WO2012128159A1

WO2012128159A1 - Desk notepad device

Info

Publication number: WO2012128159A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/056612
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yusuke Shimizu; Kei Nakamura; Akito NINOMIYA
Original assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
Priority date: 2011-03-24
Filing date: 2012-03-08
Publication date: 2012-09-27
Also published as: TW201246016A; JP2012203576A

Abstract

A desk notepad device is provided which records the movement path of a writing implement to store the movement path as electronic data by merely writing a note directly on a paper sheet placed within a frame with the writing implement. This desk notepad device includes a desk notepad tool, and an optical sensor including at least one pair of light-emitting and light-receiving elements mounted to a rectangular frame. The optical sensor senses the interception of light beams traveling from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element which is caused by the writing implement within the frame to thereby output information about the position of the writing implement. When a writing operation is performed on a paper sheet revealed within the frame of this optical sensor, the movement path of the tip of the writing implement is stored as electronic data in a storage means.

Description

DESK NOTEPAD DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a desk notepad device including an optical position detecting means.

Background Art

There are some notepad tools, such as electronic note processors, that digitally process notes and the like (see Japanese Patent No. 3746378) . For example, an electronic notepad device which converts handwritten notes and the like into digital form (into images ) includes a display (a touch panel) with a touch sensor which is capable of displaying inputted notes and the like thereon. By bringing a finger, a purpose-built stylus and the like into contact with the display and then moving the tip thereof, the movement path of the tip of the finger and the like or handwriting (position information) is inputted as information such as a note to appear on the aforementioned display and the like . Also, the movement path of the tip appearing on the aforementioned display and the like is stored as electronic data such as an image in the aforementioned electronic notepad device.

The electronic notepad device as described above includes a touch position detecting means for detecting the touch position of the purpose-built stylus, a finger of a person who manipulates a device and the like two-dimensionally (in x- and y-direct ions ) . In cooperation with displays produced on a flat display such as a monitor and a liquid crystal screen disposed under the panel of the monitor, the touch position detecting means allows a user to manipulate the aforementioned electronic notepad device and the like. Conventionally, examples of this touch posit ion detect ing means (the touch sensor) used in many cases include those employing a resistive method, a capacitive method, an electromagnet ic induction method and the like from the viewpoints of costs , performance, durability and the like. The touch panels based on these methods have a structure such that a large number of electrical contacts are arranged in a matrix near the surface of each of the panels.

Summary of Invention

An electronic notepad device as mentioned above is convenient because a user can easily enter characters and the like thereinto. However, there is still a strong demand mainly from users unskilled in the manipulation of computers, electronic information devices and the like and from elderly people . to leave notes so that their handwriting is left directly on media such as paper sheets, rather than such electronic notes that their handwriting, characters and the like appear on a display and the like.

A desk notepad device is provided which records the movement path of a writing implement and the like to store the movement path as electronic data by merely writing a note and the like directly on a paper sheet placed within a frame with the writing implement.

The desk notepad device comprises a desk notepad tool capable of having a paper sheet filed therein, the paper sheet capable of being written upon by a writing implement; a frame-shaped optical sensor surrounding at least part of the paper sheet, the optical sensor including a rectangular frame, and at least one pair of light-emitting and light-receiving elements mounted to the rectangular frame, the optical sensor sensing the interception of light beams traveling from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element which is caused in association with the writing implement within the frame to thereby output information about the position of the writing implement within the frame; and a storage means for storing therein the movement path of a tip of the writing implement as electronic data when a writing operation is performed on part of the paper sheet revealed within the frame of the optical sensor with the writing implement.

The desk notepad device includes the

aforementioned frame-shaped optical sensor placed on a writing paper sheet so that at least part of the paper sheet is revealed within the frame thereof , and the storage means for storing therein the movement path information about the writing implement obtained from this optical sensor as electronic data. Thus, when the writing operation is performed on part of the paper sheet revealed within the frame of the aforementioned optical sensor with the writing implement and the like, the path (handwriting) is left on the aforementioned paper sheet, and is also stored as electronic data in the aforementioned storage means. Thus, the desk notepad device

automatically converts the movement path of the writing implement into electronic form by merely writing a note and the like directly on the paper sheet placed within the frame with the writing implement without giving special consideration to the conversion into electronic form. Also, the aforementioned information in electronic form may be taken (reproduced) from the aforementioned storage means by the use of a personal computer and the like. The sharing of the information with others and the storing of knowledge, records and the like are accomplished easily. This provides convenience .

