JPH1185378A - Digitizer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digitizer device capable of promptly obtaining a coordinate information by detecting the position of a pen body with high resolution and high precision and being simply constituted in a small size and a light weight. SOLUTION: A point light source 100 is provided near the tip part of the pen body. And, a pair of one-dimensional angle detectors to detect an angle of the dotted light source 100 by forming an image of the point light source 100 on a differential light receiving element 130 on which two light receiving elements are provided. The coordinate of the tip part of the pen body is detected and outputted by detecting the position of the point light source 100 by a principle of triangulation from the detected angles of each of the one-dimensional angle detectors. In addition, calculation of a coordinate position or the like of a tip point of the pen tip part is enabled by providing two point light sources in a direction of an axis of the pen body, or providing three point light sources in a triangle shape and detecting the positions of each point light source by the one-dimensional angle detectors.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digitizer device for detecting the position of a pen body on a pen pressing surface provided in a coordinate detecting device and converting the position into coordinate information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional digitizer, a spherical body is rotatably provided inside a dome-shaped gripping body, and the gripping body is moved on a flat mat or the like to rotate the sphere to obtain coordinates. A so-called mouse that obtains information is widely used. In addition, for example, by bringing a pen body closer to a flat sheet incorporating a coordinate detection device based on an electromagnetic induction method or an electrostatic coupling method, the approach position is detected by the coordinate detection device, and coordinate information is obtained. Pen input devices such as tablets have become widespread.

[0003]

However, since the above-mentioned mouse is operated by grasping it with the palm of the hand, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform a light input operation such as a pen which can be finely and finely moved with a finger. On the other hand, the above-described pen input devices such as tablets have a problem that resolution and accuracy are low and response speed is slow, so that advanced pen operation ability by humans cannot be fully utilized. In addition, there has been a problem that the size of the apparatus increases in proportion to the size of the operation area, and the weight also increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a digitizer device capable of detecting the position of a pen body with high resolution and high accuracy to quickly obtain coordinate information, and being compact, lightweight and easily configured. It is in.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a digitizer apparatus comprising a pen body and a coordinate detecting device having a pressing surface against which a pen tip of the pen body is pressed. The body has one or more point light sources at its pen tip, and the coordinate detecting device detects the position of the pen body by detecting the point light sources from a plurality of different angles on the pressing surface. And a plurality of one-dimensional angle detecting devices.

In the digitizer of the present invention, one or more point light sources provided on the pen tip of the pen body are detected by a plurality of one-dimensional angle detectors on the coordinate detector side, and one or more point light sources are detected from each detected angle. The position of the point light source is detected, and the tip point position of the pen body is calculated. Therefore, it is possible to detect the position of the pen body in real time in response to the operation of the pen body, sequentially output this value, and follow the trajectory of the tip point of the pen body. Also, since the position of the pen body is detected by optically detecting the point light source, the position of the tip point of the pen tip can be detected with high resolution and high accuracy. Furthermore, compared to the case of providing a coordinate detection device of the electromagnetic induction type or the electrostatic coupling type, the configuration can be made smaller, lighter and simpler.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the digitizer according to the present invention will be described. First, a one-dimensional angle detection device for detecting the angle of a point light source of a pen body moving on an XY plane by the digitizer device of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a one-dimensional angle detecting device (MPS) used in the digitizer according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a top view showing a configuration example of the one-dimensional angle detecting device shown in FIG. .

The one-dimensional angle detecting device of this embodiment includes a lens system 110 that collects and forms an image of a point light source 100 attached to a pen body described later, and a focal plane 110A of the lens system 110.
, A differential light receiving element 130 provided on the movable body 120 for detecting the focal position of light from the point light source 100, and moving the movable body 120 linearly within the focal plane 100A. Actuator 140 and movable body 12
0 and the encoding unit 1
And an absolute position detection device 160 that detects the position of the movable body 120 using the reference numeral 50.

In the present embodiment, the pen body corresponds to the area E1 in FIG.
The point light source 100 attached to the pen body also moves in the area E1 as shown in FIG. The point light source 100 is configured by, for example, an LED. The lens system 110 is formed by a combination of a lens for focusing and forming an image of the point light source 100 or a reflecting mirror.

The movable body 120 is formed in a plate shape as a whole, disposed on the focal plane 110A of the lens system 110, and supported by a guide mechanism (not shown) so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. The movable body 120 has a differential light receiving element 130 mounted at the center thereof and the movable body 12
0, the actuator 1
A mover 170 is provided for 40, and an encoding unit 150 is provided at the other end.

