Coordinate input apparatus and control method and program thereof

• US 20050030287A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sato, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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

Abstract

A coordinate input apparatus includes a light-receiving unit arranged in a coordinate input region, a reflection unit arranged at the peripheral portion of the coordinate input region to reflect incident light, and a light-emitting unit which illuminates the coordinate input region with light. Angle information corresponding to a point which crosses a predetermined level in a light amount distribution obtained from the light-receiving unit is calculated. The coordinates of the pointed position of a pointing means are calculated on the basis of, of a plurality of pieces of calculated angle information, angle information corresponding to direct reflected light from the pointing means, the direct reflected light being generated by the light-emitting unit.

Claims

1. A coordinate input apparatus which calculates a pointed position on a coordinate input region, comprising:

light-receiving means arranged in the coordinate input region;

reflection means, arranged at a peripheral portion of the coordinate input region, for reflecting incident light;

light-emitting means for illuminating the coordinate input region with light;

angle calculation means for calculating angle information on the basis of a light amount distribution obtained from said light-receiving means; and

calculation means for calculating coordinates of a pointed position of pointing means on the basis of, of a plurality of pieces of angle information calculated by said angle calculation means, angle information corresponding to direct reflected light from said pointing means, the direct reflected light being generated by said light-emitting means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

determination means for determining whether a light amount obtained from said light-receiving means is less than a predetermined threshold value, and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the light amount is less than the predetermined threshold value, executing control to decrease a light emission amount of said light-emitting means by a predetermined amount, cause said light-emitting means to emit light, and cause said angle calculation means to execute angle calculation again for a light amount distribution obtained from said light-receiving means by the light emission.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

determination means for determining whether a light amount obtained from said light-receiving means is less than a predetermined threshold value, and

control means for executing control to shorten a light reception time by said light-receiving means by a predetermined time and cause said angle calculation means to execute angle calculation again for a light amount distribution obtained from said light-receiving means within the predetermined time.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said calculation means calculates the coordinates of the pointed position on the basis of, of the plurality of pieces of angle information, angle information corresponding to a light amount level having a minus sign.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said calculation means calculates the coordinates of the pointed position on the basis of, of the plurality of pieces of angle information, angle information obtained by adding a predetermined value to angle information corresponding to a light amount level having a minus sign.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means, said display means being superposed on the coordinate input region.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means, being superposed on the coordinate input region.

7. A control method of a coordinate input apparatus which calculates a pointed position on a coordinate input region on the basis of a light amount distribution obtained by a light-receiving unit arranged in the coordinate input region from reflected light from a reflection unit which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the coordinate input region to reflect incident light, comprising:

an angle calculation step of calculating angle information on the basis of the light amount distribution obtained from the light-receiving unit; and

a calculation step of calculating coordinates of a pointed position of pointing means on the basis of, of a plurality of pieces of angle information calculated in the angle calculation step, angle information corresponding to direct reflected light from the pointing means, the direct reflected light being generated by a light-emitting unit.

8. A program which implements control of a coordinate input apparatus which calculates a pointed position on a coordinate input region on the basis of a light amount distribution obtained by a light-receiving unit arranged in the coordinate input region from reflected light from a reflection unit which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the coordinate input region to reflect incident light, comprising:

a program code for an angle calculation step of calculating angle information on the basis of the light amount distribution obtained from the light-receiving unit; and

a program code for a calculation step of calculating coordinates of a pointed position of pointing means on the basis of, of a plurality of pieces of angle information calculated in the angle calculation step, angle information corresponding to direct reflected light from the pointing means, the direct reflected light being generated by a light-emitting unit.