Position indicator

Abstract

To allow a single position indicator to deal with multiple types of position detection systems.SOLUTION: A position indicator is capable of communicating with a position detection system having a sensor. The position indicator includes a first communication unit that transmits a position detection signal for detecting a position indicated by the position indicator to the sensor of the position detection system, a second communication unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system and is different from the first communication unit, and control means that performs control to transmit, in a first mode, additional information different from the position detection signal via the first communication unit and to transmit, in a second mode different from the first mode, the additional information via the second communication unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a position indicator (stylus) used together with a position detection sensor.

Background Art

[0002] A position input device composed of a position detection sensor and a position indicator called an electronic pen has various types, such as an electromagnetic coupling method and an electrostatic coupling method, depending on the difference in the coupling method between the position detection sensor and the electronic pen.

[0003] And even for position input devices of the same type, there are various configuration types depending on the method of transmitting and receiving position detection signals between the position detection system and the position indicator, the method of transmitting and receiving additional information such as operation information of switches provided on the position indicator, pen pressure information, identification information of the position indicator, internal storage data, etc., and the method of transmitting and receiving instruction information for changing the operation of the position indicator. Conventionally, position indicators corresponding to a position detection system have been provided to users limited to a specific method of position detection signals and a method of transmitting and receiving additional information. Therefore, even for a position input device equipped with a position detection system having similar position detection sensor means, the user has to carry a dedicated position indicator and select an appropriate position indicator for each position input device.

[0004] For example, as an electrostatic coupling type position indicator, there are the following multiple configuration types. That is, in the first configuration type, the position detection signal is not sent from the position indicator, but the alternating current field energy sent from the sensor part of the position detection system is passed through the position indicator and the human body to the ground, and the change in energy (or voltage) induced in the conductor of the sensor part of the position detection system at the position where the position indicator exists is detected to perform position detection (passive method) (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-3035) etc.).

[0005] Also, the second configuration type of the electrostatic coupling method is an improvement over the above-described first configuration type in that the sensitivity of position detection is low. It is a position indicator of a method (an improved method of the passive method) that receives a signal from the sensor unit of the position detection system, performs signal processing such as signal enhancement on the received signal, and then feeds it back to the sensor unit (see, for example, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 4683505)). In the case of the position indicators of the first and second configuration types, additional information is transmitted or exchanged with the position detection sensor using, for example, wireless communication means.

[0006] The third configuration type of the electrostatic coupling method is different from the above-described first and second configuration types. The position indicator includes a transmission circuit, and a transmission signal from this transmission circuit is supplied to the position detection sensor as a position detection signal. It is a so-called active type position indicator (see, for example, Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-295722)). The position detection system uses the sensor panel of the position detection means, and performs position detection as the position indicated by the position indicator from the signal intensity of each conductor that has received the transmission signal from this active type position indicator.

[0007] And in the case of this third configuration type of position indicator, it is further divided into a plurality of types, such as a configuration type that transmits and receives all of the additional information to and from the position detection system together with the position detection signal, and a configuration type that transmits and receives a part of the additional information together with the position detection signal, and transmits the other additional information separately to the wireless communication means provided in the position detection system through wireless communication means.

[0008] Incidentally, although detailed description is omitted, also in the electromagnetic coupling method, there are a configuration type in which the position indicator receives a signal from the sensor unit of the position detection system with a resonance circuit and feeds back the received signal to the sensor unit of the position detection system, a configuration type including a transmission circuit and transmitting a transmission signal from the transmission circuit to the sensor unit of the position detection system through a resonance circuit, etc., and there is a configuration type that transmits additional information to the wireless communication means provided in the position detection system. The fact that there are a plurality of configuration types is the same as in the case of the above-described electrostatic coupling method.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] By the way, as described above, conventionally, even for position input devices of the same electrostatic coupling method or electromagnetic induction method, every time the configuration type is different, a position indicator corresponding to that configuration type had to be prepared. However, having to prepare a position indicator every time the configuration type is different places a cost burden on the user and also requires the user to manage a plurality of configuration types of position indicators in correspondence with the position detection system, which is troublesome.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a position indicator that can use a plurality of configuration types with a single position indicator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a position indicator capable of communicating with a position detection system having a sensor, a first communication unit that transmits a position detection signal for detecting a position indicated by the position indicator to the sensor of the position detection system, a communication unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system, which is a second communication unit different from the first communication unit, Control means for transmitting additional information different from the position detection signal via the first communication unit in the first mode and controlling to transmit the additional information via the second communication unit in a second mode different from the first mode; A position indicator characterized by comprising the above is provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] The position indicator according to the present invention can adopt a configuration (mode) corresponding to the configuration type of the position detection system according to the configuration type of the position detection system. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a position indicator for each position detection system of a different configuration type, and the cost burden on the user can be reduced. At the same time, the user only needs to prepare one common position indicator for a plurality of configuration types of position detection systems, so that the troublesome management corresponding to the position detection system becomes unnecessary.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the position indicator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for schematically explaining the conceptual configuration and processing operation of the position indicator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the position indicator 1 is located on the sensor input surface 2a of the capacitive position detection system 2. Further, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mechanical configuration example of the position indicator 1. FIG. 2(A) is a partial longitudinal sectional view thereof, and FIG. 2(B) is a diagram showing a part of its appearance. In this embodiment, the position indicator 1 is formed to have a stylus shape with a rod-like appearance.

[0016] [Explanation of the mechanical configuration example of the position indicator in the embodiment] The position indicator 1 of this embodiment includes a rod-shaped housing 3. As shown in FIG. 2(A), this housing 3 is composed of an insulating portion 31 having a hollow cylindrical shape made of an insulating material, for example, synthetic resin. And in this embodiment, at least the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the insulating portion 31 of the housing 3 that the operator grips the position indicator 1 is covered with a conductor portion 32 made of, for example, metal.

[0017] Inside the housing 3, as shown in FIG. 2(A), a printed wiring board 40, a battery 5, and a pen pressure detection unit 9 are disposed. The conductor portion 32 covering the outer peripheral surface of the housing 3 is electrically connected to the ground conductor of the printed wiring board 40, although not shown in the figure.

