Apparatus for inputting coordinates

• US 6,952,202 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hirabayashi, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/764,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/179, 345/183, 345/156, 345/170, 345/178, 178/18.1, 178/19.1, 178/18.01, 178/18.09, 178/18.61, 178/19.03, 178/19.05
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0423 using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror

Abstract

The apparatus for inputting coordinates has a support plate including a coordinate input plane for inputting a coordinate position, an optical unit is formed by integrating a light source and a light receiver. The light source emits light which is substantially parallel to the coordinate input plane. A reflecting section reflects the light emitted from the light source. The optical unit is embedded in the coordinate input plate by the use of a frame, an optical unit retaining plate and a screw.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inputting coordinates, the apparatus comprising:

a coordinate input plate including a coordinate input plane for inputting a coordinate position;

a light source section which emits light that is substantially parallel to the coordinate input plane;

a reflecting section which reflects the light emitted from the light source section; and

a light receiving section which receives the light reflected by the reflecting section,

wherein the light source section and the light receiving section are integrated to form a single optical unit, and this optical unit is embedded in the coordinate input plate.

2. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 1 further comprising an irradiation height adjusting unit which adjusts a height, from the coordinate input plane, of light emitted from the light source.

3. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 2 further comprising a reflection height adjusting unit which adjusts a height, from the coordinate input plane, of the reflecting section.

4. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 3 further comprising a coupling unit through which the apparatus for inputting coordinates can be coupled with another apparatus for inputting coordinates.

5. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 1, wherein a plane including the coordinate input plane is interposed between the light source sections the light receiving section.

6. An apparatus for inputting coordinates, the apparatus comprising:

a coordinate input plate including a coordinate input plane for inputting a coordinate position;

a light source section which emits light that is substantially parallel to the coordinate input plane;

a pointing stick which reflects the light emitted from the light source section; and

a light receiving section which receives the light reflected by the pointing stick,

wherein the light source section and the light receiving section are integrated to form a single optical unit, and this optical unit is embedded in the coordinate input plate.

7. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 6 further comprising an emission light mouth, which is an outlet of light with respect to the coordinate input plane, provided with a shielding plate substantially parallel to the coordinate input plane.

8. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 6 further comprising an irradiation height adjusting unit which adjusts a height, from the coordinate input plane, of light emitted from the light source.

9. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 6 further comprising a shielding plate extending substantially vertical to the coordinate input plane at an outer edge of the coordinate input plane.

10. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 9 further comprising a shielding height adjusting unit which adjusts the height, from the coordinate input plane, of the shielding plate.

11. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 10 further comprising a coupling unit through which the apparatus for inputting coordinates can be coupled with another apparatus for inputting coordinates.

12. An apparatus for inputting coordinates, the apparatus comprising:

a coordinate input plate including a coordinate input plane for inputting a coordinate position;

a light source means for emitting light that is substantially parallel to the coordinate input plane;

a reflecting means for reflecting the light emitted from the light source means; and

a light receiving means for receiving the light reflected by the reflecting means,

wherein the light source means and the light receiving means are integrated to form a single optical means, and this optical means is embedded in the coordinate input plate.

13. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 12 further comprising an irradiation height adjusting means for adjusting a height, from the coordinate input plane, of light emitted from the light source.

14. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 13 further comprising a reflection height adjusting means for adjusting a height, from the coordinate input plane, of the reflecting means.

15. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 14 further comprising a coupling means through which the apparatus for inputting coordinates can be coupled with another apparatus for inputting coordinates.

16. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 12, wherein a plane including the coordinate input plane is interposed between the light source sections the light receiving section.

17. An apparatus for inputting coordinates, the apparatus comprising:

a coordinate input plate including a coordinate input plane for inputting a coordinate position;

a light source means for emitting light that is substantially parallel to the coordinate input plane;

a pointing stick means for reflecting the light emitted from the light source means; and

a light receiving means for receiving the light reflected by the pointing stick means,

wherein the light source means and the light receiving means are integrated to form a single optical means, and this optical means is embedded in the coordinate input plate.

18. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 17 further comprising an emission light mouth, which is an outlet of light with respect to the coordinate input plane, provided with a shielding plate substantially parallel to the coordinate input plane.

19. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 17 further comprising an irradiation height adjusting means for adjusting a height, from the coordinate input plane, of light emitted from the light source.

20. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 17 further comprising a shielding plate extending substantially vertical to the coordinate input plane at an outer edge of the coordinate input plane.

21. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 20 further comprising a shielding height adjusting means for adjusting the height, from the coordinate input plane, of the shielding plate.

22. The apparatus for inputting coordinates according to claim 21 further comprising a coupling means through which the apparatus for inputting coordinates can be coupled with another apparatus for inputting coordinates.