Electronic pen and electronic pen body part

Abstract

To provide a thin electronic pen body part for surely detecting an instructed position by a position detection sensor of a capacitance system.SOLUTION: In the electronic pen body part, at least an electronic pen tip is stored in a housing of an electronic pen to be capable of protruding from an opening on one side of the housing in an axial direction. The electronic pen body part includes: a conductive first electrode of which one end in the direction of the axial core is the pen tip; and a second electrode arranged around the first electrode other than the pen tip, the second electrode being different from the first electrode. When one end side of the first electrode to be the pen tip is protruding to the outside from an opening of a cylindrical housing to be used, a part of the pen tip of the second electrode is protruding from the opening of the housing to the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a capacitive electronic pen and an electronic pen body that transmit and receive signals with a position detection sensor by electric field coupling. [Background technology]

[0002] As a capacitive electronic pen, a so-called active capacitive electronic pen is used, which transmits and receives signals (interaction) through electric field coupling with a position detection sensor of a position detection device, thereby allowing the position detection sensor to detect the position indicated by the electronic pen.

[0003] This type of active capacitance type electronic pen has a built-in power supply circuit that uses a primary or secondary battery and a signal transmission circuit, and the core body is made of a conductor, so that a signal from the signal transmission circuit is transmitted from the conductor core body to the position detection sensor by electrostatic coupling (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (Patent Publication No. 5687398)). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5687398 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, due to the recent trend towards miniaturization, there is a growing demand for smaller portable electronic devices as well. Electronic pens are now being used together with position detection sensors mounted on these small electronic devices, and thinner electronic pens are being demanded.

[0006] Furthermore, electronic pens have recently come to be regarded as an extension of stationery, and there is a demand for their internal configuration to be modularized so that they can be handled in the same way as ballpoint pen refills (refills or cartridges). Hereinafter, in this specification, the internal components of the electronic pen that are modularized and integrated and configured to be replaceable like ballpoint pen refills will be referred to as the electronic pen main body.

[0007] The strength of the electric field coupling between a capacitive electronic pen and a capacitive position detection sensor is smaller than the strength of the electromagnetic induction coupling of an electromagnetic induction electronic pen. If the electronic pen body is configured as a thin refill, the strength of the electric field coupling is further reduced, and there is a problem that the capacitive position detection sensor must be configured to reliably detect the position indicated by the electronic pen even in such a state.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pen and an electronic pen body that can solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, An electronic pen body portion in which at least a pen tip is accommodated in a housing of the electronic pen so as to be able to protrude from one opening in an axial direction of the housing of the electronic pen, A first electrode, the one end side of which in the axial direction becomes the pen tip; a second electrode disposed around the first electrode and different from the first electrode; a signal receiving circuit to which a reception signal received via electric field coupling between the second electrode and the position detection sensor is supplied; Equipped with When the one end side of the first electrode protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen, a part of the pen tip side of the second electrode also protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen. The present invention provides an electronic pen body having the following features.

[0010] Also, An electronic pen having a housing with an opening at one end in an axial direction on a pen tip side, and at least one electronic pen body portion is stored in the housing, The electronic pen body includes: A first electrode, the one end side of which in the axial direction becomes the pen tip; a second electrode disposed around the first electrode and different from the first electrode; a signal receiving circuit to which a reception signal received via electric field coupling between the second electrode and the position detection sensor is supplied; Equipped with When the one end side of the first electrode protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen, a part of the pen tip side of the second electrode also protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen. The present invention provides an electronic pen.

[0011] According to the electronic pen body having the above-mentioned configuration, the pen tip, which is one end side of the first electrode, protrudes from the opening of the electronic pen housing, and a part of the pen tip side of the second electrode also protrudes from the opening of the electronic pen housing. Therefore, the distance between the first and second electrodes of the electronic pen and the capacitive position detection sensor is shortened, and the electric field coupling between them can be well ensured.

[0012] By using the first electrode and the second electrode of the electronic pen body having the above-mentioned configuration, the position indicated by the electronic pen can be reliably detected by the capacitive position detection sensor.

[0013] That is, for example, a signal from a position detection sensor is received by the second electrode of the electronic pen body, and based on the received signal, the transmission of a signal from the first electrode of the electronic pen body is controlled, so that the position detection sensor can reliably detect the signal from the electronic pen body. Also, when a signal is sent from the first electrode, the second electrode is grounded and used as a shield electrode, so that the signal can be sent from the tip (pen tip) of the first electrode without waste. Furthermore, by sending a signal from the second electrode, the second electrode can also be used to detect the tilt angle of the electronic pen. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a first embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a configuration example of a first embodiment of an electronic pen main body according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining an example of the configuration of the pen tip side of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a configuration example of a first embodiment of an electronic pen main body according to the present invention; [Diagram 5] 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of an electronic circuit of a first embodiment of a main body of an electronic pen according to the present invention; [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram used to explain the operation of an example of the configuration of an electronic circuit of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a capacitive position detection device used together with a first embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention; [Figure 8] 8 is a diagram used to explain a method of detecting the inclination angle of the electronic pen in the position detection device of the example of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a second embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 10]13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining an example of the configuration of an electronic pen main body used in a third embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a third embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 12] 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a configuration example of another embodiment of the electronic pen body according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electronic pen and an electronic pen body according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] [First embodiment] The electronic pen of the first embodiment has a configuration in which an electronic pen main body, which is configured as a cartridge, is removably housed in a cylindrical housing of the electronic pen.

[0017] Incidentally, in recent years, among active capacitance type electronic pens, two-way communication type electronic pens have also appeared that receive a signal from a position detection sensor that detects the position indicated by the electronic pen, and then transmit a signal in a format based on the request of the received signal.

[0018] In this kind of two-way communication electronic pen, the position of the receiver for receiving the signal from the position detection sensor is important. In the case of a capacitive electronic pen, the signal transmitted from the position detection sensor is an electric field that can be received by capacitive coupling, and the reach of the signal is very short. Therefore, the receiver of the two-way communication electronic pen should be located close to the pen tip so that it can receive the signal from the position detection sensor with high strength.

[0019] Therefore, in the electronic pen of this embodiment, the configuration of the electronic pen body is considered to be optimal for the above-mentioned two-way communication type electronic pen. That is, in the embodiment described below, the electronic pen body is provided with a receiver for signals from the position detection sensor, and this receiver is composed of a peripheral electrode made of a cylindrical conductor that is provided to surround the periphery of the central electrode up to the vicinity of the tip of the central electrode while taking into consideration electrical insulation from the central electrode made of a conductive material.

[0020] Recently, it has been proposed to detect the tilt angle of the electronic pen with respect to the position detection sensor surface (the angle between the axial direction of the electronic pen and the position detection sensor surface; hereinafter, abbreviated as the tilt angle of the electronic pen) using a position detection device, and to reflect the detected tilt angle in the thickness of the indication trajectory (writing trace) of the electronic pen. In the electronic pen main body of the electronic pen of this embodiment, the peripheral electrodes are configured so as to be able to be used for detecting the tilt angle of the electronic pen.

[0021] In the first embodiment, the peripheral electrode is also configured to function as a shield electrode for the central electrode that transmits a position detection signal.

[0022] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a first embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. The electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment has an electronic pen main body 3 housed in a hollow portion 2a of a cylindrical housing 2 (hereinafter referred to as the pen housing 2), and has a knock-type configuration in which the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body 3 is inserted and removed from an opening 2b on one end side of the pen housing 2 in the longitudinal direction by a knock cam mechanism 4.

[0023] Fig. 1(A) shows a state in which the entire electronic pen body 3 is housed in the hollow portion 2a of the pen housing 2, and Fig. 1(B) shows a state in which the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3 protrudes from the opening 2b of the pen housing 2 due to a knock cam mechanism 4. In the example of Fig. 1, the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 is made of a transparent synthetic resin, and is shown in a state in which its interior can be seen through.

[0024] The electronic pen 1 of this embodiment is configured to be compatible with commercially available knock-type ballpoint pens.

[0025] The pen housing 2 and the knock cam mechanism 4 provided within the pen housing 2 have the same configuration as those of a well-known commercially available knock-type ballpoint pen, and are also configured with the same dimensional relationship.

[0026] 1, the knock cam mechanism 4 has a well-known configuration in which a cam body 41, a knock rod 42, and a rotor 43 are combined. The cam body 41 is formed on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical pen housing 2. The knock rod 42 is configured so that an end 42a protrudes from an opening 2c on the opposite side to the pen tip side of the pen housing 2 so as to be able to receive a knock operation by the user. The rotor 43 has a fitting portion 43a into which an end of the electronic pen main body 3 on the opposite side to the pen tip side is fitted.

[0027] However, this fitting portion 43a differs from the fitting portion of the housing of a normal stationery knock-type ballpoint pen in that it additionally has a configuration for electrical connection with the electronic pen body 3. That is, as will be described later, the electronic pen body 3 is provided therein with a signal transmission circuit that generates a signal to be sent to the position detection sensor through a central electrode or a peripheral electrode, and the signal transmission circuit needs to be supplied with a power supply voltage.

[0028] In this embodiment, as described later, a signal transmission circuit and a power storage element that supplies power to the signal transmission circuit are provided inside the electronic pen body 3. The power storage element needs to be charged from the outside of the electronic pen body 3. Therefore, a terminal conductor (electrode) connected to the power storage element is provided at the end that is fitted into the fitting portion 43a of the electronic pen body 3 in this embodiment, and a conductor is formed in the fitting portion 43a to be connected to the terminal conductor connected to the power storage element. Note that the configuration of the coupling portion with the electronic pen body 3 is the same as that in which a ballpoint refill is coupled and attached, except that an electrical configuration is added. A configuration example of the end that is fitted into the fitting portion 43a of the electronic pen body 3 will be described later together with a configuration example of the fitting portion 43a.

