A position detecting device includes a tablet which has a magnetic sheet and two conductor sheets. The magnetic sheet is formed by weaving a group of warp elements (or weft elements) having multiple insulating fibers and a plurality of relatively long magnetic elements disposed among the fibers at predetermined regular spacings and a group of weft elements (or warp elements) having multiple insulating fibers into a plain weave fabric, which is hardened into a sheet-like configuration. Each of the conductor sheets has a plurality of linear conductor elements extending substantially parallel to each other. The two conductor sheets are respectively overlaid on the upper and lower sides of the magnetic sheet so that the conductor elements and the magnetic elements extend orthogonally with respect to each other. The corresponding conductor elements of the upper and lower conductor sheets are connected to from alternate exciting and detecting lines. The device further includes a driving current source for supplying the exciting lines with a cyclic alternating current designating, a position designating magnetic generator for generating a stationary magnetic field, and a position detecting for calculating, from the voltages respectively induced in the detecting lines, coordinate values of the position designated by the position magnetic generator.

A coordinate input apparatus (editor) of a copying apparatus and the like includes: a tablet to output a signal indicative of a position which is arbitrarily designated; a pointing device to designate an arbitrary point on the tablet; a recognizing circuit to recognize the positions in the X and Y directions of the point designated by the pointing device; a data memory to store the positions of the designated point; a controller which, when a special area on the tablet is designated by the pointing device, allows the signal indicative of the special area to be output; and a correcting circuit to correct the range of the special area. The positions of the designated point in the X and Y directions are detected a plurality of times and compared. The input coordinate data is discriminated by the result of the comparison to see if it is valid or invalid. When the input data is valid, a copying operation is performed. When it is invalid, the copying operation is stopped and the fact that the input data is improper is displayed by an LED indicator and a buzzer is activated. With this apparatus, the coordinate data can be accurately input from the editor and also the accurate trimming or masking of the image can be realized without an erroneous input operation.

A coordinate input device with display includes a tablet having a plurality of parallel X-direction magnetostrictive transmission mediums, a plurality of parallel Y-direction magnetostrictive transmission mediums superposed on, and substantially orthogonal to the X-direction mediums thereto, and first and second coils wound around the magnetostrictive transmission mediums. The device further includes a plurality of biasing magnetic means for applying a biasing magnetic field to portions of the magnetostrictive transmission mediums surrounded by the first and second coils, and a tabular display superposed on the tablet and having a display area substantially equal to the position detection area on the tablet. A magnetic pen is used to cause a local increase of electro-mechanical coupling coefficient in the magnetostrictive transmission mediums in the tablet. The device further has an apparatus for recording in hard copy form the data corresponding to the appointed coordinate values, made by the magnetic pin on the display and can be visually checked.

A data input device for a computer or other electronic apparatus includes a grid panel having a pattern of grooves in the panel surface and a plurality of sensors along the grooves. The sensors sense the passage of a stylus along the grooves and feed the stylus movement information to electrical circuitry which interprets the movements as data. In an alternate embodiment, the grooves have lower channels in which a lower portion of a stylus guide moves. The stylus guide has a ball-type universal joint on the upper portion to which is connected a fitting for retaining the end of the stylus. An alphabet for use with the present grid panel is also disclosed.

A portable device for silent graphical communication. The device has a display screen on which a user may scribble notes and information using a stylus. These notes, which are then broadcast by the device, are received by other similar devices and displayed on the screens of the other devices. User of the other devices can respond to the received information by scribbling their own notes. The ensuing conversations may be password protected.