The actuator 140 is composed of, for example, a linear motor such as a voice coil motor, and applies a thrust to the movable element 170 made of a magnetic material to move the movable body 120. The operation of the actuator 140 is controlled based on the output signal of the differential light receiving element 130, and controls the movement of the movable body 120 to a position where the light source image from the point light source 100 hits the differential light receiving element 130. The encoding unit 150 is provided by attaching an encoding plate to the movable body 120, for example. The encode plate is provided with a scale pattern of a stripe pattern and a code pattern, and by reading this scale pattern by the absolute position detection device 160,
The absolute position of the movable body 120 is detected.

The absolute position detecting device 160 captures and decodes the scale pattern of the encoding plate using a CCD or a photodiode, measures the moving amount and moving direction of the movable body 120 in real time, and obtains the absolute position information of the movable body 120. A is output. The specific configuration of the absolute position detecting device 160 is described in, for example,
An absolute position detecting device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4418 can be adopted.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of the differential light receiving element 130. The differential type light receiving element 130 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, two light receiving elements 130R and 130R having the same characteristics
0L are juxtaposed and arranged close to each other along the moving direction of the movable body 120. In the following description, the output of the light receiving element 130R will be described as R, and the output of the light receiving element 130L will be described as L.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the one-dimensional angle detecting device of this embodiment. This one-dimensional angle detecting device includes the respective light receiving elements 130R, 130R of the differential light receiving element 130.
A differential amplifier 210 for obtaining a difference output (RL) of 0 L
And the sum output (R + L) of each light receiving element 130R, 130L
And an actuator control circuit 230 that drives and controls the actuator 140 based on the difference output (RL), the sum output (R + L), and the output A from the absolute position detection device 160, and a difference output v. = (RL) multiplied by a coefficient 1 / k to be described later to obtain position information x = v / k, and the position information x is used as the absolute position detection device 1
An adder 250 that adds the output A from the output 60 and outputs it as absolute position information A + x; and an adder 250 that has an absolute value of the difference output (RL) that is less than a certain value and an absolute value of the sum output (R + L) that is more than a certain value. A determination circuit 260 for determining whether or not the position information x is valid.

Next, the function and operation of the above-described one-dimensional angle detecting device will be described in detail. First, the movable body 120 is moved by the actuator 140, and the point light source image at which the sum output (R + L) of the differential light receiving element 130 becomes a significant size hits the differential light receiving element 130, that is, as shown in FIG. Find the loop control range. Next, if the difference output is moved in the direction in which the sign output is reversed in accordance with the sign of the difference (RL), loop control is performed. Converge to the center position.

In this feedback loop established state,
Even when the point light source 100 moves, the differential light receiving element 1 is actuated by the actuator 140 in accordance with the output of the differential light receiving element 130.
The movement of 30 is controlled so as to follow the point light source image, so that the point light source image can always be captured. The difference output at that time is near the zero cross point (for example, in FIG. 3, within the position detection range of ± 0.5 μm). The difference output (RL) in this state
= V) is proportional to the distance x between the center point (light intensity center of gravity) of the point light source image and the center line of the differential type light receiving element 130, and since the light receiving elements having the same characteristics are arranged close to each other, a straight line is obtained. Extremely high. Therefore, v = kx can be set. Here, k is a position conversion coefficient.

As described above, the center point position of the point light source image is given as the distance x = v / k from the center line of the differential light receiving element 130, and the position of the center line of the differential light receiving element 130 is Imaging type absolute position detection device 1 directly connected to the light receiving element 130
Since 60 is detected as the output A at the same time, the absolute position of the center point of the point light source image can be output as A + x = A + v / k.

The output x from the differential light-receiving element 130 is obtained by reducing the point light source image as much as possible to make the width of the differential light-receiving element 130 in the x direction small and small, thereby obtaining the position conversion coefficient k and S / N. And it is easy to achieve high resolution and high-speed response. On the other hand, the actuator 140
By moving the differential light receiving element 130 having a narrow detection range, it is possible to detect a wide range, and the imaging type absolute position detecting device 160 can determine the position A of the differential light receiving element 130 with high resolution, high accuracy, and high speed. Response, detect with high reliability. This is equivalent to a state in which a large number of differential light receiving elements are arranged at a high resolution and a high precision pitch, and A + x is advanced absolute position information that cannot be obtained by the differential light receiving element 130 alone.

