JP7670902B2 - Position indicator - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a position indicator (stylus) used in conjunction with a position detection sensor.

Position input devices, consisting of a position detection sensor and a position indicator called an electronic pen, come in a variety of types, such as electromagnetic coupling and electrostatic coupling, depending on the coupling method between the position detection sensor and the electronic pen.

Even position input devices of the same type have various configuration types, depending on the method of transmitting and receiving position detection signals between the position detection system and the position indicator, the method of transmitting and receiving additional information such as switch operation information, pen pressure information, position indicator identification information, and internally stored data provided in the position indicator, and the method of transmitting and receiving instruction information that changes the operation of the position indicator. Conventionally, position indicators corresponding to position detection systems were provided to users with limited methods of transmitting and receiving specific position detection signals and additional information. Therefore, even for position input devices equipped with position detection systems having similar position detection sensor means, users were required to have their own dedicated position indicators, and therefore had to carry multiple position indicators and select an appropriate position indicator for each position input device.

For example, there are several configuration types of electrostatic coupling type position indicators, as follows. That is, the first configuration type is a position indicator that does not send a position detection signal from the position indicator, but instead flows AC electric field energy sent from the sensor unit of the position detection system through the position indicator and the human body to the earth (ground), and detects the change in energy (or voltage) induced in the conductor of the sensor unit of the position detection system at the position where the position indicator is located (passive type) (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2011-3035)).

The second configuration type of electrostatic coupling system improves on the low position detection sensitivity of the first configuration type described above, and is a position indicator that receives a signal from a sensor unit of a position detection system, processes the received signal by amplifying it, and then feeds it back to the sensor unit (an improved passive system) (see, for example, Patent Document 2 (Patent No. 4683505)). In the case of position indicators of the first and second configuration types, the additional information is transmitted or received from the position detection sensor using, for example, wireless communication means.

The third configuration type of electrostatic coupling method is different from the first and second configuration types described above, and is a so-called active type position indicator in which the position indicator has a transmitting circuit and the transmitting signal from this transmitting circuit is supplied to the position detection sensor as a position detection signal (see, for example, Patent Document 3 (JP Patent Publication 07-295722A)). The position detection system uses a sensor panel as the position detection means, and detects the position indicated by the position indicator from the signal strength of each conductor that receives the transmitting signal from this active type position indicator.

The third type of position indicator is further divided into a type that transmits and receives all of the additional information together with the position detection signal to the position detection system, and a type that transmits and receives only a portion of the additional information together with the position detection signal, and transmits the remaining additional information separately via wireless communication means to the wireless communication means provided in the position detection system.

Although detailed explanations will be omitted, even in the electromagnetic coupling method, there are configuration types in which the position indicator receives a signal from the sensor unit of the position detection system using a resonant circuit and feeds the received signal back to the sensor unit of the position detection system, configuration types that include a transmitter circuit and transmit a transmission signal from the transmitter circuit through a resonant circuit to the sensor unit of the position detection system, and configuration types that transmit additional information to wireless communication means that transmit the additional information to wireless communication means provided in the position detection system. In this way, there are multiple configuration types, just like in the electrostatic coupling method described above.

JP 2011-3035 A Patent No. 4683505 JP 2011-3035 A

As mentioned above, conventionally, even if the position input device was of the same electrostatic coupling type or electromagnetic induction type, a position indicator corresponding to each different configuration type had to be prepared. However, having to prepare a position indicator for each different configuration type like this not only placed a cost burden on the user, but also required the user to manage position indicators of multiple configuration types in correspondence with the position detection system, which was troublesome.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the above problems and provide a position indicator that allows multiple configuration types to be used with a single position indicator.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A position indicator capable of communicating with a position detection system,
A generating means for generating a position detection signal;
A detection means for detecting a pressure applied to the tip of the position indicator;
An operation unit configured to receive an operation from a user;
a first communication unit that transmits the position detection signal;
a second communication unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system and is different from the first communication unit;
a control means for controlling the transmission of the position detection signal from the first communication unit and the transmission of information generated in response to the pressure and the user's operation of the operation unit from the second communication unit to the position detection system;
having
The control means controls the first communication unit or the second communication unit to enter a pause state in response to the first communication unit or the second communication unit being unable to receive a signal transmitted from the position detection system for a predetermined period of time.
The present invention provides a position indicator characterized by the above-mentioned.

The position indicator according to the present invention can adopt a configuration (mode) according to the configuration type of the position detection system, so there is no need to prepare a position indicator for each position detection system of a different configuration type, which reduces the cost burden on the user and has the effect of eliminating the need for cumbersome management associated with the position detection system, since the user only needs to prepare one common position indicator for multiple configuration types of position detection systems.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conceptual configuration of an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining an example of a mechanical configuration of an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a detailed configuration example of a part of a mechanical configuration of an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a conceptual configuration and processing operation of an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention; 1A and 1B are diagrams used to explain a part of a conceptual configuration example of an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of a flow of processing operations of an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of a flow of processing operations of an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining an example of a position indicator of a configuration type that can be configured according to an embodiment of the position indicator of the present invention. 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining an example of a position indicator of a configuration type that can be configured according to an embodiment of the position indicator of the present invention, and a corresponding position detection system. 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining another example of a position indicator of a configuration type that can be configured according to an embodiment of the position indicator of the present invention, and a corresponding position detection system. 11 is a timing chart used to explain the example of FIG. 10. 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining another example of a position indicator of a configuration type that can be configured according to an embodiment of the position indicator of the present invention, and a corresponding position detection system. 13 is a timing chart used to explain the example of FIG. 12. 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining another example of a position indicator of a configuration type that can be configured according to an embodiment of the position indicator of the present invention, and a corresponding position detection system. 15 is a timing chart used to explain the example of FIG. 14. FIG. 13 is a flowchart used to explain an example of the flow of processing operations of a position detection system corresponding to another example of a position indicator of a configuration type that can be configured by an embodiment of the position indicator of this invention. 13 is a diagram used to explain yet another example of a configuration type that can be configured by an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conceptual configuration of another embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention. 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining examples of configuration types of position indicators that can be configured according to other embodiments of the position indicator of the present invention.

The following describes an embodiment of a position indicator according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for generally explaining the conceptual configuration of a position indicator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and its processing operation, and is a diagram showing a state in which the position indicator 1 is positioned on a sensor input surface 2a of a capacitive position detection system 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the mechanical configuration of the position indicator 1, with FIG. 2(A) being a partial vertical cross-sectional view, and FIG. 2(B) being a diagram showing part of the external appearance. In this embodiment, the position indicator 1 is formed to have an external appearance in the shape of a rod-like stylus.

[Explanation of an Example of a Mechanical Configuration of a Position Indicator of an Embodiment]
The position indicator 1 of this embodiment includes a rod-shaped housing 3. As shown in Fig. 2(A) , this housing 3 is configured with an insulator part 31 having a hollow cylindrical shape and made of an insulating material, for example, a synthetic resin. In this embodiment, at least the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the insulator part 31 of the housing 3 where the operator holds the position indicator 1 is covered with a conductor part 32 made of, for example, a metal.

As shown in FIG. 2(A), the housing 3 contains a printed wiring board 40, a battery 5, and a pen pressure detection unit 9. The conductive portion 32 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the housing 3 is electrically connected to the earth conductor of the printed wiring board 40, although not shown in the figure.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2(A), on the printed wiring board 40, there are arranged a signal transmission control circuit 41 constituting an example of a control means, a wireless communication module 42, a side switch 43 consisting of a push button switch, an ID memory 44 storing the identification information (ID) of the position indicator 1, oscillators 45 and 46 outputting oscillation signals with different frequencies f1 and f2, wiring patterns such as conductive patterns 47a to 47e, and in this example, a power switch 48 and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 49. Note that in Fig. 2(A), the conductive patterns 47a to 47e are shown as a single conductor pattern for the sake of simplicity of explanation, but the conductive patterns 47a to 47e may of course be composed of multiple conductor patterns as necessary.

The battery 5 is a power supply source for the electronic circuits and electronic components configured on the printed wiring board 40. As described below, in this embodiment, the pen pressure detection unit 9 is configured as a variable capacitance capacitor that exhibits a capacitance according to the pen pressure applied to the central electrode 7 that constitutes the core body.

The wireless communication module 42 has a transmission function unit that is an example of the transmission unit (second transmission unit) of the additional information of this invention, and a reception function unit that is an example of the reception unit (first reception unit) that receives a signal from the position detection system, and in this embodiment, is configured as a wireless communication module of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, which is a short-range wireless communication standard. The wireless communication module 42 is connected to the signal transmission control circuit 41. Note that this wireless communication module 42 is not limited to Bluetooth, and may be, for example, an infrared communication module, or a wireless communication module of the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard.

The side switch 43, the ID memory 44, and the writing pressure detection unit 9 each constitute an additional information generating means. The side switch 43 supplies its on or off information to the signal transmission control circuit 41 as an example of additional information. In response to a read request from the signal transmission control circuit 41, the ID memory 44 outputs the stored identification information (ID) of the position indicator 1 to the signal transmission control circuit 41 as an example of additional information. The variable capacitance capacitor constituted by the writing pressure detection unit 9 exhibits a change in electrostatic capacitance according to the writing pressure value applied to the central electrode 7 constituting the core body, and the signal transmission control circuit 41 generates writing pressure information as an example of additional information based on the electrostatic capacitance.

