Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to coordinate detection devices and methods of detecting coordinates, and more particularly to a coordinate detection device employing a coordinate input panel of a resistive film type and a method of detecting coordinates with such a coordinate detection device. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Recently, as a personal computer has become smaller and thinner in size, a coordinate input panel has been employed for input operations. The coordinate input panel occupies less space than a mouse not only physically, but also operationally because the operation area of the coordinate input panel is limited to the surface thereof. Moreover, the coordinate input panel can be easily utilized as a pointing device for a personal computer. Therefore, the coordinate input panel has frequently replaced the mouse as a coordinate input device. 
   Among the coordinate input panels, that of a resistive film type is more frequently used. In the case of the coordinate input panel of the resistive film type, input operations can be performed by a pen. Therefore, the coordinate input panel of the resistive film type can be used as a device for inputting a signature or drawing a picture. 
   A conventional coordinate detection device employing the coordinate input panel includes two operation modes: an absolute coordinate value mode which outputs the coordinate value of an input point on the coordinate input panel one-to-one on a screen, and a relative coordinate value mode which outputs, as a movement, a difference between the respective coordinate values detected at previous and current sampling timings (hereinafter referred to as previous and current coordinate values, respectively). The switching of these modes is controlled by a device driver (software) or a controller (hardware). 
     FIG. 1  is a flowchart of a conventional coordinate detection process, in which the coordinate input panel is employed to detect a coordinate value. 
   In step S 10 , it is determined whether an input operation has been performed on the coordinate input panel to switch the coordinate input panel “ON”. If the result of step S 10  is “NO”, that is, if the coordinate input panel has not been switched “ON”, the process goes to step S 11 . In step S 11 , a previous coordinate value is cleared. Thereafter, the process returns to step S 10  to determine whether the coordinate input panel has been switched “ON”. If the result of step S 10  is “YES”, that is, if the coordinate input panel has been switched “ON”, the process goes to step S 12 . In step S 12 , the voltage of an input point on the coordinate input panel is detected to detect the coordinate value of the input point. In step S 13 , it is determined whether the voltage of the input point is detected a predetermined number of times in step S 12 . If the result of step S 13  is “YES”, that is, if the voltage is detected the predetermined number of times, the process goes to step S 14 . In step S 14 , the average of the values of the voltage detected the predetermined number of times is calculated. In step S 15 , the average value calculated in step S 14  is defined as a current coordinate value. 
   Through steps S 10  through S 15 , the coordinate value of the input point on the coordinate input panel is detected as the current coordinate value. As described above, a correct coordinate value can be obtained by detecting the voltage the predetermined number of times to prevent the coordinate value of an input point formed by an improper input operation from being detected. 
   Next, in step S 16 , it is determined whether the mode of the coordinate input panel is the relative coordinate value mode. A process performed in step S 16  is switched by a device driver or controller. If the result of step S 16  is “NO”, the mode of the coordinate input panel is the absolute coordinate value mode, and the process goes to steps S 22  and S 23 , which comply with the absolute coordinate value mode. In step S 22 , the current coordinate value is converted into a current absolute coordinate value. In step S 23 , data for the current absolute coordinate value obtained in step S 22  is output. 
   On the other hand, if the result of step S 16  is “YES”, that is, if the mode of the coordinate input panel is the relative coordinate value mode, a process complying with the relative coordinate value mode is performed. First, in step S 17 , it is determined whether the previous coordinate value is stored. If the result of step S 17  is “NO”, that is, if the previous coordinate value is cleared, the process goes to step S 18 . In step S 18 , the current coordinate value is converted into the previous coordinate value. Then, the process returns to step S 10  to repeat the process thereafter, thereby detecting a coordinate value of the next sampling timing (hereinafter referred to a next coordinate value). If the result of step S 17  is “YES”, that is, if the previous coordinate value is stored, a relative coordinate value is obtained based on the previous coordinate value. In step S 19 , a difference between the previous and current coordinate values is obtained, and this difference is output to a control circuit to obtain the current relative coordinate value. In step S 20 , the current coordinate value is converted into the previous coordinate value to obtain the next coordinate value. In step S 21 , the difference between the previous and current coordinate values, which difference is obtained in step S 19  to obtain the current relative coordinate value, is output. 
