Coordinate input device and a processor readable medium

• US 6,836,267 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Inventors: Endo, Norio, Ootani, Yasuo, Nishino, Takeshi, Endo, Michiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/455,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,849 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/179, 382/119, 705/16, 705/17, 705/44
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures

Abstract

A coordinate input device includes a coordinate detecting part detecting a position of a touch on an operation surface so as to generate coordinate information of the position of a touch. The coordinate input device also includes a holding part holding a sheet-like material on the operation surface.

Claims

1. A coordinate input device outputting information to an external device, the coordinate input device comprising:

a coordinate detecting part detecting a position of a touch on an operation surface, as coordinate information, so as to generate a signal corresponding to the coordinate information of said position to be used by the external device; and

a holding part having an opening and being capable of holding an inscribable sheet-like material on said operation surface, said sheet-like material being accessible through said opening,

wherein by producing said touch on said operation surface, the signal corresponding to said coordinate information is generated while preserving inscribed marks corresponding to the touch on the operation surface on said inscribable sheet-like material;

a detecting mechanism detecting whether or not said sheet-like material is placed on said operation surface; and

a control part switching processing modes of said coordinate information in response to a result of detection by said detecting mechanism,

wherein, if said detecting mechanism detects that said sheet-like material is not present on said operation surface, said control part operates in a relative value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as a relative value, and, if said detecting mechanism detects that said sheet-like material is present on said operation surface, said control part operates in an absolute value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as an absolute value such that the coordinate input device selectively outputs information according to one of the relative value mode and the absolute value mode.

2. The coordinate input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding part is urged toward said operation surface to hold said sheet-like material between said holding part and a peripheral part of said operation surface.

3. The coordinate input device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said holding part is pivotable between a closed position on an open position about an axis provided at one side of said peripheral part and extending parallel to said operation surface, so that, in said closed position, said sheet-like material is held between said holding part and said operation surface, and, in said open position, said sheet-like material is removable from the coordinate input device.

4. The coordinate input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operation surface is provided at a position in which the sheet-like material does not contact the operation surface when said sheet-like material is held by said holding part.

5. The coordinate input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitting part transmitting the signal corresponding to said coordinate information in a wireless manner.

6. The coordinate input device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a wireless receiving part connected to the external device, said wireless receiving part receiving the signal corresponding to said coordinate information transmitted from said wireless transmitting part and supplying the signal corresponding to said received coordinate information to said external device.

7. The coordinate input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coordinate detecting part includes:

a first film material provided with a first resistive film formed thereon;

a second film material provided with a second resistive film formed thereon and positioned against the first film material such that the first and second resistive films oppose each other; and

a voltage detecting circuit detecting voltages at a contact point between said first and second resistive films.

16. The coordinate input device according to claim 1, further comprising an accommodation part in which one or more of said sheet-like materials is accommodatable.

18. The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein, if said control part operates in a relative value mode, the coordinate input device operates as a flat-type pointing device, and if said control part operates in an absolute value mode, the coordinate input device operates as a writing input device.

8. A coordinate input device outputting information to an external device, the coordinate input device comprising:

a coordinate detecting part detecting a position of a touch on an operation surface, as coordinate information of the position, and supplying a signal corresponding to the coordination information of said position to be used by the external device;

a processing circuit processing said coordination information;

a holding part having an opening and being capable of holding an inscribable sheet-like material on said operation surface, said sheet-like material being accessible through said opening;

a detecting mechanism detecting a presence or a type of said sheet-like material placed on said operation surface; and

a switching information generating part generating switching information used for switching processing functions in response to a result obtained from said detecting mechanism,

wherein by producing said touch on said operation surface, the signal corresponding to said coordinate information is supplied while preserving inscribed marks corresponding to the touch on the operation surface on said inscribable sheet-like material, and

wherein, if said detecting mechanism detects that said sheet-like material is not present on said operation surface, said control part operates in a relative value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as a relative value, and, if said detecting mechanism detects that said sheet-like material is present on said operation surface, said control part operates in an absolute value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as an absolute value such that the coordinate input device selectively outputs information according to one of the relative value mode and the absolute value mode.

9. The coordinate input device according to claim 8, wherein said detecting mechanism is provided with a plurality of detecting elements and detects the presence of and, if present, the type of said sheet-like material according to a type of combination of detection states of said detecting elements.

10. The coordinate input device according to claim 8, further comprising a process-specific input information generating circuit generating coordinate information specific to the processing function which process-specific input information is determined according to a result obtained from said detecting mechanism and the coordinate information obtained by touching said operation surface via said sheet-like material.

11. The coordinate input device according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of detecting elements are configured as a plurality of switches turned ON and OFF according to the type of said sheet-like material.

12. The coordinate input device according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of detecting elements are configured as a plurality of photocouplers outputting detection signals according to the type of said sheet-like material.

13. The coordinate input device according to claim 8, wherein said detecting mechanism is provided with a bar code reader reading a pattern of a bar code which is predetermined according to the type of said sheet-like material.

14. The coordinate input device according to claim 10, wherein said sheet-like material is provided with operation symbols corresponding to said processing function, and said coordinate input device further comprises a positioning part positioning said sheet-like material such that said process-specific input information corresponds to said operation symbol at said position of said touch.

15. The coordinate input device according to claim 10, wherein said input information generating circuit recognizes, as an absolute value, the coordinate on said operation surface corresponding to a position at which said sheet-like material is touched, and implements processes related to said specific coordinate information.

17. A computer readable storage controlling a computer to implement various processes corresponding to types of sheet-like material held on an operation surface, while preserving inscribed marks corresponding to the touch on the operation surface on said inscribable sheet-like material, by:

detecting a presence of and, if present, a type of a sheet-like material held on an operation surface;

starting up one of processing functions according to a result of the detecting said presence such that if the presence of said sheet-like material on said operation surface is not detected, starting up the one processing function in a relative value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as a relative value, and if the presence of said sheet-like material on said operation surface is detected, starting the one processing function in an absolute value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as an absolute value;

detecting coordinate information of a position of a touch on said operation surface;

converting said coordinate information into an input signal to be input to said processing function; and

outputting said input signal to said processing function started up by said starting up, said outputting selectively outputting information according to one of the relative value mode and the absolute value mode.