The oscillators 45 and 46 generate AC signals for forming position detection signals to be sent from the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, and supply the generated AC signals to the signal transmission control circuit 41. In this embodiment, the oscillator 45 generates an AC signal with a frequency f1, and the oscillator 46 generates an AC signal with a frequency f2 different from the frequency f1. The signal transmission control circuit 41 generates different position detection signals based on the oscillators 45 and 46. That is, the signal transmission control circuit 41, in combination with the oscillators 45 and 46, constitutes a means for generating position detection signals, and constitutes two transmitting units. Then, the signal transmission control circuit 41 uses one of the two generated position detection signals as the position detection signal to be sent from the position indicator 1. Note that, instead of the oscillators 45 and 46, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of transmitting units are provided to generate and transmit position detection signals for each of a plurality of types of active type position indicators described later, and the signal transmission control circuit 41 is selectively controlled.

In this embodiment, the battery 5 is configured to be stored in the housing 3 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2(A), and the power supply voltage for electronic circuits such as the signal transmission control circuit 41 on the printed wiring board 40 is generated by this battery 5. In Fig. 2(A), the terminal 52 is a terminal electrically connected to the power supply circuit on the printed wiring board 40. The positive electrode 51 of the battery 5 is in contact with and electrically connected to this terminal 52. Although not shown, the negative electrode of the battery 5 is directly connected to the earth conductor of the printed wiring board 40, or is pressed into contact with an elastically displaceable terminal connected to the earth conductor of the printed wiring board 40 via the conductor portion 32 of the housing 3.

The operator 48a of the power switch 48 arranged on the printed wiring board 40 is operable from the outside through an opening provided in the housing 3, as shown in FIG. 2(B). The user can turn the power switch 48 on and off by sliding the operator 48a. Note that a power supply circuit section that generates a power supply voltage from the voltage from the battery 5 when the power switch 48 is turned on is also formed on the printed wiring board 40, but is omitted in FIGS. 1 and 2 for simplicity of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 2(A), one end of the hollow cylindrical insulator 31 that constitutes the housing 3 in the center line direction is a tapered section 33 that gradually tapers. A peripheral electrode 6 made of, for example, a ring-shaped conductive metal is attached to the outer periphery of this tapered section 33. The peripheral electrode 6 and the conductor section 32 on the outer periphery surface of the housing 3 are insulated by the insulator 31 being interposed between them.

As shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral electrode 6 is electrostatically coupled to the position detection system 2, thereby forming a receiver (second receiver) for signals from the position detection system in this embodiment. The peripheral electrode 6 is electrically connected to the conductor pattern 47a of the printed wiring board 40 by a lead conductor member 61 that penetrates the insulator portion 31. In this example, the conductor pattern 47a is connected to the input terminal of the signal transmission control circuit 41.

In this embodiment, a central electrode 7 made of a conductive rod-shaped body is disposed so that one end of the central electrode 7 protrudes outward from the hollow portion of the tapered portion 33 of the housing 3. This central electrode 7 serves as a core that constitutes the pen tip of the pen-shaped position indicator 1.

In this embodiment, the center electrode 7 constitutes a first transmitting section for transmitting a position detection signal, and the end opposite to the side protruding to the outside is configured to be electrically connected to a conductive pattern 47b formed on the printed wiring board 40. This conductive pattern 47b is connected to the output terminal of the signal transmission control circuit 41. In this embodiment, the position indicator 1 also operates as a passive type position indicator that does not transmit a position detection signal, and in this case, the center electrode 7 plays a role of absorbing charges from the conductor of the position detection system 2 via the electrostatic coupling section.

The peripheral electrode 6 is provided around the central electrode 7. The combination of the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 is for an improved type of position indicator of the passive type described above. In this embodiment, a shielding member 8 is provided between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 to effectively prevent electrical interference between them. The shielding member 8 in this embodiment is provided so as to surround the central electrode 7, and thus the shielding member 8 is interposed between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 to minimize the coupling capacitance between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7.

The end of the central electrode 7 as a core body opposite to the side protruding to the outside is fitted into the pen pressure detection unit 9 disposed in the hollow portion of the housing 3, and thus the central electrode 7 is locked in the hollow portion of the housing 3 of the position indicator 1. As will be described later, the central electrode 7 is configured so that it can be pulled out to release the engagement with the pen pressure detection unit 9. In other words, the central electrode 7 as a core body is replaceable with respect to the position indicator 1.

In this example, the pen pressure detection unit 9 is composed of a variable capacitance capacitor (see, for example, JP 2011-186803 A) that exhibits a capacitance according to the pressure (pen pressure) applied to the central electrode 7 as a core body. In FIG. 2(A), the electrodes on both ends of the variable capacitance capacitor composed of this pen pressure detection unit 9 are connected to the signal transmission control circuit 41 by the conductive pattern 47c.

The signal transmission control circuit 41 determines and controls which of a number of configuration types (modes) the position indicator 1 of this embodiment should be in, based on information received from the outside through the wireless communication module 42 or information received through the peripheral electrode 6, and based on this determination control, controls the transmission of the position detection signal through the central electrode 7, and further controls the transmission of additional information through the central electrode 7 or the wireless communication module 42.

Next, the detailed configuration of the center electrode 7, shield member 8, and pen pressure detection unit 9 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the center electrode 7, shield member 8, and pen pressure detection unit 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the central electrode 7 has a core 71 made of a conductive material, such as a metal, formed to a diameter of, for example, 1.9 mm, and in this embodiment, about half of the core 71 on the pen tip side is covered with a protective member 72 made of an insulating material. The protective member 72 prevents the sensor input surface 2a of the position detection system 2 from being scratched, increases the contact area with the sensor input surface 2a, and provides stronger insulation from the shield member 8 and the peripheral electrode 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the shield member 8 is configured as a cylindrical body 81 made of a conductive material, the entire surface of which, including the outer wall surface and the inner wall surface, is covered with an insulating layer 82.

The pen pressure detection unit 9 is configured as a variable capacitance capacitor that receives the pen pressure applied to the center electrode 7 through the pressure transmission member 10 and changes its capacitance. As shown in FIG. 3, the center electrode 7 and the pressure transmission member 10 are connected and housed in a freely slidable state within the hollow portion of the cylindrical body 81 of the shield member 8. The pressure transmission member 10 has a core body fitting portion 11 into which the end portion 71b of the core body 71 of the center electrode 7 is fitted, and a protrusion portion 12 that fits into the pen pressure detection unit 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, a terminal piece 13 is disposed in the recess 11a of the pressure transmission member 10 to electrically connect the center electrode 7 to the signal transmission control circuit 41 of the printed wiring board 40, and an extension 13a from the terminal piece 13 is connected to a lead electrode 14 that is connected to the conductor pattern of the printed wiring board 40.

The core 71 of the center electrode 7 is connected to the pressure transmission member 10 by inserting (pressing) its end 71a into the terminal piece 13 in the recess 11a of the core fitting portion 11 of the pressure transmission member 10, so that the writing pressure applied to the core 71 is transmitted to the writing pressure detection unit 9 described later via the pressure transmission member 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, a conductive metal plate 86 electrically connected to the earth conductor of the printed wiring board 40 is provided at the abutment portion between the pen pressure detection unit 9 and the shield member 8, and the terminal portion 83 where the surface of the cylindrical body 81 of the shield member 8 is exposed is electrically connected to this conductive metal plate 88. As a result, the center electrode 7 is electric field shielded by the shield member 8.

The core fitting portion 11 of the pressure transmission member 10 engages with a step portion 84 in the hollow portion of the cylindrical body 81 of the shield member 8, so that the center electrode 7 and the pressure transmission member 10 do not fall off toward the pen tip side. In addition, the step portion 85 on the outer peripheral surface of the shield member 8 engages with a step portion formed on the inner wall of the hollow portion of the insulator portion 31 of the housing 3 (not shown), so that the shield member 8 does not move in the axial direction within the hollow portion of the insulator portion 31 of the housing 3.

The pen pressure detection unit 9 is described below. The pen pressure detection unit 9 in this example uses pen pressure detection means of a known configuration, as described in, for example, patent document JP 2011-186803 A, and constitutes a variable capacitance capacitor whose capacitance changes according to the pen pressure applied to the central electrode 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pen pressure detection unit 9 in this example is constructed by housing member 91 made of an insulating material, such as resin, and housing multiple components, including a dielectric member 92, a conductive member 93, an elastic member 94, a holding member 95, and a terminal member 96. The terminal member 96 constitutes the first electrode of the variable capacitor that constitutes the pen pressure detection unit 9. The conductive member 93 and the elastic member 94 are electrically connected to constitute the second electrode of the variable capacitor.

In this pen pressure detection unit 9, when pen pressure is applied to the central electrode 7, the pen pressure is transmitted to the holding member 95 of the pen pressure detection unit 9 via the pressure transmission member 10, and the holding member 95 moves the conductive member 93 toward the dielectric 92 in response to the applied pen pressure. Then, the contact area between the conductive member 93 and the dielectric 92 changes in response to the applied pen pressure, and the capacitance of the variable capacitor formed between the first electrode and the second electrode is changed in response to the applied pen pressure.

