Pressure sensitive resistor tablet coordinate input device

• US 5,790,105 A
• Filed: 04/10/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Original Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mannava, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US08/838,786
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345/174, 345/173, 345/156, 345/157, 178/18, 178/19
• 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A pressure sensitive resistance tablet coordinate input device is provided which enables the cursor to be moved to a desired position on a PC display by pressing a tablet sheet (6) with a stylus, permits the stylus press-shift operation at the center of the tablet sheet (6) and maintains the continuity of control of the cursor movement even if the pressure to the tablet is once removed. The device is selectively switchable between an absolute value output data in which pressed-position data (x_n,y_n) is used as cursor control data (X_n,Y_n) or a relative value output mode in which relative position data is calculated by comparing pieces of pressed-position data before and after the stylus press-shift operation on the tablet sheet (6). The relative position data thus calculated is used as the cursor control data (X_n,Y_n). Since either one of the two modes of operation can be selected in accordance with the contact resistance value r_P at the position of the tablet being pressed, it is possible to control the cursor movement corresponding to the operation, only by changing the method for pressing the tablet sheet (6).

Claims

1. A pressure sensitive resistor tablet coordinate input device which comprises:

a tablet sheet (6);

stylus pressure detecting means (16) for detecting an application of stylus pressure to said tablet sheet (6);

position detecting means (18) for generating pressed-position data (x_n,y_n) indicating a position on said tablet sheet (6) where a stylus is being pressed;

storage means (19) for storing said pressed-position data (x_n,y_n) at least until a next pressed-position data is generated;

output data generating means (21) for generating, from said pressed-position data (x_n,y_n), absolute output data (X_n,Y_n) for controlling a cursor movement on a display (5) of a personal computer (1); and

data output means (24) for outputting said absolute output data (X_n,Y_n) to said personal computer (1) and which controls said cursor movement on said display in response to an operation of pressing said tablet sheet (6);

wherein said output data generating means (21) can selectively be put in any one of an absolute value output mode, in which said output data generating means uses said pressed-position data (x_n,y_n) as said absolute output data (X_n,Y_n), and an relative value output mode, in which said output data generating means uses said absolute output data (X_n,Y_n) obtained by adding immediately preceding absolute output data (X_n-1,Y_n-1) with relative position data (x_n --x_n-1,y_n --y_n-1) indicative of a relative shift amount of a stylus on said tablet sheet (6) before and after a current stylus press-shift operation is completed is completed; and

wherein said output data generating means (21) generates said absolute output data in either one of said absolute value output modes and said relative value output mode selected in accordance with a contact resistance value r_P at said position on said tablet sheet where said stylus is being pressed.

4. The pressure sensitive resistance tablet coordinate input device of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein any one of said absolute value output mode and said relative value output mode of said output data generating means (21), (39) is chosen through utilization of a difference between contact resistance values r_P by pressing said tablet sheet with a first kind of said stylus and a second kind of said stylus, each having tablet contact portions of different curvatures.

5. The pressure sensitive resistance tablet coordinate input device of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein any one of said absolute value output mode and said relative value output mode of said output data generating means (21), (39) is chosen according to said contact resistance value r_P at a position on said tablet sheet (6) where pressure thereto is detected.

7. The pressure sensitive resistance tablet coordinate input device of claim 4, wherein any one of said absolute value output mode and said relative value output mode of said output data generating means (21), (39) is chosen according to said contact resistance value r_P at a position on said tablet sheet (6) where pressure thereto is detected.

2. A pressure sensitive resistor tablet coordinate input device which comprises:

a tablet sheet (6);

stylus pressure detecting means for detecting an application of stylus pressure to a tablet sheet (6);

position detecting means for generating pressed-position data (x_n,y_n) indicating the position on said tablet sheet (6) where said stylus is being pressed;

storage means (19) for storing said pressed-position data (x_n,y_n) at least until a next pressed-position data is generated;

output data generating means (39) for computing relative position data (x_n --x_n-1,y_n --y_n-1) by comparing pieces of pressed-position data before and after a current stylus press-shift operation on said tablet sheet (6) and for generating, from said relative position data (x_n --x_n-1,y_n --y_n-1), relative output data (X'"'"'_n,Y'"'"'_n) for controlling a cursor movement; and

data output means (24) for outputting said relative output data (X'"'"'_n,Y'"'"'_n) to a personal computer and which controls said cursor movement on a display of said personal computer in response to an operation of pressing said tablet sheet (6);

wherein when said stylus pressure applied to said tablet sheet (6) is detected again after said stylus pressure was once removed, said output data generating means (39) can selectively be put in any one of an absolute value output mode, in which said output data generating means computes said relative position data (x_n --x_n-1,y_n --y_n-1) by comparing pressed-position data (x_n-1,y_n-1) at a position where said stylus pressure to said tablet sheet was removed and pressed-position data (x_n,y_n) at a position where said stylus pressure to said tablet sheet was detected again and generates said relative output data (X'"'"'_n,Y'"'"'_n) from said computed relative position data (x_n --x_n-1,y_n --y_n-1), and a relative value output mode, in which said output data generating means nullifies said pressed-position data (x_n-1,y_n-1) at said position where said stylus pressure was removed from said tablet sheet and does not generate said relative output data (X'"'"'_n,Y'"'"'_n); and

wherein said output data generating means (39) generates said relative output data in either one of said absolute value output modes and said relative value output mode selected in accordance with a contact resistance value r_P at said position on said tablet sheet where said stylus is being pressed.

3. The pressure sensitive resistance tablet coordinate input device of claims any one of 1 and 2, of said output data generating means (21), (39) is chosen by discriminating between a contact resistance value r_1P by pressing said tablet sheet with said stylus and a contact resistance value r_2P by pressing with a finger.

6. The pressure sensitive resistance tablet coordinate input device of claim 3, wherein any one of said absolute value output mode and said relative value output mode of said output data generating means (21), (39) is chosen according to said contact resistance value r_P at a position on said tablet sheet (6) where pressure thereto is detected.