative position calculated by the representative position acquisition unit, the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit, and the correction direction calculated by the correction direction calculation unit. The indicated position can be calculated.

Further, the correction amount calculating means calculates a correction amount for the designated position of the representative position from the length of the long axis of the projection light on the light detecting surface, and the correction direction calculating means is the light detecting surface. It is preferable to calculate the correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position from the major axis of the projection light to and the curvature of the circumference of the projection light intersecting with the major axis.

With the above configuration, the correction direction calculation means calculates the correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position from the major axis of the projection light on the light detection surface and the curvature of the circumference of the projection light that intersects the major axis. Can be calculated. As a result, the position indicated by the pointing device can be accurately calculated from the shape of the light projected onto the light detection surface.

Further, the correction amount calculating means calculates a correction amount for the indicated position of the representative position from a distance between the representative light and the high light amount position where the light amount is the highest among the projection light on the light detection surface, Preferably, the correction direction calculation means calculates a direction from the representative position to the high light quantity position as a correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position.

According to the above configuration, the correction amount calculation means calculates a correction amount for the designated position of the representative position from the high light amount position and the representative position, and the correction direction calculation means calculates from the representative position, The direction to the high light quantity position is calculated as the correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position. As a result, the position indicated by the pointing device can be accurately calculated from the light amount distribution of the light projected onto the light detection surface.

Further, the correction amount calculation means acquires an inclination angle of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction, calculates a correction amount of the representative position with respect to the pointing position from the acquired inclination angle of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction, Preferably, the correction direction calculation means acquires a tilt direction with respect to a vertical direction of the pointing device, and calculates a correction direction of the representative position with respect to the pointing position from the acquired tilt direction with respect to the vertical direction of the pointing device. .

According to the above configuration, the correction amount calculating means calculates a correction amount for the designated position of the representative position from an inclination angle of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction. From the inclination direction, the correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position is calculated. As a result, it is possible to calculate the indication position indicated by the indication device.

Furthermore, the position input system of the present invention preferably includes the position input device and the pointing device. As a result, the pointing position indicated by the pointing device can be accurately calculated, so that the position input accuracy of the position input system can be improved.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the pointing device includes a direction detection element that detects a tilt angle of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction and a tilting direction of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction.

According to the above configuration, the direction detecting element can detect the tilt angle of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction and the tilt direction of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction.

The above may be realized by a computer. In this case, a display program for realizing the above in the computer by operating the computer as each of the above means and a computer-readable recording medium recording the display program are also included in the category of the present invention.

The present invention can be used for a position input device equipped with a light detection sensor.

1.40.50 Touch panel (position input device)
1a Contact surface 10.60 Liquid crystal panel 15 Protection plate 16 Photodetection sensor (photodetection element)
16a Sensor surface (light detection surface)
24 ・ 27 Optical pen (instruction device)
26 Direction sensor (direction detection element)
28 / 28a to 28f Projection light 30 Photodetection sensor control unit 31 Received light amount calculation unit 32 Representative coordinate calculation unit (representative position calculation means)
33 Long axis calculation unit 35/45 Correction amount calculation unit (correction amount calculation means)
36.46 Correction direction calculation unit (correction direction calculation means)
37 Coordinate correction unit (position correction means)
39, 49, 59 Position input system 41 Light detection sensor control unit 43 High light quantity coordinate extraction unit 57 Optical pen direction sensor signal acquisition unit

Claims

A contact surface that contacts an indicating device that instructs position input; and a light detection surface that includes a light receiving surface of a light detection element that receives projection light from the indicating device, and the projection light is incident on the light detection surface. A position input device that acquires a position at which the pointing device instructs input by detecting a position,
The contact surface and the light detection surface are provided apart from each other,
Representative position calculating means for calculating a representative position representing the position in the light detection surface of the light projected onto the light detection surface;
A position input device comprising: a position correcting unit that corrects the representative position and calculates an indicated position that is a position at which the pointing device within the light detection surface instructs input.
Correction amount calculating means for calculating a correction amount for the designated position of the representative position;
Correction direction calculation means for calculating a correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position,
The position correction means calculates the indicated position from the representative position calculated by the representative position calculation means, the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation means, and the correction direction calculated by the correction direction calculation means. The position input device according to claim 1, wherein the position input device calculates the position input device.
The correction amount calculation means calculates a correction amount for the designated position of the representative position from the length of the long axis of the light projected onto the light detection surface,
The correction direction calculating means calculates a correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position from the major axis of the projection light on the light detection surface and the curvature of the circumference of the projection light intersecting with the major axis. The position input device according to claim 2, wherein:
The correction amount calculating means calculates a correction amount for the indicated position of the representative position from the distance between the high light amount position where the light amount is the highest among the projection light onto the light detection surface and the representative position,
The position input device according to claim 2, wherein the correction direction calculation means calculates a direction from the representative position to the high light quantity position as a correction direction of the representative position with respect to the indicated position.
The correction amount calculation means acquires an inclination angle of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction, calculates a correction amount of the representative position with respect to the pointing position from the acquired inclination angle of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction,
The correction direction calculation means acquires a tilt direction with respect to the vertical direction of the pointing device, and calculates a correction direction of the representative position with respect to the pointing position from the acquired tilt direction with respect to the vertical direction of the pointing device. The position input device according to claim 2.
A position input system comprising the position input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the pointing device.
The position input according to claim 6, wherein the pointing device includes a direction detection element that detects a tilt angle of the pointing device with respect to a vertical direction and a tilt direction of the pointing device with respect to the vertical direction. system.
A position provided with a contact surface that contacts an instruction device for instructing position input, and a light detection surface that is spaced apart from the contact surface and includes a light receiving surface of a light detection element that receives projection light from the instruction device By detecting the position of the projection light on the light detection surface of the input device, a position input method for acquiring a position at which the pointing device instructs input,
A representative position calculating step for calculating a representative position representing the position in the light detection surface of the light projected onto the light detection surface;
A position correcting step of correcting the representative position and calculating an indicated position, which is a position where the pointing device in the light detection plane instructs input.
A position input program for operating the position input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the position input program causes a computer to function as each of the above means.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the position input program according to claim 9 is recorded.