Position detection device and sensor panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a position detection device and a sensor panel. The position detection device comprises a sensor panel and a controller, a first transmission electrode disposed so as to vertically intersect the first reception electrode; a second transmission electrode disposed so as to extend in a direction parallel to the first transmission electrode, one end of the second transmission electrode being adjacent to one end of the first transmission electrode; and a second reception electrode disposed so as to vertically intersect the second transmission electrode. A first sensor controller that detects a position in the sensor panel on the basis of signals detected by the first transmission electrode and the first reception electrode, generates electrode information relating to the detection, and transmits the electrode information; and a second sensor controller that, on the basis of the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller, sets processing for detecting the position in the sensor panel on the basis of signals detected from the second transmission electrode and the second reception electrode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a position detection device and a sensor panel. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, position detection devices that detect contact locations and pressed locations are known. These position detection devices include a sensor panel having multiple linear electrodes arranged horizontally and multiple linear electrodes arranged vertically. When a stylus such as a pen or a finger touches each linear electrode, the device detects the contact and position as an electrical signal.

[0003] In this regard, a sensor panel is disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2019-121330, comprising: a plurality of first electrodes, each extending in a first direction, arranged in a second direction different from the first direction, and connected to an integrated circuit through mutually different first routing lines; and a plurality of second electrodes, each extending in a second direction, arranged in the first direction, and connected to the integrated circuit through mutually different second routing lines.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-121330 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] Recently, with the increasing size and thinness of displays integrated with position detection devices, there is a demand for larger and thinner position detection devices. However, the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-121330 increases the electrostatic capacitance of the linear electrodes when the position detection device is larger or thinner, potentially reducing the contact and position detection accuracy of the position detection device. Furthermore, a larger position detection device may also increase power consumption.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a position detection device and a sensor panel capable of detecting a position with high accuracy.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a position detection device and a sensor panel capable of detecting a position with low power consumption.

[0011] Means for solving problems

[0012] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first position detection device of the present invention comprises: a sensor panel having a first receiving electrode, a first transmitting electrode configured so as to cross the first receiving electrode perpendicularly, a plurality of second transmitting electrodes configured so as to have one end adjacent to one end of the first transmitting electrode and extending in a direction parallel to the first transmitting electrode, and a second receiving electrode configured so as to cross the second transmitting electrode perpendicularly; a first sensor controller that detects the position in the sensor panel based on the signals detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, generates electrode information related to the detection, and sends the electrode information; and a second sensor controller that sets, based on the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller, the detection processing of the position in the sensor panel based on the signals detected from the second transmitting electrode and the second receiving electrode.

[0013] In addition, the position detection device of the second scheme of the present invention includes: a sensor panel having a first transmitting electrode, a first receiving electrode configured in a manner perpendicular to the first transmitting electrode, a second receiving electrode configured parallel to the first receiving electrode, and a third transmitting electrode perpendicular to the first receiving electrode and the second receiving electrode and configured parallel to the first transmitting electrode; a first sensor controller that detects the position in the sensor panel based on the signal detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, generates electrode information related to the detection, and sends the electrode information; and a second sensor controller that sets the detection processing of the position in the sensor panel based on the signal detected from the second receiving electrode and the third transmitting electrode based on the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller.

[0014] Furthermore, in the position detection device of the third present invention, the first sensor controller generates detection information indicating whether the signal is detected based on the signal detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, and generates the electrode information including the generated detection information.

[0015] In addition, in the position detection device of the fourth invention, a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the first sensor controller generates position information representing the position in the area where the plurality of first transmitting electrodes and the plurality of first receiving electrodes intersect based on the signals detected by the first transmitting electrodes and the first receiving electrodes, and generates the electrode information including the generated position information.

[0016] Furthermore, in the position detection device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the position information includes electrode identification information indicating which of the plurality of first transmitting electrodes and the plurality of first receiving electrodes has detected a signal.

[0017] Furthermore, in the position detection device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the position information includes coordinate information indicating positions in a region where the plurality of first transmitting electrodes and the plurality of first receiving electrodes intersect.

[0018] In addition, in the position detection device of the seventh invention, the first sensor controller generates movement information including the moving direction and moving speed of the position indicated by the coordinate information based on the changes in the past coordinate information and the current coordinate information, and includes the generated movement information in the position information.

[0019] Furthermore, in the position detection device of the eighth invention, the first sensor controller generates prediction information indicating a position to be reached by the position indicated by the coordinate information after a predetermined time has elapsed based on the movement information, and includes the generated prediction information in the position information.

[0020] In addition, in the position detection device of the ninth invention, a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the second transmitting electrodes, and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the second sensor controller performs the setting in a manner that sends a signal for position detection from the second transmitting electrode near the position indicated by the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller.

[0021] In addition, in the position detection device of the tenth invention, the second sensor controller performs the setting in a manner to increase the frequency of sending signals for position detection from the sending electrodes connected to the second sensor controller via the signal line based on the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller.

[0022] In addition, in the position detection device of the present invention at the eleventh position, a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the first sensor controller performs an integration operation on each signal detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode based on the arrangement of the corresponding electrodes, and generates the electrode information in a manner that includes the result of the integration operation.

[0023] In addition, in the position detection device of the twelfth present invention, a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the first sensor controller determines whether the voltage value of each signal detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode is greater than the second reference value, and generates the electrode information in a manner that establishes a correspondence between the electrode identification information of the electrode determined as a positive determination and the voltage value of the signal detected by the electrode.

[0024] In addition, in the position detection device of the third present invention, a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the second transmitting electrodes, and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the second sensor controller detects the maximum value of the voltage value of each signal as the position in the sensor panel based on the signal detected by the electrode connected to the second sensor controller via the signal line and the electrode information.

[0025] In addition, in the position detection device of the fourteenth present invention, a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the first sensor controller calculates the 0th-order moment value and the 1st-order moment value for the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode based on the voltage value of each detected signal and the distance between the electrode detecting the signal and the reference position, and generates the electrode information in a manner including the calculated 0th-order moment value and the 1st-order moment value.

[0026] In addition, in the position detection device of the fifteenth present invention, a plurality of the second transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the second sensor controller calculates the 0th moment value and the 1st moment value for the second transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, respectively, based on the voltage value of each detected signal and the distance between the electrode detecting the signal and the reference position, and calculates the center of gravity of the detection area on the sensor panel detected by the first transmitting electrode, the second transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode based on the calculated 0th moment value and the 1st moment value and the 0th moment value and the 1st moment value included in the electrode information, and detects the calculated center of gravity as the position on the sensor panel.

[0027] In addition, in the position detection device of the sixteenth present invention, the sensor panel is configured with a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the third transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes, and the sensor panel has: a first area, including the plurality of first receiving electrodes and the second receiving electrodes arranged near the first receiving electrodes among the plurality of second receiving electrodes; and a second area, including the plurality of second receiving electrodes and the first receiving electrodes arranged near the second receiving electrodes among the plurality of first receiving electrodes, and overlapping with the first area when viewed from above, the first sensor controller detects the position in the first area, and in the detection of the position in the first area, detects the position in the overlapping area, and the overlapping area is the area where the first area and the second area overlap when viewed from above in a first period, and the second sensor controller detects the position in the second area, and in the detection of the position in the second area, detects the position in the overlapping area in a second period continuous with the first period.

[0028] In addition, the position detection device involved in the seventeenth present invention comprises: a sensor panel having a first receiving electrode, a first transmitting electrode configured so as to cross the first receiving electrode at right angles, a second transmitting electrode configured so as to extend in a parallel direction with one end adjacent to one end of the first transmitting electrode, and a second receiving electrode configured so as to cross the second transmitting electrode at right angles; and a sensor controller that detects the position in the sensor panel based on the signals detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, generates electrode information related to the detection, and sets the detection processing for position detection in the sensor panel performed by the second transmitting electrode and the second receiving electrode according to the electrode information.

[0029] In addition, in the position detection device of the eighteenth present invention, a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the second transmitting electrodes, and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel, and the sensor controller performs the setting in accordance with the electrode information in a manner of sending a signal for position detection from the second transmitting electrode near the position indicated by the electrode information.

[0030] Furthermore, in the position detection device according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the sensor controller performs the setting so as to increase the frequency of transmitting the signal for position detection from the second transmitting electrode based on the electrode information.

[0031] In addition, the sensor panel of the twentieth embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first receiving electrode; a plurality of first transmitting electrodes, arranged in parallel so as to cross the first receiving electrode perpendicularly; a second transmitting electrode, arranged so as to extend in a parallel direction so as to be adjacent to one end of the first transmitting electrode; a second receiving electrode, arranged so as to cross the second transmitting electrode perpendicularly; a first signal line, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first transmitting electrode; a second signal line, one end of which is connected to the other end of the second transmitting electrode; a third signal line, one end of which is connected to one end of the first receiving electrode and is arranged between the first signal line and the second signal line; and a fourth signal line, one end of which is connected to one end of the second receiving electrode and is arranged between the second signal line and the third signal line.

[0032] In addition, in the sensor panel of the twenty-first invention, the one ends of the first transmitting electrode and the second transmitting electrode are formed into a comb-tooth shape, the one end of the first transmitting electrode is formed into a comb-tooth-shaped concave portion which engages with the corresponding comb-tooth-shaped convex portion of the one end of the second transmitting electrode, and the comb-tooth-shaped convex portion engages with the corresponding comb-tooth-shaped concave portion of the one end of the second transmitting electrode.

[0033] In addition, the position detection device involved in the twenty-second present invention comprises: a sensor panel, in which a plurality of electrodes for position detection are arranged in a planar manner, and has a first area which is one of the areas where the plurality of electrodes intersect, a second area which is one of the areas where the plurality of electrodes intersect and a portion of which overlaps with the first area when viewed from above and is different from the first area, and an overlapping area which is an area where the first area and the second area overlap when viewed from above; a first sensor controller which detects the position in the first area, and detects the position in the overlapping area in a first period in the detection of the position in the first area; and a second sensor controller which detects the position in the second area, and detects the position in the overlapping area in a second period continuous with the first period in the detection of the position in the second area.

[0034] In addition, in the position detection device of the twenty-third invention, the first sensor controller generates electrode information related to the detection of the position in the overlapping area and sends the electrode information to the second sensor controller, and the second sensor controller sets the detection processing of the position in the overlapping area based on the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller.

[0035] Furthermore, in the position detection device of the twenty-fourth invention, the electrode information includes coordinate information indicating the position in the overlapping area, and the second sensor controller detects the position in the area near the position indicated by the coordinate information during the second period.

[0036] Effects of the Invention

[0037] According to the present invention, the position detection device and the sensor panel can detect a position with high accuracy.

[0038] In addition, according to the present invention, the position detection device and the sensor panel can detect the position with low power consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing a first example of a position detection device.

[0040] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing a second example of the position detection device.

[0041] Figure 3A This is a diagram showing another first example of the shape of the electrode.

[0042] Figure 3B This is a diagram showing another second example of the shape of the electrode.

[0043] Figure 4 This is a diagram for explaining the prediction of the position detected by the position detection device.

[0044] Figure 5 This is a diagram for explaining the integration operation of the signals detected by the electrodes.

[0045] Figure 6 This is a diagram for explaining thinning-out calculation for signals detected by electrodes.

[0046] Figure 7 It is a graph showing the relationship between the coordinates of the electrodes and the acquired voltage.

[0047] Figure 8 This is a diagram for explaining position detection when a finger position indication spans the left and right areas on the sensor panel.

[0048] Figure 9 It is a diagram showing a third example of the position detection device.

[0049] Figure 10 It is a diagram showing a fourth example of the position detection device.

[0050] Figure 11 This is a flowchart showing an example of a series of operation flows of the position detection device.

[0051] Figure 12A This is a diagram showing a first example of switching of the operation mode.

[0052] Figure 12BThis is a diagram showing another example of switching of the operation mode when transmitting and receiving electrode information.

[0053] Figure 12C This is a diagram showing a second example of switching the operation mode.

[0054] Figure 13 This is a diagram showing equipment equipped with a position detection device.

[0055] Figure 14 It is a diagram showing a fifth example of the position detection device.

[0056] Figure 15A This is a diagram for explaining position detection when the first sensor controller detects a position instruction.

[0057] Figure 15B This is a diagram for explaining position detection when the second sensor controller detects a position instruction.

[0058] Figure 16 It is a diagram for explaining position detection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "this embodiment") will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding, identical components and steps in the drawings are denoted by identical reference numerals whenever possible, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

[0060] --First embodiment-

[0061] First, the first embodiment will be described.

[0062] <Structure>

[0063] Figure 1 This figure shows an example of a position detection device 1A according to the first embodiment. The position detection device 1A detects the indicated position of a stylus pen 2 or a user's finger 3 and performs various information processing based on the detection results. The position detection device 1A primarily comprises, for example, a sensor panel 10A, a first sensor controller 11, and a second sensor controller 12. The position detection device 1A may also include a main processor, memory, a communication module (none of which are shown). The position detection device 1A may be, for example, a user's computer, such as a tablet computer, smartphone, or personal computer.

[0064] The stylus pen 2 is a stylus pen of, for example, an active electrostatic coupling type, having a power supply, a communication circuit, and electrodes for detecting uplink signals sent from the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 at a predetermined period and sending downlink signals at a time indicated by the detected uplink signals as a reference time.

[0065] The sensor panel 10A is a capacitive sensor composed of multiple detection electrodes arranged in a planar shape. For example, the sensor panel 10A includes multiple X-line electrodes (hereinafter referred to as "receiving electrodes 103" or "receiving electrodes 104") for detecting the position of the X-axis of the sensor coordinate system, and multiple Y-line electrodes (hereinafter referred to as "transmitting electrodes 101" or "transmitting electrodes 102") for detecting the position of the Y-axis. Transmitting electrodes 101 and 102, as well as receiving electrodes 103 and 104, can be made of a transparent conductive material including ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), or a wire mesh sensor. The sensor panel 10A is flexible enough to bend while maintaining functionality, along with the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and receiving electrodes 103 and 104 provided on the sensor panel 10A. A flexible covering material, such as a cover film, is provided on the top surface of the sensor panel 10A, but the present invention is not limited to this. The sensor panel 10A does not need to be flexible, and a non-flexible cover member such as glass may be provided on the upper surface.

