INPUT SYSTEM INCLUDING POSITION-DETECTING DEVICE

• US 20100013792A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: FUKUSHIMA, Yasuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,421,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A position-detecting device detects a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument and includes an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and a manipulation-detecting unit located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A position-detecting device for detecting a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument, comprising:

an operation panel including an xy coordinate system for detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument, the operation panel being adapted to detect the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument by electromagnetic coupling using a first plurality of loop coils provided under the plane of the operation panel, wherein each loop coil extends parallel to the y-axis of the operation panel, and a second plurality of loop coils provided under the plane of the operation panel, wherein each loop coil extends parallel to the x-axis of the operation panel;

manipulation-detecting means located outside the operation panel and inside a detectable area directly on the second plurality of loop coils for sensing a user manipulation, said manipulation-detecting means being adapted to detect the manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and a user'"'"'s finger, based on the position of the position-pointing instrument during the manipulation;

the manipulation-detecting means comprising a capacitive touch pad being adapted to detect a touching manipulation,

the operation panel and the manipulation-detecting means being adapted to be used simultaneously.

20. The position-detecting device according to claim 19, further comprising the manipulation-detecting means being located at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel.

21. The position-detecting device according to claim 19, her comprising the manipulation-detecting means being adapted to detect the manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, and/or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

22. The position-detecting device according to claim 19, wherein the manipulation-detecting means comprises at least one user manipulandum.

23. The position-detecting device according to claim 19, further comprising electronic circuitry for receiving a first signal from the operation panel and a second signal from the manipulation-detecting means, the first signal being indicative of a detected position and the second signal being indicative of a sensed manipulation, the electronic circuitry being adapted to be coupled to an external electronic device for further processing of the first and/or second signals.

24. The position-detecting device according to claim 21, wherein the manipulation-detecting means being adapted to detect the manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument, and further comprising means for determining whether the manipulation is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, upon detecting the manipulation through the manipulation-detecting means.

25. The position-detecting device according to claim 21, wherein the operation panel and an area peripheral to the operation panel form a detectable area for detecting the position of the position-pointing instrument, the manipulation-detecting means being disposed within the detectable area, and further comprising means for determining whether the manipulation detected by the manipulation-detecting means is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, based on the position of the position-pointing instrument during the manipulation.