Coordinate position inputting/detecting device, a method for inputting/detecting the coordinate position, and a display board system

• US 20030006973A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katsuyuki Omura, Kunikazu Tsuda, Makoto Tanaka
• Original Assignee: Katsuyuki Omura, Kunikazu Tsuda, Makoto Tanaka
• Inventors: Tanaka, Makoto, Tsuda, Kunikazu, Omura, Katsuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,608,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

In the coordinate-position inputting/detecting device, the light receiving/emitting devices emit light beams spreading in a fan shape and travelling along an entry area. The light receiving/emitting devices also receive the light beam reflected by a recursive reflecting member and detect the distribution of the intensity of the received light beam. The coordinates of a position of a pointing body such as a user'"'"'s fingertip or a pen inserted in the entry area is identified using the distribution of intensity detected by the light receiving/emitting devices.

Claims

1. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device comprising:

at least two light emitting means each for emitting light beams travelling along an entry having a specified area;

reflecting means provided at a specified location in a peripheral section of the entry area for reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting means;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting means each for receiving the light beams reflected by said reflecting means and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

coordinate-value identifying means for identifying the coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam travelling along the entry area is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means.

2. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 1;

wherein said light emitting means forms a light beam from a light source in a fan shape and emits the fan-shaped light beam.

3. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 2;

wherein one light source is provided for all of said light emitting means or one light source is provided for each of said light emitting means.

4. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 2;

wherein said light emitting means comprises a light converging system for converging a light beam from said light source to form a fan shape light beam.

5. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 1;

wherein the intensity-distribution detecting means comprises;

light converging means for converging the light reflected by said reflecting means; and

light-receiving means provided in the downstream side from said light converging lens for outputting an electric signal according to the distribution of intensity of the converged light.

6. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 5;

wherein said intensity-distribution detecting means comprises a slit instead of said light converging means for leading the light reflected by said reflecting means to said light-receiving means.

7. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 5;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means comprises;

dark point detecting means for detecting the dark points on said light-receiving means generated due to blocking of a light beam within said entry area according to the electric signals outputted from each of said light-receiving means; and

first computing means for computing the coordinates of the light-blocked position using the position of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means.

8. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 5;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means comprises;

dark point detecting means for detecting the dark points on said light-receiving means generated due to blocking of a light beam within said entry area according to the electric signal outputted from each of said light-receiving means;

storing means for storing therein coordinate information obtained by previously correlating the coordinates within said entry area to each combination of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means; and

selecting means for selecting the coordinates corresponding to the combination of the relative positions of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means as the coordinates of the light-blocked position.

9. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 1 further comprising:

minimum-value identifying means for identifying minimum values of the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means;

computing means for computing a time differentiation of the coordinates identified by said coordinate-value identifying means;

storing means for storing therein at least one of minimum values identified by said minimum-value identifying means, the coordinates identified by said coordinate-value identifying means and a time differentiation values computed by said computing means in a correlated form; and

determining means for determining the contents of an operation performed in said entry area according to the previously prepared condition and at least one of the minimum values, coordinates and the time-differentiated values stored in said storing means.

10. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 7;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means further comprises;

intensity-value identifying means for identifying the light intensity values of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means respectively according to electric signals outputted from said light-receiving means;

second computing unit for computing a time differentiation of the coordinates obtained by said first computing means;

storing means for storing therein at least one of the light intensity values identified by said intensity-value identifying means, the coordinates obtained by said first computing means and the time-differentiated value obtained by said second computing means in a correlated form; and

determining means for determining the contents of an operation performed in said entry area according to the previously prepared condition and at least one of the light intensity values, coordinates and the time-differentiated values each stored in said storage means.

11. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 8;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means further comprises;

intensity-value identifying means for identifying the light intensity values of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means respectively according to the electric signals outputted from said light-receiving means;

first computing means for computing a time differentiation of coordinates selected by said selecting means;

storing means for storing therein at least one of the light intensity values identified by said intensity-value identifying means, the coordinates selected by said selecting means and the time-differentiated value obtained by said first computing means in a correlated form; and

determining unit for determining the contents of an operation performed in said entry area according to the previously prepared condition and at least one of the light intensity values, coordinates and the time-differentiated values stored in said storing means.

12. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 9;

wherein said determining means uses a result of previous determination concerning the contents of the operation as one of the conditions.

13. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 10;

wherein said determining means uses a result of previous determination concerning the contents of the operation as one of the conditions.

14. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 11;

wherein said determining means uses a result of previous determination concerning the contents of the operation as one of the conditions.

15. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 1;

wherein said entry area is formed, when the coordinate-position inputting/detecting device is to be attached in front of the display surface of a display unit, of the size that matches with the size of the display surface.

16. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 1;

wherein said entry area is ormed, when the coordinate-position inputting/detecting device is to be attached in front of a write-in s rface for writing freehand characters and graphics, of the size that matches with the size of the write-in surface.

26. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 17 further comprising:

minimum-value identifying means for identifying minimum values of the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means;

computing means for computing a time differentiation of the coordinates identified by said coordinate-value identifying means;

storing means for storing therein at least one of minimum values identified by said minimum-value identifying means, the coordinates identified by said coordinate-value identifying means and a time differentiation values computed by said computing means in a correlated form; and

determining means for determining the contents of an operation performed in said entry area according to the previously prepared condition and at least one of the minimum values, coordinates and the time-differentiated values stored in said storing means.

29. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 26;

wherein said determining means uses a result of previous determination concerning the contents of the operation as one of the conditions.

17. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device comprising:

frame means having a specified form;

at least two light emitting means each for emitting a light beam toward an internal side of said frame;

entry area means formed in the internal side of said frame means due to the intersecting light beams emitted from said light emitting means;

reflecting means provided at a specified location in said frame means for reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting means towards substantially the same light path;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting means each for receiving a light beam reflected by said reflecting means and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

coordinate-value identifying means for identifying, when a light beam within said entry area is blocked, coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means.

18. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 17;

wherein said light emitting means forms a light beam from a light source in a fan shape and emits the fan-shaped light beam.

19. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 18;

wherein one light source is provided for all of said light emitting means or one light source is provided for each of said light emitting means.

20. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 18;

wherein said light emitting means comprises a light converging system for converging a light beam from said light source to form a fan shape light beam.

21. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 17;

wherein the intensity-distribution detecting means comprises;

light converging means for converging the light reflected by said reflecting means; and

light-receiving means provided in the downstream side from said light converging lens for outputting an electric signal according to the distribution of intensity of the converged light.

22. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 21;

wherein said intensity-distribution detecting means comprises a slit instead of said light converging means for leading the light reflected by said reflecting means to said light-receiving means.

23. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 21;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means comprises;

dark point detecting means for detecting the dark points on said light-receiving means generated due to blocking of a light beam within said entry area according to the electric signals outputted from each of said light-receiving means; and

first computing means for computing the coordinates of the light-blocked position using the position of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means.

24. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 21;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means comprises;

dark point detecting means for detecting the dark points on said light-receiving means generated due to blocking of a light beam within said entry area according to the electric signal outputted from each of said light-receiving means;

storing means for storing therein coordinate information obtained by previously correlating the coordinates within said entry area to each combination of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means; and

selecting means for selecting the coordinates corresponding to the combination of the relative positions of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means as the coordinates of the light-blocked position.

25. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 17;

wherein at least said light emitting means, said reflecting unit and said intensity-distribution detecting unit are integrated with said frame means.

27. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 23;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means further comprises;

intensity-value identifying means for identifying the light intensity values of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means respectively according to electric signals outputted from said light-receiving means;

second computing unit for computing a time differentiation of the coordinates obtained by said first computing means;

storing means for storing therein at least one of the light intensity values identified by said intensity-value identifying means, the coordinates obtained by said first computing means and the time-differentiated value obtained by said second computing means in a correlated form; and

determining means for determining the contents of an operation performed in said entry area according to the previously prepared condition and at least one of the light intensity values, coordinates and the time-differentiated values each stored in said storage means.

28. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 24;

wherein said coordinate-value identifying means further comprises;

intensity-value identifying means for identifying the light intensity values of the dark points detected by said dark point detecting means respectively according to the electric signals outputted from said light-receiving means;

first computing means for computing a time differentiation of coordinates selected by said selecting means;

storing means for storing therein at least one of the light intensity values identified by said intensity-value identifying means, the coordinates selected by said selecting means and the time-differentiated value obtained by said first computing means in a correlated form; and

determining unit for determining the contents of an operation performed in said entry area according to the previously prepared condition and at least one of the light intensity values, coordinates and the time-differentiated values stored in said storing means.

30. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 27;

wherein said determining means uses a result of previous determination concerning the contents of the operation as one of the conditions.

31. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 28;

wherein said determining means uses a result of previous determination concerning the contents of the operation as one of the conditions.

32. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 17;

wherein said entry area is formed, when the coordinate-position inputting/detecting device is to be attached in front of the display surface of a display unit, of the size that matches with the size of the display surface.

33. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device according to claim 17;

wherein said entry area is formed, when the coordinate-position inputting/detecting device is to be attached in front of a write-in surface for writing freehand characters and graphics, of the size that matches with the size of the write-in surface.

34. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device comprising:

at least two light emitting units each for emitting light beams travelling along an entry having a specified area;

a reflecting unit provided at a specified location in a peripheral section of the entry area for reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting units;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting units each for receiving the light beams reflected by said reflecting unit and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

a coordinate-value identifying unit for identifying the coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam travelling along the entry area is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting units.

35. A coordinate-position inputting/detecting device comprising:

a frame having a specified form;

at least two light emitting units each for emitting a light beam toward an internal side of the frame;

an entry area formed in the internal side of the frame due to the intersecting light beams emitted from said light emitting units;

a reflecting unit provided at a specified location in said frame for reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting units towards substantially the same light path;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting units each for receiving a light beam reflected by said reflecting unit and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

a coordinate-value identifying unit for identifying, when a light beam within said entry area is blocked, coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting units.

36. A method for inputting/detecting coordinate-position comprising steps of:

emitting light beams travelling along an entry area with at least two light emitting units, said entry area having a specified area;

reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting units with a reflecting unit, said reflecting unit provided at a specified location in a peripheral section of said entry area;

receiving the light beams reflected by said reflecting unit and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light with at least two intensity-distribution detecting units; and

identifying a position on said entry area at which the light beams travelling along the entry area are blocked with a coordinate-value identifying unit according to the distribution of the intensity of the received light detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting units.

37. A method for inputting/detecting coordinate-position comprising steps of:

emitting light beams towards an internal side of a frame with at least two light emitting units, said frame having a specified form;

forming an entry area inside the said frame due to an intersection of light beams emitted from said light emitting units;

reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting units towards substantially the same light path with a reflecting unit, said reflecting unit provided at a specified location in said frame;

receiving the light beams reflected by said reflecting unit and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light with at least two intensity-distribution detecting units; and

identifying a position on said entry area at which the light beams travelling along said entry area are blocked with a coordinate-value identifying unit according to the distribution of the intensity of the received light detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting units.

38. A display board system comprising at least:

display means for displaying thereon characters and images;

a coordinate-position inputting/detecting device with an entry area provided in the front surface of said display means; and

a control means for providing controls over display of said display means according to input from said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device,

said display board system capable of forming a display surface and a write-in surface of a display board using said display means and said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device;

wherein

said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device having

at least two light emitting means each for emitting a light beam travelling along an entry having a specified area;

reflecting means provided at a specified location in a peripheral section of the entry area for reflecting a light beam emitted from each of said light emitting means;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting means each for receiving a light beam reflected by said reflecting means and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

coordinate-value identifying means for identifying the coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam travelling along the entry area is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means.

39. A display board system according to claim 38;

wherein said display means is a plasma display.

40. A display board system according to claim 38;

wherein said display means further has a plurality of connecting means for connecting various types of information equipment and AV equipment such as a digital camera, a DVD player, and video equipment, and is usable as a large-sized screen monitor.

41. A display board system comprising at least:

display means for displaying thereon characters and images;

a coordinate-position inputting/detecting device with an entry area provided in the front surface of said display means; and

control means for providing controls over display of said display means according to input from said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device,

said display board system capable of forming a display surface and a write-in surface of a display board using said display means and said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device;

wherein

said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device having

frame means having a specified form;

at least two light emitting means each for emitting a light beam toward an internal side of said frame means;

an entry area formed in the internal side of said frame means due to the intersecting light beams emitted from said light emitting means;

reflecting means provided at a specified location in said frame for reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting means towards substantially the same light path;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting means each for receiving a light beam reflected by said reflecting means and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

coordinate-value identifying means for identifying, when a light beam within said entry area is blocked, coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means.