[Explanation of an example of the configuration of the internal electronic circuit of the position indicator 1 according to the embodiment]
In this embodiment, the position detection system 2 used together with the position indicator 1 has a plurality of configuration types, such as a passive system, an improved passive system, and an active system, as described above. In this embodiment, when the position detection system 2 includes a wireless communication module capable of communicating with the wireless communication module 42 of the position indicator 1, the wireless communication module transmits pen type information indicating a configuration type in which the position detection system can operate to the position indicator 1. The position indicator 1 receives the pen type information from the position detection system by a receiving function (first receiving unit) of the wireless communication module 42, determines which configuration type (mode) the position indicator should have based on the received pen type information, and controls the position indicator to have the determined configuration type.

In the case of a position indicator of a passive type or an improved passive type configuration type that receives a transmission signal from the position detection system 2, the position indicator 1 receives a signal from the position detection system through the peripheral electrode 6 (second receiving unit), and can determine which type of position indicator configuration it should have, and can be controlled to have the determined type of position indicator configuration.

In this case, since there are differences in the frequency of the signal from the position detection system and in the signal content (such as differences in spreading codes and modulation methods) between the passive method and the improved passive method, the position indicator 1 distinguishes these differences and determines which configuration type of the position indicator should be used based on the results of this distinction. In this case, even when configuration type information cannot be obtained from the position detection system via the wireless communication module, it is possible to determine which configuration type (mode) of the position indicator should be used.

The signal transmission control circuit 41 of the position indicator 1 performs a process of determining the configuration type (mode) of the position indicator 1 based on the information received from the position detection system 2 through the wireless communication module 42 or the signal received through the peripheral electrode 6, as described above, and also performs a process of controlling the position indicator 1 to be in the determined configuration type (mode).

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit formed on the printed wiring board 40 inside the housing 3 of the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, and is a diagram showing an example of the internal detailed configuration of the signal transmission control circuit 41.

As shown in FIG. 4, the signal transmission control circuit 41 includes a control unit 410, for example an IC (Integrated Circuit), a pen type determination unit 411, a center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412, a wireless transmission signal generation unit 413, a switch circuit 414 for selecting a position detection signal, a feedback signal generation circuit 415, and switch circuits 416 and 417 for switching between a passive position indicator and an improved passive and active position indicators.

A variable capacitance capacitor formed by the pen pressure detection unit 9 is connected to the control unit 410, and the control unit 410 calculates the pressure (pen pressure value) applied to the center electrode 7 from the capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor formed by the pen pressure detection unit 9. In addition, an on/off state signal of the side switch 43 is supplied to the control unit 410. The control unit 410 generates side switch information, which is additional information related to the side switch 43, from the on/off state signal of the side switch 43. In addition, an ID memory 44 is connected to the control unit 410, and the control unit 410 reads and acquires the identification information (ID) of the position indicator 1 from this ID memory 44 as necessary. The ID memory 44 may store the identification information in advance in the position indicator 1, or the identification information stored in the stored ID memory 44 may be configured to be rewritten by a command from the position detection system 2 received, for example, through the wireless communication module 42.

The control unit 410 controls whether multiple types of additional information, in this example, writing pressure information, side switch information, and identification information, are sent from the center electrode 7 or wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication module 42, depending on information based on the pen type determination result from the pen type determination unit 411.

The control unit 410 supplies the additional information sent through the central electrode 7 to the central electrode transmission signal generation unit 412, and supplies the additional information sent through the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413.

The central electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 is connected to the central electrode 7, and as described below, the additional information to be sent is sent to the position detection system 2 through the central electrode 7 together with the position detection signal. The wireless transmission signal generating unit 413 is connected to the transmitting unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42, and the additional information to be sent is wirelessly transmitted to the position detection system 2 through this transmitting unit 421.

The central electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 is supplied with an AC signal of frequency f1 from the oscillator 45 and an AC signal of frequency f2 from the oscillator 46 as signals for generating a position detection signal to be sent, in accordance with the switching selection by the control unit 410 of the switch circuit 414, and also receives a feedback signal from the feedback signal generating circuit 415 as a position detection signal to be sent. In this example, the feedback signal generating circuit 415 amplifies the signal received from the position detection system 2 through the peripheral electrode 6 to enhance the signal, and further inverts the phase. An example of the configuration and processing of the feedback signal generating circuit 415 will be described in detail later. The control unit 410 generates a switching selection signal for the switch circuit 414 based on information based on the pen type determination result from the pen type determining unit 411.

The connection between the central electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 and the central electrode 7 is connected to the conductor portion 32 of the housing 3 through a switch circuit 416. The peripheral electrode 6 is connected to the conductor portion 32 of the housing 3 through a switch circuit 417. These switch circuits 416 and 417 are switched by an on/off control signal from the control unit 410. The control unit 410 generates on/off control signals for the switch circuits 416 and 417 based on information based on the pen type determination result from the pen type determination unit 411.

The pen type determination unit 411 is composed of a pen type table memory 4111 and a determination processing unit 4112. The determination processing unit 4112 of the pen type determination unit 411 is supplied with information from the position detection system 2 received by the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42, and is also supplied with a signal received from the position detection system 2 via the peripheral electrode 6.

The pen type table memory 4111 stores a plurality of configuration types of the position indicator 1, and for each configuration type of position indicator, pen type table information indicating whether or not a position detection signal is sent and the frequency of an oscillator for generating the position detection signal to be sent, as well as whether additional information is sent from the center electrode 7 or through the wireless communication module 42. This pen type table information may be stored in advance in the pen type table memory 4111, but in this example, it is configured to be written and rewritten by commands from the position detection system 2 through the wireless communication module 42.

The judgment processing unit 4112 judges the information from the position detection system 2 received by the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42, or the signal received from the sensor unit of the position detection system 2 through the peripheral electrode 6, and refers to the pen type table information in the pen type table memory 4111 to judge the configuration type of the position indicator that is compatible with the position detection system 2 to be used with the position indicator 1. Then, based on the judgment result, it generates information on whether or not a signal is sent from the center electrode 7, information on the position detection signal and additional information sent from the center electrode 7, and information on the additional information to be sent through the wireless communication module 42, and supplies the generated information to the control unit 410.

Based on information from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 generates a switching selection signal for the switch circuit 414 and an on/off control signal for the switch circuits 416 and 417, and supplies these to the switch circuits 414, 416, and 417. It also determines the additional information to be supplied to the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 and the additional information to be supplied to the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413, and supplies these to the respective units.

Figure 5 shows an example of pen type table information of the pen type determination unit 411. The example in Figure 5 is table information for five types of position indicators, configuration type 1 to configuration type 5 (mode 1 to mode 5). After determining the configuration type (mode) of the position indicator, the pen type determination unit 411 refers to this pen type table information and generates control information to be supplied to the control unit 410. Below, it will be explained how, in the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, each configuration type (mode) is switched under the control of the control unit 410.

Configuration type 1 (mode 1) is a passive position indicator, in which no signal is transmitted from the center electrode 7, and all additional information is transmitted through the wireless communication module 42. That is, in the signal transmission control circuit 41 of the position indicator 1, when the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 1 (mode 1), the control unit 410 turns on the switch circuits 416 and 417, and also puts the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 in an inactive state. The switch circuit 417 may be off. Then, the control unit 410 controls so that all additional information is transmitted to the position detection system 2 through the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42. Note that there are cases in which the identification information does not need to be transmitted as additional information.

Configuration type 2 (mode 2) is an improved passive type position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 2 (mode 2), based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 turns off the switch circuits 416 and 417, and switches the switch circuit 414 to a state in which it selects a signal from the feedback signal generation circuit 415. Then, the control unit 410 controls so that all additional information is transmitted from the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 to the position detection system 2 via the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42. Note that there are cases in which the identification information does not need to be transmitted as additional information.

Configuration type 3 (mode 3) is the first type of active position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 3 (mode 3), the control unit 410 turns off the switch circuit 416 and turns on the switch circuit 417 based on information from the pen type determination unit 411, and switches the switch circuit 414 to a state in which it selects an AC signal from the oscillator 45 of frequency f1 in this example. Then, the control unit 410 controls the additional information to be transmitted from the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 to the position detection system 2 via the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42. Note that there are cases in which the identification information does not need to be transmitted as additional information.

Configuration type 4 (mode 4) is the second type of active position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 4 (mode 4), the control unit 410 turns off the switch circuit 416 and turns on the switch circuit 417 based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, and switches the switch circuit 414 to a state in which it selects an AC signal from the oscillator 46 of frequency f2 in this example. Then, the pen pressure information and side switch information of the additional information are sent from the center electrode 7 together with a position detection signal, and the identification information ID is controlled to be sent to the position detection system 2 via the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42.

Configuration type 5 (mode 5) is the second type of active position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 5 (mode 5), the control unit 410 switches the switch circuit 416 off and the switch circuit 417 on based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, and switches the switch circuit 414 to a state in which it selects an AC signal from the oscillator 46 with a frequency of f2 in this example. Then, it controls so that all additional information is sent from the center electrode 7 together with the position detection signal.

