JPH06149461A - Pen input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a pen input device having responsiveness to a movement of a pen type input means without increasing a load of a data processing means for performing data processing. [Structure] An input means including a tablet 1 and a pen-type input means 2, a sampling control means 3 for detecting a coordinate position of the pen-type input means 2 on the tablet 1 and storing it as position data in a buffer 4, and the sampling control. Means 3
Interrupting the sampling process, confirming the contents stored in the buffer 4 and transmitting an interrupt signal, and the interrupt processing means, the data processing means 10 and the moving distance detecting means 7 are activated. The interrupt processing means, the data processing means 10 for performing data processing for drawing based on the position data stored in the buffer 4, and the pen type input means 2 based on the contents stored in the buffer 4.
A pen input device having a moving distance detecting means 7 for detecting the moving distance on the tablet 1 and a sampling interval / interrupt interval determining means 9 for determining a new sampling interval and interrupt interval.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pen input device for moving pen-type input means on a tablet, processing coordinate data of the pen-type input means, and drawing a locus or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyboard, a mouse or the like has been used as an input means for inputting data to a data processing means. In recent years, however, pen-type input means and tablet means have been used in place of these input means, and more recently, in order to improve user friendliness, tablet means and flat-panel displays have been integrated. , A technique has been constructed to make the user's input operation more like the feeling of using paper and pencil.

An example of a conventional pen input device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional pen input device. In FIG. 5, 41 is a tablet, 42 is a pen type input means, and 43 is a sampling means for sampling the position data on the tablet of the pen type input means. Reference numeral 44 is an interrupting means for generating an interrupt signal when data is sampled by the sampling means. An interrupt processing means 45 receives an interrupt signal and activates means for processing the sampling data. Reference numeral 46 is a data processing means, which draws a locus or the like of the pen type input means on the display means 47.

The operation of the pen input means constructed as described above will be described below. First, the sampling means 43 scans the surface of the tablet 41 at a constant cycle, and when the pen-type input means 42 approaches or contacts the surface of the tablet 41, the position is detected and position data of the pen-type input means is detected. obtain. When the sampling means 43 obtains the data in this way, the interrupt means 44 issues an interrupt signal and sends an interrupt instruction to the interrupt processing means 45. The interrupt processing means 45 processes the position data by activating the data processing means 46, and draws the locus of the input means as a processing result on the display means 47.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned pen type input means, the sampling interval is fixed. Therefore, when the pen type input means is moved at high speed, there is a problem that sampling cannot catch up. In addition, if the sampling interval is shortened so that the pen input device can be moved at high speed, an interrupt signal is output in synchronization with the sampling, so that the number of activations of the data processing means increases and the There was a problem of increasing the load of.

Further, when the moving speed of the pen input device is slow, since sampling is performed at a predetermined interval, data is generated by sampling even when the pen input device is not moving. There is also a problem that the data processing means must be processed, which increases the load on the data processing means. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a pen input device having a responsiveness to the movement of the pen type input means without increasing the load of the data processing means for performing data processing. The purpose is to

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 comprises a tablet and a pen-type input means, and input means for inputting data and coordinates of the pen-type input means on the tablet. Pen-type input from the sampling means that detects the position and stores it in the buffer as position data, which performs sampling processing, the latest position data at the time of sampling stored in the buffer, and the coordinates at the previous sampling time. The moving distance calculating means for calculating the moving distance of the means on the tablet, the data processing means for performing the data processing for drawing based on the position data stored in the buffer, and the sampling processing of the sampling means. An interrupt means for generating an interrupt and activating the moving distance calculating means and the data processing means, and a previous interrupt The sampling interval changing unit that determines the sampling interval by comparing the moving distance obtained in step 1 with the moving distance calculated at this interrupt, and the interrupt interval performed by the interrupting unit with reference to the newly set sampling interval. And an interrupt interval changing means for determining.

Further, the invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the interrupt interval changing means has an upper limit value of the interrupt interval and determines an interrupt interval not less than the lower limit value.