In the position detecting device of the present embodiment as described above, the position detection information A of the imaging type absolute position detecting device 160 capable of detecting the absolute position of the differential light receiving element 130 moved by the actuator 140 with high resolution and high accuracy. By combining (A + x) with position detection information x of the differential light receiving element 130 that can be detected with high resolution and high accuracy only in a narrow range by reducing the size of the differential light receiving element 130, a large length measurement range is obtained. A high-resolution, high-precision light source image one-dimensional angle detection device can be obtained. Further, the output x of the differential type light receiving element 130, which has been reduced in size for higher resolution, has a high-speed response due to the effect of the smaller element.
By combining (A + x) with the output A of the high-speed response type imaging absolute position detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 94418, a high-speed response light source image one-dimensional angle detection device can be obtained.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the above-described one-dimensional angle detection device detects a point light source moving in the area E1 on the XY plane, thereby detecting the position of the lens system 110 from the optical axis. Is calculated, and XY of the point light source is calculated.
It is possible to detect an angle on a plane. Therefore, two one-dimensional angle detection devices are provided in a coordinate detection device having a pressing surface against which the pen tip of the pen body is pressed,
By arranging the one-dimensional angle detection devices so as to face from different angles with respect to the pressing surface, and individually detecting the position of one point light source 100 provided on the pen body from different angles on the XY plane, , Two position detection outputs (A +
From x), the coordinate position of the point light source moving on the XY plane can be calculated.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a digitizer main body provided with such two one-dimensional angle detecting devices. The main body of the digitizer device is a main body case 50.
PAD area 510 that constitutes a pressing surface in front of zero
Are provided, and an LCD screen area 520 is provided at the center of the PAD area 510. Further, a position detection box unit 5 having two one-dimensional angle detection devices built in a rear part.
30 are provided. The pen body 300 has a fountain pen-shaped pen tip 310 as shown, and the pen tip 3
A point light source 100 is provided on the front surface of the base end of the point light source 10.
The operation is performed in a state where 00 is directed to the position detection box section 530. In this case, the optical axis of each one-dimensional angle detection device is set to a height substantially parallel to the above-described pressing surface and substantially corresponding to the height of the point light source 100 in the pen axis direction (height in the Z axis direction). By arranging the point light source 100 on the plane where it is located, the point light source 100 can be effectively detected.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an operable area of the pen body 300 in which the position of the point light source 100 on the pen tip 310 can be detected in such a coordinate detecting device. For example, the possible detection angle (viewing angle) of each one-dimensional angle detection device is 80
When the angle is °, a region where the fields of view of the one-dimensional angle detection devices overlap is as shown in the figure, and a pressing surface is provided in this region.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the resolution of each one-dimensional angle detecting device which varies depending on the position of the point light source 100. As shown in the figure, the resolution decreases as the distance from each one-dimensional angle detection device increases, but a sufficiently high resolution can be obtained even in the farthest region as compared with a conventional tablet or the like. In this example, the XY coordinate position of the point light source 100 is calculated from the detection angles obtained by the one-dimensional angle detection devices based on the principle of triangulation. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the detection angles α and β are obtained by two one-dimensional angle detection devices (MPS) arranged at an interval D, the value of the XY coordinates (x, y) is x = D sin (α−β) / 2 sin (α + β) y = D sin α sin β / sin (α + β)

With the above-described configuration, it is possible to detect the position of the pen body 300 in real time in response to the operation of the pen body 300, and to sequentially output this value to follow the trajectory of the pen body 300. In addition, since the position of the pen body 300 is detected by optically detecting the point light source 100, high-resolution and high-precision detection can be performed. Furthermore, compared with the case of providing a coordinate detection device using an electromagnetic induction method or an electrostatic coupling method,
It is small, lightweight and easy to construct. In the pen body 300 shown in FIG. 9A, a holder 330 is provided on the base end side of the pen tip 310 via a pressure converter 320.
The function of the pressure converter 320 will be described in a modified example described later.

According to the above digitizer,
Since the one-dimensional angle detection device has high resolution and high accuracy, sufficient detection performance can be obtained even if the reduction magnification of the lens is increased, and the device can be reduced in size. At the same time, since the movable portion of the one-dimensional angle detecting device can be made smaller, wear is reduced, durability is increased, and the life is extended.
In addition, since the moving range of the point light source image, the speed and the acceleration are reduced by the reduction rate, and the high-speed response can be detected, the tracking operation is immediately started, and the high-speed operation of the pen body is sufficiently followed. Can be detected. In addition, even if the light is frequently interrupted when using light, the light returns instantaneously, thereby facilitating the handling of the pen.

