Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Stylus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-25
2001-09-11
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Stylus
C345S156000, C345S180000, C178S018010, C178S018040, C178S019020, C178S019040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288711
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a coordinate input apparatus for calculating a position, which has been designated by a vibrating input pen, based upon vibration that has been input to a vibration transfer plate by the vibrating input pen. The invention relates further to a method of controlling this coordinate input apparatus and to a computer-readable memory for such control.
Tablets for inputting coordinates by a stylus pen (input pen) and digitizers have become widely available as coordinate input devices. Coordinate input by means of an input pen serves as an excellent human interface that approximates the pen-and-paper manner of input with which the user is well accustomed.
The input pen used with such a tablet or digitizer has a pen pressure sensing function in order to better mimic a writing instrument. More specifically, a pressure sensing mechanism is provided inside the input pen and information indicative of the pen pressure sensed is output to a host computer along with coordinate information indicating the position input by the pen. On the basis of the coordinate information and pen pressure information, the host computer alters the writing thickness or density of an entered line to provide a sensation nearer to that of existing writing instruments.
By way of example, a coordinate input apparatus disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 5-62771 utilizing ultra sonic wave to sense input coordinates calculates the position of input coordinates by sensing a delay in the time of waves that propagate along a tablet, which is the input surface. Since the tablet used in this coordinate input apparatus does not employ any highly intricate means such as matrix wiring, the apparatus can be provided at low cost. Moreover, if transparent plate glass is used as the tablet, a coordinate input apparatus having a higher degree of transparency than other such apparatus using different techniques can be constructed. Further, as set forth in the specification of Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 6-48456, there is known an arrangement in which the sensing precision of the apparatus is improved by calculating pen pressure based upon the magnitude of propagating vibration (the amplitude of the signal sensed).
In the conventional coordinate input apparatus, however, the sensing effectiveness of the apparatus is judged upon calculating pen pressure based upon the sum of signal amplitudes sensed by sensors. In order to utilize this pen pressure information as the actual pen pressure information indicative of the input pen, therefore, more detailed pen pressure information is required. In other words, if pen pressure information is obtained as the sum of the amplitudes of sensed signals, the amount of change in pen pressure signal level differs depending upon the location at which the input is made (in a case where distances from the sensors differ) and, hence, accurate pen pressure cannot be calculated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input apparatus for calculating an input position of a vibrating input pen based upon vibration that has been input by the vibrating input pen, wherein pen pressure of the vibrating input pen can be sensed more precisely, as well as a method of controlling this coordinate input apparatus and a computer-readable memory for such control.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a coordinate input apparatus for calculating a position, which has been designated by a vibrating input pen, based upon vibration that has been input to a vibration transfer plate by the vibrating input pen, comprising: sensing means for sensing the vibration as a signal; measurement means for measuring signal level of the signal sensed by the sensing means; and calculation means for calculating distance between the sensing means and a position input by the vibrating input pen and calculating, on the basis of the distance calculated, input-level information from the signal level measured by the measurement means.
Further, according to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a method of controlling a coordinate input apparatus for calculating a position, which has been designated by a vibrating input pen, based upon vibration that has been input to the vibration transfer plate by the vibrating input pen, comprising: a sensing step of sensing the vibration as a signal by a sensing unit; a measurement step of measuring signal level of the signal sensed at the sensing step; and a calculation step of calculating distance between the sensing unit and a position input by the vibrating input pen and calculating, on the basis of the distance calculated, input-level information from the signal level measured at the measurement step.
Further, according to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a computer-readable memory storing program code which controls a coordinate input apparatus for calculating a position, which has been designated by a vibrating input pen, based upon vibration that has been input to a vibration transfer plate by the vibrating input pen, the program code comprising: program code of a sensing step of sensing the vibration as a signal by a sensing unit; program code of a measurement step of measuring signal level of the signal sensed at the sensing step; and program code of a calculation step of calculating distance between the sensing unit and a position input by the vibrating input pen and calculating, on the basis of the distance calculated, input-level information from the signal level measured at the measurement step.
In accordance with the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a coordinate input apparatus for calculating the input position of a vibrating input pen based upon vibration that has been input by the vibrating input pen, wherein the pen pressure of the vibrating input pen can be sensed more precisely, as well as a method of controlling this coordinate input apparatus and a computer-readable memory for such control.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5352856 (1994-10-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5362930 (1994-11-01), Yoshimura et al.
patent: 5420804 (1995-05-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5491305 (1996-02-01), Kawakami et al.
patent: 5500492 (1996-03-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5539160 (1996-07-01), Tokioka et al.
patent: 5565893 (1996-10-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5691959 (1997-11-01), Kriewall et al.
patent: 5736979 (1998-04-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5748182 (1998-05-01), Ohashi et al.
patent: 5760346 (1998-06-01), Kabayashi et al.
patent: 5761087 (1998-06-01), Yoshimura et al.
patent: 5862049 (1999-01-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5-62771 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 6-48456 (1994-06-01), None
Kobayashi Katsuyuki
Sato Hajime
Tanaka Atsushi
Yanagisawa Ryozo
Yoshimura Yuichiro
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Kovalick Vincent E.
Shalwala Bipin
LandOfFree
Coordinate input apparatus, method of controlling same and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Coordinate input apparatus, method of controlling same and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Coordinate input apparatus, method of controlling same and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2487620