[0009]

According to the pen input device of the first aspect, the input means comprises a tablet and a pen-type input means for inputting data. The sampling means detects the coordinate position of the pen-type input means on the tablet and stores it as position data in the buffer to perform sampling processing.

The moving distance calculating means calculates the moving distance of the pen type input means on the tablet from the latest sampling position data stored in the buffer and the coordinates at the immediately previous sampling. The data processing means performs data processing for drawing based on the position data stored in the buffer.

The interrupting means interrupts the sampling process of the sampling means and activates the moving distance calculating means and the data processing means. The sampling interval changing means determines the sampling interval by comparing the moving distance obtained at the previous interruption with the moving distance calculated at the present interruption. Interrupt interval changing means, referring to the newly set sampling interval,
Determines the interrupt interval performed by the interrupt means.

Further, according to the pen input device of the second aspect, the interrupt interval changing means has the lower limit value of the interrupt interval and determines the interrupt interval which is not less than the lower limit value.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A pen input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pen input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a tablet, which is a pen type input means 2 described later.
Data is input in combination with.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a pen type input means for inputting data in combination with the tablet 1.
Specifically, data is input by approaching or contacting the surface of the tablet 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a sampling control means, which is a cycle determined by a sampling interval / interruption interval determining means 9 which will be described later. Sampling processing for sampling the coordinate position of the pen-type input means 2 on the tablet 1 and storing it in the buffer 4 as position data is performed. It is something to do.

A buffer 4 temporarily stores the position data of the pen input means sampled by the sampling control means 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes an interrupt control means, which interrupts the sampling process at a cycle determined by a sampling interval / interrupt interval determination means 9 which will be described later, confirms whether or not there is sampled position data in the buffer 4, and when it exists, An interrupt signal is transmitted to the interrupt processing means 6.

Reference numeral 6 is an interrupt processing means, which activates a data processing means 10 and a moving distance detecting means 7 which will be described later when receiving an interrupt signal. Reference numeral 7 denotes a moving distance detecting means, which detects the moving distance from the latest position data and the previous position data, and outputs it to a temporary storage means 8 described later. Reference numeral 8 is a temporary storage means, which is a moving distance detecting means 7
The moving distance detected by is stored.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a sampling interval / interruption interval determining means, which determines a new sampling interval using the moving distance stored in the temporary storage means 8 and further determines the newly determined sampling interval and the current sampling interval. The sampling interval and the specified interrupt interval are used to determine a new interrupt interval. The specified interrupt interval is the shortest interrupt interval set in advance because the interrupt interval does not become shorter than a certain value.

Reference numeral 10 is a data processing means, which processes the sampled position data of the pen type input means 2. Reference numeral 11 is a display means, which is the data processing means 1
The processing result of 0 is displayed, and specifically, a flat panel display or the like is used. The operation of the pen input device configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the pen input device is activated, first, interrupt permission is performed (S1), and when an interrupt occurs while the main flow process is being performed, that process is executed. Set to do. Then, the sampling interval / interruption interval determining means 9 gives a sampling cycle and gives a sampling instruction (S2). When a sampling instruction is given, the sampling control means 3 scans the position of the pen type input means 2 with respect to the tablet 1 at the cycle determined by the sampling interval / interruption interval determining means 9. When the pen type input unit 2 approaches or contacts the tablet 1, the sampling unit samples the coordinate position and stores the position coordinate in the buffer 4 as position data (S).
3).

On the other hand, the interrupt control means 5, as shown in FIG. 3, interrupts the sampling process at the cycle determined by the sampling interval / interrupt interval determining means 9,
First, the buffer 4 is inspected to confirm whether or not the position data exists (S21). If not, the process returns to the sampling process that was being performed when the interrupt means interrupted.

