WO2014054268A1

WO2014054268A1 - Electronic pen attachment, electronic pen system, and image display system comprising electronic pen system

Info

Publication number: WO2014054268A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/005832
Authority: WO
Inventors: 剛桑山; 井上　真一; 秀彦庄司; 裕也塩崎; 貴彦折口; 一哉古割
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2012-10-02
Filing date: 2013-10-01
Publication date: 2014-04-10
Also published as: JP2015232739A

Abstract

An objective of the present invention is to allow using, at a location removed from an image display screen of an image display device, an electronic pen which is used in contact with the image display screen. To this end, an electronic pen attachment (80) is detachably mounted upon an electronic pen having a photoreceptor element. The electronic pen attachment comprises: a body part (81) whereupon an aperture part (89) is formed for mounting detachably upon the electronic pen; and a light gathering lens (82) which is attached to the body part. Light which enters from an end part on the side opposite the aperture into the body part traverses the light gathering lens, and the light is gathered in the photoreceptor element of the electronic pen which is mounted upon the aperture part.

Description

Attachment for electronic pen, electronic pen system, and image display system provided with electronic pen system

The present disclosure relates to an attachment for an electronic pen attached to an electronic pen for inputting characters and drawings to an image display device, an electronic pen system, and an image display system including the electronic pen system.

There is an image display device that has a function of allowing handwriting input of characters and drawings on the image display surface using a pen-type pointing device called “electronic pen”. In such an image display device, a technique for detecting the position of the electronic pen in the image display region is used. Hereinafter, the coordinates representing the position of the electronic pen in the image display area are referred to as “position coordinates”.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a position coordinate detection period is provided in one field, and light emission generated in a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as “panel”) in the position coordinate detection period is detected by an optical sensor built in the electronic pen. Thus, an image display device that detects the coordinate position of an electronic pen is disclosed.

In an image display device using this technology, an electronic pen is used in contact with the image display surface in order to detect light emitted on the image display surface with an optical sensor.

Patent Document 2 discloses an electronic pen including a pen tip portion that is pressed against an image display surface when the electronic pen is used, and a contact state detection unit that detects a contact state between the pen tip portion and the image display surface. Has been.

Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a laser pointer that points to a point on the object by irradiating the object with laser light from a position away from the object.

JP 2001-318765 A JP 2011-145663 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-5018

The attachment for an electronic pen in the present disclosure is detachably attached to an electronic pen having a light receiving element. The attachment for an electronic pen includes a trunk portion in which an opening for detachably attaching to the electronic pen is formed, and a condenser lens attached to the trunk portion. And the light which injects in a trunk | drum from the edge part on the side facing an opening part passes through a condensing lens, and is condensed on the light receiving element of the electronic pen with which the opening part was mounted | worn.

The electronic pen system according to the present disclosure includes an electronic pen having a light receiving element that receives light and outputs a light reception signal, and an attachment for the electronic pen. The light incident on the body part passes through the condenser lens and is condensed on the light receiving element of the electronic pen attached to the opening. The light receiving element receives the light collected by the condenser lens.

The image display system according to the present disclosure includes an electronic pen, an image display device, and an electronic pen attachment. The image display device generates a plurality of subfields including a coordinate detection subfield that emits light for detecting the position coordinates of the electronic pen on the image display surface. The attachment for the electronic pen is attached to the electronic pen, and the light emitted from the image display device is condensed on the light receiving element of the electronic pen through the condenser lens. Then, the image display system calculates the position coordinates of the electronic pen on the image display surface based on the light emission of the coordinate detection subfield, and performs drawing based on the calculated position coordinates.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an image display system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of the structure of the panel used in the image display system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the electrode arrangement of the panel used in the image display device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a drive voltage waveform applied to each electrode of the panel in the image display subfield according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a drive voltage waveform applied to each electrode of the panel in the coordinate detection subfield according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the sustain electrode driving unit of the image display device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the data electrode driving unit of the image display device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the scan electrode driving unit of the image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a three-view diagram illustrating an appearance of the electronic pen according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a two-view diagram and a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the periphery of the tip of the main body case of the electronic pen according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a two-view diagram and a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the pen tip cap of the electronic pen according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a two-view diagram and a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the pen tip portion of the electronic pen according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is an exploded view around the tip of the electronic pen according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a two-view diagram and a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the attachment for the electronic pen according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an electronic pen equipped with the electronic pen attachment according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the tip portion of the electronic pen equipped with the electronic pen attachment according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a position coordinate detection operation when the electronic pen is used in the proximity in the image display system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a position coordinate detection operation when the electronic pen is used remotely in the image display system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an operation when the electronic pen is used in the proximity in the image display system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an operation when the electronic pen is used remotely in the image display system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an operation when an input with the electronic pen is performed in the image display system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a plan view, a side view, and a plan sectional view showing the shape of the electronic pen attachment according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the tip of the electronic pen equipped with the electronic pen attachment in the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, an attachment for an electronic pen and an electronic pen according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, an example will be described in which the electronic pen system in the embodiment of the present invention is used in an image display system using a plasma display panel as an image display unit.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the image display system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The image display system 100 includes an image display device 30, a drawing device 40, an electronic pen 50, and an electronic pen attachment 80. Hereinafter, the electronic pen attachment 80 is simply referred to as “attachment 80”. There may be a plurality of electronic pens 50.

The drawing apparatus 40 includes a receiving unit 42 and a drawing unit 46. The electronic pen 50 includes a contact switch 51, a light receiving element 52, a synchronization detection unit 56, a coordinate calculation unit 57, and a transmission unit 58. The attachment 80 includes a condenser lens 82 and is detachably attached to the electronic pen 50.

The electronic pen 50 is used when the user inputs characters, drawings, and the like in the image display area of the image display device 30. The attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50 so that the electronic pen 50 can be used at a position away from the panel 10. Details of the drawing device 40, the electronic pen 50, and the attachment 80 will be described later. In the present embodiment, the combination of the electronic pen 50 and the attachment 80 is referred to as an “electronic pen system”.

The image display device 30 includes a display device that displays an image and a drive circuit that drives the display device. Hereinafter, an image display apparatus 30 using a plasma display panel (hereinafter abbreviated as “panel”) 10 as a display device will be described as an example, but the display device may be a liquid crystal, an organic EL, or the like.

The image display device 30 includes, as drive circuits, an image signal processing unit 31, a data electrode drive unit 32, a scan electrode drive unit 33, a sustain electrode drive unit 34, a control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each circuit block, And a power supply unit (not shown) for supplying necessary power to each circuit block.

The image signal processing unit 31 converts a signal obtained by synthesizing an image signal input from the outside and a drawing signal output from the drawing device 40, or one of the signals into image data, and outputs the image data to the data electrode driving unit 32. To do. The image data is data indicating light emission / non-light emission for each subfield in each discharge cell. The data electrode driver 32 generates a drive voltage waveform applied to the data electrode 22, the scan electrode driver 33 generates a drive voltage waveform applied to the scan electrode 12, and the sustain electrode driver 34 applies to the sustain electrode 13. Generate a drive voltage waveform.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the structure of the panel 10 used in the image display system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

A plurality of display electrode pairs 14 each including a scanning electrode 12 and a sustain electrode 13 are formed on a glass front substrate 11, a dielectric layer 15 is formed thereon, and a protective layer 16 is further formed thereon. . The front substrate 11 serves as an image display surface on which an image is displayed.

A plurality of data electrodes 22 are formed on the rear substrate 21, a dielectric layer 23 is formed thereon, and a grid-like partition wall 24 is further formed thereon. On the side surface of the partition wall 24 and the surface of the dielectric layer 23, a phosphor layer 25R that emits red (R), a phosphor layer 25G that emits green (G), and a phosphor layer 25B that emits blue (B). Is provided. Hereinafter, the phosphor layer 25R, the phosphor layer 25G, and the phosphor layer 25B are collectively referred to as a phosphor layer 25.

Then, the front substrate 11 and the rear substrate 21 are arranged to face each other so that the display electrode pair 14 and the data electrode 22 intersect each other with the discharge space interposed therebetween, and a discharge gas is sealed in the discharge space.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electrode arrangement of the panel 10 used in the image display device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The panel 10 includes n scan electrodes SC1 to SCn (scan electrode 12 in FIG. 2) and n sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn (sustain electrode 13 in FIG. 2) extending in the first direction. M data electrodes D1 to Dm (data electrodes 22 in FIG. 2) extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction are arranged.

Hereinafter, the first direction is referred to as a row direction (or horizontal direction, line direction, or x coordinate direction), and the second direction is referred to as a column direction (or vertical direction or y coordinate direction).

In panel 10, one discharge cell is formed in a region where one pair of scan electrode SCi (i = 1 to n) and sustain electrode SUi intersects with one data electrode Dj (j = 1 to m). A set of three discharge cells emitting red, green, and blue colors adjacent to each other constitutes one pixel. Accordingly, m discharge cells ((m / 3) pixels) are formed on one pair of display electrodes 14, and n discharge cells are formed on one data electrode 22. An area where (m × n) discharge cells are formed becomes an image display area of the panel 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a drive voltage waveform applied to each electrode of the panel 10 in the image display subfield according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the present embodiment, panel 10 emits light for detecting a plurality of image display subfields (shown in FIG. 4) for displaying an image on panel 10 and “positional coordinates” of electronic pen 50 in one field. Has a plurality of coordinate detection subfields (shown in FIG. 5). “Position coordinates” are the coordinates of the position indicated by the electronic pen 50 in the image display area of the panel 10 (coordinates indicating the position of the electronic pen 50).

The drive voltage waveform in the image display subfield is the same as the conventional drive voltage waveform, and each of the plurality of image display subfields has a predetermined luminance weight, and discharges light emission / non-light emission of each image display subfield. An image is displayed on the panel 10 by controlling each cell. Each image display subfield has an initialization period, an address period, and a sustain period. Hereinafter, the image display subfield is also simply referred to as a subfield.

For the initialization operation in the initialization period, a “forced initialization operation” that forcibly generates an initialization discharge in the discharge cells and a discharge cell that generates an address discharge in the address period of the immediately preceding subfield are selectively used. There is a “selective initialization operation” that generates an initialization discharge. In the present embodiment, an example in which a forced initialization operation is performed in subfield SF1 and a selective initialization operation is performed in subfields SF2 to SF8 is shown.