[0066] Multiple transmitting electrodes 101 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, extending along the X-axis and parallel to each other. One end of each transmitting electrode 101 faces the right side of the sensor panel 10A, while the other end faces the left side. Furthermore, the edge of one end of a transmitting electrode 101 is adjacent to and opposite the edge of one end of a corresponding transmitting electrode 102. The other end of each transmitting electrode 101 is connected to the first sensor controller 11 via a signal line 106.

[0067] Multiple transmitting electrodes 102 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, extending parallel to the transmitting electrodes 101 and arranged parallel to each other. The number of transmitting electrodes 102 arranged on the sensor panel 10A, extending along the X-axis, is equal to the number of transmitting electrodes 101. One end of each transmitting electrode 102 faces the left side of the sensor panel 10A, while the other end faces the right side. Each transmitting electrode 102 corresponds to a transmitting electrode 101, with one end adjacent to and facing one end of the transmitting electrode 101. The other end is connected to the second sensor controller 12 via a signal line 107.

[0068] Multiple receiving electrodes 103 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, perpendicularly intersecting the transmitting electrodes 101 and parallel to each other. One end of each receiving electrode 103 faces the upper edge of the sensor panel 10A, while the other end faces the lower edge of the sensor panel 10A. The other end of each receiving electrode 103 is connected to the first sensor controller 11 via a signal line 108. Furthermore, the receiving electrodes 103, along with the multiple transmitting electrodes 101, form an area A1 on the sensor panel 10A that includes the intersections of the transmitting and receiving electrodes 101 and 103. Area A1 includes an area A11 extending from the center to the upper half of the sensor panel 10A, and an area A12 extending from the center to the lower half of the sensor panel 10A.

[0069] Multiple receiving electrodes 104 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, perpendicularly intersecting the transmitting electrodes 102 and parallel to each other. One end of each receiving electrode 104 faces the upper edge of the sensor panel 10A, while the other end faces the lower edge of the sensor panel 10A. The other end of each receiving electrode 104 is connected to the second sensor controller 12 via a signal line 109. Furthermore, the receiving electrodes 104, together with the multiple transmitting electrodes 102, form an area A2 on the sensor panel 10A that includes the intersection of the transmitting and receiving electrodes 102 and 104. Area A2 includes an area A21 extending from the center to the upper half of the sensor panel 10A, and an area A22 extending from the center to the lower half of the sensor panel 10A.

[0070] Multiple signal lines 106 are provided on the sensor panel 10A to transmit signals between the transmitting electrodes 101 and the first sensor controller 11. Each signal line 106 corresponds to a transmitting electrode 101, with one end connected to the other end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 101 and the other end connected to the first sensor controller 11 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10A. The other end of the signal line 106 is provided on the sensor panel 10A to the left of the other end of a signal line 108, described later.

[0071] Multiple signal lines 107 are provided on the sensor panel 10A to transmit signals between the transmitting electrodes 102 and the second sensor controller 12. Signal lines 106 are each associated with a transmitting electrode 102, with one end connected to the other end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 102 and the other end connected to the second sensor controller 12 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10A. The other end of the signal line 107 is provided on the sensor panel 10A to the right of the other end of a signal line 109, described later.

[0072] Multiple signal lines 108 are provided on the sensor panel 10A to transmit signals between the multiple receiving electrodes 103 and the first sensor controller 11. Each signal line 108 corresponds to a receiving electrode 103, with one end connected to the other end of the corresponding receiving electrode 103 and the other end connected to the first sensor controller 11 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10A. Furthermore, the other end of the signal line 108 is provided on the sensor panel 10A to the right of the other end of the signal line 106 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 109. In other words, the signal line 108 is provided between the signal line 106 and the signal line 109, described later, in the X-axis direction.

[0073] Multiple signal lines 109 are provided on the sensor panel 10A to transmit signals between the multiple receiving electrodes 104 and the second sensor controller 12. Each signal line 109 corresponds to a receiving electrode 104, with one end connected to the other end of the corresponding receiving electrode 104 and the other end connected to the second sensor controller 12 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10A. Furthermore, the other end of the signal line 109 is provided on the sensor panel 10A to the right of the other end of the signal line 108 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 107. In other words, the signal line 109 is provided between the signal lines 107 and 108 in the X-axis direction.

[0074] The first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 are functionally configured to detect the indicated positions of the stylus 2 and the user's finger 3 on the sensor panel 10A by having the processor read and execute a program stored in the memory, and to receive data signals transmitted by the stylus 2. The indicated position of the stylus 2 is detected using active electrostatic coupling. The position of the user's finger 3 is detected using electrostatic capacitance. The first sensor controller 11 detects the indicated position of area A1 on the sensor panel 10A. The second sensor controller 12 detects the indicated position of area A2 on the sensor panel 10A. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 are configured to communicate with each other, sharing information related to the detected positions by sending and receiving information to each other, and setting the position detection process based on the shared information related to the positions. Furthermore, one of the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 converts the information regarding the position in the shared areas A1 and A2 into information regarding the position in the area including areas A1 and A2 on the sensor panel 10A, and transmits the converted information to another device in the equipment 20 equipped with the position detection device 1A. Information regarding the detected position, the setting of the position detection process, and the method of transmitting and receiving the information will be described later, and therefore, their description will be omitted here.

[0075] Furthermore, as described above, the sensor panel 10A is flexible and can be bent. Figure 13 Next, a description will be given of a bent state of the sensor panel 10A when the device 20 equipped with the position detection device 1A is bendable. Figure 13 1A is a diagram showing a device 20 equipped with the position detection device 1A.

[0076] Device 20 is a tablet computer and includes a position detection device 1A, a keyboard 21, and a bending mechanism 22. Position detection device 1A is located adjacent to keyboard 21 in device 20. Furthermore, bending mechanism 22 is a mechanism for bending device 20 and is located below sensor panel 10A in position detection device 1A, near area A2. Keyboard 21 is a device used by the user to input information into device 20 and is located adjacent to position detection device 1A in device 20.

[0077] like Figure 13 As shown, the boundary between areas A1 and A2 in the position detection device 1A may be different from the position of the bending mechanism 22 of the device 20. Alternatively, the boundary between areas A1 and A2 in the position detection device 1A may be the same as the position of the bending mechanism 22 of the device 20.

[0078] In this example, the transmission electrodes 101 and 102 in the sensor panel 10A have one end in a straight line shape and are opposed to each other at the boundary between the regions A1 and A2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Figure 3A as well as Figure 3B , the shape of one end of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 is described. Figure 3A This is a diagram showing another first example of the shapes of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 .

[0079] exist Figure 3A In the embodiment, one end of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 is formed into a comb-tooth shape. Furthermore, the comb-tooth-shaped concave portion at one end of the transmitting electrode 101 meshes with the comb-tooth-shaped convex portion at one end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 102, and the comb-tooth-shaped convex portion meshes with the comb-tooth-shaped concave portion at one end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 102. Furthermore, the comb-tooth-shaped concave portion at one end of the transmitting electrode 102 meshes with the comb-tooth-shaped convex portion at one end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 101, and the comb-tooth-shaped convex portion meshes with the comb-tooth-shaped concave portion at one end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 101.

[0080] Figure 3B 1 is a diagram showing another second example of the shape of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102. Figure 3BIn the embodiment, one end of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 is formed into a triangular wave shape. Furthermore, one end of the transmitting electrode 101 is formed so that the triangular wave-shaped concave portion meshes with the corresponding triangular wave-shaped convex portion of one end of the transmitting electrode 102, and the triangular wave-shaped convex portion meshes with the corresponding triangular wave-shaped concave portion of one end of the transmitting electrode 102. Furthermore, one end of the transmitting electrode 102 is formed so that the triangular wave-shaped concave portion meshes with the corresponding triangular wave-shaped convex portion of one end of the transmitting electrode 101, and the triangular wave-shaped convex portion meshes with the corresponding triangular wave-shaped concave portion of one end of the transmitting electrode 101.

[0081] like Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown, when transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 are formed at one end, they are located at the same coordinate in the X-axis direction near the boundary between areas A1 and A2 in sensor panel 10A. Therefore, when position detection device 1A detects a signal based on contact by stylus pen 2 or finger 3 near the boundary between areas A1 and A2, first sensor controller 11 and second sensor controller 12 can detect the signal at the same coordinate in the X-axis direction and with the same signal strength.

[0082] In addition, you can also Figure 3A as well as Figure 3B The illustrated transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 each have a plurality of protrusions and recesses at one end. Alternatively, the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrode 103 may be mesh electrodes in which a conductive material is formed into a mesh shape. If the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrode 103 are mesh electrodes, the shape of one end of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 corresponds to the outline of the mesh electrode.

[0083] Another example of the shape of one end of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 has been described above. Figure 1 The details of the operation of the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 are described below. The first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 have four active modes and an idle mode as their operating modes. When operating in the active mode, the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 control the position detection device 1A while switching between these four modes in the order shown below. In this example, the first sensor controller 11 is described. However, the second sensor controller 12 performs the same control except for the difference in electrodes and signal lines, so its description is omitted.

[0084] The first mode detects the position of finger 3. In the first mode, the first sensor controller 11 supplies a transmission signal to the transmitting electrode 101 via, for example, the signal line 106, thereby transmitting a touch detection signal from the transmitting electrode 101. Furthermore, in the first mode, the first sensor controller 11 detects the touch detection signal transmitted from the transmitting electrode 101, for example, via the receiving electrode 103. Here, the first sensor controller 11 detects the finger 3 based on changes in the touch detection signal caused by changes in the electrostatic capacitance associated with the finger 3's contact with the upper surfaces of the transmitting and receiving electrodes 101 and 103. Specifically, the first sensor controller 11 detects the presence and position of the finger 3's contact with the sensor panel 10A based on the voltage difference between the signals detected by the receiving electrode 103 and the contact with the upper surfaces of the transmitting and receiving electrodes 101 and 103. The details of the position detection method on the sensor panel 10A will be described later and are therefore omitted here. In addition, in this example, the first sensor controller 11 sends a touch detection signal from the transmitting electrode 101 and detects the touch detection signal through the receiving electrode 103, but is not limited to this. The touch detection signal can also be sent from the receiving electrode 103 and detected through the transmitting electrode 101.

[0085] The second mode is a mode in which an uplink signal is transmitted to stylus pen 2. In the second mode, first sensor controller 11 supplies a transmission signal to transmitting electrode 101 via signal line 106, for example, thereby transmitting an uplink signal from transmitting electrode 101. In this case, first sensor controller 11 may select an electrode near the transmitting electrode 101 indicated by stylus pen 2 to transmit the uplink signal, or may simultaneously select all transmitting electrodes 101 to transmit the uplink signal. The uplink signal indicates the local ID assigned to stylus pen 2 by first sensor controller 11, the time interval between signal transmissions by stylus pen 2, and other information. Stylus pen 2 performs actions such as transmitting a downlink signal to first sensor controller 11 based on the instructions contained in the uplink signal.

[0086] The third mode detects the position of the stylus 2 by detecting the position signal, which is an unmodulated burst signal transmitted from the stylus 2. In the third mode, the first sensor controller 11 selects one or more of the multiple transmitting electrodes 101 and receiving electrodes 103, one at a time or in sequence, and detects the voltage value of the signal transmitted from the selected transmitting electrode 101 or receiving electrode 103 via the signal line 106 or 108. The first sensor controller 11 detects the position of the sensor panel 10A based on the detected voltage values ​​of the transmitting electrode 101 and receiving electrode 103. The details of the position detection method on the sensor panel 10A will be described later and are therefore omitted here.

[0087] The fourth mode is a mode for receiving data signals transmitted by the stylus 2. The data signal is a signal with a constant frequency and constant amplitude, the phase of which is modulated based on data. The data includes information related to an ID different from the local ID and used to identify the stylus 2, and information related to the pen pressure detected by the stylus 2. When receiving the data signal, either the transmitting electrode 101 or the receiving electrode 103 can be used, but the case of using the transmitting electrode 101 to receive the data signal is described here. In the fourth mode, the first sensor controller 11 simultaneously selects a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101, for example, three transmitting electrodes 101, centered around the transmitting electrode 101 closest to the indicated position of the stylus 2. In this state, the first sensor controller 11 periodically reads the signals detected from the transmitting electrodes 101. In addition, when selecting the transmitting electrode 101, the first sensor controller 11 may select only the transmitting electrode 101 closest to the indicated position of the stylus 2.

[0088] The idle mode is a mode in which either or both of the detection of the finger 3 and the detection of the stylus 2 are stopped. In the idle mode, upon receiving information regarding the position in area A2 from the second sensor controller 12, the first sensor controller 11 transitions the mode to any of the first to fourth active modes.

[0089] Reference Figure 12A as well as Figure 12C The relationship between mode switching in the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 will be described. Figure 12A 1 is a diagram showing a first example of switching of the operation mode. Figure 12A In the period indicated as "finger", the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 respectively operate in the first mode. Figure 12A In the period indicated as “stylus pen”, the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 respectively switch their modes from the second mode to the fourth mode and operate.

[0090] like Figure 12A As shown, the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 operate asynchronously during their respective modes. Furthermore, when the first sensor controller 11 generates electrode information and transmits it to the second sensor controller 12, the second sensor controller 12 sets detection settings to scan the vicinity of area A1 based on the electrode information. This setting will be described later, so its description is omitted here.

[0091] Figure 12C : is a diagram showing a second example of switching the action mode. Figure 12CAs shown, the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 may operate synchronously during their respective modes.

[0092] <Flow of a series of actions>

[0093] The above describes the operation of the first sensor controller 11 in each mode. As can be seen from the above description, the position detection device 1A is configured to use the same sensor panel 10A for both signal transmission and reception. Next, the details of the position detection method on the sensor panel 10A used by the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 will be described.

[0094] Figure 11 This is a flowchart showing an example of a series of operations of the position detection device 1A. In this example, the first sensor controller 11 detects the position in area A1 on the sensor panel 10A and transmits the detected information to the second sensor controller 12. Regarding the second sensor controller 12 detecting the position in area A2 on the sensor panel 10A and transmitting the detected information to the first sensor controller 11, similar control is performed except for differences in electrodes, signal lines, and the detection target area, so the description thereof is omitted.

[0095] (Step SP10) Position detection device 1A receives signals detected by transmitting electrode 101 and receiving electrode 103 via first sensor controller 11. This signal reception is performed in the first and third modes during a cycle in which first sensor controller 11 sequentially switches modes from the first to the fourth mode. The process then shifts to step SP14.