In some cases, the interrupt control means 5 sends an interrupt signal to the interrupt processing means 6, and the interrupt processing means 6 receiving the interrupt signal causes the moving distance detecting means 7 to operate.
Then, the data processing means 10 is activated, and the sampling interval / interrupt interval determination process is first performed (S22). Figure 4
As shown in FIG. 3, the moving distance detecting means 7 activated by the interrupt processing means 6 detects the moving distance of the pen type input means 2 from the latest position data and the previous position data (S3).
1), the moving distance is stored in the temporary storage means 8 (S3)
2). The sampling interval / interruption interval determining means 9 is
In order to determine the sampling interval, first, the moving distance previously detected by the moving distance detecting means 7 is compared with the latest detected moving distance (S33).

If the latest detected moving distance is longer than the previously detected moving distance, the sampling interval is shortened according to the increased distance (S34). Conversely, if the moving distance is short, the sampling distance is decreased. Then, the sampling interval is lengthened (S35), and a new sampling interval is determined. When the new sampling interval is determined, the sampling interval / interrupt interval determining means 9 next determines the interrupt interval.

First, the sampling interval / interruption interval determining means 9 compares the new sampling interval with the current sampling interval (S36). If the new sampling interval is shorter than the current sampling interval, the interrupt interval is set shorter than the current cycle (S37). Next, it is determined whether this interrupt interval is smaller than the specified interrupt interval (S38). If it is long, the current interrupt interval is set as the new interrupt interval, and if it is short, the new interrupt interval is set to the preset specified interrupt interval (S39).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S36 that the new sampling interval is longer than the current sampling interval, the interrupt interval is made longer than the current cycle (S40). The sampling interval and interrupt interval thus determined are
The sampling control means 3 and the interrupt control means 5 are notified, and the next sampling cycle and interrupt cycle are performed at the determined cycle. The interrupt interval is always determined to be longer than the sampling interval.

When the sampling interval and the interrupt interval are respectively determined in this way, the data processing means 10
The sampled position data of the pen-type input means 2 is processed, and the data processing result is displayed on the display means 11 (S23). In the above embodiment, when the sampling interval is determined, when the sampling interval is shortened, the sampling control unit 3 changes the sampling interval to the shortest sampling interval that can be changed so as to cope with abrupt movement. When increasing the length, the length may be gradually increased until the longest sampling interval is reached.

Further, when determining the interrupt interval, the new sampling interval and the current sampling interval were compared in the above embodiment, but the specified sampling interval is set in advance and the specified sampling interval and the new sampling interval are set. The sampling intervals are compared. If the new sampling interval is shorter than the specified sample, the specified interrupt interval is set as the new interrupt interval, and if it is longer, the interrupt interval may be set longer than the specified interrupt interval according to the length. it can.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the sampling interval is determined based on the moving distance of the pen type input means, it is possible to perform sampling according to the moving speed of the pen type input means. , It is possible to prevent missing of position data and unnecessary sampling of position data.

The activation of the data processing means is not performed in synchronization with the sampling of the position data, and the interval at which the data processing means is activated does not become shorter than a certain value, so that the sampling cycle is shortened. However, there is an effect that the load on the data processing means does not increase.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pen input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a sampling process.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing interrupt processing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a sampling interval / interrupt interval determination process.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional pen input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 tablet 2 pen type input device 3 buffer 4 interrupt control means 7 sampling interval / interrupt interval determining means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A tablet and a pen type input means,
Sampling means that performs sampling processing that detects the coordinate position of the pen-type input means on the tablet and stores it as position data in the buffer, and the latest sampling time stored in the buffer For the drawing based on the position data stored in the buffer, and the movement distance calculation means for calculating the movement distance of the pen-type input means on the tablet from the position data of Data processing means for performing the data processing of 1., interruption means for generating an interruption to the sampling processing of the sampling means and activating the movement distance calculation means and the data processing means, and the movement distance obtained at the time of the last interruption. A sample that determines the sampling interval by comparing the movement distance calculated at the time of this interruption A ring distance changing means, the newly set sampling interval to send the interrupt means pen input apparatus characterized by having the interrupt interval changing means for determining an interrupt interval of the. 2. The pen input device according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt interval changing unit has an upper limit value of an interrupt interval and determines an interrupt interval not less than the lower limit value.