Also, icons and the like printed or pasted on the screen frame of the personal computer can be selected, and characters, symbols and icons on an adjacent inexpensive display device can also be selected. The use of multiple keyboards and combinations, such as a keyboard that promotes complexity, is eliminated, and the operation of the personal computer is easy to understand and the operation becomes easy.

Next, a modification of the present invention will be described.
First, as a first modification, two point light sources 10 having different emission wavelengths on a line parallel to the pen axis from the tip point of the pen tip portion.
0A and 100B are arranged, and in a plane parallel to the XY plane,
Two sets (a total of four) of one-dimensional angle detectors each provided with a filter that individually responds to each point light source 100A, 100B are arranged, and each one-dimensional angle detector corresponding to each point light source 100A, 100B From the detected angles, the two point light sources 100A, 100B
Are calculated, and the position of the pen tip point is calculated from these two coordinate positions.

Here, two point light sources 100A and 100B
Of these, the one closer to the pen tip point is defined as the lower point light source 100A, and the lower coordinate position is defined as {x (d), y (d)}. Further, the upper coordinate position of the upper point light source 100B is represented by ｛x (u),
y (u)}, the coordinate position {x, y} of the pen tip point
Can be calculated as: x = x (d) + {x (d) -x (u)} H / hy y = y (d) + {y (d) -y (u)} H / h Here, H indicates the distance between the pen tip point and the lower light source point 100A, and h indicates the two light source points 100A.
The distance between A and 100B is shown (see FIG. 9).

The direction of the pen axis can be calculated by [{x (u), y (u)} → {x (d), y (d)}]. Further, the tilt angle θ of the pen shaft is given by the following equation. cos θ = [{x (d) −x (u)} ² + Δy (d) −
y (u)｝ ² ] ^1/2 / h With the configuration described above, not only can the coordinate position of the tip point of the pen tip be accurately calculated, but also the direction and the tilt angle of the pen axis can be calculated. In this example, the pointer that moves according to the coordinate value of the pen tip point on the screen of the personal computer and the pen tip point that can be delicately moved with the fingertip are both within the visual field of the human eye's central vision, so that it is precise and accurate. Can operate. For example, because handwritten input characters can be input so precisely as to show the personality of the operator, handwriting assessment can be performed,
The signature can be used as authentication.

Next, as a second modification, the two point light sources 100A and 100B as described above are changed by changing the emission wavelength.
Instead of individually detecting by a set of one-dimensional angle detecting devices, two point light sources 100A, 100B having the same emission wavelength are used.
May be alternately emitted, and this may be alternately detected by a set (one pair) of one-dimensional angle detection devices to detect the positions of the two point light sources 100A and 100B. In this case, by arranging the point light sources 100A and 100B close to each other, as shown in FIG. 10, the differential light receiving element 130 of each one-dimensional angle detection device properly detects the two point light source images in the detection area. Can be stored within. And 2
By alternately lighting the three point light sources 100A and 100B, the output signal of the differential light receiving element 130 of each one-dimensional angle detection device can be separated corresponding to the two point light sources.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the output characteristics of the differential type light receiving element 130. FIG.
6 is a timing chart showing an operation in a case where A and 100B are alternately turned on and a pair of one-dimensional angle detection devices detect the light. As shown in FIG.
By outputting the lower point light source emission pulse and the upper point light source emission pulse alternately for μsec, the differential light receiving element 130 of the one-dimensional angle detecting device is synchronized with the emission timing.
, And the detected difference outputs are individually processed as detection angle information of the lower point light source 100A and the upper point light source 100B.

In FIG. 12, when the differential light receiving element 130 is in the light receiving state shown in FIG. 10, when the lower point light source 100A is detected, the output of the light receiving element 130R is large. The difference output (RL) between 130R and 130L is a positive value. Further, when the upper point light source 100B is detected, the output of the light receiving element 130L is large, so that the difference output (RL) between the light receiving elements 130R and 130L is a negative value.

The operation of each one-dimensional angle detecting device will be described in detail. First, the one-dimensional angle detecting device on the left side searches for a point light source image alternately lit at a high frequency of, for example, 100 KHz, and enters a feedback loop control state. The difference output v of the differential type light receiving element 130 is set to v (u), v at the lighting time of the upper point light source 100B and the lighting time of the lower point light source 100A.
(D), synthesized with the output A of the imaging absolute position detecting device at the same time, and two angles with respect to two point light source images are detected from the position information (A + v). Further, the loop control is performed such that v (u) + v (d) = 0,
The center of the differential light receiving element 120 is always located at the center of the two point light source images. Therefore, the state of the light receiving signal as shown in FIGS.