[0096] (Step SP14) The position detection device 1A generates electrode information related to the position on the sensor panel 10A based on the signals received from the transmitting electrodes 101 and the receiving electrodes 103 via the first sensor controller 11. This electrode information is information related to the position in area A1 detected by the transmitting electrodes 101 and the receiving electrodes 103, and includes, for example, detection information and position information. In step SP14, the first sensor controller 11 generates the electrode information to include both the detection information and the position information. The process then transitions to step SP18.

[0097] Before explaining the processing of step SP18, the detection information and position information included in the electrode information will be explained. The detection information is information indicating whether the position in area A1 is detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103, and is generated by the first sensor controller 11. Specifically, the first sensor controller 11 determines whether any of the signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 indicates that the position in area A1 is detected. On the other hand, if any of the signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 indicates that the position in area A1 is detected, the first sensor controller 11 sets the detection information to a detection state indicating that the position indication based on the finger 3 or the stylus 2 is detected in area A1. On the other hand, if any of the signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 indicates that the position in area A1 is not detected, the first sensor controller 11 sets the detection information to an undetected state indicating that the position indication based on the finger 3 or the stylus 2 is not detected in area A1.

[0098] Position information indicates the position indicated by stylus pen 2, finger 3, or the like in area A1. Position information is generated by first sensor controller 11 based on signals detected by transmitting electrode 101 and receiving electrode 103. This position information includes, for example, some or all of electrode identification information, coordinate information, movement information, and prediction information.

[0099] Electrode identification information indicates which electrode among the multiple transmitting electrodes 101 and receiving electrodes 103 detected a signal. Specifically, the electrode identification information includes information regarding which of the multiple transmitting electrodes 101 and receiving electrodes 103 detected a signal indicating the presence of a position indication by the stylus pen 2 or finger 3 in area A1, information regarding the electrode that detected the signal, information regarding the corresponding electrode number when counting from the top, bottom, left, or right end, and an electrode identification number that is pre-associated with the transmitting electrode 101 and receiving electrode 103. The electrode identification information is generated by the first sensor controller 11.

[0100] Reference Figure 4 Coordinate information, movement information, and prediction information are explained. Figure 4 1A is a diagram for explaining the prediction of the position detected by the position detection device 1A. Figure 4 In the embodiment, YA1 to YAn are associated with the transmitting electrode 101 as electrode identification numbers, YB1 to YBn are associated with the transmitting electrode 102 as electrode identification numbers, XA1 to XA14 are associated with the receiving electrode 103 in the region A1 as electrode identification numbers, and XB1 to XB14 are associated with the receiving electrode 103 in the region A2 as electrode identification numbers. Figure 4In FIG, point P1 is the position indicated last by the stylus pen 2. Point P2 is the position indicated currently by the stylus pen 2. Point P3 is the position predicted by the first sensor controller 11 to be indicated next by the stylus pen 2.

[0101] Coordinate information indicates the position in area A1 where multiple transmitting electrodes 101 and multiple receiving electrodes 103 intersect. The coordinate information includes coordinates in the X-axis direction from a reference position in area A1 and coordinates in the Y-axis direction from the reference position in area A1. When the stylus pen 2 indicates the position of point P2, the first sensor controller 11 determines which of the transmitting electrodes 101 and receiving electrodes 103 detected the signal based on the signals detected by the transmitting electrodes 101 and receiving electrodes 103. The first sensor controller 11 calculates the maximum value of the voltage distribution in area A1 for the voltage of each signal transmitted from the electrode that detected the signal based on this determination. The first sensor controller 11 includes the X-axis coordinate x2 and the Y-axis coordinate y2 corresponding to the calculated maximum value as coordinate information in the position information. In addition, when the first sensor controller 11 indicates the position of point P2 by the finger 3 instead of the stylus 2, the maximum value of the voltage distribution in the area A1 can also be calculated in the same manner, and the coordinate x2 in the X-axis direction and the coordinate y2 of the Y-axis information corresponding to the calculated maximum value can be included in the position information as coordinate information.

[0102] Furthermore, when finger 3 indicates the position of point P2, first sensor controller 11 determines which of transmitting electrode 101 and receiving electrode 103 detected the signal based on the signals detected by transmitting electrode 101 and receiving electrode 103. Based on the voltage distribution in area A1, first sensor controller 11 calculates the center of gravity of the voltage distribution for each signal transmitted from the electrode that detected the signal based on this determination. First sensor controller 11 includes the X-axis coordinate x2 and Y-axis coordinate y2 corresponding to the calculated center of gravity as coordinate information in the position information. To calculate the center of gravity, first sensor controller 11 calculates the zeroth-order moment value and the first-order moment value for the X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively, and calculates the coordinates of the center of gravity based on the calculated zeroth-order moment value. Alternatively, when stylus pen 2 indicates the position of point P2, first sensor controller 11 may calculate the center of gravity of the voltage distribution based on the voltage distribution in area A1 and include the X-axis coordinate x2 and Y-axis coordinate y2 corresponding to the calculated center of gravity as coordinate information in the position information.

[0103] Here, the method for calculating the zeroth-order moment value is described. The first sensor controller 11 sums the voltage values ​​of the signals transmitted from the receiving electrodes 103 that detected the signals in the X-axis direction and calculates the summed value as the zeroth-order moment value associated with the X-axis direction. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 11 sums the voltage values ​​of the signals transmitted from the transmitting electrodes 101 that detected the signals in the Y-axis direction and calculates the summed value as the zeroth-order moment value associated with the Y-axis direction.

[0104] Next, the method for calculating the linear moment value is described. The first sensor controller 11 multiplies the signal transmitted from the receiving electrode 103 that detected the signal in the X-axis direction by the position of the receiving electrode 103 that detected the signal in the X-axis direction. Here, the X-axis position can be the X-axis coordinate from the reference position in area A1, or information related to the number of electrodes from the reference receiving electrode 103. The first sensor controller 11 sums the multiplication results for each receiving electrode 103 that detected the signal and calculates the summed value as the linear moment value in the X-axis direction. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 11 multiplies the signal transmitted from the transmitting electrode 101 that detected the signal in the X-axis direction by the position of the transmitting electrode 101 that detected the signal in the Y-axis direction. Here, the Y-axis position can be the Y-axis coordinate from the reference position in area A1, or information related to the number of electrodes from the reference transmitting electrode 101. The first sensor controller 11 sums the multiplication results for each transmitting electrode 101 that detected the signal and calculates the summed value as the linear moment value in the Y-axis direction. In addition, regarding the specific mathematical formula used in calculating the center of gravity, refer to Figure 8 Therefore, the description is omitted here.

[0105] The first sensor controller 11 divides the calculated first-order moment value by the calculated zero-order moment value for each of the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and calculates the divided values ​​as the coordinates of the center of gravity in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively. The first sensor controller 11 includes the calculated coordinates of the center of gravity as coordinate information in the position information.

[0106] Movement information includes the direction and speed of movement of the position indicated by the coordinate information. The direction of movement included in the movement information is the direction of point P2 indicated by the coordinate information generated by the first sensor controller 11, with reference to point P1 indicated by the coordinate information previously generated by the first sensor controller 11. Furthermore, the speed of movement included in the movement information is the speed at which the position indicated by the coordinate information changes per unit time. The first sensor controller 11 generates movement information based on changes in past and current coordinate information. Specifically, the first sensor controller 11 calculates the direction of movement by subtracting the corresponding coordinates (x1 and y1) of point P1 from the corresponding coordinates (x2 and y2) of point P2. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 11 calculates the speed of movement by dividing the distance between points P1 and P2 by the time elapsed from the previous coordinate information generation by the first sensor controller 11 until the current coordinate information generation. The first sensor controller 11 includes the calculated direction and speed of movement in the movement information.

[0107] Prediction information indicates the location that the position indicated by the coordinate information will reach after a specified time has elapsed. The prediction information includes the X-axis coordinates and the Y-axis coordinates from the reference position in area A1. The first sensor controller 11 calculates the X-axis coordinate x3 and the Y-axis coordinate y3 by adding the corresponding X-axis and Y-axis components of the movement direction included in the generated movement information to the X-axis coordinate x2 and the Y-axis coordinate y2 included in the currently generated coordinate information. The first sensor controller 11 includes the calculated coordinates x3 and y3 in the position information as prediction information.

[0108] (Step SP18) Return Figure 11 The position detection device 1A transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 12 via the first sensor controller 11. Then, the process shifts to the process of step SP22.

[0109] (Step SP22 ) Based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 11 , the position detection device 1A uses the second sensor controller 12 to set the processing for detecting the position in the area A2 of the sensor panel 10A based on the signals detected from the transmitting electrodes 102 and the receiving electrodes 104 .

[0110] Here, the settings related to the detection process are described in detail. The position detection device 1A, through the second sensor controller 12, performs detection processing settings in a manner that increases the frequency of signals for position detection transmitted from the transmitting electrodes 102 and receiving electrodes 104 connected to the second sensor controller 12 via signal lines 107 and 109, based on electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 11. Specifically, the position detection device 1A, through the second sensor controller 12, shortens the period of switching from the first mode to the fourth mode, thereby increasing the frequency of signals for position detection transmitted from the transmitting electrodes 102 and receiving electrodes 104 in the second mode. Furthermore, since the period of switching from the first mode to the fourth mode is shortened, the frequency of detecting the position indication of the finger 3 in the first mode is also increased.

[0111] Furthermore, the position detection device 1A is set by the second sensor controller 12, for example, based on the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller 11, so that a signal for position detection is sent from the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 near the position indicated by the electrode information. Figure 4 The following describes the details of the settings. The position detection device 1A generates coordinate information indicating the position of point P2 or electrode information including electrode identification information via the first sensor controller 11 and transmits the electrode information to the second sensor controller 12. In step SP22, the position detection device 1A, via the second sensor controller 12, references the electrode information received from the first sensor controller 11 and obtains the coordinates x2 and y2 indicating the position of point P2, or the electrode identification number YA13 of the transmitting electrode 101 and the electrode identification number XA12 of the receiving electrode 103. Based on the obtained coordinates y2 or electrode identification number YA13, the position detection device 1A selects, via the second sensor controller 12, transmitting electrodes 102 with electrode identification numbers YB11 to YB15, which are within the number of electrodes (in this example, two) in the upper and lower directions or within a predetermined distance. Furthermore, the position detection device 1A, through the second sensor controller 12, selects receiving electrodes 104 within a predetermined distance (two in this example) or a number of electrodes (i.e., receiving electrodes 104 with electrode identification numbers XB13 and XB14) from the leftmost receiving electrode 104 in area A2 toward the right. Subsequently, the position detection device 1A, through the second sensor controller 12, prioritizes signal transmission from the selected transmitting electrode 102 and receiving electrode 104 when transmitting signals from the electrodes in either the first or second mode. Furthermore, the position detection device 1A may also obtain the coordinates of, for example, point P3 included in the prediction information, instead of point P2.

[0112] In addition, when the second sensor controller 12 receives the electrode information generated by the first sensor controller 11, the position detection device 1A may switch the mode of the second sensor controller 12 without regard to the order of switching from the first mode to the fourth mode. Figure 12B An example of switching the mode of the second sensor controller 12 will be described. Figure 12B This is a diagram showing another example of switching of the operation mode when transmitting and receiving electrode information.

[0113] At time t120, the operating mode of the first sensor controller 11 switches from the first mode to the second mode. At time t121, the operating mode of the second sensor controller 12 switches from the first mode to the second mode. At time t121, the second sensor controller 12 performs global scan settings for detecting the position indication by the stylus pen 2 across the entire area A2, sequentially from the second mode to the fourth mode. This allows detection of the position indication by the stylus pen 2. After time t121, the first sensor controller 11 detects the position indication by the stylus pen 2 in area A1, generates electrode information, and transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 12. Between time t121 and time t122, the second sensor controller 12 receives the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 11. At time t122, the second sensor controller 12 receives electrode information indicating detection of the stylus pen 2 from the first sensor controller 11 until time t122, thereby switching the operating mode from the fourth mode to the second mode instead of the first mode. Furthermore, at time t122, the second sensor controller 12 changes the position detection setting from global scanning to local scanning in which signals for position detection are transmitted from the transmitting electrodes 102 and the receiving electrodes 104 near the position indicated by the electrode information. Figure 11 , the processing is transferred to step SP26.

[0114] (Step SP26) The position detection device 1A converts the information about the position in the shared areas A1 and A2 into information about the position in the area including the areas A1 and A2 on the sensor panel 10A through the second sensor controller 12, and transmits the converted information to other devices in the equipment 20 equipped with the position detection device 1A. Figure 11 The illustrated series of processing flows ends.

[0115] The above describes in detail the method for detecting the position in the sensor panel 10A in the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12. In addition, in order to improve the accuracy of receiving the signals detected by the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrodes 103 and 104, the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 may also receive the signals from the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 as differential signals. When the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 receive the signals from the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 as differential signals, they convert the received signals into actual voltage values ​​by performing integration operations on the received signals, and generate electrode information based on the converted voltage values. Here, referring to Figure 5 , the processing of the integral calculation by the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 will be described.

[0116] Figure 5 This diagram explains the integration of signals detected by the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrodes 103 and 104. In this example, the detection process of the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 is described, but the same process is also performed by the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102.

[0117] When receiving the signals detected by receiving electrodes 103 and 104 as differential signals, the first sensor controller 11 calculates the potential difference between the signal detected by one receiving electrode 103 and the signal detected by the adjacent receiving electrode 103 on the left, for example, using a differential input circuit, and receives the calculated potential difference as the signal detected by one receiving electrode 103. Furthermore, when one receiving electrode 103 is the leftmost receiving electrode 103 in area A1, the first sensor controller 11 calculates the potential difference relative to a predetermined reference value and receives the calculated potential difference as the signal detected by one receiving electrode 103. Next, as shown in Table 500, the first sensor controller 11 associates each acquired signal with the acquired voltage, information regarding the sensor controller, the reference value, and information identifying the receiving electrode 103 (electrode identification number, coordinates, and the number of electrodes in the arrangement starting from the leftmost receiving electrode 103 in area A1).

