JPH0659801A - Digitizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the small sized digitizer capable of receiving a large sized picture such as a picture of A2 size without deterioration in its resolution. CONSTITUTION:The digitizer is a device using a cursor 2 to point out an optional position in a table and converting the position into a coordinate, and is provided with a coordinate detection means 22 detecting a relative position between the tablet and the cursor 2 and converting the position into a coordinate, changeover means 4a-4d selecting a digitizing range on the tablet and an arithmetic means 19 adding/subtracting a prescribed offset to/from the coordinate detected by the coordinate detection means 22 with a signal from the changeover means 4a-4d.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digitizer for converting arbitrary positions on a screen into digitized coordinate values.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as digitizer types, there are a gantry type having a link mechanism linked to a cursor, an automatic tracking type having an optical sensor, a free cursor type, and the like. The free cursor type consists of a tablet on which the original image is placed and a cursor that specifies the coordinates. The electric field and magnetic field generated from the cursor are detected to detect the coordinate values.

Usually, in order to use a digitizer, the output range of the digitizer is first adjusted to the input range of the computer. As a result, the maximum value of the data in the X and Y directions of the digitizer is set to the size of the computer screen.

In this digitizer, a large original image such as A2 size may be input. In such a case, a digitizer having a size larger than A2 is used, or the original image is reduced and input.

[0005]

However, in the above prior art, when the diagonal line of the original image of A2 is written,
It is necessary to move the cursor by about 730 mm,
Since the A2 size digitizer is large, there are restrictions on the work space and installation location. Further, when the original image is reduced, there is a problem that the resolution is reduced.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the problems existing in such a conventional technique, and the object thereof is a small digitizer capable of inputting a large image such as A2. Moreover, it is to provide a digitizer which does not deteriorate the resolution.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a digitizer for converting a coordinate value by designating an arbitrary position on a tablet with a cursor.
Coordinate value detecting means for detecting coordinate values from the relative position of the tablet and cursor, switching means for switching the digitizing range on the tablet, and coordinate value detected by the coordinate value detecting means by a signal from the switching means. It is the gist of the present invention to have a calculating means for adjusting a predetermined offset amount.

[0008]

With the above structure, the position of the cursor is converted into the coordinate value by the coordinate value detecting means. At this time, when the switching means for switching the digitizing range is operated, the arithmetic means adjusts the coordinate value detected by the detecting means by an offset amount corresponding to the switching of the switching means. This offset amount virtually expands the digitizing range.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the free-cursor digitizer is a rectangular flat tablet 1.
And a cursor 2 connected to the end of the tablet 1. An original image Y is placed in the center of the tablet 1, and an A4 size digitizing area 3 for inputting a position is set, and changeover switches 4a to 4d, which are switching means for moving the digitizing range, are arranged on the periphery thereof. Has been done. This switch is composed of plus and minus changeover switches 4a and 4b in the Y direction, plus and minus changeover switches 4c and 4d in the X direction, and a release switch 5. The plus changeover switch 4a in the Y direction is the minus changeover switch 4
The plus changeover switch 4c in the X direction is released by the operation of the minus changeover switch 4d by the operation of b. Further, since these switches are touched by hand during use, a lock switch 6 is provided, and only when the lock switch 6 is pressed at the same time, the changeover switch 4a is provided.
~ 4d is working. A detection line 22 as a detection means is arranged on one surface inside the tablet 1, a signal generated by the cursor 2 is received, and its coordinate value is calculated by the CPU 19 which is also a calculation means arranged inside. .

The housing 7 of the cursor 2 has a shape that can be easily accommodated in the hand of the user, and a push button switch 8 for control is arranged on the upper surface thereof. On the other hand, a cloth is attached to the bottom surface of the cursor 2 so as to easily slide on the surface of the tablet 1. A transparent acrylic plate 9 is projectingly provided at the tip of the cursor 2, and an annular electrode 10 is embedded in the upper surface thereof. Two lines orthogonal to each other are engraved on the acrylic plate 9 as cross hairs 11. The intersection is superposed on the center of the annular electrode 10 and serves as a reference point for inputting coordinates.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digitizer includes a computer 13 having a display monitor 12 and an RS2.
Computer 1 connected via a 32C cable 14
3 is used as an input device. The monitor 12 displays coordinate values indicating the position of the cursor 2 relative to the tablet 1 and cursor dots that are controlled to move by the position of the cursor 2.

Next, the circuit configuration of a portion related to the digitizer switching control will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 19 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 20 in which a program for controlling the operation of the entire device is stored, and a RAM (Random) in which data during calculation is temporarily stored. An access memory) 21 is connected. Further, signals from the detection line 22 for detecting the position of the cursor 2, the changeover switches 4a to 4c, the release switch 5 and the lock switch 6 are input to the CPU 19. On the other hand, a communication circuit 23 for transmitting the calculated coordinate value to the computer 13 is connected as an output.