Similarly, the other right one-dimensional angle detecting device detects two angles based on the two point light source images, and the upper side and the lower side form a pair. Obtains two sets of detection angles. This allows
The coordinate position, orientation, and tilt angle of the pen body can be calculated in the same manner as in the second modification described above. In addition, the number of one-dimensional angle detection devices can be reduced as compared with the first modification, so that cost reduction, size reduction, and weight reduction can be achieved.

Next, as a third modified example, as shown in FIG. 13, three point light sources 100A, 100B and 100C provided close to each other are circulated and lighted at the pen tip to form a pair of primary light sources. It is also possible to perform three sets of angle detection with the original angle detection device. Each point light source 100A, 1
00B and 100C are provided equidistant from each other,
Point light sources 100A, 100B, and 100C are arranged at respective vertices of an equilateral triangle symmetrical with respect to the pen axis.

Such three point light sources 100A, 100
By detecting the positions of B and 100C, it is possible to calculate not only the coordinate position, orientation, and inclination angle of the pen body but also the rotation angle (rotation direction) of the pen shaft. That is, in FIG. 13, the coordinate position with respect to the two upper point light sources 100B and 100C provided at the left-right symmetric positions is represented by ｛x (u
Left), y (u left)}, {x (u right), y (u right)}, the rotation angle of the pen axis is tan ^-1 [(y (u right) -y
(U left)) / (x (u right)-x (u left))].

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a light receiving state in the differential light receiving element 130. FIG. 15 shows a pair of one-dimensional angle detecting devices in which three point light sources 100A, 100B and 100C are sequentially turned on. 6 is a timing chart showing an operation in the case where detection is performed by the method shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
By sequentially outputting the lower point light source light emission pulse, the upper left point light source light emission pulse, and the upper right point light source light emission pulse for 5 μsec at an interval of sec, the differential light receiving of the one-dimensional angle detecting device is synchronized with the light emission timing. The detection operation of the element 130 is performed, and the detected difference output is output to the lower point light source 100.
A, each of the detected angle information of the upper left point light source 100B and the upper right point light source 100C is individually processed.

Next, as a fourth modification, the pen body 300
The blinking frequency of the point light source is changed by the output signal of the pressure conversion unit 320 that converts the pressing force of the point light source into a linear proportional conversion. For example, the frequency is linearly changed so that the frequency is 100 KHz when the pressure is 0 and 110 KHz when the pressure is the maximum. Then, the frequency of the sum signal (R + L) output from the differential light receiving element of the one-dimensional angle detecting device is detected, the frequency at the time of pressure 0 is subtracted from the detected frequency, and the pressure conversion is performed based on the value. The magnitude of the pressure acting on the part 320, that is, the magnitude of the pressing force of the pen body can be detected. As a result, a line having a thickness proportional to the pressing force of the pen can be drawn, and a character figure such as a brushstroke can be handwritten by adding conditions of a posture and a path of the pen. Therefore, elaborate drawing can be easily performed.

As a specific configuration, as shown in FIG. 16, a pressure signal is output by a pressure converter 342 provided in the pressure converter 320, and the pressure signal is output to the holder 330 of the pen body 300 based on the pressure signal. Frequency oscillation modulation circuit 3
The point light source pulse lighting circuit 346 is controlled by 44.
On the other hand, the position detection box 53 of the digitizer device body
0, the sum output (R +
A frequency detection demodulation circuit 348 for demodulating the frequency L) is provided. In such a configuration, since the pressure converter (pressure converter 342) 320 is located on the pen body side, it is possible to perform stable pressure measurement with the same characteristics at any location,
There is an advantage that a pressure signal can be transmitted in the air only by adding a modulation / demodulation circuit.

Next, as a fifth modification, the above-described fourth embodiment will be described.
The demodulation output in the modified example of (1) is provided with a fixed threshold value (one or more), and is output as a binary (OFF / ON) switch signal, a ternary (OFF, weak, strong) switch signal, and the like. By performing a specific process, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use high-speed response switch. That is, the user operates the PAD area 510 of the digitizer apparatus body described above.
For example, when the pen body 300 is pressed strongly or weakly, the digitizer device can perform a predetermined operation. Therefore, pen input ○
Not only gesture operation input such as (maru) and × (buzz), but also selection (low pressure) or deletion (high pressure) of character symbols can be performed simply by touching the pen tip, and high-speed input operation is possible. become.

