DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0053] A description will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of embodiments of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of an optical unit of an embodiment of a coordinate input and detection device according to the present invention and optical paths of projected and reflected light beams in the optical unit. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an overall structure of the coordinate input and detection device. FIG. 4 is a diagram for illustrating a detection region on a touch panel 10 covered by a pair of the optical units 1 L and 1 R.

[0055] According to FIG. 3 , the coordinate input and detection device includes the touch panel 10 and a pair of the optical units 1 L and 1 R each provided slantwise on a corresponding corner portion of the bottom side of the touch panel 10 . Each of the optical units 1 L and 1 R includes an optical system including a light source 3 , a CCD 13 , a half mirror 11 , cylindrical lenses 9 a through 9 c , a condenser lens (image formation lens) 12 , and a filter 4 ; The light source 3 and the cylindrical lenses 9 a through 9 c form a light emitting part 6 , and the CCD 13 and the condenser lens 12 form a light receiving part 7 .

[0056] A retroreflective sheet 2 that is a reflective member is provided on the three sides other than the bottom side of the touch panel 10 . The retroreflective sheet 2 , which is, for instance, an arrangement of numerous cylindrical corner cubes, has the characteristic of reflecting an incident light to the same optical path.

[0057] The retroreflective sheet 2 is provided on the three sides other than the bottom side of the touch panel 10 and the optical units 1 L and 1 R are provided on the left and right corners of the bottom side of the touch panel 10 , respectively, because the reflection efficiency of the retroreflective sheet 2 may be deteriorated by dust prone to collect thereon if the retroreflective sheet 2 is disposed on the bottom side of the touch panel 10 .

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4 , light beams projected from the optical units 1 L and 1 R spread out in sector shapes covering regions within angles θA and θB, respectively, in a direction parallel to a panel surface 10 a of the touch panel 10 so that a position can be detected in almost all the region of the panel surface 10 a . As the angles θA and θB become greater, the sector-shaped light beams cover a greater region of the panel surface 10 a , so that an extensive position detection is performable.

[0059] Each of the light beams projected from the optical units 1 L and 1 R is a parallel beam having a uniform thickness in a direction perpendicular to the panel surface 10 a.

[0060] In FIG. 3 , for convenience of description, the sector-shaped light beam projected from the optical unit 1 L is formed of a bundle of lights L 1 through Lm, and similarly, the sector-shaped light beam projected from the optical unit 1 R is formed of a bundle of lights R 1 through Rm.

[0061] The light beams projected from the optical units 1 L and 1 R travel parallel to the panel surface 10 a of the touch panel 10 to reach the retroreflective sheet 2 provided on the three sides of the touch panel 10 . Upon reaching the retroreflective sheet 2 , the respective light beams are reflected back therefrom to the optical units 1 L and 1 R through the same optical paths as indicated by reflected lights L 2 ′ and R 2 ′ in FIG. 3 .

[0062] However, if an interrupting object such as an indicator P exists on the panel surface 10 a , projected lights hitting the interrupting object are interrupted thereby and do not reach the retroreflective sheet 2 . Therefore, the projected lights are never reflected back from the retroreflective sheet 2 to the respective optical units 1 L and 1 R.

[0063] Directions from which the projected lights are not reflected back can be detected from detection signals generated by the light receiving parts 7 in the respective optical units 1 L and 1 R. Based on the detection signals generated by the light receiving parts 7 in the respective optical units 1 L and 1 R, an operation part 20 that is a coordinate detection unit performs an operation to detect the coordinate value of a position where the lights traveling over a given region of the touch panel 10 are interrupted by the indicator P. The details of this operation will be described later.

[0064] The coordinate data of the position detected by the operation part 20 is outputted to a computer 14 through an interface part 26 .

[0065] Next, a detailed description will be given of the structures of the optical units 1 L and 1 R, and the optical paths of the projected light beams and the light beams reflected back from the retroreflective sheet 2 .

[0066] Since the optical units 1 L and 1 R have the same structure, a description of the optical unit with reference to FIG. 2 applies to both optical units 1 L and 1 R.

[0067] In FIG. 2 , coordinate axes of directions parallel to the panel surface 10 a of the touch panel 10 are defined as an X-axis and a Y-axis, respectively, and a coordinate axis of a direction perpendicular to the panel surface 10 a is defined as a Z-axis.