Next, the operation of the digitizer configured as described above will be described. For example, when inputting an A2 size original image Y, first, the portion (a) of the original image Y is placed in the digitizing area 3 of the digitizer. At this time,
The lower left corner of the original image Y is aligned with the lower left corner of the digitizing area 3. The origin O is set at the lower left of the digitizing area 3 when the power is turned on or after the release switch 5 is operated. If the position requiring reading is in the digitizing area 3, the center of the crosshair 11 at the tip of the cursor 2
Abut on that position and click the operation switch 8.
The signal generated by the cursor 2 is received by the detection line 22 in the digitizing area 3 and the coordinate value is calculated by the CPU. At this time, since the changeover switches 4a to 4d are not pressed, no offset is added. These coordinate values are sent to the computer 13 via the RS232C cable 14 and the monitor 1
It is displayed in 2.

Next, the position requiring reading is the original image Y.
(B), the upper left end of the original image Y is aligned with the upper left end of the digitizing area 3 and the plus switch 4c in the X direction is pressed to operate. The cursor 2 is brought into contact with the required position, and the coordinate values are similarly read. The read coordinate values are corrected by the CPU 19. That is, the operation of the plus switch 4c in the X direction adds the offset amount in the X direction to the read coordinate value, and the result is transmitted to the computer 13.

Then, when reading the portion (c),
Further, the plus switch 4a in the Y direction is pressed to read the coordinate value. Then, when the portion (d) is read, the minus switch 4d in the X direction is pressed. In the series of read operations, the CPU 19 selects the changeover switch 4 at that time.
Detecting a to 4c, the offset amount is added to or subtracted from each read coordinate value to correct the coordinate value. When returning to the original portion (a), the release switch 5 is pressed and the cursor 2 is operated. When pressing the changeover switches 4a to 4c, the lock switch 6 is pressed at the same time. This operation prevents the switches 4a to 4c from being operated by mistake.

Next, the procedure for setting coordinate values will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart proceeds under the control of the CPU 19 by the program in the ROM 20.

When the power is turned on, the CPU 19 detects the click operation of the cursor 2 (step S1).
When the cursor 2 is clicked, the coordinate value of the cursor 2 is read (step S2). After that, the signals of the changeover switches 4a to 4d are read (steps S3 to S).
5) The offset amount is added to the read coordinate value depending on the state of each switch (steps S6 to S).
9). That is, X plus direction changeover switch 4c and Y
If the plus direction changeover switch 4a is ON, the offset amount is added to each of the X and Y coordinates read by the cursor 2 (step S6). If only the X plus direction changeover switch 4c is ON, the offset amount is added to the X coordinate (step S7), and if only the Y plus direction changeover switch 4a is ON, the offset amount is added to the Y coordinate (step S8). If both the X plus direction changeover switch 4c and the Y plus direction changeover switch 4a are OFF, the read coordinate values are not corrected and are not corrected (step S9). Subsequently, the corrected coordinate value is sent from the communication circuit 23 to the computer 13 as a serial signal.
(Step S10).

As described above, in the digitizer of this embodiment, since the changeover switches 4a to 4c are provided and the digitizing range can be switched and moved, a large original image Y can be input even in the digitizing area 3 having a small size and the resolution can be improved. Can be improved. Also, cursor 2
It is possible to improve the operability by reducing the amount of moving.

[0019]

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the same components as those of the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings and will not be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, changeover switches 16a to 16d, which are changeover means, are centrally arranged at the center of the cursor 15. The switches 16a to 16d are composed of positive and negative changeover switches 16a and 16b in the Y direction and positive and negative changeover switches 16c and 16d in the X direction. In addition, the selection switch 1 is provided at the tip of the cursor 15.
7 and a cancel switch 18 are provided.

As described above, since all the operation switches are provided on the cursor 15, the switches can be easily operated with the movement of the cursor 15. In addition, the switch is not operated when it is not necessary, and a malfunction can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and may be embodied by being arbitrarily modified within the scope not departing from the spirit of the present invention, for example, as shown below. Is.

(1) Instead of providing the lock switch 6, the spring force of the changeover switches 4a to 4d is set to be strong so as to prevent malfunction. (2) Instead of arranging the changeover switches 4a to 4d on the periphery of the digitizing area 3, the changeover switches 4a to 4d should be collected and operated at one place. Also, in order to know where the digitizing range is currently set, the changeover switches 4a to 4d are set to L.
Built-in ED etc. lights up and displays digitizing range.

(3) The method of using the changeover switches 4a to 4d is changed to accommodate A2 size or larger sheets.

[0025]

According to the present invention, since the digitizing range is switched by the switching means, it is possible to handle a large digitizing area while improving the resolution while setting the size of the digitizer as small as possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a digitizer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a connected state of the digitizer.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing switching of a digitizing range of a digitizer.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a portion related to digitizer switching control.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting coordinates of the digitizer.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the digitizer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tablet, 2 cursors, 4a to 4c changeover switch, 19 CPU as arithmetic means, 22 detection line as coordinate position detecting means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A digitizer for pointing a desired position on a tablet with a cursor and converting it into coordinate values, wherein a coordinate value detecting means for detecting a coordinate value from a relative position of the tablet and the cursor, and a digitizing range on the tablet are provided. A digitizer comprising: switching means for switching; and computing means for adding or subtracting a predetermined offset amount to the coordinate value detected by the coordinate value detecting means by a signal from the switching means.