Next, as a sixth modification, the point light source and the one-dimensional angle detection device are driven by a synchronization pulse to reduce noise light and save power. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, a light emitting element 400 for synchronization is arranged at the center of each one-dimensional angle detecting device, and emits a light pulse toward a pen operation area. Further, each one-dimensional angle detection device is provided with a gate circuit that passes the output signal of the differential light receiving element 130 to the circuit side only during the light emission period of the light emitting element 400 for synchronization. On the other hand, the pen body 300 includes the light receiving element 41 for synchronization.
0 is provided to receive the pulse light from the synchronization light emitting element 400 and operate the point light sources 100A and 100B only at that time. As a result, in the one-dimensional angle detection device, the signal of the differential light receiving element 130 is output through the gate circuit only during the pulse light emission period of the light emitting element 400 for synchronization.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are timing charts showing the operation in this case. As shown in FIG. 18, intense light other than the point light sources 100A and 100B enters the differential light receiving element of the one-dimensional angle detecting device, causing an abnormal output and disrupting the loop control. By the synchronous control using the light emission pulse, the period during which the gate circuit is closed is cut off. In the case of receiving disturbing light whose periodicity is determined as in the case of fluorescent lamp illumination, as shown in FIG. 19, avoid a section where the disturbing light component of the signal of the differential light receiving element of the one-dimensional angle detecting device is large. Can be operated.

Further, since the digitizer itself detects the position of the pen body every moment, as shown in FIG.
The pulse light emission cycle speed of the synchronization light emitting element 400 can be determined in proportion to the operation speed of the pen body, and the power consumption of the light source of the pen can be reduced. In the sixth modified example as described above, it is hardly affected by disturbance light such as a flash, and can be used without much concern for a use environment. Further, since control can be performed by a duty factor proportional to the operation speed, waste of power consumption of the entire apparatus can be eliminated.

Next, as a seventh modification, the point light source of the pen body is operated at a constant period for a certain period of time, for example, 100 μsec, corresponding to the synchronizing pulse described in the sixth modification, so that a plurality of points are generated each time. The number of outputs can be obtained, noise components can be removed, and stable information can be output. FIG. 21 is a timing chart showing the operation in this case. When the above-mentioned light emission pulse of the synchronization light emitting element 400 is received by the synchronization light receiving element 410 of the pen body 300,
The point light source is turned on and off at a frequency of 100 KHz for 100 μsec. In response to this, the gate circuit of the one-dimensional angle detection device is opened and closed to perform detection in accordance with the blinking of the point light source, thereby obtaining ten detection outputs. Then, by performing an averaging process or the like on these outputs, highly reliable outputs can be obtained. In the seventh modification example described above, a highly reliable digitizer output can be obtained despite a high-speed response of, for example, 0.1 msec.

Next, as an eighth modification, in the configuration in which the light emitting element for synchronization 400 and the light receiving element for synchronization 410 are provided as described above, the output signal of the differential type light receiving element of each one-dimensional angle detecting device is obtained. Of these, the pulse width of the synchronization light emitting element 400 is determined in inverse proportion to the minimum margin, and the synchronization light receiving element 41 is determined.
By determining the light emission intensity of the point light source in proportion to the width of the light receiving pulse of 0, the light emission intensity of the point light source (current or pulse width) is reduced to the lower limit at which each one-dimensional angle detection device can receive and sufficient performance can be obtained. ) Can be automatically reduced, and a device capable of suppressing the power consumption of the point light source to a necessary minimum can be configured.

FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing the operation in this case. In the light emitting element for synchronization 400, the pulse width is determined according to the output signal of the differential light receiving element.
That is, when the level of the output signal is sufficiently large, the pulse width is set to the minimum value, and when the level of the output signal is low, the variable portion is adjusted according to the degree to increase the pulse width. On the pen body 300 side, similarly to the sixth modification, the pulse from the synchronization light emitting element 400 is detected by the synchronization light receiving element 410, and the point light source is accordingly switched to the predetermined frequency (100 μsec) for a predetermined frequency (100 μsec). It emits light at 100 KHz), and at the time of this emission, the emission intensity of the point light source is controlled according to the width of the light receiving pulse.

