Coordinate input apparatus including a detection circuit to determine proper stylus position

• US 4,818,826 A
• Filed: 08/25/1987
• Issued: 04/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kimura, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Schreyer, Stafford D.
• Application Number:
  US07/089,670
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 178/19, 178/18, 178/20
• US Class Current: 178/18.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A coordinate input apparatus includes proximity detecting means for a coordinate pointing tool on an input plane, wherein detection of the coordinates indicated by the pointing tool is performed when the absolute value of the signal level detected by the coordinate pointing tool twice exceeds a predetermined output level during a single scanning operation. When the coordinate pointing tool is dropped or laid on the input plane, the output signal level does not twice exceed the predetermined level within one scanning operation, and consequently, no coordinate detecting operation will be performed.

Claims

1. A coordinate input apparatus wherein scanning signals are sequentially supplied to a plurality of conductors embeded in an input plane with a parallel arrangement and a coordinate position on the input plane is detected on the basis of a signal detected by a coordinate pointing tool for arbitrarily pointing out a position on the input plane, characterized by comprising:

means for detecting proximity of the coordinate pointing tool when the coordinate pointing tool is positioned in close vicinity to the input plane and for performing a coordinate detecting operation when absolute values of an output signal detected from said conductors twice exceed a predetermined output level during a single scanning operation.

2. A coordinate input apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the coordinate pointing tool is positioned in close vicinity to the input plane, RF (radio frequency) current is caused to flow through a specific single conductor.

3. A coordinate input apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximity detecting means for the coordinate pointing tool is operated under an electromagnetic induction system.

4. A coordinate input apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximity detecting means for the coordinate pointing tool is operated under an electrostatic induction system.