Information processing device

Abstract

To prevent a storage state of an electronic pen from being erroneously detected.SOLUTION: An information processing device 1 includes an electronic pen 10 and an electronic pen storage control part 20. The electronic pen 10 includes a magnet 12. The electronic pen storage control part 20 includes a storage space 20a for storing the electronic pen 10, a metal plate 23 to be attracted to the magnet 12 when the electronic pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a, and a sensor 24. The sensor 24 determines that the electronic pen 10 is in a storage state in the case of detecting an occurrence of a magnetic field in a first direction from the metal plate 23, and that the electronic pen 10 is not in a storage state in the case of detecting an occurrence of a magnetic field in a second direction different from the first direction from the metal plate 23 or detecting no occurrence of the magnetic field from the metal plate 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, products that enable touching of the screen with an active pen have been developed for information processing devices such as mobile PCs (Personal Computers) and tablet PCs. In addition, the information processing device is provided with a pen garage for storing the active pen. Both the active pen and the pen garage are provided with magnets, and when the active pen is stored, the active pen is attracted to the pen garage by the magnet and stored therein.

[0003] As a related technique, for example, a technique has been proposed in which an optical identification means identifies a pen based on an optical identification pattern on the pen when the pen is inserted into a pen storage section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-260768 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A conventional pen garage is equipped with a detection terminal that detects the storage state of the active pen, and a charging terminal including a power terminal and a GND terminal. When the active pen is stored in the pen garage and the storage state of the active pen is detected by the detection terminal, a power supply voltage is supplied from the power terminal to the active pen, and the active pen is charged.

[0006] However, for example, if a metal piece such as a paperclip enters the pen garage when the pen garage is empty and the metal piece becomes attracted to the magnet, the detection terminal may erroneously detect that the active pen is stored. In this case, power supply voltage is output from the power terminal when the active pen is not stored, so if a metal piece is in contact with the power terminal and the GND terminal, a short circuit will occur, resulting in a malfunction. According to one aspect, the present invention has an object to provide an information processing device that prevents erroneous detection of the stored state of an electronic pen. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, an information processing device is provided. The information processing device has an electronic pen equipped with a magnet, a storage space in which the electronic pen is stored, a metal plate that is attracted to the magnet when the electronic pen is stored in the storage space, and an electronic pen storage control unit including a sensor that determines that the electronic pen is in a stored state when it detects generation of a magnetic field in a first direction from the metal plate that is determined when the electronic pen is stored in the storage space, and determines that the electronic pen is in a non-stored state when it detects generation of a magnetic field in a second direction different from the first direction from the metal plate or when generation of a magnetic field from the metal plate is not detected. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the stored state of the electronic pen. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information processing device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a storage state of the active pen. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a terminal portion. [Figure 4]1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of the orientation of the active pen when stored, with (a) showing the pen tip facing left and (b) showing the pen tip facing right; [Diagram 5] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of erroneous detection of the storage state of the active pen. [Figure 6] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of erroneous detection of the storage state of the active pen. [Figure 7] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for detecting the storage state of an active pen by detecting the generation of a magnetic field. FIG. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the problem of a configuration for detecting the storage state of an active pen by detecting the generation of a magnetic field, where (a) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing left, and (b) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing right. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the problem of a configuration for detecting the storage state of an active pen by detecting the generation of a magnetic field, where (a) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing left, and (b) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing right. [Figure 10] 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining problems with a configuration for detecting the storage state of an active pen by detecting the generation of a magnetic field. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a terminal portion. [Figure 13] 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device as viewed from direction A in FIG. [Figure 14] 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device as viewed from direction B in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of operation when a metal piece is present in the pen garage. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of operation when a metal piece is present in the pen garage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of an information processing device. The information processing device 1 includes an electronic pen 10 for touching a screen, and an electronic pen storage control unit 20. The electronic pen 10 is provided with a magnet 12. The electronic pen storage control unit 20 includes a storage space 20a for storing the electronic pen 10, a metal plate 23, and a sensor 24.

[0011] The metal plate 23 and the sensor 24 are provided, for example, on the bottom surface of the storage space 20a. The metal plate 23 is attracted to the magnet 12 when the electronic pen 10 is stored. The sensor 24 can be, for example, an MR (Magnetoresistance) sensor.