In this manner, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines the configuration type of the position indicator based on the information and signals received from the sensor unit of the position detection system 2 through the receiver 422 of the wireless communication module 42 and the peripheral electrode 6, and configures the position indicator 1 to have the determined configuration type. Therefore, the position indicator 1 of this embodiment can automatically configure and use position indicators of various configuration types corresponding to various types of position detection systems 2. In other words, position indication can be input for multiple position detection systems 2 of various types using only the position indicator 1 of this embodiment. Therefore, there is no need to prepare separate position indicators for each of multiple position detection systems 2 of various types, which is very convenient and reduces the cost burden for the user.

The pen type information received from the position detection system 2 through the wireless communication module 42 is not limited to configuration type information that directly identifies each of configuration types 1 to 5, but may be information that indirectly indicates, for example, the numbers of each of configuration types 1 to 5 in the pen type table information or the addresses of each configuration type in the pen type table memory 4111.

In FIG. 4, the processing functions of the judgment processing unit 4112 of the pen type judgment unit 411, the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412, and the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 can also be configured by the control unit 410 as software processing function means. The same applies to the feedback signal generation circuit 415.

[Example of processing operation in the signal transmission control circuit 41]
Next, an example of the processing operation executed by the signal transmission control circuit 41 after the power switch 48 is turned on will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

The signal transmission control circuit 41 first determines whether information has been received by the receiver 422 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S1), and if so, determines whether the received information is pen type information (step S2). If it is determined in step S2 that the received information is pen type information, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines the configuration type (pen type) of the position indicator based on the received pen type information, and refers to the pen type table memory 4111 to determine the signal to be transmitted from the center electrode 7 and the transmitter 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S3). As described above, this determination also includes the determination of whether to transmit a position detection signal from the center electrode 7.

After step S3, the signal transmission control circuit 41 transmits a signal according to the configuration type determined in step S3 through the central electrode 7 and the transmitter 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S4).

Then, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether or not it is no longer possible to receive information from the position detection system 2 through the receiver 422 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S5), and if it determines that it is not no longer possible to receive information, it returns the process to step S4 and continues signal transmission according to the determined configuration type.

If it is determined in step S5 that information from the position detection system 2 cannot be received through the receiver 422 of the wireless communication module 42, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed since it became unable to receive information (step S6). If it is determined in step S6 that the predetermined time has not passed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S4 and continues transmitting signals according to the determined configuration type.

When it is determined in step S6 that a predetermined time or more has elapsed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 suspends signal transmission from the center electrode 7 and the transmitter 421 of the wireless communication module 42, and puts the position indicator 1 into a sleep state (step S7). In this sleep state, in order to reduce consumption of the battery 5 as much as possible and to conserve power, the power supply to the receiver 422 of the wireless communication module 42, the control unit 410 of the signal transmission control circuit 41, and the pen type determination unit 411 is maintained, but unnecessary voltage supply to other parts is stopped.

After step S7, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1 and repeats the processes from step S1 onwards.

When it is determined in step S1 that the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 has not received any information, or when it is determined in step S2 that the received information is not pen type information, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether or not a signal has been received through the peripheral electrode 6 (step S11 in FIG. 7). When it is determined in step S11 that a signal has not been received through the peripheral electrode 6, the signal transmission control circuit 41 turns on the switch circuit 416 to connect the central electrode 7 to the earth conductor (ground) of the printed wiring board 40 through the conductor portion 32, thereby setting the state to configuration type 1 (step S18). Then, after step S18, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1 in FIG. 6, and repeats the process from step S1 onwards.

If it is determined in step S11 that a signal has been received through the peripheral electrode 6, it is determined whether or not it is possible to determine the pen type from the received signal (step S12). If it is determined in step S12 that it is not possible to determine the pen type, the signal transmission control circuit 41 turns on the switch circuit 416 to connect the central electrode 7 to the earth conductor (ground) of the printed wiring board 40 through the conductor portion 32, thereby setting the state to configuration type 1 (step S18). After step S18, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1 in FIG. 6 and repeats the processes from step S1 onward.

When it is determined in step S12 that the pen type can be determined, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines the configuration type (pen type) of the position indicator based on the received signal, and refers to the pen type table 4111 to determine the signal to be transmitted from the center electrode 7 and the transmitter 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S13). As described above, this determination also includes a determination of whether or not to transmit a position detection signal from the center electrode 7.

After step S13, the signal transmission control circuit 41 executes signal transmission according to the configuration type determined in step S13 through the central electrode 7 and the transmitter 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S14).

Then, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether or not it is no longer possible to receive signals through the peripheral electrodes 6 (step S15), and if it determines that it is not no longer possible to receive signals, it returns the process to step S14 and continues transmitting signals according to the determined configuration type.

When it is determined in step S15 that it is no longer possible to receive signals through the peripheral electrodes 6, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since it was no longer possible to receive signals (step S16). When it is determined in step S16 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S14 and continues transmitting signals according to the determined configuration type.

When it is determined in step S16 that the predetermined time or more has elapsed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 suspends signal transmission from the center electrode 7 and the transmitter 421 of the wireless communication module 42, and puts the position indicator 1 into a sleep state (step S17). After step S17, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1, and repeats the processes from step S1 onward.

[Description of the operation of various configuration types of position indicators and corresponding position detection systems]
<Position indicator 1A of configuration type 2 and corresponding position detection system 2A>
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the circuitry of the main parts of a position indicator 1A of configuration type 2, and in particular shows an example of the circuitry of the feedback signal generating circuit 415 and the power supply circuit section 50, which has been omitted above.

The power supply circuit section 50 includes a DC/DC converter 501, which generates a power supply voltage +Vcc from the voltage of the battery 5 and supplies it to the signal transmission control circuit 41 and other circuits.

In the power supply circuit section 50, a power switch 48 is provided between the DC/DC converter 501 and the battery 5. A series circuit of a resistor 502 and an LED 49 is connected between the output terminal of the DC/DC converter 501 and the earth conductor. Furthermore, the output terminal of the DC/DC converter 501 is connected to the earth conductor through a series connection of resistors 503 and 504, and a reference voltage Vref (=Vcc/2) is output from the connection point of resistors 503 and 504.

In this example, the feedback signal generating circuit 415 is configured as a signal amplification processing circuit, and is made up of a sense amplifier 510, a variable signal amplification rate circuit 520, and a transformer 530.

In this example, the sense amplifier 510 is composed of an operational amplifier 511 and a capacitor 512 connected between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier 511. The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 511 is connected to a connection terminal 513 that is connected to the peripheral electrode 6. The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 511 is supplied with the above-mentioned reference voltage Vref.

When the position indicator 1A is on the position detection system 2A, as shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral electrode 6 of the position indicator 1A and the position detection system 2A are coupled via capacitance C1. As described below, an AC signal flows through the position detection system 2A, and this AC signal is supplied to the connection terminal 513 as a current signal via capacitance C1 and peripheral electrode 6, and input to the sense amplifier 510. The capacitor 512 is for detecting the current signal input via capacitance C1.

The sense amplifier 510 then inverts the phase of the AC signal input as a current signal through the connection terminal 513 and outputs it to the variable signal amplification circuit 520.

The variable signal amplification rate circuit 520 is composed of an operational amplifier 521 and a variable resistor 522 connected between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier 521. By variably setting the resistance value of this variable resistor 522, the amplification rate of this variable signal amplification rate circuit 520 is variably set, and as a result, the signal detection sensitivity of the position indicator 1A is controlled.

The AC signal amplified by the variable signal amplification circuit 520 is supplied to the primary winding 530a of the transformer 530. The ratio of the number of turns n1 of the primary winding 530a of the transformer 530 to the number of turns n2 of the secondary winding 530b is set to a larger number of turns on the secondary winding 530b side (n1<n2), for example, n1:n2=1:10. Therefore, on the secondary winding 530b side of the transformer 530, the amplitude of the output signal from the variable signal amplification circuit 520 is multiplied according to the ratio of the number of turns, and a large amplitude AC signal (voltage signal) is obtained.

One end of the secondary winding 530b of the transformer 530 is connected to a connection terminal 523 that is connected to a rod-shaped conductor core 71 of the center electrode 7 shielded by a shielding member 8, and the other end of the secondary winding 530b of the transformer 530 is connected to the earth conductor of the printed wiring board 40. Therefore, the output signal that has been converted into a large amplitude AC signal voltage by the feedback signal generating circuit 415 is supplied to the center electrode 7 through the connection terminal 523.

When the position indicator 1A is on the position detection system 2A, the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A and the position detection system 2A are coupled via capacitance, so that an AC signal is fed back from the position indicator 1A to the position detection system 2A via the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A.

Next, the position detection system 2A of this example will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The position detection system 2A of this example is a mutual capacitance type position detection system in which the sensor electrodes are composed of input electrodes and output electrodes, and the change in coupling capacitance of the touch point touched by the position indicator 1A is detected.

