Digitizer

Abstract: In this digitizer, when the coil of the position indicator is placed near a plurality of conductors of the tablet, an oscillator arrangement is formed through the amplifier, and a position indicated by the position indicator is determined by detecting magnetic fields generated by the position indicator when the oscillator arrangement oscillates. In addition, when the position indicator is placed near the tablet, an oscillator arrangement is constituted by the position indicator and two conductors of the tablet at a timing at which the position of the position indicator is measured.

Description: Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a digitizer constituted by a tablet and a position indicator and designed to detect a position indicated by a position indicator placed on the tablet. In conventional digitizers, especially a cordless digitizer in which the tablet and the position indicator are not connected by wire lines, an oscillator, a first loop coil group, constituted by a plurality of loop coils insulated from each other, and a second loop coil group which is perpendicular to the first loop coil group, are arranged on the tablet side, and a coil is arranged on the position indicator side. An example of such a conventional digitizer can be found in EP-A-0 360 624. A position or the like indicated by the position indicator placed on the tablet is detected as follows. Frequencies corresponding to the respective resonance frequencies (to be described later) of the position indicator are selected. Drive currents of the selected frequencies are sequentially supplied from the oscillator to the first loop coil group to sequentially generate magnetic fields from the first loop coil group, thus causing electromagnetic coupling between the first loop coil group and the coil of the position indicator. The indicated position is then detected on the basis of the values of induced voltages generated in the second loop coil group by this electromagnetic coupling. More specifically, the position indicator includes a plurality of capacitors and switches in addition to the above-mentioned coil. One of the capacitors is connected in parallel with the coil to constitute a resonance circuit, while a plurality of parallel pairs of the switches and the capacitors are connected in series with the coil of the resonance circuit. In the position indicator, therefore, when the respective switches are depressed, resonance circuits having different resonance frequencies are formed. On the tablet side, the respective resonance frequencies of the position indicator are detected to check which switch is depressed. That is, in the tablet, frequencies corresponding to the respective resonance frequencies are selected, and drive currents of the selected frequencies are sequentially supplied from the oscillator to the first loop coil group, thus detecting the values of induced voltages generated in the second loop coil group. Whether any one of the switches is depressed or which switch is depressed is checked on the basis of the frequency of a drive current supplied when a predetermined induced voltage value is detected. If a predetermined voltage value is not detected, a detecting operation of sequentially selecting frequencies corresponding to the respective resonance frequencies and supplying drive currents of the selected frequencies to the first loop coil group is repeatedly performed until the predetermined induced voltage value is detected. When switch depression information associated with the position indicator is to be detected on the tablet side, a drive current of a reference frequency is applied from the tablet to the first loop coil group. The switch depression information can be detected on the basis of the difference between the phase of the drive voltage and that of an inducted voltage generated in the second loop coil group. In addition, the above-described position indicator may be formed into a pen-like shape so that various input operations can be performed by using the position indicator like a pen. In this case, the capacitor connected in parallel with the coil of the position indicator is of a variable capacitance type. This variable capacitor changes its capacitance in accordance with the pressing force (writing pressure) of the pen-like position indicator with respect to the tablet. A digitizer of this type, therefore, detects not only an indicated position but also the writing pressure of the pen-like position indicator with respect to the tablet. In some digitizers, the above-described oscillator is arranged on the position indicator side. In this arrangement, the coil of the position indicator is oscillated at a predetermined frequency by the oscillator, and magnetic fields generated by this oscillation of the coil are detected as induced voltages generated in the first and second loop coils, thereby detecting a position indicated by the position indicator on the basis of the values of these induced voltages. As described above, the conventional digitizers use electromagnetic coupling between the tablet and the position indicator. Therefore, either in the scheme of generating magnetic fields from the tablet side or in the scheme of generating magnetic fields from the position