Coordinate input apparatus and its control method

• US 6,208,330 B1
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ando, Masahiro, Hasegawa, Masahide, Ibaraki, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/037,131
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/175, 345/177, 345/179, 345/180-183, 178/180.1, 178/18.04, 178/18.09, 178/19-1-
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0423 using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

A coordinate input apparatus has an optical scanning/detection unit for touch input, and a vibration sensor for pen input. While no coordinate input is made, some components of the optical scanning/detection unit are activated to detect the size of an object that approaches or contacts an input board. When the detected size is smaller than a predetermined value (as large as about the fingertip), it is determined that touch input has been made, and the optical scanning/detection unit is activated to acquire the coordinate value of the touch input. On the other hand, when the detected size is larger than the predetermined value (larger than a fist), it is determined that pen input has been made, and coordinate detection using the vibration sensor is done.

Claims

1. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution;

second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution higher than the first resolution;

size detection means for detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface; and

control means for setting one of said first and second position detection means in an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the object detected by said size detection means,

wherein when the size of the object detected by said size detection means is smaller than a predetermined value, said control means sets said first position detection means in the active stage capable of pointed position detection, and when the size of the object is not less than the predetermined value, said control means sets said second position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the size of the object detected by said size detection means is larger than a first predetermined value and smaller than a second predetermined value, said control means sets said first position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection, and when the size of the object is not less than the second predetermined value, said control means sets said second position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said size detection means sets said first position detection means in an active state capable of size detection, and detects the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the active state capable of size detection in said size detection means, some components of said first position detection means are activated.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the active state capable of size detection of said first position detection means in said size detection means requires smaller consumption power than the active state capable of pointed position detection of said first position detection means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first position detection means detects the pointed position based on light beams scanned by first and second detectors, and

said size detection means detects the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface based on the light beam scanned by one of said first and second detectors.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a light scanning period of one of said first and second detectors in said size detection means is longer than a light scanning period in the active state capable of pointed position detection.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second position detection means detects the pointed position by an ultrasonic wave method.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

pressure detection means for detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface, and

wherein said size detection means detects the size of the object on the input surface when the contact pressure detected by said pressure detection means is higher than a predetermined pressure.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first and second position detection means are set in an inactive state until said pressure detection means detects a pressure exceeding the predetermined pressure, and

said size detection means sets components of said first position detection means in an active state capable of size detection, and detects the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface.

11. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution;

second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution different from the first resolution;

first size detection means for detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface in a standby state in which at least one of said first and second position detection means is set in an inactive state;

first control means for switching said apparatus from the standby state to a coordinate input state on the basis of the size of the object detected by said first size detection means;

second size detection means for detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface in the coordinate input state;

second control means for switching one of said first and second position detection means to an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the object detected by said second size detection means; and

third control means for controlling switching from the coordinate input state to the standby state of said apparatus on the basis of the size of the object detected by said second size detect ion means,

wherein said first control means switches said apparatus to the coordinate input state when the size of the object detected by said first size detection means is larger than a first predetermined value,

said second control means determines one of said first and second position detection means to be activated on the basis of whether or not the size of the object detected by said second size detection means is larger than a second predetermined value, and

said third control means switches said apparatus from the coordinate input state to the standby state when the size of the object detected by said second size detection means is smaller than the first predetermined value.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first position detection means can be activated in a size detection mode capable of size detection, and a position detection mode capable of detection of both the pointed position and size, and requires smaller consumption power in the size detection mode than in the position detection mode,

said first size detection means performs size detection by activating said first position detection means in the size detection mode, and

said second size detection means performs size detection while said first position detection means is activated in one of the size detection mode and position detection mode.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

pressure detection means for detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface while setting said first and second position detection means in a halt state, and

wherein said first size detection means starts detection of the size of the object on the input surface when the contact pressure detected by said pressure detection means is higher than a predetermined pressure.

14. A control method for a coordinate input apparatus which comprises first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution, and second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution higher than the first resolution, comprising:

the size detection step of detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface; and

the control step of setting one of said first and second position detection means in an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the object detected in the size detection step,

wherein said control step includes the steps of setting said first position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the object detected in the size detection step is smaller than a predetermined value, and setting said second position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the object is not less than the predetermined value.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the control step includes the steps of setting said first position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the object detected in the size detection step is larger than a first predetermined value and smaller than a second predetermined value, and setting said second position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the object is not less than the second predetermined value.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the size detection step includes the step of setting said first position detection means in an active state capable of size detection, so as to detect the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein in the active state capable of size detection in the size detection step, some components of said first position detection means are activated.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the active state capable of size detection of said first position detection means in the size detection step requires smaller power consumption than the active state capable of pointed position detection of said first position detection means.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein said first position detection means detects the pointed position based on light beams scanned by first and second detectors, and

the size detection step includes the step of detecting the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface based on the light beam scanned by one of said first and second detectors.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein a light scanning period of one of said first and second detectors in the size detection step is longer than a light scanning period in the active state capable of pointed position detection.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein said second position detection means detects the pointed position by an ultrasonic wave method.

22. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

the pressure detection step of detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface, and

wherein the size detection step includes the step of detecting the size of the object on the input surface when the contact pressure detected in the pressure detection step is higher than a predetermined pressure.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the size detection step includes the steps of setting said first and second position detection means in an inactive state until a pressure exceeding the predetermined pressure is detected in the pressure detection step, and setting components of said first position detection means in an active state capable of size detection, so as to detect the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface.