   As described above, the coordinate detection process is performed to comply with either the relative or absolute coordinate value mode by switching the operation modes based on the determination of whether the operation mode is set in the relative coordinate value mode. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams illustrating a conventional input operation. 
   Suppose that an operator inputs a Japanese hiragana letter             to a coordinate input panel in the relative coordinate value mode, using an operator&#39;s finger or a pen.
     FIG. 2A  shows a series of operations (strokes) to input the letter to the coordinate input panel. The operator inputs a series of strokes (a) through (c) in this order in directions indicated by respective arrows in  FIG. 2A  on the surface of the coordinate input panel. However, since the conventional coordinate input panel is basically set in the relative coordinate value mode, the strokes (a) through (c) are not expressed as in  FIG. 2A , but are sequentially expressed as in  FIG. 2B . The input points of the stroke (a), for which no previous coordinate value exists, are converted into coordinates and expressed as the input points are formed on the surface of the coordinate input panel. However, since the coordinate input panel is set in the relative coordinate value mode, the last input point of the stroke (a) and the initial input point of the stroke (b) are expressed as the same coordinate value, and the last input point of the stroke (b) and the initial input point of the stroke (c) are expressed as the same coordinate value. That is, since the coordinate value of an input point is detected based on a difference between the previous and current coordinate values in the relative coordinate value mode, the previous coordinate value becomes identical to the current coordinate value when the coordinate input panel is pressed separately at the respective previous and current input or sampling timings. Thus, the coordinate values of the respective strokes are output in sequence. The coordinate values should be detected in the absolute coordinate value mode to obtain the same output as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
   Therefore, in the case of detecting the coordinate values of a series of operations, once the relative coordinate value mode is set with respect to the operations, it is impossible to switch the relative coordinate value mode to the absolute coordinate value mode, causing the input operations on the coordinate input panel not to correspond to outputs on a display. 
   As described above, a device driver or controller is employed to set the relative and absolute coordinate value modes for a series of operations. Therefore, if the operator wishes to detect a coordinate value in a desired mode other than a set mode, the set mode cannot be switched to the desired mode during the series of operations. 
   Further, the coordinate value of an input point on the conventional coordinate input panel is output one-to-one on a screen in the absolute coordinate value mode. Therefore, if input points on the coordinate input panel do not correspond to display positions on the screen, it is difficult to display the coordinate value of an input point on the coordinate input panel in a corresponding position on the screen. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a general object of the present invention to provide a coordinate detection device and a method of detecting coordinates in which the above-described disadvantages are eliminated. 
   A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate detection device which has improved operability to facilitate an input operation on a coordinate input panel, and a method of detecting coordinates with such a coordinate detection device. 
   The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a coordinate detection device including an input unit which has a surface thereof to which a coordinate value is input by an input means, a calculation unit which calculates a difference between previous and current coordinate values input by the input unit, and a setting unit which sets, in the calculation unit, a coordinate value input last before the input means is detached from the surface of said input unit as the previous coordinate value to a coordinate value input first after the input means is detached from the surface of the input unit. 
   According to the above-described coordinate detection device, by detecting the current coordinate value based on the difference between the previous and current coordinate values, coordinate values as input to the input unit can be detected. 
   The above-objects of the present invention are also achieved by a method of detecting coordinates including the steps of (a) inputting a coordinate value to a surface of an input unit by an input means, (b) calculating a difference between previous and current coordinate values input by the step (a), and (c) setting, in the step (b), a coordinate value input last before the input means is detached from the surface of the input unit as the previous coordinate value to a coordinate value input first after the input means is detached from the surface of the input unit. 
   According to the above-described method of detecting coordinates, by detecting the current coordinate value based on the difference between the previous and current coordinate values, coordinate values as input to the input unit can be detected. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a flowchart of a conventional coordinate detection process; 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams illustrating a conventional input operation; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a coordinate detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a coordinate detection according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a process of a first-type mode determination based on a contact area formed by an input operation; 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a coordinate detection process according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process of a second-type mode determination based on an off-contact time; 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a coordinate detection process according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams illustrating operations on a coordinate input panel according to the present invention; 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are diagrams illustrating a movement of a cursor according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an input operation according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12  is a timing chart of a switching of operation modes based on the input operation shown in  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A description will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of embodiments of the present invention. 