[0018] On the printed wiring board 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(A), there are a signal transmission control circuit 41 that constitutes an example of control means, a wireless communication module 42, a side switch 43 composed of a push button switch, an ID memory 44 that stores the identification information (ID) of the position indicator 1, oscillators 45 and 46 that output oscillation signals of different frequencies f1 and f2, wiring patterns such as conductive patterns 47a to 47e, and in this example, a power switch 48, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 49, etc. are arranged. In FIG. 2(A), the conductive patterns 47a to 47e are schematically shown as a single conductor pattern for simplicity of explanation, but the conductive patterns 47a to 47e may of course consist of a plurality of conductor patterns as required.

[0019] The battery 5 is a power supply source for the electronic circuits and electronic components configured on the printed wiring board 40. As will be described later, in this embodiment, the pen pressure detection unit 9 is configured as a variable capacitance capacitor that exhibits a capacitance corresponding to the pen pressure applied to the center electrode 7 that constitutes the core.

[0020] The wireless communication module 42 has a transmitter function unit that is an example of the additional information transmission unit (second transmission unit) of the present invention and a receiver function unit that is an example of the receiver unit (first receiver unit) for receiving signals from the position detection system. In this embodiment, it is configured as a wireless communication module of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard of the short-range wireless communication standard. The wireless communication module 42 is connected to the signal transmission control circuit 41. Note that the wireless communication module 42 is not limited to Bluetooth, and for example, it may be based on infrared communication, or a wireless communication module of the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard may be used.

[0021] The side switch 43, the ID memory 44, and the pen pressure detection unit 9 each constitute means for generating additional information. The side switch 43 supplies its on or off information to the signal transmission control circuit 41 as an example of additional information. The ID memory 44 outputs the identification information (ID: Identification) of the position indicator 1 stored therein to the signal transmission control circuit 41 as an example of additional information in response to a read request from the signal transmission control circuit 41. The variable capacitance capacitor constituted by the pen pressure detection unit 9 exhibits a capacitance change corresponding to the pen pressure value applied to the central electrode 7 constituting the core, and the signal transmission control circuit 41 generates pen pressure information as an example of additional information based on the capacitance.

[0022] The oscillators 45 and 46 generate AC signals for forming the position detection signal transmitted from the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, and supply the generated AC signals to the signal transmission control circuit 41. In this embodiment, the oscillator 45 generates an AC signal with a frequency f1, and the oscillator 46 generates an AC signal with a frequency f2 different from the frequency f1. The signal transmission control circuit 41 generates different position detection signals based on the oscillator 45 and the oscillator 46. That is, the signal transmission control circuit 41, in combination with the oscillator 45 and the oscillator 46, constitutes means for generating a position detection signal, and constitutes two transmission units. Then, the signal transmission control circuit 41 uses either of the two generated position detection signals as the position detection signal transmitted from the position indicator 1. Instead of the oscillators 45 and 46, a plurality of transmission units that generate and transmit position detection signals for each of a plurality of configuration types of the active type position indicator described later may be provided, and configured to be selectively controlled by the signal transmission control circuit 41.

[0023] And in this embodiment, the battery 5 is configured to be housed in the housing 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(A). The power supply voltage of the electronic circuit unit such as the signal transmission control circuit 41 on the printed wiring board 40 is generated by this battery 5. In FIG. 2(A), the terminal 52 is a terminal electrically connected to the power supply circuit unit on the printed wiring board 40. The positive electrode side electrode 51 of the battery 5 is in contact with and electrically connected to this terminal 52. Although not shown, the negative electrode side electrode of the battery 5 is directly connected to the ground conductor of the printed wiring board 40 or is pressed into contact with an elastically displaced terminal that is connected to the ground conductor of the printed wiring board 40 via the conductor portion 32 of the housing 3.

[0024] The operator 48a of the power switch 48 disposed on the printed wiring board 40 is provided so as to be operable from the outside through an opening provided in the housing 3 as shown in FIG. 2(B). By sliding and moving this operator 48a by the user, the power switch 48 can be turned on and off. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for simplicity of explanation, a power supply circuit unit for generating a power supply voltage from the voltage of the battery 5 is also formed on the printed wiring board 40 when the power switch 48 is turned on.

[0025] One end side in the center line direction of the hollow cylindrical insulator portion 31 constituting the housing 3 is formed into a tapered portion 33 that gradually tapers as shown in FIG. 2(A). A peripheral electrode 6 made of, for example, an annular conductive metal is attached to the outer peripheral side of this tapered portion 33. The peripheral electrode 6 and the conductor portion 32 on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 3 are insulated from each other by the insulator portion 31 interposed therebetween.

[0026] As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral electrode 6 constitutes a signal receiving section (second receiving section) from the position detection system 2 by electrostatic coupling. The peripheral electrode 6 is electrically connected to the conductor pattern 47a of the printed wiring board 40 by a lead conductor member 61 that penetrates the insulator portion 31. In this example, the conductor pattern 47a is connected to the input end of the signal transmission control circuit 41.

[0027] Also, in this embodiment, a central electrode 7 made of a conductive rod-shaped body is disposed such that one end side protrudes outside from the hollow portion of the tapered portion 33 of the housing 3. The central electrode 7 serves as a core that constitutes the tip of the pen-shaped position indicator 1.

[0028] In this embodiment, the central electrode 7 constitutes a first transmission section for transmitting a position detection signal. The end portion on the side opposite to the side protruding outside is configured to be electrically connected to the conductive pattern 47b formed on the printed wiring board 40. The conductive pattern 47b is connected to the output end of the signal transmission control circuit 41. In this embodiment, the position indicator 1 also operates as a passive type position indicator that does not transmit a position detection signal. In that case, the central electrode 7 serves to suck up the charge from the conductor of the position detection system 2 through the electrostatic coupling section.

[0029] The peripheral electrode 6 is provided around the central electrode 7. The combination of the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 is for the improved type passive position indicator described above. In this embodiment, a shield member 8 for effectively preventing mutual electrical interference is provided between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7. The shield member 8 of this embodiment is provided so as to surround the central electrode 7. Thereby, the shield member 8 is interposed between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 to minimize the coupling capacitance between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7.

[0030] The central electrode 7 as this core body is locked within the hollow portion of the housing 3 of the position indicator 1 by being fitted into the pen pressure detection unit 9 disposed within the hollow portion of the housing 3, with the end portion on the side opposite to the side protruding outside thereof. Note that, as will be described later, the central electrode 7 is configured such that fitting with the pen pressure detection unit 9 is disengaged by pulling it out. That is, the central electrode 7 as the core body is replaceable with respect to the position indicator 1.

