Computer system having multi-device input system

• US 5,691,748 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Fukuzaki, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): GARBER, WENDY RAE
• Application Number:
  US08/415,061
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/173, 345/175, 345/179, 395/155, 178/18
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A computer system including a multi-device input system has a screen operation mode and a menu display item selection mode, to eliminate mode switching and achieve better operability. The computer system has: a display unit; a computer incorporating a regular processor and a menu selector; and a coordinate detector having a coordinate detection area superimposed with a menu display. The coordinate detector simultaneously detects coordinate information of two position pointing devices and supplies the coordinate information to the computer; a first position pointing device is exclusively used for selecting menu items from the menu display. A device for identifying position pointing devices detects the type of position pointing device being used on the coordinate detector. In response to the identifying device determining that the first position pointing device is used, the coordinate information about the first device is supplied to the menu selector and a symbol corresponding to the selected menu item is displayed. In response to the identifying device determining that a second position pointing device is being used, coordinate information about the second device is supplied to the regular processor so movement of the second device results in lines being drawn on the display.

Claims

1. A computer system having a multi-device input system, said computer system comprising:

a display unit;

a computer including a regular processor for carrying out regular processing and a menu selector for carrying out menu selection processing with respect to display contents on a display screen of said display unit;

a coordinate detecting device having a coordinate detectable area, the coordinate detecting device including a menu display area for displaying a plurality of menu items, the coordinate detecting device being capable of displaying the menu items simultaneously with detecting coordinate information of at least two position pointing devices operated on said coordinate detectable area, the coordinate detecting device responding to the position pointing devices to supply coordinate information about the position pointing devices to said computer;

at least one, but not all, of said position pointing devices being exclusively used for selecting menu items from the menu item display area; and

a position pointing device identifier for identifying the type of said position pointing device;

the coordinate information derived from said coordinate detecting device being sent to said menu selector in response to said position pointing device identifier determining that the position pointing device operated in said coordinate detectable area is a position pointing device exclusively used for menu item selection, the coordinate information derived from said coordinate detecting device being sent to said regular processor in response to said position pointing device identifier determining that it is a position pointing device other than the position pointing device used exclusively for menu selection.

2. A computer system including the multi-device input system according to claim 1, wherein said menu area includes a menu sheet resting on said coordinate detectable area.

3. A computer system including the multi-device input system according to claim 1, wherein said menu area includes a display unit having said coordinate detectable area.

4. A computer system including the multi-device input system according to claim 1, wherein said menu display area includes printed matter printed on said coordinate detectable area.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the coordinate detecting device is arranged so portions thereof responsive to the at least one position pointing device used exclusively for menu selection is also responsive to the at least one position device other than the position pointing device used exclusively for menu selection.

6. A method of performing computer assisted design operations with a coordinate detector superimposed with a menu containing plural symbols, the coordinate detector being coupled with a display via a computer, comprising the steps of simultaneously grasping with first and second hands first and second position pointing devices so the first and second pointing devices are proximate the coordinate detector, coupling energy between the first and second pointing devices and the coordinate detector so signals indicative of the identities and positions of the first and second pointing devices are supplied to the computer, the computer responding to the identity and positions of the first pointing device to activate the display so the display displays symbols corresponding to symbols pointed to by the first pointing device, the computer responding to the signals indicative of the identity and positions of the second pointing device to activate the display so the display displays lines corresponding to locations pointed to by the second pointing device on the coordinate detector.

7. The method of claim 6 further including moving the first pointing device relative to the coordinate detector so signals indicative of the first pointing device position are supplied to the computer, the computer responding to the movement of the first pointing deice so the symbol corresponding to the symbol on the menu pointed to by the first pointing device immediately prior to movement of the first pointing device is moved to locations on the display corresponding to locations on the detector where the first pointing device is moved.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein both of the first and second position pointing devices include switches, activating the switches of the first and second position pointing devices with digits of the first and second hands respectively to cause (a) movement of the symbol on the display while a switch on the first of the position pointing devices is activated and while the first position pointing device is being moved relative to the coordinate detector by the first hand, and (b) drawing a line on the display while a switch on the second of the position pointing devices is activated and while the second position pointing device is being moved relative to the coordinate detector by the second hand.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the first and second hands move the first and second devices to the same portions of the coordinate detector so the computer is supplied with signals indicative of the first and second devices being at the same locations.

10. A method of performing computer aided design operations with a coordinate detector superimposed with a menu containing plural symbols, the coordinate detector being coupled with a display via a computer, comprising the steps of supplying energy to first and second areas of the position detector under the respective control of first and second hands of an operator so signals indicative of the identity of the control by the first and second hands and positions of the areas pointed to under the control of the first and second hands are supplied to the computer, the computer responding to the identity of the control provided by the first hand and the positions of the first area to activate the display so the display displays symbols corresponding to symbols pointed to under the control of the first hand, the computer responding to the identity of the control provided by the second hand and the positions of the second area to activate the display so the display displays lines corresponding to lines drawn under the control of the second hand.