The desk notepad device includes, as a means (optical sensor) for detecting the touch position of the tip of the writing implement, the optical sensor

(described above) including the rectangular frame, and the at least one pair of light-emitting and

light-receiving elements mounted to the rectangular frame , the optical sensor sensing the interception of light beams traveling from the aforementioned light-emitting element to the light-receiving element which is caused in association with the writing implement within the aforementioned frame to thereby output information about the position of the writing implement within the frame. The surface for the detection of the touch position has no electrical (physical) contacts. The desk notepad device therefore has high durability, and is less susceptible to dust, contamination, and the like.

Additionally, a high writing pressure as in a resistive method, a capacitive method, an elect romagnetic induct ion method and the like is not required during the writing operation with the writ ing implement . Thus, the writing operation is performed in a natural manner without concern for the sensor.

The desk notepad device employs, as the aforementioned frame-shaped optical sensor, an optical sensor such that: the frame of the optical sensor includes first and second sections opposed to each other in the form of the frame; light-emitting elements are arranged in the first section and light-receiving elements are arranged in the second section; the light-emitting elements and the light-receiving elements are positioned to face an interior of the frame; and light beams emitted from the light-emitting elements toward the

light-receiving elements produce a lattice of vertical and horizontal light beams crossing each other within the frame, can employ general-purpose components, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and the like serving as these light-emitting elements (a light source) and photodiodes (PDs) serving as the light-receiving elements. This advantageously allows the formation of the aforementioned optical sensor at low costs.

Additional advantages lie in high impact resistance and in high durability.

The desk notepad device employs, as the aforementioned frame-shaped optical sensor., an optical sensor such that: modules each including a

light-receiving element array composed of a plurality of light-receiving elements and the light-emitting element in vertically stacked relation are disposed on two corners, respectively, on opposite ends of one side among the four sides of the frame of the optical sensor; a tape-like retroreflector is provided on the inner side surface of three sides other than the one side lying between these modules; and light beams emitted from the light-emitting element of one of the modules are reflected from the retroreflector to travel back into the light-receiving element array of the one module, can specify the position of the tip of the aforementioned writing implement by triangulat ion through the use of a small number of components. This desk notepad device also has the advantage of being formed at low costs by using general-purpose components.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an overall configuration of a desk notepad device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the desk notepad device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3(a) is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the desk notepad device according to a second embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by Z thereof. Description of Embodiments Next, embodiments according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an overall configuration of a desk notepad device according to an embodiment .

This desk notepad device includes a frame-shaped optical sensor S surrounding at least part of a paper sheet W (a sheet included in a desk notepad tool N) capable of being written upon by a writing implement P, and a storage means M for storing the movement path of the tip of the writing implement P within the frame of the optical sensor S as electronic data. The aforementioned optical sensor S includes a rectangular frame 1, and at least one pair of light-emitting and light-receiving elements (both not shown) mounted to this frame 1. The optical sensor S senses the interception of light beams traveling from the aforementioned light-emitting element to the light-receiving element which is caused in association with the writing implement P within the aforementioned frame 1 to thereby output information about the position of the aforementioned writing implement P and the like within the frame 1.

A communication (power) cable (optional), a battery for driving the communication (power) cable, a control means such as a driver for the aforementioned light-emitting element and the light-receiving element, and a communication means (wired or wireless) for communicating with information devices such as personal computers are incorporated in a thick-walled thick-frame section 2 and the like in the aforementioned desk notepad device, but all are not shown.

In a case where the aforementioned optical sensor and the storage means are integrally formed as a storage device in the aforementioned desk notepad device and the storage device is placeable on or removable from a paper sheet when the aforementioned optical sensor is placed on the paper sheet, the desk notepad device is convenient because the aforementioned paper sheet can be easily replaced with a new one. Further, even when the paper sheet is replacedwithanewone, the aforementioned stored information (the movement path) may be easily taken (reproduced) from the storage means of the aforementioned storage device by the use of a personal computer and the like .

