Coordinates detecting apparatus for independently correcting coordinates

• US 6,366,866 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Baba, Takashi, Horii, Hiroshi, Moriai, Shinsuke, Kanagawa, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L.
• Application Number:
  US09/237,235
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 702/33, 702/36, 702/57, 702/85, 702/94, 702/95, 702/107, 702/124, 702/126, 702/150-153, 702/155, 702/167, 702/168, 702/190, 702/197, 337/02, 335/02, 335/03, 73/17.9, 73/18.1, 345/178-184, 178/18-1-, 178/18-5-
• US Class Current: 702/95
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04182 Filtering of noise external to the device and not generated by digitiser components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

In a coordinates detecting apparatus including a tablet for detecting X and Y coordinates and a correcting circuit for correcting the X and Y coordinates detected from the tablet, a parameter used for correcting the X coordinate and a parameter used for correcting the Y coordinate are adjustable independent from each other. More specifically, time constant of a CR filter circuit for the X coordinate and time constant of the CR filter circuit for the Y coordinate can be adjusted independent from each other. Further, numbers of A/D conversion, threshold values, number of samples and so on for the X and Y coordinates can be set independent from each other. As a result, in the coordinates detecting apparatus, noises in X and Y coordinates can be optimally removed, allowing detection of X and Y coordinates with high accuracy.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a first coordinate and a second coordinate independent from said first coordinate, comprising:

a sensor unit disposed to generate a first data signal for specifying said first coordinate and a second data signal for specifying said second coordinate; and

a correcting unit coupled to receive said first and second data signals, disposed to correct said first data signal using an adjustable first parameter, and correcting said second data signal using a second parameter adjustable independent from said first parameter, wherein

said first parameter includes a first number of A/D conversion of said first data signal, and said second parameter includes a second number of A/D conversion of said second data signal; and

said correcting unit includes

means for setting said first and second numbers of A/D conversion independently,

means for A/D converting said first data signal by said set first number of A/D conversion, and for A/D converting said second data signal by said set second number of A/D conversion, and

means for calculating an average value of said A/D converted first data and calculating an average value of said A/D converted second data, said calculated average values of said A/D converted first data and said A/D converted second data constitute a sample for said first data signal and said second data signal, respectively, wherein

said first parameter includes a first number of samples for calculating an average among samples of said first data signal, and said second parameter includes a second number of samples for calculating an average among samples of said second data signal; and

said correcting unit further includes

 

means for setting said first and second numbers of samples independently, and

 

means for calculating an average of said set first number of samples of the first data signal, and for calculating an average of said set second number of samples of said second data signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said correcting unit includes

a first correcting circuit coupled to receive said first data signal and disposed to correct said first data signal using said first parameter, and

a second correcting circuit coupled to receive said second data signal and disposed to correct said second data signal using said second parameter.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said first correcting circuit includes a first filter circuit disposed to remove noise of said first data signal, and

said second correcting circuit includes a second filter circuit disposed to remove noise of said second data signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said first filter circuit includes

a first resistor connected between an input node and an output node thereof, and

a first capacitor connected between the output node and a ground node,

said first resistor and or said first capacitor being a variable element;

and

said second filter circuit includes

a second resistor connected between an input node and an output node thereof, and

a second capacitor connected between the output node and a ground node,

said second resistor and/or said second capacitor being a variable element.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said correcting unit includes

a memory disposed to store a prescribed program, and

a processor coupled to said memory and disposed to correct said first and second data signals in accordance with said program.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said correcting unit includes

means for setting said first and second parameters independently;

and

means for calculating said first coordinate based on said first data signal using said first parameter, and calculating said second coordinate based on said second data signal using said second parameter.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first parameter further includes a first threshold value for a difference of A/D converted values of said first data signal, and said second parameter includes a second threshold value for a difference of A/D converted values of said second data signal;

wherein said means for calculating an average value calculates a plurality of average values for a plurality of first data signals and a plurality of average values for a plurality of second data signals; and

said correcting unit further includes

means for setting said first and second threshold values independently, and

means for calculating a plurality of differences between successive calculated average values of said first data signals and a plurality of differences between successive calculated average values of said second data signals;

means for comparing said difference of successive average values of said first data signals with said set first threshold value, and for comparing said difference between successive average values of said second data signals with said set second threshold value.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said first parameter further includes a third threshold value for a difference in differences of A/D converted values of said first data signal, and said second parameter further includes a fourth threshold value for a difference in differences of A/D converted values of said second data signal;

and

said correcting unit further includes

means for setting said third and fourth threshold values independently, and

means for comparing a difference between successive calculated differences of the average values of said first data signals with said set third threshold value, and for comparing a difference between successive calculated differences of average values of said second data signals with said set forth threshold value.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a rectangular tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates;

and

said third and fourth threshold values are set in accordance with aspect ratio of said tablet.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates,

a tablet including

a transparent substrate,

a transparent film opposing to and spaced apart from said transparent substrate,

a first transparent conductive film formed on said transparent substrate on the side of said transparent film,

a transparent insulating film formed on said first transparent conductive film,

a second transparent conductive film formed on said transparent insulating film for specifying said first coordinate, and

a third transparent conductive film formed on said transparent film on the side of said transparent substrate for specifying said second coordinate;

and

said third threshold value is set larger than said fourth threshold value.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a rectangular tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates;

and

said first and second threshold values are set in accordance with aspect ratio of said tablet.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates,

said tablet including

a transparent substrate,

a transparent film opposing to and spaced apart from said transparent substrate,

a first transparent conductive film formed on said transparent substrate on the side of said transparent film,

a transparent insulating film formed on said first transparent conductive film,

a second transparent conductive film formed on said transparent insulating film for specifying said first coordinate, and