[0118] The first sensor controller 11 sequentially performs integration operations, starting with the acquired voltage corresponding to the receiving electrode 103 located at the left end of area A1. Specifically, the first sensor controller 11 first adds the reference value, 0 [V], to the acquired voltage corresponding to the receiving electrode 103 at the left end of area A1 (1 [V]), and stores the result of the addition, 1 [V], as the integrated value for the receiving electrode 103 at the left end. Next, the first sensor controller 11 adds the integrated value corresponding to the receiving electrode 103 at the left end of area A1 (1 [V]), to the acquired voltage corresponding to the second receiving electrode 103 from the left end of area A1 (2 [V]), and stores the result of the addition, 3 [V], as the integrated value for the second receiving electrode 103 from the left end. The first sensor controller 11 then adds the integrated value corresponding to the second receiving electrode 103 from the left end of area A1, 3 [V], to the acquired voltage corresponding to the third receiving electrode 103 from the left end of area A1. The added value, 5 [V], is stored as the integrated value for the second receiving electrode 103 from the left end. The first sensor controller 11 then repeats this operation until the receiving electrode 103 at the right end of area A1, thereby calculating the integrated value for each receiving electrode 103 in area A1. The first sensor controller 11 then uses the result of this integrated operation as the voltage value of the signal actually detected by the receiving electrode 103 to generate electrode information.

[0119] The second sensor controller 12 also performs the same processing as the first sensor controller 11. This processing is identical to that performed by the first sensor controller 11, except that the predetermined reference value is different and the integration calculation is performed for the receiving electrodes 104 in area A2. Specifically, the second sensor controller 12 first adds the reference value, 3 V, to the acquired voltage corresponding to the receiving electrode 104 at the left end of area A2 (14 V), and stores the result of the addition, 17 V, as the integrated value for the receiving electrode 104 at the left end. Next, the second sensor controller 12 adds the integrated value corresponding to the receiving electrode 104 at the left end of area A2 (17 V), to the acquired voltage corresponding to the second receiving electrode 104 from the left end of area A2 (-7 V), and stores the result of the addition, 10 V, as the integrated value for the second receiving electrode 104 from the left end. Furthermore, the second sensor controller 12 adds the integrated value corresponding to the second receiving electrode 104 from the left end of area A2, i.e., 10 [V], to the acquired voltage corresponding to the third receiving electrode 104 from the left end of area A2, i.e., -5 [V], and stores the result of the addition, i.e., 5 [V], as the integrated value for the second receiving electrode 104 from the left end. Subsequently, the second sensor controller 12 repeats the same calculation until reaching the receiving electrode 104 at the right end of area A2, thereby calculating the integrated value for each receiving electrode 104 in area A2.

[0120] Next, refer to Figure 7 , describing another example of detecting the position indication of the stylus pen 2 in the first mode. Figure 7 Graph showing the relationship between the coordinates of receiving electrodes 103 and 104 and the acquired voltage. In this example, receiving electrodes 103 and 104 are described. For signals detected by receiving electrode 103 in area A1, the first sensor controller 11 associates the acquired voltage of each signal with electrode identification information related to the receiving electrode 103 that detected the signal, and generates electrode information that includes the associated acquired voltage and electrode identification information. The first sensor controller 11 transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 12. Furthermore, for signals detected by receiving electrode 104 in area A2, the second sensor controller 12 associates the acquired voltage of each signal with electrode identification information related to the receiving electrode 104 that detected the signal.

[0121] The second sensor controller 12 refers to the acquired voltage and electrode identification information of each signal in area A2, and the acquired voltage and electrode identification information of each signal in area A1 included in the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller 11. The second sensor controller 12 sorts the referenced acquired voltages and electrode identification information in the area including areas A1 and A2 of the sensor panel 10A according to the distance from, for example, the left end of the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 indicated by the electrode identification information corresponding to each signal. Then, the second sensor controller 12 generates an approximate curve with the X-axis set to the distance from the left end of the area including areas A1 and A2 and the Y-axis set to the acquired voltage for each sorted acquired voltage and electrode identification information. Based on the generated approximate curve, the second sensor controller 12 calculates the maximum value in the approximate curve. The second sensor controller 12 detects the X-axis value of the calculated maximum value as the X-axis coordinate of the position where the finger 3 has indicated a position in the sensor panel 10A. For example, in Figure 7 As shown in graph 700, the X-axis value corresponding to the maximum value of the acquired voltage is 6, so the value of 6 is detected as the X-axis coordinate. Furthermore, the second sensor controller 12 performs the same processing on the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102, and detects the X-axis value of the maximum value calculated by the processing as the Y-axis coordinate of the position indicated by the finger 3 on the sensor panel 10A.

[0122] The second sensor controller 12 uses, for example, a B-spline curve as the type of approximate curve to generate, but is not limited to this. The second sensor controller 12 may also generate an interpolation curve (such as a one-dimensional Lagrangian supplementary curve, a cubic spline interpolation curve, a Bezier curve, or an upwardly convex quadratic function) instead of an approximate curve.

[0123] In addition, when generating electrode information, the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 may generate electrode information after thinning out unnecessary signals from the signals detected by the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 in order to reduce the amount of communication based on the data transmitted and received by the electrode information. Figure 6 , the processing of the integral calculation by the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 will be described. Figure 6 This figure is for explaining thinning-out calculations on signals detected by the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrodes 103 and 104. Although the detection processing of the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 is described here, the same processing is also performed on the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102.

[0124] As shown in Table 600, the first sensor controller 11 associates the voltage obtained, information related to which sensor controller it is, and information for identifying the receiving electrode 103 (electrode identification number, coordinates, the number of electrodes in the area A1, and the like) for each signal obtained. Next, the first sensor controller 11 determines whether the voltage value of each signal is greater than a predetermined second reference value. Figure 6 The second reference value is 5 V. The first sensor controller 11 generates electrode information by associating the electrode identification information of the receiving electrode 103 for which a positive determination was made, the voltage value of the signal detected by the receiving electrode 103, and information indicating which sensor controller the receiving electrode 103 corresponds to. The first sensor controller 11 transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 12.

[0125] Furthermore, the first sensor controller 11 may compare the acquired voltages in thinning-out processing of the signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 and select a predetermined number of acquired voltages in descending order of the voltage value. Figure 6 The predetermined number is 3. In this case, the first sensor controller 11 transmits the selected acquisition voltage, information about which sensor controller the electrode corresponding to the acquisition voltage belongs to, and information for identifying the receiving electrode 103 as electrode information to the second sensor controller 12.

[0126] Next, refer to Figure 8 The following describes the detection of a position by the position detection device 1A when the finger 3 indicates a position on the sensor panel 10A so as to straddle the areas A1 and A2 . Figure 81 is a diagram for explaining the detection of the position of the finger 3 when the finger 3 indicates the position of the finger 3 across the left and right areas A1 and A2 on the sensor panel 10A. Figure 8 In the embodiment, n receiving electrodes 103 and 104 are provided on the sensor panel 10A. In addition, the widths of the regions A1 and A2 in the X-axis direction are XA and XB, respectively. In addition, m receiving electrodes 103 are provided in the region A1, and XA1...XA m The coordinates in the X-axis direction are associated with each other with the left side of the region A1 as the base point. In addition, one receiving electrode 104 is provided in the region A2, and XB1 ···XB l The coordinates in the X-axis direction with the left side of the area A2 as the base point are associated with each other. Figure 8 In the area including the areas A1 and A2, as the coordinates in the X-axis direction with the left side as the base point, X1, X2...X n Corresponding to the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 .

[0127] In this example, the second sensor controller 12 generates electrode information and transmits the generated electrode information to the first sensor controller 11. Similar processing is performed when the first sensor controller 11 generates electrode information and transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 12, so the description thereof is omitted.

[0128] The second sensor controller 12 generates a potential VX of a signal transmitted from the transmitting electrode 102 and received by the j-th receiving electrode 104 from the left provided in the area A2. j (i.e., VX m+1 、VX m+2 …VX n ) are summed up to calculate the 0th moment value M associated with the receiving electrode 104 in area A2 0-B Specifically, the second sensor controller 12 sets the potential VX of the signal j Substitute the voltage value into the relationship: M 0-B =∑VX j [Formula 1], calculate the zero-order moment M associated with the receiving electrode 104 in area A2 0-B In addition, for each receiving electrode 104 in the area A2, the second sensor controller 12 sets the signal potential VX j Multiply by the X-axis coordinate XB j , the coordinate XB j represents the jth receiving electrode 104 from the left in the region A2, and the multiplication results are summed to calculate the first moment value M of the receiving electrode 104 in the region A2. 1-B Specifically, the second sensor controller 12 generates the signal potential VXj and coordinates XB j Substitute into the relation M 0-B =∑(XB j ×VX j ) [Formula 2] is used to calculate the first-order moment value M of the receiving electrode 104 in area A2 1-B The second sensor controller 12 includes the calculated 0th moment value M 0-B And the 1st moment value M 1-B Generate electrode information MD B , and generate the electrode information MD B Sent to the first sensor controller 11.

[0129] The first sensor controller 11 controls the potential VX of the signal transmitted from the transmitting electrode 101 and received by the i-th receiving electrode 103 from the right provided in the area A1. i (ie, VX1, VX2…VX m ) are summed up to calculate the 0th moment value M related to the receiving electrode 103 in the area A1 0-A The signal is a signal based on the electrostatic capacitance between the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103. Specifically, the first sensor controller 11 controls the potential VX of the signal by i Substitute the voltage value into the relationship: M 0-A =∑VX i [Formula 3]: Calculate the zero-order moment M associated with the receiving electrode 103 in area A1. 0-A Furthermore, for each receiving electrode 103 provided in the area A1, the first sensor controller 11 sets the signal potential VX of each receiving electrode 103 in the area A1 to i Multiply by the X-axis coordinate XA i , the coordinate XA i represents the i-th receiving electrode 103 from the left in the area A1, and the first sensor controller 11 calculates the first-order moment value M of the receiving electrode 103 in the area A1 by summing the multiplication results. 1-A Specifically, the first sensor controller 11 generates a voltage signal by setting the signal potential VX i and coordinates XA i Substitute into the relation M 0-A =(ΣXA i ×VX i ) [Formula 4] is used to calculate the first-order moment value M of the receiving electrode 103 in area A1. 1-A .

[0130] The first sensor controller 11 receives the electrode information MD sent from the second sensor controller 12 B , based on the 0th moment value M in area A1 0-Aand the first moment value M 1-A , and the 0th moment value M in area A2 0-B and the first moment value M 1-B , calculates the centroid of the signals detected by the receiving electrodes 103 and 104. The first sensor controller 11 multiplies the width XA of the region A1 in the X-axis direction by the zero-order moment M in the region A2. 0-A , add the 1st moment value M in area A1 to the multiplication result 1-A And the 1st moment value M in area A2 1-B Furthermore, the first sensor controller 11 converts the 0th moment value M in the area A1 into 0-A And the 0th moment value M in area A2 0-B The sum of the values ​​of M and M is divided by the sum of the values ​​of M and M, and the division result is calculated as the centroid of the signals detected by the receiving electrodes 103. Specifically, the first sensor controller 11 calculates the 0th order moment value M by 0-A and M 0-B , first-order moment value M 1-A and M 1-B and coordinates XA i Substitute into the relationship (M 1-A +M 1-B +XA i ×M 0-B ) / (M 0-A +M 0-B ) [Formula 5] is used to calculate the center of gravity of the signals detected by the receiving electrodes 103 and 104.

[0131] <Effect>

[0132] As described above, in the first embodiment, the position detection device 1A includes: a sensor panel 10A having a receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode), a transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) configured so as to intersect perpendicularly with the receiving electrode 103, a transmitting electrode 102 (second transmitting electrode) configured so as to be adjacent to one end of the transmitting electrode 101 and extend in a direction parallel to the transmitting electrode 101, and a receiving electrode 104 (second receiving electrode) configured so as to intersect perpendicularly with the transmitting electrode 102; a first sensor controller 11 that detects a position in the sensor panel 10A based on signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103, generates electrode information related to the detection, and transmits the electrode information; and a second sensor controller 12 that sets, based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 11, a detection process for the position in the sensor panel 10A based on the signals detected from the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104.

[0133] With this configuration, in position detection device 1A, transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and receiving electrodes 103 and 104 on sensor panel 10A are arranged as separate electrodes on sensor panel 10A, thereby reducing the electrostatic capacitance associated with transmitting electrodes 101 and 102. Specifically, in position detection device 1A, since transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 are separate electrodes, the electrostatic capacitance associated with the electrodes is reduced compared to a case where transmitting electrodes 101 and 102, which have the same Y-axis coordinates, are formed from a single electrode. Consequently, position detection device 1A can minimize the reduction in accuracy of position detection based on the electrostatic capacitance associated with transmitting electrodes 101 and 102, enabling highly accurate position detection on sensor panel 10A.

[0134] In the first embodiment, the first sensor controller 11 generates detection information indicating whether the signal is detected based on the signal detected by the transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) and the receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode), and generates electrode information including the generated detection information.

[0135] With this configuration, position detection device 1A shares information on whether signals are detected by transmission electrode 101 and reception electrode 103 between first sensor controller 11 and second sensor controller 12. Therefore, position detection device 1A can detect a position on sensor panel 10A with higher accuracy.

[0136] In addition, in the first embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 103 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, and the first sensor controller 11 generates position information representing the positions in the area A1 where the plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and the plurality of receiving electrodes 103 intersect based on the signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) and the receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode), and generates electrode information including the generated position information.

[0137] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A shares position information indicating the position in the region A1 where the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 intersect between the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, the position detection device 1A can detect the position on the sensor panel 10A with higher accuracy.

[0138] In the first embodiment, the position information includes electrode identification information indicating which of the plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 (first transmitting electrodes) and the plurality of receiving electrodes 103 (first receiving electrodes) has detected a signal.

[0139] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A shares electrode identification information regarding which of the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 detects a signal between the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, the position detection device 1A can detect a position on the sensor panel 10A with higher accuracy.

[0140] In the first embodiment, the position information includes coordinate information indicating positions in the region A1 where the plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 (first transmitting electrodes) and the plurality of receiving electrodes 103 (first receiving electrodes) intersect.

[0141] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A shares coordinate information indicating the position in the area A1 between the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, the position detection device 1A can detect the position on the sensor panel 10A with higher accuracy.

[0142] In the first embodiment, the first sensor controller 11 generates movement information including the movement direction and movement speed of the position indicated by the coordinate information based on changes in past coordinate information and current coordinate information, and includes the generated movement information in the position information.

[0143] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A shares movement information related to changes in coordinate information between the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, the position detection device 1A can also accurately detect changes in the position detected on the sensor panel 10A.