As shown in FIG. 9, the position detection system 2A of this example includes a sensor unit 20A, a transmitter 21, a receiver 22, a wireless communication unit 25, and a controller 220A. The sensor unit 20A includes a plurality of linear transmission conductors, m in this example, 23Y ₁ , 23Y ₂ , ..., 23Y _m (m is an integer of 1 or more), extending in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) of the sensor input surface, and a plurality of reception conductors, n in this example, 24X ₁ , 24X ₂ , ..., 24X _n ( _n is an integer of 1 or more), extending in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) of the sensor input surface perpendicular to the transmission conductors 23Y ₁ to 23Y m. The plurality of transmission conductors 23Y ₁ to 23Y _m are arranged at equal intervals in the Y-axis direction and connected to the transmitter 21. The plurality of reception conductors 24X ₁ to 24X _n are arranged at equal intervals in the X-axis direction and connected to the receiver 22.

In the following description of this specification, when there is no need to distinguish between the transmission conductors 23Y ₁ to _23Ym and the reception conductors 24X ₁ to _24Xn , they will be referred to as the transmission conductors 23Y and the reception conductors 24X, respectively.

The multiple transmission conductors 23Y and the multiple reception conductors 24X are arranged at a predetermined interval and are arranged orthogonal to each other to form multiple intersections (cross points). At each cross point, the transmission conductors 23Y and the reception conductors 24X can be considered to be coupled via a predetermined capacitance.

The transmitter 21 supplies a predetermined AC signal to the transmission conductor 23Y under the control of the controller 220. In this case, the transmitter 21 may supply the same AC signal to the multiple transmission conductors _23Y1 , _23Y2 , ..., _23Ym by switching sequentially one by one, or may supply multiple different AC signals to the multiple transmission conductors _23Y1 , _23Y2 , ..., _23Ym simultaneously. Also, the multiple transmission conductors _23Y1 , _23Y2 , ..., _23Ym may be divided into multiple groups, and a different AC signal may be used for each group.

The receiving section 22 detects, in each of the receiving conductors _24X1 , _24X2 , ..., _24Xn , a signal component of the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y that is transmitted via the predetermined capacitance, based on the control of the control section 220. If the coupling capacitance between the transmission conductor 23Y and the receiving conductor 24X is equal at all cross points, when the position indicator 1 is not present on the sensor section 20, a receiving signal of a predetermined level is detected in the receiving section 22 from all the receiving conductors _24X1 , _24X2 , ..., _24Xn of the sensor section 20.

In contrast, when the position indicator 1A comes into contact with the sensor unit 20A, the transmitting conductor 23Y and receiving conductor 24X that constitute the cross point at the contact position, and the position indicator 1A are coupled through capacitance. In other words, the capacitance is changed by the position indicator 1A, and the reception signal level obtained from the receiving conductor 24X of the cross point where the position indicator 1A exists changes compared to the reception signal levels of other cross points.

The receiver 22 detects the receiving conductor 24X, among the multiple receiving conductors _24X1 , _24X2 , ..., _24Xn , which has experienced a change in the level of its received signal, thereby detecting the position indicated by the position indicator 1A. A control unit of the position detection system 2, not shown, detects the transmission conductor 23Y to which the AC signal is supplied from the transmitter 21 and the receiving conductor 24X, which has experienced a change in the level of the received signal at the receiver 22, thereby detecting the cross point with which the position indicator 1A is in contact.

When a finger, instead of the position indicator 1A, approaches or touches the sensor unit 20, the position detection system 2 uses a similar principle to detect the cross point where the finger approaches or touches. In this case, part of the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y flows through the finger and through the user's body to the ground. This causes a change in the reception signal level of the reception conductor 24X that constitutes the cross point where the finger is present. The reception unit 22 detects this change in the reception signal level and thereby detects the reception conductor 24X that constitutes the cross point where the finger is present.

In the case of a position indicator of configuration type 1, the position detection system 2A can detect the indicated position in the sensor unit 20A using the same principle as for detecting the position of a finger. However, in the case of a position indicator of configuration type 1, the contact area with the position detection system 2A is not large as in the case of a finger, so the coupling capacitance is small and the detection sensitivity of the position detection system 2A is low. For this reason, a position detection system corresponding to a position indicator of configuration type 1 compensates for the decrease in detection sensitivity by detecting the indicated position of the position indicator by correlating the transmitted signal with the received signal using a spread code as the AC signal transmitted to the position indicator.

In contrast, in the case of the position indicator 1A and position detection system 2A of this configuration type 2, the affinity between the position indicator 1A and the position detection system 2A is high and highly versatile, even without using a spread code or the like, and a predetermined waveform correlation is ensured between the input signal and the output signal, making it possible to perform position detection on the sensor unit 20A with high sensitivity.

In other words, when the position indicator 1A is brought close to or into contact with the sensor unit 20A of the position detection system 2A, the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y is input as a current signal through the capacitance C1 and the peripheral electrode 6 as shown in FIG. 1 to the feedback signal generation circuit 415 via the connection terminal 513.

The AC signal (current signal) input to the feedback signal generating circuit 415 is inverted in phase by the sense amplifier 510, amplified by the variable signal amplification circuit 520, and boosted (multiplied) by the transformer 530 to enhance the signal, and then supplied as a voltage signal to the central electrode 7 through the connection terminal 523. That is, the AC signal input from the sensor unit 20A via the peripheral electrode 6 to the feedback signal generating circuit 415 is made in phase in the feedback signal generating circuit 415 and made into a large amplitude signal, which is then fed back to the sensor unit 20A through the central electrode 7.

In this case, the AC signal fed back from the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A to the sensor section 20A of the position detection system 2A is an amplified signal of opposite phase to the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y, so that the position indicator 1A functions to further increase the change in the AC signal in the reception signal of the reception conductor 24X. This allows the position detection system 2A to detect the contact position of the position indicator 1A with high sensitivity. The detection operation is further stabilized by connecting the earth conductor of the position indicator 1A to the human body. That is, in this embodiment, the housing 3 of the position indicator 1A is covered with a conductor section 32 connected to the earth conductor of the printed wiring board 40. Therefore, the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y in the position detection system 2A flows to ground through the position indicator 1A and the user's body, thereby further stabilizing the signal detection operation.

In addition, if the voltage at the transmission conductor 23Y of the sensor unit 20A of the position detection system 2A is V, the voltage at the central electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A of this embodiment is e, and the electrostatic capacitance between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 is C2 (see FIG. 1 ), then:
e≦C1/C2·V
For this reason, it is advantageous for increasing the electric potential e of the central electrode 7 that the electrostatic capacitance C2 between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 is as small as possible.

For this reason, in the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, a shielding member 8 is interposed between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 to minimize the coupling between the two. Therefore, in the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, by interposing the shielding member 8, the capacitance C2 between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 is reduced, and the voltage e can be increased, thereby efficiently increasing the sensitivity.

The position indicator 1A of the above-described embodiment is configured to receive an AC signal from the position detection system 2A at the peripheral electrode 6, and to feed back an amplified output AC signal to the position detection system 2A from the central electrode 7. However, the electrode for receiving the AC signal from the position detection system 2A may be the central electrode 7, and the electrode for feeding back the amplified AC signal to the position detection system 2 may be the peripheral electrode 6.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the position indicator 1A of configuration type 2, the writing pressure information, side switch information, and identification information are wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25 of the position detection system 2A. The writing pressure information, side switch information, and identification information received by the wireless communication unit 25 are supplied to the control circuit 220A and transmitted, together with the detected position information, to, for example, a host computer. Additional information from the position indicator of configuration type 1 is also transmitted from the wireless communication module 42 to the position detection system in the same manner.

<Position indicator 1B of configuration type 3 and corresponding position detection system 2B>
10 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit of a main part of a position indicator 1B of configuration type 3 and a corresponding position detection system 2B. The position indicator 1B of configuration type 3 outputs an AC signal of frequency f1 as a position detection signal, and also outputs all of additional information, such as pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information, from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25B of the position detection system 2B.

As shown in FIG. 10, the position detection system 2B is composed of a sensor unit 20B, a pen indication detection circuit 26B connected to the sensor unit 20B, and a wireless communication unit 25B.

The sensor unit 20B is formed by stacking, from the bottom up, a first conductor group 211, an insulating layer (not shown), and a second conductor group 212. The first conductor group 211 is formed by arranging a plurality of first conductors 211Y ₁ , 211Y ₂ , ..., 211Y _m (m is an integer of 1 or more) extending in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) in parallel with a predetermined distance from each other in the Y-axis direction.

The second conductor group 212 is made up of a plurality of second conductors _212X1 , _212X2 , ..., 212Xn (n is an integer of 1 or more) extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the first conductors _211Y1 , _211Y2 , ..., _211Ym (in this example, a vertical direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the direction of extension) _, which are arranged in parallel in the X-axis direction at a predetermined distance from each other.

In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the first conductors _211Y1 , _211Y2 , ..., _211Ym , the conductors will be referred to as the first conductors 211Y. Similarly, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the second conductors _212X1 , _212X2 , ..., _212Xn , the conductors will be referred to as the second conductors 212X.