The number of image display subfields in one field is, for example, eight (subfields SF1 to SF8), and the luminance weight of each subfield is, for example, (1, 34, 21, 13, 8, 5, 3, 2). is there. However, the number of subfields, the luminance weight, etc. are not limited to the above numerical values.

In the initializing period Pi1 of the subfield SF1 in which the forced initializing operation is performed, the voltage 0 (V) is applied to each of the data electrodes D1 to Dm and the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn. After applying voltage 0 (V) to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, an upward ramp waveform voltage that gradually rises from voltage Vi1 lower than the discharge start voltage to voltage Vi2 exceeding the discharge start voltage is applied. Next, positive voltage Ve is applied to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and gradually decreases from voltage 0 (V), which is less than the discharge start voltage, to negative voltage Vi4, which exceeds the discharge start voltage, for scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Apply a falling ramp waveform voltage.

The initializing discharge is generated in each discharge cell by this forced initializing operation, and the wall voltage on each electrode is adjusted to a voltage suitable for the address operation in the subsequent address period Pw1. Hereinafter, the driving voltage waveform generated in the initialization period Pi1 is referred to as a forced initialization waveform.

In the address period Pw1 of the subfield SF1, a negative scan pulse having a negative voltage Va is applied to the scan electrode SC1 in the first row, and data of discharge cells to be emitted in the first row of the data electrodes D1 to Dm. An address operation is performed in which a positive address pulse with a positive voltage Vd is applied to the electrode Dk.

The same addressing operation is sequentially performed in the order of scan electrodes SC2, SC3, SC4,..., SCn up to the discharge cell in the nth row.

In the sustain period Ps1 of the subfield SF1, the number of sustain pulses obtained by multiplying the brightness weight by a predetermined brightness multiple is alternately applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn and the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn. A discharge cell that has generated an address discharge in the immediately preceding address period Pw1 generates a number of sustain discharges corresponding to the luminance weight, and emits light at a luminance corresponding to the luminance weight.

After generation of sustain pulse (after sustain operation is completed in sustain period Ps1) or after address operation, scan electrodes SC1 to SCn are applied with voltage 0 (V) applied to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn and data electrodes D1 to Dm. An erasing operation is performed in which an upward ramp waveform voltage that gradually rises from the voltage 0 (V) to the positive voltage Vr is applied.

As a result, a weak discharge (erase discharge) is generated in the discharge cell that has generated the sustain discharge, and unnecessary wall charges in the discharge cell are erased.

In the initialization period Pi2 of the subfield SF2 in which the selective initialization operation is performed, the voltage 0 (V) is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, and the positive voltage Ve is applied to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn. A downward ramp waveform voltage falling from voltage 0 (V), which is less than the discharge start voltage, to negative voltage Vi4 is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn.

By this selective initializing operation, a weak initializing discharge is generated in the discharge cell that has generated the sustain discharge in the sustain period Ps1 of the immediately preceding subfield SF1, and the wall voltage on each electrode is changed to the address operation in the subsequent address period Pw2. The wall voltage is adjusted to a suitable level. In the discharge cells that did not generate the sustain discharge in the sustain period Ps1, the initialization discharge does not occur. Hereinafter, the drive voltage waveform generated in the initialization period Pi2 is referred to as a selective initialization waveform.

In the subsequent address period Pw2 and sustain period Ps2, drive voltage waveforms similar to those in the address period Pw1 and sustain period Ps1 are applied to each electrode, except for the number of sustain pulses.

In each subfield after subfield SF3, the same drive voltage waveform as in subfield SF2 is applied to each electrode except for the number of sustain pulses.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a drive voltage waveform applied to each electrode of the panel 10 in the coordinate detection subfield according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In the present embodiment, the coordinate detection subfield includes synchronization detection subfield SFo, proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1, proximity x coordinate detection subfield SFx1, remote y coordinate detection subfield SFy2, and remote x coordinate. A detection subfield SFx2 is included.

Hereinafter, the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1 and the remote y coordinate detection subfield SFy2 are collectively referred to as “y coordinate detection subfield SFy”, and the proximity x coordinate detection subfield SFx1 and the remote x coordinate detection are performed. The subfield SFx2 is collectively referred to as “x coordinate detection subfield SFx”.

The position indicated by the electronic pen 50 in the image display area (hereinafter also referred to as “position of the electronic pen 50”) is represented by an x coordinate and ay coordinate. In this embodiment, the coordinate in the row direction is the x coordinate, and the coordinate in the column direction is the y coordinate. The x-coordinate detection subfield SFx and the y-coordinate detection subfield SFy are subfields that emit light for detecting the x-coordinate and y-coordinate, and display the x-coordinate detection pattern and the y-coordinate detection pattern on the panel 10. .

In the proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFy1 and the proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1, the user directly contacts the pen tip of the electronic pen 50 with the panel 10 (or at a position relatively close to the panel 10). This is a subfield used for detecting the position coordinates of the electronic pen 50 during “proximity use”. The remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 and the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2 are used to detect the position coordinate of the electronic pen 50 when the user uses the electronic pen 50 at a position away from the panel 10. Subfield to use.

Further, in the image display system 100, wireless communication is performed between the electronic pen 50 and the drawing device 40. The electronic pen 50 calculates the position coordinates of the electronic pen 50 inside the electronic pen 50 and transmits data of the calculated position coordinates from the electronic pen 50 to the drawing device 40 by wireless communication.

The electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted in the synchronization detection subfield SFo, thereby synchronizing with the image display device 30 and generating a signal (coordinate reference signal) serving as a reference for calculating position coordinates with high accuracy. It becomes possible.

As shown in FIG. 5, the synchronization detection subfield SFo has an initialization period Pio, an address period Pwo, and a synchronization detection period Po.

In the initialization period Pio, the selection initialization operation similar to the initialization period Pi2 of the subfield SF2 of the image display subfield is performed, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

In the address period Pwo of the synchronization detection subfield SFo, the voltage 0 (V) is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, the voltage Ve is applied to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and the voltage Vc is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Apply.

Next, an address pulse of voltage Vd is applied to data electrodes D1 to Dm, and a scan pulse of voltage Va is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn at time to0 to generate an address discharge in each discharge cell.

In the address period Pwo shown in FIG. 5, a scan pulse is applied simultaneously to all the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn to generate address discharges in all the discharge cells at the same time. For example, the data electrodes D1 to Dm Alternatively, the address pulse may be applied to each electrode from scan electrode SC1 to scan electrode SCn, and the address discharge may be sequentially generated in each discharge cell. In this case, the time to0 is a time at which a scan pulse for generating the last address discharge in the address period Pwo is applied to the scan electrode 12 (for example, the scan electrode SCn).

After the write operation is completed, voltage 0 (V) is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm. Further, voltage Vc is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, and then voltage 0 (V) is applied. In this embodiment, this state is maintained until time to1. During this period, after the address discharge is generated in the discharge cell, the state in which no discharge is generated is maintained.

Next, in the synchronization detection period Po of the synchronization detection subfield SFo, the panel 10 is caused to emit light (synchronization detection light emission) a plurality of times as a reference when calculating the position coordinates in the electronic pen 50.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, at time to1 after time To0 has elapsed from time to0, voltage 0 (V) is applied to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and synchronous detection pulse V1 of voltage Vso is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Apply. Next, at time to2 after time To1 has elapsed from time to1, voltage 0 (V) is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, and synchronous detection pulse V2 of voltage Vso is applied to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn. Next, at time to3 after time To2 has elapsed from time to2, voltage 0 (V) is applied to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and synchronous detection pulse V3 of voltage Vso is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Next, at time to4 after time To3 has elapsed from time to3, voltage 0 (V) is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, and synchronous detection pulse V4 of voltage Vso is applied to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn.

In this way, in the synchronization detection subfield SFo, a plurality of times (all times in all image cells in the image display area of the panel 10) at predetermined time intervals (for example, time To1, time To2, time To3) ( For example, four times of synchronization detection discharge is generated, and light emission for synchronization detection is generated in the panel 10 a plurality of times (for example, four times).

The synchronous detection discharge is a discharge similar to the sustain discharge, and is a stronger discharge than the address discharge, and has higher luminance than the light emission generated in the address period Pwo.

The electronic pen 50 detects a plurality of times (for example, four times) of light emission for synchronization detection that occurs at a predetermined time interval (for example, the time To1, the time To2, and the time To3). Create a coordinate reference signal. The coordinate reference signal is a signal that serves as a reference when calculating the position coordinates (x, y) of the electronic pen.

In the synchronization detection subfield SFo, the entire surface of the image display surface of the panel 10 illuminates all at the same timing, so the electronic pen 50 can be used regardless of the position coordinates of the electronic pen 50 in the image display area of the panel 10. This light emission can be received at the same timing.

In the present embodiment, the time To0 is set to a time longer than any of the time To1, the time To2, and the time To3. This is to prevent the electronic pen 50 from erroneously recognizing light emission due to the address discharge that occurs in the address period Pwo of the synchronization detection subfield SFo as light emission due to another discharge. In the present embodiment, for example, the time To0 is about 50 μsec, the time To1 is about 40 μsec, the time To2 is about 20 μsec, and the time To3 is about 30 μsec. However, each time is not limited to these numerical values, and may be set appropriately according to the specifications of the image display system.

In the synchronization detection period Po of the synchronization detection subfield SFo, after the generation of the synchronization detection pulse V4 (at the end of the synchronization detection period Po), an erase operation similar to the erase operation performed at the end of the sustain period Ps1 of the subfield SF1 is performed. . As a result, a weak erasing discharge is generated in the discharge cell that has generated the synchronous detection discharge immediately before.

Subsequently, the proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFy1 is generated.

Hereinafter, an aggregate of discharge cells constituting one row is referred to as “discharge cell row”, and an aggregate of pixels constituting one row is referred to as “pixel row”. In the present embodiment, the discharge cell row and the pixel row are substantially the same. A group of discharge cells constituting one column is referred to as a “discharge cell column”, and a group of discharge cells (pixel column) composed of three adjacent discharge cell columns is referred to as a “pixel column”. .

The proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFy1 has an initialization period Piy, a y-coordinate detection period Py1, and an erasing period Pey.