[0144] In the first embodiment, the first sensor controller 11 generates prediction information indicating the position to be reached by the position indicated by the coordinate information after a predetermined time has elapsed based on the movement information, and includes the generated prediction information in the position information.

[0145] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A shares prediction information about the position on the sensor panel 10A where a signal is expected to be detected in the future between the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, the position detection device 1A can accurately predict the position on the sensor panel 10A where a signal is expected to be detected.

[0146] In addition, in the first embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 103 and 104 are configured on the sensor panel 10A, and the second sensor controller 12 is set according to the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller 11 so that a signal for position detection is sent from the transmitting electrode 102 near the position indicated by the electrode information.

[0147] According to this configuration, the position detection device 1A transmits signals for position detection from electrodes near the positions indicated by the electrode information, and thus can perform position detection in the area A2 with higher accuracy.

[0148] In the first embodiment, the second sensor controller 12 is set to increase the frequency of transmitting signals for position detection from the transmitting electrodes 102 connected to the second sensor controller 12 via the signal lines 107 and 109 based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 11 .

[0149] According to this configuration, the position detection device 1A increases the frequency of position detection in the area A2 based on reception of electrode information, and thus can perform position detection in the area A2 with higher accuracy.

[0150] In addition, in the first embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 103 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, and the first sensor controller 11 performs an integration operation on each signal detected by the transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) and the receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode) based on the arrangement of the corresponding transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103, and generates electrode information in a manner that includes the result of the integration operation.

[0151] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A can accurately detect the position on the sensor panel 10A even when integration is required, such as when signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 are received as differential signals.

[0152] In addition, in the first embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 103 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, and the first sensor controller 11 determines whether the voltage value of each signal detected by the transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) and the receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode) is greater than a second reference value, so as to generate electrode information in a manner that associates the electrode identification information of the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 for which the determination is positive with the voltage value of the signal detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103.

[0153] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A generates electrode information for, for example, the electrodes corresponding to signals having voltage values ​​greater than the second reference value, among the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103. Therefore, when the position detection device 1A transmits the electrode information from the first sensor controller 11 to the second sensor controller 12, the communication traffic based on the electrode information is suppressed, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0154] In addition, in the first embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 103 and 104 are configured on the sensor panel 10A, and the second sensor controller 12 detects the maximum value of the voltage value of each signal as the position in the sensor panel 10A based on the signals and electrode information detected by the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 connected to the second sensor controller 12 via signal lines 107 and 109.

[0155] According to this configuration, the position detection device 1A detects the maximum value of the voltage value of each signal as the position on the sensor panel 10A. Therefore, the position on the sensor panel 10A can be easily detected without requiring complicated calculations.

[0156] In addition, in the first embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 103 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, and the first sensor controller 11 calculates the 0th moment value and the 1st moment value for the transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) and the receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode), respectively, based on the voltage value of each detected signal and the distance between the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 that detected the signal and a reference position, and generates electrode information in a manner that includes the calculated 0th moment value and 1st moment value.

[0157] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A calculates the zeroth-order moment value and the first-order moment value and includes these values ​​in the electrode information, thereby reducing the amount of electrode information communicated from the first sensor controller 11 to the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, even when position indications are given for multiple locations on the sensor panel 10A, the position detection device 1A can detect positions on the sensor panel 10A with high accuracy and low power consumption.

[0158] In addition, in the first embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 102 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 104 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A, and the second sensor controller 12 calculates a 0th-order moment value and a 1st-order moment value for each of the transmitting electrodes 102 (second transmitting electrodes) and the receiving electrodes 104 (second receiving electrodes) based on the voltage value of each detected signal and the distance between the transmitting electrodes 102 and the receiving electrodes 104 that detected the signal and a reference position. Based on the calculated 0th-order moment value and 1st-order moment value and the 0th-order moment value and 1st-order moment value included in the electrode information, the center of gravity of the detection area on the sensor panel 10A detected by the transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode), the transmitting electrode 102 (second transmitting electrode), the receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode), and the receiving electrode 104 (second receiving electrode) is calculated, and the calculated center of gravity is detected as the position in the sensor panel 10A.

[0159] With this configuration, the position detection device 1A calculates the center of gravity of the detection area on the sensor panel 10A based on the 0th-order moment value and the 1st-order moment value in area A1 calculated by the first sensor controller 11, and the 0th-order moment value and the 1st-order moment value in area A2 calculated by the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, the position detection device 1A can detect the position on the sensor panel 10A with high accuracy and low power consumption, even when, for example, a finger 3 indicates a position on the sensor panel 10A so as to straddle areas A1 and A2.

[0160] In addition, in the first embodiment, the sensor panel 10A includes: a receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode); a transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) arranged so as to perpendicularly intersect the receiving electrode 103; a transmitting electrode 102 (second transmitting electrode) arranged so as to extend in a parallel direction so as to be adjacent to one end of the transmitting electrode 101; a receiving electrode 104 (second receiving electrode) arranged so as to perpendicularly intersect the transmitting electrode 102; a signal line 106 (first signal line) having one end connected to the other end of the transmitting electrode 101; a signal line 107 (second signal line) having one end connected to the other end of the transmitting electrode 102; a signal line 108 (third signal line) having one end connected to one end of the receiving electrode 103 and arranged between the signal line 106 and the signal line 107; and a signal line 109 (fourth signal line) having one end connected to one end of the receiving electrode 104 and arranged between the signal line 107 and the signal line 108.

[0161] According to this configuration, the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A as different electrodes from the receiving electrodes 103 and 104. Therefore, in the sensor panel 10A, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the accuracy of position detection based on the capacitance associated with the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102.

[0162] In the first embodiment, one end of the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 is formed into a comb-teeth shape, the comb-teeth-shaped concave portion at one end of the transmitting electrode 101 meshes with the comb-teeth-shaped convex portion at one end of the transmitting electrode 102, and the comb-teeth-shaped convex portion meshes with the comb-teeth-shaped concave portion at one end of the transmitting electrode 102.

[0163] With this structure, one end of transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 is formed to engage with the concave and convex portions, respectively, reducing the gap between transmitting electrodes 101 and 102. Consequently, sensor panel 10A can further minimize degradation in position detection accuracy. Furthermore, when position detection device 1A detects a signal based on contact with stylus pen 2 or finger 3 near the boundary between areas A1 and A2, the first and second sensor controllers 11 and 12 can detect the signal at the same coordinates in the X-axis direction and with the same signal strength.

[0164] --Second embodiment-

[0165] Next, a second embodiment will be described.

[0166] <Structure>

[0167] Figure 2 This figure shows an example of a position detection device 1B according to the second embodiment. Position detection device 1B includes, for example, a sensor panel 10A and a sensor controller 13 as its main components. Specifically, position detection device 1B uses a single sensor controller 13, instead of the first and second sensor controllers 11 and 12, to detect the indicated position of stylus pen 2 or user's finger 3, and performs various information processing based on the detection results.

[0168] One end of signal line 106 is connected to the other end of corresponding transmitting electrodes 101 among the plurality of transmitting electrodes 101, and the other end is connected from the bottom side of sensor panel 10A to sensor controller 13. The other end of signal line 106 is provided on the left side of the other end of signal line 108 on sensor panel 10A.

[0169] One end of signal line 107 is connected to the other end of corresponding transmitting electrodes 102 among the plurality of transmitting electrodes 102, and the other end is connected from the bottom side of sensor panel 10A to sensor controller 13. The other end of signal line 107 is provided to the right of the other end of signal line 109 on sensor panel 10A.

[0170] One end of signal line 108 is connected to the other end of a corresponding one of the plurality of receiving electrodes 103, and the other end is connected to sensor controller 13 from the bottom side of sensor panel 10A. Furthermore, the other end of signal line 108 is provided on sensor panel 10A to the right of the other end of signal line 106 and to the left of the other end of signal line 109. In other words, signal line 108 is provided between signal line 106 and signal line 109 in the X-axis direction.

[0171] One end of signal line 109 is connected to the other end of a corresponding one of the plurality of receiving electrodes 104, and the other end is connected to sensor controller 13 from the bottom side of sensor panel 10A. Furthermore, the other end of signal line 109 is provided on sensor panel 10A to the right of the other end of signal line 108 and to the left of the other end of signal line 107. That is, signal line 109 is provided between signal line 107 and signal line 108 in the X-axis direction.

[0172] The sensor controller 13 is functionally configured to detect the indicated positions of the stylus pen 2 and the user's finger 3 on the sensor panel 10A by having the processor read and execute a program stored in the memory, and to receive data signals transmitted by the stylus pen 2. The sensor controller 13 detects the indicated position of area A1 on the sensor panel 10A based on signals detected from the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103. Furthermore, the sensor controller 13 detects the indicated position of area A2 on the sensor panel 10A based on signals detected from the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104.

[0173] The sensor controller 13 similarly has the first to fourth modes and the idle mode as active modes for the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 in the first embodiment. In the active mode, the sensor controller 13 controls the position detection device 1B while sequentially switching between these four modes. The details of the operation of the sensor controller 13 in each mode are as described in the first embodiment and are therefore omitted.

[0174] Furthermore, the sensor controller 13 receives signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103. This signal reception is performed in the first and third modes of a cycle in which the sensor controller 13 switches modes sequentially from the first mode to the fourth mode. Next, the sensor controller 13 generates electrode information related to positions in the sensor panel 10A based on the signals received from the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103. The electrode information is as described in the first embodiment, and therefore its description is omitted.

[0175] Based on the generated electrode information, the sensor controller 13 sets a process for detecting a position in area A2 of the sensor panel 10A based on signals detected from the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104. Furthermore, the sensor controller 13 converts information related to the detected positions in areas A1 and A2 into information related to positions in an area on the sensor panel 10A that includes areas A1 and A2, and transmits the converted information to other devices in the equipment 20 equipped with the position detection device 1A.

[0176] The specific operations related to the settings for the detection process in the second embodiment will be described in detail. Based on the electrode information, the sensor controller 13 sets the detection process so as to increase the frequency of signals transmitted from the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 for position detection. Specifically, the sensor controller 13 increases the frequency of signals transmitted from the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 for position detection in the second mode by shortening the period of mode switching from the first mode to the fourth mode. Furthermore, since the period of mode switching from the first mode to the fourth mode is shortened, the frequency of detecting the position indication of the finger 3 in the first mode is also increased.

[0177] Furthermore, the sensor controller 13 sets the settings based on the generated electrode information so that signals for position detection are transmitted from the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 near the position indicated by the electrode information. The sensor controller 13 selects the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 in the same manner as the second sensor controller 12 selects the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 in the first embodiment. Then, in the first mode or the second mode, when transmitting signals from the electrodes, the sensor controller 13 prioritizes transmitting signals from the selected transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104.

[0178] <Effect>

[0179] As described above, in the second embodiment, the position detection device 1B includes: a sensor panel 10A having a receiving electrode 103 (first receiving electrode), a transmitting electrode 101 (first transmitting electrode) configured so as to cross the receiving electrode 103 at right angles, a transmitting electrode 102 (second transmitting electrode) configured so as to extend in a parallel direction with one end adjacent to one end of the transmitting electrode 101, and a receiving electrode 104 (second receiving electrode) configured so as to cross the transmitting electrode 102 at right angles; and a sensor controller 13 that detects a position in the sensor panel 10A based on signals detected by the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103, generates electrode information related to the detection, and sets a detection process for position detection in the sensor panel 10A performed by the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 104 according to the electrode information.

[0180] With this configuration, in the position detection device 1B, the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and the receiving electrodes 103 and 104 on the sensor panel 10A are arranged as separate electrodes on the sensor panel 10A, thereby suppressing the electrostatic capacitance associated with the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102. Specifically, since the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 are separate electrodes, the electrostatic capacitance associated with the electrodes is reduced compared to a case where the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102, which have the same Y-axis coordinates, are formed from a single electrode. Furthermore, the position detection device 1B performs position detection using a single sensor controller 13. Therefore, the position detection device 1B can suppress any decrease in the accuracy of position detection based on the electrostatic capacitance associated with the transmitting electrodes 101 and 102, enabling highly accurate position detection on the sensor panel 10A using a single sensor controller 13.

[0181] In addition, in the second embodiment, a plurality of transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 103 and 104 are configured on the sensor panel 10A, and the sensor controller 13 is set according to the electrode information so that a signal for position detection is transmitted from the transmitting electrode 102 (second transmitting electrode) near the position indicated by the electrode information.

[0182] According to this configuration, the position detection device 1B transmits signals for position detection from electrodes near the positions indicated by the electrode information, and thus can perform position detection in the area A2 with higher accuracy.

[0183] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the sensor controller 13 performs settings based on the electrode information so as to increase the frequency of transmitting the signal for position detection from the transmitting electrode 102 (second transmitting electrode).

[0184] According to this configuration, the frequency of position detection in the area A2 is increased based on the electrode information related to position detection in the area A1 , so that position detection in the area A2 can be performed with higher accuracy.

[0185] --Third embodiment-

[0186] Next, a third embodiment will be described.

[0187] <Structure>

[0188] Figure 9 1C is a diagram showing an example of a position detection device 1C according to Embodiment 3. The position detection device 1C includes, for example, a sensor panel 10C, a first sensor controller 16, and a second sensor controller 17, which constitute the main components.

[0189] In the sensor panel 10C, transmitting electrodes 101 and 102 are integrated with the sensor panel 10A according to the first and second embodiments. For example, the sensor panel 10C includes multiple X-line electrodes (hereinafter referred to as "receiving electrodes 113" or "receiving electrodes 114") for detecting the position of the X axis of the sensor coordinate system, and multiple Y-line electrodes (hereinafter referred to as "transmitting electrodes 111" or "transmitting electrodes 112") for detecting the position of the Y axis. Transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and receiving electrodes 113 and 114 can be made of a transparent conductive material including ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or a wire mesh sensor.

[0190] Multiple transmitting electrodes 111 are arranged parallel to each other, extending in the X-axis direction from the center to the top of the sensor panel 10C. Among the multiple transmitting electrodes 111, the transmitting electrode 111 closest to the bottom of the sensor panel 10C is adjacent to the transmitting electrode 112 closest to the top of the sensor panel 10C. One end of each transmitting electrode 111 faces the right side of the sensor panel 10C, while the other end faces the left side of the sensor panel 10C. The other end of each transmitting electrode 111 is connected to the first sensor controller 16 via a signal line 116.