[0012] [Step S1] The sensor 24 detects whether or not a magnetic field is being generated from the metal plate 23. If the generation of a magnetic field from the metal plate 23 is detected, the process proceeds to step S2, and if the generation of a magnetic field from the metal plate 23 is not detected, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0013] [Step S2] The sensor 24 detects whether the magnetic field generated from the metal plate 23 is a magnetic field in a first direction determined when the electronic pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a. If a magnetic field in the first direction is detected, the process proceeds to step S3, and if a magnetic field in a second direction different from the first direction is detected, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0014] [Step S3] The sensor 24 determines that the electronic pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a. [Step S4] The sensor 24 determines that the electronic pen 10 is not stored in the storage space 20a.

[0015] In this way, the information processing device 1 includes an electronic pen storage control unit including a metal plate and a sensor. The sensor determines that the electronic pen is in a stored state when it detects generation of a magnetic field from the metal plate in a first direction, which is determined when the electronic pen is stored in the storage space. In addition, when it detects generation of a magnetic field from the metal plate in a second direction different from the first direction, or when generation of a magnetic field from the metal plate is not detected, it determines that the electronic pen is in a non-stored state. This makes it possible to prevent erroneous detection of the stored state of the electronic pen.

[0016] Before describing the details of the information processing device 1 of the present invention, the configuration and problems of the conventional technology will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 10. In the following description, the electronic pen may be referred to as an active pen. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a stored state of the active pen 30. The active pen 30 is provided with magnets 31 and 32, and the bottom surface of the pen garage 40 is provided with magnets 41 and 42.

[0017] When the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40, the magnet 31 and the magnet 41 are attracted to each other, and the magnet 32 ​​and the magnet 42 are attracted to each other, so that the active pen 30 is fixed and stored in the pen garage 40. In addition, the active pen 30 is provided with a terminal portion 33, and the pen garage 40 has a terminal portion 43 on its bottom surface.

[0018] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the terminal section. The terminal section 33 of the active pen 30 is provided with a GND terminal 33a at the first pin, a Vcc terminal (power supply terminal) 33b at the second pin, and a GND terminal 33c at the third pin. The terminal section 43 of the pen garage 40 is provided with a GND terminal 43a at the first pin, a Vcc terminal 43b at the second pin, and a detection terminal 43c at the third pin.

[0019] When the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40 and is attracted by magnets 31 and 41 and by magnets 32 and 42, the GND terminal 33a and GND terminal 43a are connected, the Vcc terminal 33b and Vcc terminal 43b are connected, and the GND terminal 33c and detection terminal 43c are connected.

[0020] Here, when the active pen 30 is not stored in the pen garage 40, the detection terminal 43c is in a high impedance (OPEN) state. When the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40, the GND terminal 33a of the active pen 30 and the GND terminal 43a of the pen garage 40 are connected, and the GND terminal 33c of the active pen 30 and the detection terminal 43c of the pen garage 40 are connected.

[0021] In this case, the detection terminal 43c becomes low impedance (Short), so that the terminal side in which the pen garage 40 is provided detects the state in which the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40. Then, when it is detected that the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40, the power supply voltage is supplied from the Vcc terminal 43b to the Vcc terminal 33b to the active pen 30, and the active pen 30 is charged.

[0022] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the storage orientation of the active pen. (a) shows a storage state in which the pen tip faces left, and (b) shows a storage state in which the pen tip faces right. The terminal part 33 of the active pen 30 and the terminal part 43 of the pen garage 40 are both located in the center.

[0023] Therefore, when storing the active pen 30 in the pen garage 40, the user can store the active pen 30 with the pen tip facing either left or right. Regardless of the orientation of the active pen 30, if storage of the active pen 30 in the pen garage 40 is detected, a power supply voltage is supplied from the Vcc terminal 43b to the active pen 30, and the active pen 30 is charged.