a third transparent conductive film formed on said transparent film on the side of said transparent substrate, for specifying said second coordinate;

and

said first threshold value is set larger than said second threshold value.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said first parameter further includes a first threshold value for a difference among samples of said first data signal, and said second parameter further includes a second threshold value for a difference among samples of said second data signals;

and

said correcting further includes

means for setting said first and second threshold values independently, and

means for comparing a difference between a sample of the average value of said first data signal with another sample preceding by one with said set first threshold value, and for comparing a difference between a sample of the average of said second data signal with another sample preceding by one with said set second threshold value.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a rectangular tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates;

and

said first and second threshold values are set in accordance with aspect ratio of said tablet.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates,

said tablet including

a transparent substrate,

a transparent film opposing to and spaced apart from said transparent substrate,

a first transparent conductive film formed on said transparent substrate on the side of said transparent film,

a transparent insulating film formed on said first transparent conductive film,

a second transparent conductive film formed on said transparent insulating film for specifying said first coordinate, and

a third transparent conductive film formed on said transparent film on the side of said transparent substrate for specifying said second coordinate;

and

said first threshold value is set larger than said second threshold value.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates;

and

said first number of A/D converter is set in accordance with variation of said first data signal, and said second number of A/D converter is set in accordance with variation of said second data signal.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates;

and

said first number of samples is set in accordance with variation of said first data signal, and said second number of samples is set in accordance with variation of said second data signal.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates,

said tablet including

a transparent substrate,

a transparent film opposing to and spaced apart from said transparent substrate,

a first transparent conductive film formed on said transparent substrate on the side of said transparent film, for specifying said first coordinate, and

a second transparent conductive film formed on said transparent film on the side of said transparent substrate, for specifying said second coordinate;

and

said first number of conversion is set in accordance with sheet resistance of said first transparent conductive film, and

said second number of conversion is set in accordance with sheet resistance of said second transparent conductive film.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said sensor unit includes

a liquid crystal display, and

a tablet attached on said liquid crystal display for an input of said first and second coordinates,

said table including

a transparent substrate,

a transparent film opposing to and spaced apart from said transparent substrate,

a first transparent conductive film formed on said transparent substrate on the side of said transparent film, for specifying said first coordinate, and

a second transparent conductive film formed on said transparent film on the side of said transparent substrate, for specifying said second coordinate;

and

said first number conversion is set in accordance with sheet resistance of said first transparent conductive film, and said second number of samples is set in accordance with sheet resistance of said second transparent conductive film.

20. A method of detecting a first coordinate and a second coordinate independent from said first coordinate, comprising the steps of:

generating a first data signal for specifying and first coordinate, and a second data signal for specifying said second coordinate;

correcting said first data signal by using an adjustable first parameter;

correcting said second data signal by using a second parameter adjustable independent form said first parameter;

said first parameter includes a first number of A/D conversion of said first data signal, and said second parameter includes a second number of A/D conversion of said second data signal; and

said step of correcting includes the steps of

setting said first number of A/D conversion,

setting said second number of A/D conversion independent from said first number of A/D conversion,

A/D converting said first data signal by said set first number of A/D conversion,

A/D converting said second data signal by said set second number of A/D conversion,

calculating an average value of said A/D converted first data signal, and

calculating an average value of said A/D converted second data signal, said calculated average values of said A/D converted first data and said A/D converted second data constitute a sample for said first data signal and said second data signal, respectively,

said first parameter further includes a first number of samples for calculating an average among samples of said first data signal, and said second parameter further includes a second number of samples for calculating an average among samples of said second data signal; and

said step of correcting further includes the steps of;

setting said first number of samples,

setting said second number of samples independent from said first number of samples,

calculating an average of said set first number of samples of the first data signal, and

calculating an average of said set second number of samples of the second data signal.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein

said step of correcting includes the steps of

setting said first parameter,

setting said second parameter independent from said first parameter,

calculating said first coordinate based on said first data signal by using said first parameter, and

calculating said second coordinate based on said second data signal by using said second parameter.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein

said first parameter further includes a first threshold value for a difference among A/D converted values of said first data signal, and said second parameter further includes a second threshold value for a difference among A/D converted values of said second data signal wherein said step for calculating an average value of said A/D converted first data signal calculates a plurality of average values for a plurality of first data signals and said step of calculating an average value of said A/D converted second data signal calculates a plurality of average values for a plurality of second data signals:

and

said step of correcting further includes the steps of

setting said first threshold value,

setting said second threshold value independent from said first threshold value,

calculating a plurality of differences between successive calculated average values of said first data signals and a plurality of differences between successive calculated average values of said second data signals,

comparing said difference of successive average values of said first data signals with said set first threshold value, and

comparing said difference of successive average value of said second data signals with said set second threshold value.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein

said first parameter further includes a third threshold value for a difference among difference of A/D converted values of said first data signal, and said second parameter further includes a fourth threshold value for a difference among differences of the A/D converted values of said second data signal;

and

said step of correcting further includes the steps of

setting said third threshold value,

setting said fourth threshold value independent from said third threshold value,

comparing a difference between successive calculated differences of the average values of said first data signals with said set third threshold value, and

comparing a difference between successive calculated differences of the average values of said second data signals with said set threshold value.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein

said first parameter further includes a first threshold value for a difference among samples of said first data signal, and said second parameter includes a second threshold value for a difference among samples of said second data signals;

and

said method of correcting further includes the steps of

setting said first threshold value,

setting said second threshold value independent from said first threshold value,

comparing a difference between a sample of the average value of said first data signal and another sample preceding by one with said set first threshold value, and

comparing a difference between a sample of the average value of said second data signal and another sample preceding by one with said set second threshold value.