The pen indication detection circuit 26B is composed of a selection circuit 221, which serves as an input/output interface with the sensor unit 20B, an amplifier circuit 222, a bandpass filter 223, a detection circuit 224, a sample-and-hold circuit 225, an AD (Analog to Digital) conversion circuit 226, and a control circuit 220B.

The selection circuit 221 selects one conductor from each of the first conductor group 211Y and the second conductor group 212X based on a control signal from the control circuit 220B. The conductor selected by the selection circuit 221 is connected to the amplifier circuit 222, and the signal from the position indicator 1B is detected by the selected conductor and amplified by the amplifier circuit 222. The output of this amplifier circuit 222 is supplied to a bandpass filter 223B, which extracts only the component of frequency f1 of the signal transmitted from the position indicator 1B.

The output signal of the bandpass filter 223B is detected by the detection circuit 224. The output signal of this detection circuit 224 is supplied to the sample-and-hold circuit 225, where it is sampled and held at a predetermined timing by the sampling signal from the control circuit 220B, and then converted to a digital value by the AD conversion circuit 226. The digital data from the AD conversion circuit 226 is read and processed by the control circuit 220B.

The control circuit 220B operates in accordance with a program stored in the internal ROM to send control signals to the sample-and-hold circuit 225, the AD conversion circuit 226, and the selection circuit 221. The control circuit 220B also calculates the position coordinates on the sensor unit 20B indicated by the position indicator 1B from the digital data from the AD conversion circuit 226.

Figure 11 is a timing chart for explaining the signal transmitted from the position indicator 1B of this configuration type 3 to the corresponding position detection system 2B. As described above, from the position indicator 1B of this configuration type 3, a signal based on an AC signal of, for example, frequency f1 is continuously transmitted through the center electrode 7 as a position detection signal.

However, the position indicator 1B of this configuration type 3 in this example takes advantage of the fact that the position indicator 1 of this embodiment has a configuration capable of sending an AC signal of frequency f1 and an AC signal of frequency f2 as a position detection signal, and is able to switch the frequency of the position detection signal when noise of the same frequency as the position detection signal is present.

That is, in the position indicator 1B of configuration type 3 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11(A), the position detection signal repeats one cycle, which is a continuous transmission period of a predetermined period length Ta and a pause period of a predetermined period length Tb.

The control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B, as shown in FIG. 11(B), sets a pause period of a predetermined period length Tb as a window section for detecting the presence or absence of noise, and detects whether or not noise of the same frequency as the position detection signal is present in the window section. When it detects the presence of noise of the same frequency as the position detection signal in the window section, the control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B notifies the position indicator 1B of this fact via the wireless communication unit 25B.

When the receiver 422 of the wireless communication module 42 of the position indicator 1B receives this notification from the position detection system 2B, it transfers it to the control unit 410 of the signal transmission control circuit 41. The control unit 410 of the signal transmission control circuit 41 switches the switch circuit 414 in accordance with this notification to select the oscillator 45 of frequency f1 to the oscillator 46 of frequency f2. If the position detection signal from the position indicator 1B when the notification from the position detection system 2B is based on the signal from the oscillator 46 of frequency f2, the control unit 410 switches the switch circuit 414 in response to the notification from the position detection system 2B to select the oscillator 45 of frequency f1 from the oscillator 46 of frequency f2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11(A), when the position detection signal from the position indicator 1B is a signal of frequency f1, and noise NR of the same frequency f1 is present as shown in FIG. 11(C), the control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B detects the noise NR in the window section shown in FIG. 11(B) and sends a notification to that effect to the position indicator 1B via the wireless communication unit 25B.

In the position indicator 1B, the control unit 410 receives this notification from the position detection system 2B through the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42, and controls the switching circuit 414 to switch the frequency of the position detection signal from frequency f1 to frequency f2, as shown in FIG. 11(D). Therefore, even if noise of the same frequency as the frequency of the position detection signal is present in the vicinity of the position detection system 2B, it is possible to prevent the influence of the noise by switching the frequency of the position detection signal.

In addition, in the position detection system 2B, in order to be able to handle both the position detection signals of frequency f1 and frequency f2, the bandpass filter 223B is configured to have a state in which the pass frequency band has a center frequency of frequency f1 and a state in which the pass frequency band has a center frequency of frequency f2, and is configured to be able to switch which pass frequency band is used under the control of the control circuit 220B.

<Position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 and corresponding position detection system 2C>
12 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit of the main parts of a position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 and a corresponding position detection system 2C. The position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 sends out an AC signal of frequency f2 as a position detection signal, and sends writing pressure information and side switch information, which are examples of important additional information for a position indicator, together with the position detection signal to the position detection system 2C through the central electrode 7. The position indicator 1C sends identification information of the additional information from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25C of the position detection system 2C.

As shown in FIG. 12, the position detection system 2C is composed of a sensor unit 20C, a pen indication detection circuit 26C connected to the sensor unit 20C, and a wireless communication unit 25C. In this example, the sensor unit 20C has the same configuration as the sensor unit 20B of the position detection system 2B. Moreover, the pen indication detection circuit 26C has the same configuration as the pen indication detection circuit 26B, except for the bandpass filter 223C and the control circuit 220C.

In this example, the bandpass filter 223C of the position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 has a pass frequency band with frequency f2 as the center frequency. The control circuit 220C also has a function of detecting pen pressure information and side switch information sent together with the position detection signal.

In the position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 in this example, the center electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 receives control from the control unit 410 and repeatedly outputs a signal of a pattern in which the continuous transmission period and the transmission data period form one cycle. FIG. 13(A) shows an example of a control signal supplied to the center electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 from the control unit 410 of the position indicator 1C. During a certain period in which the control signal in FIG. 13(A) is maintained at a high level, the center electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 continuously transmits an oscillation signal of frequency f2 as a burst signal as shown in FIG. 13(B) (the continuous transmission period in FIG. 13(C)).

The length of this continuous transmission period is set to a time length that allows the pen indication detection circuit 26C of the position detection system 2C to detect the position indicated on the sensor unit 20C by the position indicator 1C, and is set to a time length that allows, for example, scanning all of the first conductor 211Y and the second conductor 212X at least once, preferably at least multiple times.

During this continuous transmission period, the control unit 410 of the position indicator 1C calculates the writing pressure applied to the central electrode 7 based on the capacitance of the variable capacitor of the writing pressure detection unit 9, and obtains information on the calculated writing pressure value as a multi-bit value (binary code). The control unit 410 also generates the on/off information of the side switch 43 as side switch information, which is one-bit or multi-bit information.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13(A), after the end of the continuous transmission period, during the transmission data period, the control unit 410 controls the control signal to a high level or a low level at a predetermined cycle (Td), thereby ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulating the AC signal of frequency f2. Instead of ASK modulation, an OOK (On Off Keying) signal may be used.

At this time, the first time a predetermined period (Td) after the continuous transmission period is always set to high level, and this is used as the start signal in FIG. 13 (C). This start signal is a timing signal that enables the pen indication detection circuit 26C of the position detection system 2C to accurately determine the timing of subsequent data transmission. Note that instead of this start signal, the burst signal of the continuous transmission period can also be used as the timing signal.

The center electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 of the position indicator 1C, under the control of the control unit 410, sequentially transmits multiple bits of pen pressure information and one or multiple bits of side switch information following a start signal during a transmission data period. In this case, as shown in Figures 13(A) and (B), when the transmission data (binary code) is "0", the control signal (Figure 13A) is set to low level and no AC signal is sent, and when the transmission data (binary code) is "1", the control signal is set to high level and an AC signal is sent, thereby performing ASK modulation.

In the pen indication detection circuit 26C of the position detection system 2C, the control circuit 220C detects the position indicated by the position indicator 1C from the received signal during the continuous transmission period in the same manner as the position detection system 2B described above. The control circuit 220C then waits for the end of the continuous transmission period, and when it detects a start signal after the end of the continuous transmission period, it detects the writing pressure information and side switch information data during the transmission data period and performs an operation to restore them. The control circuit 220C then outputs the detection information of the position indicated by the position indicator 1C, the writing pressure information, and the side switch information to a host computer or the like, together with the identification information received via the wireless communication unit 25C.

In addition, the position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 may also be configured to switch the frequency of the position detection signal in the same way as the position indicator 1B of configuration type 3 so as to reduce the effects of noise. In that case, the bandpass filter 223C and the control circuit 220C of the position detection system 2C are also configured to have the same functions as the bandpass filter 223B and the control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B corresponding to configuration type 3.

<Position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 and corresponding position detection system 2D>
14 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit of a main part of a position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 and a corresponding position detection system 2D. The position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 outputs an AC signal of frequency f2 as a position detection signal, and outputs all additional information, in this example, pen pressure information, side switch information and identification information ID1, together with the position detection signal, to the position detection system 2D via the central electrode 7.

As shown in FIG. 14, the position detection system 2D is configured to include a sensor unit 20D, a pen indication detection circuit 26D connected to the sensor unit 20D, and a wireless communication unit 25D. In this example, the sensor unit 20D has the same configuration as the sensor unit 20B of the position detection system 2B. The pen indication detection circuit 26D has the same configuration as the pen indication detection circuit 26C, including the bandpass filter 223D, except for the control circuit 220D. That is, in this example, the bandpass filter 223D has a pass frequency band with frequency f2 as the center frequency. The control circuit 220D has the function of detecting the writing pressure information, side switch information, and identification information ID1 sent together with the position detection signal.

