Pen-type input apparatus and display-input system

Provided is technology that makes it easy to select a format for inputting drawings or characters when inputting to a display apparatus such as a tablet or the like using a touch pen. A display-input system includes a tablet, and a touch pen as an input unit for the tablet. The tablet and touch pen are capable of linked operation by communicating with each other. Contents (input-format-selection screen) that are the same as a palette of the tablet are displayed on a pen-side touch panel of the touch pen so that selection is possible. A format that is selected by a user operating the pen-side touch panel is reflected on an application that is being executed by the tablet, and reflected on the application in the same way as direct operation on the tablet.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-014046 filed on Jan. 30, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a pen-type input apparatus and a display-input system; for example, relates to a pen-type input apparatus for inputting to a display apparatus such as a tablet and the like that has a touch panel, and to a display-input system that includes this kind of display apparatus and pen-type input apparatus.

As a method for inputting characters and illustrations to a display apparatus such as an electronic tablet (hereafter, referred to as simply a “tablet”) and the like, there is technology that uses a pen for electronic equipment (hereafter, referred to simply as a “touch pen”) as a pen-type input apparatus. In the input by a touch pen, technology is used that performs input after a font and font size are selected on a character-type-selection screen that is displayed on the tablet.

Technology is also proposed in which the color and thickness of character input is changed by operation using a physical portion (switch button) of the touch pen. In this typical technology, by bringing the touch pen in contact with the touch panel that is provided on the display apparatus, the pen tip is physically recognized and the line thickness is switched.

SUMMARY

The technology according to the present disclosure is pen-type input apparatus that performs input to a touch-panel-type display apparatus and includes a communication unit and a touch panel. The communication unit performs communication with the touch-panel-type display apparatus. The touch panel performs linked operation by communicating with the touch-panel-type display apparatus.

The technology according to the present disclosure is a display-input system that includes a touch-panel-type display apparatus and a pen-type input apparatus that performs input to the touch-panel-type display apparatus. The pen-type input apparatus includes a pen-side communication unit and a pen-side touch panel. The pen-side communication unit performs communication with the touch-panel-type display apparatus. The pen-side touch panel performs linked operation by communicating with the touch-panel-type display apparatus. The touch-panel-type display apparatus includes a display-apparatus-side communication unit that performs communication with the pen-type input apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, a form for embodying the technology according to the present disclosure (hereafter, referred to as an “embodiment”) will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a display-input system. The display-input system10includes a tablet20and a touch pen30as the input unit. The tablet20and the touch pen30are capable of linked operation by a communication unit described later.

The tablet20includes a display unit having a touch function that is a tablet-side input IF (hereafter, referred to as the “tablet-side touch panel22”), and input by touch operation is possible. As illustrated inFIG. 1, in applications that are executed on the tablet20, a palette F10that specifies the input format is displayed in an upper area on the screen of the tablet-side touch panel22. Here, a line type selection area F11and line color selection area F12are provided in the palette F10.

The touch pen30is a battery-driven self-static-generating pen, and has a liquid-crystal-display unit with a touch function that functions as a pen-operation-display unit (hereafter, referred to as the “pen-side touch panel32”). It is possible for a user to use a finger for input of the tablet20, however, by operating the pen tip41of this touch pen30to contact the tablet-side touch panel22, it is possible to perform fine input in drawing and the like.

In typical input format specification, specification of a desired input format is performed by performing a touch operation of a desired area of the palette F10using a finger or touch pen30. In this embodiment, the same input format specification can be performed using the touch pen30. In other words, the same contents (input-format-selection screen) as the palette F10of the tablet20can be displayed on the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30so that selection is possible. The format that is selected by the user operating the pen-side touch panel32is reflected on the application that is executed on the tablet20in the same way as when operation is performed directly on the tablet20.

FIG. 2AandFIG. 2Bare enlarged diagrams illustrating the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30.FIG. 2Aillustrates an example in which a line-width-selection screen D11is displayed on the pen-side touch panel32. Line widths are displayed on the line-width-selection screen D11in a display state that is the same (or similar) to the line-type-selection area F11of the tablet-side touch panel22so that a desired line width can be selected. Here, a state is illustrated in which a line width of “0.4 mm” is selected.FIG. 2Billustrates an example in which a liner-color-selection screen D12is displayed on the pen-side touch panel32. Line colors are displayed on the line-color-selection screen D12in a display state that is the same (or similar) to the line-color-selection area F12of the tablet-side touch panel22so that a desired line color can be selected.