[0029] Furthermore, the configuration of the pen housing 2, in this example, is different from that of a stationery knock-type ballpoint pen in that charging electrodes 2d, 2e connected to conductors provided in fitting portion 43a are formed on the outer peripheral side surface opposite the pen tip side, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] In the electronic pen 1 configured as above, when the end 42a of the knock bar 42 is pressed in the state shown in Fig. 1(A), the knock cam mechanism 4 locks the electronic pen body 3 in the pen housing 2 into the state shown in Fig. 1(B), with the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3 protruding from the opening 2b of the pen housing 2. When the end 42a of the knock bar 42 is pressed again from the state shown in Fig. 1(B), the locked state is released by the knock cam mechanism 4, and the position of the electronic pen body 3 in the pen housing 2 returns to the state shown in Fig. 1(A) by the return spring 5. The detailed configuration and operation of the knock cam mechanism 4 are well known, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0031] [Embodiment of Electronic Pen Body 3] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the electronic pen body 3 in comparison with a refill of a commercially available knock-type ballpoint pen. That is, Fig. 2(A) shows a refill 6 of a commercially available knock-type ballpoint pen, and Fig. 2(B) shows a configuration example of the electronic pen body 3 of this embodiment, and in this embodiment, as described later, the electronic pen body 3 is configured to be compatible with the refill 6 of the knock-type ballpoint pen as being equivalent in size.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3 of this embodiment, Fig. 3(A) is an external view, and Fig. 3(B) is a vertical cross-sectional view. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the configuration of the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3 of this embodiment shown in Fig. 3.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2(A), the refill 6 of a commercially available knock-type ballpoint pen has a well-known structure in which a pen tip section 61 with a ball at its tip and a cylindrical ink storage section 62 with a fixed outer diameter are integrated by being connected to a cylindrical connecting section 63 with a fixed outer diameter. The pen tip section 61 has a cylindrical shape, and its tip side is formed into a tapered shape, with a maximum outer diameter R1 that is smaller than the diameter R0 of the opening 2b of the pen housing 2. The connecting section 63 and the ink storage section 62 have the same outer diameter R2, which is slightly larger than the maximum outer diameter R1 of the pen tip section 61, e.g., R2=2.2 mm. The diameter R0 of the opening 2b of the pen housing 2 is R1 <R0<R2とされている。

[0034] On the other hand, in the electronic pen main body 3 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2(B) and 3(A) and (B), a peripheral electrode 33 made of a conductive material, for example a conductive metal, is connected to the pen tip side of the main body cylindrical portion 31 via a tubular connecting member 32 to form the housing 30 of the electronic pen main body 3 (hereinafter referred to as the main body housing 30).

[0035] 2(B), the cylindrical main body 31 is configured by connecting a resin pipe section 31b to the rear end side of the metal pipe section 31a on the opposite side to the pen tip side. In this example, the cylindrical main body 31 has a peripheral electrode 33 connected to the pen tip side of the metal pipe section 31a via a cylindrical connecting member 32. The cylindrical connecting member 32 also serves as an insulator between the metal pipe section 31a and the peripheral electrode 33. The end of the electronic pen main body 3 on the resin pipe section 31b side becomes a fitting portion with a fitting portion 43a inside the pen housing 2.

[0036] 2 and 3, the peripheral electrode 33 has a shape including a cylindrical portion 33a having a constant outer diameter R2 and a tapered portion 33b tapered so as to gradually taper toward the pen tip side. The metal pipe portion 31a of the main body tubular portion 31 has a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter R2 of the cylindrical portion 33a of the peripheral electrode 33.

[0037] The cylindrical joint member 32 is made of an insulating material, resin in this example, and is a cylindrical body as shown in Fig. 3(B), and a ring-shaped flange 32F is formed at the axial center position of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 32F, protruding from the outer peripheral side surface in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The ring-shaped flange 32F has a predetermined width W (see Fig. 3) in the axial direction, and its end face is flush with the main body cylindrical part 31 and the peripheral electrode 33 without any step, as shown in Figs. 3(A) and (B), so as to form a part of the main body housing 30. In other words, the diameter of the outer peripheral part of the ring-shaped flange 32F is selected to be equal to the outer diameter of the peripheral electrode 33 and the metal pipe part 31a of the main body cylindrical part 31.

[0038] The pen tip side of the cylindrical joining member 32, which is on one side of the ring-shaped flange 32F in the axial direction, is a first fitting cylindrical portion 32a that fits with the cylindrical portion 33a of the peripheral electrode 33. The outer diameter of the first fitting cylindrical portion 32a of the cylindrical joining member 32 is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 33a of the peripheral electrode 33, and the cylindrical portion 33a of the peripheral electrode 33 is configured to be press-fitted into the first fitting cylindrical portion 32a of the cylindrical joining member 32 up to the ring-shaped flange 32F and joined.

[0039] Further, the axially rear end side of the ring-shaped flange 32F of the cylindrical connecting member 32 is a second fitting cylindrical portion 32b that fits with the metal pipe portion 31a of the main body cylindrical portion 31. The outer diameter of the second fitting cylindrical portion 32b of the cylindrical connecting member 32 is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the metal pipe portion 31a of the main body cylindrical portion 31, and the metal pipe portion 31a of the main body cylindrical portion 31 is configured to be press-fitted and joined into the second fitting cylindrical portion 32b of the cylindrical connecting member 32 up to the ring-shaped flange 32F.

[0040] When the metal pipe portion 31a of the cylindrical main body portion 31 and the peripheral electrode 33 are inserted into the cylindrical joint member 32 and fitted and joined together, a single cylindrical main body housing 30 is formed as shown in Fig. 2(B) and Fig. 1(A) and (B). At this time, as described above, the outer circumferential surface of the metal pipe portion 31a of the cylindrical main body portion 31, the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral electrode 33, and the end surface of the ring-shaped flange portion 32F of the cylindrical joint member 32 are flush with each other. The metal pipe portion 31a of the cylindrical main body portion 31 and the peripheral electrode 33, both made of a conductive material, are electrically separated (insulated) from each other without contacting each other due to the presence of the ring-shaped flange portion 32F of the cylindrical joint member 32.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 3(B), a hollow portion 30a exists inside the main body housing 30. A front cap 34 made of an insulating material is attached to the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 of the main body housing 30, as shown in Fig. 2(B) and Figs. 3(A) and (B). The front cap 34 has an opening 34a (see Fig. 3(B)) on its tip side that is larger in diameter than the diameter of the central electrode 35, and the opening 34a communicates with the hollow portion 30a of the main body housing 30.

[0042] The center electrode 35 constitutes the core of the electronic pen main body 3 in this embodiment, and is made of a conductive member, in this example, a conductive metal. Then, as shown in Fig. 3(B), this center electrode 35 is inserted into the main body housing 30 from the opening 34a of the front cap 34, and the end opposite to the pen tip side is detachably attached to the core holding member 7 described later.

[0043] The core body 35 made of a conductive material and the peripheral electrode 33 are electrically separated (insulated) by a front cap 34 made of an insulating material, as shown in Fig. 3(B). In the electronic pen main body 3 of this embodiment, when the center electrode 35 is attached, the peripheral electrode 33 is arranged so as to surround the rear end side of the tip portion 35a, which is the pen tip of the center electrode 35, as shown in Fig. 3(B). In the following description, the center electrode 35 will be referred to as the core body 35.

[0044] In this example, as shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(B), the dimensions of the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body 3 are configured to be approximately equal to the dimensions of the pen tip side of the ballpoint pen refill 6. In other words, the outer diameters of the main body tubular part 31 of the main body housing 30 and the cylindrical part 33a of the peripheral electrode 33 are made equal to the outer diameter R2 of the ink storage part 62 and the coupling part 63 of the refill 6 of a commercially available knock-type ballpoint pen, as shown in Figure 2(B).

[0045] The tapered portion 33b on the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 of the main body housing 30 has a diameter that gradually decreases as it approaches the pen tip side, and in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2 (B), the diameter from the midpoint of the tapered portion 33b in the axial direction to the pen tip side is configured to be less than or equal to the diameter R0 of the opening 2b on the pen tip side of the pen housing 2.

[0046] When the core body 35 is inserted into the electronic pen main body 3 through the opening 34a of the front cap 34 and attached thereto, the length from the tip of the core body 35 to the position where the outer diameter of the tapered portion 33b of the peripheral electrode 33 becomes diameter R1 is configured to be approximately equal to the axial length L1 of the pen tip portion 61 of the refill 6 of a commercially available knock-type ballpoint pen.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the length (total length) of the electronic pen body 3 with the lead 35 attached is set to be equal to the total length L2 of the refill 6 of the ballpoint pen.

[0048] The electronic pen main body 3 configured as above can be stored in the pen housing 2 by fitting the main body tubular portion 31 into the fitting portion 43a of the rotor 43 of the knock cam mechanism 4. In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, when the user uses the electronic pen 1 together with a position detection device, the user presses the end portion 42a of the knock rod 42. Then, in the electronic pen 1, the tip portion 35a of the core body 35, a part of the front cap 34, and a part of the pen tip side of the tapered portion 33b of the peripheral electrode 33 protrude to the outside from the opening 2b of the pen housing 2, as shown in FIG. 1(B).

[0049] That is, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1(B), not only the tip of the core body 35 attached to the electronic pen main body 3, but also a part of the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 configured to surround the periphery of the core body 35 protrudes outward from the opening 2b of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1. In this state, the user of the electronic pen 1 performs an input operation of a designated position on the position detection sensor of the position detection device.

[0050] When use of the electronic pen 1 is finished, by pressing the end 42a of the knock bar 42 again, the entire electronic pen body 3 can be accommodated in the hollow portion 2a of the pen housing 2, as shown in Fig. 1(A). At this time, the entire electronic pen body 3 is accommodated in the hollow portion 2a of the pen housing 2, and the tip portion 35a of the core 35 of the electronic pen body 3 is protected by the pen housing 2.

