Method and apparatus for inputting coordinates

• US 6,352,351 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ito, Takahiro, Takekawa, Kenichi, Ogasahara, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAWHNEY, HARGOBIND S
• Application Number:
  US09/594,724
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/330, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/183, 178/18.01, 178/18.09, 178/18.11, 178/19.05, 341/31, 341/22
• US Class Current: 362/613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

The coordinates inputting apparatus comprises two light sources provided on different positions on the touch panel, reflection members which recursively reflect the light, and light-receiving sections which receive the light and detect whether the light was cut at certain position on the touch panel. The light sources output the light at certain angle with the touch panel surface (that is, the light is not parallel to the touch panel). The light output from the light source is reflected by the touch panel, then recursively reflected by the reflection members, once more reflected by the touch panel and finally enters into light-receiving sections.

Claims

1. A coordinates inputting apparatus comprising:

a substantially flat surface;

a plurality of light sources positioned at specified angles to said flat surface by a bracket, wherein each of said plurality of light sources output a light flux that travels along said flat surface;

at least one reflective section that recursively reflects the light fluxes output from said plurality of light sources; and

a plurality of light-receiving sections that receive the light flux reflected by said reflective section, which plurality of light-receiving sections detect whether the output light flux is shielded;

a bracket holding said plurality of light sources; and

wherein said plurality of light sources output respective light fluxes onto a specific position on said flat surface and said plurality of light-receiving sections receive the light fluxes which are output from said plurality of light sources, reflected from said flat surface, recursively reflected by said reflective section, and once more reflected by said flat surface.

2. The coordinates inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light sources output light fluxes toward a center of said flat surface.

3. The coordinates inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light sources are held at specified positions and output light fluxes toward a center of said flat surface.

4. The coordinates inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an angle of incidence of said light flux output from said plurality of light sources onto said flat surface is less than an angle at which total reflection from said flat surface takes place.

5. The coordinates inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light sources are located at positions where an angle of incidence of said light flux output from said light sources onto the flat surface is less than an angle at which total reflection from said flat surface takes place.

6. The coordinates inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are two in number and each light source is positioned at a different portion on said flat surface.

7. The coordinates inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of light sources and one of said plurality of light-receiving sections are integrated into one optical unit, and

all of said plurality of light sources are arranged substantially in one plane and each of said plurality of light sources output a light flux spreading in a fan formation from a position at which each respective light source is located as a center.

8. A coordinate value input method for detecting input coordinates by sensing that a light flux is shielded, comprising the steps of:

outputting light fluxes from at least two different positions to a desired position on a flat surface;

recursively reflecting said light flux reflected by said flat surface; and

receiving first said light flux reflection and then said recursive reflection from said flat surface.