[0068] Each of the optical units 1 L and 1 R includes the light emitting part 6 , which is a light emitting unit, the light receiving part 7 , which is an intensity distribution detection unit, the half mirror 11 , which is a light splitting member, and the filter 4 , which is a unit for adjusting the distribution of amount of light.

[0069] FIG. 2 is basically a view from an X-Z plane. However, a part framed by a double dot chain line a, which is a diagram viewing the light emitting part 6 in a direction indicated by arrow A from an X-Y plane, and a part framed by a double dot chain line b, which is a diagram viewing the light receiving part 7 in a direction indicated by arrow B-from an Y-Z plane, are also shown in FIG. 2 for convenience of graphical representation.

[0070] The light emitting part 6 includes the light source 3 whose spot can be narrowed to some extent, such as an LD or an LED. The light beam projected from the light source 3 is collimated by the cylindrical lens 9 a , which functions as a convex lens only in a Z-axial direction, to be a thin parallel beam having a uniform thickness in the direction perpendicular to the panel surface 10 a (in the Z-axial direction). Then, the light beam is diffused in the sector shape in the direction parallel to the panel surface 10 a (in the Y-axial direction) by the two cylindrical lenses 9 b and 9 c each functioning as a concave lens only in the Y-axial direction.

[0071] Thus, the light beam that is the thin parallel beam having the uniform thickness in the direction perpendicular to the panel surface 10 a and is diffused, in the direction parallel to the panel surface 10 a , in the sector shape having a predetermined angle from the position where the light emitting part 6 is disposed is projected almost parallel to the panel surface 10 from the light emitting part 6 . The projected light beam passes through the half mirror 11 to be radiated almost all over the detection region of the panel surface 10 a.

[0072] If not interrupted on the way, the light beam reaches the retroreflective sheet 2 provided on the periphery of the touch panel 10 to be retroreflected therefrom. The reflected light beam returns to the same optical unit through the same optical path, and is reflected by 90° from the half mirror 11 to be made incident on the light receiving part 7 through the filter 4 .

[0073] The filter 4 is disposed in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the reflected light beam. The transmission rate of the filter 4 differs along its length in the direction in which the filter 4 is disposed, especially, in the direction in which the light beam spreads out (in the Y-axial direction) shown in the part framed by the double dot chain line b in FIG. 2 , so that the amount of light is adjusted to be distributed uniformly in that direction. A detailed description of the filter 4 will be given later.

[0074] The light receiving part 7 includes the condenser lens (image formation lens) 12 that is a convex lens and the CCD 13 that is an optical-electrical transducer. The reflected light beam is propagated in the direction lateral to the panel surface 10 a to concentrate at the center of the condenser lens 12 , and in the direction perpendicular to the panel surface 10 a to be made incident on the condenser lens 12 in the same form of the parallel beam. Therefore, due to the function of the condenser lens 12 , the reflected light beam is formed on a light receiving surface 13 a of the CCD 13 disposed on the focal surface of the condenser lens 12 into the image of a thin line parallel to the Y-axial direction, which line corresponds to a linear array arrangement of light receiving elements.

[0075] Thereby, the intensity distribution of the light beam parallel to the Y-axial direction is formed on the light receiving surface 13 a of the CCD 13 depending on the presence or absence of retroreflected lights, and is detected by the CCD 13 to be converted into an electrical signal. That is, if the retroreflected light beam is interrupted by a finger or a pen, a point of weak optical intensity, which is a later-described peak point, is generated in a position corresponding to an interrupted retroreflected light on the light receiving surface 13 a , and appears in the waveform of the detection signal.

[0076] Next, a description will be given of the operation part 20 shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of the operation part 20 together with the optical units 1 L and 1 R.

[0077] The operation part 20 includes a CPU 21 supervising and controlling the whole part, a ROM 22 storing fixed data such as control programs of the CPU 21 , a RAM 23 storing temporary data, a timer 24 controlling the time intervals of light emission from the light source 3 provided in each of the optical units 1 L and 1 R, peak detectors 25 L and 25 R, an x-y computing element 29 , and a bus 27 connecting the above-described parts. The RAM 23 includes the regions of waveform memories 28 L and 28 R. The operation part 20 is connected to the computer 14 via the interface part 26 .