In the initialization period Piy, the same selective initialization operation as in the initialization period Pi2 of the subfield SF2 of the image display subfield is performed to generate an initialization discharge in each discharge cell. Thus, the wall voltage of each discharge cell is adjusted to a wall voltage suitable for the proximity y coordinate detection pattern display operation in the subsequent y coordinate detection period Py1.

In the subsequent y-coordinate detection period Py1, the operation of simultaneously applying the y-coordinate detection pulse to the “first number” scanning electrodes 12 while applying the y-coordinate detection voltage Vdy to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, This is sequentially performed on scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. In the present embodiment, an example in which the “first number” is “1” is shown, but the “first number” may be “2” or more.

In the y coordinate detection period Py1 starting at time ty01, first, the voltage 0 (V) is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, the voltage Ve is applied to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and the voltage Vc is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. To do.

After time Ty01 has elapsed from time ty01, positive y-coordinate detection voltage Vdy is applied to data electrodes D1 to Dm, and negative y-coordinate detection pulse of voltage Vay is applied to scan electrode SC1 constituting the first pixel row. Apply. This first pixel row is, for example, a pixel row arranged at the upper end of the image display area.

As a result, discharge occurs simultaneously in the discharge cells at the intersections of the data electrodes D1 to Dm and the scan electrode SC1. In this way, discharge occurs in the first pixel row, and the first pixel row emits light. Hereinafter, this discharge is also referred to as “y-coordinate detection discharge”. The light emission by this y coordinate detection discharge becomes light emission for y coordinate detection when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity.

The same operation is performed until the nth discharge cell row is reached in the order of scan electrode SC2, scan electrode SC3,..., Scan electrode SCn with the y coordinate detection voltage Vdy applied to data electrodes D1 to Dm. Do it sequentially. As a result, the y coordinate detection discharge is sequentially generated in each pixel row from the uppermost pixel row (first pixel row) to the lowermost pixel row (nth pixel row) of the panel 10 one pixel row at a time. .

Thus, in the y coordinate detection period Py1 of the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1, one line extending in the x-axis direction (row direction) that emits light with a width corresponding to the “first number” (for example, one pixel row). Light emission lines sequentially move in the y-axis direction (for example, one pixel row at a time) from the upper end (first pixel row) to the lower end (nth pixel row) of the image display area of the panel 10. A light emission pattern is displayed on the panel 10.

Hereinafter, this light emission pattern is referred to as “proximity y coordinate detection pattern”. Further, one light emitting line having a width corresponding to the “first number” is referred to as “first light emitting line”. For example, if the “first number” is “2”, the “first emission line” having a width of two pixel rows sequentially moves in the y coordinate direction by two pixel rows. It becomes a light emission pattern.

In the y coordinate detection period Py1, by displaying the proximity y coordinate detection pattern on the panel 10, the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the first light emission line changes according to the position coordinates of the electronic pen 50. . Therefore, the y coordinate of the position coordinates (x, y) when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity can be detected by detecting the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the first light emitting line.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the time during which the voltage Vay of the y coordinate detection pulse is applied to each of the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn in the y coordinate detection period Py1 (that is, the pulse width of the y coordinate detection pulse) ) Is Ty11. This Ty11 is, for example, about 1 μsec.

In the erasing period Pey of the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1, an erasing operation similar to the erasing operation performed at the end of the sustain period Ps1 of the subfield SF1 is performed. As a result, a weak erase discharge is generated in the discharge cell that has generated the y-coordinate detection discharge.

The subsequent proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1 has an initialization period Pix, an x-coordinate detection period Px1, and an erasing period Pex.

In the initialization period Pix, a selective initialization operation similar to that in the initialization period Piy of the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1 is performed to generate an initialization discharge in each discharge cell. As a result, the wall voltage of each discharge cell is adjusted to a wall voltage suitable for the proximity x-coordinate detection pattern display operation in the subsequent x-coordinate detection period Px1.

In the subsequent x-coordinate detection period Px1 of the proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1, the x-coordinate detection voltage Vax is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, and x is simultaneously applied to the preset “third number” of data electrodes 22. The operation of applying the coordinate detection pulse is sequentially performed on the data electrodes D1 to Dm. In this embodiment, an example in which “third number” is “3” is shown, but “third number” may be a number other than “3”.

In the x coordinate detection period Px1 starting at time tx01, first, the voltage 0 (V) is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, the voltage Ve is applied to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and the negative x coordinate is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. A detection voltage Vax is applied.

After time Tx01 has elapsed from time tx01, positive x of voltage Vdx is applied to data electrodes D1 to D3 constituting the first pixel column while negative x coordinate detection voltage Vax is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Coordinate detection pulses are applied simultaneously. The first pixel column is, for example, a pixel column arranged at the left end of the image display area.

As a result, discharge occurs simultaneously in the discharge cells at the intersections of the data electrodes D1 to D3 and the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Thus, discharge occurs in the first pixel column, and the first pixel column emits light. Hereinafter, this discharge is also referred to as “x coordinate detection discharge”. The light emission by the x coordinate detection discharge is light emission for x coordinate detection when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity.

Similar operations are performed adjacent to each other in the order of data electrodes D4 to D6, data electrodes D7 to D9,..., Data electrodes Dm-2 to Dm, with the x coordinate detection voltage Vax applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. The three data electrodes 22 are sequentially performed until reaching the m-th discharge cell column. As a result, an x coordinate detection discharge is applied to each pixel column from the leftmost pixel column (first pixel column) to the rightmost pixel column ((m / 3) th pixel column) of the panel 10. It occurs sequentially.

Thus, in the x coordinate detection period Px1 of the proximity x coordinate detection subfield SFx1, one line extending in the y-axis direction (column direction) that emits light with a width corresponding to the “third number” (for example, one pixel column). Are sequentially emitted in the x-axis direction (for example, one pixel column) from the left end (first pixel column) to the right end ((m / 3) pixel column) of the image display area of the panel 10. The moving light emission pattern is displayed on the panel 10.

Hereinafter, this light emission pattern is referred to as “proximity x coordinate detection pattern”. In addition, one light emitting line having a width corresponding to the “third number” is referred to as a “second light emitting line”. For example, if the “third number” is “6”, the “second emission line” having a width of two pixel columns sequentially moves in the x coordinate direction by two pixel columns in the “proximity x coordinate detection pattern”. It becomes a light emission pattern.

In the x-coordinate detection period Px1, by displaying the proximity x-coordinate detection pattern on the panel 10, the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the second light emission line changes according to the position coordinates of the electronic pen 50. . Therefore, the x coordinate of the position coordinate (x, y) when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity can be detected by detecting the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the second light emitting line.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the time during which the voltage Vdx of the x-coordinate detection pulse is applied to each of the data electrodes D1 to Dm in the x-coordinate detection period Px1 (that is, the pulse width of the x-coordinate detection pulse) ) Is Tx11. This Tx11 is, for example, about 1 μsec.

In the erasing period Pex of the proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1, an erasing operation similar to the erasing operation performed at the end of the sustaining period Ps1 of the subfield SF1 is performed. As a result, a weak erase discharge is generated in the discharge cell that has generated the x-coordinate detection discharge.

Subsequently, the remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 is generated.

The remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 has an initialization period Piy, a y-coordinate detection period Py2, and an erasing period Pey.

In the initializing period Piy, the selective initializing operation similar to the initializing period Piy of the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1 is performed to generate an initializing discharge in each discharge cell. Thereby, the wall voltage of each discharge cell is adjusted to the wall voltage suitable for the remote y coordinate detection pattern display operation in the subsequent y coordinate detection period Py2.

In the subsequent y-coordinate detection period Py2 of the remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2, the y-coordinate detection voltage Vdy is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, and y is simultaneously applied to the preset “second number” of scan electrodes 12. The operation of applying the coordinate detection pulse is sequentially performed on scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. The “second number” is a numerical value larger than the “first number” used in the y coordinate detection period Py1 of the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1. In the present embodiment, an example in which the “second number” is “8” is shown, but the “second number” may be a number other than “8”.

In the y coordinate detection period Py2 starting at time ty02, first, the voltage 0 (V) is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, the voltage Ve is applied to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and the voltage Vc is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. To do.

After time Ty02 has elapsed from time ty02, positive y-coordinate detection voltage Vdy is applied to data electrodes D1 to Dm, and negative voltage Vay is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SC8 constituting the first to eighth pixel rows. A y-coordinate detection pulse is applied simultaneously.

As a result, discharge occurs simultaneously in the discharge cells at the intersections of the data electrodes D1 to Dm and the scan electrodes SC1 to SC8. In this way, discharge is generated simultaneously in the 1st to 8th pixel rows, and 8 pixel rows in the 1st to 8th rows emit light all at once. Hereinafter, this discharge is also referred to as “y-coordinate detection discharge”. The light emission by this y coordinate detection discharge is light emission for y coordinate detection when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely.

Similar operations are performed adjacent to each other in the order of scan electrodes SC9 to SC16, scan electrodes SC17 to SC24,..., Scan electrodes SCn-7 to SCn with the y coordinate detection voltage Vdy applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm. For every eight scanning electrodes 12 to be performed, the steps are sequentially performed until the nth discharge cell row is reached. As a result, the y coordinate detection discharge is sequentially generated in each of the pixel rows from the uppermost pixel row (first pixel row) to the lowermost pixel row (nth pixel row) of the panel 10 by 8 pixel rows. .

Thus, in the y-coordinate detection period Py2 of the remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2, one line extending in the x-axis direction (row direction) that emits light with a width (for example, 8 pixel rows) according to the “second number”. Emission lines sequentially move in the y-axis direction (for example, every 8 pixel rows) from the upper end (first pixel row) to the lower end (nth pixel row) of the image display area of the panel 10. A light emission pattern is displayed on the panel 10.

Hereinafter, this light emission pattern is referred to as a “remote y coordinate detection pattern”. In addition, one light emitting line having a width corresponding to the “second number” is referred to as a “third light emitting line”. For example, if the “second number” is “16”, the “remote y-coordinate detection pattern” is such that the “third emission line” having a width of 16 pixel rows sequentially moves in the y-coordinate direction by 16 pixel rows. It becomes a light emission pattern.

The third light emitting line is a light emitting line having a wider width and a larger light emission amount than the first light emitting line for proximity described above. Therefore, the distance to the panel 10 where the electronic pen 50 can receive the light emitted from the third light emitting line is larger than the distance that the light emitted from the first light emitting line can be received.

