Telegraphy – Systems – Position coordinate determination for writing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-10
2003-12-30
Mengistu, Amare (Department: 2673)
Telegraphy
Systems
Position coordinate determination for writing
C345S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06670561
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:
This application claims benefit of the filing date of Japanese Patent Number 000139403.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a coordinates input method for a coordinates input device (i.e., digitizer or tablet) which detects the position of a position indicator by utilizing electromagnetic induction and then inputs it into a host computer.
(2) Description of Related Art
The electromagnetic induction format has been known with regard to coordinates input devices for computers, etc. in the prior art. Such a coordinates input device based on the electromagnetic induction format consists of a tablet on which multiple loop coils are configured and a coordinates indicator. Upon the retention and displacement of the coordinates indicator by an operator on a tablet, the concomitantly indicated position is detected by the tablet and then inputted into a computer of a higher order.
The coordinates indicators used for the tablet of the prior art based on the electromagnetic induction format will be explained with reference to FIGS.
4
(
a
) and
4
(
b
).
FIG. 4
(
a
) is a diagram which shows a transparentized plane view of the internal structure of the tablet (
420
).
FIG. 4
(
b
) is a diagram that shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the coordinates indicator (
440
). The coil (
441
), which the coordinates indicator (
440
) possesses, is driven by the oscillator (
443
) under the pervasion of an alternate current whose frequency is F
1
, resulting in the generation of a magnetic field. (
444
) signifies a battery that feeds an electric power into the oscillation circuit (
443
). The coordinates indicator is normally equipped also with a switch, etc. for obtaining information other than the coordinates value, although they are omitted from
FIG. 4
in that they are not directly related to the present invention.
As
FIG. 4
(
a
) indicates, a group of loop coils CX
1
, CX
2
, CX
3
, . . . CXm, which are extended along the longitudinal direction (i.e., longitudinally expansive), are configured along the lateral direction (i.e., X direction) on the tablet (
420
). Only CX
1
and CXm are drawn in
FIG. 4
(
a
) for avoiding convolutions. Another group of loop coils CY
1
, CY
2
, CY
3
, . . . CYn, which are extended along the lateral direction (i.e., laterally expansive), furthermore, are configured along the longitudinal direction. Only CY
1
and CYn are drawn in
FIG. 4
(
a
) for avoiding convolutions. The respective numbers of the concomitantly configured loop coil groups depend on the size of the tablet.
The switch (
421
) in
FIG. 4
(
a
) is a switch for selecting one coil from a group of multiple members, and the coil which has been selected by said switch becomes connected to the signal detection circuit (
422
). The position of the coil (
441
) on the tablet (
420
) is calculated by the computation circuit (
423
) based on the output of the detection circuit (
422
). The calculated position is normally transferred to a host computer, etc., although the corresponding block is omitted from the figure. A battery or external power source, furthermore, is used as a power source, although it is omitted from the figure.
In a case where the operator has placed the coordinates indicator (
440
) on the tablet (
420
) discussed above, for example, the magnetic field which has been generated by the coil (
441
) of the coordinates indicator (
440
) induces a higher voltage in relation to a loop coil of the tablet coil group closer to the coil (
441
) and a lower voltage in relation to a loop coil farther from it. In a case where the respective induction voltages are detected by sequentially switching the coils of the tablet via the switch (
421
), therefore, the respective distributions shown in
FIG. 6
(
a
) and
FIG. 6
(
b
) can be obtained along the longitudinal and lateral directions. The longitudinal and lateral positions of the coil (
441
) on the tablet can be discerned by calculating their output values by using the computation circuit (
423
). The positions of the coordinate indicator (
440
) can therefore be discerned in a case where the coordinate indicator (
440
) is retained above the tablet by the operator, whereas in a case where it is displaced while being continuously retained, the coordinates on the line of displacement can be obtained.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Incidentally, cases where coordinates variation magnitudes (i.e., relative coordinates) are utilized by host computers instead of the direct utilization of the coordinates (i.e., absolute coordinates) are conceivable. In such a case, a coordinates indicator may be used in place of a mouse, which represents another type of input machine. In this case, the coordinates indicator of the tablet is often referred to as a “pseudomouse.”
In a case where the coordinates indicator of the tablet is utilized as such a pseudomouse, operative procedures identical to those for handling a mouse do not suffice, and therefore, slightly different operative procedures are imposed on the operator. This topic will be explained with reference to FIG.
5
. Of said
FIG. 5
, the display contents of the display device (
550
) which are used for ordinary computers are shown in (
a
), whereas the movements of the coordinates indicator (
540
) above the tablet (
520
) are shown in (
b
). The tablet is normally used while being fixed to the top of a desk, whereas the coordinates indicator (
540
) is routinely operated while being held in the operator's hand.
In the context of inducing the displacement of an indicated point on the display device (
50
), the coordinates indicator (
540
) must be displaced while being aligned against the coordinates axes of the tablet (
520
) (i.e., XY rectangular coordinates axes) regardless of the pervasion of an absolute coordinates system or relative coordinates system. In other words, to illustrate with reference to an easy-to-understand example, in a case where an attempt is made to induce a parallel displacement of the indicated point on the display device (
550
), the coordinates indicator (
540
) must also be displaced in parallel to the tablet while being positioned above said tablet. For this reason, the operator is forced to displace the coordinates indicator (
40
) while its disposition is being matched with that of the tablet, as a result of which unnatural hand movements may become required in some cases. In other words, the coordinates axes of the plane of the coordinates indicator (
40
) coincide with the coordinates axes on the tablet plane, and therefore, the coordinates indicator (
40
) must be displaced while its disposition is being aligned against the coordinates axes of the tablet plane.
In a case where an attempt is made to displace the indicated point (i.e., mouse pointer) from point A
1
to point A
2
on the display device (
550
), for example, it is necessary to displace the coordinates indicator (
540
) on the tablet from point B
1
to point B
2
.
Regardless of the size disparity between the display device (
550
) and tablet (
520
), the dispositions of the respective coordinates axes of the display device (
550
) and tablet (
520
) are exactly the same, and therefore, a parallel displacement on the display device (
550
) is articulated by displacing the coordinates indicator (
540
) in parallel to the tablet (
520
) while being positioned above said tablet (
520
) as well. Even in the cases of non-parallel lines and curves, therefore, the coordinates indicator (
540
) must be displaced in compliance with the coordinates axes of the tablet (
520
).
One difference from the mouse operation method known in the prior art has been thus articulated. The mouse has no equivalency to the tablet (
520
). The mouse is therefore a machine which enables the input of a coordinates displacement magnitude in compliance with the coordinates axes of itself, namely the mouse.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a coordinates input method which is capable of solving the problem o
Liniak, Berenato & White, LLC
Mengistu Amare
Wacom Co. Ltd.
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