Coordinate detection device with improved operability and method of detecting coordinates

• US 7,307,622 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, LUNYI
• Application Number:
  US09/748,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,540 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345/162, 345173-179, 178 1807- 1809, 178 1902- 1905, 382185-189, 463 37- 38
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A coordinate detection device is provided, which device includes an input unit which has a surface thereof to which a coordinate value is input by an input means, a calculation unit which calculates a difference between previous and current coordinate values input by the input unit, and a setting unit which sets, in the calculation unit, a coordinate value input last before the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit as the previous coordinate value to a coordinate value input first after the input means is detached from the surface of the input unit.

Claims

1. A coordinate detection device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value is input by an input device; and

a detection unit that determines an operation mode of said input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation by said input unit so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input device from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation;

wherein a coordinate value at a time when the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit is set as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation, and

wherein the distance calculated by said calculation unit is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

2. The coordinate detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit further comprises a control unit that enables or disables said setting of the coordinate value based on a determination result of said detection unit.

3. The coordinate detection device according to claim 2, wherein said detection unit determines an operation mode of said input unit based on a relative contact area formed by a contact of the input device with the surface of said input unit.

4. A method of detecting coordinates, comprising:

inputting a coordinate value to a surface of an input unit, by an input device;

determining an operation mode of said inputting;

calculating a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation by said inputting so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input device from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation; and

setting, in said calculating, a coordinate value input at a time when the input device is detached from the surface of the input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising enabling or disabling said setting based on a determination result of said determining.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein determining determines the operation mode of said inputting based on a relative contact area formed by a contact of the input device with the surface of the input unit.

7. A coordinate detection device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value is input;

a detection unit determining an operation mode of said input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a first input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a second input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode,

wherein in said calculation unit, a coordinate value of the first input operation is set as the final coordinate value input of the first input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculation unit is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second input operation from being connected to the first input operation on a display,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

8. The coordinate detection device according to claim 7, wherein the detection unit further comprises a control unit that enables or disables said setting of the coordinate value based on a determination result of said detection unit.

9. The coordinate detection device according to claim 8, wherein said detection unit determines an operation mode of said input unit as either the absolute coordinate value mode or a relative coordinate value mode based on a relative area of contact area between an input part and the surface of said input unit.

10. A method of detecting coordinates, comprising:

inputting at least one coordinate value to a surface of an input unit using an input device;

determining an operation mode of said inputting;

enabling an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation in a relative coordinate value mode by setting a coordinate value of a first inputting as the final coordinate value input of the first inputting if a second inputting occurs within a predetermined time after the first inputting; and

calculating a distance between the set coordinate value of the first inputting and an initial coordinate value of the second inputting,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit, and

the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second inputting from being connected to the first inputting on a display.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising enabling or disabling said setting based on a result of said determining.

12. The method according to claim 11, the determining based on a relative area of contact of the inputting.

13. A writing device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value is input by an input device;

a detection unit determining an operation mode of the input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation by said input unit so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input device from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation,

wherein, in said calculation unit, a coordinate value at a time when the input device is detached is set from the surface of said input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculation unit is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

14. The writing device according to claim 13, further comprising a controller to enable or disable the setting based on a determination result of the detection unit.

15. The writing device according to claim 14, wherein the detection unit determines the operation mode of the input unit based on a relative size of a contact area formed by a contact of the input device with the surface of the input unit.

16. A method of detecting coordinates of a writing character, comprising:

inputting a coordinate value of a writing character to a surface of an input unit, by an input device;

determining an operation mode of the inputting;

calculating a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input device from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation; and

setting, in the calculating, a coordinate value input at a time when the input device is detached from the surface of the input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising enabling or disabling the setting based on the determining.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the determining determines the operation mode of the inputting based on a relative size of a contact area formed by a contact of the input device with the surface of the input unit.

19. A writing device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value of a writing character is input;

a detection unit determining an operation mode of the input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculator configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a first input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a second input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode,

wherein a coordinate value of the first input operation is set in the processor as the final coordinate value input of the first input operation, and

wherein the distance calculated by said calculator is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second input operation from being connected to the first input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

20. The writing device according to claim 19, further comprising a controller enabling or disabling the setting unit based on a determination result of the detection unit.

21. The writing device according to claim 20, wherein the detection unit determines the operation mode of said input unit based on a relative area of contact between an input part and the surface of the input unit.

22. A method of detecting coordinates of a writing character, comprising:

inputting at least one coordinate value of the writing character to a surface of an input unit by an input device;

determining an operation mode of inputting;

setting a coordinate value of a first inputting as the final coordinate value input of the first inputting if a second inputting has not occurred for a predetermined time; and

enabling an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation in a relative coordinate value mode by calculating a distance between the set coordinate value of the first inputting and an initial coordinate value of the second inputting,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second inputting from being connected to the first inputting on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising enabling or disabling the setting based on a result of the determining.

24. The method according to claim 22, the determining based on a relative area of the contact of the inputting.

25. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a method of detecting coordinates comprising:

inputting a coordinate value to a surface of an input unit, by an input device;

determining an operation mode of the inputting;

calculating a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input device from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation; and

setting, in the calculating, a coordinate value input at a time when the input device is detached from the surface of the input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit.

26. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 25, the method further comprising:

enabling or disabling said setting based on a determination result of said determining.

27. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 26, wherein the determining determines the operation mode of said inputting based on a determining of a type of input device by determining a contact area formed by a contact of the input device with the surface of the input unit.

28. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a method of detecting coordinates comprising:

inputting at least one coordinate value to a surface of an input unit using an input device;

enabling an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation in a relative coordinate value mode by setting a coordinate value of a first inputting as the final coordinate value input of the first inputting if a second inputting occurs within a predetermined time after the first inputting; and

calculating a distance between the set coordinate value of the first inputting and an initial coordinate value of the second inputting,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input device is detached from the surface of said input unit, and

the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second inputting from being connected to the first inputting on a display.

29. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 28, the method further comprising enabling or disabling said setting based on a result of determining either an absolute coordinate value mode or a relative coordinate value mode.

30. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 29, the determining as either the absolute coordinate value mode or the relative coordinate value mode based on determining of a type of input device by determining an area of contact of the inputting.

31. A coordinate detection device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value is input by input means; and

a detection unit that determines an operation mode of said input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation by said input unit so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input means from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation;

wherein a coordinate value at a time when the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit is set as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation, and

wherein the distance calculated by said calculation unit is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

32. A method of detecting coordinates, comprising:

inputting a coordinate value to a surface of an input unit, by input means;

determining an operation mode of said inputting;

calculating a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation by said inputting so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input means from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation; and

setting, in said calculating, a coordinate value input at a time when the input means is detached from the surface of the input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

33. A coordinate detection device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value is input;

a detection unit determining an operation mode of said input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a first input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a second input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode,

wherein in said calculation unit, a coordinate value of the first input operation is set as the final coordinate value input of the first input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculation unit is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second input operation from being connected to the first input operation on a display,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

34. A method of detecting coordinates, comprising:

inputting at least one coordinate value to a surface of an input unit using input means;

determining an operation mode of said inputting;

enabling an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation in a relative coordinate value mode by setting a coordinate value of a first inputting as the final coordinate value input of the first inputting if a second inputting occurs within a predetermined time after the first inputting; and

calculating a distance between the set coordinate value of the first inputting and an initial coordinate value of the second inputting,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit, and

the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second inputting from being connected to the first inputting on a display.

35. A writing device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value is input by input means;

a detection unit determining an operation mode of the input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation by said input unit so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input means from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation,

wherein, in said calculation unit, a coordinate value at a time when the input means is detached is set from the surface of said input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculation unit is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

36. A method of detecting coordinates of a writing character, comprising:

inputting a coordinate value of a writing character to a surface of an input unit, by input means;

determining an operation mode of the inputting;

calculating a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input means from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation; and

setting, in the calculating, a coordinate value input at a time when the input means is detached from the surface of the input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

37. A writing device, comprising:

an input unit, having a surface thereof, to which a coordinate value of a writing character is input;

a detection unit determining an operation mode of the input unit, the detection unit further comprising;

a calculator configured to calculate a distance between a final coordinate value of a first input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a second input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode,

wherein a coordinate value of the first input operation is set in the processor as the final coordinate value input of the first input operation, and

wherein the distance calculated by said calculator is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second input operation from being connected to the first input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

38. A method of detecting coordinates of a writing character, comprising:

inputting at least one coordinate value of the writing character to a surface of an input unit by input means;

determining an operation mode of inputting;

setting a coordinate value of a first inputting as the final coordinate value input of the first inputting if a second inputting has not occurred for a predetermined time; and

enabling an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation in a relative coordinate value mode by calculating a distance between the set coordinate value of the first inputting and an initial coordinate value of the second inputting,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second inputting from being connected to the first inputting on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

39. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a method of detecting coordinates comprising:

inputting a coordinate value to a surface of an input unit, by input means;

determining an operation mode of the inputting;

calculating a distance between a final coordinate value of a previous input operation and a beginning coordinate value of a current input operation so that an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in a relative coordinate value mode, the current input operation occurring after a detachment of the input means from the surface of said input unit during the immediately preceding previous input operation; and

setting, in the calculating, a coordinate value input at a time when the input means is detached from the surface of the input unit as the final coordinate value of the previous input operation,

wherein the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the current input operation from being connected to the previous input operation on a display, and

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit.

40. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a method of detecting coordinates comprising:

inputting at least one coordinate value to a surface of an input unit using input means;

enabling an absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation in a relative coordinate value mode by setting a coordinate value of a first inputting as the final coordinate value input of the first inputting if a second inputting occurs within a predetermined time after the first inputting; and

calculating a distance between the set coordinate value of the first inputting and an initial coordinate value of the second inputting,

wherein the absolute coordinate value mode inputting operation is enabled in the relative coordinate value mode based on a time during which the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit, and

the distance calculated by said calculating is transmitted to a host apparatus so as to prevent the second inputting from being connected to the first inputting on a display.