[0031] In this example, the pen pressure detection unit 9 is configured by a variable capacitance capacitor (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-186803, etc.) that exhibits a capacitance corresponding to the pressure (pen pressure) applied to the central electrode 7 as the core body. The electrodes at both ends of the variable capacitance capacitor configured by this pen pressure detection unit 9 are connected to the signal transmission control circuit 41 by the conductive pattern 47c in FIG. 2(A).

[0032] Based on the information received from the outside through the wireless communication module 42 or the information received through the peripheral electrode 6, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines and controls which of a plurality of configuration types (modes) the position indicator 1 of this embodiment is to be in. Further, based on the determination control, the circuit controls the transmission of the position detection signal through the central electrode 7, and further controls the transmission of the additional information through the central electrode 7 or the wireless communication module 42.

[0033] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a detailed configuration of the portions of the central electrode 7, the shield member 8, and the pen pressure detection unit 9 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the portions of the central electrode 7, the shield member 8, and the pen pressure detection unit 9.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the central electrode 7 includes a core body 71 made of a conductive material, for example, a metal, having a diameter formed to be, for example, 1.9 mm. In this embodiment, approximately half of the pen tip side of the core body 71 is covered by a protective member 72 made of an insulating material. The protective member 72 serves to prevent damage to the sensor input surface 2a of the position detection system 2 and to increase the contact area with the sensor input surface 2a, and also serves to more firmly insulate against the shield member 8 and the peripheral electrode 6.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the shield member 8 is configured such that a cylindrical body 81 made of a conductive material has all surfaces including its outer wall surface and inner wall surface covered with an insulating layer 82.

[0036] The pen pressure detection unit 9 is configured as a variable capacitance capacitor that receives the pen pressure applied to the center electrode 7 through the pressure transmission member 10 and has a variable capacitance. As shown in FIG. 3, the center electrode 7 and the pressure transmission member 10 are coupled and accommodated in a slidable state within the hollow portion of the cylindrical body 81 of the shield member 8. The pressure transmission member 10 has a core fitting portion 11 into which the end portion 71b of the core body 71 of the center electrode 7 is fitted, and a protruding portion 12 that fits into the pen pressure detection unit 9.

[0037] Then, as shown in FIG. 3, within the recess 11a of the pressure transmission member 10, a terminal piece 13 for making an electrical connection between the center electrode 7 and the signal transmission control circuit 41 of the printed wiring board 40 is disposed, and an extension portion 13a from the terminal piece 13 is connected to a lead electrode 14 that is connected to a conductor pattern of the printed wiring board 40.

[0038] The core body 71 of the center electrode 7 is coupled to the pressure transmission member 10 by inserting (press-fitting) its end portion 71a into the terminal piece 13 within the recess 11a of the core fitting portion 11 of the pressure transmission member 10, such that the pen pressure applied to the core body 71 is transmitted to the pen pressure detection unit 9 described later through the pressure transmission member 10.

[0039] Note that, as shown in FIG. 3, at the contact portion between the pen pressure detection unit 9 and the shield member 8, a conductive metal plate 86 that is electrically connected to the ground conductor of the printed wiring board 40 is provided, and the terminal portion 83 where the surface of the cylindrical body 81 of the shield member 8 is exposed is electrically connected to this conductive metal plate 88. Thereby, the center electrode 7 is electrically shielded by the shield member 8.

[0040] Note that the core fitting portion 11 of the pressure transmission member 10 engages with the stepped portion 84 of the hollow portion of the cylindrical body 81 of the shield member 8, so that the center electrode 7 and the pressure transmission member 10 are prevented from falling off toward the pen tip side. Further, the stepped portion 85 on the outer peripheral surface of the shield member 8 engages with a stepped portion formed on the inner wall of the hollow portion of the insulator portion 31 of the housing 3 (not shown in the figure), so that the shield member 8 is configured not to move in the axial direction within the hollow portion of the insulator portion 31 of the housing 3.

[0041] The pen pressure detection unit 9 will be described below. The pen pressure detection unit 9 in this example uses a well-known pen pressure detection means described in, for example, Patent Document: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-186803, and constitutes a variable capacitance capacitor whose capacitance changes according to the pen pressure applied to the center electrode 7.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the pen pressure detection unit 9 in this example is configured by housing a plurality of components including a dielectric 92, a conductive member 93, an elastic member 94, a holding member 95, and a terminal member 96 in a housing member 91 made of an insulating material, for example, resin. The terminal member 96 constitutes the first electrode of the variable capacitance capacitor that constitutes the pen pressure detection unit 9. Further, the conductive member 93 and the elastic member 94 are electrically connected to constitute the second electrode of the variable capacitance capacitor.

[0043] In this pen pressure detection unit 9, when a pen pressure is applied to the center electrode 7, the pen pressure is transmitted to the holding member 95 of the pen pressure detection unit 9 via the pressure transmission member 10, and the holding member 95 moves the conductive member 93 toward the dielectric 92 according to the applied pen pressure. Then, the contact area between the conductive member 93 and the dielectric 92 changes according to the applied pen pressure, and the capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor formed between the first electrode and the second electrode varies according to the applied pen pressure.

[0044] [Description of the Configuration Example of the Internal Electronic Circuit of the Position Indicator 1 of the Embodiment] In this embodiment, as described above, there are multiple configuration types for the position detection system 2 used with the position indicator 1, such as the passive method, an improved passive method, and the active method. In this embodiment, when the position detection system 2 includes a wireless communication module capable of communicating with the wireless communication module 42 of the position indicator 1, the wireless communication module transmits pen type information indicating the configuration type in which the position detection system can operate to the position indicator 1. The position indicator 1 receives the pen type information from the position detection system through the receiving function (first receiving unit) of the wireless communication module 42, determines which configuration type (mode) the position indicator should be based on the received pen type information, and controls itself to be configured as the determined configuration type of the position indicator.

[0045] In the case of a position indicator of a configuration type of the passive method or an improved passive method that receives a transmission signal from the position detection system 2 side, the position indicator 1 can receive the signal from the position detection system through the peripheral electrode 6 (second receiving unit), determine which configuration type the position indicator should be, and control itself to be configured as the determined type of position indicator.

[0046] In this case, between the passive method and the improved passive method, since there are differences in the frequency of the signal from the position detection system and differences in the signal content (differences in spreading codes, modulation methods, etc.), the position indicator 1 discriminates these differences and determines which configuration type the position indicator should be based on the discrimination result. In this case, even when configuration type information cannot be obtained from the position detection system through the wireless communication module, it is possible to determine which configuration type (mode) the position indicator should be.