In the y-coordinate detection period Py2, by displaying the remote y-coordinate detection pattern on the panel 10, the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the third light emission line changes according to the position coordinates of the electronic pen 50. . Therefore, the y coordinate of the position coordinates (x, y) when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely can be detected by detecting the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the third light emitting line.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the time during which the voltage Vay of the y-coordinate detection pulse is applied to each of the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn in the y-coordinate detection period Py2 (that is, the pulse width of the y-coordinate detection pulse) ) Is Ty12. This Ty12 is, for example, about 1 μsec.

In the erase period Pey of the remote y coordinate detection subfield SFy2, the same erase operation as the erase operation performed in the erase period Pey of the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1 is performed. As a result, a weak erase discharge is generated in the discharge cell that has generated the y-coordinate detection discharge.

The subsequent remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2 has an initialization period Pix, an x-coordinate detection period Px2, and an erasing period Pex.

In the initialization period Pix, a selective initialization operation similar to that in the initialization period Pix of the proximity x coordinate detection subfield SFx1 is performed to generate an initialization discharge in each discharge cell. Thereby, the wall voltage of each discharge cell is adjusted to a wall voltage suitable for the remote x-coordinate detection pattern display operation in the subsequent x-coordinate detection period Px2.

In the subsequent x-coordinate detection period Px2 of the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2, the x-coordinate detection voltage Vax is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, and x is simultaneously applied to the “fourth” data electrode 22 set in advance. The operation of applying the coordinate detection pulse is sequentially performed on the data electrodes D1 to Dm. The “fourth number” is a numerical value larger than the “third number” used in the x coordinate detection period Px1 of the proximity x coordinate detection subfield SFx1. In this embodiment, an example in which the “fourth number” is “24” is shown, but the “fourth number” may be a number other than “24”.

In the x coordinate detection period Px2 starting at time tx02, first, the voltage 0 (V) is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, the voltage Ve is applied to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and the negative x coordinate is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. A detection voltage Vax is applied.

After the time Tx02 has elapsed from time tx02, the positive polarity of the voltage Vdx is applied to the data electrodes D1 to D24 constituting the first to eighth pixel columns while the negative x coordinate detection voltage Vax is applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. X-coordinate detection pulses are simultaneously applied.

Thereby, discharges are generated simultaneously in the discharge cells at the intersections of the data electrodes D1 to D24 and the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. In this way, discharge is generated simultaneously in the first to eighth pixel columns, and the first to eighth pixel columns emit light all at once. Hereinafter, this discharge is also referred to as “x coordinate detection discharge”. The light emission by the x coordinate detection discharge is light emission for x coordinate detection when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely.

Similar operations are performed adjacent to each other in the order of data electrodes D25 to D48, data electrodes D49 to D72,..., Data electrodes Dm-23 to Dm, with the x coordinate detection voltage Vax applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. For every 24 data electrodes 22, the process is sequentially performed until the mth discharge cell row is reached. As a result, 8 pixel columns of x coordinate detection discharge are generated in each pixel column from the leftmost pixel column (first pixel column) to the rightmost pixel column ((m / 3) th pixel column) of the panel 10. It occurs sequentially.

Thus, in the x-coordinate detection period Px2 of the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2, one line extending in the y-axis direction (column direction) that emits light with a width corresponding to the “fourth number” (for example, 8 pixel columns) Emission lines sequentially from the left end (first pixel column) to the right end ((m / 3) pixel column) of the image display area of the panel 10 in the x-axis direction (for example, eight pixel columns). The moving light emission pattern is displayed on the panel 10.

Hereinafter, this light emission pattern is referred to as “remote x coordinate detection pattern”. In addition, one light emitting line having a width corresponding to the “fourth number” generated in the y coordinate direction and generated in the x coordinate detection period Px2 is referred to as a “fourth light emitting line”. For example, if the “fourth number” is “48”, the “remote x-coordinate detection pattern” sequentially moves the “fourth light emission line” having a width of 16 pixel columns in the x-coordinate direction by 16 pixel columns. It becomes a light emission pattern.

The fourth light emitting line is a light emitting line having a wider width and a larger amount of light emission than the second light emitting line for proximity described above. Therefore, the distance to the panel 10 where the electronic pen 50 can receive the light emitted from the fourth light emitting line is larger than the distance that the light emitted from the second light emitting line can be received.

In the x-coordinate detection period Px2, the remote x-coordinate detection pattern is displayed on the panel 10, so that the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the fourth light emission line changes according to the position coordinates of the electronic pen 50. . Therefore, the x coordinate of the position coordinate (x, y) when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely can be detected by detecting the timing at which the electronic pen 50 receives the light emitted from the fourth light emitting line.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the time during which the voltage Vdx of the x-coordinate detection pulse is applied to each of the data electrodes D1 to Dm in the x-coordinate detection period Px2 (that is, the pulse width of the x-coordinate detection pulse) ) Is Tx12. This Tx12 is, for example, about 1 μsec.

In the erase period Pex of the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2, an erase operation similar to the erase operation performed in the erase period Pex of the proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1 is performed. As a result, a weak erase discharge is generated in the discharge cell that has generated the x-coordinate detection discharge.

As described above, in this embodiment, in the proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFy1 and the proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1, the light emission luminance is relatively low, but the position coordinate calculation accuracy is relatively high. The coordinate detection pattern and the x coordinate detection pattern are displayed on the panel 10. On the other hand, in the remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 and the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2, the y-coordinate detection pattern and the x-coordinate detection pattern with relatively low emission coordinates and relatively high emission luminance are displayed. 10 is displayed.

Therefore, when using the pen tip portion of the electronic pen 50 in contact with or in proximity to the panel 10, light emission generated in the proximity y coordinate detection subfield SFy1 and the proximity x coordinate detection subfield SFx1 is to be detected. Thus, the position coordinates can be calculated with relatively high accuracy. Further, when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely, the light emitted from the remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 and the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2 having a relatively high light emission luminance is detected, thereby separating from the panel 10. Even in the electronic pen 50 located at a different position (for example, about several meters), the position coordinates can be calculated.

Note that the voltage values applied to the electrodes in this embodiment are, for example, the voltage Vi1 = 150 (V), the voltage Vi2 = 350 (V), the voltage Vi3 = 200 (V), and the voltage Vi4 = −175 (V). , Voltage Va = voltage Vay = voltage Vax = −200 (V), voltage Vc = −50 (V), voltage Vs = voltage Vso = 205 (V), voltage Vr = 205 (V), voltage Ve = 155 (V ), Voltage Vd = voltage Vdy = voltage Vdx = 55 (V).

The gradient of the rising ramp waveform voltage generated in the initialization period Pi1 is about 1.5 (V / μsec), and the gradient of the descending ramp waveform voltage generated in the initialization periods Pi1 to Pi8, Pio, Piy, Pix is It is about −2.5 (V / μsec). Further, the gradient of the rising ramp waveform voltage generated in the sustain periods Ps1 to Ps8, the synchronization detection period Po, the erasure period Pey, and Pex is about 10 (V / μsec).

However, the specific numerical values such as the voltage value and the gradient described above are merely examples, and it is desirable that each voltage value and the gradient is optimally set based on the discharge characteristics of the panel 10 and the specifications of the image display device. .

Next, the sustain electrode drive unit 34, the data electrode drive unit 32, and the scan electrode drive unit 33 of the image display device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. Each circuit block operates based on a control signal supplied from a control unit (not shown), but details of the path of the control signal are omitted in each drawing.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the sustain electrode driving unit 34 of the image display device 30 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Sustain electrode drive unit 34 includes sustain pulse generation circuit 280 and constant voltage generation circuit 285. Sustain pulse generation circuit 280 includes a power recovery circuit 281 and switching elements Q83 and Q84. The power recovery circuit 281 includes a power recovery capacitor C20, switching elements Q21 and Q22, backflow prevention diodes Di21 and Di22, and resonance inductors L21 and L22.

Sustain pulse generation circuit 280 generates a sustain pulse of voltage Vs at the timing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and applies it to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn. In the synchronization detection period Po of the synchronization detection subfield SFo, the synchronization detection pulses V2 and V4 are applied to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn.

The constant voltage generation circuit 285 has switching elements Q86 and Q87, and applies the voltage Ve to the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn at the timings shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the data electrode driving unit 32 of the image display device 30 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The data electrode driving unit 32 operates based on the control signal and the image data supplied from the image signal processing unit 31, but details of the paths of these signals are omitted in FIG.

The data electrode driver 32 includes switching elements Q91H1 to Q91Hm and Q91L1 to Q91Lm. Then, the data electrode driving unit 32 outputs the write pulse of the voltage Vd in each write period, the y coordinate detection voltage Vdy (= voltage Vd) in the y coordinate detection period Py, and the timing shown in FIGS. In the coordinate detection period Px, an x-coordinate detection pulse of voltage Vdx (= voltage Vd) is applied to each data electrode D1 to Dm.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the scan electrode driving unit 33 of the image display device 30 according to the eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure.

The scan electrode driving unit 33 includes a sustain pulse generation circuit 55, a ramp waveform voltage generation circuit 160, and a scan pulse generation circuit 170. Hereinafter, the voltage input to the scan pulse generation circuit 170 is referred to as “reference potential A”.

Sustain pulse generation circuit 55 has power recovery circuit 151 and switching elements Q55, Q56, and Q59. The power recovery circuit 151 includes a power recovery capacitor C10, switching elements Q11 and Q12, backflow prevention diodes Di11 and Di12, and resonance inductors L11 and L12. The switching element Q59 is a separation switch, and prevents reverse current flow.

Then, sustain pulse generating circuit 55 generates a sustain pulse of voltage Vs at the timing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and applies it to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn via scan pulse generating circuit 170. Further, in the synchronization detection period Po of the synchronization detection subfield SFo, synchronization detection pulses V1 and V3 are generated and applied to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn via the scan pulse generation circuit 170.

The ramp waveform voltage generation circuit 160 includes

Miller integration circuits

161, 162, and 163, generates the ramp waveform voltages shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and applies them to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn via the scan pulse generation circuit 170. .