[0051] Within the hollow portion 30a of the main body housing 30, as shown by dotted lines in Figures 2(B) and 3(A), a core holding member 7, a pen pressure detection unit 8, a printed circuit board 9 on which a signal transmission circuit is mounted, and a capacitor 10 as an example of a storage element for supplying power voltage are stored and arranged in a line in the axial direction from the pen tip side.

[0052] In this embodiment, a board holder 300 having a printed board 9 placed on a board placement platform 301 is housed in the hollow portion 30a of the main body housing 30, as shown in FIG. 3(B).

[0053] The board holder 300 is made of insulating resin, and has a pen pressure detection unit holding part 302 for holding and storing the pen pressure detection unit 8 on the opposite side to the board placement base part 301 in the longitudinal direction, which is the axial direction of the electronic pen main body part 3. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the board holder 300 is stored in the hollow part of the main body housing 30, the pen pressure detection unit holding part 302 and the board placement base part 301 are continuous in the longitudinal direction, which is the axial direction of the electronic pen main body part 3. The pen pressure detection unit holding part 302 is cylindrical in shape and has a hollow part in the inside for storing a plurality of parts of the pen pressure detection unit 8. The board placement base part 301 is boat-shaped for placing and holding the printed circuit board 9, and is shaped like a cylinder cut in half in the axial direction.

[0054] The substrate holder 300 is housed in the main body housing 30 so that the writing pressure detection unit holding portion 302 faces the pen tip side. A core body holding member 7 that fits with the core body 35 and holds the core body 35 is connected to the writing pressure detection unit 8 held by the writing pressure detection unit holding portion 302, and the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the core body 35 is transmitted to the writing pressure detection unit 8.

[0055] In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the substrate holder 300 is selected to be equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the second fitting cylindrical portion 32b of the cylindrical connecting member 32. Then, as shown in Fig. 3(B), a part of the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the substrate holder 300 fits into a part of the second fitting cylindrical portion 32b of the cylindrical connecting member 32, thereby connecting the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the substrate holder 300 and the second fitting cylindrical portion 32b of the cylindrical connecting member 32.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 3(B), the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the substrate holder 300 is engaged and connected to the second engaging cylindrical portion 32b of the cylindrical connecting member 32 in the axial direction, thereby restricting its position so as not to move in the axial direction within the main body housing 30.

[0057] Although not shown in the drawings, both ends of the capacitor 10 disposed on the opposite side of the board mounting base portion 301 of the board holder 300 from the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 are electrically connected to the copper foil patterns of the power supply line and earth line of the printed circuit board 9. As a result, the voltage of the capacitor 10 is supplied to the circuit formed on the printed circuit board 9 as a power supply voltage.

[0058] In this embodiment, the metal pipe portion 31a of the cylindrical main body portion 31 made of a conductive material is electrically connected to the copper foil pattern of the earth line of the printed circuit board 9.

[0059] In this embodiment, a circuit section is provided on the printed circuit board 9, which is made up of an IC (Integrate Circuit) 100 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) constituting a signal transmission circuit that generates signals to be sent from the core body 35 and the peripheral electrode 33, and a control circuit that controls the transmission of signals from the signal transmission circuit to the core body 35 and the peripheral electrode 33, and its peripheral circuit components. The peripheral circuit section includes a charging circuit for the capacitor 10, which is not shown in the figure. The charging circuit for the capacitor 10 may be provided outside the electronic pen 1.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 3(B) and Fig. 4, the core body holding member 7 that fits and holds the core body 35 is composed of a conductive elastic member 71, a core body holder 72, a coil spring 73, and a conductor terminal member 74. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(B), the core body 35 is fitted into the core body holder 72 made of a conductive material via the conductive elastic member 71, and is thereby connected and held to the core body holder 72. The core body holding member 7 also functions as a member that transmits the writing pressure applied to the core body 35 to the writing pressure detection unit 8.

[0061] The core body holder 72 is fitted into the holding member 83 of the writing pressure detection unit 8 held by the writing pressure detection unit holding portion 302, so that the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the core body 35 is transmitted to the writing pressure detection unit 8. In this case, the core body holder 72 is configured to be constantly biased toward the core body 35 with respect to the board holder 300 by a coil spring 73, which is an example of an elastic member made of a conductive material such as a conductive metal and is provided between the core body holder 72 and the board holder 300. The coil spring 73, together with the conductor terminal member 74, constitutes an electrical connection member for transmitting a signal from the IC 100 arranged on the printed board 9 to the core body 35.

[0062] FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of the core 35, the conductive elastic member 71, the core holder 72, the coil spring 73, the conductive terminal member 74, and the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300. FIG.

[0063] The conductive elastic member 71 is made of, for example, conductive rubber, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a through hole 71a into which the end opposite to the tip portion 35a of the core body 35 is fitted. The core body 35 side of the conductive elastic member 71 has an outer diameter smaller than other portions to form a thin-walled portion, and has slits 712 formed therein to form a gripping portion 711 that makes it easier to grip the core body 35.

[0064] The conductive elastic member 71 is made of, for example, conductive rubber, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a through hole 71a into which the end opposite to the tip portion 35a of the core body 35 is fitted. The core body 35 side of the conductive elastic member 71 has an outer diameter smaller than other portions to form a thin-walled portion, and has slits 712 formed therein to form a gripping portion 711 that makes it easier to grip the core body 35.

[0065] With this configuration, the core body 35 is gripped by the gripping portion 711's arc-shaped portions, which are two thin-walled portions in which the slits 712 are formed. Therefore, the core body 35 is easily inserted and fitted into the gripping portion 711 of the conductive elastic member 71, and the core body 35 can be easily pulled out of the conductive elastic member 71 by pulling with a predetermined force.

[0066] The core holder 72 is made of a conductive material, such as SUS (Steel Special Use Stainless), and is integrally formed with a storage fitting portion 721 having a recessed hole 721a for storing and fitting the conductive elastic member 71, and a rod-shaped portion 722 that fits into the holding member 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 8, which will be described later.

[0067] After the conductive coil spring 73 is attached to the rod-shaped portion 722 of the core body holder 72 containing the conductive elastic member 71 as described above, the rod-shaped portion 722 of the core body holder 72 is fitted into the holding member 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 8 held in the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the substrate holder 300.

[0068] In this case, it is necessary to take into consideration that in the electronic pen body 3 of this embodiment, a transmission signal generated by a circuit configured on the printed circuit board 9 must be supplied to the core 35. However, since the board holder 300 and the holding member 83 of the writing pressure detection unit 8 housed in the writing pressure detection unit holding unit 302 are made of resin, which is an insulating material, electrical connection cannot be made between the core holder 72 and the holding member 83.

[0069] Therefore, in this embodiment, an electrical connection member is formed by a coil spring 73 made of a conductive material provided between the core holder 72 and the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300, and a conductor terminal member 74 provided on the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300, and this electrical connection member realizes an electrical connection for supplying a signal from the signal transmission circuit of the printed circuit board 9.

[0070] That is, in this embodiment, a conductor terminal member 74 made of a conductive material, such as SUS, is attached to the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the substrate holder 300 so as to cover the opening 302a side into which the rod-shaped portion 722 of the core holder 72 is inserted, as shown in Figure 4(A).

[0071] As shown in Figures 4(A) and (B), this conductor terminal member 74 covers the opening 302a side of the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the substrate holder 300 and has a contact plate portion 741 with a through hole 741a through which the rod-shaped portion 722 of the core holder 72 is inserted.

[0072] Also, an extension portion 742 is provided that extends across the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300 to the board mounting base portion 301. When the conductor terminal member 74 is attached to the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300, as shown in Fig. 3(B), a terminal portion 742a at the tip of the extension portion 742 extending from the conductor terminal member 74 abuts against a conductor on the back side of the printed circuit board 9 placed on the board mounting base portion 301 of the board holder 300, and is soldered, for example. This electrically connects the conductor terminal member 74 to a signal transmission circuit provided on the printed circuit board 9.

[0073] The rod-shaped portion 722 of the core holder 72 with the conductive elastic member 71 fitted thereto is inserted, with the coil spring 73 interposed therebetween, into the hollow portion of the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300 through the through hole 741a of the abutment plate portion 741 of the conductive terminal member 74, and is fitted into the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302. The inner diameter of the coil spring 73 is made larger than the outer diameter of the rod-shaped portion 722 of the core holder 72.

[0074] Therefore, the coil spring 73 elastically contacts the core body holder 72, and also abuts and elastically contacts the abutment plate portion 741 of the conductor terminal member 74. The coil spring 73 is made of a conductive material, and the conductive elastic member 71 and the core body holder 72 are conductive, so that the conductive elastic member 71 fitted into the core body holder 72 is electrically connected to the circuit portion of the printed circuit board 9 via the coil spring 73 and the conductor terminal member 74.

[0075] Then, as described above, the core body 35 is inserted and fitted into the through hole 71a of the conductive elastic member 71 fitted into the core body holder 72 housed within the main body housing 30, and the core body 35 is held by the core body holder 72 via the conductive elastic member 71. In this state, the core body 35 is electrically connected to the signal transmission circuit of the printed circuit board 9, and a signal from the signal transmission circuit is supplied to the core body 35.

[0076] Next, the configuration of the writing pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300 and the writing pressure detection unit 8, and further the fitting between the holding member 83 of the writing pressure detection unit 8 and the core holder 72 will be described.

