Coordinate inputting method and apparatus, and information processing apparatus

• US 5,777,605 A
• Filed: 05/09/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakano, Masahiro, Yoshinobu, Hitoshi, Akaike, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, LUNYI
• Application Number:
  US08/647,044
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 364/236.8, 364/705.03, 345/156, 345/145, 345/157, 345/158, 345/173-179, 345/169, 178/18, 178/19, 273/148 B, 463/37, 463/39, 341/22, 348/734
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for inputting coordinate information in which a relative coordinate mode and an absolute coordinate mode is automatically switched depending on a contact area. If a tablet is operated with a finger or a pen, a detection circuit detects the contact area. If the contact area is greater than a predefined threshold value, a signal corresponding to the relative coordinates of the point P at which the finger or the pen is contact with the tablet is output. If the contact area is equal to or smaller than the predefined threshold value, a signal corresponding to the absolute coordinates of the point P is output. The above output signal is supplied to a transmission module. The transmission module performs frequency modulation on the received signal and transmits the resultant signal via a transmission antenna. There are also provided buttons used for clicking operations. If a power switch is turned on, a power supply voltage is supplied from a battery via a power supply circuit.

Claims

1. A coordinate inputting apparatus for inputting a coordinate, said apparatus comprising:

operation means which is operable with a finger or pen;

position detecting means for detecting a position where said finger or pen contacts said operation means;

area detecting means for detecting the area value of the contact area where said finger or pen contacts said operation means;

comparison means for comparing said contact area value detected by said area detecting means with a predefined reference value; and

output means for outputting relative coordinate information corresponding to said position detected by said position detecting means or absolute coordinate information corresponding to said position detected by said position detecting means according to the comparison result given by said comparison means, thereby automatically switching between said relative coordinate information and said absolute coordinate information on the basis of said comparison result.

2. A coordinate inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position detecting means detects said position by means of an electromagnetic induction detection mechanism, a capacitance detection mechanism, or a pressure detection mechanism.

3. A coordinate inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means outputs said relative coordinate information when said contact area is larger than said predefined reference value as determined by said comparison means and outputs said absolute coordinate information when said contact area is smaller than said predefined reference value as determined by said comparison means.

4. A coordinate inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means changes the ratio between a display area and an area provided by said operation means where said finger or pen contacts when said output means automatically selects between said relative coordinate information and said absolute coordinate information.

5. A coordinate inputting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said output means sets said ratio substantially to 1:

1 when outputting said absolute coordinate information.

6. A coordinate inputting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a cursor on a screen at a position corresponding to said position where said finger or pen contacts said operation means.

7. A coordinate inputting apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for changing the shape of said cursor displayed by said display means on said screen depending on the information output by said output means.

8. A coordinate inputting method of inputting a coordinate via operation means which is operable with a finger or a pen, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a position where said finger or pen contacts said operation means;

detecting the area value of the contact area where said finger or pen contacts said operation means;

comparing said contact area value detected with a predefined reference value; and

outputting relative coordinate information corresponding to said pressed position detected or absolute coordinate information corresponding to said position detected according to the comparison result performed in said comparison step, thereby automatically switching between said relative coordinate information and said absolute coordinate information on the basis of said comparison means.

9. A coordinate inputting method according to claim 8, wherein said detection of said position of the operation means is performed by means of an electromagnetic induction detection mechanism, a capacitance detection mechanism, or a pressure detection mechanism.

10. An information processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process according to a coordinate input, said apparatus comprising;

operation means which is operable with a finger or pen;

position detecting means for detecting a position where said finger or pen contacts said operation means;

area detecting means for detecting the area value of the contact area where said finger or pen contacts said operation means;

comparison means for comparing said contact area value detected by said area detecting means with a predefined reference value;

output means for outputting relative coordinate information corresponding of said position detected by said position detecting means or absolute coordinate information corresponding to said position detected by said position detecting means according to the comparison result given by said comparison means, thereby automatically switching between said relative coordinate information and said absolute coordinate information on the basis of said comparison result;

transmission means for transmitting said relative coordinate information or absolute coordinate information given by said output means;

reception means for receiving said relative coordinate information or absolute coordinate information transmitted by said transmission means;

display means for displaying characters, graphic patterns, or icons corresponding to predefined functions;

selection means for selecting one of said functions displayed on said display means on the basis of the relative coordinate information received via said reception means; and

processing means for displaying a predefined character or graphic pattern on said display means according to said absolute coordinate information received via said reception means.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said position detecting means detects said position by means of an electromagnetic induction detection mechanism, a capacitance detection mechanism, or a pressure detection mechanism.