US20060022960A1 - Input system including position-detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A position-detecting device detects a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument and includes an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and a manipulation-detecting unit located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY
• This application is based upon application number 2004-218374, filed Jul. 27, 2004 in Japan, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is claimed.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to input systems including position-detecting devices that detect positions specified with position-pointing styluses.
2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Pen tablets are known as input devices used in electronic devices, such as personal computers. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-244806 assigned to the present assignee discloses various types of pen tablets.
• A typical pen tablet includes a position-pointing stylus and an approximately planar position-detecting device. When a user points at any position on the position-detecting device with the position-pointing stylus in his or her hand, the position-detecting device detects the pointed to position and outputs it to an external electronic device that is connected to the position-detecting device.
• Since the user can manipulate the position-pointing stylus as if the user were writing characters or drawing pictures with a pen during an input operation of the electronic device, the user can experience a natural-feeling operation. Thus, pen tablets are popular with users.
• For example, when the user inputs drawing positions (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as a drawing operation) when executing a drawing application program in the electronic device, the user can conveniently perform the drawing operation with the pen tablet as if the user were drawing a picture.
• When the user executes the drawing application program, the user needs to perform accompanying setting operations in addition to the drawing operation itself. These setting operations include, for example, setting drawing colors, the size of a drawing area, and line thicknesses, scrolling a screen, and zooming in and out.
• In general, the user uses a dedicated menu screen to perform these setting operations. In many cases, the user alternately performs the setting operations on the menu screen and the drawing operation. In this environment, since the user needs to suspend the drawing operation and move the position-pointing stylus from a position on a picture being drawn to a position on the menu screen to perform the setting operations on the menu screen during the drawing operation, the continuity of user's thought may be broken, thereby spoiling the user's imagination. The user, who needs to concentrate on the drawing operation, may feel that the operation on the menu screen is highly complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate operations, such as setting drawing colors, the size of a drawing area, and line thicknesses, scrolling a screen, and zooming in and out, during the operation of a position-pointing stylus.
• To achieve the object, a position-detecting device according to the present invention detects a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument. The position-detecting device includes an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and a manipulation-detecting unit located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument. In this case, the second instrument is, for example, a user's finger.
• Thus, since a user can simultaneously perform a certain type of operation using the position-pointing instrument and another type of operation on the manipulation-detecting unit, the user can perform various types of operations without suspending the manipulation by the position-pointing instrument, thereby achieving excellent operability. For example, the user can simultaneously perform an operation using the position-pointing instrument in the right hand and manipulate the manipulation-detecting unit using the left hand. The user can also manipulate the manipulation-detecting unit using the position-pointing instrument in the right hand. That is, the user can use both hands to perform an input operation. Moreover, when the manipulation-detecting unit detects a manipulation by the position-pointing instrument, the user can manipulate the manipulation-detecting unit, holding the position-pointing instrument in his or her hand, and can perform various types of operations only with the position-pointing instrument.
• The position on the operation panel pointed to by the position-pointing instrument may be detected by sending and receiving electromagnetic waves to and from the position-pointing instrument.
• In this arrangement, the manipulation-detecting unit may be a push-detecting switch.
• The manipulation-detecting unit may detect a touching or pushing manipulation.
• In this arrangement, the user can manipulate the manipulation-detecting unit by a simple manipulation, that is, a touching or pushing manipulation. Thus, even when the user performs an operation using the position-pointing instrument in the dominant hand and manipulates the manipulation-detecting unit using the nondominant hand, the user can reliably perform the operation, thereby achieving excellent operability and reducing the user's workload.