[0078] The operation part 20 performs the operation to detect the coordinate value of a position where the light beam traveling over the panel surface 10 a is interrupted based on an electrical signal inputted from each of the CCDs 13 of the optical units 1 L and 1 R, which signal corresponds to the intensity distribution of the retroreflective light beam in the direction parallel to the panel surface 10 a.

[0079] A description will be given, with reference to FIGS. 6 through 8 , of the above-mentioned operation. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing only a portion of the operation part 20 , which portion is used so that the CPU 21 performs the coordinate detection operation.

[0080] First and second waveform data representing the intensity distributions of the light beams in the direction parallel to the panel surface 10 a , which intensity distributions are outputted as electrical signals from the respective CCDs 13 of the optical units 1 L and 1 R shown in FIG. 3 , are inputted to the operation part 20 . Hereinafter, the CCDs 13 of the optical units 1 L and IR are referred to as a CCD 13 L and a CCD 13 R, respectively. The first and second waveform data are then stored in the waveform memories 28 L and 28 R in the RAM 23 shown in FIG. 5 , respectively. The peak detectors 25 L and 25 R perform operations to detect the positions of the peak points of the first and second waveform data stored in the waveform memories 25 L and 25 R, respectively.

[0081] FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating a peak point. For instance, if the sector-shaped light beam formed of the lights L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , . . . , Ln- 1 , Ln, . . . , . . . , and Lm projected from the optical unit 1 L has the nth light Ln interrupted by the indicator P such as a finger or a pen, the nth light Ln never reaches the retroreflective sheet 2 . Therefore, since the nth light Ln is never detected by the CCD 13 L of the optical unit 1 L, a point of weak optical intensity (dark point) is generated in a position in the optical detector array of the CCD 13 L at a distance DnL from a center C thereof. Hereinafter, this position is referred to as a position DnL. As a result, a peak point of a lowered level appears in the waveform of the intensity distribution of the light beam outputted from the CCD 13 L. Similarly, with respect to the optical unit 1 R, a dark point is generated in a position DnR in the optical detector array of the CCD 13 R, and consequently, a peak point of a lowered level appears in the waveform of the intensity distribution of the light beam outputted from the CCD 13 R.

[0082] The peak detectors 25 L and 25 R detect the positions DnL and DnR of the dark points that are the peak points of the waveforms, respectively, by means of, for instance, a waveform calculation method such as smoothing differential.

[0083] When the positions of the peak points are detected from the first and second waveform data by the peak detectors 25 L and 25 R, respectively, the x-y computing element - 29 computes the coordinate value (x, y) of the position of the indicator P that causes the peak points to appear in the first and second waveform data.

[0084] A description will be given, with reference to FIG. 8 , of an operation of the x-y computing element 29 for computing the coordinate value (x, y) of the position of the indicator P.

[0085] An angle of projection or incidence θnL of the light Ln of the optical unit 1 L interrupted by the indicator P shown in FIG. 7 , together with an angle of projection or incidence θnR of the light Rn of the optical unit 1 R, can be computed from the following formulas.

θ nL=arctan ( DnL/f ) (1)

θ nR=arctan ( DnR/f ) (2)

[0086] In the above-mentioned formulas, DnL is the position of the dark point on the CCD 13 L of the optical unit 1 L detected by the peak detector 25 L, DnR is the position of the dark point on the CCD 13 R of the optical unit 1 R detected by the peak detector 25 R, and f is a distance between the condenser lens 12 and the light receiving elements of each of the CCDs 13 L and 13 R, which distance-corresponds to the focal length of the condenser lens 12 .

[0087] By employing θnL obtained from the formula (1) and θnR obtained from the formula (2), an angle OL formed between the light Ln of the optical unit iL shown in FIG. 8 and the bottom side (X-axial) of the touch panel 10 , and an angle θR formed between the light Rn of the optical unit 1 R and the bottom side (X-axial) of the touch panel 10 can be computed from the following formulas.

θ L=g (θ nL ) (3)

θ R=h (θ nR ) (4)

[0088] In the above-mentioned formulas, g is a deformation coefficient of the geometric relative positional relation between the touch panel 10 and the optical unit 1 L, and h is a deformation coefficient of the geometric relative positional relation between the touch panel 10 and the optical unit 1 R.

