Digitizer, assisting apparatus for digitizer, and digitizer system

• US 6,462,733 B1
• Filed: 05/10/1996
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Murakami, Azuma
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/644,403
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/184, 178/18, 178/19
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads

Abstract

A system comprises a digitizer which includes a position indicator and a coordinate detecting device in the form of a tablet and has a selection/indication area within its coordinate detecting surface to select/indicate data processing functions, a display device, and a computer which controls the digitizer and the display device, wherein the data processing functions are selected/indicated by using the position indicator to perform an image processing. In the system, the coordinate detecting device comprises an indication part which is located within the selection/indication area of the coordinate detecting surface of the coordinate detecting device and makes it possible the status of selections/indications of the data processing functions to be visually observed. The indication part comprises an engaging means which temporarily engages with the position indicator and is movable together with the engaged position indicator, an indicator means, which is movable with the engaging means which is temporarily engaged with the position indicator, to visually indicate a selected/indicated data processing function, and a supporting means to engage and support the indicator means.

Claims

1. In a system comprising a digitizer which includes a position indicator and a coordinate detecting device which is in the form of a tablet, has a coordinate detecting surface which is indicated by said position indicator, and has a selection/indication area within said coordinate detecting surface to select/indicate data processing functions;

a display device which has a display screen to display an image; and

a computer which controls said digitizer and said display device;

wherein the data processing functions are selected/indicated by using said position indicator to perform an image processing;

said system comprising;

an indication part which is located within said selection/indication area of said coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device and makes it possible the status of selections/indications of the data processing functions to be visually observed, and

a control means which selects a desired data processing function based on a data inputted via said indication part and processes a data based on the selected data processing function,

wherein said indication part comprises

an engaging means which temporarily engages with said position indicator and is movable together with engaged said position indicator,

an indicator means, which is movable with said engaging means which is temporarily engaged with said position indicator, to visually indicate a selected/indicated data processing function, and

a supporting means to engage and support said indicator means.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein

said position indicator is the shape of a pen, and

said engaging means is a hole into which a tip of said position indicator is inserted.

3. The system set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein

said supporting means of said indication part is the shape of a groove, and

said indicator means temporarily engages with said position indicator and is movable together with engaged said position indicator along said groove.

4. The system set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein

said indicator means of said indication part has one said engaging means at one end and another said engaging means at another end, and

said supporting means supports said indicator means in such a manner that said indicator means switches its indication status of selection/indication from one to another when said position indicator is engaged with one of said engaging means which was not engaged with said position indicator at the latest selection.

5. The system set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein

said indicator means of said indication part is the shape of a bar,

said engaging means is provided at one end of said indicator means, and

said supporting means is provided at another end of said indicator means and supports said indicator means in a manner that said indicator means is rotatable around said supporting means.

7. The system set forth in claim 1, 2 or 6 further comprising

means for storing a coordinate value of a last indicated position which is indicated by said position indicator, wherein said last indicated position is located in the area of said coordinate detecting surface on which said indication part is placed.

8. The system set forth in claim 1, 2 or 6 wherein

said indication part includes a display part to which a physical expression is provided.

6. In a system comprising a digitizer which includes a position indicator which is in the form of a pen and a coordinate detecting device which is in the form of a tablet, has a coordinate detecting surface which is indicated by said position indicator, and has a selection/indication area within said coordinate detecting surface to select/indicate data processing functions, wherein a rotational angle and a tilting angle of said position indicator with respect to its indicating position of said coordinate detecting surface can be detected;

a display device which has a display screen to display an image; and

a computer which controls said digitizer and said display device;

wherein the data processing functions are selected/indicated by using said position indicator to perform an image processing;

said system comprising;

an indication part which is located within said selection/indication area of said coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device and makes it possible the status of selections/indications of the data processing functions to be visually observed, wherein said indication part comprises

an indication means which is comprised of a part having a spherical surface and an engaging means, wherein said engaging means is in the form of a hole on said spherical surface and is a means into which said position indicator is inserted to engage said position indicator with said indication part wherein said hole is also a means to visually indicate a rotational angle and a tilting angle of said position indicator, and

a supporting means which engages and supports said indication means in such a manner that said position indicator can be rotated and tilted to a desired position when said position indicator is inserted in said engaging means and that said supporting means maintains the same position of said indication means as that when said position indicator is pulled out from said engaging means; and

a control means which executes data processing functions in accordance with a rotation angle data and a tilt angle data inputted in association with said indication means.

9. A coordinate detecting device used in a digitizer which includes a position indicator, wherein the coordinate detecting device is in the form of a tablet, comprising

an indication part which is positioned within a selection/indication area, to select/indicate a data processing function, of a coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device and makes it possible the status of selections/indications of the data processing functions to be visually observed,

wherein said indication part includes

an engaging means which temporarily engages with said position indicator and is movable together with engaged said position indicator,

an indicator means, which is movable with said engaging means which is temporarily engaged with said position indicator, to visually indicate a selected/indicated data processing function, and

a supporting means to engage and support said indicator means.

10. The coordinate detecting device set forth in claim 9 wherein

said position indicator is the shape of a pen, and

said engaging means is a hole into which a tip of said position indicator to be inserted.