[0077] The pen pressure detection unit 8 is housed in the pen pressure detection unit holding unit 302 and configured as shown in Fig. 3(B), thereby forming a pen pressure detection module. The core body 35 is then coupled to this pen pressure detection module via the core body holder 72, and the pen pressure applied to the tip portion 35a of the core body 35 is detected by the pen pressure detection unit 8 of the pen pressure detection module. In this case, the pen pressure detection module detects pen pressure by a part of the components of the pen pressure detection unit 8 constituting the pen pressure detection module moving in the axial direction together with the core body 35 and the core body holder 72 in response to the pen pressure applied to the tip portion 35a of the core body 35.

[0078] The pen pressure detection unit 8 in this example uses a variable capacitance capacitor whose capacitance changes depending on the pen pressure applied to the core body 35, and as shown in Figure 3 (B), is made up of multiple parts: a dielectric 81, a terminal member 82, a holding member 83, a conductive member 84, and an elastic member 85.

[0079] With the core body holder 72 fitted into the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300 as described above, the core body 35 is pressed into the through hole 71a of the conductive elastic member 71 fitted into the core body holder 72. As a result, the core body 35 is firmly held to the core body holder 72 by the conductive elastic member 71, as described above. Note that the core body 35 can be pulled out in the direction of the tip portion 35a from the state where it is fitted into and held by the core body holder 72, and can be replaced as described above.

[0080] In this electronic pen main body 3, when pressure is applied to the tip end 35a of the core 35, the core 35 is displaced axially toward the rear end in response to the pressure, and this displacement causes the holding member 83 in the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 to displace toward the dielectric 81 against the elastic biasing force of the elastic member 85. As a result, the conductive member 84 fitted in the holding member 83 is displaced toward the dielectric 81, and the distance between the conductive member 84 and the dielectric 81, and further the contact area between the conductive member 84 and the dielectric 81, change in response to the pressure applied to the core 35.

[0081] As a result, the capacitance of the variable capacitor formed between the terminal member 82 constituting the first electrode and the conductive member 84 constituting the second electrode changes according to the pressure applied to the core body 35. This change in capacitance of the variable capacitor is detected by the IC 100 provided on the printed circuit board 9, and the writing pressure is detected.

[0082] The pen pressure detection unit 8 is not limited to the configuration described above, and may be configured, for example, with a variable capacitance capacitor made of a semiconductor chip made of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) elements (see, for example, Patent Document (JP 2013-161307 A)).

[0083] Next, a description will be given of the electrical connection between the peripheral electrode 33 and the circuit part of the printed circuit board 9. A groove (not shown) is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical joining member 32 in a direction along the axial direction of the cylindrical joining member 32, from the first fitting cylindrical part 32a, through the lower part of the ring-shaped flange part 32F, to the second fitting cylindrical part 32b.

[0084] A groove (not shown) is also formed on the peripheral side of the pen pressure detection unit holding portion 302 of the board holder 300, which is continuous with the groove of the second fitting tubular portion 32b. In this continuous groove, as shown in FIG. 3B, a connection terminal conductor 11 made of a conductive material, in this example, a conductive metal, is disposed. As shown in FIG. 3B, an end 11a of the connection terminal conductor 11 disposed in the groove on the first fitting tubular portion 32a side of the tubular coupling member 32 is disposed so that at least a part of the end 11a slightly bulges out from the outer circumferential surface of the first fitting tubular portion 32a. However, the depth of the groove at the end 11a is configured to be deep enough that the end 11a can be elastically pressed downward when the end 11a is pressed down from above.

[0085] As a result, when the peripheral electrode 33 is fitted into the first fitting tubular portion 32a of the tubular joining member 32, the end 11a of the connection terminal conductor 11 is in reliable contact with the inner wall of the peripheral electrode 33, so that the peripheral electrode 33 and the connection terminal conductor 11 are electrically connected to each other. Then, the end 11b of the connection terminal conductor 11 extending toward the printed circuit board 9 is electrically connected to the rear surface 9b of the printed circuit board 9, as shown in Fig. 3(B). Although not shown in the figure, the end 11b of the connection terminal conductor 11 is electrically connected to a circuit portion on the front surface side of the printed circuit board 9 via a through hole.

[0086] The depth of the recessed groove in which the connection terminal conductor 11 is disposed is set so that the connection terminal conductor 11 and the metal pipe portion 31a do not come into contact with each other when the metal pipe portion 31a of the main body cylindrical portion 31 is fitted into the second fitting cylindrical portion 32b. Alternatively, an insulator may be interposed between the connection terminal conductor 11 and the metal pipe portion 31a.

[0087] Next, referring to Fig. 2(C), a configuration example of the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3 opposite to the pen tip side and the fitting portion 43a of the main body housing 30 will be described. In this example, the side of the main body cylindrical portion 31 of the main body housing 30 that fits with the fitting portion 43a of the rotor 43 of the knock cam mechanism 4 of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 is composed of a resin pipe portion 31b, and this resin pipe portion 31b is provided with a pair of terminal conductors that are connected to both ends of the capacitor 10. A corresponding pair of conductors is formed in the fitting portion 43a of the rotor 43 of the knock cam mechanism 4 of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1, and the pair of conductors is electrically connected to charging electrodes 2d, 2e provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the pen housing 2 opposite to the pen tip side in this example.

[0088] 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the joint portion between the resin pipe portion 31b of the main body tubular portion 31 of the electronic pen main body 3 and the fitting portion 43a of the main body tubular portion 31 of the main body housing 30. FIG.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 2(C), the fitting portion 43a has a cylindrical recess 431 into which the resin pipe portion 31b is fitted, and a central rod-shaped portion 432 is inserted into the hollow portion of the resin pipe portion 31b at the center of the cylindrical recess 431. In this example, the diameter of the cylindrical recess 431 of the fitting portion 43a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the resin pipe portion 31b, and is configured to have a dimension such that when the resin pipe portion 31b is fitted into the fitting portion 43a, the outer peripheral side surface of the resin pipe portion 31b comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the cylindrical recess of the fitting portion 43a. Also, when the resin pipe portion 31b is fitted into the fitting portion 43a, the inner peripheral side surface of the resin pipe portion 31b comes into contact with the outer peripheral side surface of the central rod-shaped portion 432 of the cylindrical recess 431 of the fitting portion 43a.

[0090] 2(C), a terminal conductor 12 is formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the resin pipe portion 31b of the cylindrical main body portion 31, and is electrically connected to one electrode terminal 10a of the capacitor 10 housed in the cylindrical main body portion 31. A terminal conductor 13 is formed on the inner wall surface of the resin pipe portion 31b of the cylindrical main body portion 31, and is electrically connected to the other electrode terminal 10b of the capacitor 10. The terminal conductor 12 and the terminal conductor 13 are not electrically connected to each other.

[0091] Meanwhile, a conductor 14 connected to the charging electrode 2d formed on the pen housing 2 is formed on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical recess 431 of the fitting portion 43a. Also, a conductor 15 connected to the charging electrode 2d formed on the pen housing 2 is formed on the outer periphery of the central rod-shaped portion 432 of the cylindrical recess 431 of the fitting portion 43a. The conductor 14 and the conductor 15 are not electrically connected to each other.

[0092] In this case, in this example, the terminal conductors 12 and 13 are formed on the entire circumference of the outer circumferential side surface and the entire circumference of the inner wall surface. The conductors 14 and 15 of the fitting portion 43a are also formed on the entire circumference of the inner wall surface of the cylindrical recess 431 and the entire circumference of the outer circumferential side surface of the central rod-shaped portion 432. As a result, when the end of the resin pipe portion 31b of the cylindrical main body portion 31 of the electronic pen main body 3 is fitted into the fitting portion 43a, the terminal conductors 12 and 13 of the electronic pen main body 3 are electrically connected to the conductors 14 and 15 of the fitting portion 43a regardless of the rotation angle position at which they are fitted to each other. It is not essential that the conductors 12, 13, 14, and 15 are formed around the entire circumference, and as long as the terminal conductors 12 and 13 of the electronic pen main body 3 are electrically connected to the conductors 14 and 15 of the mating portion 43a regardless of the rotational angle position at which they are mated with each other, there may be a missing portion of the conductor in part of the circumference.

[0093] With the above configuration, when the electronic pen body 3 is fitted into the fitting portion 43a of the rotor 43 of the knock cam mechanism 4 of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1, both ends of the capacitor 10 housed in the electronic pen body 3 are connected to the charging electrodes 2d, 2e of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1. As a result, when no power supply voltage is stored in the capacitor 10, the capacitor 10 is charged through the charging electrodes 2d, 2e and a sufficient power supply voltage is stored.

[0094] [Example of electronic circuit configuration of electronic pen main body 3] Next, an example of the electrical configuration of the electronic pen body 3 of this embodiment is shown in Fig. 5. In this example, as shown in Fig. 5, a control circuit 101 is configured by an IC 100 mounted on a printed circuit board 9. A signal transmission circuit 102 and a signal reception circuit 103 are connected to this control circuit 101, and a variable capacitor 8C configured in the writing pressure detection unit 8 is also connected to the control circuit 101. A resistor 8R is connected in parallel to the variable capacitor 8C.

[0095] The signal output end of the signal transmission circuit 102 is connected to the core body 35 through the switch circuit 104. In this case, the conductive terminal member 74, the core body holder 72, and the conductive elastic member 71 are interposed between the core body 35 and the switch circuit 104, as described above.

[0096] In this example, the signal output terminal of the signal transmission circuit 102 is connected to a terminal S of the changeover switch circuit 105. The movable terminal M of the changeover switch circuit 105 is connected to the peripheral electrode 33. In this case, the connection terminal conductor 11 is interposed between the peripheral electrode 33 and the changeover switch circuit 105.

[0097] A terminal R of the changeover switch circuit 105 is connected to an input terminal of the signal receiving circuit 103. In addition, a terminal G of the changeover switch circuit 105 is connected to an earth electrode (ground electrode).