   A description will first be given of an embodiment of a coordinate detection device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a coordinate detection device according to the embodiment. 
   According to  FIG. 3 , the coordinate detection device includes a coordinate input panel  10  and a detection unit  20 . A coordinate value detected in the coordinate detection device is transmitted to a host computer  6  via a communication unit  4 . 
   The coordinate input panel  10  includes resistive films  11  and  12  opposing each other with a space therebetween. A coordinate value is detected by an operator pressing the resistive films  11  and  12 . The resistive film  11  has a pair of electrodes  14  formed on its peripheral portion to oppose each other with an input area  13  formed therebetween. The resistive film  12  has a pair of electrodes  15  formed on its peripheral portion to oppose each other with an input area  13  formed therebetween. Voltages are applied from the detection unit  20  to the respective pairs of the electrodes  14  and  15 , and the resistive films  11  and  12  are arranged so that the applied voltages cross each other at right angles. A coordinate value of a pressed (input) point on the input area  13  of the coordinate input panel  10  is detected by means of these voltages. For example, the electrodes  14 , to which the voltage is applied in parallel with an x-axis, detect an x-coordinate, and the electrodes  15 , to which the voltage is applied in parallel with a y-axis, detect a y-coordinate. 
   The detection unit  20  includes transistors  21  through  25 , supply voltage terminals  26  through  29 , resistances R 1  through R 5 , a switch  5 , and a CPU (central processing unit)  3 . The detection unit  20  applies the voltages alternately to the electrodes  14  and  15  formed on the respective resistive films  11  and  12  of the coordinate input panel  10  so as to detect input coordinate values. The voltage from the supply voltage terminal  27  is applied to the electrodes  15  via the transistors  23  and  24  of the detection unit  20 , and the voltage from the supply voltage terminal  28  is applied to the electrodes  14  via the transistors  21  and  22 . The voltages are applied to the respective electrodes  14  and  15  by alternately switching “ON” a pair of the transistors  23  and  24  and a pair of the transistors  21  and  22 . 
   The resistances R 2  through R 5  are connected to the transistors  23 ,  24 ,  21 , and  22 , respectively, so as to control the voltages applied to the resistive films  11  and  12 . The transistor  25  is employed to detect an operator&#39;s input operation to the coordinate input panel  10  by means of the voltage supplied from the supply voltage terminal  26  and controlled by the resistance R 1 . When the operator performs an input operation on the coordinate input panel  10 , the voltage detected by the resistive film  12  is transmitted first to the CPU  3 , and then the voltage detected by the resistive film  11  is transmitted to the CPU  3 . The CPU  3  detects the x-coordinate from the voltage from the resistive film  11  and the y-coordinate from the voltage from the resistive film  12 . 
   The CPU  3  controls the detection of the coordinate value of an input point on the coordinate input panel  10 . According to the coordinate input panel  10  having the above-described structure, when a point on the input area  13  is pressed, the resistive films  11  and  12  contact each other at the point. When the voltage is applied to the electrodes  15  of the resistive film  12 , the voltage is divided at the contact point so that the voltage representing the y-coordinate is output. Further, when the voltage is applied to the electrodes  14  of the resistive film  11 , the voltage is divided at the contact point so that the voltage representing the x-coordinate is output. 
   The switch  5  switches between the absolute and relative coordinate value modes of the coordinate input panel  10  by a voltage supplied from the supply voltage terminal  29 . The CPU  3  detects a coordinate value according to either mode selected by the switching operation of the switch  5 . 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a coordinate detection according to the present invention. 
   Each of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  shows a cross-section of a coordinate input panel according to the present invention in a state where the operator performs an input operation thereon. Dotted areas shown in respective  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are contact areas A and B each formed by contacting an input means, such as a pen or a finger of the operator, with the surface of the coordinate input panel when the input operation is performed. Each of the contact areas A and B is a detection range of coordinates, which range varies depending on a type of the input means.  FIG. 4A  shows a case in which an input point is formed by means of a pen. The contact area A shows the detection range of the coordinate value of the input point. According to  FIG. 4A , the surface of the coordinate input panel including resistive films  30  and  31  is pressed with the point of the pen so that a pressed portion of the resistive film  30  contacts the resistive film  31 . The contact portion is detected as coordinates. In this case, the contact area A is processed as a coordinate value. 