As a specific example of the aforementioned desk notepad device, the desk notepad device according to a first embodiment will be described in which a large number of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) serving as light-emitting elements ( a light source ) and a large number of photodiodes (PDs) serving as light-receiving elements are arranged in the frame 1 of an optical sensor SI to form a lattice of light beams for the detection of the tip T of the writing implement P within the frame of the optical sensor SI.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the desk notepad device according to the first embodiment. For ease of description in this figure, the direction of the short sides XI and X2 of the frame 1 is defined as a horizontal direction

(x-direction) whereas the direction of the long sides Yl and Y2 of the frame 1 is defined as a vertical direction ( y-direct ion ) , and light beams ( invisible infrared light ) in a lattice form within the frame 1 are indicated by dash-double-dot lines. The number of LEDs and PDs and the number of light beams in a lattice form are shown as abbreviated, and electrical interconnect lines and the like within this frame 1 are indicated by dotted lines. A battery for driving the desk notepad device, a communication means _ ( a cable or, a,,, radio antenna) for communicating with information devices such as personal computers, and the like are not shown (the same applies to Fig. 3 to be described later) .

The desk notepad device according to this first embodiment includes: the optical sensor SI having a,touch position detecting means for detecting the position (x and y coordinates) of the tip (the touch position T) of the writing implement P in the rectangular region (sensing region) within the frame-shaped frame 1 by being placed on a paper sheet W capable of being written upon by the writing implement P; and a storage means M (built-in) for storing movement path information (change in x and y positions) about the tip position of the writing implement P obtained by this optical sensor SI and also serving as a control means for the light-emitting elements and the light-receiving elements.

As shown in FIG. 2, a light source including a large number of LEDs 3 serving as a light-emitting section of the aforementioned touch position detecting means and arranged within the frame 1 are provided in part of the frame 1 of the optical sensor SI. A light-receiving section including a large number of PDs 4 corresponding to the respective LEDs 3 is provided in part (the sides X2 and Y2) of the frame 1 opposed to the part (the sides XI and Yl) of the frame 1 where the aforementioned LEDs 3 are arranged. These LEDs 3 and the PDs 4 are arranged and posit ioned along the inner edges of the aforementioned frame-shaped frame 1 so that the tips thereof face inward. Under the control of the storage means M serving also as a controller (control means) for both the LEDs 3 and the PDs 4, the aforementioned LEDs 3 are caused to emit light beams simultaneously or sequentially in a scanning direction, thereby forming a lattice, of vertical and horizontal light beams orthogonal to each other

(dash-double-dot lines ) in the rectangular sensing region within the frame 1.

Infrared LEDs ( infrared light-emitting diodes ) of the type which emits near-infrared light beams (at a wavelength of 700 to 2500 nm) are preferable as the LEDs 3 used as the aforementioned light-emitting element s (the light source) . A linear sensor array including a large number of light-receiving elements arranged in a line in the form of a bar or an array, an image sensor, and the like in addition to the aforementioned photodiodes (PDs) may be used as the light-receiving elements.

The detection of the touch position T of the writing implement P using the desk notepad device according to the aforementioned first embodiment is done by the following procedure. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical sensor SI (the storage device) including the storage means M serving also as the controller is removably placed on a paper sheet W so as to surround at least part of the paper sheet W. Next, for calibration, while the LEDs 3 of the aforementioned light-emitting section are caused to emit light beams sequentially one by one (from the end), the intensity of light beams (lattice light beams) reaching the PDs 4 corresponding to (opposed to) the LEDs 3 is measured when the light beams are emitted and when the light beams are not emitted, and threshold values for the detection and non-detection of an object based on the interception of light beams are determined for each of the PDs 4, and are stored in the form of a table and the like in the aforementioned storage means M.

Next, the storage means M serving also as the aforementioned controller causes the aforementioned LEDs 3 to sequentially emit light beams. While the sensing region of the optical sensor SI is scanned, the tip of the writing implement P is brought down onto part of the paper sheet W revealed within the frame of this optical sensor SI. Then,' as shown in FIG. 2, some of the light beams traveling in a lattice form within the

aforementioned frame are intercepted by the tip of the writing implement P. Such an intercepted location is sensed by corresponding ones of the PDs 4 of the aforementioned touch position detecting means, whereby the coordinate positions (x and y axes; with reference to the "touch position T" in FIG. 2) of the tip of the aforementioned writing implement P within the frame are specified. The coordinates are stored in the aforementioned storage means .

Then, when a user moves the aforementioned writing implement P to write a note and the like, the path (written information such as the note and the like) of the tip of the aforementioned writing implement P in accordance with the movement is detected, and the path is stored as digital data (electronic data) in the aforementioned storage means . That is, at the same time that the user writes a note and the like on part of the paper sheet W revealed within the frame of the optical sensor SI with the writing implement P, the information such as the note and the like is recorded in a memory and the like in the storage means M serving also as the aforementioned controller .