[0098] The control circuit 101 supplies the switch circuit 104 with a control signal SW1 for controlling the on / off of the switch circuit 104. The control circuit 101 also supplies the changeover switch circuit 105 with a changeover control signal SW2 for switching whether the movable terminal M is connected to the terminal S, the terminal R, or the terminal G.

[0099] Although not shown, the voltage of the capacitor 10 is supplied as a power supply voltage to each of the control circuit 101, the signal transmission circuit 102, the signal reception circuit 103, the switch circuit 104, and the changeover switch circuit 105.

[0100] The signal receiving circuit 103 receives a signal received at the peripheral electrode 33 via capacitive coupling (electric field coupling) between the position detection sensor of the position detection device, performs processing such as demodulation according to the received signal, and sends the processed signal to the control circuit 101.

[0101] The control circuit 101 analyzes the signal from the signal receiving circuit 103 to determine the specifications of the partner position detection device and to determine the timing of signal interaction with the position detection sensor of the partner position detection device. The control circuit 101 then controls the format of the signal output from the signal transmitting circuit 102 so that it matches the specifications of the partner position detection device, and interacts with the position detection sensor at the determined timing.

[0102] The signal transmission circuit 102 basically outputs, under the control of the control circuit 101, a signal including a position detection signal (burst signal) of a predetermined frequency for position detection by the position detection device and writing pressure information corresponding to the writing pressure detected by the writing pressure detection unit 8. The signal transmission circuit 102 also outputs a signal for detecting the tilt angle of the electronic pen 1. That is, under the control of the control circuit 101, the signal transmission circuit 102 sends out a burst signal for position detection and for detecting the tilt angle of the electronic pen 1.

[0103] The control circuit 101 performs an operation of detecting the writing pressure based on the capacitance of the variable capacitor 8C included in the writing pressure detection unit 8 while the signal transmission circuit 102 is transmitting a burst signal for position detection.

[0104] In this example, the control circuit 101 first charges the variable capacitor 8C to a fully charged state, and then stops charging, causing the variable capacitor 8C to be discharged through the resistor 8R. Then, the control circuit 101 measures the time from the start of the discharge until the voltage across the variable capacitor 8C reaches a predetermined voltage, and detects the capacitance of the variable capacitor 8C at that time from that time. The capacitance of the variable capacitor 8C corresponds to the writing pressure applied to the core 35 at that time, so the writing pressure is detected based on the detected capacitance.

[0105] Then, the control circuit 101 converts the detected writing pressure into a multi-bit digital signal in this example, and controls the signal transmission circuit 102 so that the signal transmission circuit 102 outputs writing pressure information corresponding to this digital signal.

[0106] 6A, in the steady state, the control circuit 101 sets the electronic pen body 3 in a signal reception mode in which a signal is received from the position detection sensor of the position detection device. After confirming the reception of a signal from the position detection device in this signal reception mode and carrying out the above-mentioned predetermined processing, the control circuit 101 switches to a signal transmission mode in which a signal is transmitted to the position detection device.

[0107] In this embodiment, in the signal reception mode, the switch circuit 104 is turned off by a control signal SW1 from the control circuit 101 (see FIG. 6(C)), and the changeover switch circuit 105 is controlled by a changeover control signal SW2 so that the movable terminal M is connected to the terminal R (see FIG. 6(D)).

[0108] Therefore, in this signal reception mode, the signal received by the peripheral electrode 33 from the position detection device is supplied to the signal reception circuit 103 via the changeover switch circuit 105 and demodulated, and the demodulated reception signal is supplied to the control circuit 101. As described above, the control circuit 101 performs an analysis process on the reception signal from the position detection device, and determines the specifications of the partner position detection device, as described above.

[0109] In this embodiment, the signal received from the position detection device contains information indicating the timing at which the electronic pen body 3 starts transmitting a signal, and based on the information indicating the timing, the control circuit 101 determines the timing of switching from the signal reception mode to the signal transmission mode, and also performs processing such as determining the timing of time-division processing in the signal transmission mode. After that, the control circuit 101 executes switching of the electronic pen body 3 from the signal reception mode to the signal transmission mode.

[0110] In this embodiment, in the signal transmission mode, as shown in FIG. 6(B), a position detection period Ta in which a burst signal for position detection and pen pressure detection information are transmitted to the position detection device side, and a tilt detection period Tb in which the tilt angle of the electronic pen 1 is detected are executed in a time-division manner.

[0111] During the position detection period Ta, the switch circuit 104 is turned on by the control signal SW1 (see FIG. 6(C)), and the changeover switch circuit 105 connects the movable terminal M to the terminal G by the changeover control signal SW2 (see FIG. 6(D)). Therefore, during the position detection period Ta, the peripheral electrode 33 is connected to the earth electrode through the changeover switch circuit 105. During the position detection period Ta, the control circuit 101 controls the signal transmission circuit 102 to output a burst signal of the position detection signal and writing pressure information. The position detection signal and writing pressure information output from the signal transmission circuit 102 are supplied to the core body 35 through the switch circuit 104 and sent to the position detection sensor. In this case, the control circuit 101 controls the signal transmission circuit 102 to send writing pressure information from the core body 35 after the end of the burst signal sending period.

[0112] At this time, the peripheral electrode 33 is connected to the earth electrode, so the core body 35 is shielded except for the tip portion 35a which becomes the pen tip. Therefore, the signal from the signal transmission circuit 102 is sent from the tip portion 35a of the core body 35 without being influenced by the outside.

[0113] Next, during the tilt detection period Tb, the switch circuit 104 is turned off by the control signal SW1 (see FIG. 6(C)), and the changeover switch circuit 105 connects the movable terminal M to the terminal S by the changeover control signal SW2 (see FIG. 6(D)). During this tilt detection period Tb, the control circuit 101 controls the signal transmission circuit 102 to generate a burst signal for tilt detection. In this example, this burst signal for tilt detection is a signal with the same frequency as the burst signal for the position detection signal.

[0114] Therefore, during this tilt detection period Tb, a burst signal for tilt detection from the signal transmission circuit 102 is supplied to the peripheral electrode 33 through the changeover switch circuit 105 and sent to the position detection sensor. The position detection device that receives this burst signal for tilt detection through the position detection sensor detects the tilt angle of the electronic pen 1 as described below.

[0115] [Example of circuit configuration for position detection device] Next, an example of the circuit configuration of the position detection device and the position detection sensor will be described. Fig. 7 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a reception processing circuit of a signal from the electronic pen 1 of the position detection device 200 of the capacitance type.

[0116] 7, the position detection device 200 of this example is composed of a position detection sensor 210 and a pen detection circuit 220 connected to the position detection sensor 210. In this example, the position detection sensor 210 includes a plurality of first conductors 211Y1, 211Y2, ..., 211Y m(m is an integer of 1 or more) are arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction at a predetermined distance from each other, and a first conductor group includes a plurality of second conductors 212X1, 212X2, ..., 212X3 extending in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction). n (n is an integer of 1 or more) and a second conductor group arranged in parallel in the X-axis direction at a predetermined distance from each other.

[0117] In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the multiple first conductors of the first conductor group and the multiple second conductors of the second conductor group, they will be referred to as first conductors 211Y and second conductors 212X.

[0118] The pen indication detection circuit 220 comprises a selection circuit 221 serving as an input / output interface with the position detection sensor 210, an amplifier circuit 222, a bandpass filter 223, a detection circuit 224, a sample-and-hold circuit 225, an AD (Analog to Digital) conversion circuit 226, and a control circuit 227.

[0119] The selection circuit 221 selects one conductor 211Y or 212X from the first conductor group and the second conductor group based on a control signal from the control circuit 227. The conductor selected by the selection circuit 221 is connected to an amplifier circuit 222, and a signal from the electronic pen 1 (the electronic pen body 3 thereof) is detected by the selected conductor and amplified by the amplifier circuit 222. The output of the amplifier circuit 222 is supplied to a band-pass filter 223, which extracts only the frequency component of the signal transmitted from the electronic pen 1.

[0120] The output signal of the bandpass filter 223 is detected by a detection circuit 224, and the output signal is supplied to a sample-and-hold circuit 225, where it is sampled and held by a sampling signal from a control circuit 227, and then converted into a digital value by an AD conversion circuit 226. The digital data from the AD conversion circuit 226 is read and processed by the control circuit 227.

[0121] The control circuit 227 sends control signals to the sample and hold circuit 225, the AD conversion circuit 226, and the selection circuit 221, respectively, and calculates the position coordinates on the position detection sensor 210 indicated by the electronic pen 1 from the digital data from the AD conversion circuit 226, and detects writing pressure information.

[0122] Furthermore, the control circuit 227 detects the inclination angle of the electronic pen 1 as described below. A method for detecting the inclination angle of the electronic pen 1 in the position detection device 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0123] As shown in the schematic diagram of Fig. 8(A), when the core 35 of the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1 is perpendicular to the input surface of the position detection sensor 210, during the position detection period Ta, electrostatic coupling occurs between the tip 35a of the core 35 and the position detection sensor 210, and the electrostatically coupled region OBa is a perfect circular region as shown in Fig. 8(B). On the other hand, during the tilt detection period Tb, electrostatic coupling occurs between the peripheral electrode 33 and the position detection sensor 210, and the electrostatically coupled region OBb is a ring-shaped region as shown in Fig. 8(C).

[0124] Furthermore, as shown in the schematic diagram of Fig. 8(D), when the core 35 of the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1 is inclined with respect to the input surface of the position detection sensor 210, the region OBa electrostatically coupled between the tip 35a of the core 35 and the position detection sensor 210 during the position detection period Ta remains an almost perfect circular region as shown in Fig. 8(E). On the other hand, the region OBb electrostatically coupled between the peripheral electrode 33 and the position detection sensor 210 during the tilt detection period Tb becomes an elliptical region that is elongated in the tilt direction according to the tilt angle as shown in Fig. 8(F).

