Coordinate input apparatus and a wireless input pen

• US 5,073,685 A
• Filed: 10/26/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yanagisawa, Ryohzou, Tanaka, Atsushi, Kobayashi, Katsuyuki, Kamono, Takeshi, Kaneko, Kiyoshi, Taniishi, Shinnosuke, Yoshimura, Yuichiroh
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/603,625
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/29, 340/706, 310/311, 367/907, 364/521
• US Class Current: 178/19.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0433 in which the acoustic waves are either generated by a movable member and propagated within a surface layer or propagated within a surface layer and captured by a movable member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/907 Coordinate determination

Abstract

A coordinate input apparatus includes a wireless vibrating input pen for alternately generating a first vibration having a first frequency and a second vibration having a second frequency different from the first frequency. A vibration transmitting member is provided for transmitting the first and second vibrations input from the vibrating input pen by contacting the vibrating input pen. A plurality of vibration detectors are coupled to the vibration transmitting member for detecting the first and second vibrations transmitted through the vibration transmitting member. Processing circuitry is included for deriving at least one coordinate of a position of the vibrating input pen on the transmitting member according to a transmission delay time between the first and second vibrations detected by the vibration detectors. Transmission and reception of timing information between the vibrating input pen and the main body of the apparatus is not required. Hence, it becomes possible to provide a wireless vibrating input pen.

Claims

1. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a vibrating input pen for alternately generating a first vibration having a first frequency and a second vibration having a second frequency different from the first frequency;

a vibration transmitting member for transmitting the first and second vibrations input from said vibrating input pen by contacting the vibrating input pen;

vibration detection means coupled to said vibration transmitting member for detecting the first and second vibrations transmitted through said vibration transmitting member; and

derivation means for deriving a location of said vibrating input pen on said vibration transmitting member according to a transmission delay time between the first vibration and the second vibration detected by said vibration detection means.

2. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrating input pen includes a piezoelectric element for generating the first and second vibrations.

3. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration transmitting member comprises one of a transparent acrylic-resin plate and a glass plate, and further comprising a display unit, disposed adjacent said vibration transmitting member, for displaying the contact position derived by said derivation means.

4. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrating input pen comprises:

generation means for generating a pulse signal having a basic frequency;

frequency division means for performing frequency division on the pulse signal generated by said generation means to generate a pulse signal having the first frequency and a pulse signal having the second frequency; and

vibration generation means for generating the first and second vibrations in response to the pulse signals generated by said frequency division means.

5. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a vibrating input pen for generating a second vibration having a second frequency a predetermined period of time after generating a first vibration having a first frequency;

a vibration transmitting member for transmitting the first and second vibrations input from said vibrating input pen by contacting the vibrating input pen;

vibration detection means coupled to said vibration transmitting member for detecting the first and second vibrations transmitted through said vibration transmitting member; and

derivation means for deriving at least one coordinate of a position on said vibration transmitting member contacted by said vibrating input pen according to (a) said predetermined period of time, (b) respective group velocities of said first and second vibrations, and (c) a transmission delay time between the first and second vibrations detected by said vibration detection means.

6. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said vibrating input pen includes a piezoelectric element for generating the first and second vibrations.

7. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said vibration transmitting member comprises one of a transparent acrylic-resin plate and a glass plate, and further comprising a display unit, disposed adjacent said vibration transmitting member, for displaying the contact position derived by said derivation means.

8. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said vibrating input pen comprises:

generation means for generating a pulse signal having a basic frequency;

frequency division means for performing frequency division on the pulse signal generated by said generation means to generate a pulse signal having the first frequency and a pulse signal having the second frequency; and

vibration generation means for generating the first and second vibrations in response to the pulse signals generated by said frequency division means.

9. A coordinate input apparatus, comprising:

a vibration transmitting member; and

a vibrating input pen for inputting vibrations to be transmitted through said vibration transmitting member;

processing means, coupled to said transmitting member, for deriving a position of at least one coordinate on said vibration transmitting member of said vibrating input pen by detecting the vibration input from said vibrating input pen to said vibration transmitting member; and

vibration generation means, disposed within said input pen, for generating a first vibration having a first frequency and a second vibration having a second frequency with a predetermined time difference therebetween;

said processing means deriving the position of the coordinate from a transmission delay time between the first and second vibrations transmitted through said vibration transmitting member, and said predetermined time difference.

10. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the vibration generation means within said vibrating input pen comprises a piezoelectric element and means for driving said element.

11. A coordinate input appartus according to claim 9, wherein said vibration transmitting member comprises one of a transparent acrylic-resin plate and a glass plate, and further comprising a display unit, disposed adjacent said vibration transmitting member, for displaying the coordinate.

12. A coordinate input apparatus, comprising:

a vibration transmitting member;

a vibrating input pen for inputting vibrations to be transmitted through said vibration transmitting member;

processing means, coupled to said transmitting member, for deriving a position of at least one coordinate on said vibration transmitting member of said vibrating input pen by detecting the vibrations input from said vibrating input pen to said vibration transmitting member; and

signal forming means disposed within said iput pen and including (a) generation means for generating a pulse signal having a basic frequency, (b) frequency division means for performing frequency division on the pulse signal generated by said generation means to generate a pulse signal having a first frequency and a pulse signal having a second frequency, and (c) vibration generation means for generating a first vibration having the first frequency and a second vibration having the second frequency in response to the pulse signals generated by said frequency division means;

said processing means deriving the position of the coordinate from a transmission delay time between the first and second vibrations transmitted through said vibration transmitting member, and a predetermined time difference between the first and second vibrations.

13. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said vibration generation means within said vibrating input pen comprises a piezoelectric element and means for driving said element.

14. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said vibration transmitting member comprises one of a transparent acrylic-resin plate and a glass plate, and further comprises a display unit, disposed adjacent said vibration transmitting member, for displaying the coordinate.

15. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a vibration transmitting member;

a vibrating input pen for inputting vibrations to be transmitted through said vibration transmitting member;

processing means, coupled to said transmitting member, for deriving a position of at least one coordinate on said vibration transmitting member of said vibrating input pen by detecting the vibrations input from said vibrating input pen to said vibration transmitting member; and

signal forming means disposed within said input pen and including (a) generation means for generating a pulse signal having a basic frequency, (b) frequency division means for performing frequency division on the pulse signal generated by said generation means to generate a pulse signal having a first frequency and a pulse signal having a second frequency, (c) switching means for switching between the pulse signal having the first frequency and the pulse signal having the second frequency to output the switched pulse signal, and (d) vibration generation means for generating a first vibration having the first frequency and a second vibration having the second frequency in response to the pulse signals output from said switching means;

said processing means deriving the position of the coordinate from a transmission delay time between the first and second vibrations transmitted through said vibration transmitting member, and a predetermined time difference between the first and second vibrations.

16. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the vibration generation means within said vibrating input pen comprises a piezoelectric element and means for driving said element.

17. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said vibration transmitting member comprises one of a transparent acrylic-resin plate and a glass plate, and further comprises a display unit, disposed adjacent said transmitting member, for displaying the coordinate.

18. A wireless position encoder, comprising:

a vibration propagating member for propagating first and second vibrations having different frequencies;

a wireless input stylus, unconnected to said propagating members, for generating and inputting the first and second vibrations to said propagating member;

a plurality of vibration sensors for sensing the first and second vibrations propagating in said propagating member; and

processing circuitry, coupled to said sensors, for determining a location on said propagating member where said stylus inputted the first and second vibrations.

19. An encoder according to claim 18, wherein said stylus inputs the first and second vibrations with a predetermined time delay therebetween, and wherein said processing circuitry determines said location from (a) the predetermined time delay and (b) the different propagating speeds of the first and second vibrations between the input location to the sensors.

20. A wireless input stylus for use with (a) a vibration propagating member which propagates first and second vibrations having different frequencies, (b) a plurality of vibration sensors for sensing the first and second vibrations propagating in the propagating member, and (c) processing circuitry, coupled to the sensors, for determining a location on the propagating member where said stylus inputs the first and second vibrations, said stylus comprising:

a vibration transmitting tip for transmitting the first and second vibrations to the propagating member;

vibration generating circuitry, coupled to said tip, for generating the first and second vibrations, and

means for holding a battery and for supplying electric power therefrom to said vibration generating circuitry.