With the above configuration, the emission power of the point light source of the pen body can be automatically reduced to the lower limit at which the one-dimensional angle detection device can receive and sufficient performance is obtained, and the battery life of the pen is reduced. Can be extended. Although FIG. 22 shows that the intensity is determined retrospectively by the light emission pulse width of the synchronization light emitting element 400, the light emission pulse of the synchronization light emitting element 400 is actually After receiving light by the element 410, the light receiving pulse width is measured,
It is assumed that the light emission intensity of the point light source is determined according to the pulse width and is reflected in the next blinking control of the point light source.

[0048]

As described above, the present invention relates to a digitizer device including a pen body and a coordinate detecting device having a pressing surface against which a pen tip of the pen body is pressed, wherein the pen body is provided with a pen. One or more point light sources are provided at the tip, and the coordinate detection device detects the point light sources from a plurality of different angles on the pressing surface to detect the position of the pen body. It was configured to have an angle detection device. Therefore, according to the present invention, the position of the pen body can be detected with high resolution and high accuracy by the plurality of one-dimensional angle detection devices provided in the coordinate detection device, and the coordinate information can be quickly obtained, and the size can be reduced. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a digitizer device that is lightweight and can be easily configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a one-dimensional angle detection device used in a digitizer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a configuration example of the one-dimensional angle detection device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of a differential light receiving element in the one-dimensional angle detection device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the one-dimensional angle detection device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a digitizer device main body provided with the one-dimensional angle detecting device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an operable area of a pen body in the digitizer device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the resolution in the digitizer device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of triangulation used in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of point light sources and a shift of a light source image due to rotation of a pen axis in a first modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a light receiving state of a differential light receiving element according to a second modification of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing output signals of a differential light receiving element in the second modification.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing an operation in the second modified example.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of point light sources and a shift of a light source image due to rotation of a pen axis in a third modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a light receiving state of a differential light receiving element in the third modification.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing an operation in the third modification.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration according to a fourth modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement of light-emitting elements for synchronization and an arrangement of light-receiving elements for synchronization in a sixth modification of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a timing chart showing an operation in the sixth modification.

FIG. 19 is a timing chart showing an operation in the sixth modification.

FIG. 20 is a timing chart showing an operation in the sixth modification.