[0125] Therefore, the control circuit 227 of the position detection device 200 can detect the magnitude of the tilt angle of the electronic pen 1 from the length of the oval direction of the elliptical shape of area OBb shown in Figure 8 (F), and can detect the tilt direction of the electronic pen 1 by detecting the oval direction of the elliptical shape of area OBb starting from the pointing position of the electronic pen 1 shown in Figure 8 (E).

[0126] In the above example, a signal having the same frequency as the signal supplied to the core body 35 is used for the peripheral electrode 33 used to detect the tilt angle, but the frequency of the signal supplied to the core body 35 may be different from the frequency of the signal supplied to the peripheral electrode 33. In that case, the position detection device 200 can distinguish between the signal from the core body 35 and the signal from the peripheral electrode 33. Therefore, the electronic pen main body 3 of the electronic pen 1 may be configured to simultaneously send the signal from the core body 35 and the signal from the peripheral electrode 33 to the position detection sensor 210, instead of executing the position detection period Ta and the tilt detection period Tb in a time-division manner as described above.

[0127] [Advantages of the first embodiment] In this first embodiment of the electronic pen 1, when the electronic pen 1 is used, the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body 3 protrudes outward from the opening 2b of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1, and not only the tip portion 35a of the core body 35 but also a portion of the tapered portion 33b on the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 protrudes from the opening 2b of the pen housing 2.

[0128] Therefore, according to the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, the distance between not only the tip portion 35a of the core body 35 but also the tapered portion 33b on the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 and the input surface of the position detection sensor 210 is shortened, and the electrostatic capacitive coupling (electric field coupling) between them is strengthened. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 is tapered portion 33b, the cross-sectional area of ​​the tip portion on the pen tip side is reduced, resulting in stronger electric field coupling with the position detection sensor 210.

[0129] Therefore, even if the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment is thinned, it can be strongly coupled to the position detection sensor 210 by electric field, and the position detection device 200 can detect the position indicated by the electronic pen 1 with high sensitivity. Moreover, in the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, the peripheral electrode 33 receives a signal from the position detection device 200, and the electronic pen body 3 starts sending a signal at the timing indicated by the received signal. This allows the position detection device to wait for reception of a signal from the electronic pen body 3 while predicting the sending of a signal from the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1, and can achieve good operation even with electric field coupling whose coupling strength is weaker than that of the electromagnetic induction method.

[0130] In the first embodiment described above, the electronic pen body 3 is configured to be compatible with refills of commercially available ballpoint pens. This allows a refill of a commercially available ballpoint pen to be attached to the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 instead of the electronic pen body 3 and used.

[0131] [Second embodiment] The electronic pen of the second embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, only one electronic pen body 3 is stored in the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1. In this second embodiment, a plurality of electronic pen bodies are stored in the pen housing of the electronic pen, and one of the plurality of electronic pen bodies is selected by a knock mechanism, and the tip of the pen tip part of the selected electronic pen body is caused to protrude from an opening on the pen tip side of the housing for use.

[0132] As described above, the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment is configured to have a configuration that is compatible with the refill 6 of a ballpoint pen. Multi-color ballpoint pens equipped with refills of different ink colors are available as ballpoint pens on the market. The second embodiment provides an electronic pen configured by storing the electronic pen body 3 in a housing having a similar configuration to the housing of the multi-color ballpoint pen.

[0133] Fig. 9 is a configuration diagram showing the external appearance of an electronic pen 1M according to the second embodiment. In the example of Fig. 9, a pen housing 2M of the electronic pen 1M is also made of a transparent synthetic resin, and the inside of the pen housing 2M is shown as being visible through the pen housing 2M.

[0134] The pen housing 2M of the electronic pen 1M has a configuration almost similar to that of a housing and knock mechanism of a commercially available knock-type multi-color ballpoint pen. However, like the pen housing 2 and knock cam mechanism 4 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, the configuration in which the charging electrodes 2Md and 2Me are provided on the pen housing 2M and the configuration of the fitting part of the knock mechanism that fits the electronic pen main body 3 are different from those of the commercially available knock-type multi-color ballpoint pen. In the example of FIG. 9, three electronic pen main bodies 3BK, 3R, and 3E are stored in the pen housing 2M.

[0135] The electronic pen body 3BK, 3R, 3E is configured similarly in appearance to the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment, except that it is configured to have the same dimensions as the refill of a multi-color ballpoint pen. However, in the electronic pen body 3BK, 3R, 3E of the second embodiment, in addition to the signal transmission circuit described above, an IC and its peripheral circuits for realizing the function of transmitting its own identification information to a position detection device are provided inside the main body housing 30 in which the electronic circuit components are arranged. The other configurations of the electronic pen body 3BK, 3R, 3E are similar to those of the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment.

[0136] The knock mechanism of the electronic pen 1M is provided with knock rods 42BK, 42R, and 42E into which the electronic pen main bodies 3BK, 3R, and 3E are fitted, respectively. The fitting portions provided on the knock rods 42BK, 42R, and 42E have the same configuration as the fitting portion 43a of the knock cam mechanism 4 in the first embodiment.

[0137] When any one of the knock rods 42BK, 42R, 42E is slid toward the pen tip, the tip portion 35a of the core body 35 of any one of the electronic pen main bodies 3BK, 3R, 3E and a part of the peripheral electrode 33 protrude so as to be electrically coupled with the position detection sensor of the position detection device.

[0138] In this embodiment, the position detection device used together with the electronic pen body parts 3BK, 3R, 3E has a function of receiving and discriminating the identification information transmitted from each of the electronic pen body parts 3BK, 3R, 3E. That is, the position detection device in this embodiment discriminates between the electronic pen body parts 3BK, 3R, 3E and realizes the functions assigned to each of the electronic pen body parts 3BK, 3R, 3E.

[0139] In this example, for example, the electronic pen body unit 3BK is assigned the function of displaying the writing path (characters or figures) in black according to its designated position, the electronic pen body unit 3R is assigned the function of displaying the writing path in red according to its designated position, and the electronic pen body unit 3E is assigned the function of erasing the writing path previously input according to its designated position.

[0140] The position detection device recognizes identification information included in the signals transmitted from each of the electronic pen main bodies 3BK, 3R, and 3E. The position detection device then adds color information of the writing path and erasure information corresponding to the identification information to the coordinate information of the position indicated by each of the detected electronic pen main bodies 3BK, 3R, and 3E, and supplies the information to a personal computer or the like equipped with a display screen. Note that the functions assigned to the electronic pen main body may not only be the display color of the path corresponding to the indicated position as in this example, but may also be the thickness of the path, the type of line to be displayed such as a solid line, a dotted line, or a dashed dotted line, and the like.

[0141] In the case of the electronic pen 1M of the second embodiment, since a plurality of electronic pen bodies 3 are housed in the pen housing 2M, the axial direction of each electronic pen body 3 is offset from the opening 2Ma of the pen housing 2M. Therefore, when a pen tip portion of one of the plurality of electronic pen bodies 3 is advanced and protruded from the opening 2Ma of the pen housing 2M using a knock mechanism, the pushed-out electronic pen body 3 is slightly bent with respect to the fitting portion of the pen housing 2M.

[0142] However, since the cylindrical body section 31 of the electronic pen body 3 in this embodiment includes the resin pipe section 31b, the elasticity of the resin pipe section 31b can accommodate bending of the electronic pen body 3 when the tip section of the electronic pen body 3 is extended. When the axial length of the resin pipe section 31b is adapted to the housing mechanism of a multi-color ballpoint pen as in the second embodiment, it is preferable to adjust the length so that the resin pipe section 31b can adequately absorb bending of the tip section of the electronic pen body 3 when it is extended.

[0143] In this second embodiment, all of the fitting portions of the three knock rods 42BK, 42R, 42E are configured to have a conductor so that the electronic pen body 3 can be fitted into them, but at least one of the multiple knock rods may be used for the electronic pen body 3 and its fitting portion may be configured to have a conductor, and the others may be configured for ballpoint pen refills without a conductor.

[0144] Further, although the second embodiment is an example in which three knock bars are provided, the number of knock bars may be two, or four or more.

[0145] [Third embodiment] The electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment is different from the electronic pen body 3 of the first and second embodiments in the configuration of the portion that fits with the pen housing of the electronic pen, but is otherwise configured similarly. Therefore, the configuration of the fitting portion provided in the pen housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B into which the electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment fits is also different from that of the first and second embodiments.

[0146] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment. FIG. 10(A) shows a first example of the electronic pen body 3B of this embodiment, and FIG. 10(C) shows a second example of the electronic pen body 3B of this embodiment. Here, the first and second examples differ only in the configuration of the portion that fits with the fitting portion of the pen housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment, and other portions have almost the same configuration. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same portions as those of the electronic pen body 3 of the first and second embodiments described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0147] Fig. 11(A) shows a configuration example of an electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment to which an electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment is attached. Fig. 11(A) shows a state in which the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment protrudes from the opening of the pen housing 2B in the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 1(B) for the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above.

[0148] 11, the pen housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment is provided with a fitting portion 43ap into which the electronic pen main body 3B of the third embodiment is fitted, a side switch 2S is provided on the side surface of the pen housing 2B, and a conductor band 2f is provided at a position where the user holds it during use. The other points are similar to those of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment. The side switch 2S is a push button switch or a slide switch, which is well known in the field of electronic pens, and therefore a detailed structural example will not be described here.

[0149] In the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment, operation information of the side switch 2S is transmitted to the electronic pen body 3B through the fitting portion 43ap. The electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment sends the operation information of the side switch 2S to a position detection device in addition to a position detection signal and writing pressure information. The position detection device is set with a function corresponding to the operation information of the side switch 2S, and performs processing according to the set function in response to the operation information of the side switch 2S received from the electronic pen body 3B.

