PURPOSE: To input a free curve, characters or the like with the sense of a pen by inputting the absolute coordinates of an input start point from an input part and inputting the moving amount from a pen-shaped input device.
CONSTITUTION: When a pen-shaped input device 6 is moved on the plane of an input part 5 in the state of pressurizing a ball 8, the ball 8 is rolled on in an arbitrary direction and with this rolling, transform output axes 9 and 10 of (x) and (y) axes are rotated. Therefore, detecting means 18-21 detect the rotating directions and moving amounts of these transform output axes 9 and 10, namely, detect the rotating direction and moving amount of the ball 8 and the detected results are inputted to a computer 1. According to those detection signals, a cursor is moved and the free curve, characters or the like are displayed. Next, when the input device 6 is moved to an arbitrary position while floating above the plane of the input part 5 and the plane of the input part 5 is pressurized again, the absolute coordinates of the pressurized point is inputted to the computer as the start point of the cursor. Thus, the free curve, characters or the like can be inputted with the sense of the pen.
MASAKI TAKESHI
SATO KOICHI