In the position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 in this example, similar to the position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 described above, the center electrode transmission signal generating unit 412 receives control from the control unit 410 and repeatedly outputs a signal having a pattern in which the continuous transmission period and the transmission data period form one cycle, as shown in FIG. 15.

Figure 15 (A) shows an example of a control signal supplied from the control unit 410 of the position indicator 1D to the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412. The center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 of the position indicator 1D in this example is controlled by the control signal of Figure 15 (A) to continuously transmit an oscillation signal of frequency f2 as a burst signal during the continuous transmission period as shown in Figure 15 (B), and to transmit the writing pressure information, side switch information, and identification information ID1 as ASK signals to the position detection system 2D through the center electrode 7 during the transmission data period as shown in Figures 15 (B) and (C).

The control circuit 220D of the position detection system 2D detects the position on the sensor unit 20D indicated by the position indicator 1D based on the burst signal during the continuous transmission period, and detects and restores the pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information ID1 during the transmission data period.

In this example, in order to make the transmission of signals between the position indicator 1D and the position detection system 2D more secure, the position indicator 1D sends the identification information ID2 from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25D of the position detection system 2D. In this case, the identification information ID1 and the identification information ID2 are the same information (ID1=ID2). The control circuit 220D compares the identification information ID2 acquired through the wireless communication unit 25D with the identification information ID1 received and detected through the center electrode 7, and processes the signal acquired from the position indicator 1D as valid only when the two match.

Then, when the control circuit 220D validates the signal obtained from the position indicator 1D, it outputs the detection information of the position indicated by the position indicator 1D, the pen pressure information, the side switch information, and the identification information ID1 to a host computer or the like.

Figure 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of secure processing using identification information ID1 and ID2 in the control circuit 220D of the position detection system 2D.

The control circuit 220D temporarily holds the identification information ID2 received through the wireless communication unit 25D (step S21). Next, the control circuit 220D acquires the identification information ID1 contained in the information transmitted through the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1D (step S22). Then, the control circuit 220D determines whether the identification information ID1 and the identification information ID2 match (step S23), and when it is determined that the identification information ID1 and the identification information ID2 match, it processes the signal from the position indicator 1D as valid (step S24), and then returns to the process of step S21 and repeats the process from step S21 onwards. Also, when it is determined in step S23 that the identification information ID1 and the identification information ID2 do not match, the control circuit 220D processes the signal from the position indicator 1D as invalid (step S25), and then returns to the process of step S21 and repeats the process from step S21 onwards.

Note that in the position detection system 2D, secure processing using a comparison between the identification information ID2 from the wireless communication module 42 and the identification information ID1 acquired through the center electrode 7 is not essential and does not have to be performed.

[Other embodiments]
<Another example of electrostatic coupling method>
The above-mentioned multiple configuration types of the position indicator are merely examples, and needless to say, are not limited to the configuration types connected here. For example, in the above-mentioned active type position indicator, a signal is sent only from the central electrode 7, but in order to be able to detect the inclination angle and rotation angle in the position detection system of the position indicator, the peripheral electrode 6 may be divided into a plurality of parts, and a position indicator may be configured to send a signal from each of the divided peripheral divided electrodes so that the peripheral divided electrodes can be identified, as one configuration type.

Figure 17 shows the main parts of a position indicator 1E that can be used to construct a position indicator of this type. Figure 17(A) is a diagram for explaining the components on the side of the center electrode 7, and Figure 17(B) is a diagram of the position indicator 1E as viewed from the tip side of the center electrode 7 in the axial direction.

In this position indicator 1E, the peripheral electrode made of a conductor provided around the opening 3a of the housing 3 into which the central electrode 7 is inserted is provided as three divided peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C. These peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are provided electrically insulated and separated from each other as shown in Figures 17(A) and (B).

Then, in the case of the passive type configuration type 1 and the active type configuration types 3, 4, and 5 described above, these peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are not used. In the case of the improved passive type configuration type 2, the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are electrically connected, and the signals received by all of the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are synthesized and supplied to the feedback signal generating circuit 415.

When the position indicator 1E is configured to detect the tilt angle and rotation angle on the position detection system, the central electrode 7 is configured to transmit a position detection signal and additional information selected according to the configuration type, and each of the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C is configured to transmit a signal that can be detected by the position detection system.

For example, the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are each configured to transmit corresponding identification information (e.g., a 2-bit signal). Alternatively, the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are each configured to transmit signals of different frequencies and phases. Alternatively, after the signal transmission from the central electrode 7 is terminated, a signal of one frequency is transmitted for a predetermined period of time from the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C in that order.

A position detection system corresponding to a position indicator of a configuration type that allows the tilt angle and rotation angle to be detected on the position detection system has a function of detecting the rotation angle and tilt angle of the position indicator 1E from the reception strength of the signal from each of the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C and the spread distribution pattern of the received signal.

<Example of electromagnetic coupling method>
Furthermore, the above-described embodiment has been described with respect to a position indicator and a position detection system of the electrostatic coupling type, but the present invention is also applicable to a position indicator and a position detection system of the electromagnetic coupling type.

Figure 18 shows an example of the configuration of an electromagnetically coupled position indicator 100 according to the present invention, and corresponds to the conceptual configuration diagram of Figure 1 showing the position indicator 1 of the embodiment described above.

As shown in FIG. 18, the position indicator 100 of this embodiment includes a signal transmission control circuit 141, a wireless communication module 142, a side switch 143, an ID memory 144, and an oscillator 145 in a cylindrical housing 103 made of an insulating material, such as resin, as well as a pen pressure detection unit 109. In addition, a battery 105 is provided in the housing 103 as a source of power supply voltage to the signal transmission control circuit 141, the wireless communication module 142, the side switch 143, the ID memory 144, the oscillator 145, etc. The signal transmission control circuit 141 includes a pen type discrimination unit 1411.

The pen pressure detection unit 109 is connected to a core 107 that passes through a ferrite core 110, and the pen pressure detection unit 109 detects the pen pressure applied to the core 107 as the capacitance of a variable capacitance capacitor that constitutes the pen pressure detection unit 109. A coil 111 is wound around the ferrite core 110, and both ends of the coil 111 are connected to the signal transmission control circuit 141. A capacitor 112 that forms a resonant circuit with the coil 111 is also connected between both ends of the coil 111.

Similar to the position indicator 1 of the above-described embodiment, the signal transmission control circuit 141 is connected to a wireless communication module 142, a side switch 143, an ID memory 144, and an oscillator 145, and the variable capacitance capacitor that constitutes the pen pressure detection unit 109 is also connected to this signal transmission control circuit 141.

In this position indicator 100, the signal transmission control circuit 141 selects and controls the signal to be transmitted through the resonant circuit including the coil 111 and capacitor 112, and also selects and controls whether additional information such as pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information is transmitted from the wireless communication module 142 or as a signal from the resonant circuit.

That is, in the case of the position indicator 100 of this embodiment, the resonant circuit constitutes the first transmitting unit, and the transmitting function unit of the wireless communication module 142 constitutes the first transmitting unit. In addition, the receiving function unit of the wireless communication module 142 constitutes a receiving unit that receives pen type information from the position detection system. The pen type information received from the position detection system by the receiving function unit of the wireless communication module 142 is supplied to the pen type discrimination unit 1411 of the signal transmission control circuit 141. Although not shown in the figure, the pen type discrimination unit 1411 can also be composed of a pen type determination processing unit and a pen type table memory in this embodiment.

The signal transmission control circuit 141 of the position indicator 100 in this embodiment receives pen type information from the position detection system, and determines the pen type through judgment by the pen type discrimination unit 1411, so that it is possible to configure position indicators 100A, 100B, and 100C of three configuration types 6, 7, and 8, for example, as shown in Figures 19 (A), (B), and (C).

When the pen type information received from the position detection system through the receiving function section of the wireless communication module 142 of the position indicator 100 is configuration type 6, the signal transmission control circuit 141 configures the position indicator 100A as shown in FIG. 19(A). That is, in this configuration type 6, a variable capacitance capacitor configured in the pen pressure detection unit 109 is connected in parallel to a parallel resonant circuit configured in the coil 111 and the capacitor 112, and further, a series circuit of the side switch 143 and the capacitor 113 is connected.

The sensor section of the position detection system 200A, which is used together with the position indicator 100A of configuration type 6 and sends configuration type 6 to the position indicator 100A as pen type information, is not shown in the figure, but is configured with multiple loop coils arranged in the X direction and Y direction that are perpendicular to each other, and a transmission signal (AC signal) of frequency fa is transmitted from the loop coils to the position indicator 100A.

In the position indicator 100A, a resonant circuit receives the AC signal from the position detection system 200A by electromagnetic coupling, and then the AC signal is fed back from the resonant circuit to the position detection system 200A. In the position detection system 200A, the position indicated by the position indicator 100A is detected from the position of the loop coil that transmitted the AC signal and the position of the loop coil that received the feedback signal from the position indicator 100A.