Miller integrating circuit 161 includes transistor Q61, capacitor C61, and resistor R61, and generates an upward ramp waveform voltage that gradually rises toward voltage Vt (= voltage Vi2). Alternatively, each voltage may be set so that a voltage obtained by superimposing the voltage Vp on the voltage Vt is equal to the voltage Vi2.

Miller integrating circuit 162 includes transistor Q62, capacitor C62, resistor R62, and backflow prevention diode Di62, and generates an upward ramp waveform voltage that gradually rises toward voltage Vr.

Miller integrating circuit 163 includes transistor Q63, capacitor C63, and resistor R63, and generates a downward ramp waveform voltage that gradually falls toward voltage Vi4.

Switching element Q69 is a separation switch and prevents reverse current flow.

Scan pulse generation circuit 170 has switching elements QH1 to QHn, QL1 to QLn, Q72, a power source that generates negative voltage Va, and a power source E71 that generates voltage Vp. A connection point between the switching element QHi and the switching element QLi (i = 1 to n) is an output terminal of the scan electrode driver 33 and is connected to the scan electrode SCi.

Switching element Q72 clamps reference potential A to negative voltage Va (= voltage Vay = voltage Vax). Switching elements QL1 to QLn apply reference potential A to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, and switching elements QH1 to QHn apply a voltage obtained by superimposing reference voltage A on voltage Vp to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn.

The scanning pulse generation circuit 170 clamps the reference potential A to the voltage Va and superimposes the voltage Vp on the reference potential A to generate a voltage Vc (Vc = Va + Vp), and scans while switching between the voltage Va and the voltage Vc. A pulse is generated and applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn.

The scan pulse generation circuit 170 generates a scan pulse at the timing shown in FIG. 4 and sequentially applies it to each of the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn in each writing period of the image display subfield.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the scan pulse generation circuit 170 generates a y-coordinate detection pulse of voltage Vay (= voltage Va) in the y-coordinate detection period Py, and the x-coordinate detection voltage Vax in the x-coordinate detection period Px. (= Voltage Va) is generated and applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn.

A plurality of pairs of switching elements QHi and switching elements QLi (60 pairs in the example shown in FIG. 8) are integrated in one IC (scan driver IC).

Next, the electronic pen 50 and the attachment 80 will be described with reference to FIG.

The electronic pen 50 shown in the present embodiment is “proximity use” in which the pen tip portion of the electronic pen 50 is used in contact with (or in proximity to) the panel 10 without attaching the attachment 80 to the electronic pen 50. In addition, the electronic pen 50 can be used in two ways of use: “remote use” in which the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50 and the electronic pen 50 is used at a position away from the panel 10.

The electronic pen 50 includes a contact switch 51, a light receiving element 52, a synchronization detection unit 56, a coordinate calculation unit 57, and a transmission unit 58.

The light receiving element 52 is provided at the end of the electronic pen 50, receives incident light, converts it into an electrical signal (light reception signal), and outputs it to the synchronization detection unit 56 and the coordinate calculation unit 57.

The contact switch 51 detects whether or not the pen tip provided at the tip of the electronic pen 50 is in contact with the image display surface of the panel 10, and is turned on if the pen tip is in contact with the panel 10, for example. “1” is output, and if it is not touched, it is turned off and, for example, “0” is output.

The synchronization detection unit 56 detects a plurality of light emissions generated at predetermined intervals from the received light signal, creates a coordinate reference signal, and outputs the coordinate reference signal to the coordinate calculation unit 57. Specifically, the synchronization detection unit 56 uses a timer (not shown) included in the synchronization detection unit 56 to measure the occurrence intervals of a plurality of (for example, four times) light emission. Then, whether or not the occurrence interval matches a predetermined time interval (for example, time To1, time To2, time To3) is determined based on a plurality of threshold values (for example, time This is determined by comparing the measured time intervals with threshold values corresponding to To1, time To2, and time To3.

The synchronization detection unit 56 compares the light reception threshold value th with a light reception signal set in advance (not shown), and calculates a differential value for the light reception signal equal to or greater than the light reception threshold value th. The time which generate | occur | produces is detected, and each time and each time are detected. The time difference between the time when the voltage for generating the discharge is applied to the discharge cell and the time when the discharge actually occurs and the peak of light emission is detected by the electronic pen 50 is measured in advance. You may use for correction of. The light reception threshold th may be set to the lowest level of the light reception signal that allows the light receiving element 52 to stably detect light emission, for example.

Then, the synchronization detection unit 56 generates a coordinate reference signal based on one of the continuous light emission (for example, four times) (for example, light emission generated at time to1). The coordinate reference signal is a signal generated in synchronization with the coordinate detection subfield, and is a signal used as a reference when detecting position coordinates.

The coordinate calculation unit 57 includes a counter that measures the length of time and an arithmetic circuit that performs an operation on the output of the counter (not shown).

The coordinate calculation unit 57 selectively extracts a signal based on the light emission of the y coordinate detection pattern and a light emission based on the light emission of the x coordinate detection pattern from the light reception signal based on the coordinate reference signal and the light reception signal, and outputs an electron in the image display area. The position coordinates (x, y) of the pen 50 are calculated, and the calculated position coordinates are output to the transmission unit 58.

Details of operations of the synchronization detection unit 56 and the coordinate calculation unit 57 will be described later.

The transmission unit 58 outputs a transmission signal based on the light reception signal output from the light receiving element 52 to the outside of the electronic pen 50. The transmission unit 58 includes a transmission circuit (not shown) that encodes an electrical signal, converts the encoded signal into a wireless signal such as infrared rays, and transmits the signal. Then, a unique identification number (ID) assigned to each electronic pen 50, a signal indicating the position coordinates (x, y) of the electronic pen 50 calculated by the coordinate calculation unit 57, the contact switch 51 (and each switch) ) And the like, the various signals necessary for generating the drawing signal are encoded in the drawing apparatus 40 and then converted into a radio signal. This radio signal is a transmission signal. The wireless signal is wirelessly transmitted to the receiving unit 42 of the drawing apparatus 40.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the electronic pen 50 also has a power switch, a pilot lamp, a manually operated switch, and the like. The power switch is a switch for controlling the power on / off of the electronic pen 50. The pilot lamp is composed of a light emitting element (for example, LED) that can emit light by switching a plurality of light emission colors, and displays the operation state of the electronic pen 50 by switching light emission / non-light emission or light emission color. Further, the user can input characters and drawings on the image display surface when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely by operating a manual operation switch instead of the contact switch 51. The electronic pen 50 can be switched so that the user can arbitrarily switch the drawing mode (for example, the color of the line used for drawing, the thickness of the line, the type of the line, etc.) by operating the manual operation switch. It may be configured.

In the present embodiment, the electronic pen 50 is switched between proximity use and remote use as follows. First, if the contact switch 51 is off when the electronic pen 50 is turned on, the electronic pen 50 is configured to be in a proximity use state. If the contact switch 51 is on when the electronic pen 50 is turned on, the electronic pen 50 is configured to be in a remote use state. . Then, by attaching the attachment 80 to the electronic pen 50, the attachment 80 is configured so that the contact switch 51 is maintained in the ON state. Thereby, if the power supply of the electronic pen 50 is turned on without mounting | wearing with the attachment 80, the electronic pen 50 will be in a proximity | contact use state automatically. Further, when the electronic pen 50 is turned on with the attachment 80 attached, the electronic pen 50 automatically enters the remote use state.

The present embodiment is not limited to this configuration. For example, the electronic pen 50 is provided with a switch for switching between proximity use and remote use, and the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50 so that the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50. The electronic pen 50 may be configured to press this switch. Or you may comprise so that a user may operate manually the switch which switches proximity use and remote use. In addition, a signal indicating whether the electronic pen 50 is in a proximity use or a remote use may be wirelessly transmitted from the transmission unit 58 to the drawing apparatus 40.

Next, the drawing device 40 will be described.

The drawing apparatus 40 includes a receiving unit 42 and a drawing unit 46 as shown in FIG. The drawing device 40 creates a drawing signal based on the position coordinates (x, y) transmitted from the electronic pen 50 and outputs the drawing signal to the image display device 30.

The receiving unit 42 has a conversion circuit (not shown) that receives a radio signal wirelessly transmitted from the transmission unit 58 of the electronic pen 50, decodes the received signal, and converts it into an electrical signal. Then, the wireless signal wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter 58 is used to indicate the identification number (ID) of the electronic pen 50, the signal indicating the position coordinates (x, y) of the electronic pen 50, and the state of the contact switch 51 (and each switch) It converts into the signal etc. which represent, and outputs it to the drawing part 46. FIG. When there are a plurality of electronic pens 50, each signal transmitted from each electronic pen 50 is received and decoded.

The drawing unit 46 includes an image memory 47. When the contact switch 51 (or a manually operated switch) is on, a drawing signal is created based on the position coordinates (x, y) output from the receiving unit 42 and stored in the image memory 47. Therefore, the image memory 47 shows a locus of changes in the position coordinates (x, y) when the contact switch 51 (or a manual operation switch) is on (a graphic input by the user using the electronic pen 50). Drawing signals are accumulated. Further, when the contact switch 51 (or a manual operation switch) is off, the drawing unit 46 creates a drawing signal for displaying a cursor at the position coordinates (x, y) and stores it in the image memory. The drawing unit 46 reads out the drawing signal stored in the image memory 47 and outputs the drawing signal to the image display device 30.

If there are a plurality of electronic pens 50 used in the image display system 100, the drawing unit 46 distinguishes the position coordinates (x, y) from each other so that the traces of the electronic pens 50 are not confused with each other. Create

Next, the structure of the electronic pen 50 in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a three-view diagram illustrating an appearance of the electronic pen 50 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 shows a plan view, a front view, and a side view of the electronic pen 50.

The casing that forms the external appearance of the electronic pen 50 includes a main body case 60, a pen tip portion 70, and a pen tip cap 64. Inside the housing of the electronic pen 50, there are a plurality of circuit boards (not shown) on which the light receiving element 52, the contact switch 51, and their peripheral circuits are mounted, and a battery (not shown) for supplying power to them. Built in.

The main body case 60 includes a side case 60a and a side case 60b. On the upper surface of the electronic pen 50, a power switch 68a, a pilot lamp 69, a manually operated switch 68c, and the like are provided between the side case 60a and the side case 60b. A manually operated switch 68b is provided. Further, the

side cases

60a and 60b have a battery cover 60c that is opened and closed when the battery is replaced.

