Coordinate input apparatus and method, coordinate input pointing device, storage medium, and computer program

A coordinate input method in which a fixed unit fixed at a predetermined position and a pointing device operated by a user are used, and the pointing device is used to input coordinate data representing coordinates, comprising:

• a first transmission step of transmitting a first signal representing a start of operation from the pointing device to the fixed unit;
• a first reception step of receiving the first signal by the fixed unit;
• a second transmission step of transmitting a second signal representing a direction of presence of the fixed unit itself to the pointing device;
• a second reception step of receiving the second signal by the pointing device;
• and
• a calculation step of calculating the coordinate data in the pointing device on the basis of the second signal,
• wherein said pointing device comprises a plurality of line sensors laid out in different directions
• wherein each of said line sensors comprises a linear photoelectric conversion element having a circulative charge transfer path constituted by a plurality of cells,
• wherein said line sensor is constructed to transfer charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element for a charge transfer path connected to the circulative charge transfer path as a branch and then transfer the charges to the circulative charge transfer path, or transfer the charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element directly to the circulative charge transfer path.

A coordinate input pointing device operated by a user and used to input coordinate data representing coordinates to a fixed unit fixed at a predetermined position, comprising:

• transmission means for transmitting a first signal to the fixed unit;
• reception means for receiving a second signal from the fixed unit;
• and
• coordinate calculation means for calculating the coordinate data on the basis of the second signal received by said reception means,
• wherein the coordinate data calculated on the basis of the second signal is transmitted to the fixed unit as the first signal,
• wherein said reception means comprises a plurality of line sensors laid out in different directions,
• wherein each of said line sensors comprises a linear photoelectric conversion element having a circulative charge transfer path constituted by a plurality of cells,
• wherein said line sensor is designed to transfer charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element to a charge transfer path connected to the circulative charge transfer path as a branch and then transfer the charges to the circulative charge transfer path, or transfer the charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element directly to the circulative charge transfer path.

A coordinate input apparatus comprising

• a pointing device and a main body unit, said coordinate input apparatus for inputting coordinate information indicated by said pointing device,
• wherein said main body unit comprises:
• first detection means for detecting a first incident direction defined as an incident direction of light emitted from said pointing device with reference to said main body unit, and
• first calculation means for calculating 3D translation information of said pointing device with respect to said main body unit on the basis of a detection result from said first detection means, and
• wherein said pointing device comprises:
• second detection means for detecting a second incident direction defined as a relative incident direction of light emitted from said main body unit with reference to said pointing device, and
• second calculation means for calculating 3-axis rotation information of said pointing device on the basis of a detection result from said second detection means, and
• wherein calculation results calculated by said first and second calculation means are substantially simultaneously output,
• wherein each of said first and second detection means comprises a plurality of line sensors laid out in different directions,
• wherein each of said line sensors comprises a linear photoelectric conversion element having a circulative charge transfer path constituted by a plurality of cells, and
• wherein said line sensor is constructed to transfer charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element to a charge transfer path connected to the circulative charge transfer path as a branch and then transfer the charges to the circulative charge transfer path, or transfer the charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element directly to the circulative charge transfer path.

A coordinate input method of using a pointing device and a main body unit and inputting coordinate information indicated by the pointing device, comprising:

• a first detection step of detecting, by the main body unit, a first incident direction defined as an incident direction of light emitted from the pointing device with reference to the main body unit;
• a first calculation step of calculating 3D translation information of the pointing device with respect to the main body unit on the basis of a detection result in the first detection step;
• a second detection step of detecting, by the pointing device, a second incident direction defined as a relative incident direction of light emitted from the main body unit with reference to the pointing device;
• and
• a second calculation step of calculating 3-axis rotation information of the pointing device on the basis of a detection result in the second detection step,
• wherein calculation results calculated in the first and second calculation steps are substantially simultaneously output,
• wherein said pointing device comprises a plurality of line sensors laid out in different directions
• wherein each of said line sensors comprises a linear photoelectric conversion element having a circulative charge transfer path constituted by a plurality of cells, and
• said line sensor is designed to transfer charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element to a charge transfer path connected to the circulative charge transfer path as a branch and then transfer the charges to the circulative charge transfer path, or transfer the charges simultaneously from all pixels of an arbitrary linear photoelectric conversion element directly to the circulative charge transfer path.

A coordinate input apparatus which comprises a pointing device and a main body unit, said coordinate input apparatus for inputting coordinate information indicated by said pointing device,

• wherein said main body unit comprises:
• first light-emitting means for emitting light,
• first detection means for detecting the light emitted from said pointing device, and
• wherein said pointing device comprises:
• second light-emitting means for emitting light, and
• second detection means for detecting the light emitted from said main body unit,
• wherein a first light-emitting operation of said first light-emitting means has a first correspondence relationship synchronized with a second detection operation of said second detection means,
• wherein a second light-emitting operation of said second light-emitting means has a second correspondence relationship synchronized with a first detection operation of said first detection means,
• wherein said first and second correspondence relationships satisfy a predetermined condition,
• wherein said first detection means comprises a first line sensor having a first electronic shutter function synchronized with a first blink pattern period of the light which is emitted from said pointing device in accordance with a first blink pattern,
• wherein said first line sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between charges accumulated during an ON period of the first blink pattern and those accumulated during an OFF period,
• wherein said second detection means comprises a second line sensor having a second electronic shutter function synchronized with a second blink pattern period of the light which is emitted from said main body unit in accordance with a second blink pattern, and
• wherein said second line sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between charges accumulated during an ON period of the second blink pattern and those accumulated during an OFF period.

A coordinate input method of using a pointing device and a main body unit and inputting coordinate information indicated by the pointing device, comprising:

• the first light-emitting step of emitting light from the main body unit;
• the first detection step of detecting, by the main body unit, light emitted from the pointing device;
• the second light-emitting step of emitting light from the pointing device;
• and
• the second detection step of detecting, by the pointing device, the light emitted from the main body unit,
• wherein first light-emitting operation in the first light-emitting step has a first correspondence relationship synchronized with second detection operation in the second detection step,
• second light-emitting operation in the second light-emitting step has a second correspondence relationship synchronized with first detection operation in the first detection step, and
• the first and second correspondence relationships satisfy a predetermined condition,
• wherein said main body unit comprises a first line sensor having a first electronic shutter function synchronized with a first blink pattern period of the light which is emitted from said pointing device in accordance with a first blink pattern,
• wherein said first line sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between charges accumulated during an ON period of the first blink pattern and those accumulated during an OFF period,
• wherein said pointing device comprises a second line sensor having a second electronic shutter function synchronized with a second blink pattern period of the light which is emitted from said main body unit in accordance with a second blink pattern, and
• wherein said second line sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between charges accumulated during an ON period of the second blink pattern and those accumulated during an OFF period.