[0047] The signal transmission control circuit 41 of the position indicator 1 performs a determination process of the configuration type (mode) of the position indicator 1 based on the information received from the position detection system 2 through the wireless communication module 42 as described above, or the signal received through the peripheral electrode 6, and also performs a process of controlling the position indicator 1 to be the determined configuration type (mode).

[0048] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit formed on the printed wiring board 40 in the housing 3 of the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, and mainly shows an internal detailed configuration example of the signal transmission control circuit 41.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the signal transmission control circuit 41 includes, for example, a control unit 410 composed of an IC (Integrated Circuit), a pen type determination unit 411, a center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412, a wireless transmission signal generation unit 413, a switch circuit 414 for selecting a position detection signal, a feedback signal generation circuit 415, and switch circuits 416 and 417 for switching between a passive type position indicator, an improved type of the passive type, and an active type position indicator.

[0050] A variable capacitance capacitor composed of the pen pressure detection unit 9 is connected to the control unit 410. The control unit 410 calculates the pressure (pen pressure value) applied to the center electrode 7 from the capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor composed of the pen pressure detection unit 9. Also, the on / off state signal of the side switch 43 is supplied to the control unit 410. The control unit 410 generates side switch information, which is additional information regarding the side switch 43, from the on / off state signal of the side switch 43. Further, an ID memory 44 is connected to the control unit 410, and the control unit 410 reads and acquires the identification information (ID) of the position indicator 1 from the ID memory 44 as needed. Note that the ID memory 44 may store in advance the identification information in the position indicator 1, or the identification information, which is the stored content of the ID memory 44, may be configured to be rewritten by a command from the position detection system 2 received through, for example, the wireless communication module 42.

[0051] Based on the information according to the pen type determination result from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 controls whether to send out multiple types of additional information, in this example, pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information respectively, through the central electrode 7 or wirelessly transmit them from the wireless communication module 42.

[0052] The additional information to be sent out through the central electrode 7 is supplied to the central electrode transmission signal generation unit 412, and the additional information to be sent out through the wireless communication module 42 is supplied to the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413.

[0053] The central electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 is connected to the central electrode 7. As will be described later, the additional information to be sent out is sent to the position detection system 2 through the central electrode 7 together with the position detection signal. The wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 is connected to the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42, and the additional information to be sent out is wirelessly transmitted to the position detection system 2 through this transmission unit 421.

[0054] To the central electrode transmission signal generation unit 412, an AC signal with a frequency f1 from the oscillator 45 and an AC signal with a frequency f2 from the oscillator 46 are supplied as signals for generating the position detection signal to be sent out according to the switching selection by the control unit 410 of the switch circuit 414. At the same time, a feedback signal from the feedback signal generation circuit 415 is supplied as the position detection signal to be sent out. The feedback signal generation circuit 415 amplifies, signal-strengthens, and further inverts the phase of the signal received from the position detection system 2 through the peripheral electrode 6 in this example. The configuration example and processing example of this feedback signal generation circuit 415 will be described in detail later. The control unit 410 generates a switching selection signal for the switch circuit 414 based on the information based on the pen type determination result from the pen type determination unit 411.

[0055] Also, the connection between the central electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 and the central electrode 7 is connected to the conductor part 32 of the housing 3 through the switch circuit 416. Also, the peripheral electrode 6 is connected to the conductor part 32 of the housing 3 through the switch circuit 417. And these switch circuits 416 and 417 are switched by the on / off control signal from the control unit 410. The control unit 410 generates the on / off control signals for the switch circuits 416 and 417 based on the information based on the pen type determination result from the pen type determination unit 411.

[0056] The pen type determination unit 411 is composed of a pen type table memory 4111 and a determination processing unit 4112. Information from the position detection system 2 received by the reception unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 is supplied to the determination processing unit 4112 of the pen type determination unit 411, and at the same time, a signal received from the position detection system 2 through the peripheral electrode 6 is supplied.

[0057] The pen type table memory 4111 stores pen type table information including a plurality of configuration types of the position indicator 1, the presence or absence of transmission of the position detection signal and the frequency of the oscillator for generating the position detection signal to be transmitted in the position indicator of each configuration type, and also whether the additional information is transmitted from the central electrode 7 or through the wireless communication module 42. This pen type table information may be stored in the pen type table memory 4111 in advance, but in this example, it is configured to be writable and rewritable by a command from the position detection system 2 through the wireless communication module 42.

[0058] The determination processing unit 4112 discriminates the information from the position detection system 2 received by the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 or the signal received from the sensor unit of the position detection system 2 through the peripheral electrode 6, and refers to the pen type table information in the pen type table memory 4111 to determine the configuration type of the position indicator to be used together with the position indicator 1 that is compatible with the position detection system 2. Then, based on the determination result, it generates information about whether to send a signal from the center electrode 7, what the position detection signal and additional information to be sent from the center electrode 7 are, and what the additional information to be transmitted through the wireless communication module 42 is, and supplies the generated information to the control unit 410.

[0059] Based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 generates a switching selection signal for the switch circuit 414 and on / off control signals for the switch circuits 416 and 417, supplies them to the switch circuits 414 and 416, 417, determines the additional information to be supplied to the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 and the additional information to be supplied to the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413, and supplies them respectively.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows an example of the pen type table information of the pen type determination unit 411. This example in FIG. 5 is table information about five types of position indicators of configuration types 1 to 5 (modes 1 to 5). After determining the configuration type (mode) of the position indicator, the pen type determination unit 411 refers to this pen type table information and generates control information to be supplied to the control unit 410. Hereinafter, in the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, it will be explained that each configuration type (mode) is switched and configured by the control of the control unit 410.

[0061] Configuration type 1 (mode 1) is a passive position indicator. No signal is transmitted from the central electrode 7, and all additional information is transmitted through the wireless communication module 42. That is, in the signal transmission control circuit 41 of the position indicator 1, when the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 1 (mode 1), the control unit 410 turns on the switch circuits 416 and 417, and also sets the central electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 to a non-operating state. The switch circuit 417 may be off. Then, the control unit 410 controls all additional information to be transmitted to the position detection system 2 through the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 via the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413. Note that the identification information may not need to be transmitted as additional information.

