Coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus, method and computer program product designed to precisely recognize a designating state of a designating device designating a position

• Main Authors: Omura, Katsuyuki, Tsuda, Kunikazu, Sato, Mitsuru
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.11.2003

A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus for optically detecting a position of a designating device inserted into a flat or substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the apparatus includes a coordinate determining device to determine two-dimensional coordinates of the designating device in the coordinate inputting/detecting area. A distance determining device determines a distance of the designating device from a surface of the coordinate inputting/detecting area when the designating device is located on or in vicinity to the coordinate inputting/detecting area. A storing device stores information of the two-dimensional coordinates determined by the coordinates determining device and information of the distance determined by the distance determining device so as to be associated with each other. A coordinates change detecting/storing device detects a change of the two-dimensional coordinates information at a predetermined time interval and stores the detected change of the two-dimensional coordinates information. A distance change detecting/storing device detects a change of the distance information at a predetermined time interval and stores the detected change of the distance information. A state allocating device allocates at least one designating state among designating states of the designating device stored in advance, based upon the coordinate change information and the distance change information.