Coordinate input apparatus

• US 5,484,967 A
• Filed: 09/30/1993
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Atsushi, Kobayashi, Katsuyuki, Tokioka, Masaki, Yoshimura, Yuichiro, Yanagisawa, Ryozo, Kaneko, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/128,664
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19, 345/177, 345/156, 367/907
• US Class Current: 178/18.04
• 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

Abstract

Some components of a vibration input to an input guarantee region on a vibration transmission plate directly reach a vibration sensor, but some other components are reflected by the end portion of the vibration transmission plate, and then reach the vibration sensor. A vibration suppressor is attached to a peripheral edge of the vibration transmission plate, and is located along the path of the vibration reflected by the end portion of the vibration transmission plate to the vibration sensor. Since the vibration sensor is attached to a corner portion of the vibration transmission plate where no vibration suppressor is attached, a decrease in coordinate detection precision caused by reflected waves can be suppressed, and a compact apparatus can be realized.

Claims

1. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a substantially rectangular vibration transmission plate provided with an input guarantee region where desired precision or resolution of a coordinate inputted from a vibration source is guaranteed;

vibration detection means arranged at least at three corner portions on said vibration transmission plate;

vibration suppression means which are arranged on a peripheral portion of said vibration transmission plate and along a path of a reflected wave of the vibration input in the input guarantee region to said detection means, except the corner portions where said detection means are arranged; and

means for calculating coordinate of a position where the vibration is input by said vibration source on the basis of the vibration detected by sid vibration detection means.

2. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a rectangular shaped vibration transmission plate;

conversion means arranged at least at three corner portions of said vibration transmission plate, for detecting a vibration on said vibration transmission plate and converting the detected vibration into electrical signals;

amplifier means for amplifying an output signal from said conversion means;

a vibration suppression means arranged on a peripheral portion of said vibration transmission plate and along a path of a reflected wave of the vibration input in an input guarantee region to said conversion means;

connection means for electrically connecting said conversion means and said amplifier means by clamping said conversion means and said amplifier means; and

reading means for reading coordinate of a position where the vibration is input by said vibration source on the basis of the vibration detected by said conversion means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said conductive member is formed in a symmetrical pattern.

4. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a vibration transmission plate;

a vibrating pen for inputting a vibration to said vibration transmission plate;

vibration detection means arranged at least at three corner portions of said vibration transmission plate, for detecting a vibration o said vibration transmission plate; and

means for reading a coordinate of a position pointed by said vibrating pen,

wherein said vibrating pen comprises a generation means for generating a vibration a vibration transmission member, pressed against said generation means, for transmitting the vibration and a pen tip member, removably installed to said vibration transmission member, for transmitting the vibration from said vibration transmission member to said vibration transmission plate.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pen tip member consists of a resin, and said vibration transmission member consists of a metal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said generation means converts input electric power into a mechanical vibration, and said vibration transmission member also serves as a conductive portion for supplying the electric power to said generation means.

7. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a vibration transmission plate;

a vibrating pen for inputting a vibration to said vibration transmission plate;

vibration detection means arranged at least at three corner portions of said vibration transmission plate, for detecting a vibration of said vibration transmission plate; and

means for reading a coordinate of a position pointed by said vibrating pen,

wherein said vibrating pen comprises a generation means for generating a vibration by converting electric power into a mechanical vibration, a vibration transmission member which is made of metal and pressed against said generation means to transmit the vibration and the electric power and a resin pen tip, removably installed to said vibration transmission member, for transmitting the vibration from said vibration transmission member to said vibration transmission plate.