indicator side, the apparatus includes an oscillator for always generating magnetic fields. Accordingly, the apparatus is complicated, and hence cannot have a compact, economic arrangement. Furthermore, when depression information of any one of the switches of the position indicator is to be detected, the respective resonance frequencies of the position indicator are selected, and drive currents of the selected frequencies are supplied to the first loop coil group until a predetermined induced voltage corresponding to the switch depression information is obtained. Therefore, detection of this information requires a long period of time. When switch depression information is detected on the basis of the difference between the phase of a drive voltage of a reference frequency which is applied to the first loop coil group and the phase of an induced voltage generated in the second loop coil group, only frequencies in a frequency range near the reference frequency can be used. If, therefore, a large number of switches are arranged in the position indicator, a depressed switch cannot be identified, resulting in a decrease in resolution in switch detection. Moreover, in the apparatus which uses the variable capacitor for the coil of the position indicator to have a writing pressure detecting function as an additional function, high-speed, high-resolution detection of writing pressure information is difficult to achieve for the same reasons as those described with reference to the detection of switch depression information. Summary of the Invention It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a digitizer which allows a compact, economic arrangement. It is another object of the present invention to provide a digitizer which can detect position information associated with a position indicator within a period of time shorter than that required in the conventional digitizers. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a digitizer which is capable of detection of additional information such as switch depression information or writing pressure information at a speed and resolution higher than those in conventional digitizers. In order to achieve the above objects, according to an aspect of the present invention and to claim 1, there is provided a digitizer constituted by a tablet and a position indicator and designed to determine coordinates indicated by the position indicator on the tablet, comprising coordinate determining conductor groups arranged on the tablet, a first oscillation element arranged on the tablet, a second oscillation element coupled to the first oscillation element, and a third oscillation element arranged on the position indicator, wherein when the position indicator is placed at an arbitrary position on the tablet, the first, second, and third oscillation elements constitute an oscillator arrangement, and the coordinates indicated by the position indicator are determined by causing magnetic fields or electric fields, generated by the position indicator when the oscillator arrangement oscillates, to act on the coordinate determining conductor groups. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a digitizer according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the digitizer in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view showing the patterns of a two-phase grid 11X and a loop coil group 12X constituting the digitizer; Fig. 4 is a view showing the patterns of a two-phase grid 11Y and a loop coil group 12Y constituting the digitizer; Figs. 5(a) to 5(d) are timing charts for explaining the state of oscillation; Fig. 6 is a graph showing a state in which a position indicated by a position indicator constituting the digitizer is detected. Description of the Preferred Embodiment The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a digitizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the digitizer is constituted by a tablet 1 and a position indicator 2. The tablet 1 comprises a grid portion 10, an oscillator arrangement 13 which incorporates first and second oscillation elements and which does not oscillate normally but oscillates when it is coupled to a third oscillation element, an X-coordinate determining section 15X for determining the X-coordinate indicated by the position indicator 2, and a Y-coordinate determining section 15Y for determining the Y-coordinate indicated by the position indicator 2. The position indicator 2 is constituted by a coil 21 serving as the third oscillation element for the oscillator arrangement 13, capacitors 221 and 222, and a switch 223. The load of the third oscillation element can be variably changed by an ON/OFF-operation of the switch 223. In this case, the grid portion 10 of the tablet 1 includes a two-phase grid 11X constituted by two zigzag grid elements extending in the X direction, and a loop coil group 12X constituted by a plurality of loop coils x1 to xm sequentially arranged in the X direction in the form of a comb, as shown in Fig. 3. The grid portion 10 also includes a two-phase grid 11Y constituted by two zigzag grid elements extending in the Y direction, and a loop coil group 12Y constituted by a plurality of loop coils y1 to ym sequentially arranged in the Y direction in the form of a comb, as shown in Fig. 