   On the other hand,  FIG. 4B  shows a case in which an input point is formed by means of a finger of the operator. The contact area B shows the detection range of the coordinate value of the input point. In this case, as in the above-described case, a finger-pressed portion of the resistive film  30  contacts the resistive film  31  to form the contact area B. The contact area B is processed as a coordinate value. Compared with the contact area A, the contact area B has a wider detection area of coordinates so as to cause larger variations in detected coordinate values. 
   As an input means, a pen is more often employed to input a signature or to draw a picture, while a finger is more often employed to move a pointer. Therefore, in the case of a smaller contact area, the operation mode of the coordinate detection device is set to comply with an input operation by means of a pen, and in the case of a larger contact area, the operation mode of the coordinate detection device is set to comply with an input operation by means of a finger. For example, the operation mode of the coordinate input device is set in the absolute coordinate value mode in the case of a smaller contact area, and in the relative coordinate value mode in the case of a larger contact area. Thus, the operation mode of the coordinate detection device is determined based on a contact area formed by an input operation so as to comply with the input operation. Therefore, the coordinate detection device, by switching the operation modes thereof, can be used as a device for inputting a signature or drawing a picture when the operator performs an input operation by means of a pen, and as a pointing device when the operator performs an input operation by means of an operator&#39;s finger. 
     FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a process of a first-type mode determination based on a contact area formed by an input operation, in which area an input means such as a pen or a finger contacts the surface of a coordinate input panel according to the present invention. 
   In step S 30 , a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the contact area is calculated. Next, in step S 31 , it is determined whether the difference calculated in step S 30  is equal to or larger than a predetermined value C. If the result of step S 31  is “YES”, that is, if the difference is equal to or larger than the predetermined value C, the process goes to step S 32 , in which the operation mode of the coordinate detection device is set in a first mode. The first mode is an operation mode performing the conventional coordinate detection process which switches between the absolute and relative coordinate value modes. If the result of step S 31  is “NO”, that is, if the difference is smaller than the predetermined value C, the process goes to step S 33 , in which the operation mode is set in either a second mode or the absolute coordinate value mode. The second mode is an operation mode in a coordinate detection process according to the present invention. 
   As described above, the first-type mode determination determines and sets the operation mode appropriate for an input operation based on the contact area formed on the surface of the coordinate input panel by the input operation, using the predetermined value C as reference for the switching of the operation modes. 
   By using the above-described first-type mode determination, the operation modes of the coordinate detection device can be switched in accordance with operations of the operator such as a signature input, a picture drawing, and a pointer operation. 
   A description will now be given of a first embodiment of the coordinate detection process according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a coordinate detection process according to the first embodiment. 
   According to  FIG. 6 , the above-described first-type mode determination is performed first to switch the operation mode of the coordinate detection device to a mode complying with an input operation. In step S 40 , it is determined whether an input operation has been performed on the coordinate input panel. If the result of step S 40  is “NO”, that is, if the input operation has not been performed on the coordinate input panel, the process goes to step S 41 , in which the process of the first-type mode determination is performed. In step S 41 , one of the first mode and the second mode or the absolute coordinate value mode is set based on a difference between the maximum and minimum values of a contact area formed on the surface of the coordinate input panel by the input operation. After one of the above-described modes is set, in step S 42 , it is determined whether the set mode is the first mode. If the result of step S 42  is “YES”, that is, if the difference is equal to or larger than the predetermined value C, the next input operation is performed in the same operation mode as the conventional one. Thereafter, in step S 43 , a previous coordinate value is cleared, and the process returns to step S 40 . If the result of step S 42  is “NO”, that is, if the difference is smaller than the predetermined value C, the process returns to step S 40 . 
   In steps S 41  through S 43 , the operation mode is determined based on the input operation. If the operation mode is determined to be the first mode, which is the same mode as employed in the conventional coordinate detection process, the previous coordinate value is cleared. If the operation mode is determined to be the second mode or the absolute coordinate value mode, the previous coordinate value is not cleared and is employed to detect the next coordinate value. 
   If the result of step S 40  is “YES”, that is, if the input operation has been performed on the coordinate input panel, the process goes to step S 44 , in which the voltage of an input point on the surface of the coordinate input panel is detected. Thereafter, steps S 45  and S 46  are performed. Steps S 44  through S 46  are performed a predetermined number of times. In step S 45 , the maximum value of the voltage is detected to overwrite a stored maximum value, and in step S 46 , the minimum value of the voltage is detected to overwrite a stored minimum value. Steps S 45  and S 46  are processes which are added when the process of the first-type mode determination is performed in the coordinate detection process. 