The desk notepad device according to the first embodiment as mentioned above automatically converts the movement path of a writing implement into electronic form by merely writing a note and the like directly on the paper sheet placed within the frame with the writing implement without giving special consideration to the conversion into electronic form. Also, the

aforementioned information in electronic form may be taken (reproduced) from the aforementioned storage means M by the use of a personal computer and the like. The sharing of the information with others and the storing of knowledge, records and the like are accom lished easily Further, the desk notepad device according to the aforementioned first embodiment may employ

general-purpose components, for example, the

light-emitting diodes (LEDs) serving as the

light-emitting elements (the light source) and the photodiodes (PDs) serving as the light-receiving element s This is advantageous in allowing the formation of the desk notepad device at low costs.

Next, the desk notepad device according to a second embodiment will be described which includes modules (CI and C2) disposed on two corners, respectively, of the frame 1 of an optical sensor S2 and each including a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element array, and which specifies the position of the tip of the writing implement P within the frame by a triangulation method by means of the two modules.

FIG. 3(a) is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the desk notepad device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 3(b) is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by Z of FIG. 3(a) . Also in these figures, the direction of the short sides XI and X2 of the frame 1 is defined as a horizontal direction (x-direction) whereas the direction of the long sides Yl and Y2 of the frame 1 is defined as a vertical direction (y-direction) , and a battery, a communication means and the like which are provided in the aforementioned thick-frame section 2 are not shown.

The desk notepad device according to this second embodiment also includes: the optical sensor S2 having a touch position detecting means for detecting the position (x and y coordinates) of the tip (the touch position T) of the writing implement P in the rectangular region (sensing region) within the frame-shaped frame 1 by being placed on a paper sheet W capable of being written upon by the writing implement P; and the storage means (built-in) for storing movement path information (change in x and y positions) about the tip position of the writing implement P obtained by this optical sensor S2.

The desk notepad device according to the aforementioned second embodiment is different from the desk notepad device according to the above first embodiment in that the light-receiving and -emitting modules (camera modules CI and C2) each including a vertical combination of the light-emitting element (LED 3) and the light-receiving element array (an image sensor 5) as shown in FIG. 3(b) are disposed on corners la and lb, respectively, on opposite ends of one side (in this example, X2) among the four sides of the frame 1 of the optical sensor S2, and in that a tape-like retroreflector (a retroreflective tape 6) is affixed to the inner side surface of three sides (XI, Yl and Y2 ) other than the aforementioned one side (X2) lying between these camera modules CI and C2, as shown in FIG. 3(a) . The storage means M serves also as a controller (control means) for the LEDs 3 andthe image sensors 5, as in the aforementioned first embodiment.

In the optical sensor S2 according to the aforementioned second embodiment having this

configuration, light beams emitted from the LEDs 3 in the respective camera modules CI and C2 are reflected from the aforementioned retroreflect ive tape 6 to travel back toward the camera modules CI and C2 from which the light beams are emitted, so that crossing of radial light beams occurs within the frame in such a manner that the light beams from each of the camera modules Cl and C2 diverge in a ripple or wave pattern, as shown in FIG. 3 (a) .

Infrared LEDs ( infrared 1 ight-emitt ing diodes ) of the type which emits near-infrared light beams (at a wavelength of 700 to.2500 nm) are preferable as the light-emitting elements (the light source) for the aforementioned camera modules Cl and C2. An image sensor such as CCD and CMOS image sensors, a CMOS linear sensor array including a large number of light-receiving elements arranged in a line, and the like may be used as the light-receiving element array.

The retroreflector attached to the inner side surface of the three sides (XI, Yl and Y2 ) of the aforementioned frame 1 may be either of a microprism type or of a glass bead type. For ease of handling, the tape-like form is used as the ret roref lector in the aforementioned example. Instead, a coating having a retroreflect ive property and the like may be applied to the inner side surface of the aforementioned three sides (XI, Yl and Y2 ) .

The detection of the touch position T of the writing implement P using the desk notepad device according to the aforementioned second embodiment is done by the following procedure. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical sensor S2 (the storage device) including the storage means M serving also as the controller is removably placed on a paper sheet W so as to surround at least part of the paper sheet W. Next, for calibration, while the LEDs 3 of the aforementioned respective camera modules CI and C2 are caused to emit light beams, the intensity of light beams ( retroreflected light beams) traveling back to the- image sensors 5 of the respective camera modules Cl and C2 is measured when the light beams are emitted and when the light beams are not emitted, and threshold values for the detection and non-detection of an object based on the interception of light beams are determined for each of the camera modules Cl and C2, and are stored in the form of a table and the like in the aforementioned storage means M.