[0191] Multiple transmitting electrodes 112 are arranged parallel to each other, extending in the X-axis direction from the center to the bottom of the sensor panel 10C. Among the multiple transmitting electrodes 112, the transmitting electrode 112 closest to the top of the sensor panel 10C is adjacent to the transmitting electrode 111 closest to the bottom of the sensor panel 10C. One end of each transmitting electrode 112 faces the right side of the sensor panel 10C, while the other end faces the left side of the sensor panel 10C. Furthermore, one end of each transmitting electrode 112 is connected to the second sensor controller 17 via a signal line 117.

[0192] Multiple receiving electrodes 113 are arranged parallel to and perpendicular to the transmitting electrodes 111 from the center to the left of the sensor panel 10C. One end of each receiving electrode 113 faces the upper side of the sensor panel 10C, while the other end faces the lower side. The other end of each receiving electrode 113 is connected to the first sensor controller 16 via a signal line 118. The receiving electrodes 113, along with the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112, form an area A1 extending from the center to the left of the sensor panel 10C. This area A1 includes the intersection of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113, as well as the intersection of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113.

[0193] Multiple receiving electrodes 114 are arranged parallel to each other, perpendicularly intersecting the transmitting electrodes 112 from the center to the right of the sensor panel 10C. One end of each receiving electrode 114 faces the upper side of the sensor panel 10C, while the other end faces the lower side. The other end of each receiving electrode 114 is connected to the second sensor controller 17 via a signal line 119. The receiving electrodes 114, along with the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112, form an area A2 extending from the center to the right of the sensor panel 10C. This area A2 includes the intersections of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 114, as well as the intersections of the transmitting electrode 112 and the receiving electrode 114.

[0194] One end of the signal line 116 is connected to the other end of a corresponding transmitting electrode 111 among the plurality of transmitting electrodes 111, and the other end is connected from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C to the first sensor controller 16. The other end of the signal line 116 is provided on the sensor panel 10C to the left of the other end of the signal line 118.

[0195] One end of the signal line 117 is connected to one end of a corresponding transmitting electrode 112 among the plurality of transmitting electrodes 112, and the other end is connected from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C to the second sensor controller 17. The other end of the signal line 117 is provided to the right of the other end of the signal line 119 on the sensor panel 10C.

[0196] One end of the signal line 118 is connected to the other end of a corresponding one of the plurality of receiving electrodes 113, and the other end is connected to the first sensor controller 16 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C. Furthermore, the other end of the signal line 118 is provided on the sensor panel 10C to the right of the other end of the signal line 116 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 119. In other words, the signal line 118 is provided between the signal line 116 and the signal line 119 in the X-axis direction.

[0197] One end of the signal line 119 is connected to the other end of a corresponding one of the plurality of receiving electrodes 114, and the other end is connected to the second sensor controller 17 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C. Furthermore, the other end of the signal line 119 is provided on the sensor panel 10C to the right of the other end of the signal line 118 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 117. That is, the signal line 119 is provided between the signal line 117 and the signal line 118 in the X-axis direction.

[0198] The first sensor controller 16 and the second sensor controller 17 are functionally configured to detect the indicated positions of the stylus pen 2 and the user's finger 3 on the sensor panel 10C by having the processor read and execute programs stored in memory, and to receive data signals transmitted by the stylus pen 2. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 16 detects the indicated position of area A1 on the sensor panel 10C. Furthermore, the second sensor controller 17 detects the indicated position of area A2 on the sensor panel 10C. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 16 and the second sensor controller 17 are configured to communicate with each other, sharing information related to the detected positions by exchanging information with each other, and setting the position detection process based on the shared information related to the positions. Furthermore, either the first sensor controller 16 or the second sensor controller 17 converts the information related to the positions in the shared areas A1 and A2 into information related to the positions in the area on the sensor panel 10C that includes areas A1 and A2, and transmits the converted information to other devices in the device 20 equipped with the position detection device 1C.

[0199] The first sensor controller 16 and the second sensor controller 17 have the first to fourth modes and the idle mode as the active modes of the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 in the first embodiment. In the active mode, they control the position detection device 1C while switching between these four modes in sequence. The details of the operation in each mode are as described in the first embodiment and are omitted.

[0200] Next, the details of the method for detecting a position on the sensor panel 10C by the first sensor controller 16 and the second sensor controller 17 will be described. In this example, the first sensor controller 16 detects a position in area A1 on the sensor panel 10C and transmits the detected information to the second sensor controller 17. Regarding the method for detecting a position in area A2 on the sensor panel 10C and transmitting the detected information to the first sensor controller 16 by the second sensor controller 17, similar control is performed except for differences in electrodes, signal lines, and the area to be detected, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0201] The first sensor controller 16 receives a signal detected by either the transmitting electrode 111 or the receiving electrode 113. The signal reception is performed in the first mode and the third mode in a cycle in which the first sensor controller 16 sequentially switches modes from the first mode to the fourth mode.

[0202] The first sensor controller 16 generates electrode information related to a position on the sensor panel 10C based on the signals received from either the transmitting electrode 111 or the receiving electrode 113. In the third embodiment, the electrode information includes, for example, detection information and position information. The first sensor controller 16 then transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 17.

[0203] Based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 16, the second sensor controller 17 sets the detection process for the position in area A2 of the sensor panel 10C based on the signals detected from either the transmitting electrode 112 or the receiving electrode 114. Furthermore, the second sensor controller 17 converts the information regarding the detected positions in areas A1 and A2 into information regarding the positions in the area including areas A1 and A2 on the sensor panel 10C, and transmits the converted information to another device in the equipment 20 equipped with the position detection device 1C.

[0204] The specific operations related to the settings for the detection process in the third embodiment will be described in detail. Second sensor controller 17 configures the detection process based on the electrode information to increase the frequency of signals transmitted from transmitting electrode 112 and receiving electrode 114 for position detection. Specifically, second sensor controller 17 increases the frequency of signals transmitted from transmitting electrode 112 and receiving electrode 114 for position detection in the second mode by shortening the period of switching from the first mode to the fourth mode. Furthermore, since the period of switching from the first mode to the fourth mode is shortened, the frequency of detecting the position indication of finger 3 in the first mode is also increased.

[0205] Furthermore, the second sensor controller 17 sets the electrode information generated by the first sensor controller 16 so that signals for position detection are transmitted from the transmitting electrode 112 and the receiving electrode 114 near the position indicated by the electrode information. The second sensor controller 17 selects the transmitting electrode 112 and the receiving electrode 114 in the same manner as the second sensor controller 12 selects the transmitting electrode 102 and the receiving electrode 103 in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the third embodiment, for example, the first sensor controller 16 may sometimes detect a signal from only one of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113. In this case, the second sensor controller 17 selects the transmitting electrode 112 and the receiving electrode 114 based on the electrode information that includes detection information related to only one of the signals and position information.

[0206] For example, if a position in area A2 from the center to the upper edge of sensor panel 10C is indicated using stylus pen 2 or finger 3, first sensor controller 16 only detects signals indicating that the position has been indicated by transmitting electrode 111. Furthermore, second sensor controller 17 only detects signals indicating that the position has been indicated by receiving electrode 113. In this case, first sensor controller 16 generates electrode information and transmits the generated electrode information to second sensor controller 17. Based on the electrode information received from first sensor controller 16, second sensor controller 17 sequentially selects multiple transmitting electrodes 112, starting from the transmitting electrode closest to the upper edge of sensor panel 10C. Then, in either the first or second mode, when transmitting signals from the electrodes, second sensor controller 17 prioritizes transmitting signals from the selected transmitting electrode 112 and receiving electrode 114.

[0207] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, when only one of the sending electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113 detects a signal, the first sensor controller 16 generates electrode identification information, coordinate information, movement information, prediction information, etc. in a manner that only includes information related to the direction of the electrode corresponding to the detected signal in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and generates electrode information in a manner that includes the generated information.

[0208] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, when the first sensor controller 16 receives signals from the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113 as differential signals, it can also integrate the received signals to convert them into actual voltage values, similar to the first embodiment, and generate electrode information based on the converted voltage values. Furthermore, when only one of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113 detects a signal, the first sensor controller 16 integrates only the X-axis and Y-axis directions corresponding to the electrode that detected the signal, and generates electrode information based on the results of the integration.

[0209] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, when generating electrode information, the first sensor controller 16 may, similar to the first embodiment, eliminate unnecessary signals from the signals detected by the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113 in order to reduce the amount of data communication related to transmission and reception of the electrode information. Furthermore, when only one of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113 detects a signal, the first sensor controller 16 eliminates only the X-axis and Y-axis directions corresponding to the electrode that detected the signal, and generates electrode information based on the result of the elimination.

[0210] <Effect>

[0211] As described above, in the third embodiment, the position detection device 1C includes: a sensor panel 10C having a transmitting electrode 111 (first transmitting electrode), a receiving electrode 113 (first receiving electrode) configured to intersect perpendicularly with the transmitting electrode 111, a receiving electrode 114 (second receiving electrode) configured parallel to the receiving electrode 113, and a transmitting electrode 112 (third transmitting electrode) perpendicularly intersecting the receiving electrode 113 and the receiving electrode 114 and configured parallel to the transmitting electrode 111; a first sensor controller 16 that detects a position in the sensor panel 10C based on signals detected by the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113, generates electrode information related to the detection, and transmits the electrode information; and a second sensor controller 17 that sets, based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 16, a detection process for the position in the sensor panel 10C based on the signals detected from the transmitting electrode 112 and the receiving electrode 114.

[0212] With this configuration, the position detection device 1C detects a position on the sensor panel 10C based on signals detected by the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 on the sensor panel 10C using the two first sensor controllers 16 and the second sensor controller 12. Therefore, the position detection device 1C can detect a position on the sensor panel 10C even when the sensor panel 10C has a plurality of electrodes.

[0213] In the third embodiment, the position detection device 1C can also generate electrode information in a manner that includes position information and detection information, including coordinate information, movement information, prediction information, etc., similarly to the first embodiment. Furthermore, when generating coordinate information, the position detection device 1C can also calculate the center of gravity based on the 0th-order moment value and the 1st-order moment value, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0214] With this configuration, the position detection device 1C can detect the position on the sensor panel 10C with high accuracy and low power consumption even when the electrodes are not divided midway in the sensor panel 10C.

[0215] ---Fourth Implementation Method---

[0216] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

[0217] <Structure>

[0218] Figure 14This figure shows an example of a position detection device 1E according to a fourth embodiment. The position detection device 1E includes, for example, a sensor panel 10C and a circuit board 30 on which a first sensor controller 160 and a second sensor controller 170 are installed, forming the main components. The sensor panel 10C is described in the third embodiment, so descriptions of the sensor panel 10C are omitted except for the connection between the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112, the receiving electrodes 113 and 114, the signal lines 116 to 119, and the first and second sensor controllers 160 and 170, and the areas A101 to A103 formed by the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114.

[0219] The other end of the transmitting electrode 111 is connected to the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 on the circuit board 30 via a signal line 116 . The other end of the transmitting electrode 112 is connected to the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 on the circuit board 30 via a signal line 117 .

[0220] The receiving electrode 113 and the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 form a region A101 from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10C, including the intersections of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113 and the intersections of the transmitting electrode 111 and the receiving electrode 113 .

[0221] The reception electrode 114 , together with the transmission electrodes 111 and 112 , forms a region A102 from the center to the right of the sensor panel 10C including the intersection of the transmission electrode 111 and the reception electrode 114 and the intersection of the transmission electrode 112 and the reception electrode 114 .

[0222] In addition, the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 form an area A103 that overlaps with areas A101 and A102 when viewed from above by extending multiple receiving electrodes 113 from the rightmost receiving electrode 113 among the receiving electrodes 113 to the left side and multiple receiving electrodes 114 from the leftmost receiving electrode 114 among the receiving electrodes 114 to the right side.

[0223] The other end of the receiving electrode 113 is connected to the first sensor controller 160 on the circuit board 30 via a signal line 118 . The receiving electrode 113 in the formation area A103 is also connected to the second sensor controller 170 via a signal line 118 in addition to the first sensor controller 160 .

[0224] The other end of the receiving electrode 114 is connected to the first sensor controller 160 on the circuit board 30 via a signal line 119 . The receiving electrode 114 in the formation area A103 is also connected to the second sensor controller 170 via a signal line 119 in addition to the first sensor controller 160 .

[0225] One end of the signal line 116 is connected to one end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 112 among the plurality of transmitting electrodes 111 , and the other end is connected to the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 on the circuit board 30 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C.

[0226] One end of the signal line 117 is connected to one end of a corresponding transmitting electrode 112 among the plurality of transmitting electrodes 112 , and the other end is connected to the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 on the circuit board 30 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C.

[0227] One end of the signal line 118 is connected to the other end of a corresponding receiving electrode 113 among the plurality of receiving electrodes 113, and the other end is connected from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C to the first sensor controller 160 on the circuit substrate 30. Furthermore, the other end of the signal line 118 connected to the receiving electrode 113 forming the area A103 is connected not only to the first sensor controller 160 but also to the second sensor controller 170.

[0228] One end of the signal line 119 is connected to the other end of a corresponding receiving electrode 114 among the plurality of receiving electrodes 114, and the other end is connected from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10C to the second sensor controller 170 on the circuit substrate 30. Furthermore, the other end of the signal line 119 connected to the receiving electrode 114 forming the area A103 is connected not only to the second sensor controller 170 but also to the first sensor controller 160.

[0229] The circuit substrate 30 is provided on the lower side of the sensor panel 10C and is provided with the branch portions of the signal lines 116-119 that branch to the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170, as well as the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170. Alternatively, the circuit substrate 30 may be connected to the sensor panel 10C via a flexible substrate or the like provided with a portion of the signal lines 116-119 midway. While the branch portions of the signal lines 116-119 and the first sensor controllers 160 and 170 are provided on the circuit substrate 30 in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto and may alternatively be provided separately in the position detection device 1E.

[0230] The first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 are provided on the circuit board 30. Functionally, the processor reads and executes a program stored in memory to detect the indicated positions of the stylus pen 2 and the user's finger 3 on the sensor panel 10C and receive data signals transmitted by the stylus pen 2. The first sensor controller 160 detects the indicated positions of areas A101 and 103 on the sensor panel 10C. Furthermore, the second sensor controller 170 detects the indicated positions of areas A102 and 103 on the sensor panel 10C. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 are configured to communicate with each other, sharing information related to the detected positions by sending and receiving information between them. Position detection processing is configured based on the shared position information. In addition, either the first sensor controller 160 or the second sensor controller 170 converts information related to the position in the shared area A101~A103 into information related to the position in the area including the areas A101~103 on the sensor panel 10C, and sends the converted information to other devices in the device 20 equipped with the position detection device 1C.