[0150] The conductor band 2f is a cylindrical body made of a conductive material such as conductive rubber, and is provided so as to cover a part of the outer periphery in the axial direction of the pen housing 2. In this third embodiment, it is configured to be connected to the earth electrode of the electronic pen main body 3B through the fitting portion 43ap. When a user grips a portion of the conductor band 2f during use, the conductor band 2f and the earth electrode of the electronic pen main body 3B connected thereto (to which the metal pipe portion 31a of the main body cylindrical portion 31 is also connected) are connected (grounded) to the earth through the user's body.

[0151] 10(A) and 10(C), in the electronic pen body 3B of this embodiment, a peripheral electrode 33 is connected to the pen tip side of a cylindrical main body portion 31 via a cylindrical connecting member 32, and a front cap 34 is attached to the pen tip side of a main body housing 30 of the electronic pen body 3B. A core body 35 is inserted and attached through an opening of the front cap 34. In the hollow part of the main body housing 30, a core body holding member 7, a writing pressure detection unit 8, a printed circuit board 9 on which a signal transmission circuit is mounted, and a capacitor 10 as an example of a storage element for supplying power supply voltage are stored in the axial direction in the same manner as in the electronic pen body 3 of the first and second embodiments described above.

[0152] In the electronic pen main body 3B of the third embodiment, the main body tubular portion 31 is also configured by joining a metal pipe portion 31a and a resin pipe portion 31b together. A connector, in this example, a connector plug 50, which fits into a fitting portion 43ap provided in the pen housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B, is provided at the rear end of the resin pipe portion 31b.

[0153] This connector plug 50 is electrically connected to the capacitor 10 housed within the electronic pen main body 3B and to an electronic circuit formed on the printed circuit board 9, and has a plurality of terminal portions that are insulated from one another, in this example five terminal portions 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a, 55a.

[0154] In the electronic pen main body 3B of the first example shown in Fig. 10(A), the five terminals 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a, and 55a of the connector plug 50 are configured as follows. That is, in this example, the terminal 51a is configured of a conductive metal that forms a central shaft. In the example shown in Fig. 10(A), the connector plug 50 is configured by concentrically combining cylindrical terminals 52a, 53a, 54a, and 55a, each of which has an insulating layer formed on its inner wall surface, with the rod-shaped conductive metal of the terminal 51a.

[0155] In this case, the terminal portion 51a of the conductive metal constituting the central mandrel is the tip portion in the axial direction, and its annular circumferential surface and tip portion are exposed in the axial direction by a predetermined length, and the cylindrical terminal portions 52a, 53a, 54a, and 55a are each exposed in the axial direction by a predetermined length. That is, the five terminal portions 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a, and 55a of the connector plug 50 are in a state in which annular conductor contact portions are exposed at different positions in the axial direction. Although the terminal portion 51a has a cylindrical shape, its annular circumferential side surface and tip portion form the conductor contact portion.

[0156] When the connector plug 50 is inserted into a fitting recess of a connector jack 90 formed in a fitting portion 43ap provided in a rotor 43 disposed in the hollow of a pen housing 2B of an electronic pen 1B, as shown in Fig. 10(B), the connector plug 50 is elastically connected to each of five contact terminals 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 provided in the connector jack 90. ​​Each of the five contact terminals 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 is made of a conductive elastic metal, and is electrically connected to each of the charging electrodes 2d, 2e, the side switch 2S, and the conductor band 2f provided in the pen housing 2B (see Fig. 11(B)).

[0157] Therefore, when the connector plug 50 is inserted into and coupled to the connector jack 90, the electronic circuit components inside the electronic pen main body 3B are electrically connected to the electronic circuit components arranged in the pen housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B. Fig. 11(B) is a diagram showing a schematic example of electronic circuit components arranged in the pen housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B, which are electrically connected to the electronic circuit components inside the electronic pen main body 3B when the connector plug 50 is inserted into and coupled to the connector jack 90.

[0158] In the example of Figure 11(B), terminal portions 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a, and 55a of connector plug 50 are electrically connected to charging electrodes 2e, 2d, both ends 2Sa and 2Sb of side switch 2S, and conductor band 2f, respectively, through five contact terminals 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 provided on connector jack 90 (the contact terminals of connector jack 90 are not shown in Figure 11(B)).

[0159] At this time, the annular conductor contact portions of the terminal portions 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a, and 55a of the connector plug 50 are connected to the contact terminals 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 of the connector jack 90, respectively, so that even if the electronic pen main body portion 3B rotates around the center line in the axial direction, electrical connection is always maintained, and electrical non-contact can be avoided.

[0160] In a second example of the electronic pen body 3B in Fig. 10(C), the five terminals 51b, 52b, 53b, 54b, and 55b of the connector plug 50 are configured as follows: The connector plug 50 in this example has a configuration similar to that of an audio pin plug (e.g., a five-pole pin plug with a noise cancellation function), and in this example, the five terminals 51b, 52b, 53b, 54b, and 55b have annular conductor contact portions of the same diameter exposed at different positions in the axial direction.

[0161] That is, of the five terminal portions 51b, 52b, 53b, 54b, and 55b, the terminal portion 51b at the tip is a chip terminal, the three intermediate terminal portions 52b, 53b, and 54b are ring terminals insulated from the other terminal portions by insulating rings 56a, 56b, 56c, and 56d, respectively, and the terminal portion 55b at the base side of the electronic pen main body portion 3B is a sleeve terminal.

[0162] The connector jack 90 to be coupled with the connector plug 50 of the electronic pen main body 3B in Fig. 10(C) also has five contact terminals that contact the annular conductor contact portions of the five terminal portions 51b, 52b, 53b, 54b, and 55b to form an electrical connection, as in Fig. 10(B). Therefore, the case where the connector plug 50 of the electronic pen main body 3B of the second example shown in Fig. 10(C) and the connector jack 90 are coupled is similar to the first example.

[0163] In the above example, a connector plug is provided at the rear end opposite the pen tip side of the main body cylindrical portion 31 of the electronic pen main body 3B, and a connector jack is provided in the fitting portion 43ap of the pen housing 2B. However, it is also possible to provide a connector jack at the rear end opposite the pen tip side of the main body cylindrical portion 31 of the electronic pen main body 3B, and a connector plug is provided in the fitting portion 43ap of the pen housing 2B.

[0164] Needless to say, the connector structure in the third embodiment can also be applied to the multi-color ballpoint pen of the second embodiment. In that case, the side switch may be provided for each of the electronic pen main body parts that are fitted into the corresponding fitting parts of the pen housing, or one side switch may be provided for the electronic pen main body parts. In a configuration in which one of the fitting parts of the pen housing is for the electronic pen main body part and the others are for ballpoint pen refills, it goes without saying that one side switch may be provided for that one electronic pen main body part.

[0165] [Other embodiments] Another embodiment of the electronic pen body is shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 12(A) shows a modified example of the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment described above, and this example is configured to be compatible with a ballpoint pen refill 6, similar to the first embodiment. Therefore, in the electronic pen body 3C of this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0166] In the electronic pen body 3C of this embodiment, a peripheral electrode 33C having a different shape from the peripheral electrode 33 of the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment is used. That is, as shown in Fig. 12(A), the peripheral electrode 33C of the electronic pen body 3C of this embodiment has a cylindrical shape with a constant outer diameter in the axial direction, and the outer diameter is the diameter R1 (see Fig. 2) smaller than the diameter of the opening 2b of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen.

[0167] Therefore, in the electronic pen body 3C of this embodiment, the configuration of the peripheral electrode 33C is different from that of the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment, and therefore the cylindrical joining member 32C that joins the peripheral electrode 33C to the cylindrical main body 31 is configured to be able to join the peripheral electrode 33C to the cylindrical main body 31 via the ring-shaped flange 32CF in accordance with the configuration of the peripheral electrode 33C. The front cap 34C is also modified and configured in accordance with the configuration of the peripheral electrode 33C. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment.

[0168] 12(A) is also housed in the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen 1, and the resin pipe portion 31b side of the cylindrical main body portion 31 can be fitted into the fitting portion 43a. By pressing down the knock rod 42 of the knock cam mechanism 4, the tip portion 35a of the core body, the front cap 34C, and a part of the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33C on the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body portion 3C can be made to protrude from the opening 2b.

[0169] 12(A) also provides the same effect as the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment, and during use, the core 35, the front cap 34C, and a part of the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33C protrude outward from the opening of the housing 2C of the electronic pen shown by the dotted line in Fig. 10(A). In this case, a cylindrical part of the peripheral electrode 33C with a constant outer diameter is positioned at the opening of the housing 2C, and by adjusting the outer diameter of the cylindrical part of the peripheral electrode 33C, it is possible to easily prevent the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3C from rattling at the opening of the housing 2C.

[0170] 12(B) also shows a modified example of the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment described above, in which the cylindrical body portion 31D and the cylindrical joining member 32D of the electronic pen body 3D of this embodiment are different from those of the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment, but the other portions have the same configuration. Therefore, in the electronic pen body 3D of this embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0171] The cylindrical main body portion 31D of the electronic pen main body 3D of this embodiment has an outer diameter R3 larger than the outer diameter R2 of the cylindrical main body portion 31 of the electronic pen main body 3 of the first embodiment. The inner diameter of the cylindrical main body portion 31D of the electronic pen main body 3D of this embodiment is also larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical main body portion 31 of the electronic pen main body 3 of the first embodiment.

[0172] For this reason, in the electronic pen main body 3D of this embodiment, since the configuration of the main body tubular portion 31D is different from that of the electronic pen main body 3 of the first embodiment, the tubular connecting member 32D that connects the peripheral electrode 33 to the main body tubular portion 31D is configured so that the peripheral electrode 33 can be connected to the main body tubular portion 31D via the ring-shaped flange portion 32DF in accordance with the configuration of the main body tubular portion 31D.