[0024] 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining an example of erroneous detection of the storage state of the active pen. Fig. 5 shows the configuration of the pen garage 40 that stores the active pen 30 inserted from above, and Fig. 6 shows the configuration of the pen garage 40 that stores the active pen 30 inserted from below. When the active pen 30 is being used by a user, the pen garage 40 is empty. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a possibility that a metal piece 5 such as a paperclip may enter the pen garage 40. The metal piece 5 that enters the pen garage 40 is attracted to the magnets 41 and 42.

[0025] At this time, if the metal piece 5 comes into contact with the terminal portion 43, the detection terminal 43c may erroneously detect that the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40. In this case, since the power supply voltage is output from the Vcc terminal 43b, if the Vcc terminal 43b and the GND terminal 43a are in contact with each other via the metal piece 5, a short circuit may occur, which may cause a malfunction.

[0026] On the other hand, even in the case of a configuration in which the active pen 30 is stored magnetically from below the pen garage 40 as shown in FIG. 6, the metal piece 5 may be attracted by the magnets 41, 42, causing the Vcc terminal 43b and the GND terminal 43a to come into contact with each other, resulting in a short circuit, as in the case of FIG. 5.

[0027] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for detecting the generation of a magnetic field to detect the storage state of the active pen. The configuration shows an MR sensor 44 further provided in the pen garage 40, and a sensor magnet 34 further provided in the active pen 30.

[0028] When the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40, the magnetic field from the sensor magnet 34 is detected by the MR sensor 44. When the MR sensor 44 detects the magnetic field from the sensor magnet 34, a power supply voltage is supplied from the Vcc terminal 43b to the active pen 30, and the active pen 30 is charged.

[0029] With this configuration, even if the metal piece 5 comes into contact with the terminal portion 43, if the MR sensor 44 does not detect a magnetic field, the power supply voltage is not output from the Vcc terminal 43b. Also, even if you try to store the active pen 30 in the pen garage 40 while the metal piece 5 is present in the pen garage 40, the active pen 30 will not be attracted by the magnet and stored (the active pen 30 will not fit properly). Therefore, the MR sensor 44 will not react, and the stored state of the active pen 30 will not be erroneously detected.

[0030] Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining the problem of a configuration that detects the generation of a magnetic field to detect the storage state of the active pen. (a) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing left, and (b) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing right.

[0031] 7, when the active pen 30 is stored in the pen garage 40, the pen tip of the active pen 30 is always stored facing left. Therefore, it is not possible to store the active pen 30 with the pen tip facing right as shown in FIG.

[0032] 8, two MR sensors 44a and 44b are provided in the pen garage 40 so that the pen tip can be stored facing either left or right. With this configuration, when the pen tip is stored facing left, the MR sensor 44b detects the magnetic field of the sensor magnet 34, and when the pen tip is stored facing right, the MR sensor 44a detects the magnetic field of the sensor magnet 34, so the pen tip can be stored facing either left or right.

[0033] However, in such a configuration, two MR sensors 44a and 44b are provided in the pen garage 40, which poses a problem of an increased circuit implementation scale on the terminal side.

[0034] Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining the problem of a configuration that detects the generation of a magnetic field to detect the storage state of the active pen. (a) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing left, and (b) shows the storage state with the pen tip facing right. In the example of Figure 9, two sensor magnets 34a and 34b are provided on the active pen 30 so that the pen tip can be stored facing either left or right.

[0035] With this configuration, when the pen tip is stored facing left, the MR sensor 44 detects the magnetic field of the sensor magnet 34b, and when the pen tip is stored facing right, the MR sensor 44 detects the magnetic field of the sensor magnet 34a, so the pen tip can be stored facing either left or right.

[0036] However, since two sensor magnets 34a, 34b are provided on the active pen 30, the weight of the active pen 30 increases, making it difficult to handle, and the center of gravity is more likely to shift, making it difficult to write letters or lines.

[0037] Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the problem of the configuration for detecting the storage state of the active pen by detecting the generation of a magnetic field. In order to improve the difficulty of writing with the active pen 30 in the configuration of Fig. 9, the sensor magnets 34a and 34b are arranged closer to the center of the active pen 30. This makes it easier to stabilize the center of gravity of the active pen 30.

[0038] However, since the sensor magnets 34a, 34b are placed near the attraction magnets 31, 32, and the MR sensor 44 is also placed near the attraction magnet 42, there is a problem that the magnetic field becomes complicated and the MR sensor 44 may malfunction.