[0231] The first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 similarly have the first to fourth modes and the idle mode as the active modes of the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 in the first embodiment. In the active mode, they control the position detection device 1C while switching between these four modes in sequence. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 are combined as a set to perform position detection operations alternately, with the first sensor controller 160 switching sequentially from the first mode to the fourth mode and the second sensor controller 170 switching sequentially from the first mode to the fourth mode. Alternatively, the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 alternately perform operations in each of the first to fourth modes. Details of the operations in each mode are omitted as they are described in the first embodiment.

[0232] Next, the details of the method for detecting a position on the sensor panel 10C by the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 will be described. The first sensor controller 160 receives signals detected by any of the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 in the areas A101 and A103. Furthermore, this signal reception is performed in the first and third modes of a cycle in which the first sensor controller 160 sequentially switches modes from the first mode to the fourth mode.

[0233] The first sensor controller 160 generates electrode information related to a position in the sensor panel 10C based on signals received from any of the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 in areas A101 and A103. In the fourth embodiment, the electrode information includes, for example, detection information and position information. The first sensor controller 160 then transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 170.

[0234] The second sensor controller 170 receives electrode information from the first sensor controller 160, converts the information related to the position in areas A101 and A103 into information related to the position in the area including areas A101 and A102 on the sensor panel 10C, and sends the converted information to other devices in the device 20 equipped with the position detection device 1C.

[0235] In addition, the second sensor controller 170 receives signals detected by any of the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 in the areas A102 and A103. Furthermore, this signal reception is performed in the first mode and the third mode in a cycle in which the second sensor controller 170 sequentially switches modes from the first mode to the fourth mode. The second sensor controller 170 extracts information about the positions in the areas A102 and A103 from the received signals and converts the extracted information into information about the positions in the area including the areas A101 and A102 on the sensor panel 10C.

[0236] Reference Figure 15A 15B, a specific example of the operation of the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170 in the fourth embodiment will be described. Figure 15A This is a diagram for explaining position detection when the first sensor controller 160 detects a position indication. Figure 15B 1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining position detection when the second sensor controller 170 detects a position indication.

[0237] exist Figure 15AIn the state shown, the first sensor controller 160 detects position indications in areas A101 and A103. In area A103, the first sensor controller 160 detects position indications of point P5 moving to the left and point P6 moving to the right. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 160 detects position indications of point P4 moving upward in area A101. Based on the detected position indications, the first sensor controller 160 generates electrode information containing position information and detection information and transmits it to the second sensor controller 170. The second sensor controller 170 converts the information related to the position indications contained in the electrode information from the first sensor controller 160 and transmits the converted information to other devices in the apparatus 20 equipped with the position detection device 1C. Furthermore, while the first sensor controller 160 is detecting position indications, the second sensor controller 170 stops detecting position indications in areas A102 and A103.

[0238] exist Figure 15A In the state shown, after the first sensor controller 160 detects the position indication, Figure 15B In the state shown, first sensor controller 160 stops detecting position indications in areas A101 and A103. Furthermore, second sensor controller 170 detects the position indication of point P6 moving rightward in area A103. Furthermore, second sensor controller 170 detects the position indication of point P7 moving upward in area A102 and the position indication of point P8 remaining substantially in the same position. Second sensor controller 170 converts information related to the detected position indications and transmits the converted information to other devices in equipment 20 equipped with position detection device 1C. Furthermore, while second sensor controller 170 detects position indications, first sensor controller 160 stops detecting position indications in areas A101 and A103.

[0239] In addition, in the fourth embodiment, the second sensor controller 170 can also be set to detect the position of the sensor panel 10C in area A2 based on the signal detected from any one of the sending electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 when receiving the electrode information sent from the first sensor controller 160, in the same way as the third embodiment.

[0240] Specifically, the second sensor controller 170 may be configured to transmit signals for position detection from the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 near the position indicated by the electrode information, based on the electrode information generated by the first sensor controller 160. More preferably, when the electrode information indicates that a position is indicated on any of the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 in the area A103, the second sensor controller 170 may be configured to transmit signals for position detection from the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrodes 113 and 114 near the position indicated by the electrode information.

[0241] <Effect>

[0242] As described above, in the fourth embodiment, a position detection device 1E is configured such that multiple electrodes for position detection are arranged in a planar manner in an intersecting pattern. The sensor panel 10C includes a region A101 (first region), which is one of the regions where the multiple electrodes intersect; a region A102 (second region), which is one of the regions where the multiple electrodes intersect and partially overlaps with and is distinct from region A101 in plan view; and a region A103 (overlapping region), which is an area where regions A101 and A102 overlap in plan view. Furthermore, the position detection device 1E includes a first sensor controller 160 that detects a position in region A101 and detects a position in region A103 during a first period of detection of a position in region A101; and a second sensor controller 170 that detects a position in region A102 and detects a position in region A103 during a second period of detection of a position in region A102 that is continuous with the first period of detection of a position in region A102.

[0243] With this configuration, the position detection device 1E detects position indications in the area A103 that overlaps with the areas A101 and A102 when viewed from above, using the first sensor controller 160 and the second sensor controller 170. Therefore, when the position detection device 1E divides the area on the sensor panel 10C into a plurality of areas to detect position indications, it is possible to reduce timing deviations associated with position indications, duplication of repeated indication positions, and loss of position indications.

[0244] In the fourth embodiment, the first sensor controller 160 generates electrode information related to detection of a position in the area A103 and transmits the electrode information to the second sensor controller 170. The second sensor controller 170 also sets the detection process for the position in the area A103 based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller 160.

[0245] According to this structure, in the position detection device 1E, the first sensor controller 160 sends electrode information related to a detection to the second sensor controller 170, so when the area on the sensor panel 10C is divided into multiple areas with higher precision to detect the position indication, the timing deviation accompanying the position indication or the repetition or disappearance of the repeated indication position can be reduced.

[0246] In the fourth embodiment, the electrode information includes coordinate information indicating a position in the area A 103. In the second period, the second sensor controller 170 detects a position in an area near the position indicated by the coordinate information.

[0247] According to this structure, since the electrode information of the position detection device 1E includes coordinate information, when the area on the sensor panel 10C is divided into multiple areas with higher precision to detect position indication, the duplication or disappearance of the indicated position associated with the deviation or repetition of the timing of position indication can be reduced.

[0248] --Modification example—

[0249] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. That is, as long as the features of the present invention are present, any design modifications appropriately made to the above-described embodiments by those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the various elements of the above-described embodiments and the modifications described below can be combined as much as technically feasible, and any combination thereof that incorporates the features of the present invention is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0250] For example, in the first embodiment, electrode information includes information regarding the position in area A1 detected by transmitting electrode 101 and receiving electrode 103, and information regarding the position in area A2 detected by transmitting electrode 102 and receiving electrode 104, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, electrode information may include information indicating which of areas A11, A12, A21, and A22 the position of stylus pen 2 or finger 3 corresponds to.

[0251] In this configuration, when the first sensor controller 11 detects a stylus 2 or finger 3 via the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103, it determines in which area A11 or A12 the detected transmitting electrode 101 is located. For each determined area, the first sensor controller 11 generates information related to the detection of the stylus 2 or finger 3 at each intersection of the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103 as electrode information, and transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 12. While the electrode information in this configuration refers to the potential value at each intersection of the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103, this is not limited to this and may be any parameter related to changes in the electrostatic capacitance between the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103. Alternatively, the electrode information may include the ratio of change in electrostatic capacitance, a resistance value, a current value, and the like. Alternatively, instead of generating electrode information including the 0th-order moment and the 1st-order moment, the first sensor controller 11 may generate, for areas A11 and A12, information related to the detection of the stylus pen 2 or finger 3 at each intersection of the transmitting electrode 101 and the receiving electrode 103. The operation of the second sensor controller 12 is the same as that of the first sensor controller 11, except for the difference in the areas for detection and determination, and therefore, a description thereof is omitted.

[0252] With this configuration, when the position detection device 1A detects the stylus 2 or finger 3, it generates information related to the segmented areas A11, A12, A21, or A22 as electrode information, rather than information related to the entire area A1 or A2. Consequently, the position detection device 1A can reduce the amount of information included in the electrode information, thereby reducing the amount of communication based on the electrode information and reducing power consumption.

[0253] In addition, for example, in the first and second embodiments, the receiving electrodes 103 are arranged on the sensor panel 10A so as to extend from the upper side to the lower side across the center, but the arrangement is not limited thereto and may be divided into the upper side and the lower side with the center as the boundary. Figure 10 Other examples of electrode arrangement will be described. Figure 10 It is a diagram showing a fourth example of the position detection device 1D.

[0254] The position detection device 1D detects the position indicated by the stylus pen 2 or the user's finger 3 and performs various information processing according to the detection result. The position detection device 1D mainly includes, for example, a sensor panel 10D, a first sensor controller 14, and a second sensor controller 15.

[0255] The sensor panel 10D is configured such that the receiving electrodes 103 are arranged separately from the sensor panels 10A of the first and second embodiments. For example, the sensor panel 10D includes multiple X-line electrodes (hereinafter referred to as "receiving electrodes 123" or "receiving electrodes 124") for detecting the position of the X axis of the sensor coordinate system, and multiple Y-line electrodes (hereinafter referred to as "transmitting electrodes 121" or "transmitting electrodes 122") for detecting the position of the Y axis. Transmitting electrodes 121 and 122, as well as receiving electrodes 123 and 124, can be made of a transparent conductive material containing ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or a wire mesh sensor. Since the transmitting electrodes 121 and 122 are the same as those in the first embodiment, their description will be omitted.

[0256] Multiple receiving electrodes 123 extend along the Y-axis on the sensor panel 10D and are arranged parallel to each other. One end of each receiving electrode 123 faces the bottom of the sensor panel 10D, while the other end faces the top. Furthermore, the edge of one end of a receiving electrode 123 is adjacent to and opposite the edge of one end of a corresponding receiving electrode 124. The other ends of the receiving electrodes 123 from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D are connected to the first sensor controller 14 via signal lines 129. The other ends of the receiving electrodes 123 from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D are connected to the second sensor controller 15 via signal lines 130.

[0257] Furthermore, the plurality of receiving electrodes 123 extending from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D and the plurality of transmitting electrodes 121 extending from the center to the upper side of the sensor panel 10D form an area A3 on the sensor panel 10D that includes the intersections of the receiving electrodes 123 and the transmitting electrodes 121. Furthermore, the plurality of receiving electrodes 123 extending from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D and the plurality of transmitting electrodes 122 extending from the center to the upper side of the sensor panel 10D form an area A4 on the sensor panel 10D that includes the intersections of the receiving electrodes 123 and the transmitting electrodes 122.

[0258] Multiple receiving electrodes 124 extend along the Y-axis on the sensor panel 10D and are arranged parallel to each other. One end of each receiving electrode 124 faces the upper edge of the sensor panel 10D, while the other end faces the lower edge of the sensor panel 10D. Furthermore, the edge of one end of a receiving electrode 124 is adjacent to and opposite the edge of one end of a corresponding receiving electrode 123. The other ends of the receiving electrodes 124 from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D are connected to the first sensor controller 14 via signal lines 128. The other ends of the receiving electrodes 124 from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D are connected to the second sensor controller 15 via signal lines 131.

[0259] Furthermore, the plurality of receiving electrodes 124 extending from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D and the plurality of transmitting electrodes 121 extending from the center to the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D form an area A5 on the sensor panel 10D that includes the intersections of the receiving electrodes 124 and the transmitting electrodes 121. Furthermore, the plurality of receiving electrodes 124 extending from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D and the plurality of transmitting electrodes 122 extending from the center to the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D form an area A6 on the sensor panel 10D that includes the intersections of the receiving electrodes 124 and the transmitting electrodes 122.

[0260] Multiple signal lines 126 are provided on the sensor panel 10D, transmitting signals between the transmitting electrodes 121 and the first sensor controller 14. Each signal line 126 corresponds to a transmitting electrode 121, with one end connected to the other end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 121 and the other end connected to the first sensor controller 14 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D. Note that the other end of the signal line 126 is provided on the sensor panel 10D to the right of the other end of the signal line 129 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 128. In other words, the signal line 126 is provided between the signal line 129 and the signal line 128 in the X-axis direction.

[0261] Multiple signal lines 127 are provided on the sensor panel 10D, transmitting signals between the transmitting electrodes 122 and the second sensor controller 15. Each signal line 127 corresponds to a transmitting electrode 122, with one end connected to the other end of the corresponding transmitting electrode 122 and the other end connected to the second sensor controller 15 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D. Note that the other end of the signal line 127 is provided on the sensor panel 10D to the right of the other end of the signal line 131 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 130. In other words, the signal line 127 is provided between the signal lines 130 and 131 in the X-axis direction.

[0262] A plurality of signal lines 128 are provided on the sensor panel 10D, transmitting signals between the receiving electrodes 124 from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D and the first sensor controller 14. Each signal line 128 corresponds to a receiving electrode 124 from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D. One end of the signal line 128 is connected to the other end of the corresponding receiving electrode 124, and the other end is connected to the first sensor controller 14 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D. Note that the other end of the signal line 128 is provided on the sensor panel 10D to the right of the other end of the signal line 128 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 131. In other words, the signal line 128 is provided between the signal line 126 and the signal line 131 in the X-axis direction.

[0263] Multiple signal lines 129 are provided on the sensor panel 10D, transmitting signals between the receiving electrodes 123 from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D and the first sensor controller 14. Each signal line 129 corresponds to a receiving electrode 123 from the center to the left side of the sensor panel 10D. One end of the signal line 129 is connected to the other end of the corresponding receiving electrode 123, and the other end is connected to the first sensor controller 14 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D. The other end of the signal line 129 is provided on the sensor panel 10D to the left of the other end of the signal line 126.

[0264] A plurality of signal lines 130 are provided on the sensor panel 10D, transmitting signals between the receiving electrodes 123 extending from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D and the second sensor controller 15. Each signal line 130 corresponds to a receiving electrode 123 extending from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D. One end of the signal line 130 is connected to the other end of the corresponding receiving electrode 123, and the other end is connected to the second sensor controller 15 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D. The other end of the signal line 130 is provided on the sensor panel 10D to the right of the other end of the signal line 127.

