INPUT SYSTEM INCLUDING POSITION-DETECTING DEVICE

• US 20090225054A1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom), Wasom Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: FUKUSHIMA, Yasuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,717,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A position-detecting device detects a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument and includes an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and a manipulation-detecting unit located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

Claims

1. A position-detecting device detecting a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument, comprising:

an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and

manipulation-detecting means located at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by one of the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

2. The position-detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the position on the operation panel pointed to by the position-pointing instrument is detected by receiving electromagnetic waves to and from the position-pointing instrument.

3. The position-detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the manipulation-detecting means detects a touching or pushing manipulation.

4. The position-detecting device according to claim 1, wherein

the manipulation-detecting means detects the manipulation by one of the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument, and

the position-detecting device determines whether the manipulation is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, upon detecting the manipulation through the manipulation-detecting means.

5. The position-detecting device according to claim 4, wherein the operation panel and an area peripheral to the operation panel form a detectable area detecting the position of the position-pointing instrument,

the manipulation-detecting means is disposed within the detectable area, and

the position-detecting device determines whether the manipulation detected by the manipulation-detecting means is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, based on the position of the position-pointing instrument during the manipulation.

6. The position-detecting device according to claim 5, wherein the manipulation-detecting means is disposed within the operation panel.

7. The position-detecting device according to claim 1, wherein:

the manipulation-detecting means includes at least a first touch pad unit.

8. The position-detecting device according to claim 7, wherein:

the at least first touch pad unit includes a plurality of spaced touch switches.

9. The position-detecting device according to claim 8, wherein:

the spaced touch switches extend parallel to an axis of the operation panel.

10. The position-detecting device according to claim 7, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit is remote from the operation panel.

11. The position-detecting device according to claim 10, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit is located within a detectable area of the operation panel.

12. The position-detecting device according to claim 7, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit is positioned within the operation panel.

13. The position-detecting device according to claim 7, wherein:

there are at least two touch pad units, each touch pad unit extending along one side of the operation panel.

14. The position-detecting device according to claim 7, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit includes a touch pad and a plurality of touch switches.

15. The position-detecting device according to claim 14, wherein:

the touch pad and touch switches extend parallel to an axis of said operation panel.

16. The position-detecting device according to claim 7, wherein:

said touch pad unit is operable in at least two axes.

17. An input system comprising:

a position-pointing instrument;

the position-detecting device according to any of claims 1 to 6 detecting a position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument to output the detected position; and

an electronic device operating based on the detected position from the position-detecting device.

18. A method of operating a position-detecting device for detecting a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument, comprising the steps of:

providing an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument;

providing manipulation-detecting means located at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel; and

detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by one of the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.