[0173] Thus, the cylindrical body 31D of the electronic pen body 3D of this embodiment has a large hollow space. In the electronic pen body 3D of this embodiment, the large hollow space of the cylindrical body 31D is utilized to accommodate a primary cell (battery) 10BT in the hollow space, as shown in Fig. 12(B), instead of the capacitor 10 used as the power storage element in the electronic pen body 3 of the first embodiment. Other electronic circuit components in the cylindrical body 31D are accommodated in the cylindrical body 31D in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the power supply voltage to each required part is supplied from the primary cell 10BT.

[0174] Therefore, in the electronic pen body 3D of this embodiment, a configuration for charging the capacitor 10 from the outside is not required. In this example, the cylindrical body 31D is made of a metal pipe, and a closing cap 31De is removably attached to the rear end opposite to the pen tip side. In the electronic pen body 3D of this embodiment, the closing cap 31De can be removed to replace the primary battery 10BT stored in the cylindrical body 31D. Of course, the cylindrical body 31D may be configured by combining a metal pipe portion and a resin pipe portion, as in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0175] The electronic pen housing for housing the electronic pen main body 3D of this embodiment has a different configuration from the electronic pen housing of the above-mentioned embodiment. That is, even if the electronic pen housing for the electronic pen main body 3D is provided with a knock cam mechanism or a knock mechanism as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the fitting portion of the electronic pen housing that fits with the electronic pen main body 3D does not need to be provided with an electrical configuration. However, the pen tip side of the housing has an opening with a diameter larger than the diameter R1, and in the use state, the tip portion 35a of the core body 35, the front cap 34, and a part of the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 on the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body 3D are made to protrude to the outside from the opening of the housing, as in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0176] In addition, ballpoint pen refills are not limited to those in which the ink storage section is made of a thin resin pipe as shown in Fig. 2(A), and various types are known, including a cartridge type with a thick ink storage section, such as the main body tubular section 31D of the electronic pen main body 3D in this example. The electronic pen main body 3D of this embodiment can also be attached to the housing of such a cartridge type ballpoint pen.

[0177] Even when the main body tubular portion 31D is configured to be thick like the electronic pen main body portion 3D of this embodiment, instead of providing a primary battery 10BT in the hollow portion of the main body tubular portion 31D, a secondary battery or a storage element such as a capacitor may be provided, and the configuration of the rear end side of the main body tubular portion 31D may be configured similarly to the electronic pen main body portion 3 of the first embodiment or similarly to the electronic pen main body portion 3B of the third embodiment.

[0178] An electronic pen using the electronic pen main body 3C of the example of Figure 12(B) can also obtain the same effects as the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, and when in use, the core body 35, the front cap 34, and a portion of the tapered portion on the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33 protrude to the outside from the opening in the electronic pen housing 2D shown by the dotted line in Figure 12(B).

[0179] FIG. 12(C) is a modified example of the electronic pen body 3C of FIG. 12(A). The peripheral electrode 33C' of the electronic pen body 3C' of the example of FIG. 12(C) is different from the peripheral electrode 33C of the electronic pen body 3 of the example of FIG. 12(A) in that the pen tip side is a tapered portion 33C'b. That is, the peripheral electrode 33C' of the electronic pen body 3C' of this example is shaped such that a tapered portion 33C'b is formed on the pen tip side of a cylindrical portion 33C'a whose outer diameter is a diameter R1 smaller than the diameter R0 (see FIG. 1) of the opening 2b of the pen housing 2 of the electronic pen. In this example, a front cap 34C' is provided at the tip of the tapered portion 33C'b of the peripheral electrode 33C'. The rest is configured similarly to the electronic pen body 3C of the example of FIG. 12(A).

[0180] 12(C), the core 35, the front cap 34C', and a portion of the pen tip side of the peripheral electrode 33C' protrude outward from the opening of the housing 2C of the electronic pen during use. In this case, the portion of the peripheral electrode 33C' protruding outward includes not only the tapered portion 33C'b but also a portion of the cylindrical portion 33C'a, and it is the cylindrical portion 33C'a that is located at the opening of the housing 2C, providing the same effect as the example of FIG. 12(A).

[0181] [Other embodiments or modifications] In the above description of the embodiment, the electronic pen body is intended to be configured to be compatible with refills for ballpoint pens of writing instruments, but it goes without saying that it can also be configured for a dedicated electronic pen.

[0182] In the above embodiment, the electronic pen body is configured to be inserted and removed from the housing by a knocking mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to such a knocking mechanism, and may be an electronic pen in a form in which the electronic pen body is simply stored in the pen housing. In this case, the pen tip side of the electronic pen body always protrudes from the opening of the pen housing, and a cap may be screwed or pressed into the pen housing to protect the protruding pen tip side, and the pen tip side of the electronic pen body may be covered with the cap.

[0183] Moreover, the peripheral electrode is configured from a cylindrical conductor in the above embodiment, but it may be configured into a cylindrical shape from a conductor divided into a plurality of pieces in the circumferential direction.

[0184] Moreover, although the core body 35 is made of a conductive metal, it may be made of any material that is conductive, for example, a hard resin mixed with conductive powder.

[0185] The cylindrical body of the electronic pen body may be formed of a metal pipe alone or a resin pipe alone, instead of a combination of a metal pipe and a resin pipe. However, when the cylindrical body is formed of a metal pipe alone, when an electrical connection with an electronic component provided in the housing is required, a member having a conductor for electrical connection is provided at the rear end of the cylindrical body on the side opposite to the pen tip side, via an insulating material such as resin. [Explanation of symbols]

[0186] 1...electronic pen, 2...electronic pen housing, 3...electronic pen main body, 4...knock cam mechanism, 7...core body holding member, 8...pen pressure detection unit, 9...printed circuit board, 10...storage capacitor, 10BT...primary battery, 30...housing of electronic pen main body, 31...main body cylindrical portion, 32...cylindrical connecting member, 33...peripheral electrode, 34...front cap, 35...center electrode (core body)

Claims

1. An electronic pen body portion in which at least a pen tip is accommodated in a housing of the electronic pen so as to be able to protrude from one opening in an axial direction of the housing of the electronic pen, A first electrode having one end side in an axial direction that becomes the pen tip; a second electrode disposed around the first electrode and different from the first electrode; a signal receiving circuit to which a reception signal received via electric field coupling between the second electrode and the position detection sensor is supplied; Equipped with When the one end side of the first electrode protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen, a part of the pen tip side of the second electrode also protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen. An electronic pen body comprising:

2. The pen tip side of the second electrode has a tapered shape. The electronic pen body according to claim 1 .

3. a cylindrical main body portion in which a signal generating circuit for generating a signal to be supplied to at least the first electrode is disposed; the second electrode is coupled to the pen tip side in an axial direction of the cylindrical main body portion, The cylindrical main body portion does not protrude to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen. The electronic pen body according to claim 1 .

4. a fitting portion of the first electrode is disposed in a hollow portion of the second electrode and the cylindrical main body portion, The first electrode is attached by being detachably fitted into the fitting portion.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

5. The second electrode has a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical main body.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

6. the second electrode includes, in an axial direction, a front portion on a pen tip side including the part protruding from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen to the outside, and a rear portion on a coupling side with the main body cylindrical portion, The front portion has a tapered shape tapered toward the pen tip side, and the rear portion has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined diameter.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

7. The cylindrical main body is provided with a battery that supplies a power supply voltage to the signal transmission circuit.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

8. The cylindrical main body portion is provided with a power storage element that supplies a power supply voltage to the signal transmission circuit, and is also provided with terminal conductors that enable the power storage element to be charged from the outside.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

9. When the signal is supplied from the signal generating circuit to the first electrode, the second electrode is grounded and configured to function as a shield electrode.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

10. The second electrode is configured to function as a tilt detection electrode by supplying the signal from the signal generating circuit to the second electrode.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

11. The cylindrical main body portion is configured to be flexible in a direction intersecting the axial direction.

4. The electronic pen body according to claim 3.

12. An electronic pen having a housing with an opening at one end in an axial direction on a pen tip side, and at least one electronic pen body portion is housed in the housing, The electronic pen body includes: A first electrode having one end side in an axial direction that becomes the pen tip; a second electrode disposed around the first electrode and different from the first electrode; a signal receiving circuit to which a reception signal received via electric field coupling between the second electrode and the position detection sensor is supplied; Equipped with When the one end side of the first electrode protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen, a part of the pen tip side of the second electrode also protrudes to the outside from the opening of the housing of the electronic pen.

1. An electronic pen comprising:

13. The diameter of the first electrode of the electronic pen body and the diameter of the part of the second electrode protruding from the opening are set to be equal to or smaller than the diameter of the pen tip of a refill of a commercially available knock-type ballpoint pen, and the length of the electronic pen body is set to be approximately the same as the length of the refill of the ballpoint pen.

13. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 12.

14. The housing stores a refill for the ballpoint pen and functions as a ballpoint pen.

14. The electronic pen according to claim 13.

15. A mechanism for a knock-type ballpoint pen for the electronic pen body or a refill for the ballpoint pen is provided in the housing.

15. An electronic pen according to claim 13 or 14.

16. The housing includes a mechanism for a knock-type multi-color ballpoint pen that accommodates a plurality of the electronic pen body portions and selectively projects one of the electronic pens from the opening at one end of the first electrode, which becomes the pen tip, to the outside.

13. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 12.

17. The housing also functions as a knock-type multi-color ballpoint pen by storing refills for the ballpoint pen in place of one or more of the electronic pen main bodies.

14. The electronic pen according to claim 13.

18. A cap is provided on the opening side of the housing so as to be engaged with the pen tip side protruding from the opening of the housing.

13. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 12.

Images