   After the above-described steps, in step S 47 , it is determined whether steps S 44  through S 46  are performed the predetermined number of times. If the result of step S 47  is “NO”, that is, if the voltage is not detected the predetermined number of times, steps S 44  through S 47  are repeated until the result of step S 47  becomes “YES”. 
   By thus detecting the voltage of the input point on the surface of the coordinate input panel the predetermined number of times, a coordinate value of an input point formed by an improper input operation is prevented from being detected so that a correct coordinate value can be obtained. 
   If the result of step S 47  is “YES”, that is, if the voltage is detected the predetermined number of times, the process goes to step S 48 , in which the average of the detected values of the voltage is calculated. In step S 49 , the calculated average is converted into a current coordinate value. In step S 50 , the process of the first-type mode determination is again performed based on the current coordinate value obtained in step S 49 . 
   In step S 51 , it is determined whether the operation mode of the coordinate input panel is set in the first mode which performs the same coordinate detection process as the conventional one. 
   If the result of step S 51  is “YES”, that is, if the operation mode is the first mode, in step S 55 , it is determined whether the previous coordinate value is stored. If the result of step S 55  is “NO”, that is, the previous coordinate value is not stored, in step S 56 , the current coordinate value is stored as the previous coordinate value, and the process returns to step S 40  and the following steps are repeated. If the previous coordinate value is stored, in step S 57 , a difference between the previous and current coordinate values is calculated to be defined as a current relative coordinate value. The current coordinate value does not consider a distance between the input points of the previous and current coordinate values. After the current relative coordinate value is obtained in step S 57 , in step S 58 , the current coordinate value is converted into the previous coordinate value. In step S 59 , the current relative coordinate value is output. Through above-described steps S 57  through S 59 , the relative coordinate value is calculated in the relative coordinate value mode and is output. 
   If the result of step S 51  is “NO”, that is, if the operation mode is not the first mode, in step S 52 , it is determined whether the operation mode is the absolute coordinate value mode. If the result of step S 52  is “YES”, that is, if the operation mode is the absolute value mode, the process goes to steps S 53  and S 54 . In step S 53 , the current coordinate value obtained in step S 49  is converted into a current absolute coordinate value. In step S 54 , the current absolute coordinate value obtained in step S 53  is output. Thus, in steps S 53  and S 54 , the current absolute coordinate value is obtained in the absolute coordinate value mode and is output. 
   If the result of step S 52  is “NO”, that is, if the operation mode is not the absolute coordinate value mode, but is the second mode, the current absolute coordinate value is calculated without detecting the previous coordinate value. 
   In the case of detecting the coordinate value in the second mode, steps S 57  through S 59  are performed without detecting the previous coordinate value in step S 55 . In step S 57 , a difference between the current coordinate value and the stored previous coordinate value is calculated to be defined as a current relative coordinate value. After the current relative coordinate value is obtained, in step S 58 , the current coordinate value is determined to be the previous coordinate value. In step S 59 , the current relative coordinate value is output. 
   Thus, a coordinate value can be detected in a mode appropriate for an input operation by employing the first-type mode determination and a previous coordinate value. 
     FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process of a second-type mode determination based on an off-contact time. 
   According to  FIG. 7 , the operation mode of the coordinate detection device is determined based on the off-contact time during which an input means such as a pen or a finger does not contact the surface of the coordinate input panel. For example, when a pen or a finger is detached from the surface of the coordinate input panel between previous and current input operations during a series of input operations, the off-contact time is often shorter in this case than is required to switch the operations of the coordinate detection device so that the coordinate detection device can be used, for example, as a pointing device. Therefore, the off-contact time is compared with a predetermined time T 1  to determine an appropriate mode for the series of operations. In step S 34 , it is determined whether the off-contact time is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time T 1 . If the result of step S 34  is “NO”, that is, the off-contact time is longer than the predetermined time T 1 , it is determined that the current input operation is performed as an operation of, for example, a pointing device, and the process goes to step S 35 , in which the first mode is set. If the result of step S 34  is “YES”, that is, the off-contact time is shorter than or equal to the predetermined time T 1 , the process goes to step S 36 , in which the second mode or the absolute coordinate value mode is set. 