[0062] Configuration type 2 (mode 2) is an improved passive position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 2 (mode 2), based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 turns off the switch circuits 416 and 417, and switches the switch circuit 414 to a state where it selects the signal from the feedback signal generation circuit 415. Then, all additional information is controlled to be transmitted to the position detection system 2 through the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 via the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 from the control unit 410. Note that the identification information may not need to be transmitted as additional information.

[0063] Configuration type 3 (mode 3) is the first type of active position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 3 (mode 3), based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 turns off the switch circuit 416, turns on the switch circuit 417, and switches the switch circuit 414 to a state where it selects the AC signal from the oscillator 45 with frequency f1 in this example. Then, all additional information is controlled to be transmitted to the position detection system 2 through the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 via the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 from the control unit 410. Note that the identification information may not need to be transmitted as additional information.

[0064] Configuration type 4 (Mode 4) is the second type of active position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 4 (Mode 4), based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 turns off the switch circuit 416, turns on the switch circuit 417, and in this example, switches the switch circuit 414 to a state where it selects an AC signal from the oscillator 46 with a frequency f2. Then, among the additional information, the pen pressure information and the side switch information are sent together with the position detection signal from the center electrode 7, and the identification information ID is controlled to be sent to the position detection system 2 through the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 via the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413.

[0065] Configuration type 5 (Mode 5) is the second type of active position indicator. When the pen type determination unit 411 determines this configuration type 5 (Mode 5), based on the information from the pen type determination unit 411, the control unit 410 turns off the switch circuit 416, turns on the switch circuit 417, and in this example, switches the switch circuit 414 to a state where it selects an AC signal from the oscillator 46 with a frequency f2. Then, all of the additional information is controlled to be sent together with the position detection signal from the center electrode 7.

[0066] As described above, based on the information and signals received from the sensor unit of the position detection system 2 through the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 and the peripheral electrode 6, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines the configuration type of the position indicator, and sets the position indicator 1 to the configuration of the position indicator of the determined configuration type. Therefore, the position indicator 1 of this embodiment can automatically configure and use position indicators of various configuration types corresponding to various types of position detection systems 2. That is, for a plurality of position detection systems 2 of various types, position indication input can be performed only with the position indicator 1 of this embodiment. For this reason, it is not necessary to prepare separate position indicators for each of the plurality of position detection systems 2 of various types, which is very convenient and also reduces the cost burden on the user.

[0067] Note that the pen type information received from the position detection system 2 through the wireless communication module 42 is not limited to the information of the configuration type directly identifying each of the configuration types 1 to 5. For example, it may be information indirectly indicating the numbers of the respective configuration types 1 to 5 in the pen type table information, the addresses of the respective configuration types in the pen type table memory 4111, and the like.

[0068] Note that in FIG. 4, each processing function of the determination processing unit 4112 of the pen type determination unit 411, the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412, and the wireless transmission signal generation unit 413 can also be configured by the control unit 410 as software processing function means. The same applies to the feedback signal generation circuit 415.

[0069] [Example of Processing Operation in Signal Transmission Control Circuit 41] Next, an example of the processing operation executed by the signal transmission control circuit 41 after the power switch 48 is turned on will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0070] In the signal transmission control circuit 41, first, it is determined whether information is received by the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S1). When it is determined that information has been received, it is determined whether the received information is pen type information (step S2). If it is determined in this step S2 that the received information is pen type information, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines the configuration type (pen type) of the position indicator based on the received pen type information, and refers to the pen type table memory 4111 to determine the signals to be transmitted from the center electrode 7 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S3). This determination includes, as described above, the determination of whether to transmit a position detection signal from the center electrode 7.

[0071] Next to step S3, the signal transmission control circuit 41 executes signal transmission according to the configuration type determined in step S3 through the center electrode 7 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S4).

[0072] Then, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether information from the position detection system 2 through the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 cannot be received (step S5). When it is determined that the information can still be received, the process returns to step S4, and the signal transmission according to the determined configuration type continues.

[0073] In step S5, when it is determined that information from the position detection system 2 through the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 cannot be received, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the reception became impossible (step S6). When it is determined in this step S6 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S4 and continues the signal transmission according to the determined configuration type.

[0074] In step S6, when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 pauses the signal transmission from the central electrode 7 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42, and sets the position indicator 1 to the sleep state (step S7). In this sleep state, in order to reduce the consumption of the battery 5 as much as possible and achieve power saving, the power supply to the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42, the control unit 410 of the signal transmission control circuit 41, and the pen type determination unit 411 is maintained, but the unnecessary voltage supply to other parts is stopped.

[0075] Then, after this step S7, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1 and repeats the processes after step S1 described above.

[0076] When it is determined in step S1 that the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 has not received information, and when it is determined in step S2 that the received information is not pen type information, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether a signal has been received through the peripheral electrode 6 (step S11 in FIG. 7). When it is determined in this step S11 that a signal has not been received through the peripheral electrode 6, the signal transmission control circuit 41 turns on the switch circuit 416 and connects the center electrode 7 to the ground conductor (ground) of the printed wiring board 40 through the conductor portion 32 to set it to the state of configuration type 1 (step S18). Then, after this step S18, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1 in FIG. 6 and repeats the processes after this step S1.

[0077] And when it is determined in step S11 that a signal has been received through the peripheral electrode 6, it is determined whether the pen type can be determined from the received signal (step S12). When it is determined in this step S12 that the pen type cannot be determined, the signal transmission control circuit 41 turns on the switch circuit 416 and connects the center electrode 7 to the ground conductor (ground) of the printed wiring board 40 through the conductor portion 32 to set it to the state of configuration type 1 (step S18). Then, after this step S18, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1 in FIG. 6 and repeats the processes after this step S1.

[0078] When it is determined in step S12 that the pen type can be determined, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines the configuration type (pen type) of the position indicator based on the received signal, and refers to the pen type table 4111 to determine the signals transmitted from the center electrode 7 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S13). This determination includes, as described above, the determination of whether to transmit a position detection signal from the center electrode 7.

[0079] Next to step S13, the signal transmission control circuit 41 executes signal transmission according to the configuration type determined in step S13 through the central electrode 7 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42 (step S14).

[0080] Then, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether it is impossible to receive a signal through the peripheral electrode 6 (step S15). When it is determined that the reception is still possible, the process returns to step S14, and the signal transmission according to the determined configuration type continues.

[0081] In step S15, when it is determined that it is impossible to receive a signal through the peripheral electrode 6, the signal transmission control circuit 41 determines whether a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the reception became impossible (step S16). In this step S16, when it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S14 and continues the signal transmission according to the determined configuration type.