[0089] The coordinate value (x, y) of the position where the lights beams are interrupted by the indicator P is computed from the following formulas under the principle of triangulation.

x=w tan θ R /(tan θ L +tan θ R ) (5)

y=w tan θ L tan θ R /(tan θ L +tan θ R ) (6)

[0090] In the above-mentioned formulas, w is a distance between the optical units 1 L and 1 R.

[0091] Thus, the coordinate value (x, y) of the position where the lights Ln and Rn are interrupted by the indicator P is computed from the calculations of the formulas (1) through (6) by detecting the positions DnL and DnR. Programs required for the above-described calculations can be prestored in the ROM 22 as parts of the operation program of the CPU 21 .

[0092] Here, a description will be given collectively of an overall operation of the coordinate input and detection device having the above-described structure.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 8 , if a point on the panel surface 10 a of the touch panel 10 of the coordinate input and detection device is indicated by the indicator P such as a finger or a pen, the lights Ln and Rn projected respectively from the optical units 1 L and 1 R are interrupted by the indicator P so as to be prevented from reaching the retroreflective sheet 2 . Therefore, the lights Ln-and Rn are never detected by the CCDs 13 L and 13 R of the optical units 1 L and 1 R, respectively.

[0094] Thereby, the points of weak optical intensity (dark points) are generated in the positions DnL and DnR on the respective CCDs 13 L and 13 R, and the first and second waveform data corresponding to the intensity distributions of the reflected lights in the direction parallel to the panel surface 10 a are stored in the waveform memories 28 L and 28 R, respectively. Based on the first and second waveform data, the peak detectors 25 L and 25 R detect the positions DnL and DnR of the dark points on the respective CCDs 13 L and 13 R, and the x-y computing element 29 computes the coordinate value (x, y) of the position where the lights Ln and Rn are interrupted. Data of thus obtained coordinate value (x, y) is inputted to the computer 14 via the interface part 26 , and an operation corresponding to the indicated position is performed.

[0095] Next, a description will be given of the filter 4 provided in the optical unit shown in FIG. 2 , which filter is the most important element of the present invention.

[0096] In the above-described coordinate input and detection device according to the present invention, in order to increase the detection accuracy of the coordinate value of an input position, it is required, at least, to make as thin as possible the thickness of each of the sector-shaped light beams projected parallel to the panel surface 10 a of the touch panel 10 from the optical units 1 L and 1 R, respectively, and to have the amount of light of each light beam distributed uniformly in the direction in which the light beam spreads out in the sector shape. However, as previously described, since the amount of light of the light beam projected from the light source 3 shown in FIG. 1 is large in the center portion of the light beam spreading in the sector shape and decreases as the measurement point of the amount of light approaches each side of the light beam. Therefore, the filter 4 is employed to correct the distribution of the amount of light of the light beam.

[0097] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a shape and a characteristic of a first embodiment of the filter 4 .

[0098] The filter 4 is formed of a single long thin resin film whose optical transmission rate is 25%, and, as shown in FIG. 2 , is disposed, in the optical path of the light beam made incident on the light receiving part 7 , in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction-of the light beam so that the light beam spread out in a longitudinal direction of the filter 4 . The filter 4 has wedge-like notches 4 b protruding from the respective longitudinal end portions toward the center portion thereof.

[0099] Therefore, although a portion a of the filter 4 without any notches 4 b has a transmission rate of 25%, the transmission rate of each portion b including the notch 4 b increases as a measurement point of the transmission rate approaches each longitudinal end portion of the filter 4 so as to reach almost 100% at each side thereof.

[0100] Thus, if a light beam is made incident on the filter 4 so that its amount of light is distributed uniformly all over the filter 4 , the light beam passing through the filter 4 has its amount of light distributed in the Y-axial direction with a characteristic indicated by a curve 31 in FIG. 9 .

[0101] However, an actual light beam made incident on the filter 4 does not have its amount of light distributed uniformly in the Y-axial direction, and therefore, the distribution of the amount of light has a characteristic indicated by the curve 51 in FIG. 9 as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG. 1 . Therefore, if the light beam having such a distribution of the amount of light passes through the filter 4 of this embodiment, due to the transmission rate distribution of the filter 4 , the distribution of the amount of light is averaged as indicated by a broken curve 32 in FIG. 9 to be almost uniform in the Y-axial direction.

[0102] Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIGS. 10A through 13 , of a second embodiment of the filter 4 .

[0103] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B , first and second filters 41 and 42 having different shapes and optical transmission rates are superposed on each other to form the filter 4 shown in FIG. 10C .