4. Note that the two-phase grids 11X and 11Y shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively formed on proper substrates (not shown), and the substrates are stacked on each other, as shown in Fig. 2. The two-phase grids 11X and 11Y are arranged as the first oscillation element constituting the oscillator arrangement of the digitizer, and the loop coil groups 12X and 12Y are arranged as coordinate determining conductor groups. As shown in Fig. 1, the oscillator arrangement 13 comprises a polarity switch 131, a switch 132 connected to the output stage of the polarity switch 131, an amplifier 133 as the second oscillation element connected to the output stage of the switch 132, and a phase shifter 134 connected to the output stage of the amplifier 133. The input sides of the polarity switch 131 are respectively connected to terminals x01 and x02 of the two-phase grid 11X. The output terminals of the phase shifter 134 are respectively connected to terminals y01 and y02 of the two-phase grid 11Y. That is, sin (sine wave) output and cos (cosine wave) output from the phase shifter 134 are respectively supplied to the terminals y01 and y02 of the two-phase grid 11Y, while switches S1 and S2 of the polarity switch 131 are respectively connected to one terminal x01 and the other terminal x02 of the two-phase grid 11X. An output from the polarity switch 131 is supplied to the phase shifter 134 through the switch 132 and the amplifier 133. In this arrangement, when the coil 21 of the position indicator 2 is placed on the tablet 1, an oscillation path is constituted by the two-phase grid 11Y (one conductor of the first oscillation element), the position indicator 2 (the third oscillation element), the two-phase grid 11X (the other conductor of the first oscillation element), and the amplifier (the second oscillation element) of the oscillator arrangement 13. If the coil 21 (the third oscillation element) of the position indicator 2, the two-phase grids 11X and 11y (the first oscillation element) of the grid portion 10, or the like is excited by ambient noise, noise produced by a switch, or the like, oscillation is caused by the amplifying effect of the amplifier 133. As a result, a stable magnetic field is generated by the coil 21 of the position indicator 2. Note that the frequency of the magnetic field generated at this time is the eigenvalue of the oscillator arrangement 13 constituted by these elements. The relationship between the position of the coil 21 as the third oscillation element of the position indicator 2 and oscillation will be described next with reference to Figs. 1 and 3, provided that the coil 21 is placed on the two-phase grid 11X of the first oscillation element. Assume that the center of the coil 21 of the position indicator 2 is located at a position A in the two-phase grid 11X shown in Fig. 3, i.e., a position inside a grid element 11X 2 connected to the terminal x02. In this case, oscillation can be caused by connecting the switch S2 in the polarity switch 131, connected to the terminal x02 of the grid element 11X 2 , to the noninverting ("+") input terminal of an amplifier 131B of gain 1, and connecting the switch 132 to the amplifier 131B. When the coil 21 is at a position B in the two-phase grid 11X, the coil 21 is located outside the grid element 11X 2 connected to the terminal x02, contrary to the above-described state. No oscillation is caused in the above-described condition. For this reason, the switch S2 in the polarity switch 131 is connected to the inverting ("-") input terminal of the amplifier 131B to invert the polarity of the current flowing in the grid element 11X 2 , thus causing oscillation. In addition, assume that the center of the coil 21 is at a position C in the two-phase grid 11X, i.e., a position inside a grid element 11X 1 connected to the terminal x01. In this case, the switch S1 connected to the terminal x01 of the grid element 11X 1 is connected to the inverting ("-") input terminal of an amplifier 131A of gain 1, and the switch 132 is connected to the amplifier 131A, thus causing oscillation. Furthermore, when the coil 21 is at a position D in the two-phase grid 11X, oscillation is caused by connecting the switch S1, connected to the terminal x01 of the grid element 11X 1 , to the noninverting ("+") input terminal of the amplifier 131A. Figs. 5(a) to 5(d) show the relationship between the positions A to D of the coil 21 of the position indicator 2 and switching operations of the respective switches in the oscillator arrangement 13. That is, when a control circuit (not shown) executes switching control of the respective switches shown in Figs. 5(a) to 5(d) at predetermined timings, oscillation can be caused at any of the timings regardless of the existing position of the position indicator 2. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the grid elements 11X 1 and 11X 2 are arranged in order to cause oscillation without fail regardless of the position of the coil 21 of the position indicator 2 on the tablet 1. Assume, for example, that only the grid element 11X 1 is arranged. In this case, if the center of the coil 21 of the position indicator 2 is located on any portion of the conductor line of the grid element 11X 1 , the resultant output voltage (induced voltage) becomes 0. In contrast to this, according to a two-phase grid structure as in this embodiment, even if the induced voltage in one grid element 11X 1 is 0, since the induced voltage in the other grid element 11X 2 is increased, stable oscillation can be achieved. In this manner, the path constituted by the two-phase grid 11Y (one conductor of the first oscillation element), the position indicator 2 (the third oscillation element), the two-phase grid 11X (the other conductor of the first oscillation element), and the amplifier 133 (the second oscillation element) of the oscillator arrangement 13 is caused to continuously oscillate by switching control of the respective switches in the oscillator arrangement 13. Fig. 2 illustrates the arrangement of the digitizer described above. The grid portion 10 is formed by sequentially stacking the two-phase grid 11X, the two-phase grid 11Y, the loop coil group 12X, and the loop coil group 12Y in this order with respect to the surface on which the position indicator 2 is placed. When the position indicator 2 is placed on the surface of the grid portion 10, the path constituted by the two-phase grid 11Y, the position indicator 2, the two-phase grid 11X, and the amplifier 133 of the oscillator arrangement 13 is caused to continuously oscillate, as described above. A magnetic field is then generated by the coil 21 of the position indicator 2 by this oscillation. Owing to the effect of the generated magnetic field, voltages are respectively induced in the loop coil groups 12X and 12Y. The values of the induced voltages are respectively arithmetically processed by an X-coordinate determining section 15X and a Y-coordinate determining section 15Y to determine the (X,Y) position of the position indicator 2. This position data is then supplied to a host unit. The loop coil group 12X for determining a position indicated by the position indicator 2 is constituted by the loop coils x1, x2, x3,..., xm sequentially arranged in the X direction, as indicated in a lower portion of Fig. 3, and the loop coil group 12Y is constituted by the loop coils y1, y2, y3,..., yn sequentially arranged in the Y direction, as indicated in a lower portion of Fig. 4. The terminals of the loop coils of the loop coil groups 12X and 12Y are respectively connected to scanners 151 and 155 in the X-coordinate and Y-coordinate determining sections 15X and 15Y shown in Fig. 1. When, for example, induced voltages in the loop coil group 12X are detected by a scanning operation of the scanner 151, an amplitude detecting circuit 152 obtains the amplitude values of the induced voltages in units of loop coils, and a coordinate calculating circuit 153 calculates a maximum amplitude position from the obtained amplitude values. An X-position determining circuit 154 calculates an X-coordinate value from this calculation result. Note that since a Y-coordinate value is obtained by the Y-coordinate determining section 15Y in the same manner as described above, and these determining and calculating operations for X-coordinate and Y-coordinate values can be simultaneously performed, the coordinate position of the position indicator 2 can be determined at a very high speed. As described above, the apparatus of the embodiment includes the two-phase grids 11X and 11Y and the oscillator arrangement 13, which together with the position indicator 2 constitute a specific oscillator arrangement. Therefore, no special oscillator is required. In addition, a position indicated by the position indicator 2 is obtained from induced voltage values generated in the coordinate determining conductors. The third oscillation element of the position indicator 2 according to the first embodiment includes the coil 21, the capacitors 221 and 222, and the switch 223. When the switch 223 is turned off, a resonance circuit is constituted by the coil 21 and the capacitor 221. When the switch 223 is turned on, a resonance circuit is constituted by the coil 21 and the capacitors 221 and 222. As described above, in the first embodiment, different oscillator arrangements can be formed by operating the switch 223 of the position indicator 2, thus realizing a structure which can selectively cause oscillation at different frequencies. Therefore, by measuring the frequencies of signals in any one of the systems shown in Fig. 1, i.e., the oscillator arrangement 13, the X-coordinate determining section 15X, and the Y-coordinate determining section 15Y, the ON/OFF operation of the switch 223 in the position indicator 2 can be identified. The position indicator 2 shown in Fig. 1 forms two different resonance circuits so as to form two difference oscillator arrangements. If, however, the number of pairs of switches and capacitors is increased, three oscillator arrangements or more can be formed in accordance with the operation of the position indicator, and three operations or more can be identified. In the embodiment described above, an amplifier is used as the second oscillation element. However, the second oscillation element is not limited to an amplifier, and any circuit element can be used as the second oscillation element long as it can maintain oscillation. For example, a circuit element having a so-called negative resistance which exhibits