• The manipulation-detecting unit may detect the manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument, and the position-detecting device may determine whether the manipulation is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, upon detecting the manipulation through the manipulation-detecting unit.
• In this arrangement, the user can perform various types of input operations using the manipulation-detecting unit by distinguishing a manipulation by the position-pointing instrument from that by the second instrument.
• The operation panel and an area peripheral to the operation panel may form a detectable area detecting the position of the position-pointing instrument, the manipulation-detecting unit may be disposed within the detectable area, and the position-detecting device may determine whether the manipulation detected by the manipulation-detecting unit is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, based on the position of the position-pointing instrument during the manipulation.
• In this arrangement, the position-detecting device can reliably determine the type of instrument used for manipulating the manipulation-detecting unit. Moreover, since the detectable area need not correspond to the operation panel, flexibility in the location of the manipulation-detecting unit can be improved.
• The manipulation-detecting unit may be disposed within the operation panel. In this arrangement, the size of the position-detecting device can be reduced.
• The position-detecting device according to the present invention includes a position-pointing instrument, and an electronic device operating based on the detected position from the position-detecting device which may constitute an input system.
• In this arrangement, the user can simultaneously perform an input operation of the electronic device using the position-pointing instrument and another input operation. For example, when a drawing application program is executed in the electronic device, the user can simultaneously draw lines using the position-pointing instrument and can manipulate the manipulation-detecting unit to invoke a menu screen and perform operations on the menu screen and other operations, such as scrolling the screen and zooming in and out. Thus, the user can perform operations other than an application operation so that the application operation flow using the position-pointing instrument and the user's thoughts are not interrupted, thereby achieving excellent operability. Moreover, for example, the user can simultaneously perform an operation using the position-pointing instrument in the right hand and manipulate the manipulation-detecting unit using the left hand. The user can also manipulate the manipulation-detecting unit using the position-pointing instrument in the right hand. That is, the user can use both hands to perform an input operation of the electronic device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the overall structure of a tablet according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view illustrating the detailed structure of the touch pad shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a controlling circuit included in the tablet shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the layout of detectable areas in the tablet shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a typical operation of the tablet shown inFIG. 1 when the tablet is used as an input device for an electronic device;
• FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the overall structure of a tablet according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and
• FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the overall structure of a tablet according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
• A first embodiment according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the overall structure of a tablet1 serving as a typical position-detecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The tablet1 is used in combination with aninput stylus21 serving as a typical position-pointing stylus, and is connected to an external electronic device, such as a personal computer, as shown inFIG. 3.
• The tablet1 includes ahousing11 including anoperation panel12,touch pad units13 and14, and apilot lamp15.
• Thehousing11 has an approximately rectangular shape, is composed of, for example, a synthetic resin or a metallic material, and includes, for example, a controllingcircuit200, as shown inFIG. 3.
• Theoperation panel12 is a planar area provided at the approximate midsection of thehousing11. The tablet1 detects a position on theoperation panel12 pointed to by theinput stylus21. Theoperation panel12 includes an XY coordinate system including a virtual X-axis and Y-axis that orthogonally intersect each other. The tablet1 outputs XY coordinates of the position pointed to by theinput stylus21. InFIG. 1, the X-axis extends in the horizontal direction, and the Y-axis extends in the vertical direction.
• Thepilot lamp15 is turned on when the tablet1 is connected to anelectronic device22 shown inFIG. 3 and becomes available, or detects a manipulation with, for example, theinput stylus21.