   Thus, the second-type mode determination determines and sets the operation mode appropriate for an input operation based on the off-contact time during which an input means does not contact the surface of the coordinate input panel, using the predetermined time T 1  as reference for the switching of the operation modes. 
   By using the above-described second-type mode determination, the operation modes of the coordinate detection device can be switched in accordance with operations of the operator such as a signature input, a picture drawing, and a pointer operation. 
   A description will now be given of a second embodiment of the coordinate detection process according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a coordinate detection process according to the second embodiment. 
   The coordinate detection process according to the second embodiment employs the process of the second-type mode determination shown in  FIG. 7 , which process switches the operation modes of the coordinate detection device in accordance with an input operation. In  FIG. 8 , the same steps as those in  FIG. 6  are referred to by the same numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
   If it is determined in step S 40  that an input operation has not been performed on the coordinate input panel, in step S 60 , the process of the second-type mode determination is performed to determine whether the operation mode is the first mode, or the second mode or the absolute value mode based on the off-contact time. Thereafter, in step S 42 , it is determined whether the operation mode is the first mode. If the result of step S 42  is “YES”, that is, if the off-contact time is longer than the predetermined time T 1 , the next input operation is performed in the same operation mode as the conventional one. Then, in step S 43 , a previous coordinate value is cleared, and the process returns to step S 40 . 
   If the result of step S 42  is “NO”, that is, the off-contact time is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time T 1 , the process goes to step S 62 . In step S 62 , the off-contact time, namely, the duration of an off-contact state where a pen or a finger is detached from the surface of the coordinate input panel, is measured. Step S 62  is a process which is added when the second-type mode determination is performed in the coordinate detection process. 
   If it is determined in step S 40  that the input operation has been performed on the coordinate input panel, steps S 44  and S 47  are repeated until the voltage of the input point is detected the predetermined number of times. Thereby, a coordinate value of an input point formed by an improper input operation is prevented from being detected so that a correct coordinate value can be obtained. 
   In step S 48 , the average of the detected values of the voltage is calculated. In step S 49 , the calculated average is converted into a current coordinate value. In step S 63 , the process of the second-type mode determination is again performed based on the current coordinate value obtained in step S 49 . 
   In step S 63 , the operation mode is switched to one of the above-described modes so as to comply with the input operation. Then, in step S 51 , it is determined whether the operation mode is set in the first mode which performs the same coordinate detection process as the conventional one. 
   If the operation mode is the first mode, in step S 55 , it is determined whether the previous coordinate value is stored. If the previous coordinate value is not stored, in step S 56 , the current coordinate value is stored as the previous coordinate value, and the process returns to step S 40  and the following steps are repeated. 
   If the previous coordinate value is stored, in step S 57 , a difference between the previous and current coordinate values is calculated to be defined as a current relative coordinate value. The current coordinate value does not consider a distance between the input points of the previous and current coordinate values. After the current relative coordinate value is obtained in step S 57 , in step S 58 , the current coordinate value is converted into the previous coordinate value. In step S 59 , the current relative coordinate value is output. Through the above-described steps S 57  through S 59 , the relative coordinate value is calculated in the relative coordinate value mode and is output. 
   If the result of step S 51  is “NO”, that is, if the operation mode is not the first mode, in step S 52 , it is determined whether the operation mode is the absolute coordinate value mode. If the operation mode is the absolute value mode, the process goes to steps S 53  and S 54 . In step S 53 , the current coordinate value obtained in step S 49  is converted into a current absolute coordinate value. In step S 54 , the current absolute coordinate value obtained in step S 53  is output. Thus, in steps S 53  and S 54 , the current absolute coordinate value is obtained in the absolute coordinate value mode and is output. 
   If the result of step S 52  is “NO”, that is, if the operation mode is not the absolute coordinate value mode, but is the second mode, the coordinate detection process is performed in the relative coordinate value mode. In the case of detecting the coordinate value in the second mode, steps S 57  through S 59  are performed without detecting and storing the previous coordinate value in step S 55 . In step S 57 , a difference between the current coordinate value and the stored previous coordinate value is calculated to be defined as a current relative coordinate value. After the current relative coordinate value is obtained, in step S 58 , the current coordinate value is determined to be a previous coordinate value. In step S 59 , the current relative coordinate value is output. 