[0082] In step S16, when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, the signal transmission control circuit 41 pauses the signal transmission from the central electrode 7 and the transmission unit 421 of the wireless communication module 42, and sets the position indicator 1 to the sleep state (step S17). Then, next to this step S17, the signal transmission control circuit 41 returns the process to step S1 and repeats the processes after step S1 described above.

[0083] [Explanation of the operation of the position indicators of various configuration types and the corresponding position detection systems] <The position indicator 1A of configuration type 2 and the corresponding position detection system 2A> FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a circuit example of the main part of the position indicator 1A of configuration type 2. In particular, it shows a circuit configuration example of the feedback signal generation circuit 415 and a circuit configuration example of the power supply circuit unit 50 omitted above.

[0084] The power supply circuit unit 50 includes a DC / DC converter 501, generates a power supply voltage +Vcc from the voltage of the battery 5, and supplies it to the signal transmission control circuit 41 and others.

[0085] And in the power supply circuit section 50, a power switch 48 is provided between the DC / DC converter 501 and the battery 5. Also, a series circuit of a resistor 502 and an LED 49 is connected between the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 501 and the ground conductor. Further, the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 501 is connected to the ground conductor through a series connection of a resistor 503 and a resistor 504, and a reference voltage Vref (= Vcc / 2) is output from the connection point of the resistor 503 and the resistor 504.

[0086] The feedback signal generation circuit 415 is configured as a signal enhancement processing circuit in this example, and includes a sense amplifier 510, a signal amplification factor variable circuit 520, and a transformer 530.

[0087] In this example, the sense amplifier 510 includes an operational amplifier 511 and a capacitor 512 connected between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier 511. The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 511 is connected to a connection terminal 513 connected to the peripheral electrode 6. Also, the aforementioned reference voltage Vref is supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 511.

[0088] When the position indicator 1A is on the position detection system 2A, as shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral electrode 6 of the position indicator 1A and the position detection system 2A are coupled via a capacitance C1. As will be described later, an alternating current signal flows through the position detection system 2A, and this alternating current signal is supplied as a current signal to the connection terminal 513 via the capacitance C1 and the peripheral electrode 6 and input to the sense amplifier 510. The capacitor 512 is for detecting the current signal input via the capacitance C1.

[0089] Then, the sense amplifier 510 inverts the phase of the alternating current signal input as a current signal through the connection terminal 513 and outputs it to the signal amplification factor variable circuit 520.

[0090] The signal amplification factor variable circuit 520 consists of an operational amplifier 521 and a variable resistor 522 connected between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier 521. By variably setting the resistance value of the variable resistor 522, the amplification factor of the signal amplification factor variable circuit 520 is variably set, and as a result, the signal detection sensitivity of the position indicator 1A is controlled.

[0091] The AC signal amplified by this signal amplification factor variable circuit 520 is supplied to the primary winding 530a of the transformer 530. The ratio of the number of turns n1 of the primary winding 530a of this transformer 530 to the number of turns n2 of the secondary winding 530b is set such that the number of turns on the secondary winding 530b side is larger (n1 < n2), for example, n1:n2 = 1:10. Therefore, on the secondary winding 530b side of the transformer 530, the amplitude of the output signal of the signal amplification factor variable circuit 520 is multiplied according to the turns ratio, and an AC signal (voltage signal) with a large amplitude is obtained.

[0092] One end of the secondary winding 530b of the transformer 530 is connected to a connection terminal 523 connected to a core body 71 composed of a rod-shaped conductor of the center electrode 7 shielded by a shield member 8, and the other end of the secondary winding 530b of the transformer 530 is connected to the ground conductor of the printed wiring board 40. Therefore, the output signal that has been made into a large-amplitude AC signal voltage by the feedback signal generation circuit 415 is supplied to the center electrode 7 through the connection terminal 523.

[0093] When the position indicator 1A is on the position detection system 2A, since the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A and the position detection system 2A are coupled via capacitance, an AC signal is fed back from the position indicator 1A to the position detection system 2A through the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A.

[0094] Next, the position detection system 2A of this example will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The position detection system 2A of this example has a sensor electrode composed of an input electrode and an output electrode, and is configured as a mutual capacitance type position detection system that detects a change in the coupling capacitance of the touch point where the position indicator 1A touches.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 9, the position detection system 2A of this example includes a sensor unit 20A, a transmission unit 21, a reception unit 22, a wireless communication unit 25, and a control unit 220A. The sensor unit 20A includes a plurality of linear transmission conductors 23Y1, 23Y2, ···, 23Y m (where m is an integer of 1 or more), and a plurality of reception conductors 24X1, 24X2, ···, 24X m orthogonal to the transmission conductors 23Y1~23Y n and extending in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) of the sensor input surface. In this example, there are n reception conductors 24X1, 24X2, ···, 24X m (where n is an integer of 1 or more). The plurality of transmission conductors 23Y1~23Y n are arranged at equal intervals in the Y-axis direction and are connected to the transmission unit 21. Also, the plurality of reception conductors 24X1~24X

[0096] In the following description of this specification, when it is not necessary to distinguish which of the transmission conductors 23Y1~23Y m and the reception conductors 24X1~24X n it is, they will be referred to as transmission conductor 23Y and reception conductor 24X, respectively.

[0097] The plurality of transmission conductors 23Y and the plurality of reception conductors 24X are arranged at a predetermined interval and have an arrangement relationship orthogonal to each other, forming a plurality of intersections (cross points). And at each cross point, the transmission conductor 23Y and the reception conductor 24X can be regarded as being coupled via a predetermined capacitance.

[0098] The transmission unit 21 supplies a predetermined AC signal to the transmission conductor 23Y based on the control of the control unit 220. In this case, the transmission unit 21 may supply the same AC signal to the plurality of transmission conductors 23Y1, 23Y2, ···, 23Y m sequentially one by one while switching, or supply a plurality of different AC signals to the plurality of transmission conductors 23Y1, 23Y2, ···, 23Y mIt may be simultaneously supplied. Also, a plurality of transmission conductors 23Y1, 23Y2, ···, 23Y m may be divided into a plurality of groups, and different AC signals may be used for each group.