11. The coordinate detecting device set forth in claim 9 or 10 wherein

said supporting means of said indication part is the shape of a groove, and

said indicator means temporarily engages with said position indicator and is movable together with engaged said position indicator along said groove.

12. The coordinate detecting device set forth in claim 9 or 10 wherein

said indicator means of said indication part has one said engaging means at one end and another said engaging means at another end, and

said supporting means supports said indicator means in such a manner that said indicator means switches its indication status of selection/indication from one to another when said position indicator is engaged with one of said engaging means which was not engaged with said position indicator at the latest selection.

13. The coordinate detecting device set forth in claim 9 or 10 wherein

said indicator means of said indication part is the shape of a bar,

said engaging means is provided at one end of said indicator means, and

said supporting means is provided at another end of said indicator means and supports said indicator means in a manner that said indicator means is rotatable around said supporting means.

15. The coordinate detecting device set forth in claim 9, 10 or 14 further comprising

means for storing a coordinate value of a last indicated position which is indicated by said position indicator, wherein said last indicated position is located in the area of said coordinate detecting surface on which said indication part is placed.

16. The coordinate detecting device set forth in claim 9, 10 or 14 wherein

said indication part includes a display part to which a physical expression is provided.

14. A coordinate detecting device, in the form of a tablet, of a digitizer, wherein said digitizer includes a position indicator in the form of a pen and can detect a rotational angle and a tilting angle of said position indicator with respect to its indicating position of a coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device, comprising

an indication part which is located within a selection indication area of said coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device and makes it possible the status of selections/indications of data processing functions to be visually observed, wherein said indication part comprises

an indication means which is comprised of a part having a spherical surface and has an engaging means, wherein said engaging means is in the form of a hole on said spherical surface and is a means into which said position indicator is inserted to engage said position indicator with said indication part, wherein said hole is also a means to visually indicate a rotational angle and a tilting angle of said position indicator, and

a supporting means which engages and supports said indication means in such a manner that said position indicator can be rotated and tilted to a desired position when said position indicator is inserted in said engaging means and that said supporting means maintains the same position of said indication means as that when said position indicator is pulled out from said engaging means.

17. An assisting apparatus which is used with a digitizer and separately constructed from said digitizer, wherein said digitizer includes a position indicator and a coordinate detecting device which is in the form of a tablet, has a coordinate detecting surface which is indicated by said position indicator, and has a selection/indication area within said coordinate detecting surface to select/indicate data processing functions, comprising

an indication part which is constructed in such a manner that it is placed within and onto said selection/indication area of said coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device and makes it possible the status of selections/indications of data processing functions to be visually observed,

wherein said indication part includes

an engaging means which temporarily engages with said position indicator and is movable together with engaged said position indicator,

an indicator means, which is movable with said engaging means which is temporarily engaged with said position indicator, to visually indicate a selected/indicated data processing function, and

a supporting means to engage and support said indicator means.

18. The assisting apparatus set forth in claim 17 wherein

said position indicator is the shape of a pen, and

said engaging means is a hole into which a tip of said position indicator is inserted.

19. The assisting apparatus set forth in claim 17 or 18 wherein

said, supporting means of said indication part is the shape of a groove, and

said indicator means temporarily engages with said position indicator and is movable together with engaged said position indicator along said groove.

20. The assisting apparatus set forth in claim 17 or 18 wherein

said indicator means of said indication part has one said engaging means at one end and another said engaging means at another end, and

said supporting means supports said indicator means in such a manner that said indicator means switches its indication status of selection/indication from one to another when said position indicator is engaged with one of said engaging means which was not engaged with said position indicator at the latest selection.

21. The assisting apparatus set forth in claim 17 or 18 wherein

said indicator means of said indication part is the shape of a bar,

said engaging means is provided at one end of said indicator means, and

said supporting means is provided at another end of said indicator means and supports said indicator means in a manner that said indicator means is rotatable around said supporting means.

23. The assisting apparatus set forth in claim 17, 18 or 22 wherein

said indication part includes a display part to which a physical expression is provided.

22. An assisting apparatus which is used with a digitizer which includes a position indicator which is in the form of a pen and a coordinate detecting device which is in the form of a tablet, and which is separately constructed from said digitizer, wherein said digitizer can detect a rotational angle and a tilting angle of said position indicator with respect to its indicating position of a coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device, comprising

an indication part which is constructed in such a manner that it is placed within and onto a selection/indication area of said coordinate detecting surface of said coordinate detecting device and makes it possible the status of selections/indications of data processing functions to be visually observed, wherein said indication part comprises

an indication means which is comprised of a part having a spherical surface and has an engaging means, wherein said engaging means is in the form of a hole on said spherical surface and is a means into which said position indicator is inserted to engage said position indicator with said indication part, and said hole is also a means to visually indicate a rotational angle and a tilting angle of said position indicator, and

a supporting means which engages and supports said indication means in such a manner that said position indicator can be rotated and tilted to a desired position when said position indicator is inserted in said engaging means and that said supporting means maintains the same position of said indication means as that when said position indicator is pulled out from said engaging means.