Pointing input device

• US 20040066379A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Original Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Inventors: Toyoda, Masahiko, Ise, Yuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,199,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The present invention provides a pointing input device, which sequentially outputs pointing position data indicating a pointing input position and push detection data from a push by the same pen or finger used for a pointing input. The pointing input device includes a display panel for displaying any pointing input information, and an optical touch panel. The optical touch panel detects the pointing input in an input operation area, through which a display area is visible, and outputs the pointing position data. Piezoelectric substrates are attached to a transparent protective plate protecting the top surface of the display panel. When an operator pushes the transparent protective plate disposed at the lower part of the optical touch panel while carrying out the pointing input, the piezoelectric substrates output electric signals by which the push is judged. Then, the push detection data is outputted with the pointing position data.

Claims

1. A pointing input device comprising:

a display panel for displaying any pointing input information on a display area thereof;

a transparent protective plate laminated on the display area of the display panel;

a piezoelectric substrate attached to the transparent protective plate, for converting deformation caused by a push against the transparent protective plate into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal; and

an optical touch panel disposed on the transparent protective plate, for emitting light beams for reticulately scanning an input operation area of the optical touch panel along orthogonal X and Y directions to detect a pointing input and a pointing input position in the input operation area when the light beams are intercepted by the pointing input, a display area of the input operation area being visible through the transparent protective plate;

the pointing input device outputting pointing position data indicating the pointing input position, while the optical touch panel detects the pointing input,

the pointing input device outputting push detection data together with the pointing position data, when the electric signal is outputted from the piezoelectric substrate and the push against the transparent protective plate is judged while the optical touch panel is detecting the pointing input.

3. The pointing input device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric substrate comprises a pair of piezoelectric substrates of narrow and elongated shape, and the piezoelectric substrates are attached to the transparent protective plate and are orthogonal to each other.

2. A pointing input device comprising:

a display panel for displaying any pointing input information on a display area thereof;

a transparent protective plate laminated on the display area of the display panel;

a piezoelectric substrate attached to the transparent protective plate, for converting deformation caused by a push against the transparent protective plate into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal; and

an optical touch panel disposed on the transparent protective plate, for emitting light beams for reticulately scanning an input operation area of the optical touch panel along orthogonal X and Y directions to detect a pointing input and a pointing input position in the input operation area when the light beams are intercepted by the pointing input, a display area of the input operation area being visible through the transparent protective plate,

the pointing input device outputting pointing position data detected by the optical touch panel when the electric signal is outputted from the piezoelectric substrate and the push against the transparent protective plate is judged while the optical touch panel is detecting the pointing input.

4. The pointing input device according to claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric substrate comprises a pair of piezoelectric substrates of narrow and elongated shape, and the piezoelectric substrates are attached to the transparent protective plate and are orthogonal to each other.