The user displays a desired input-format-selection screen (line-width-selection screen D11or line-color-selection screen D12) by performing a swipe operation or the like on the pen-side touch panel32, and by selecting a desired item from the displayed selection screen with a tap or the like, and sets the input format such as the line width, line color, line type, font and the like. On the pen-side touch panel32it is possible to enlarge or reduce the size of the display contents by an operation such as a pinch in, pinch out or the like.

FIG. 3AtoFIG. 4Bare diagrams illustrating linked operation of the tablet and touch pen.FIG. 3AandFIG. 3Billustrate a state before specifying the input format by the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30, whereFIG. 3Aillustrates the display state of the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30, andFIG. 3Billustrates the display state of the tablet20.

The line-width-selection screen D11is displayed on the pen-side touch panel32, and is a state in which the third line width from the top of “0.4 mm” is selected. It is also a state in which the third line width from the top in the line-type-selection area F11of the tablet-side touch panel22is selected. After this, the user's hand H1touches the very bottom line width of “1.5 mm”.

FIG. 4AandFIG. 4Billustrate the state after specifying the input format by the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30, whereFIG. 4Aillustrates the display state of the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30, andFIG. 4Billustrates the display state of the tablet20.

When the user's hand H1touches and selects the very bottom line width of “1.5 mm” that is displayed on the line-width-selection screen D11, the state of the line-width-selection area F11of the tablet20is linked operation with that selection and transitions to a state in which the very bottom line width is selected.

The detailed configuration for executing the processing described above will be explained.FIG. 5is a functional block diagram of the tablet20. Here, the linked operation with the touch pen30is focused on and illustrated, and explanations of typical tablet functions are omitted as appropriate.

The tablet-control unit21comprehensively controls each of the components of the tablet20. The tablet-side touch panel22is a panel in which a touch function and liquid-crystal display function are integrally configured. The proximity sensor23is arranged, for example, in the frame portion, and detects the proximity of the user's body and the proximity of an object such as the touch pen30and the like.

The tablet-side-communication unit25includes a first tablet-side-communication unit26and a second tablet-side-communication unit27. The first tablet-side-communication26performs communication with the first pen-side-communication unit36(refer toFIG. 6) of the touch pen30according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like. The second tablet-side-communication unit27performs communication with the second pen-side-communication unit37(refer toFIG. 6) of the touch pen30according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as NFC (Near Field Communication) or the like. In other words, communication between the second tablet-side-communication unit27and the second pen-side-communication unit37is set so that communication becomes possible when the tablet20and the touch pen30are separated by a very close distance, for example, a distance of about several cm to tens of cm.

The pen-linking unit28(pen-linking-control unit), by communicating with the touch pen30using the tablet-side-communication unit25, executes and controls linked operation with the touch pen30. The detailed operation of the pen-linking unit28will be described later.

FIG. 6is a functional block diagram of the touch pen30. Here, the linked operation with the tablet20is focused on and illustrated, and explanations of typical pen functions are omitted as appropriate.

The touch pen30includes a pen-control unit31, a pen-side touch panel32, a pressure sensor33(physical switch), a posture sensor34, a pen-side-communication unit35, and an application-linking unit38.

The pen-control unit31comprehensively controls each of the components of the touch pen30. The pen-side touch panel32is a panel in which a touch function and liquid-crystal display function are integrally configured.

The pressure sensor33, for example, is s switch that is arranged in (or near) the grip portion. The user activates the pen-side touch panel32by grasping and pressing this pressure sensor33. Moreover, when the user presses the pressure sensor33when the pen-side touch panel32is in an activated state, the pen-side touch panel32is switched to a stopped state. Furthermore, plural pressure sensors33may be arranged, and depending on the pressed state, the operated functions differ. For example, when activating the pen-side touch panel32, there is a setting of simultaneously pressing two pressure sensors.

The posture sensor34detects the movement and posture of the touch pen30by detecting the three-dimensional posture angle, and the acceleration in three-dimensional directions. For example, based on the detection results by the posture sensor34, the application-linking unit38described later is able to determine whether or not the touch pen30is in a state of being used.

When a similar posture sensor is mounted in the tablet20, it is possible to determine the operating state in more detail from the information from that posture sensor and from the information from the proximity sensor23of the tablet20and the posture sensor34of the touch pen30. For example, when the angle between the tablet20and the touch pen30is in the range 90°±α, and the distance between the tablet20and the touch pen30is shortened, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that pen input will start. In other words, it is possible to determine with good accuracy the activating and stopping operation of the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30, and whether or not to display the line-selection area F11on the tablet20.