• Thetouch pad units13 and14 are provided at both sides of theoperation panel12. Thetouch pad unit13 includes atouch pad131 that detects a pushing operation by a user and fourswitches132,133,134, and135. Thetouch pad131 has a strip shape and detects the position pushed during the pushing operation. Theswitches132,133,134, and135 have a strip shape and are turned on by the pushing operation. Theswitches132,133,134, and135 may have any shape, such as a circular or quadrate shape, instead of the strip shape.
• FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view illustrating the detailed structure of thetouch pad131. Thetouch pad131 includes a plurality of push-detectingswitches136 in the longitudinal direction. The push-detectingswitches136 are turned on by the pushing operation. The longitudinal direction of thetouch pad131 is referred to as the “axis” indicated by an arrow in the drawing. In this embodiment, the axis of thetouch pad131 is parallel to the Y-axis of theoperation panel12.
• The tablet1 detects a pushed position in the axis direction by determining which of the push-detectingswitches136 are turned on. The tablet1 may determine that a position between two adjacent push-detectingswitches136 is pushed upon simultaneously detecting the pushing operation on the two push-detectingswitches136. In this arrangement, when thetouch pad131 includes seven push-detectingswitches136, as best shown inFIG. 2, the tablet1 detects the pushing operation on thirteen positions, i.e., seven positions at the push-detectingswitches136 and six positions between the push-detectingswitches136 indicated by symbols A in the drawing.
• Since thetouch pad141 has the same structure as thetouch pad131, the description and drawing of thetouch pad141 are omitted.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of thecontrolling circuit200 included in the tablet1. Thecontrolling circuit200 includes a controllingunit201, a transmitter/receiver202, selectingcircuits203 and204, and loop coils205 and206. Thetouch pads131 and141 and theswitches132,133,134,135,142,143,144, and145 are connected to the controllingunit201.
• FIG. 3 also illustrates the externalelectronic device22, which is connected to the tablet1 and includes a displayingunit23 and anoutput unit24, and theinput stylus21, which is used in combination with the tablet1. The tablet1, theinput stylus21, and theelectronic device22 constitute aninput system100.
• A plurality of the loop coils205 are provided under theoperation panel12 and at a predetermined pitch in the X-axis direction of theoperation panel12. Eachloop coil205 extends parallel to the Y-axis of theoperation panel12. Similarly, a plurality of the loop coils206 are provided under theoperation panel12 and at a predetermined pitch in the Y-axis direction of theoperation panel12. Eachloop coil206 extends parallel to the X-axis of theoperation panel12.
• The transmitter/receiver202 is connected to the controllingunit201. The loop coils205 and206 are connected to the transmitter/receiver202 through the selectingcircuits203 and204, respectively. The selectingcircuit203 can select one of the loop coils205, and the selectingcircuit204 can select one of the loop coils206.
• As described below, the controllingunit201 selects the loop coils205 through the selectingcircuit203, and performs transmitting and receiving operations through the transmitter/receiver202 to retrieve the location in the X-axis direction (the X coordinate) of a position pointed to by theinput stylus21. Similarly, the controllingunit201 selects the loop coils206 through the selectingcircuit204, and performs transmitting and receiving operations through the transmitter/receiver202 to retrieve the location in the Y-axis direction (the Y coordinate) of the position pointed to by theinput stylus21.
• Parts of the loop coils205 and206 extend beyond and under theoperation panel12 for the following reasons: The tablet1 can accurately detect a pointed position on theoperation panel12 when there is some dimensional tolerance in the structure; and this arrangement increases flexibility in design.
• Thus, in the tablet1, areas that detect the position of theinput stylus21 include theoperation panel12 and peripheral areas of theoperation panel12. These areas are referred to as detectable areas.
• FIG. 4 illustrates the layout of the detectable areas in the tablet1. Specifically, an area directly on the loop coils205 (indicated by dotted lines in the drawing) is referred to as adetectable area16, and an area directly on the loop coils206 (indicated by dotted lines in the drawing) is referred to as adetectable area17.
• The tablet1 can retrieve the X coordinate of a position on thedetectable area16 pointed to by theinput stylus21. Similarly, the tablet1 can retrieve the Y coordinate of a position on thedetectable area17 pointed to by theinput stylus21. The tablet1 can retrieve both the X and Y coordinates of a position on theoperation panel12 pointed to by theinput stylus21.
• InFIG. 3, the controllingunit201 is connected to theelectronic device22 external to thecontrolling circuit200. Theelectronic device22 is, for example, a personal computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA), and includes, for example, the displayingunit23 and theoutput unit24. The displayingunit23 includes a screen, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other electronic display. Theoutput unit24 is, for example, a printer.