[0099] Based on the control of the control unit 220, the receiving unit 22 detects, for each of the receiving conductors 24X1, 24X2, ···, 24X n a signal component in which the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y is transmitted through the predetermined capacitance. If the coupling capacitance between the transmission conductor 23Y and the receiving conductor 24X is equal at all cross points, when the position indicator 1 is not present on the sensor unit 20, all receiving conductors 24X1, 24X2, ···, 24X n of the sensor unit 20 receive a received signal of a predetermined level at the receiving unit 22.

[0100] On the other hand, when the position indicator 1A contacts the sensor unit 20A, the transmission conductor 23Y and the receiving conductor 24X constituting the cross point at the contact position, and the position indicator 1A are coupled through capacitance. That is, the capacitance changes due to the position indicator 1A, and the received signal level obtained from the receiving conductor 24X at the cross point where the position indicator 1A is present changes compared to the received signal levels at other cross points.

[0101] The receiving unit 22 detects the receiving conductor 24X in which the level of the received signal has changed among the plurality of receiving conductors 24X1, 24X2, ···, 24X n to detect the indicated position by the position indicator 1A. Then, the control unit of the position detection system 2 (not shown) detects the cross point where the position indicator 1A is in contact by detecting the transmission conductor 23Y that supplies the AC signal from the transmission unit 21 and the receiving conductor 24X in which the received signal level has changed at the receiving unit 22.

[0102] Even when a finger approaches or touches the sensor unit 20 instead of the position indicator 1A, the position detection system 2 detects the cross point where the finger approaches or touches based on the same principle. In that case, a part of the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y flows through the finger and then to the ground through the user's body. Therefore, the received signal level of the receiving conductor 24X that constitutes the cross point where the finger exists changes. The receiving unit 22 detects the receiving conductor 24X that constitutes the cross point where the finger exists by detecting this change in the received signal level.

[0103] In the case of the position indicator of configuration type 1, in the same way as the principle of finger position detection, the position detection system 2A can detect the indicated position in the sensor unit 20A. However, in the case of the position indicator of configuration type 1, since the contact area with the position detection system 2A is not as large as in the case of a finger, the coupling capacitance is small, and the position detection system 2A has low detection sensitivity. For this reason, the position detection system corresponding to the position indicator of configuration type 1 uses a spreading code as the AC signal transmitted to the position indicator, and detects the indicated position of the position indicator by taking the correlation between the transmitted signal and the received signal, etc., to compensate for the decrease in detection sensitivity.

[0104] On the other hand, in the case of this position indicator 1A and position detection system 2A of configuration type 2, even without using a spreading code or the like, the affinity between the position indicator 1A and the position detection system 2A is high, and moreover, the versatility is high. Furthermore, a predetermined waveform correlation is ensured between the input signal and the output signal, enabling highly sensitive position detection on the sensor unit 20A.

[0105] That is, when the position indicator 1A is brought close to or touches the sensor unit 20A of the position detection system 2A, the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y is input as a current signal to the feedback signal generation circuit 415 through the connection terminal 513 via the capacitance C1 and also via the peripheral electrode 6 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0106] The AC signal (current signal) input to the feedback signal generation circuit 415 is phase-inverted by the sense amplifier 510, amplified by the signal amplification factor variable circuit 520, boosted (multiplied) by the transformer 530 to enhance the signal, and supplied as a voltage signal to the center electrode 7 through the connection terminal 523. That is, the AC signal input from the sensor unit 20A to the feedback signal generation circuit 415 via the peripheral electrode 6 is made out-of-phase and a large-amplitude signal in the feedback signal generation circuit 415, and is fed back to the sensor unit 20A through the center electrode 7.

[0107] In this case, the AC signal fed back from the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A to the sensor unit 20A of the position detection system 2A is an enhanced signal out-of-phase with the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y. Therefore, the position indicator 1A functions to further increase the change in the AC signal in the received signal of the reception conductor 24X. For this reason, the position detection system 2A can detect the contact position of the position indicator 1A with high sensitivity. Note that the detection operation is further stabilized by connecting the ground conductor of the position indicator 1A to the human body. That is, in this embodiment, the housing 3 of the position indicator 1A is covered with the conductor portion 32 connected to the ground conductor of the printed wiring board 40. For this reason, the AC signal supplied to the transmission conductor 23Y in the position detection system 2A can flow through the position indicator 1A and through the user's human body to the ground, thereby further stabilizing the signal detection operation.

[0108] Also, assuming that the voltage at the transmission conductor 23Y of the sensor unit 20A of the position detection system 2A is V, the voltage at the center electrode 7 of the position indicator 1A of this embodiment is e, and the capacitance between the peripheral electrode 6 and the center electrode 7 is C2 (see FIG. 1), e≦C1 / C2·V there is such a relationship. Therefore, it is advantageous to make the capacitance C2 between the peripheral electrode 6 and the center electrode 7 as small as possible to increase the potential e of the center electrode 7.

[0109] For this purpose, in the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, a shield member 8 is interposed between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 so as to minimize the coupling between the two. Therefore, in the position indicator 1 of this embodiment, by interposing the shield member 8, the capacitance C2 between the peripheral electrode 6 and the central electrode 7 is reduced, the voltage e can be increased, and the sensitivity can be efficiently enhanced.

[0110] The position indicator 1A of the above-described embodiment receives an AC signal from the position detection system 2A with the peripheral electrode 6 and feeds back an output AC signal with enhanced signal from the central electrode 7 to the position detection system 2A. However, the electrode for receiving the AC signal from the position detection system 2A may be the central electrode 7, and the electrode for feeding back the AC signal with enhanced signal to the position detection system 2 may be the peripheral electrode 6.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 9, in the position indicator 1A of this configuration type 2, the pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information are wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25 of the position detection system 2A. The pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information received by the wireless communication unit 25 are supplied to the control circuit 220A and transmitted to, for example, a host computer together with the detected position information. The additional information from the position indicator of configuration type 1 is similarly transmitted from the wireless communication module 42 to the position detection system.

[0112] <Configuration type 3 position indicator 1B and corresponding position detection system 2B> FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a circuit example of the main part of the configuration type 3 position indicator 1B and the corresponding position detection system 2B. The configuration type 3 position indicator 1B sends out an AC signal with a frequency f1 as a position detection signal, and all of the pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information, which are additional information, are sent out from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25B of the position detection system 2B.

[0113] As shown in FIG. 10, the position detection system 2B includes a sensor unit 20B, a pen instruction detection circuit 26B connected to the sensor unit 20B, and a wireless communication unit 25B.