[0039] Next, the information processing device 1 of the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device. The information processing device 1 includes an active pen 10 and an active pen storage control unit 20. The active pen 10 includes magnets 11 and 12 and a terminal unit 13.

[0040] The active pen storage control unit 20 has a storage space 20a for storing the active pen 10, and for example, a bottom surface of the storage space 20a is provided with a magnet 21, a terminal portion 22, a metal plate 23, an MR sensor 24, and a charging control unit 25. The active pen storage control unit 20 has the function of the electronic pen storage control unit 20 in FIG. 1, and the MR sensor 24 has the function of the sensor 24 in FIG.

[0041] When the active pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a, if the pen tip is stored facing left, the magnet 11 and the magnet 21 are attracted to each other, and if the pen tip is stored facing right, the magnet 12 and the magnet 21 are attracted to each other, and the active pen 10 is fixed and stored in the storage space 20a.

[0042] 12 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the terminal section. In the terminal section 13 (first charging terminal section) of the active pen 10, a GND terminal 13a (first ground terminal) is provided at the first pin, a Vcc terminal 13b (first power supply terminal) is provided at the second pin in the center, and a GND terminal 13c (second ground terminal) is provided at the third pin. In addition, in the terminal section 22 (second charging terminal section) on the side of the storage space 20a, a GND terminal 22a (third ground terminal) is provided at the first pin, a Vcc terminal 22b (second power supply terminal) is provided at the second pin in the center, and a GND terminal (fourth ground terminal) is provided at the third pin.

[0043] When the active pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a with the pen tip facing left and the active pen 10 is attracted by the magnets 11 and 21, the GND terminal 13a and the GND terminal 22a are connected, the Vcc terminal 13b and the Vcc terminal 22b are connected, and the GND terminal 13c and the GND terminal 22c are connected.

[0044] In addition, when the active pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a with the pen tip facing to the right and the active pen 10 is attracted by the magnets 12 and 21, the GND terminal 13a and the GND terminal 22c are connected, the Vcc terminal 13b and the Vcc terminal 22b are connected, and the GND terminal 13c and the GND terminal 22a are connected.

[0045] In this way, the active pen storage control unit 20 of the information processing device 1 does not have a detection terminal as shown in Figure 3, and the terminal units 13, 22 have GND terminals at both ends and a power terminal in the center, so that the active pen 10 can be stored in the storage space 20a whether the pen tip is facing left or right.

[0046] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device as viewed from direction A in Fig. 11, and Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device as viewed from direction B in Fig. 11. When active pen 10 is stored in storage space 20a, metal plate 23 is magnetized by magnet 12 (or magnet 11) provided in active pen 10. At this time, a magnetic field is generated from the N pole of magnetized metal plate 23 toward the S pole.

[0047] When the MR sensor 24 detects that the magnetic field generated from the metal plate 23 is oriented in a first direction that is determined when the active pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a, it determines that the active pen 10 is stored in the storage space 20a.

[0048] Furthermore, when the MR sensor 24 detects a magnetic field in the first direction and recognizes the storage state of the active pen 10 in the storage space 20a, it transmits a charging instruction to the charging control unit 25. Based on the charging instruction, the charging control unit 25 supplies a power supply voltage via the Vcc terminal 22b of the terminal unit 22 to the Vcc terminal 13b of the terminal unit 13 of the active pen 10, thereby charging the active pen 10.

[0049] On the other hand, when the active pen 10 is not stored in the storage space 20a, the magnet 12 (or magnet 11) magnetizing the metal plate 23 is no longer present, so the metal plate 23 is not magnetized and the MR sensor 24 does not react.

[0050] If the MR sensor 24 does not detect a magnetic field from the metal plate 23, it is determined that the active pen 10 is not stored in the storage space 20a, and no charging instruction is sent from the MR sensor 24 to the charging control unit 25. Therefore, the charging control unit 25 stops the supply of the power supply voltage, and the power supply voltage is not output from the Vcc terminal 22b.