• The electronic-device22 can execute various types of application programs upon receiving signals from the controllingcircuit200. For example, theelectronic device22 performs scrolling and zooming in and out operations on a screen of the displayingunit23, or performs copy, and cut and paste operations.
• As described above, the tablet1 including thecontrolling circuit200 is used in combination with theinput stylus21. Theinput stylus21 is a position-pointing stylus including a pen-shaped housing having aresonant circuit211.
• Theresonant circuit211, as best shown inFIG. 3, includes acapacitor212 and acoil213. In theresonant circuit211, an induced current is generated from electromagnetic waves having a predetermined frequency sent from the tablet1, and then theresonant circuit211 sends electromagnetic waves having a predetermined frequency to the tablet1, based on the induced current. Thecoil213 is connected to a writing-pressure-detecting unit (not shown) included in theinput stylus21. Inductance in thecoil213 changes in response to the pressure applied to the tip of theinput stylus21, and the resonant frequency of theresonant circuit211 changes.
• The controllingunit201 controls the transmitter/receiver202 so as to retrieve coordinates of the position pointed to by theinput stylus21 and output these coordinates to theelectronic device22.
• Under the control of the controllingunit201, the transmitter/receiver202 selects one of the loop coils205 through the selectingcircuit203. Then, the transmitter/receiver202 controls the selectedloop coil205 so as to send theinput stylus21 electromagnetic waves having a predetermined frequency that generate an induced current in theresonant circuit211, and receives electromagnetic waves generated from this induced current from theinput stylus21. In this way, the transmitter/receiver202 sequentially selects the loop coils205 through the selectingcircuit203 and repeats the operation described above to detect the position of theinput stylus21 in the X axis direction.
• Similarly, under the control of the controllingunit201, the transmitter/receiver202 selects one of the loop coils206 through the selectingcircuit204. Then, the transmitter/receiver202 controls the selectedloop coil206 so as to send theinput stylus21 electromagnetic waves having a predetermined frequency that generate an induced current in theresonant circuit211, and receives electromagnetic waves generated from this induced current from theinput stylus21. In this way, the transmitter/receiver202 sequentially selects the loop coils206 through the selectingcircuit204 and repeats the operation described above to detect the position of theinput stylus21 in the Y axis direction.
• After the operation described above, the controllingunit201 outputs XY coordinates of the positions detected by the transmitter/receiver202 to theelectronic device22. The controllingunit201 also analyzes the electromagnetic waves from theinput stylus21 through the transmitter/receiver202 to detect a change in a resonant frequency in theresonant circuit211 and to detect a pushing operation by theinput stylus21.
• When thetouch pads131 and141 are manipulated, the controllingunit201 retrieves the manipulation positions based on signals from thetouch pads131 and141, and determines whether the manipulation is performed by theinput stylus21 or another instrument other than theinput stylus21, for example, the user's finger. Then, the controllingunit201 generates signals corresponding to the determination result and the manipulation positions, and outputs these signals to theelectronic device22.
• When theswitches132,133,134,135,142,143,144,145 are turned on upon detecting a pushing operation, the controllingunit201 generates signals representing the switches subjected to the pushing operation based on signals from these switches, and outputs the generated signals to theelectronic device22.
• The tablet1 and theelectronic device22 constitute theinput system100. The tablet1 may be also used as an input device for theelectronic device22.
• A typical operation of the tablet1 serving as the input device for theelectronic device22 will now be described with reference toFIG. 5.
• The operation illustrated inFIG. 5 may be implemented by either the function of the controllingunit201 or a program executable in theelectronic device22 connected to the tablet1, for example, a device driver program. In this case, the operation is implemented by the function of the controllingunit201.
• InFIG. 5, an operation that is performed upon detecting a manipulation on thetouch pads131 and141 is illustrated.
• In step S11, the controllingunit201 detects a manipulation on either thetouch pad unit13 or14, based on signals from thetouch pad131 or141. Then, in step S12, the controllingunit201 determines whether the manipulation is performed by theinput stylus21 or an instrument other than theinput stylus21 by comparing the manipulation position on thetouch pad131 or141 and a position of theinput stylus21 detected by the loop coils205 and206. For example, upon detecting the manipulation on thetouch pad131 or141, the controllingunit201 determines that thetouch pad131 or141 is manipulated by theinput stylus21 when the position of theinput stylus21 detected by the loop coils205 and206 is located outside theoperation panel12 and a pushing operation is performed on theinput stylus21.
