Patent ID: 6836267
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
A coordinate input device outputting information to an external device, the coordinate input device comprising:a coordinate detecting part detecting a position of a touch on an operation surface, as coordinate information, so as to generate a signal corresponding to the coordinate information of said position to be used by the external device; and a holding part having an opening and being capable of holding an inscribable sheet-like material on said operation surface, said sheet-like material being accessible through said opening, wherein by producing said touch on said operation surface, the signal corresponding to said coordinate information is generated while preserving inscribed marks corresponding to the touch on the operation surface on said inscribable sheet-like material; a detecting mechanism detecting whether or not said sheet-like material is placed on said operation surface; and a control part switching processing modes of said coordinate information in response to a result of detection by said detecting mechanism, wherein, if said detecting mechanism detects that said sheet-like material is not present on said operation surface, said control part operates in a relative value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as a relative value, and, if said detecting mechanism detects that said sheet-like material is present on said operation surface, said control part operates in an absolute value mode in which the coordinate information is recognized as an absolute value such that the coordinate input device selectively outputs information according to one of the relative value mode and the absolute value mode.