The pen tip portion 70 is attached to the tip end portion of the main body case 60 by a pen tip cap 64 and is slidable in the direction of being pushed into the main body case 60. A groove 67 for removably fixing the attachment 80 is provided around the nib cap 64.

FIG. 10 is a two-sided view and a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the periphery of the distal end portion of the main body case 60 of the electronic pen 50 in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 shows a plan view, a side view, and a plan sectional view of the periphery of the front end portion of the main body case 60.

A through hole 61 for projecting the light receiving element 52 and a part of the circuit board on which the light receiving element 52 is mounted (not shown in FIG. 10) from the main body case 60 is provided at the front end portion of the main body case 60.

Notches

63 a and 63 b for positioning the pen tip portion 70 are provided around the through hole 61. A screw 62 for attaching a pen tip cap 64 is provided around the tip of the main body case 60.

FIG. 11 is a two-view diagram and a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the nib cap 64 of the electronic pen 50 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 shows a plan view, a side view, and a plan sectional view of the pen tip cap 64.

A penetrating hole 65 for penetrating the pen tip portion 70 is provided at the tip of the pen tip cap 64. Inside the nib cap 64, a screw 66 formed so as to be fitted to a screw 62 provided in the main body case 60 is provided. In addition, a groove 67 formed so as to be fitted to a flange provided on the attachment 80 is provided around the nib cap 64.

The pen tip cap 64 is detachably attached to the distal end portion of the main body case 60 with the pen tip portion 70 penetrating through the through hole 65 and protruding and held in the distal end direction. The pen tip portion 70 is slidably fixed to the distal end portion of the main body case 60 by a pen tip cap 64. The nib portion 70 can be replaced relatively easily by removing the nib cap 64 from the main body case 60.

FIG. 12 is a two-view diagram and a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the pen tip portion 70 of the electronic pen 50 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 shows a plan view, a side view, and a plan sectional view of the pen tip portion 70.

The pen point portion 70 has a relatively soft and moderate rigidity so as not to damage the surface of the panel 10 when contacting the panel 10 and to smoothly move the surface of the panel 10 while reducing the contact sound. It is made of a material such as polyacetal. This material may be polyamide, fluorine resin, or the like.

The pen tip portion 70 has a cavity 72 in which the light receiving element 52 can be accommodated. A light capturing port 71 for capturing light received by the light receiving element 52 is provided at the tip of the pen tip portion 70. The light intake port 71 is a through hole in the present embodiment, but is not limited to the through hole, and may be formed in a window shape with a material that transmits light, for example.

Also, the pen tip portion 70 is provided with a positioning pin 73a for mounting the pen tip portion 70 on the tip of the main body case 60 and a switch pressing pin 73b for pressing the contact switch 51. The positioning pin 73a penetrates the notch 63b, and the switch pressing pin 73b is shaped to penetrate the notch 63a.

The pen tip portion 70 is mounted on the distal end portion of the main body case 60 with the light receiving element 52 housed in the cavity 72.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view around the tip of the electronic pen 50 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Inside the main body case 60, the circuit board 78 on which the light receiving element 52 is mounted is arranged such that a part of the light receiving element 52 and the circuit board 78 protrudes from the through hole 61 provided in the front end portion of the main body case 60 in the front end direction. Arranged and fixed. A contact switch 51 is mounted in the vicinity of the light receiving element 52 on the circuit board 78 (not shown).

A spring 75 and a buffer material 76 are provided between the pen tip portion 70 and the main body case 60. The cushioning material 76 prevents the generation of contact sound caused by direct contact between the pen tip portion 70 and the tip portion of the main body case 60.

The pen tip portion 70 attached to the tip end portion of the main body case 60 by the pen tip cap 64 protrudes from the through hole 65 of the pen tip cap 64 in the tip direction, and further protrudes from the through hole 65 by the elasticity of the spring 75. It is pressed. Thereby, the pen point part 70 can slide in the direction pushed into the main body case 60. In a state where the pen tip portion 70 is not pushed into the main body case 60, the contact switch 51 is “off”.

In the electronic pen 50, when the pen tip portion 70 is pressed against the image display surface of the panel 10 and the pen tip portion 70 is pushed inward of the main body case 60, the tip of the switch pressing pin 73b of the pen tip portion 70 comes into contact. When the switch 51 is pressed, the contact switch 51 is turned on. When the pen tip portion 70 moves away from the image display surface and the pen tip portion 70 returns to the original position due to the elasticity of the spring 75, the contact switch 51 is turned off.

FIG. 14 is a two-view diagram and a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the attachment 80 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 shows a plan view, a side view, and a plan sectional view of the attachment 80. The attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50 so that the electronic pen 50 can be used at a position away from the panel 10.

The attachment 80 includes a body portion 81, a condensing lens 82, and a condensing lens fixing device 83. The attachment 80 has a body portion 81 having a cylindrical shape as a casing. It is desirable that the inside of the body portion 81 has a structure that prevents reflection of light, for example, by applying a black paint.

One end of the body part 81 is formed in a shape that can be fixed with the condenser lens 82 sandwiched between it and the condenser lens fixture 83. Then, the condenser lens 82 is disposed at one end of the body part 81, and the condenser lens fixing device 83 is attached to the body part 81 with the condenser lens 82 interposed therebetween, so that the condenser lens 82 is attached to the body part 81. Fixed and attached. With this structure, in the attachment 80, the condenser lens 82 can be easily removed or replaced by removing the condenser lens fixing device 83. Note that the body part 81 may be formed so that the condenser lens 82 is directly fixed to one end of the body part 81 without using the condenser lens fixture 83.

An opening 89 for detachably mounting the electronic pen 50 is formed at the other end of the body 81 (the end facing the condenser lens 82). The size of the electronic pen 50 is set to a size that does not cause a gap for unnecessary light to leak when the tip portion (pen tip cap 64) of the electronic pen 50 is inserted. A flange 84 that fits into the groove 67 formed in the nib cap 64 is provided inside the body 81 that corresponds to the opening 89.

The condensing lens 82 has a function of condensing light incident on the body 81 from one end of the body 81 (that is, the end facing the opening 89), and the attachment 80 is an electron. When attached to the pen 50, the light emitted on the image display surface of the panel 10 is condensed on the light receiving element 52.

The attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50 by inserting the tip end (pen tip cap 64) of the electronic pen 50 into the opening 89 of the body 81 and fitting the flange 84 with the groove 67 of the electronic pen 50. Removably fixed to the tip.

A pen tip cover 85 that pushes the pen tip portion 70 toward the main body case 60 when the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50 is provided inside the body portion 81. With the pen tip cover 85, the contact switch 51 is turned on while the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50.

The pen tip cover 85 is provided with a hole 86 that is centered on the optical axis of the condenser lens 82 and is set to an appropriate size for the light received by the light receiving element 52 to pass therethrough. Instead of the hole 86, the pen tip cover 85 may be formed of a material that transmits light.

When the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50, the length of the body 81 and the installation of the condenser lens 82 are set so that the light receiving element 52 is positioned at the focal length on the optical axis of the condenser lens 82. The arrangement position and size of each component such as the position and the focal length of the condenser lens 82 are set. Therefore, when the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50 and the optical axis of the condensing lens 82 is directed to the panel 10, light emitted on the image display surface of the panel 10 is emitted from one end of the body 81 to the inside of the body 81. Is collected by the condenser lens 82, passes through the hole 86, and is received by the light receiving element 52. As described above, since the light energy incident on the light receiving element 52 is increased by the condenser lens 82, even in the electronic pen 50 located away from the panel 10, the light receiving element 52 receives light emitted on the image display surface. Is possible.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the electronic pen 50 with the attachment 80 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the distal end portion of the electronic pen 50 to which the attachment 80 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is attached. In FIG. 16, components (other circuit boards, batteries, etc.) other than the circuit board 78 are omitted.

As described above, since the nib cover 85 is provided inside the attachment 80, the nib part 70 pressed in the direction protruding from the nib cap 64 by the force of the spring 75 is the main body by the nib cover 85. It is pushed into the case 60 side. As a result, the tip of the switch pressing pin 73b of the pen tip 70 presses the contact switch 51, and the contact switch 51 is turned on.

When the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50, the light receiving element 52 is positioned at the focal length position on the optical axis of the condenser lens 82 as described above. Therefore, by directing the optical axis of the condensing lens 82 toward the panel 10, the light emitted from the panel 10 incident on the attachment 80 is collected by the condensing lens 82, and the holes 86 of the pen tip cover 85 and the pen tip portion 70. The light is received by the light receiving element 52 through the light intake port 71.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the attachment 80 is attached to the electronic pen 50, the attachment 80 is directed to the panel 10, and the electronic pen 50 is operated by manually switching on / off of the switch 68b, for example. Characters and drawings can be input to the panel 10 even from a position away from the panel 10.

Next, operations of the synchronization detection unit 56 and the coordinate calculation unit 57 of the electronic pen 50 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a position coordinate detection operation when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity in the image display system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a position coordinate detection operation when the electronic pen 50 is remotely used in the image display system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

17 and 18 show the coordinate reference signal det input to the coordinate calculation unit 57 and the light reception signal output from the light receiving element 52 in addition to the drive voltage waveform. The drive voltage waveforms shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 are the same as the drive voltage waveforms shown in FIG.

In the image display device 30 according to the present embodiment, the time Toy1 (FIG. 17) from the time to1 to the time ty01 (the time when the proximity y coordinate detection period Py1 starts), and the time tx01 (the proximity x coordinate detection period). Time Tox1 (FIG. 17) until time Px1), Time To1 from time to1 to time ty02 (time when remote y coordinate detection period Py2 starts) (FIG. 18), and Time to1 to time tx02 (remote) Each of the times Tox2 (FIG. 18) up to (the time when the x coordinate detection period Px2 starts) is determined in advance.

Accordingly, the synchronization detection unit 56 detects the four consecutive light emission intervals in which the light emission intervals are the time To1, the time To2, and the time To3, and specifies the time to1, so that the time ty01 is based on the time to1. The coordinate reference signal det having rising edges at time tx01, time ty02, and time tx02 can be generated and output to the subsequent coordinate calculation unit 57.

Note that the coordinate reference signal det is generated based on the time to1 in the present embodiment, but may be generated based on any one of the times to2, to3, and to4 without being limited to the time to1.