• Then, the process proceeds to step S13 where the controllingunit201 retrieves the manipulation position on thetouch pad131 or141. Then, in step S14, the controllingunit201 determines whether the manipulation is consecutive. Specifically, the controllingunit201 determines that the manipulation is consecutive when the elapsed time from the last manipulation to the current manipulation in thetouch pad131 or141, which detects the manipulation for this time, is within a predetermined time.
• When the manipulation is not consecutive, the process proceeds to step S15 where the controllingunit201 recognizes the manipulation detected in step S11 as a single switching operation and generates a signal corresponding to this manipulation to be output to theelectronic device22.
• When the manipulation is consecutive, the process proceeds to step S16 where the controllingunit201 performs pulse counting. Specifically, the controllingunit201 counts the number of consecutive manipulations and temporarily holds the positions for every consecutive manipulation when the manipulations are consecutive. Then, the controllingunit201 generates signals representing a count value and the positions for every consecutive manipulation to be output to theelectronic device22.
• Any operations in theelectronic device22 triggered by the signals output from the tablet1 in the operation shown inFIG. 5 can be predetermined. For example, manipulations on theswitches132,133,134,135,142,143,144, and145 may trigger various types of operations on a menu screen of an application program, and manipulations on thetouch pads131 and141 may trigger scrolling and zooming in and out of a screen of the displayingunit23. According to the present invention, the operations in theelectronic device22 triggered by manipulating components of thetouch pad units13 and14 are not limited, and the user can assign any operations to the components of thetouch pad units13 and14.
• As described above, the tablet1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes thetouch pad units13 and14 that can be manipulated by theinput stylus21 or another instrument in addition to theoperation panel12 manipulated by theinput stylus21. Thus, the user can simultaneously perform an operation using theinput stylus21 and another operation on thetouch pad units13 and14 using the other instrument.
• For example, the user can perform an operation using theinput stylus21 in the right hand and another operation on thetouch pad unit14 using the left hand. The user can also manipulate thetouch pad units13 and14 using theinput stylus21 in the right hand.
• In a typical case, when a drawing application program is executed in theelectronic device22, the user can simultaneously draw lines using theinput stylus21 and can manipulate thetouch pad units13 and14 to invoke a menu screen and perform operations on the menu screen and other operations, such as scrolling the screen and zooming in and out. Thus, the user can perform operations other than an application operation so that the application operation flow using theinput stylus21 and the user's thoughts are not interrupted. Unlike known tablets, the tablet1 according to the first embodiment can provide the user with excellent operability.
• Moreover, when the user manipulates thetouch pad units13 and14, it can be determined whether the user manipulation is performed by theinput stylus21 or the other instrument. For example, a manipulation on the components of thetouch pad units13 and14 by theinput stylus21 is distinguished from a manipulation by the other instrument, i.e., the user's finger, so that different functions and operations in theelectronic device22 can be assigned to these types of manipulations. In this arrangement, the user can execute many more functions than the number of the touch pads and switches in thetouch pad units13 and14. That is, various types of operations can be performed with thetouch pad units13 and14, and the tablet1 is thus a flexible input device.
• Moreover, since thetouch pad units13 and14 are provided at both sides of theoperation panel12, the user can use both hands to efficiently perform an input operation. For example, a right-handed user holds theinput stylus21 in the right hand and manipulates thetouch pad unit14 using the left hand. Similarly, a left-handed user holds theinput stylus21 in the left hand and manipulates thetouch pad unit13 using the right hand. Thus, the user can enjoy excellent operability in the input operation.
• Moreover, since theswitches132,133,134,135,142,143,144, and145 have a simple structure, operating errors are less likely to occur even when the user performs the input operation by the nondominant hand, thereby achieving excellent operability. When predetermined operations in theelectronic device22 are assigned to theswitches132,133,134,135,142,143,144, and145, various types of operations can be performed only with thetouch pad units13 and14.
• Moreover, thetouch pads131 and141 use the plurality of push-detectingswitches136 shown inFIG. 2. Thus, thetouch pads131 and141 can reliably detect the user manipulation with a low-cost mechanism.