42. A display board system according to claim 41;

wherein said display means is a plasma display.

43. A display board system according to claim 41;

wherein said display means further has a plurality of connecting means for connecting various types of information equipment and AV equipment such as a digital camera, a DVD player, and video equipment, and is usable as a large-sized screen monitor.

44. A display board system comprising at least:

display means for displaying thereon characters and images;

a coordinate-position inputting/detecting device with an entry area provided in the front surface of said display means;

printing means for outputting image data onto a recording paper; and

control means for providing controls over the display of said display means as well as over printing operations of said printing means according to input from said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device,

said display board system capable of forming a display surface and a write-in surface of the display board using said display means and said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device;

wherein

said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device having

at least two light emitting means each for emitting a light beam travelling along an entry having a specified area;

reflecting means provided at a specified location in a peripheral section of the entry area for reflecting a light beam emitted from each of said light emitting means;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting means each for receiving a light beam reflected by said reflecting means and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

coordinate-value identifying means for identifying the coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam travelling along the entry area is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means;

further,

said control means is a personal computer;

the display board system further comprising holding means for holding a display surface and a write-in surface of the display board at a specified height;

printer accommodating means for accommodating said printing means therein, and a control accommodating means for accommodating said control means therein, in which said control accommodating means, said printer accommodating means and said holding means are arranged in the vertical direction in this order from the bottom.

45. A display board system according to claim 44;

wherein said display means is a plasma display.

46. A display board system according to claim 44;

wherein said frame means has a keyboard placement section provided at a position on the upper side of said printer accommodating means but on the lower side of said holding means for placing a keyboard connected to said personal computer.

47. A display board system according to claim 44;

wherein said holding means comprises an angle adjusting means for adjusting an angle of a display surface and a write-in surface of the display board.

48. A display board system according to claim 44;

wherein said display means further has a plurality of connecting means for connecting various types of information equipment and AV equipment such as a digital camera, a DVD player, and video equipment, and is usable as a large-sized screen monitor.

49. A display board system comprising at least:

display means for displaying thereon characters and images;

a coordinate-position inputting/detecting device with an entry area provided in the front surface of said display means;

printing means for outputting image data onto a recording paper; and

control means for providing controls over the display of said display means as well as over printing operations of said printing means according to input from said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device,

said display board system capable of forming a display surface and a write-in surface of the display board using said display means and said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device;

wherein

said coordinate-position inputting/detecting device having

frame means having a specified form;

at least two light emitting means each for emitting a light beam toward an internal side of said frame means;

an entry area formed in the internal side of said frame means due to the intersecting light beams emitted from said light emitting means;

reflecting means provided at a specified location in said frame means for reflecting the light beams emitted from each of said light emitting means towards substantially the same light path;

at least two intensity-distribution detecting means each for receiving a light beam reflected by said reflecting means and detecting the distribution of the intensity of the received light; and

coordinate-value identifying means for identifying, when a light beam within said entry area is blocked, coordinates of a blocked position where the light beam is blocked by using the distribution of intensity detected by each of said intensity-distribution detecting means;

further,

said control means is a personal computer;

the display board system further comprising holding means for holding a display surface and a write-in surface of the display board at a specified height;

printer accommodating means for accommodating said printing means therein, and a control accommodating means for accommodating said control means therein, in which said control accommodating means, said printer accommodating means and said holding means are arranged in the vertical direction in this order from the bottom.

50. A display board system according to claim 49;

wherein said display means is a plasma display.

51. A display board system according to claim 49;

wherein said frame means has a keyboard placement means provided at a position on the upper side of said printer accommodating means but on the lower side of said holding means for placing a keyboard connected to said personal computer.

52. A display board system according to claim 49;

wherein said holding means comprises an angle adjusting means for adjusting an angle of a display surface and a write-in surface of the display board.

53. A display board system according to claim 49;

wherein said display means further has a plurality of connecting means for connecting various types of information equipment and AV equipment such as a digital camera, a DVD player, and video equipment, and is usable as a large-sized screen monitor.