Based on the coordinate reference signal det, the coordinate calculation unit 57 when using the electronic pen 50 in proximity uses the light receiving element 52 to receive light of the light receiving threshold th or more first from time ty01 after time ty01. Until the time Tyy1 is measured with a counter provided inside. Then, an internal arithmetic circuit subtracts the time Ty01 from the time Tyy1 and divides the subtraction result by Ty11 (pulse width of the y coordinate detection pulse). Then, the division result is multiplied by the first number. That is,
y coordinate = first number × ((Tyy1−Ty01) / Ty11)

In addition, the coordinate calculation unit 57 internally includes a time Txx1 from time tx01 to time txx1 from the time tx01 to the time txx1 when the light receiving element 52 first receives light emission equal to or greater than the light receiving threshold th. Measure with the provided counter. Then, an internal arithmetic circuit subtracts the time Tx01 from the time Txx1, and divides the subtraction result by Tx11 (pulse width of the x coordinate detection pulse). Then, the division result is multiplied by (third number / 3). That is,
x coordinate = (third number / 3) × ((Txx1-Tx01) / Tx11) Note that “3” is the number of discharge cells constituting one pixel.

In this way, the coordinate calculation unit 57 calculates the position coordinates (x, y) of the electronic pen 50 used in proximity.

Next, based on the coordinate reference signal det, the coordinate calculation unit 57 when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely first receives light emission of the light receiving threshold th or more from the light receiving element 52 from time ty02 onward after time ty02. The time Tyy2 until the time tyy2 is measured with a counter provided inside. Then, an internal arithmetic circuit subtracts the time Ty02 from the time Tyy2, and divides the subtraction result by Ty12 (pulse width of the y coordinate detection pulse). Then, the division result is multiplied by the second number. That is,
y coordinate = second number × ((Tyy2−Ty02) / Ty12)

In addition, the coordinate calculation unit 57 internally includes a time Txx2 from time tx02 to time txx2 from the time tx02 to the time txx2 at which light emission equal to or greater than the light reception threshold th is first received after time tx02. Measure with the provided counter. Then, an internal arithmetic circuit subtracts the time Txx02 from the time Txx2, and divides the subtraction result by Tx12 (pulse width of the x coordinate detection pulse). Then, the division result is multiplied by (fourth number / 3). That is,
x coordinate = (fourth number / 3) × ((Txx2−Tx02) / Tx12) Note that “3” is the number of discharge cells constituting one pixel.

In this way, the coordinate calculation unit 57 calculates the position coordinates (x, y) of the electronic pen 50 used remotely.

Next, the operation of the image display system 100 in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an operation when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity in the image display system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an operation when the electronic pen 50 is remotely used in the image display system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the y-coordinate detection period Py1 of the proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFy1, the first light emission that sequentially moves from the upper end portion (first row) to the lower end portion (n-th row) of the image display area. The line Ly1 is displayed on the panel 10. Further, in the x coordinate detection period Px1 of the proximity x coordinate detection subfield SFx1, the image display area sequentially moves from the left end (first pixel column) to the right end ((m / 3) pixel column). The second light emitting line Lx1 to be displayed is displayed on the panel 10.

Accordingly, the coordinates (x, y) of the image display surface pointed to by the nearby electronic pen 50 are received at time tyy1 when the first light emission line Ly1 passes and time txx1 when the second light emission line Lx1 passes. The element 52 receives the emitted light.

Thereby, as shown in FIG. 17, the light receiving element 52 outputs a light reception signal indicating that the light emission of the first light emission line Ly1 is received at the time tyy1, and receives the light emission of the second light emission line Lx1. A light reception signal indicating this is output at time txx1.

As shown in FIG. 20, in the y-coordinate detection period Py2 of the remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2, the third light emission sequentially moves from the upper end (first row) to the lower end (n-th row) of the image display area. The line Ly2 is displayed on the panel 10. In the x-coordinate detection period Px2 of the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2, the image display area sequentially moves from the left end (first pixel column) to the right end ((m / 3) pixel column). The fourth light emitting line Lx2 to be displayed is displayed on the panel 10.

Therefore, the coordinates (x, y) of the image display surface pointed to by the remote-use electronic pen 50 are received at time tyy2 when the third light-emitting line Ly2 passes and time txx2 when the fourth light-emitting line Lx2 passes. The element 52 receives light emission.

Thereby, as shown in FIG. 18, the light receiving element 52 outputs a light reception signal indicating that the light emission of the third light emission line Ly2 is received at time tyy2, and receives the light emission of the fourth light emission line Lx2. A light reception signal indicating this is output at time txx2.

FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an operation when inputting with the electronic pen 50 in the image display system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 shows an example when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity, but the operation when using the electronic pen 50 remotely is performed by attaching the attachment 80 to the electronic pen 50 and replacing the contact switch 51 with the drawing pen. Since this switch is the same as the proximity use except that the switch (for example, the switch 68b) is manually operated, the description with reference to the drawings is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 21, the drawing unit 46 outputs a drawing signal of a pattern (for example, a white circle or a dot) having a color and a size according to the drawing mode, centering on a pixel corresponding to the position coordinate (x, y). appear. This drawing signal is stored in the image memory 47 of the drawing unit 46 while the contact switch 51 (for example, a manual operation switch 68b when used remotely) is on. Then, the image display device 30 displays an image based on the drawing signal stored in the image memory 47 of the drawing unit 46 on the panel 10.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 21, when the pen tip portion 70 of the electronic pen 50 moves while being in contact with the image display surface of the panel 10 (for remote use, for example, the electronic pen 50 is turned on while the manual operation switch 68b is kept on). When the position coordinates of 50 are moved), a symbol indicating the locus of the movement is displayed on the panel 10. Thus, the panel 10 displays a graphic input by handwriting using the electronic pen 50.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the attachment 80 including the condenser lens 82 can be detachably attached to the electronic pen 50. As a result, even in the electronic pen 50 located away from the panel 10, the light emitted by the x-coordinate detection pattern and the y-coordinate detection pattern displayed on the panel 10 is condensed by the condenser lens 82 and received by the light receiving element 52. It becomes possible. Therefore, even if the electronic pen 50 can only be used in close proximity to input the drawing or characters by bringing the pen tip portion 70 into contact with the image display surface of the panel 10, the attachment pen 80 can be attached to the position away from the panel 10. Remote use to input drawings and characters is possible.

In the image display device 30, the proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFy1 for displaying the first light emission line Ly1 that emits light with a width corresponding to the “first number” on the panel 10, and the “third number”. In addition to the proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1 for displaying on the panel 10 the second light emitting line Lx1 that emits light with a width according to the width, the width according to the “second number” larger than the “first number” The remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 for displaying the third light emission line Ly2 to be emitted on the panel 10, and the fourth light emission for emitting light with a width corresponding to the “fourth number” larger than the “third number”. A remote x coordinate detection subfield SFx2 for displaying the line Lx2 on the panel 10 is generated.

Then, in the electronic pen 50 in the proximity use state without attaching the attachment 80, the light emitted from the first light emitting line Ly1 and the second light emitting line Lx1 is received and the position coordinates are calculated. The electronic pen 50 attached with the attachment 80 and in a remote use state receives light emitted from the third light-emitting line Ly2 and the fourth light-emitting line Lx2, and calculates position coordinates. Accordingly, the electronic pen 50 in the proximity use state can detect position coordinates with relatively high accuracy, and the electronic pen 50 in the remote use state detects position coordinates at a position further away from the panel 10. It becomes possible to do.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the groove 67 is provided around the nib cap 64 and the flange 84 that fits into the groove 67 is provided inside the attachment 80 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. It is not something. For example, a flange may be provided around the nib cap 64, and a groove fitted to the flange may be provided inside the attachment 80. Or you may provide the screw | thread which mutually fits in each of the circumference | surroundings of the nib cap 64, and the inside of the attachment 80. FIG.

In the present embodiment, the electronic pen 50 that is used in proximity without attaching an attachment receives the light emission for coordinate detection generated in the proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFy1 and the proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFx1, and attaches the attachment. The electronic pen 50 that is mounted remotely and used remotely has been described with respect to the configuration for receiving the light for coordinate detection generated in the remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 and the remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFx2. It is not limited to. For example, the image display device 30 generates one y-coordinate detection subfield SFy and one x-coordinate detection subfield SFx, and the electronic pen 50 has coordinates generated in those subfields for both the proximity use and the remote use. It is good also as a structure which receives light emission for a detection.

Instead of switching between the proximity use and the remote use in the electronic pen 50, for example, if the light reception signal by the first light emission line Ly1 is equal to or greater than the light reception threshold th, the light reception signal by the first light emission line Ly1. The coordinate calculation unit 57 calculates the y coordinate based on the first light emitting line Ly1 and calculates the y coordinate based on the light received signal based on the third light emitting line Ly2 if the light receiving signal based on the first light emitting line Ly1 is less than the light receiving threshold th. It may be configured. Similarly, if the light reception signal by the second light emission line Lx1 is equal to or greater than the light reception threshold th, the x coordinate is calculated based on the light reception signal by the second light emission line Lx1, and the light reception signal by the second light emission line Lx1 is received. The coordinate calculation unit 57 may be configured to calculate the x-coordinate based on the light reception signal from the fourth light-emitting line Lx2 if it is less than the threshold th.

When the electronic pen 50 is used remotely, for example, when a manually operated switch (for example, the switch 68b) is turned off, a cursor may be displayed on the image display surface. Thereby, the cursor can be displayed on the image display surface without using the laser beam used in the laser pointer. Further, when the electronic pen 50 is used in proximity, a drawing or cursor display may be performed using a manually operated switch instead of the contact switch 51.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, an example of a configuration in which when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely, the pen tip cap 64 is removed from the main body case 60 and the attachment is directly attached to the tip of the main body case 60 instead of the pen tip cap 64 will be described. .

In the present embodiment, a screw similar to the screw 66 provided on the inner side of the pen tip cap 64 is provided on the inner side of the attachment. Otherwise, the configuration and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, main configurations different from the first embodiment will be described. The same parts as those shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 22 is a plan view, a side view, and a plan sectional view showing the shape of the attachment 180 in the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the distal end portion of the electronic pen 50 to which the attachment 180 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is attached. In FIG. 23, components other than the circuit board 78 (other circuit boards, batteries, etc.) are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 22, the attachment 180 includes a body portion 181, a condensing lens 82, and a condensing lens fixing device 83. The attachment 180 has a cylindrical body portion 181 as a casing. As in the first embodiment, it is desirable that the inside of the body portion 181 has a structure that prevents reflection of light, for example, by applying a black paint.

