Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Touch panel
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-09
2001-03-27
Hjerpe, Richard A. (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Touch panel
C345S175000, C345S177000, C345S179000, C178S018010, C178S018040, C178S019010, C178S019050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208330
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coordinate input apparatus for detecting the position pointed on the coordinate input surface and inputting the detected coordinate value, and its control method.
In general, a coordinate input apparatus can be roughly classified into two types, i.e., a touch panel with which the user directly makes operation input on the input surface using his or her finger, and a digitizer with which the user makes coordinate input on the input surface by operating a tool such as a pen or the like. The digitizer does not normally allow direct input operation with the finger. On the other hand, the touch panel also allows input operation using an input pointer such as a pen or the like (the input pointer used for the digitizer will be generally referred to as a pen hereinafter). Hence, the touch panel is convenient: simple input operation can be done by directly pointing the input surface with the finger, and precise input operation of characters, graphics, and the like can be done by the pen.
However, when the user makes input operation on the touch panel by operating a tool such as a pen or the like, if his or her hand touches the input surface, the touched portion is unwantedly detected as the pointed position, resulting in operation errors. Also, in case of, e.g., an optical type apparatus that detects the pointed input not only when an object contacts but when it approaches, for example, an original placed on the input surface is detected as the pointed input, thus producing input errors. Especially, since display devices tend to have larger screens (i.e., larger input surfaces), the above-mentioned problems can no longer be ignored.
The input operation by the finger or the like need be done by a light operation force although low resolution is allowed (such input operation will be referred to as a touch input hereinafter). By contrast, the input operation using a pen can have a certain writing pressure but requires high resolution (such input operation will be referred to as a pen input hereinafter) Especially, character recognition requires very high resolution. It is very difficult to simultaneously meet these two antithetic requirements. Especially, as for the resolution, the same applies not only to spatial resolution but also to temporal resolution, and the specification difference required for touch and pen inputs is very large. Hence, it is nearly impossible to satisfy these requirements by a single detection method.
In recent years, energy savings are required for information processing apparatuses, and it is getting harder to attain energy savings and higher resolution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a coordinate input apparatus which can satisfy requirements for touch and pen inputs, and its control method.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a coordinate input apparatus which allows the user to make both touch input capable of light input operation, and pen input capable of precise input operation, and to perform stable touch and pen inputs, and its control method.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a coordinate input apparatus which allows both touch and pen inputs and can attain power savings, and its control method.
In order to achieve the above objects, a coordinate input apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a coordinate input apparatus comprises:
first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution;
second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution higher than the first resolution;
size detection means for detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface; and
control means for setting one of the first and second position detection means in an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the object detected by the size detection means.
In order to achieve the above objects, a coordinate input apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a coordinate input apparatus comprises:
first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution;
second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution higher than the first resolution;
pressure detection means for detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface;
size detection means for, when the contact pressure detected by the pressure detection means is higher than a predetermined pressure, detecting a size of an object on the input surface; and
control means for setting one of the first and second position detection means in an active state for detecting the pointed position on the basis of the size of the object detected by the size detection means.
In order to achieve the above objects, a control method for a coordinate input apparatus according to still another aspect of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, a control method for a coordinate input apparatus which comprises first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution, and second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution higher than the first resolution, comprises:
the size detection step of detecting a size of an object that approaches or contacts the input surface; and
the control step of setting one of the first and second position detection means in an active state capable of pointed position detection on the basis of the size of the object detected in the size detection step.
In order to achieve the above objects, a control method for a coordinate input apparatus according to yet another aspect of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, a control method for a coordinate input apparatus which comprises first position detection means for detecting a position pointed on an input surface at a first resolution, and second position detection means for detecting the position pointed on the input surface at a second resolution higher than the first resolution, comprises:
the pressure detection step of detecting a contact pressure acting on the input surface;
the size detection step of detecting a size of an object on the input surface when the contact pressure detected in the pressure detection step is higher than a predetermined pressure; and
the control step of setting one of the first and second position detection means in an active state for detecting the pointed position on the basis of the size of the object detected in the size detection step.
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.
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Ando Masahiro
Hasegawa Masahide
Ibaraki Shoichi
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Hjerpe Richard A.
Tran Henry N.
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