Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Stylus
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-15
2003-09-30
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Stylus
C345S173000, C345S177000, C178S018010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06628271
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch panel device in which information are input by an input pen onto a touch panel that is provided in front of a flat display such as a plasma display panel, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the touch panel device has been spread as the inputting means for various information processing devices.
This touch panel device senses a coordinate of a touch position on the touch panel, and inputs various information into the information processing device in response to the touch position. Various systems have been proposed.
Out of the touch panel devices, there is the system that senses the coordinate of the touch position on the touch panel by utilizing the ultrasonic wave.
FIG. 25
is a schematic view showing the touch panel device utilizing the ultrasonic wave, called the ultrasonic surface acoustic wave system, in the conventional art.
In
FIG. 25
, the touch panel device comprises an X-side reflection array
2
A on the transmitter side, which is provided horizontally to a lower edge portion of a touch panel
1
; an X-side transmitter
2
B arranged on the lower right-hand corner of the touch panel
1
and connected to the X-side reflection array
2
A; an X-side reflection array
3
A on the receiver side, which is provided horizontally to an upper edge portion of the touch panel
1
so as to oppose to the X-side reflection array
2
A; an X-side receiver
3
B arranged on the upper right-hand corner of the touch panel
1
and connected to the X-side reflection array
3
A; a Y-side reflection array
4
A on the transmitter side, which is provided vertically to a left-side edge portion of the touch panel
1
; a Y-side transmitter
4
B arranged on the upper left-hand corner of the touch panel
1
and connected to the Y-side reflection array
4
A; a Y-side reflection array
5
A on the receiver side, which is provided vertically to a right-side edge portion of the touch panel
1
so as to oppose to the Y-side reflection array
4
A; and a Y-side receiver
5
B arranged on the upper right-hand corner of the touch panel
1
and connected to the Y-side reflection array
5
A.
In this touch panel device, the ultrasonic wave that is output from the X-side transmitter
2
B is oscillated upward in the vertical direction from respective positions, which are provided along the axis direction (X direction) of the X-side reflection array
2
A on the transmitter side, to the X-side reflection array
3
A on the receiver side. Then, the ultrasonic wave that is received at respective positions, which are provided along the axis direction (X direction) of the X-side reflection array
3
A on the receiver side, is input into the X-side receiver
3
B.
Also, the ultrasonic wave that is output from the Y-side transmitter
4
B is oscillated rightward in the horizontal direction from respective positions, which are provided along the axis direction (Y direction) of the Y-side reflection array
4
A on the transmitter side, to the Y-side reflection array
5
A on the receiver side. Then, the ultrasonic wave that is received at respective positions, which are provided along the axis direction (Y direction) of the Y-side reflection array
5
A on the receiver side, is input into the X-side receiver
5
B.
Then, identification of the touch position on the touch pane
1
is carried out as follows. For example, when any position P′ on the touch panel
1
is touched as shown, the ultrasonic waves that are oscillated respectively from the X-side reflection array
2
A and the Y-side reflection array
4
A on the transmitter side are blocked by the finger, the input pen, or the like, that touches the touch panel
1
. Therefore, the positions (x coordinate and y coordinate) on the X-side reflection array
3
A and the Y-side reflection array
5
A on the receiver side can be detected based on change (attenuation) of the ultrasonic signals that are input into the X-side receiver
3
B and the X-side receiver
5
B.
Then, in such touch panel device, in the event that the information input onto the screen of the flat display, to which the touch panel is fitted, by the input pen is tried, such a method is employed in the conventional art in order to set attributes of the input information that the attribute information display column, as set forth in Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) Hei 9-146679, for example, is displayed on the screen of the flat display and then the area of the attribute information display column which displays the desired attribute therein is touched by the input pen.
However, in such input information attribute setting method in the conventional art, there is such a problem that, since the above attribute information display column must be displayed on the screen of the flat display and then the area in which the desired attribute is displayed is touched by the input pen every time when the attribute is to be set, the operations are very troublesome. Also, in the event that the attribute information display column is always displayed on the screen of the flat display, there is a problem such that the image display screen of the flat display is narrowed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the problems that are included in the above touch panel device in the conventional art.
That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch panel device capable of setting attributes of input information by simple operations without reduction in an image display screen of a flat display.
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a touch panel device for displaying information containing predetermined attributes on a flat display device by touching a touch panel provided in front of the flat display device by an input pen, wherein the input pen has a signal oscillating means, a setting means for setting a frequency or an output level of an oscillated signal oscillated from the signal oscillating means, and a set value changing means for changing a set value of the frequency or the output level in the setting means, the device comprising a sensing means for sensing the frequency or the output level of the oscillated signal oscillated from the signal oscillating means in the input pen at a touch position on the touch panel by the input pen; an attribute setting means for setting attributes of input information in response to the frequency or the output level of the oscillated signal sensed by the sensing means; and a displaying means for displaying the input information on the flat display device based on the attributes set by the attribute setting means.
According to the touch panel device of the first ascpect of the invention, when the pen point portion of the input pen is pushed against the touch panel being provided in front of the flat display device to touch it, the transmitted signal whose frequency or output level is set by the setting means can be transmitted from the signal oscillating means being built in the input pen.
Then, the frequency or output level of the transmitted signal transmitted from the input pen can be sensed by the sensing means provided to the touch panel.
When the frequency or output level of the transmitted signal transmitted from the input pen is sensed by the sensing means in this manner, the attribute setting means can set the attributes of the image, e.g., colors, area sizes, types, etc. of the image to display the input information on the flat display device in response to the frequency or the output level of the sensed transmitted signal, and then can cause the displaying means to display the input information on the flat display device based on the set attributes.
As described above, according to the touch panel device of the above first invention, since the attributes of the input information to be displayed on the flat display device can be set easily by merely changing the frequency or output level of the oscillated signal being oscillated from the input pen
Matsumoto Kanya
Nakazono Jiro
Dinh Duc
Hjerpe Richard
Pioneer Corporation
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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