One end portion of the trunk portion 181 can be fixed with the condenser lens 82 sandwiched between the condenser lens fixture 83 and the trunk portion 81 shown in the first embodiment. Note that the body 181 may be formed so that the condenser lens 82 is directly fixed to one end of the body 181 without using the condenser lens fixing device 83.

An opening 189 for attaching to the electronic pen 50 is formed at the other end of the body 181 (the end facing the condenser lens 82), and the inside of the body 181 corresponding to the opening 189 is formed. Are provided with screws 184 that fit into screws 62 provided around the front end of the main body case 60.

Then, as shown in FIG. 23, the tip of the electronic pen 50 (the tip of the main body case 60) from which the pen tip cap 64 has been removed is inserted into the opening 189 of the body 181, and the screw 62 and the screw 184 are connected. The attachment 180 is screwed to the distal end portion of the main body case 60 so as to be fitted. By doing so, the attachment 180 is detachably fixed to the tip of the electronic pen 50.

A pen tip cover 185 is provided inside the body portion 181 to gradually push the pen tip portion 70 toward the main body case 60 as the attachment 180 is gradually tightened to attach the attachment 180 to the electronic pen 50. With the pen tip cover 185, the contact switch 51 is turned on while the attachment 180 is attached to the electronic pen 50.

The pen tip cover 185 is provided with a hole 186 centered on the optical axis of the condenser lens 82 and set to an appropriate size for the light received by the light receiving element 52 to pass through.

When the attachment 180 is attached to the electronic pen 50, the length of the body portion 181 and the condensing lens 82 are set so that the light receiving element 52 is positioned at the focal length on the optical axis of the condensing lens 82. The arrangement position and size of each component, such as the installation position and the focal length of the condenser lens 82, are set. Therefore, when the attachment 180 is directly attached to the tip of the electronic pen 50 (tip of the main body case 60) from which the pen tip cap 64 has been removed and the optical axis of the condenser lens 82 is directed to the panel 10, the image of the panel 10 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 23, the light emitted on the display surface enters from one end of the body portion 181, is condensed by the condenser lens 82, passes through the hole 186, and is received by the light receiving element 52.

Even the attachment 180 having the above-described structure can be detachably attached to the electronic pen 50 and can be used remotely, similarly to the attachment 80 shown in the first embodiment.

In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the condensing lens is attached to one end portion of the body portion has been described. However, this “end portion” does not strictly mean the end portion of the body portion, but merely the end portion. It just represents the neighborhood. Further, the present invention does not limit the position of the condensing lens to the end of the body part, but arbitrarily sets it within a range in which the intended effect of the present disclosure, that is, the effect of condensing light on the light receiving element can be obtained. be able to. If this effect can be obtained, for example, a condensing lens may be arranged near the center of the body part.

In the first and second embodiments, a light shielding portion for preventing the incidence of unnecessary light may be provided between the condensing lens 82 and the light receiving element 52 inside the attachment. Thereby, since the range of light received by the light receiving element 52 is limited, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting position coordinates when the electronic pen 50 is used remotely.

In the first and second embodiments, the example in which wireless communication is performed between the drawing device 40 and the electronic pen 50 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the drawing device and the electronic pen may be electrically connected by an electric cable or the like, and a signal may be transmitted and received between the electronic pen and the drawing device via the electric cable.

The specific numerical values shown in the first and second embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these numerical values. It is desirable to set each numerical value to an optimum value according to the specifications of the image display system and the electronic pen.

The present disclosure makes it possible to use an electronic pen that is used in contact with the image display surface of the image display device at a position away from the image display surface. Therefore, the electronic pen attachment, the electronic pen system, and the electronic pen It is useful as an image display system provided with the system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Panel 11 Front substrate 12 Scan electrode 13 Sustain electrode 14 Display electrode pair 15,23 Dielectric layer 16 Protective layer 21 Back substrate 22 Data electrode 24 Partition 25, 25R, 25G, 25B Phosphor layer 30 Image display device 31 Image signal processing Unit 32 Data electrode drive unit 33 Scan electrode drive unit 34 Sustain electrode drive unit 40 Drawing device 42 Reception unit 46 Drawing unit 47 Image memory 50 Electronic pen 51 Contact switch 52 Light receiving element 55, 280 Sustain pulse generation circuit 56 Synchronization detection unit 57 Coordinates Calculation unit 58 Transmission unit 60 Main body case 60a, 60b Side case 60c Battery cover 61, 65 Through hole 62, 66, 184 Screw 63a, 63b Notch portion 64 Nib cap 67 Groove 68a Power switch 68b, 68c Switch 71 Light removal Mouth 69 Pilot lamp 70 Nib portion 72 Cavity 73a Positioning pin 73b Switch pressing pin 75 Spring 76 Buffer material 78 Circuit board 80,180 Attachment 81,181 Body portion 82 Condensing lens 83 Condensing lens fixture 84 Flange 85,185 Pen tip cover 86,186 hole 89,189 opening 100 image display system 151,281 power recovery circuit 160 ramp waveform voltage generation circuit 161,162,163 Miller integration circuit 170 scanning pulse generation circuit 285 constant voltage generation circuit Ly1 first Light emitting line Lx1 Second light emitting line Ly2 Third light emitting line Lx2 Fourth light emitting line Di11, Di12, Di21, Di22, Di62 Diodes L11, L12, L21, L22 Inductors Q11, Q12, Q21 Q22, Q55, Q56, Q59, Q69, Q72, Q83, Q84, Q86, Q87, QH1 to QHn, QL1 to QLn, Q91H1 to Q91Hm, Q91L1 to Q91Lm Switching elements C10, C20, C61, C62, C63 Capacitors R61, R62 , R63 Resistance Q61, Q62, Q63 Transistor E71 Power supply SFy1 Proximity y-coordinate detection subfield SFx1 Proximity x-coordinate detection subfield SFy2 Remote y-coordinate detection subfield SFx2 Remote x-coordinate detection subfield SFo Sync detection subfield SF1 to SF8 Image display subfield

Claims

A body part having an opening formed at one end;
A condenser lens attached to the other end of the body part;
An attachment for an electronic pen, wherein light incident through the condenser lens is condensed in the body portion.
An electronic pen attachment that is detachably attached to an electronic pen having a light receiving element,
A body part formed with an opening for detachably attaching to the electronic pen;
A condenser lens attached to the body part;
Light incident on the body portion from the end facing the opening passes through the condenser lens and is condensed on the light receiving element of the electronic pen attached to the opening. Attachment for electronic pens.
The length of the body portion and the arrangement position of the condenser lens are set so that the light receiving element of the electronic pen is arranged at a focal length position on the optical axis of the condenser lens. The electronic pen attachment according to claim 2.
The electronic pen attachment according to claim 2, further comprising a pen tip cover for pushing a slidable pen tip portion into the electronic pen inside the body portion.
An electronic pen having a light receiving element that receives light and outputs a light reception signal;
An electronic pen attachment having a body part with an opening formed at one end and a condensing lens attached to the other end of the body part,
With
The light receiving element of the electronic pen attached to the opening is disposed at a focal length position on the optical axis of the condenser lens, and light incident on the body through the condenser lens is received by the light receiving element. An electronic pen system characterized by focusing light onto an element.
The electronic pen includes a main body case, a pen tip portion slidable in a direction to be pushed into the main body case, and a switch for detecting that the pen tip portion is pushed in,
The electronic pen system according to claim 5, wherein the electronic pen attachment has a pen tip cover for pushing the pen tip portion inside the body portion.
The electronic pen includes: a coordinate calculation unit that calculates position coordinates based on the light reception signal output from the light receiving element; and a transmission unit that transmits the position coordinates calculated by the coordinate calculation unit to the outside. The electronic pen system according to claim 5.
An electronic pen having a light receiving element that receives light and outputs a light reception signal;
An image display device for generating a plurality of subfields including a coordinate detection subfield for generating light emission for detecting the position coordinates of the electronic pen on the image display surface;
The light receiving element of the electronic pen attached to the opening has a body part in which an opening part is detachably attached to the electronic pen and a condenser lens attached to the body part. The length of the trunk portion and the arrangement position of the condenser lens are set so as to be arranged at a focal length position on the optical axis of the condenser lens, and the trunk from the end facing the opening portion. An electronic pen attachment for condensing light incident on the part through the condenser lens and condensing on the light receiving element of the electronic pen attached to the opening;
An image display system that calculates a position coordinate of the electronic pen on the image display surface based on light emission of the coordinate detection subfield and performs drawing based on the calculated position coordinate.
The image display device includes a plurality of scanning electrodes and data electrodes in an image display unit,
An image display subfield for displaying an image on the image display unit;
A proximity y-coordinate detection subfield for sequentially performing an operation of simultaneously applying a y-coordinate detection pulse to the first number of the scan electrodes while applying a y-coordinate detection voltage to the data electrodes;
A remote y-coordinate detection subfield for sequentially performing an operation of simultaneously applying the y-coordinate detection pulses to the second number of the scan electrodes while applying the y-coordinate detection voltage to the data electrodes;
A proximity x-coordinate detection subfield for sequentially performing an operation of simultaneously applying x-coordinate detection pulses to the third number of the data electrodes while applying the x-coordinate detection voltage to the scan electrodes;
Generating a remote x-coordinate detection subfield for sequentially performing an operation of simultaneously applying the x-coordinate detection pulses to the fourth number of the data electrodes while applying the x-coordinate detection voltage to the scan electrodes;
Setting the second number to a value greater than the first number;
Setting the fourth number to a value greater than the third number;
When the electronic pen attachment is not attached to the electronic pen,
Position coordinates of the electronic pen are calculated based on light emission of the proximity y coordinate detection subfield and the proximity x coordinate detection subfield,
When the electronic pen attachment is attached to the electronic pen,
9. The image display system according to claim 8, wherein the position coordinates of the electronic pen are calculated based on light emission of the remote y-coordinate detection subfield and the remote x-coordinate detection subfield.