[0265] A plurality of signal lines 131 are provided on the sensor panel 10D, transmitting signals between the receiving electrodes 124 extending from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D and the second sensor controller 15. Each signal line 131 corresponds to a receiving electrode 124 extending from the center to the right side of the sensor panel 10D. One end of the signal line 131 is connected to the other end of the corresponding receiving electrode 124, and the other end is connected to the second sensor controller 15 from the bottom side of the sensor panel 10D. Note that the other end of the signal line 131 is provided on the sensor panel 10D to the right of the other end of the signal line 128 and to the left of the other end of the signal line 127. In other words, the signal line 131 is provided between the signal lines 128 and 127 in the X-axis direction.

[0266] The first sensor controller 14 and the second sensor controller 15 are functionally configured to detect the indicated positions of the stylus pen 2 and the user's finger 3 on the sensor panel 10D by having the processor read and execute programs stored in memory, and to receive data signals transmitted by the stylus pen 2. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 14 detects the indicated positions of areas A3 and A5 on the sensor panel 10D. Furthermore, the second sensor controller 15 detects the indicated positions of areas A4 and A6 on the sensor panel 10D. Furthermore, the first sensor controller 14 and the second sensor controller 15 are configured to communicate with each other, sharing information related to the detected positions by exchanging information with each other. Position detection processing is configured based on the shared information related to the positions. Furthermore, one of the first sensor controller 14 and the second sensor controller 15 converts the information related to the positions in the shared areas A3 to A6 into information related to the positions in the area including areas A3 to A6 on the sensor panel 10D, and transmits the converted information to other devices in the device 20 equipped with the position detection device 1D.

[0267] The first sensor controller 14 and the second sensor controller 15 similarly have the first to fourth modes and the idle mode as the active modes of the first sensor controller 11 and the second sensor controller 12 in the first embodiment. In the active mode, they sequentially switch between these four modes while controlling the position detection device 1D. The details of the operation of the first sensor controller 14 and the second sensor controller 15 in each mode are as described in the first embodiment and are therefore omitted. The details of the position detection method of the first sensor controller 16 and the second sensor controller 17 on the sensor panel 10D are the same as in the first embodiment, except that the number of signal lines is increased by providing receiving electrodes 123 and 124 instead of receiving electrode 103, and therefore their description is omitted.

[0268] According to this configuration, the position detection device 1D provides the receiving electrodes 123 and 124 individually on the sensor panel 10D, and thus can detect the position on the sensor panel 10D with high accuracy.

[0269] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first sensor controller 14 may generate electrode information for each of the areas A3 and A5 and transmit the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 15. In addition, the second sensor controller 15 may generate electrode information for each of the areas A4 and A6 and transmit the generated electrode information to the first sensor controller 14. Furthermore, either the first sensor controller 14 or the second sensor controller 15 may detect the position in the area including the areas A3 to A6 in the sensor panel 10D based on the received electrode information for the two areas and the information related to the positions in the two areas being detected.

[0270] With this configuration, the position detection device 1D generates electrode information for each of the areas A3 to A6 and detects positions in the areas A3 to A6 on the sensor panel 10D based on the generated electrode information.

[0271] In the fourth embodiment, the regions A101 and A102 of the sensor panel 10C overlap in a plan view, and the entire overlapping region A103 is included in the regions A101 and A102, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Figure 9 The area A103 is set so as to extend across the vicinity of the boundary between the areas A1 and A2. Figure 16 This structure will be described.

[0272] Figure 16 is a diagram for explaining position detection. Figure 16 In FIG. 1 , the first sensor controller 160 receives information about the position instruction from the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrode 113 . The second sensor controller 170 receives information about the position instruction from the transmitting electrodes 111 and 112 and the receiving electrode 114 .

[0273] When the first sensor controller 160 detects a position indication at point P90 moving to the right in area A1, it generates electrode information based on the detection and transmits the generated electrode information to the second sensor controller 170. The second sensor controller 170 converts the information related to the position indication included in the electrode information from the first sensor controller 160 into information related to the area including areas A1 and A2, and transmits the converted information to other devices in the equipment 20 equipped with the position detection device 1C.

[0274] Furthermore, when point P91 in area A103 approaches the boundary between areas A1 and A2 and the first sensor controller 160 no longer detects the position indication, the first sensor controller 160 transmits information related to the position indication at which point P91 was last detected in area A103 as electrode information to the second sensor controller 170. The second sensor controller 170 receives the information related to the position indication included in the electrode information from the first sensor controller 160 and sets the position detection process in area A2 of the sensor panel 10C.

[0275] In addition, when the second sensor controller 170 detects a position indication at point P92 moving toward the right in area A2, it converts the information related to the position indication into information related to the area including areas A1 and A2 according to the detection, and sends the converted information to other devices in the equipment 20 equipped with the position detection device 1C.

[0276] With this configuration, the first sensor controller 160 detects a position indicator in area A103. If the detected position indicator ceases to be detected over time, the first sensor controller 160 transmits information related to the last position indicator detected before it ceased to be detected in area A103 as electrode information to the second sensor controller 170. Furthermore, the second sensor controller 170 makes settings related to detection based on the received electrode information. Consequently, the position detection device 1E can reduce the loss and duplication of position indicators near areas A1 and A2.

[0277] Description of Reference Numerals

[0278] 1A…position detection device, 1B…position detection device, 1C…position detection device, 10A…sensor panel, 10C…sensor panel, 11…first sensor controller, 12…second sensor controller, 13…sensor controller, 16…first sensor controller, 17…second sensor controller, 101…transmitting electrode (first transmitting electrode), 102…transmitting electrode (second transmitting electrode), 103…receiving electrode (first receiving electrode), 104…receiving electrode (second receiving electrode), 106…signal line (first signal line), 107…signal line (second signal line), 108…signal line (third signal line), 109…signal line (fourth signal line), 111…transmitting electrode (first transmitting electrode), 112…transmitting electrode (third transmitting electrode), 113…receiving electrode (first receiving electrode), 114…receiving electrode (second receiving electrode).

Claims

1. A position detection device comprising: A sensor panel comprising a first receiving electrode, a first transmitting electrode arranged to intersect perpendicularly with the first receiving electrode, a second transmitting electrode arranged with one end adjacent to one end of the first transmitting electrode and extending in a direction parallel to the first transmitting electrode, and a second receiving electrode arranged to intersect perpendicularly with the second transmitting electrode; a first sensor controller that detects a position in the sensor panel based on signals detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, generates electrode information related to the detection, and transmits the electrode information; as well as The second sensor controller sets, based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller, a detection process for a position on the sensor panel based on signals detected from the second transmitting electrode and the second receiving electrode.

2. A position detection device comprising: A sensor panel comprising a first transmitting electrode, a first receiving electrode arranged to intersect the first transmitting electrode perpendicularly, a second receiving electrode arranged parallel to the first receiving electrode, and a third transmitting electrode arranged parallel to the first transmitting electrode, intersecting the first and second receiving electrodes perpendicularly. a first sensor controller that detects a position in the sensor panel based on signals detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, generates electrode information related to the detection, and transmits the electrode information; as well as The second sensor controller sets, based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller, a detection process for a position on the sensor panel based on the signals detected from the second receiving electrode and the third transmitting electrode.

3. The position detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first sensor controller generates detection information indicating whether the signal is detected based on the signal detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, and generates the electrode information including the generated detection information.

4. The position detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel. The first sensor controller generates position information indicating positions in an area where the plurality of first transmitting electrodes and the plurality of first receiving electrodes intersect based on signals detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, and generates the electrode information including the generated position information.

5. The position detection device according to claim 4, wherein: The position information includes electrode identification information indicating which one of the plurality of first transmitting electrodes and the plurality of first receiving electrodes detects a signal.

6. The position detection device according to claim 4, wherein: The position information includes coordinate information indicating positions in a region where the plurality of first transmitting electrodes and the plurality of first receiving electrodes intersect.

7. The position detection device according to claim 6, wherein: The first sensor controller generates movement information including a movement direction and a movement speed of a position indicated by the coordinate information based on changes in the past coordinate information and the current coordinate information, and includes the generated movement information in the position information.

8. The position detection device according to claim 7, wherein: The first sensor controller generates prediction information indicating a position to be reached by the position indicated by the coordinate information after a predetermined time has elapsed based on the movement information, and includes the generated prediction information in the position information.

9. The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor panel is provided with a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the second transmitting electrodes, and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes. The second sensor controller performs the setting based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller so that a signal for position detection is transmitted from the second transmitting electrode near the position indicated by the electrode information.

10. The position detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The second sensor controller performs the setting so as to increase the frequency of transmitting a signal for position detection from a transmitting electrode connected to the second sensor controller via a signal line, based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller.

11. The position detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel. The first sensor controller performs an integration operation on each signal detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode based on an arrangement of corresponding electrodes, and generates the electrode information in a manner including a result of the integration operation.

12. The position detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel. The first sensor controller determines whether the voltage value of each signal detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode is greater than a second reference value, and generates the electrode information in a manner that establishes a correspondence between the electrode identification information of the electrode determined to be a positive determination and the voltage value of the signal detected by the electrode.

13. The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor panel is provided with a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the second transmitting electrodes, and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes. The second sensor controller detects a maximum value of a voltage value of each signal as a position on the sensor panel based on signals detected by electrodes connected to the second sensor controller via signal lines and the electrode information.

14. The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein: A plurality of the first transmitting electrodes and a plurality of the first receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel. The first sensor controller calculates the 0th order moment value and the 1st order moment value for the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode based on the voltage value of each detected signal and the distance between the electrode detecting the signal and the reference position, and generates the electrode information in a manner that includes the calculated 0th order moment value and the 1st order moment value.

15. The position detection device according to claim 14, wherein: A plurality of second transmitting electrodes and a plurality of second receiving electrodes are arranged on the sensor panel. The second sensor controller calculates the 0th order moment value and the 1st order moment value for the second transmitting electrode and the second receiving electrode based on the voltage value of each detected signal and the distance between the electrode detecting the signal and the reference position, and calculates the center of gravity of the detection area on the sensor panel detected by the first transmitting electrode, the second transmitting electrode, and the first receiving electrode based on the calculated 0th order moment value and the 1st order moment value and the 0th order moment value and the 1st order moment value contained in the electrode information, and detects the calculated center of gravity as the position on the sensor panel.

16. The position detection device according to claim 2, wherein: The sensor panel is configured with a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the third transmitting electrodes, and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes. The sensor panel comprises: a first area including the plurality of first receiving electrodes and the second receiving electrodes among the plurality of second receiving electrodes, the second receiving electrodes being arranged near the first receiving electrodes; and a second region including the plurality of second receiving electrodes and the first receiving electrode arranged near the second receiving electrode among the plurality of first receiving electrodes and overlapping with the first region in a plan view, The first sensor controller detects a position in the first area, and in detecting the position in the first area, detects a position in an overlapping area where the first area and the second area overlap when viewed from above during a first period. The second sensor controller detects the position in the second area, and in detecting the position in the second area, detects the position in the overlapping area in a second period continuous with the first period.

17. A position detection device comprising: a sensor panel comprising a first receiving electrode, a first transmitting electrode arranged to intersect perpendicularly with the first receiving electrode, a second transmitting electrode arranged to extend in a parallel direction with one end adjacent to one end of the first transmitting electrode, and a second receiving electrode arranged to intersect perpendicularly with the second transmitting electrode; and The sensor controller detects the position in the sensor panel based on the signals detected by the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode, generates electrode information related to the detection, and sets the detection processing for position detection in the sensor panel performed by the second transmitting electrode and the second receiving electrode according to the electrode information.

18. The position detection device according to claim 17, wherein: The sensor panel is provided with a plurality of the first transmitting electrodes, a plurality of the first receiving electrodes, a plurality of the second transmitting electrodes, and a plurality of the second receiving electrodes. The sensor controller performs the setting based on the electrode information so that a signal for position detection is transmitted from the second transmitting electrode near the position indicated by the electrode information.

19. The position detection device according to claim 17, wherein: The sensor controller performs the setting so as to increase the frequency of transmitting the signal for position detection from the second transmitting electrode based on the electrode information.

20. A sensor panel comprising: first receiving electrodes arranged in parallel; a first transmitting electrode arranged to intersect the first receiving electrode perpendicularly; a second transmitting electrode, configured to extend in a parallel direction with one end thereof adjacent to one end of the first transmitting electrode; a second receiving electrode, arranged to intersect perpendicularly with the second transmitting electrode; a first signal line, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first transmitting electrode; a second signal line, one end of which is connected to the other end of the second transmitting electrode; a third signal line, one end of which is connected to one end of the first receiving electrode and is arranged between the first signal line and the second signal line; as well as A fourth signal line has one end connected to one end of the second receiving electrode and is arranged between the second signal line and the third signal line.

21. The sensor panel according to claim 20, wherein The one end of the first transmitting electrode and the one end of the second transmitting electrode are formed in a comb-tooth shape, The comb-shaped concave portion at one end of the first transmitting electrode meshes with the comb-shaped convex portion at the one end of the second transmitting electrode, and the comb-shaped convex portion meshes with the comb-shaped concave portion at the one end of the second transmitting electrode.

22. A position detection device comprising: A sensor panel having a plurality of electrodes for position detection arranged in a planar manner and having a first region which is one of the regions where the plurality of electrodes intersect, a second region which is one of the regions where the plurality of electrodes intersect and partially overlaps with the first region in a plan view and is different from the first region, and an overlapping region which is an overlapping region where the first region and the second region overlap in a plan view; a first sensor controller configured to detect a position in the first area, and to detect a position in the overlapping area during a first period of time during the detection of the position in the first area; as well as The second sensor controller detects the position in the second area, and detects the position in the overlapping area during a second period that is continuous with the first period during the detection of the position in the second area.

23. The position detection device according to claim 22, wherein: The first sensor controller generates electrode information related to detection of a position in the overlapping area and transmits the electrode information to the second sensor controller. The second sensor controller sets a detection process for a position in the overlapping area based on the electrode information transmitted from the first sensor controller.

24. The position detection device according to claim 23, wherein: The electrode information includes coordinate information indicating a position in the overlapping area, The second sensor controller detects a position in an area near the position indicated by the coordinate information during the second period.

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