Information processing apparatus

• US 6,100,876 A
• Filed: 02/24/1993
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hidekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US08/023,138
• Time in Patent Office: 2,722 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/710, 340/712, 340/721, 340/724, 340/707, 178/18, 178/19, 178/18.06, 178/18.01, 345/159, 345/173, 345/179, 345/174
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

In an information processing apparatus, a processing mode is switched on the basis of speed of change of coordinate data which is inputted by coordinate data input means comprising a pen and a tablet, the speed of change of the coordinate data being detected during a period over which the pen is pressed down on the tablet, the coordinate data being inputted by electrostatic capacitance between the pen and the tablet, the electrostatic capacitance being effective up to a predetermined distance between the pen and the tablet. This allows the speed of the pen to be determined during a first period when the pen is contacting the tablet, and/or during a second period when the pen is just out of contact with the tablet.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a) coordinate information input means comprising a pen and a tablet for inputting coordinate data, said pen and tablet being coupled by electrical coupling means;

b) processing means for processing said coordinate data;

c) detecting means for detecting a velocity of changing said input coordinate data sequentially, said detecting means detecting said velocity of changing during a period of pressing said pen to said tablet, and for detecting whether or not said pen is pressed to said tablet;

d) switching means for switching an operating mode of said apparatus according to said velocity of changing;

e) said processing means having at least two operating modes, a first of said modes is selected by detecting that said velocity is at a level which is lower than a predetermined level and the pen is pressed to the tablet, and a second mode is selected by detecting that said velocity is at a level which is higher than said predetermined level and said pen is not pressed to the tablet, and means for changing the image information displayed on said display in accordance with each said mode;

f) said velocity is detected at least in two conditions, one of said conditions is that said pen is down on said tablet so as to give a pressure to said tablet, and other said condition is that said pen is up from said tablet within a distance which can be detected by said tablet as a pen up condition.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, in which said coordinate information is inputted by means of electrostatic capacitance between said pen and said tablet.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, in which said detecting means is operable to detect a speed of change for a period during which said pen is penned up from said tablet, said electrostatic capacitance being detectable up to a predetermined distance between said pen and said tablet.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, in which said detecting means is operable to detect a first speed of change for a period during which said pen is penned down on said tablet, and a second speed of change for a period during which said pen is penned up from said tablet, said electrostatic capacitance being detectable up to a predetermined distance between said pen and said tablet.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, in which a window is moved on a display means in a first operating mode, and said window is closed on said display means in a second operating mode switched by said switching means.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1 in which after said pen has been penned down to a predetermined area of said window, when said speed of change of said pen traveling on said tablet is not less than a predetermined value, said window is closed.