Coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus, method and computer program product designed to precisely recognize a designating state of a designating device designating a position

• US 6,791,700 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Mitsuru, Tsuda, Kunikazu, Omura, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hoa Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/448,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20030206306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 356/614-623, 356/4.07, 345/173-183, 178/18-1-, 178/18.09
• US Class Current: 356/620
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0423 using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus, for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into a flat or substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area, and including a coordinate determining device to determine two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the area. A distance determining device determines a distance of the designating device from a surface of the area when the designating device is located on or in vicinity to the area. A storing device stores information of the determined coordinates and information of the determined distance. A coordinates change detecting/storing device detects and stores a change of the coordinates information. A distance change detecting/storing device detects and stores a change of the distance information. A state allocating device allocates at least one designating state among designating states of the designating device stored in advance, based upon the coordinate change and distance change information.

Claims

1. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, comprising:

a coordinates determining device configured to determine two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

an insertion/non-insertion state detecting device configured to detect an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a vectorization device configured to convert information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the coordinates determining device at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value; and

a sweeping up processing device configured to process, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting device, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization device at a second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a predetermined length.

2. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 1, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams two-dimensionally toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a light returning reflective device configured to reflect the optical beams emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices so as to return in substantially reverse directions in the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a plurality of light receiving devices respectively disposed in positions to receive the optical beams reflected by the light returning reflective device so as to detect a light intensity distribution of the optical beams;

wherein, the designating device has a light interrupting property, and the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon existence of the designating device in emitted/received light optical paths formed in the coordinate inputting/detecting area via the light returning reflective device.

3. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 1, the coordinates determining device including:

an image inputting device configured to optically input image information of the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a conversion device configured to convert a part of the image information input by the image inputting device into information of two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device.

4. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 1, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a plurality of light receiving devices arranged in vicinity of the plurality of light emitting devices so as to correspond to the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively;

a light returning reflective device configured to reflect the optical beams emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices so as to return in substantially same positions as those of the plurality of light emitting devices to be guided to respective corresponding light receiving devices;

wherein, the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon a light intensity distribution of the optical beam corresponding to an inserted position of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area.

5. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 1, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams two-dimensionally toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a plurality of light receiving devices arranged in positions facing the plurality of light emitting device across the coordinate inputting/detecting area, respectively;

wherein, the designating device has a light interrupting property, and the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon existence of the designating device in emitted/received light.

6. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, comprising:

a coordinates determining device configured to determine two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

an insertion/non-insertion state detecting device configured to detect an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a vectorization device configured to convert information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the coordinates determining device at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value; and

a trailing processing device configured to process, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting device, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vetorization device immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the first and second coordinates so as to be made null.

7. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 6, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams two-dimensionally toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a light returning reflective device configured to reflect the optical beams emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices so as to return in substantially reverse directions in the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a plurality of light receiving devices respectively disposed in positions to receive the optical beams reflected by the light returning reflective device so as to detect a light intensity distribution of the optical beams;

wherein, the designating device has a light interrupting property, and the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon existence of the designating device in emitted/received light optical paths formed in the coordinate inputting/detecting area via the light returning reflective device.

8. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 6, the coordinates determining device including:

an image inputting device configured to optically input image information of the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a conversion device configured to convert a part of the image information input by the image inputting device into information of two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device.

9. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 6, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a plurality of light receiving devices arranged in vicinity of the plurality of light emitting devices so as to correspond to the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively;

a light returning reflective device configured to reflect the optical beams emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices so as to return in substantially same positions as those of the plurality of light emitting devices to be guided to respective corresponding light receiving devices;

wherein, the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon a light intensity distribution of the optical beam corresponding to an inserted position of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area.

10. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 6, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams two-dimensionally toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a plurality of light receiving devices arranged in positions facing the plurality of light emitting device across the coordinate inputting/detecting area, respectively;

wherein, the designating device has a light interrupting property, and the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon existence of the designating device in emitted/received light optical paths formed in the coordinate inputting/detecting area.

11. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, comprising:

a coordinates determining device configured to determine two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

an insertion/non-insertion state detecting device configured to detect an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a vectorization device configured to convert information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the coordinates determining device at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value;

a trailing processing device configured to process, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting device, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization device immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the first and second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be made null;

a trailing length calculating device configured to calculate an average length value of the drawing lines made null by the trailing processing device; and

a sweeping up processing device configured to process, if the change of the first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at the first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting device, from the second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization device at the second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than the predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a length of the average length value.

12. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 11, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams two-dimensionally toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a light returning reflective device configured to reflect the optical beams emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices so as to return in substantially reverse directions in the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a plurality of light receiving devices respectively disposed in positions to receive the optical beams reflected by the light returning reflective device so as to detect a light intensity distribution of the optical beams;

wherein, the designating device has a light interrupting property, and the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon existence of the designating device in emitted/received light optical paths formed in the coordinate inputting/detecting area via the light returning reflective device.

13. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 11, the coordinates determining device including:

an image inputting device configured to optically input image information of the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a conversion device configured to convert a part of the image information input by the image inputting device into information of two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device.

14. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 11, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a plurality of light receiving devices arranged in vicinity of the plurality of light emitting devices so as to correspond to the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively;

a light returning reflective device configured to reflect the optical beams emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices so as to return in substantially same positions as those of the plurality of light emitting devices to be guided to respective corresponding light receiving devices;

wherein, the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon a light intensity distribution of the optical beam corresponding to an inserted position of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area.

15. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus of claim 11, the coordinates determining device including:

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light beams two-dimensionally toward the coordinate inputting/detecting area; and

a plurality of light receiving devices arranged in positions facing the plurality of light emitting device across the coordinate inputting/detecting area, respectively;

wherein, the designating device has a light interrupting property, and the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area are recognized based upon existence of the designating device in emitted/received light optical paths formed in the coordinate inputting/detecting area.

16. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, comprising:

coordinates determining means for determining two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

insertion/non-insertion state detecting means for detecting an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

vectorization means for converting information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the coordinates determining means into a coordinates vector value; and

sweeping up processing means for processing, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization means when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting means, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization means immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a predetermined length.

17. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, comprising:

coordinate determining means for determining two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

insertion/non-insertion state detecting means for detecting an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

vectorization means for converting information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the coordinates determining means into a coordinates vector value; and

trailing processing means for processing, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization means when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting means, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vetorization means.

18. A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, comprising:

coordinates determining means for determining two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

insertion/non-insertion state detecting means for detecting an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

vectorization means for converting information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the coordinates determining means into a coordinates vector value;

trailing processing means for processing, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization means when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting means, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization means immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the first and second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be made null;

trailing length calculating means for calculating an average length value of the drawing lines made null by the trailing processing means; and

sweeping up processing means for processing, if the change of the first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization means when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at the first two-dimensional coordinates by the insertion/non-insertion state detecting means, from the second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vectorization means at the second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than the predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a length of the average length value.

19. A method of optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of a coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus and inputting/detecting two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting area of the apparatus, the method comprising steps of:

determining the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

detecting an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

converting information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected in the coordinates determining step at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value; and

processing, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained in the vector conversion step when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates in the insertion/non-insertion state detecting step, from a second coordinates vector value obtained in the vector conversion step at a second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a predetermined length.

20. A computer program product directly loadable into an internal memory of a computer, comprising software code mechanism for performing the steps of claim 19, when the computer program product is run on the computer.

21. A method of optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of a coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus and inputting/detecting two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, the method comprising steps of:

determining the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

detecting an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

converting information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected in the coordinates determining step at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value; and

processing, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the vector conversion step when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates in the insertion/non-insertion state detecting step, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vector conversion step at a second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting the first and second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be made null.

22. A computer program product directly loadable into an internal memory of a computer, comprising software code mechanism for performing the steps of claim 21, when the computer program product is run on the computer.

23. A method of optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of a coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus and inputting/detecting two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, the method comprising steps of:

determining two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

detecting an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

converting information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected in the coordinates determining step at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value;

processing, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained in the vector conversion step when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates in the insertion/non-insertion state detecting step, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained in the vector conversion step immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the first and second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be made null to avoid trailing;

calculating an average length value of the drawing lines made null in the trailing avoiding processing step; and

processing, if the change of the first coordinates vector value, obtained in the vector conversion step when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at the first two-dimensional coordinates in the insertion/non-insertion state detecting step, from the second coordinates vector value, obtained by the vector conversion at the second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than the predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a length of the average length value.

24. A computer program product directly loadable into an internal memory of a computer, comprising software code mechanism for performing the steps of claim 23, when the computer program product is run on the computer.

25. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control optical detection of a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinates inputting/detecting area of a coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus and inputting/detecting of two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, the computer program code mechanism including;

a first computer code device configured to determine the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

a second computer code device configured to detect an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a third computer code device configured to convert information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the first computer code device at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value; and

a fourth computer code device configured to process, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the third computer code device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the second computer code device from a second coordinates vector value obtained by the third computer code device at a second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a predetermined length.

26. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control optical detection of a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinates inputting/detecting area of a coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus and inputting/detecting of two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, the computer program code mechanism including;

a first computer code device configured to determine the two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

a second computer code device configured to detect an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a third computer code device configured to convert information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the first computer code device at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value; and

a fourth computer code device configured to process, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the third computer code device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the second computer code device, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the third computer code device at a second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the first and second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be made null.

27. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control optical detection of a position of a designating device inserted into an at least substantially flat two-dimensional coordinates inputting/detecting area of a coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus and inputting/detecting of two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus, the computer program code mechanism including;

a first computer code device configured to determine two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area at a predetermined time interval;

a second computer code device configured to detect an insertion/non-insertion state of the designating device relative to the coordinate inputting/detecting area;

a third computer code device configured to convert information of a direction and a length of a change between two two-dimensional coordinates sequentially detected by the first computer code device at the predetermined time interval into a coordinates vector value;

a fourth computer code device configured to process, if a change of a first coordinates vector value, obtained by the third computer code device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at a first two-dimensional coordinates by the second computer code device, from a second coordinates vector value, obtained by the third computer code device immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is greater than a predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the first and second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be made null to avoid trailing;

a fifth computer code device configured to calculate an average length value of the drawing lines made null by the fourth computer code device; and

a sixth computer code device configured to process, if the change of the first coordinates vector value, obtained by the third computer code device when the non-insertion state of the designating device is detected at the first two-dimensional coordinates by the second computer code device, from the second coordinates vector value, obtained by the third computer code device at the second two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the first two-dimensional coordinates, is not greater than the predetermined value, a drawing line connecting between the second two-dimensional coordinates and a third two-dimensional coordinates immediately before the second two-dimensional coordinates so as to be reduced by a length of the average length value.