• In the first embodiment, each of thetouch pads131 and141 includes the plurality of push-detectingswitches136. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, however, and a capacitive touch pad may be used. The capacitive touch pad can detect a touching manipulation in addition to a pushing manipulation. A touch pad including push-detecting switches that detect minute pressure can also detect a touching manipulation including a pushing operation by minute pressure. Moreover, thetouch pad units13 and14 may be located at any positions, for example, at the lower edge of theoperation panel12.
• Moreover, although thetouch pad units13 and14 have one axis in the first embodiment, thetouch pad units13 and14 may have two or more axes to detect a manipulation position in a two-dimensional mode. Other embodiments according to the present invention including such touch pad units will now be described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.
• InFIGS. 6 and 7, components identical to those in the tablet1 shown in FIGS.1 to5 are shown by the same symbols, and the description of these components is omitted.
• FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the overall structure of atablet3 includingtouch pads33 and34, instead of thetouch pad units13 and14.
• Thetablet3 includestouch pads33 and34 at both sides ofoperation panel12. Thetouch pads33 and34 are located outside theoperation panel12 and inside adetectable area17.
• Thetouch pads33 and34 have a strip shape and are wider than thetouch pad131 shown inFIG. 2. Thetouch pads33 and34 can detect a manipulation position in a two-dimensional mode during a pushing manipulation. That is, thetouch pads33 and34 can detect the location of the manipulation position in the horizontal direction and the location of the manipulation position in the vertical direction.
• This arrangement can be implemented by providing the push-detectingswitches136 shown inFIG. 2 in a matrix in thetouch pads33 and34, or by using, for example, a pressure-sensing film for thetouch pads33 and34.
• With thetablet3, the user can simultaneously manipulate theinput stylus21 and thetouch pads33 and34, as in the tablet1 described above. Thus, the same advantages as in the tablet1 can be achieved.
• Moreover, since thetouch pads33 and34 can detect a manipulation position in a two-dimensional mode, the user can perform various types of input operations by a simple manipulation. For example, in a case where a manipulation in which the user's finger or theinput stylus21 moves on thetouch pads33 and34 in a predetermined direction triggers a predetermined operation in theelectronic device22, when the user moves his or her finger or theinput stylus21 in the vertical direction, theelectronic device22 controls the displayingunit23 so as to scroll a screen. When the user moves his or her finger or theinput stylus21 in the horizontal direction, theelectronic device22 controls the displayingunit23 so as to zoom in and out on the screen. Thus, thetablet3 is an input device achieving excellent operability.
• FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the overall structure of a tablet4 includingtouch pads43 and44 instead of thetouch pad units13 and14.
• Thetouch pads43 and44 preferably have the same structure as thetouch pads33 and34 shown inFIG. 6 and can detect a manipulation position in a two-dimensional mode during a pushing manipulation. The tablet4 includes thetouch pads43 and44 at both ends of anoperation panel12.
• In the tablet4, the user can simultaneously manipulate theinput stylus21 and thetouch pads43 and44, as in thetablets1 and3 described above. Thus, the same advantages as in thetablets1 and3 can be achieved.
• Moreover, since thetouch pads43 and44 are disposed within theoperation panel12, the overall size of the tablet4 can be reduced. That is, since the tablet4 does not use thedetectable areas16 and17, unlike thetablets1 and3, the overall size of ahousing11 should be the sum of the size of theoperation panel12 and dimensional tolerance.
• The tablet4 can determines whether a pushing manipulation detected by thetouch pad43 or44 is performed by theinput stylus21 or another instrument. Thus, the tablet4 may be designed so as to ignore a manipulation by theinput stylus21 but accept a manipulation only by instruments other than theinput stylus21. In this arrangement, even when theinput stylus21 erroneously touches thetouch pads43 and44 during a manipulation on theoperation panel12 by theinput stylus21, the manipulation is not interrupted. Only when thetouch pads43 and44 are manipulated by the instruments other than theinput stylus21, for example, the user's finger, operations other than that performed on theoperation panel12 by theinput stylus21 can be performed. This achieves both a reduction in the size and excellent operability in the tablet4.
• In the embodiments described above, details of structures (such as the shapes) of thehousing11, thetouch pad units13 and14, and thetouch pads33,34,43, and44 can be changed if required. Moreover, there is no special limitation on locations of these components, and these components may be located at the interior and/or the exterior of theoperation panel12, as described above.
• The above description illustrates only embodiments according to the present invention, and it should not be construed that the description limits the technical field to which the present invention is applicable.

