COORDINATE INPUT APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20090044989A1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sato, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 8,957,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

A coordinate input apparatus inputs detection signals output from a plurality of detection units configured to detect an input coordinate position on a coordinate input region. In a case where a plurality of signal change ranges occur in each of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, the coordinate input apparatus selects one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the plurality of signal change ranges according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position.

Claims

1. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a plurality of detection units configured to detect an input coordinate position on a coordinate input region; and

a selection unit configured to select, in a case where a plurality of signal change ranges occur in each of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the plurality of signal change ranges according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position.

2. The coordinate input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit comprises:

a first unit configured to select one of the plurality of detection units according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position;

a second unit configured to select one of a plurality of signal change ranges of a detection signal output from the selected detection unit; and

a third unit configured to select one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the selected signal change range based on a width of the selected signal change range.

3. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a plurality of detection units configured to detect an input coordinate position on a coordinate input region;

a dividing unit configured to divide, in a case where two signal change ranges occur in each of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the two signal change ranges into a plurality of pairs each of which includes two coordinate positions;

a pair selection unit configured to select one of the plurality of pairs based on a distance between two coordinate positions of each of the plurality of pairs; and

a coordinate selection unit configured to select an upper one of two coordinate positions of the selected pair.

4. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

a plurality of detection units configured to detect an input coordinate position on a coordinate input region; and

a selection unit configured to select, in a case where a plurality of signal change ranges occur in each of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the plurality of signal change ranges according to a location of an operator.

5. The coordinate input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selection unit comprises:

a first unit configured to select one of the plurality of detection units according to a location of an operator;

a second unit configured to select one of a plurality of signal change ranges of a detection signal output from the selected detection unit; and

a third unit configured to select one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the selected signal change range based on a width of the selected signal change range.

6. A method for inputting coordinates, the method comprising:

inputting detection signals output from a plurality of detection units configured to detect an input coordinate position on a coordinate input region; and

selecting, in a case where a plurality of signal change ranges occur in each of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the plurality of signal change ranges according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

selecting one of the plurality of detection units according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position;

selecting one of a plurality of signal change ranges of a detection signal output from the selected detection unit; and

selecting one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the selected signal change range based on a width of the selected signal change range.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to perform a method of inputting coordinates, the method comprising:

inputting detection signals output from a plurality of detection units configured to detect an input coordinate position on a coordinate input region; and

selecting, in a case where a plurality of signal change ranges occur in each of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the plurality of signal change ranges according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position.

9. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the coordinate input method further comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of detection units according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position;

selecting one of a plurality of signal change ranges of a detection signal output from the selected detection unit; and

selecting one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the selected signal change range based on a width of the selected signal change range.