[0051] The metal plate 23 and the MR sensor 24 may be disposed either on the pen tip side of the active pen 10 or on the rear side of the active pen 10. The rectangular metal plate 23 is disposed near the MR sensor 24 with the long side of the metal plate 23 oriented perpendicular or parallel to the bottom surface of the storage space 20a. With this arrangement, the response accuracy of the MR sensor 24 to the magnetic field of the magnetized metal plate 23 can be improved.

[0052] 15 and 16 are diagrams showing an example of operation when a metal piece is present in the pen garage. Suppose that a metal piece 5 such as a paperclip is in the storage space 20a and in contact with the terminal portion 22. When the metal piece 5 is attracted to the magnet 21, the end of the metal piece 5 on the side attracted to the S pole of the magnet 21 becomes the N pole, and the end close to the metal plate 23 becomes the S pole. In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the magnetized metal piece 5 magnetizes the metal plate 23, and a magnetic field is generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnetized metal plate 23.

[0053] Even if a magnetic field is generated from the metal plate 23 by the magnetized metal piece 5, the MR sensor 24 does not react if it detects that the magnetic field generated from the metal plate 23 is a magnetic field in a second direction different from the first direction (opposite the first direction), and determines that the active pen 10 is not stored in the storage space 20a.

[0054] If the MR sensor 24 detects a magnetic field but it is not a magnetic field in the first direction, it is determined that the active pen 10 is not stored in the storage space 20a, and therefore no charging instruction is sent from the MR sensor 24 to the charging control unit 25. Therefore, the charging control unit 25 stops the supply of the power supply voltage, so that the power supply voltage is not output from the Vcc terminal 22b, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a short circuit failure even if the metal piece 5 is in contact with the terminal unit 22.

[0055] As described above, according to the present invention, even if a metal piece such as a clip is inserted into the storage space and the metal piece comes into contact with the terminal when the storage space is empty, the active pen is determined to be in a non-stored state, so that erroneous detection can be prevented. Also, since the supply of power supply voltage is stopped when the active pen is not stored, it is possible to prevent the risk of short circuit even if a metal piece comes into contact with the power supply terminal and the GND terminal.

[0056] Although the embodiments have been described above, the configurations of the parts shown in the embodiments can be replaced with other parts having similar functions. Any other components or steps may be added. Furthermore, any two or more configurations (features) of the above-mentioned embodiments may be combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Information processing device 10 Electronic pen 12. Magnets 20 Electronic pen storage control unit 20a Storage space 23 Metal Plate 24 Sensors

Claims

1. An electronic pen equipped with a magnet; an electronic pen storage control unit including: a storage space in which the electronic pen is stored; a metal plate that is attracted to the magnet when the electronic pen is stored in the storage space; and a sensor that determines that the electronic pen is in a stored state when it detects generation of a magnetic field in a first direction from the metal plate that is determined when the electronic pen is stored in the storage space, and that determines that the electronic pen is in a non-stored state when it detects generation of a magnetic field in a second direction different from the first direction from the metal plate or when generation of a magnetic field from the metal plate is not detected; An information processing device having the above configuration.

2. the electronic pen includes a first charging terminal unit including a first ground terminal and a second ground terminal located at both ends and a first power supply terminal located at a center, the electronic pen storage control unit includes a second charging terminal unit including a third ground terminal and a fourth ground terminal located at both ends and a second power supply terminal located at a center, When the pen tip of the electronic pen is stored in the storage space in one orientation, the first ground terminal and the third ground terminal are connected, the first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal are connected, and the second ground terminal and the fourth ground terminal are connected; When the pen tip of the electronic pen is stored in the storage space in the other orientation, the first ground terminal and the fourth ground terminal are connected, the first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal are connected, and the second ground terminal and the third ground terminal are connected.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1.

3. The electronic pen storage control unit includes: When generation of the magnetic field in the first direction is detected, a power supply voltage is supplied to the first charging terminal portion via the second charging terminal portion to charge the electronic pen; a charging control unit that stops the supply of the power supply voltage when generation of a magnetic field in the second direction is detected or when generation of a magnetic field is not detected; 3. The information processing device according to claim 2.

4. The metal plate has a rectangular shape and is disposed near the sensor with a long side of the metal plate oriented vertically or parallel to a bottom surface of the storage space.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1.

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