Claims (18)

1. A position-detecting device detecting a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument, comprising:

an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and

manipulation-detecting means located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by one of the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

2. The position-detecting device according toclaim 1, wherein the position on the operation panel pointed to by the position-pointing instrument is detected by receiving electromagnetic waves to and from the position-pointing instrument.

3. The position-detecting device according toclaim 1 wherein the manipulation-detecting means detects a touching or pushing manipulation.

4. The position-detecting device according toclaim 1, wherein

the manipulation-detecting means detects the manipulation by one of the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument, and

the position-detecting device determines whether the manipulation is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, upon detecting the manipulation through the manipulation-detecting means.

5. The position-detecting device according toclaim 4, wherein the operation panel and an area peripheral to the operation panel form a detectable area detecting the position of the position-pointing instrument,

the manipulation-detecting means is disposed within the detectable area, and

the position-detecting device determines whether the manipulation detected by the manipulation-detecting means is performed by the position-pointing instrument or the second instrument, based on the position of the position-pointing instrument during the manipulation.

6. The position-detecting device according toclaim 5, wherein the manipulation-detecting means is disposed within the operation panel.

7. The position-detecting device according toclaim 1, wherein:

the manipulation-detecting means includes at least a first touch pad unit.

8. The position-detecting device according toclaim 7, wherein:

the at least first touch pad unit includes a plurality of spaced touch switches.

9. The position-detecting device according toclaim 8, wherein:

the spaced touch switches extend parallel to an axis of the operation panel.

10. The position-detecting device according toclaim 7, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit is remote from the operation panel.

11. The position-detecting device according toclaim 10, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit is located within a detectable area of the operation panel.

12. The position-detecting device according toclaim 7, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit is positioned within the operation panel.

13. The position-detecting device according toclaim 7, wherein:

there are at least two touch pad units, each touch pad unit extending along one side of the operation panel.

14. The position-detecting device according toclaim 7, wherein:

the at least one touch pad unit includes a touch pad and a plurality of touch switches.

15. The position-detecting device according toclaim 14, wherein:

the touch pad and touch switches extend parallel to an axis of said operation panel.

16. The position-detecting device according toclaim 7, wherein:

said touch pad unit is operable in at least two axes.

17. An input system comprising:

a position-pointing instrument;

the position-detecting device according to any ofclaims 1 to6 detecting a position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument to output the detected position; and

an electronic device operating based on the detected position from the position-detecting device.

18. A method of operating a position-detecting device for detecting a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument, comprising the steps of:

providing an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument;

providing manipulation-detecting means located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel; and

detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by one of the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

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