Coordinates input device, coordinates input method, a display board system

• US 6,532,006 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ogasawara, Tsutomu, Ito, Takahiro, Takekawa, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US09/487,672
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/166, 345/173, 345/175, 345/177, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/19.01, 178/19.02
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

A coordinates input device comprises, two optical units which emit a light flux onto a panel and also receive the light flux. The coordinates input device then calculates the coordinates of an obstacle in the light flux on the panel based on the result of light flux detection in the optical units and the dimensions of the panel. The coordinates input device further comprises a sound-wave generator and a sound-wave detector for measuring the dimensions, used in the calculation of the coordinates, of the panel.

Claims

1. A coordinates input device, comprising:

a light emitter configured to emit a light flux to an entry area;

a light receiver configured to receive the light flux emitted from said light emitter;

a measurement unit configured to measure a distance between said light emitter and said light receiver; and

a coordinate calculator configured to calculate coordinates of an obstacle in the light flux on the entry area based on the light flux received by said light receiver and the distance measured by said measurement unit.

2. A coordinates input device according to claim 1, wherein said measurement unit comprises:

a wave generator configured to generate waves that propagate through the air; and

a wave detector configured to detect the waves generated said wave generator, and to measure the distance by means of the waves.

3. A coordinates input device according to claim 2, wherein said light emitter comprises:

a first light source; and

a second light source; and

wherein a first of said wave generator and said wave detector is provided at a center of said first light source, and a second of said wave generator and said wave detector is provided at a center of said second light source.

4. A coordinates input device according to claim 2, wherein said light emitter comprises:

a first light source; and

a second light source; and

wherein a first of said wave generator and said wave detector is provided at a center of said first light source and said second light source, and a second of said wave generator and said wave detector is provided at any position on the entry area.

5. A coordinates input device according to claim 2, wherein said wave generator of said measurement unit is a sound-wave generator and said wave detector is a sound-wave detector configured to detect sound waves generated by said sound-wave generator, and wherein said measurement unit measures the distance using the sound waves.

6. A coordinates input device according to claim 2, wherein said wave generator of said measurement unit is a light generator and said wave detector is a light detector configured to detect light generated by said light generator, and wherein said measurement unit measures the distance using the light.

7. A coordinates input device according to claim 1, wherein said measurement unit repeatedly measures the distance at prespecified time intervals.

8. A coordinates input device according to claim 1, wherein said coordinate calculator corrects an equation used for calculating the coordinates of the obstacle based on the distance measured by said measurement unit.

9. A coordinates input device according to claim 5, wherein the entry area is surrounded by a frame, and said sound-wave generator and said sound-wave detector are installed inside said frame.

10. A coordinates input device comprising:

light emission means for emitting a light flux onto an entry area;

light reception means for receiving the light flux emitted from said light emission means;

measurement means for measuring a distance between said light emission means and said light reception means; and

coordinate calculation means for calculating coordinates of an obstacle in the light flux on the entry area based on the light flux received by said light reception means and the distance measured by said measurement means.

11. A coordinate input method comprising:

a light emission step of emitting a light flux onto an entry area;

a light reception step of receiving the light flux emitted in the light emission step;

a measurement step of measuring a distance between a light emitter and a light receiver; and

a coordinate calculation step of calculating coordinates of an obstacle in the light flux on the entry area based on the light flux received in said light reception step and the distance measured in said measurement step.

12. A display board system comprising:

a display unit configured to display characters and images thereon; and

a coordinates input device configured to be provided on a front surface of said display unit, said coordinates input device comprising;

a light emitter configured to emit a light flux to an entry area;

a light receiver configured to receive the light flux emitted from said light emitter;

a measurement unit configured to measure a distance between said light emitter and said light receiver; and

a coordinate calculator configured to calculate coordinates of an obstacle in the light flux on the entry area based on the light flux received by said light receiver and the distance measured by said measurement unit.

13. A display board system comprising:

display means for displaying characters and images thereon; and

coordinates input means provided on a front surface of said display means, said coordinates input means comprising;

light emission means for emitting a light flux onto an entry area;

light reception means for receiving the light flux emitted from said light emission means;

measurement means for measuring a distance between said light emission means and said light reception means; and

coordinate calculation means for calculating coordinates of an obstacle in the light flux on the entry area based on the light flux received by said light reception means and the distance measured by said measurement means.