   Thus, a coordinate value can be detected in a mode appropriate for an input operation by employing the second-type mode determination and a previous coordinate value. 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams illustrating an input operation on the coordinate input panel according to the present invention. 
   Suppose that the operator inputs a Japanese hiragana letter             to the coordinate input panel, using an operator&#39;s finger or a pen.
     FIG. 9A  shows the letter input by the operator, and  FIG. 9B  is an enlarged view of a circled portion D of the letter shown in  FIG. 9A . A description will be given with reference to the circled portion D. The coordinate values of the circled portion D of the letter are detected in the coordinate detection process according to the present invention. The coordinate values of a press end point e, at which a pen or a finger is detached from the surface of the coordinate input panel after continuously pressing the surface, and a press start point f, at which the pen or the finger starts pressing the surface, are obtained by considering an imaginary distance g therebetween by the coordinate detection process according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B  are diagrams illustrating a movement of a cursor according to the present invention. 
   The input points formed on the surface of the coordinate input panel by the input operation as shown in  FIG. 9A  are detected according to the coordinate detection process of the present invention, and are output as shown in  FIG. 10A .  FIG. 10A  shows the coordinate values of the input points in an output state. Respective dotted arrows show routes along and directions in which the cursor moves.  FIG. 10B  is an enlarged view of a circled portion E of the letter, which portion includes one of the movements of the cursor. A description will be given with reference to the circled portion E. The coordinate values of the circled portion E of the letter are detected and output in the coordinate detection process according to the present invention. The points e and f shown in  FIG. 9B  are output as previous and current coordinate values h and i, respectively, in  FIG. 10B . A cursor movement j is made by an imaginary operation performed by the coordinate detection process according to the present invention. 
   As described above, by switching the operation mode to the second mode in the coordinate detection process, the same coordinate values as those of the input points are detected and output. 
     FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an input operation according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 11  shows a series of operations (strokes) to input a Japanese hiragana letter             to the coordinate input panel. The operator inputs a series of operations (strokes) (a) through (e) in this order in directions indicated by respective arrows in  FIG. 11  on the surface of the coordinate input panel. The operations (a) and (e) are the movements of the cursor. The cursor is moved to the initial input point of the stroke (b) by the operation (a). The operation (e) is the movement of the cursor after the letter is input to the coordinate input panel by the strokes (b) through (d). During the operations (strokes) (a) through (e), a pen or a finger is detached from the surface of the coordinate input panel between one operation and the following operation.
   Although the input operation according to the present invention is described by taking the Japanese hiragana letter             as an example in  FIGS. 9A through 11 , the present invention can also be applied to the input operation of an English letter.
     FIG. 12  is a timing chart of the switching of the operation modes based on the input operation shown in  FIG. 11 . During the operation (a), the pen or the finger contacts the surface of the coordinate input panel in the first mode, which performs the same switching operation as the conventional operation mode. During the switching from the operation (a) to the stroke (b), the coordinate input panel is switched “OFF”, or is in an “OFF” state. If the “OFF” state time or the off-contact time of the coordinate input panel is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time T 1 , the operation mode is switched to the second mode, which is the operation mode of the present invention. Similarly, if the off-contact time during the switching from the stroke (b) to the stroke (c) is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time T 1 , the operation mode is switched to the second mode. Likewise, if the off-contact time during the switching from the stroke (c) to the stroke (d) is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time T 1 , the operation mode is switched to the second mode. The off-contact time during the switching from the stroke (d) to the operation (e) is longer than the predetermined time T 1 . Therefore, the operation mode is switched to the first mode. 
   By thus switching between the first and second modes based on the comparison between the off-contact time and the predetermined time T 1 , the operation modes of the coordinate detection device can be switched freely in accordance with the operations of the operator. Further, by automatically switching the switch of the coordinate input panel for switching between the operation modes “OFF” and “ON” to switch the operation mode between the first and second modes, respectively, the cursor can be moved to the initial input point of an operation for inputting a signature or drawing a picture so that the signature can be input or the picture can be drawn from the initial input point. 
   The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
   The present application is based on Japanese priority application No. 2000-040117 filed on Feb. 17, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technology Category: g