Wacom Co., Ltd.

Keiichi Sugiyama

Azuma Murakami

An angle information input apparatus has a main unit and a rotator. The main unit forms a peripheral portion of the input apparatus and has a first position-designating portion. The rotator is rotatable within the main unit and has a second position-designating portion. The input apparatus thus inputs any given angle information according to two positions which are respectively designated by the first and second position-designating portions placed on a tablet. Both first and second position-designating portions are displaced from the center position of the rotator. The distance between the first position-designating portion and the center position of the rotator is different from the distance between the second position-designating portion and the center position of the rotator. Accordingly, angle information is input only when the rotator is rotated, but it is not input when the input apparatus itself is merely moved.

Angle information input apparatus

A coordinate input device includes a casing having an upper surface and a lower surface which are not parallel to each other. A columnar position designating member is disposed within the casing. The angle of the position designating member as viewed from the upper surface is different from that as viewed from the lower surface. One of the upper surface and the lower surface is placed on a tablet. The coordinate input device thus designates and inputs coordinates while determining which surface of the casing is placed on the tablet. At least one of the designating positions of the position designating member is located in the vicinity of an edge of one of the upper surface and the lower surface, and an indicator is provided at a portion corresponding to the designating position. Thus, information on the tablet designated by the position designating member can be input regardless of which surface of the casing is placed on the tablet, thereby enhancing ease of operation of the coordinate input device.

Coordinate input device

A position indicator for use in an input coordinate device for providing a desired coordinate point on a position detecting plane, comprises a chassis having both a pen shaped portion formed by a substantially cylindrical portion and a mouse portion including a flat bottom; a first indicating circuit, disposed within the pen shaped portion, including a core body having an end extending externally from the pen shaped portion and a first switch; a second indicating circuit, disposed within the mouse portion, including a second switch; a third switch adapted to inhibit operation of the first indicating circuit when the second indicating circuit is being used; and a movable member extending from the flat bottom such that the member is engageable with the detecting plane when the mouse portion is in use, the member being operably connected to the third switch such that movement of the member when engaged with the detecting plane is effective to operate the third switch so as to render the first indicating circuit inoperative when the mouse portion is in use.

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Kazo, Japan

Keiichi Sugiyama