In this case, the feedback signal from the position indicator 100A changes as the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit changes depending on the capacitance value of the variable capacitor configured in the pen pressure detection unit 109, so the position detection system 200A detects pen pressure information from the change in frequency (or phase change).

In addition, because the capacitor 113 is connected or disconnected to the resonant circuit depending on whether the side switch 143 is on or off, the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit changes depending on whether the side switch 143 is on or off. In the position detection system 200A, side switch information corresponding to whether the side switch 143 is on or off is detected based on the change in frequency (or phase) of the feedback signal from the position indicator 100A.

In addition, in the position indicator 100A of configuration type 6, the identification information is transmitted to the wireless communication unit of the position detection system 200A through the transmission function unit of the wireless communication module 142.

When the pen type information received from the position detection system through the receiving function section of the wireless communication module 142 of the position indicator 100 is configuration type 7, the signal transmission control circuit 141 configures a position indicator 100B as shown in FIG. 19(B). That is, in this configuration type 7, the parallel resonant circuit is made up of a coil 111 and a capacitor 112. Then, the writing pressure information, side switch information, and identification information are all transmitted to the wireless communication section of the position detection system 200B through the transmitting function section of the wireless communication module 142.

The sensor unit of the position detection system 200B, which is used together with the position indicator 100B of configuration type 7 and sends configuration type 7 to the position indicator 100B as pen type information, has the same configuration as the sensor unit of the position detection system 200A, and transmits a transmission signal (AC signal) of frequency fa from the loop coil to the position indicator 100B.

In the position indicator 100B, similar to the position indicator 100A, the resonant circuit receives the AC signal from the position detection system 200B by electromagnetic coupling, and then the resonant circuit feeds the AC signal back to the position detection system 200B. In the position detection system 200B, similar to the position detection system 200A, the position indicated by the position indicator 100B is detected.

This position detection system 200B of configuration type 7 does not have a function to detect additional information by monitoring changes in the frequency or phase of the feedback signal. Instead, the position detection system 200B decodes the additional information received through the wireless communication unit to obtain pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information.

When the pen type information received from the position detection system through the receiving function section of the wireless communication module 142 of the position indicator 100 is configuration type 8, the signal transmission control circuit 141 configures a position indicator 100C as shown in FIG. 19(C). That is, in this position indicator 100C of configuration type 8, a parallel resonant circuit consisting of the coil 111 and the capacitor 112 is coupled to the oscillator 145 to configure an oscillation circuit 145S. Then, an oscillation signal from this oscillation circuit 145S is transmitted to the position detection system 200C through the parallel resonant circuit consisting of the coil 111 and the capacitor 112.

The pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information are all transmitted to the wireless communication unit of the position detection system 200C through the transmission function unit of the wireless communication module 142.

The sensor section of the position detection system 200C, which is used together with the position indicator 100C of configuration type 8 and sends configuration type 8 to the position indicator 100C as pen type information, is not shown in the figure, but is configured with multiple loop coils arranged in the X and Y directions that are perpendicular to each other.

The position detection system 200C receives the AC signal transmitted from the position indicator 100C with a loop coil by electromagnetic coupling. The position detection system 200C then detects the position indicated by the position indicator 100C from the positions of the loop coils in the X and Y directions that receive the AC signal.

Note that the above configuration types 6 to 8 are only examples, and there are various other configuration types for electromagnetically coupled position indicators and position detection systems, and it goes without saying that the position indicator of the present invention can be configured to accommodate these various configuration types as well. For example, in the above examples of configurations 6 to 8, the identification information was not transmitted through the resonant circuit, but by controlling the resonant operation of the resonant circuit or the on/off of the oscillation operation of the oscillator circuit 145S, it is also possible to configure a configuration type in which the identification information is transmitted from the core body 107 side as an ASK modulated signal or an OOK signal.

[Other embodiments or modifications]
The pen pressure detection units 9 and 109 of the above-mentioned embodiment use a variable capacitance capacitor in which a dielectric is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode, and one of the first electrode and the second electrode is made movable in the axial direction according to the pen pressure, so that the capacitance is variable according to the pen pressure, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the pen pressure detection unit 9 can be configured using a semiconductor element that changes the capacitance according to the pen pressure as disclosed in JP 2013-161307 A. Also, the pen pressure detection unit may be configured by using a structure or element that changes the inductance value or resistance value according to the pen pressure, instead of the capacitance.

As mentioned above, the additional information is not limited to pen pressure information, side switch information, identification information, etc., but can also include various other information, such as remaining battery power information.

In the above embodiment, the driving power source for the position indicator is a battery, but a capacitor for storing the power supply voltage may be provided in the position indicator and used as the driving power source. In this case, the configuration for storing the power supply voltage in the capacitor may be a charging circuit configuration that receives electric power energy from the outside by electromagnetic induction or electric field coupling and charges the capacitor, or a charging terminal may be provided in the position indicator and a charging current may be supplied from a dedicated charging device through the charging terminal. The electric power energy from the outside (electromagnetic energy or electric field energy) may be supplied to the position indicator from the position detection device or from a dedicated power supply device.

In the above embodiment, the position indicator has two transmitters: a central electrode and a wireless communication module, but it may have three or more.

In the description of the position indicator of the above embodiment, the position indicator is automatically set to a configuration type corresponding to the position detection system by, for example, bringing the position indicator close to a sensor unit of the position detection system. However, the position indicator may be configured to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer that can communicate with the wireless communication module of the position indicator, instead of the position detection system, and to select a configuration type on the external device such as a personal computer, so that the position indicator can be set to the selected desired configuration type.

The position indicator may also be provided with a switch for switching the configuration type, and the position indicator may be configured to be set to the desired configuration type by switching the switch. That is, for example, in the example of FIG. 18, a push button switch 146 that can be operated by the user is provided on the housing 103, and a push operation signal of this push button switch 146 is supplied to the signal transmission control circuit 141. In this case, the signal transmission control circuit 141 controls to change the configuration type, for example, each time the user presses the push button switch 146. Note that a push button switch may of course be provided in the example of FIG. 1 as well.

1, 1A to 1E, 100A to 100C...position indicator, 2, 2A to 2D, 200A to 200C...position detection system, 3...housing, 31...insulating portion, 32...conductor portion, 5...battery, 6...peripheral electrode, 6...central electrode, 8...shielding member, 9...pen pressure detection unit, 40...printed wiring board, 41...signal transmission control circuit, 42...wireless communication module, 43...side switch, 44...ID memory, 45, 46...oscillator, 48...power switch, 410...control portion, 411...pen type determination portion

Claims (11)

A position indicator capable of communicating with a position detection system,
A generating means for generating a position detection signal;
A detection means for detecting a pressure applied to the tip of the position indicator;
An operation unit configured to receive an operation from a user;
a first communication unit that transmits the position detection signal;
a second communication unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system and is different from the first communication unit;
a control means for controlling the transmission of the position detection signal from the first communication unit and the transmission of information generated in response to the pressure and the user's operation of the operation unit from the second communication unit to the position detection system;
having
The control means controls the first communication unit or the second communication unit to enter a pause state in response to the first communication unit or the second communication unit being unable to receive a signal transmitted from the position detection system for a predetermined period of time.
A position indicator characterized by: A position indicator capable of communicating with a position detection system,
A generating means for generating a position detection signal;
A detection means for detecting a pressure applied to the tip of the position indicator;
a first communication unit that transmits the position detection signal;
a second communication unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system and is different from the first communication unit;
a control means for controlling the transmission of the position detection signal from the first communication unit and the transmission of the pressure from the second communication unit to the position detection system;
having
The control means controls the first communication unit or the second communication unit to enter a pause state in response to the first communication unit or the second communication unit being unable to receive a signal transmitted from the position detection system for a predetermined period of time.
A position indicator characterized by: A position indicator capable of communicating with a position detection system,
A generating means for generating a position detection signal;
An operation unit configured to receive an operation from a user;
a first communication unit that transmits the position detection signal;
a second communication unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system and is different from the first communication unit;
a control means for controlling the transmission of the position detection signal from the first communication unit and the transmission of information generated in response to the user's operation of the operation unit to the position detection system from the second communication unit;
having
a control means for controlling the first communication unit or the second communication unit to enter a suspended state in response to the first communication unit or the second communication unit being unable to receive a signal transmitted from the position detection system for a predetermined period of time.
The position indicator further includes a central electrode provided in an axial direction of a housing of the position indicator,
3. The position indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the position detection signal to be transmitted via the central electrode and the transmission of the pressure. Further comprising a storage means for storing identification information of the position indicator,
4. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the second communication unit to transmit the identification information to the position detection system. The position indicator further includes a central electrode provided so as to protrude in an axial direction of a housing of the position indicator,
3. The position indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the detection means detects a pressure applied to the central electrode. The position indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first communication unit is configured to receive a signal based on a spreading code sent via a sensor unit of the position detection system. The position indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first communication unit is configured to transmit the position detection signal through electrostatic coupling with a sensor unit of the position detection system. The position indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first communication unit is configured to transmit the position detection signal through electromagnetic coupling with a sensor unit of the position detection system. 4. The position indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication section constitutes a wireless communication means. 11. The position indicator according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless communication means is a wireless communication means conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

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