Spatial Position Detection for Electronic Pen Hover Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems require device inclination changes for mode switching and suffer from decreased temporal resolution in time-division based switching between touch and non-contact detection, leading to inefficiencies in spatial position indication.
Innovation Solution
A spatial position indication system that seamlessly switches between contact and hover modes by detecting the electronic pen's position using a combination of an indicated position detecting device and a spatial position detecting device based on separation distance, ensuring continuous operation without manual adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If time-division based switching between touch sensor and noncontact detection means is used, then both detection modes can be supported, but temporal resolution of each mode decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection space is segmented into two distinct regions: a first detection region close to the input surface detected by the touch sensor, and a second detection region farther from the surface detected by the noncontact detection means. This spatial segmentation allows both detection modes to operate simultaneously without time-division multiplexing, thereby maintaining high temporal resolution while supporting multiple detection modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from time-division multiplexing to spatial-division multiplexing by utilizing the third dimension (distance from the input surface) to differentiate between detection modes. The touch sensor detects objects within a first distance range, while the noncontact detection means detects objects at a second distance range, effectively adding spatial dimensionality to resolve the temporal resolution conflict.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device inclination changes are made for mode switching, then operational modes can be adjusted, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the appropriate detection mode based on the detected position of the electronic pen relative to the input surface. When the pen is close to the surface, the touch sensor mode is automatically selected; when the pen is farther away, the noncontact detection mode is automatically selected. This eliminates the need for manual device inclination changes or user intervention for mode switching, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability.
3Reliability
If separate processes are used for two-dimensional drawing and three-dimensional representation, then processing clarity is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a unified spatial position indication mechanism that seamlessly handles both two-dimensional drawing operations and three-dimensional representation operations. The same electronic pen and detection system serve multiple functions by automatically adapting to the appropriate detection mode based on the pen's position, eliminating the need for separate processing pipelines and improving operational efficiency while maintaining processing clarity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A spatial position indication system is provided which enables an operator of an electronic pen to perform drawing while seamlessly switching between drawing by line drawing and drawing by gesture. The spatial position indication system includes an electronic pen, an indicated position detecting device unit, a spatial position detecting device unit, and a selecting unit. The indicated position detecting device unit detects a position indicated by the electronic pen in a detection region including a hover region over an input surface. The spatial position detecting device unit detects the position of the electronic pen in a spatial region including at least a part of the hover region of the indicated position detecting device unit separately from and independently of the indicated position detecting device unit. On the basis of detection output of the position indicated by the electronic pen and spatial position detection output, the selecting unit performs selection control so as to use one of the indicated position detection output and the spatial position detection output according to a separation distance of the electronic pen from the input surface when a drawing image to be displayed on a display unit is generated.