[0104] The first filter 41 of FIG. 10A has an optical transmission rate of 25%, and includes deep wedge-like notches 41 a protruding from the respective longitudinal end portions toward the center portion thereof. On the other hand, the second filter 42 of FIG. 10B has an optical transmission rate of 50%, and includes shallow wedge-like notches 42 a protruding from the respective longitudinal end portions toward the center portion thereof.

[0105] FIG. 10C shows a state in which the filter 4 is formed by superposing the first and second filters 41 and 42 .

[0106] Therefore, the transmission rate of a portion 4 a of the filter 4 where the first and second filters 41 and 42 are superposed is 12.5% (25%×50%=12.5%), the transmission rate of each portion 4 b formed only of the first filter 41 is 25%, the transmission rate of each portion 4 c formed only of the second filter 42 is 50%, and the transmission rate of each portion 4 d formed only of the notches is 100%.

[0107] Thus, if a light beam is made incident on the filter 4 so that its amount of light is distributed uniformly all over the filter 4 , the light beam passing through the filter 4 has its amount of light distributed in the Y-axial direction with a characteristic indicated by a curve 33 in FIG. 11 .

[0108] However, an actual light beam made incident on the filter 4 does not have its amount of light distributed uniformly in the Y-axial direction, and therefore, the distribution of the amount of light has the characteristic indicated by the curve 51 in FIG. 11 as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG. 1 . Therefore, if the light beam having-such a distribution of the amount of light passes through the filter 4 of this embodiment, due to the transmission rate distribution of the filter 4 , the distribution of the amount of light is averaged as indicated by a broken curve 34 in FIG. 11 to be almost uniform in the Y-axial direction.

[0109] Thus, by a combination of a plurality of filters having different optical transmission rates and notch shapes, a filter having a desired transmission rate distribution can be made with more ease.

[0110] In order to attach the filter 4 to a predetermined position in each of the optical units 1 L and 1 R, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B , an adhesion portion 41 c is provided on each longitudinal side portion of the first filter 41 and an adhesion portion 42 c is provided on each longitudinal side portion of the second filter 42 so that the first and second filters 41 and 42 are superposed to be affixed to an attachment frame 45 made of a sheet metal shown in FIG. 13 .

[0111] The attachment frame 45 has formed therein a rectangular window 45 a for restricting the transmission region of the light beam and a pair of holes 45 b through which pass screws for attaching the attachment frame 45 to-a support member of each of the optical units 1 L and 1 R.

[0112] Therefore, by inserting the screws into a pair of the holes 45 b , the attachment frame 45 to which the filter 4 is affixed can be fixed to the support member of each of the optical units 1 L and 1 R.

[0113] As the adhesion portion 41 c or 42 c , a double-sided tape or an adhesive agent can be employed. It is preferable that each of the adhesion portions 41 c and 42 c be made as thin and narrow as possible. Further, the first and second filters 41 and 42 are required to be affixed or fixed so that the incident light beam is precluded from passing through each of the adhesion portions 41 c and 42 c to prevent the transmission rate of the filter 4 from becoming inaccurate.

[0114] Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 14 , of a third embodiment of the filter 4 .

[0115] The filter 4 of this embodiment is a combination of three filters 46 through 48 having different optical transmission rates and longitudinal lengths. The filters 46 through 48 include wedge-like notches 46 a , 47 a , and 48 a of the same depth protruding from each longitudinal end portion toward each center portion thereof.

[0116] The longest filter 46 has a transmission rate of 25%, the second longest filter 47 , whose longitudinal ends are indicated by one dot chain lines, has a transmission rate of 50%, and the shortest filter 48 , whose longitudinal ends are indicated by broken lines, has a transmission rate of 75%. The transmission rate of the filter 4 varies slightly along the length thereof, so that a variation in the transmission rate becomes smoother.

[0117] Thus, if a light beam is made incident on the filter 4 so that its amount of light is distributed uniformly all over the filter 4 , the light beam passing through the filter 4 has its amount of light distributed in the Y-axial direction with a characteristic indicated by a curve 35 in FIG. 14 .