negative voltage/current characteristics can be used. All the apparatuses of the embodiment described above belong to the electromagnetic coupling type. However, the present invention can be applied to a so-called static coupling type digitizer. In this case, as the first oscillation element, the above-described loop coils can be used, or a conductor may be used. The second and third oscillation means may have the same arrangements as those in the embodiment described above. In the apparatus of the embodiment, ambient noise is exemplified as an oscillation trigger for the oscillator arrangement when the position indicator 2 is placed on the tablet 1. However, in addition to this noise, a shock which is caused when switching of the X-axis and Y-axis scanners is performed may be used as an oscillation trigger. As has been described above, according to the present invention, when the position indicator is placed at an arbitrary position on the tablet, the first, second, and third oscillation elements constitute an oscillator arrangement, and magnetic fields or electric fields which are generated by the position indicator when the oscillator arrangement oscillates act on the coordinate determining conductor groups, thereby determining the coordinates indicated by the position indicator. Therefore, the digitizer requires no special oscillator. In addition, when the oscillator arrangement oscillates, the coordinates indicated by the position indicator are determined on the basis of an output from the second oscillation element. Therefore, the digitizer requires no special oscillator, and an output signal representing the position indicated by a position indicator has a high level, thus allowing accurate detection of the coordinates. Furthermore, since the ON/OFF operation of a switch of the position indicator is identified on the basis of the oscillation frequency of the oscillator arrangement constituted by the third oscillation element whose load is variably changed by a single or plurality of switches, and the first and second oscillation elements, both the position indicated by the position indicator and switch operation information can be easily and quickly detected. In addition, the oscillation frequency of the above-described oscillation system is variable and can be set to be an arbitrary value within the usage range. Therefore, even if a large number of switches are arranged in the position indicator, these switches can be easily identified. Moreover, since a capacitor whose capacitance is variably changed in accordance with the writing pressure is connected to the coil, as the third oscillation element, of the position indicator, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator arrangement can be continuously changed in accordance with the writing pressure acting on the position indicator. By detecting this change in frequency, writing pressure information of the pen-like position indicator can be continuously obtained.

Claims: A digitizer constituted by a tablet (1) and a position indicator (2) to determine coordinates indicated by said position indicator on said tablet, comprising: a first set of oscillation elements (11), having at least a first element (11X) and a second element (11Y), arranged on said tablet; at least a second oscillation element (13) comprising a signal amplifier and being coupled to said first set of oscillation elements, said second oscillation element having an input and an output wherein said input of said second oscillation element is connected to said first element of the first set of oscillation elements and said output of said second oscillation element is connected to said second element of the first set of oscillation elements; and a third oscillation element (21) arranged on said position indicator, wherein when said position indicator is placed at an arbitrary position on said tablet, said first set of oscillation elements, said second oscillation element, and said third oscillation element constitute an oscillator system to generate magnetic and/or electric fields; characterized by a set of coordinate determining conductor groups (12) on said tablet which is arranged independently of said oscillator system; wherein the coordinates indicated by said position indicator are determined based on a plurality of signals generated in the coordinate determining conductor groups by causing magnetic and/or electric fields, generated by said position indicator when said oscillator system oscillates, to act on said coordinate determining conductors groups. A digitizer according to claim 1, wherein said first oscillation elements comprise a set of two-phase grid structures having a X direction and a Y direction, wherein a first structure of said set of two-phase grid structures is arranged in the X direction, and a second structure of said set of two-phase grid structures is arranged in the Y direction. A digitizer according to claim 2, wherein one of said two-phase grid structures is connected through a polarity inverter at the input of said second oscillation element.

Inventors: MATSUSHIMA KEIICHI, MATSUSHIMA, KEIICHI,, Matsushima, Keiichi, c/o Graphtec Corp
Applicants: GRAPHTEC KK, GRAPHTEC CORP.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G06K11
IPC codes: G06F3