The pen-side-communication unit35includes a first pen-side-communication unit36and a second pen-side-communication unit37. The first pen-side-communication unit36performs communication with the first tablet-side-communication unit26of the tablet20according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like. The second pen-side-communication unit37performs communication with the second tablet-side-communication unit27of the tablet20according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as NFC or the like.

The application-linking unit38(application-linking-control unit) performs linked operation with an application that is executed by the tablet20, and controls the operation of the tablet-side touch panel22and communication with the tablet20. The operation of the application-linking unit38will be summarized and explained below.

In the following, the operation of the pen-linking unit28and the application-linking unit38will be summarized and explained. As the operation at the time of activating or stopping the tablet-side touch panel22, the application-linking unit38, as described above, detects when the pressure sensor33that is provided in the grip portion is pressed, and activates or stops the tablet-side touch panel22.

After the tablet-side touch panel22is activated, the application-linking unit38communicates with the tablet20using the first pen-side-communication unit36, and determines whether or not an application that is linked operation with the touch pen30is being executed by the tablet. In other words, the application-linking unit38determines whether or not the touch pen30is in a state of being able to execute a function for performing input format specification (line width, line color, line type and the like) in the application of the tablet20. When the touch pen30is in such an executable state, the application-linking unit38displays an input format specification screen on the pen-side touch panel32.

The pen-linking unit28of the tablet20, by communicating with the touch pen30, grasps the operating state of the touch pen30, or in other words the display state or the like of the pen-side touch panel32. When the input-format-selection screen (line-width-selection screen D11, line-color-selection screen D12) is displayed on the touch panel32of the touch pen30, the pen-linking unit28does not need to cause the palette F10that is displayed on the tablet-side touch panel22to be displayed. This is because the pen-side touch panel32of the touch pen30is in a state in which it is possible to change the line width, line color, line type and the like. As a result, the actual area of the tablet-side touch panel22in which input is possible is enlarged.

When a specified area such as the upper right corner of the tablet-side touch panel22is touched when the palette F10is in a no-display state, the display state of the palette F10may be restored. Moreover, restoring the display state may also be specified by a specific operation of the pressure sensor33or the like of the touch pen30.

When input using the touch pen30is detected, or when it is possible to determine that the distance between the tablet20and touch pen30is close, the pen-linking unit28of the tablet20may set the state to a locked state in which specification of the input format on the pen-side touch panel32is prohibited. This makes it possible to avoid erroneous operation of the pen-side touch panel32when there is a high possibility of a state during pen input (during an input operation of bringing the pen tip41of the touch pen30in contact with the tablet-side touch panel22or the like), or when coming close in order to perform input.

A close distance between the tablet20and the touch pen30can be determined by NFC communication between the second tablet-side-communication unit27and second pen-side-communication unit37. Moreover, the distance when prohibiting specification of the input format can be adjusted by the signal strength during NFC communication. Furthermore, control for maintaining a locked state for a specified time after the end of pen input, for example, 3 seconds, is also possible.

Moreover, the application-linking unit38is also able to detect the start and end of pen input from the detection results of the posture sensor34; and during pen input, the application-linking unit38is able perform control of moving the power supply to the pen-side touch panel32to an power-saving state, and when pen input ends, moving to the normal power state.

Furthermore, when the amount of charge of the battery of the touch pen30is below a specified amount in a state in which the palette F10is not displayed on the tablet-side touch panel22of the tablet20, the application-linking unit38may move to a power-saving state that lowers the brightness of the pen-side touch panel32, or to a no-display state. In this case, the pen-linking unit28of the tablet20causes the palette F10to be displayed on the tablet-side touch panel22of the tablet20.

The present disclosure was explained above based on an embodiment. This embodiment is an example, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications are possible for the combinations of each of the components, and that the modifications are also within the range of the present disclosure. For example, a tablet was presented as an example of a display apparatus that receives input from a touch pen30, however, the embodiment is not limited to this, and, for example, the display apparatus may be a display apparatus having a touch panel, such as a smart phone, PC with a keyboard, and the like.

Incidentally, a desired character type is selected from among many character types on the character-type-selection screen that is displayed on the tablet, so there is a problem of this being troublesome. Moreover, in typical technology described above, by bringing the touch pen in contact with the touch panel that is provided on a display apparatus, the pen tip is physically recognized, and the thickness of the line is switched, however, operation of a physical portion is used, so there is a problem in that the number of selected items is limited.

With the technology according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide technology in which it is easier to specify the format and the like when inputting to a display apparatus such as a tablet or the like that uses a pen-type input apparatus.