[0118] However, an actual light beam made incident on the filter 4 does not have its amount of light distributed uniformly in the Y-axial direction, and therefore, the distribution of the amount of light has the characteristic indicated by the curve 51 in FIG. 14 as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG. 1 . Therefore, if the light beam having such a distribution of the amount of light passes through the filter 4 of this embodiment, due to the transmission rate distribution of the filter 4 , the distribution of the amount of light is averaged as indicated by a broken curve 36 in FIG. 14 to be almost uniform in the Y-axial direction.

[0119] The optical transmission rates of the three filters 46 through 48 can be set so as to correct not only the distribution of the amount of light of the incident light beam but also a characteristic of the condenser lens 12 shown in FIG. 2 or a sensitivity characteristic of each of the CCDs 13 L and 13 R. The same transmission rate may be employed by the three or two of the filters 46 through 48 , or the three filters 46 through 48 may have different transmission rates as described above. Each transmission rate can be selected freely from the range of more than 0% to less than 100%.

[0120] Further, the number of employed filters and the transmission rate, shape, and material (resin film, glass, plastic, etc.) of each employed filter can be freely combined so that a desired characteristic can be obtained.

[0121] The filter 4 may be disposed in any position in each of the optical paths through which the light beams projected from the light emitting parts 6 of the optical units 1 L and 1 R are reflected back from the retroreflective sheet 2 to be received by the respective light receiving parts 7 . However, the closer the filter 4 is disposed to the light receiving surface 13 a of each of the CCDs 13 L and 13 R of the light receiving parts 7 , the smaller the longitudinal dimension of the filter 4 can be made. Further, the filter 4 may be provided on the side of each of the light emitting parts 6 .

[0122] Finally, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 15 , of an embodiment of an information display and input apparatus including the coordinate input and detection device according to the present invention.

[0123] FIG. 15 is a perspective front-side view of a multimedia board that is the information display and input apparatus.

[0124] The multimedia board 80 includes a board part 81 , which is used as a large screen display for displaying a variety of information and also as a touch panel of the above-described coordinate input and detection device, a computer housing part 83 Iprovided on a caster board 82 , a video deck housing part 84 provided on the computer housing part 83 , and a printer housing part 85 provided on the video deck housing part 84 . The board part 81 is supported by a pillar provided on its backside to be provided on the printer housing part 85 . The upper surface of the printer housing part 85 is also used as a keyboard stand 86 for placing a keyboard (not shown) thereon.

[0125] The board part 81 includes a plasma color display that is an information display unit employing a large screen flat panel 81 a , and the above-described coordinate input and detection device incorporated into the plasma color display. The flat panel 81 a is also used as the above-described touch panel 10 , and the above-described pair of the optical units 1 L and 1 R are housed inside the left and right corner portions of the lower portion of a frame body 81 b of the board part 81 , respectively. The retroreflective sheet 2 is provided on the periphery of the flat panel 81 a except for the bottom side thereof.

[0126] A drive unit of the plasma color display and a controller unit of the coordinate input and detection device, which unit includes the operation part 20 shown in FIG. 3 , are provided on the backside of the board part 81 .

[0127] According to the multimedia board 80 , when information is freely written to or an indication is freely provided on the screen of -the flat panel 81 a by means of a finger or a pen, the as-written information or information corresponding to the indication can be displayed on the projector-like large screen of the board part 81 , and the information or the indication can be inputted to a computer housed in the computer housing part 83 . Further, a sharp color image based on data from the computer or reproduced image data from a video deck housed in the video deck housing part 84 can be displayed on the large screen of the board part 81 . In addition, information displayed on the screen can be printed out on sheets of paper from a printer housed in the printer housing part 85 .

[0128] Since information written to the screen of the board part 81 is managed by the page by letting one screen be one page, it is easy to display a list of all the pages of information displayed on the screen, to rearrange pages, or to make an edition such as deletion or addition of pages. It is also possible to store the created pages as files.

[0129] Therefore, the multimedia board 80 serves as a very convenient tool for a conference, meeting or presentation. The keyboard may be connected to the computer to utilize the board part 81 as a conventional display screen of the computer so that the board part 81 can be used for providing instructions on a computer operation.

[0130] According to this embodiment, the flat panel 81 a of the board part 81 is also used as the touch panel. However, a touch panel made of a transparent material may be provided on the flat panel 81 a to serve as the touch panel of the coordinate input and detection device.

[0131] The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, but variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0132] The present application is based on Japanese priority application No. 2000-096991 filed on Mar. 31, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.