24. A control method for a coordinate input apparatus which comprises first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution, and second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution different from the first resolution, comprising:

the first size detection step of detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface in a standby state in which at least one of said first and second position detection means is set in an inactive state;

the first control step of switching said apparatus from the standby state to a coordinate input state on the basis of the size of the object detected in the first size detection step;

the second size detection step of detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface in the coordinate input state;

the second control step of switching one of said first and second position detection means to an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the object detected in the second size detection step; and

the third control step of controlling switching from the coordinate input state to the standby state of said apparatus on the basis of the size of the object detected in the second size detection steps

wherein the first control step includes the step of switching said apparatus to the coordinate input apparatus when the size of the object detected in the first size detection step is larger than a first predetermined value,

the second control step includes the step of determining one of said first and second position detection means to be activated on the basis of whether or not the size of the object detected in the second sized detection step is larger than a second predetermined value, and

the third control step includes the step of switching said apparatus from the coordinate input state to the standby state when the size of the object detected in the second size detection step is smaller than the first predetermined value.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said first position detection means can be activated in a size detection mode capable of size detection, and a position detection mode capable of detection of both the pointed position and size, and requires smaller power consumption in the size detection mode than in the position detection mode,

the first size detection step includes the step of performing size detection by activating said first position detection means in the size detection mode, and

the second size detection step includes the step of performing size detection while said first position detection means is activated in one of the size detection mode and position detection mode.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

the pressure detection step of detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface while setting said first and second position detection means in a halt state, and

wherein the first size detection step includes the step of starting detection of the size of the object on the input surface when the contact pressure detected in the pressure detection step is higher than a predetermined pressure.

27. A computer readable memory that stores a control program for a coordinate input apparatus which comprises first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution, and second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution higher than the first resolution, said program comprising:

a program code of size detection processing for detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface; and

a program code of control processing for setting one of said first and second position detection means in an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the object detected in the size detection processing,

wherein said program code of control processing includes a program code for setting said first position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the object detected by said program code of size detection is smaller than a predetermined value, and setting said second position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the object is not less than the predetermined value.

28. The memory according to claim 27, further comprising:

a program code of pressure detection processing for detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface, and

wherein the size detection processing starts detection of the size of the object on the input surface when the contact pressure detected in the pressure detection processing is higher than a predetermined pressure.

29. The memory of claim 28, wherein the size detection processing includes setting said first and second position detection means in an inactive state until a pressure exceeding the predetermined pressure is detected in the pressure detection processing, and setting components of said first position detection means in an active state capable of size detection, so as to detect the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface.

30. The memory according to claim 27, wherein the control processing includes setting said first position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the objected detected in the size detection processing is larger than a first predetermined value and smaller than a second predetermined value, and setting said second position detection means in the active state capable of pointed position detection when the size of the object is not less than the second predetermined value.

31. The memory according to claim 27, wherein the size detection processing includes setting said first detection means in an active state capable of size detection, so as to detect the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface.

32. The memory according to claim 31, wherein in the active state capable of size detection in the size detection processing, some components of said first position detection means are activated.

33. The memory according to claim 31, wherein the active state capable of size detection of said first position detection means in the size detection processing requires smaller power consumption than the active state capable of pointed position detection of said first position detection means.

34. The memory of claim 27, wherein said first position detection means detects the pointed position based on light beams scanned by first and second detectors, and

the size detection processing includes detecting the size of the object that approaches or contacts the input surface based on the light beam scanned by one of said first and second detectors.

35. The memory of claim 34, wherein a light scanning period of one of said first and second detectors in the size detection processing is longer than a light scanning period in the active state capable of pointed position detection.

36. The memory of claim 27, wherein said second position detection means detects the pointed position by an ultrasonic wave method.

37. A computer readable memory that stores a control program for a coordinate input apparatus which comprises first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution, and second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution different from the first resolution, said program comprising:

a program code of first size detection processing for detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface in a standby state in which at least one of said first and second position detection means is set in an inactive state;

a program code of first control processing for switching said apparatus from the standby state to a coordinate input state on the basis of the size of the object detected in the first size detection processing;

a program code of second size detection processing for detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface in the coordinate input state;

a program code of second control processing for switching one of said first and second position detection means to an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the objected detected in the second size detection processing; and

a program code of third control processing for controlling switching from the coordinate input state to the standby state of said apparatus on the basis of the size of the object detected in the second size detection processing,

wherein the first control processing includes the step of switching said apparatus to the coordinate input apparatus when the size of the objected detected in the first size detection processing is larger than a first predetermined value,

the second control processing includes the step of determining one of said first and second position detection means to be activated on the basis of whether or not the size of the object detected in the second size detection processing is larger than a second predetermined value, and

the third control processing includes the step of switching said apparatus from the coordinate input state to the standby state when the size of the object detected in the second size detection processing is smaller than the first predetermined value.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said first position detection means can be activated in a size detection mode capable of size detection, and a position detection mode capable of detection of both the pointed position and size, and requires smaller power consumption in the size detection mode than in the position detection mode,

the first size detection processing includes performing size detection by activating said first position detection means in the size detection mode, and

the second size detection processing includes performing size detection while said first position detecting means is activated in one of the size detection mode and position detection mode.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising a program code of pressure detection processing for detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface while setting said first and second position detection means in a halt state,

wherein the first size detection processing includes starting detection of the size of the object on the input surface when the contact pressure detected in the pressure detection processing is higher than a predetermined pressure.