Next, while the storage means M serving also as the aforementioned controller causes the aforementioned LEDs 3 to emit light beams, the tip of the writing implement P is brought down onto part of the paper sheet W revealed within the frame of this optical sensor S2. Then, as shown in FIG. 3(a), some of the crossing light beams traveling within the aforementioned frame are intercepted bythe tip of the writing implement P. Such an intercepted location is sensed by corresponding light-receiving elements in the aforementioned camera modules Cl and C2. Using a computation device and the like (not shown) , the intercepted (light-intercepted) position sensed by the storage means M serving also as the aforementioned controller is determined by the triangulat ion method, and the coordinate positions (x and y axes; with reference to the "touch. position T" in FIG. 3(a)) of the tip of the aforementioned writing implement P within the frame are specified. The coordinates are stored in the storage means M. Then, when a user moves the aforementioned writing implement W to write a note and the like, the path (written information such as the note and the like) of the tip of the aforementioned writing implement P in accordance with the movement is detected and computed, and digital data (electronic data) about the path is stored in the aforementioned storage means M. That is, at the same time that the user writes a note and the like on part ^• of the paper sheet W revealed within the frame of the optical sensor S2 with the writing implement P, the information such as the note and the like is recorded in a memory and the like in the storage means M serving also as the aforementioned controller.

The desk notepad device according to the second embodiment as mentioned above automatically converts the movement path of a writing implement into electronic form by merely writing a note and the like directly on the paper sheet placed within the frame with the writing implement without giving special consideration to the

desk notepad device according to the aforementioned second embodiment may employ general-purpose components, for example, the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) serving as the

light-emitting elements (the light source) and the image sensors such as CCD and CMOS image sensors serving as the light-receiving element array . Combined with a small number of optical components constituting the desk notepad device, this allows the formation of the desk notepad device at low costs.

The optical sensor described in each of the aforementioned first and second embodiments was placed on a paper sheet for the desk notepad tool. A note was written on part of the paper sheet revealed within the frame with a writing implement. Then, each desk notepad device and a notebook-sized personal computer were connected to each other via a wireless LAN so that communication was established therebetween.

Information stored in a memory of the aforementioned desk notepad device was reproduced using the notebook-sized personal computer. The result was that both the desk notepad device according to the aforementioned first embodiment and the desk notepad device according to the second embodiment were able to cause a note identical with that written on the aforementioned paper sheet to appear on a display of the aforementioned notebook-sized personal computer.

Although a specific form of embodiment of the instant invention has been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in order to be more clearly understood, the above description is made by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the instant invention. It is contemplated that various modifications apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art could be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is tobe determined by the following claims .

The desk notepad device according to the present invention is capable of converting information such as a note into electronic form at the same time that the information such as the note is written on a paper sheet revealed within the frame.

Claims

1. A desk notepad device comprising:

a desk notepad tool capable of having a paper sheet filed therein, the paper sheet capable of being written upon by a writing implement;

a frame-shaped optical sensor surrounding at least part of the paper sheet, the optical sensor including a rectangular frame, and at least one pair of

light-emitting and light-receiving elements mounted to the rectangular frame, the optical sensor sensing the interception of light beams traveling from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element which is caused in association with the writing implement within the frame to thereby output information^' about the position of the writing implement within the frame; and a storage means for storing therein a movement path of a tip of the writing implement as electronic data when a writing operation is performed on part of the paper sheet revealed within the frame of the optical sensor with the writing implement.

2. The desk notepad device according to claim 1, wherein the frame of the frame-shaped optical sensor includes first and second sections opposed to each other in the form of the frame;

wherein light-emitting elements are arranged in the first section and light-receiving elements are arranged in the second section;

wherein the light-emitting elements and the light-receiving elements are positioned to face an interior of the frame; and

wherein light beams emitted from the

light-emitting elements toward the light-receiving elements produce a lattice of vertical and horizontal light beams crossing each other within the frame.

3. The desk notepad device according to claim 1, wherein modules each including a light-receiving element array composed of a plurality of the

light-receiving elements and the light-emitting element in a vertically stacked relation are disposed on two corners, respectively, on opposite ends of one side among the four sides of the frame of the frame-shaped optical sensor;

wherein a tape-like ret roreflector is provided on the inner side surface of three sides other than the one side lying between the modules; and

wherein light beams emitted from the

light-emitting element of one of the modules are reflected from the ret roreflector to travel back into the light-receiving element array of the one module.