FIG. 21 is a timing chart showing an operation in a seventh modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing an operation according to an eighth modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 100A, 100B, 100C ... point light source, 1
10 lens system, 120 movable body, 130 differential light receiving element, 130R, 130L light receiving element, 140
...... Actuator, 150 ... Encoder, 160
…… Absolute position detection device, 300… Pen body, 310…
Pen tip, 342 pressure transducer 344 frequency oscillation modulation circuit 346 point light source pulse lighting circuit 348
…… Frequency detection / demodulation circuit, 400 …… Light emitting element for synchronization,
410: Synchronous light receiving element, 500: Digitizer device main body case, 510: PAD area, 520: LC
D screen area, 530: Position detection box section.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A digitizer device comprising: a pen body; and a coordinate detecting device having a pressing surface against which a pen tip of the pen body is pressed, wherein the pen body has a point light source at the pen tip. A digitizer device, comprising: a plurality of one-dimensional angle detection devices that detect the position of the pen body by detecting the point light source from a plurality of different angles on the pressing surface. . 2. The coordinate detecting device is disposed on a plane substantially parallel to the pressing surface and located at a height substantially corresponding to a height of the point light source in a pen axis direction, and the point light sources are different from each other. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of one-dimensional angle detecting devices that detect from the angle; and a calculating unit that calculates a coordinate position of the point light source on the plane according to a detection angle of each of the one-dimensional angle detecting devices. A digitizer according to claim 1. 3. The pen body having two different emission wavelengths on a line along a pen axis direction of a pen tip portion.
A second point light source, wherein the coordinate detecting device is disposed on a plane substantially parallel to the pressing surface and located at a height substantially corresponding to a height of the first point light source in a pen axis direction. A pair of first one-dimensional angle detectors for detecting light emission wavelength light from the first point light source from different angles, and substantially parallel to the pressing surface, in a pen axis direction of the second point light source. A pair of second one-dimensional angle detection devices arranged on a plane located at a height substantially corresponding to the height, and detecting the emission wavelength light from the second point light source from different angles, A coordinate position of a tip point of a pen point on the plane, an inclination direction of the pen axis, and / or Calculating means for calculating the inclination angle. Motomeko 1 digitizer device as claimed. 4. The coordinate detecting device, wherein the pen body includes first and second point light sources which are arranged close to each other on a line along a pen axis direction of a pen tip portion and are turned on and off alternately. Is disposed on a plane that is substantially parallel to the pressing surface and that is located at a height substantially corresponding to the height of the first and second point light sources in the pen axis direction, and that the first and second point light sources are A pair of one-dimensional angle detection devices for detecting from different angles, and inputting a detection signal from each of the one-dimensional angle detection devices in accordance with the lighting timing of the first and second point light sources; Calculating means for calculating a coordinate position of a tip point of a pen point on the plane, a tilt direction and / or a tilt angle of the pen axis in accordance with a detection angle of the first and second point light sources by a detection device. The digitizer device according to claim 1, comprising: 5. The pen body is disposed close to a surface of a pen tip portion along a pen axis direction, provided at positions that are mutually the vertices of a triangle, and is first, second, and first light-controlled. 3
The coordinate detection device has a point light source that is substantially parallel to the pressing surface and located at a height substantially corresponding to the height of the first, second, and third point light sources in the pen axis direction. And a pair of one-dimensional angle detectors that detect the first, second, and third point light sources from different angles, and in accordance with the lighting timing of the first, second, and third point light sources. A detection signal is input from each of the one-dimensional angle detection devices, and the first, second,
The coordinate position of the tip point of the pen tip on the plane, the tilt direction and / or tilt angle of the pen shaft, and the rotation direction and / or rotation angle of the pen shaft are calculated according to the detection angle of the third point light source. The digitizer according to claim 1, further comprising: a calculating unit configured to perform the calculation. 6. The one-dimensional angle detection device, comprising: a lens system that collects and forms an image of the point light source; a movable body disposed on a focal plane of the lens system; A differential light-receiving element that detects a focal position of light from a light source; and, by moving the movable body linearly within the focal plane, based on an output signal of the differential light-receiving element, An actuator for controlling a state in which the image of the point light source hits the light receiving element, an encoding unit provided on the movable body, and an absolute position detection device for detecting the position of the movable body by detecting the encoding unit. The digitizer device according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting an angle of the point light source based on detection information of the absolute position detection device and output information of the differential light receiving element. . 7. The pen body proportionally modulates a blinking frequency of the point light source according to a pressure transducer provided between a pen tip and a pen gripper and a magnitude of a pressure signal of the pressure transducer. The digitizer according to claim 6, further comprising a control circuit, wherein the coordinate detection device includes a demodulation device that extracts a modulation component from a sum signal of a differential light receiving element of the one-dimensional angle detection device. apparatus. 8. Determining the magnitude of the output of the demodulation device,
The digitizer device according to claim 7, further comprising a threshold circuit that outputs a binary or multilevel switch signal. 9. The coordinate detecting device, for the plurality of one-dimensional angle detecting devices, one synchronization light emitting element, and a periodic lighting control circuit that controls periodic lighting of the synchronization light emitting element;
A gate circuit for passing the output of the differential light-receiving element of each of the one-dimensional angle detection devices in synchronization with the lighting timing of the synchronization light-emitting element, wherein the pen body emits light of the synchronization light-emitting element. The digitizer device according to claim 1, further comprising: a synchronization light receiving element to be detected; and a lighting control circuit that controls a lighting operation of the point light source in synchronization with a signal from the synchronization light receiving element. 10. A means for opening the gate circuit for a fixed time from the time of light emission of the synchronization light emitting element, and the operation of the point light source is synchronized with a signal of the synchronization light receiving element of the pen body to open the gate circuit. 10. The digitizer according to claim 9, further comprising means for operating for a predetermined time. 11. A means for changing a lighting pulse width of the synchronization light emitting element according to a margin of a reception signal of each differential light receiving element in the plurality of one-dimensional angle detecting devices, and 11. The digitizer according to claim 10, further comprising: means for determining a light emission intensity of a point light source of the pen body in proportion to a reception pulse width. 12. The digitizer device according to claim 5, wherein said encoding unit is provided with a scale pattern on said movable body along a moving direction thereof. 13. The differential light-receiving element includes a pair of light-receiving elements arranged in parallel in parallel along a moving direction of the movable body,
6. The digitizer according to claim 5, wherein the angle of the point light source is detected according to output information of each light receiving element. 14. The digitizer device according to claim 5, wherein said actuator comprises a linear motor, and said movable body has a movable element made of a magnetic material driven by said linear motor. 15. The digitizer device according to claim 5, wherein said absolute position detection device is an imaging type absolute position detection device that images said encoding unit and detects the position of said movable body.