[0114] The sensor unit 20B is formed by laminating a first conductor group 211, an insulating layer (not shown), and a second conductor group 212 in this order from the lower layer side. The first conductor group 211 has a plurality of first conductors 211Y1, 211Y2,..., 211Y m (where m is an integer of 1 or more) arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval from each other in the Y-axis direction.

[0115] Further, the second conductor group 212 has a plurality of second conductors 212X1, 212X2,..., 212X extending in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the first conductors 211Y1, 211Y2,..., 211Y m , in this example, in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to it, arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval from each other in the X-axis direction. n (where n is an integer of 1 or more).

[0116] In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the first conductors 211Y1, 211Y2,..., 211Y m , the conductor is referred to as the first conductor 211Y. Similarly, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the second conductors 212X1, 212X2,..., 212X n , the conductor is referred to as the second conductor 212X.

[0117] The pen instruction detection circuit 26B includes a selection circuit 221 that serves as an input / output interface with the sensor unit 20B, an amplification circuit 222, a band-pass filter 223, a detection circuit 224, a sample-and-hold circuit 225, an AD (Analog to Digital) conversion circuit 226, and a control circuit 220B.

[0118] The selection circuit 221 selects one conductor each from the first conductor group 211Y and the second conductor group 212X based on the control signal from the control circuit 220B. The conductor selected by the selection circuit 221 is connected to the amplifier circuit 222, and the signal from the position indicator 1B is detected by the selected conductor and amplified by the amplifier circuit 222. The output of this amplifier circuit 222 is supplied to the band-pass filter 223B, and only the component of the frequency f1 of the signal transmitted from the position indicator 1B is extracted.

[0119] The output signal of the band-pass filter 223B is detected by the detection circuit 224. The output signal of this detection circuit 224 is supplied to the sample-and-hold circuit 225, and is sample-held at a predetermined timing by the sampling signal from the control circuit 220B, and then converted into a digital value by the AD conversion circuit 226. The digital data from the AD conversion circuit 226 is read and processed by the control circuit 220B.

[0120] The control circuit 220B operates to send control signals to the sample-and-hold circuit 225, the AD conversion circuit 226, and the selection circuit 221, respectively, according to the program stored in the internal ROM. Further, the control circuit 220B calculates the position coordinates on the sensor unit 20B indicated by the position indicator 1B from the digital data from the AD conversion circuit 226.

[0121] FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the signal transmitted from the position indicator 1B of this configuration type 3 to the corresponding position detection system 2B. As described above, from the position indicator 1B of this configuration type 3, for example, a signal based on an AC signal of frequency f1 is continuously transmitted as a position detection signal through the center electrode 7.

[0122] However, the position indicator 1B of this configuration type 3 in this example utilizes the advantage that the position indicator 1 in this embodiment has a configuration capable of transmitting an AC signal of frequency f1 and an AC signal of frequency f2 as position detection signals, so that when noise of the same frequency as the position detection signal exists, the frequency of the position detection signal can be switched.

[0123] That is, in the position indicator 1B of configuration type 3 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11(A), the position detection signal is configured to repeat one cycle consisting of a continuous transmission period of a predetermined period length Ta and a rest period of a predetermined period length Tb.

[0124] Then, in the control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B, as shown in FIG. 11(B), the rest period of the predetermined period length Tb is used as a window section for detecting the presence or absence of noise, and in this window section, it is detected whether noise of the same frequency as the position detection signal exists. When it is detected that noise of the same frequency as the position detection signal exists in the window section, the control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B notifies the position indicator 1B to that effect through the wireless communication unit 25B.

[0125] When the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 of the position indicator 1B receives this notification from the position detection system 2B, it transfers it to the control unit 410 of the signal transmission control circuit 41. The control unit 410 of the signal transmission control circuit 41 switches the switch circuit 414 in accordance with this notification to switch to a state of selecting the oscillator 46 of frequency f2 from the oscillator 45 of frequency f1. In addition, when the position detection signal from the position indicator 1B when receiving the notification from the position detection system 2B is based on the signal from the oscillator 46 of frequency f2, the control unit 410 switches the switch circuit 414 in accordance with the notification from the position detection system 2B to switch to a state of selecting the oscillator 45 of frequency f1 from the oscillator 46 of frequency f2.

[0126] For example, as shown in FIG. 11(A), when the position detection signal from the position indicator 1B is a signal with a frequency f1, as shown in FIG. 11(C), if noise NR with the same frequency f1 exists, the control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B detects the noise NR in the window section shown in FIG. 11(B) and sends a notice to that effect to the position indicator 1B through the wireless communication unit 25B.

[0127] In the position indicator 1B, the control unit 410 receives the notice from the position detection system 2B through the receiving unit 422 of the wireless communication module 42 and controls the switching circuit 414 to switch the frequency of the position detection signal from frequency f1 to frequency f2 as shown in FIG. 11(D). Therefore, even if noise with the same frequency as the position detection signal exists in the vicinity of the position detection system 2B, it is possible to prevent the position detection signal from being affected by the noise by switching the frequency of the position detection signal.

[0128] In the position detection system 2B, the band-pass filter 223B has a pass frequency band centered on frequency f1 and a pass frequency band centered on frequency f2 so that it can correspond to both position detection signals of frequency f1 and frequency f2. The control circuit 220B controls which pass frequency band is used to be switched.

[0129] <The position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 and the corresponding position detection system 2C> FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a circuit example of the main parts of the position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 and the corresponding position detection system 2C. The position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 sends an AC signal with a frequency f2 as the position detection signal, and pen pressure information and side switch information, which are examples of important additional information as a position indicator, are sent to the position detection system 2C through the center electrode 7 together with the position detection signal. Then, the position indicator 1C sends the identification information of the additional information from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25C of the position detection system 2C.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 12, the position detection system 2C includes a sensor unit 20C, a pen instruction detection circuit 26C connected to the sensor unit 20C, and a wireless communication unit 25C. In this example, the sensor unit 20C has the same configuration as the sensor unit 20B of the position detection system 2B. Also, the pen instruction detection circuit 26C has the same configuration as the pen instruction detection circuit 26B except for a band-pass filter 223C and a control circuit 220C.

[0131] In this example, the band-pass filter 223C of the position indicator 1C of this configuration type 4 has a pass frequency band centered at the frequency f2. Also, the control circuit 220C is provided with a function of detecting pen pressure information and side switch information sent together with the position detection signal.

[0132] In the position indicator 1C of this configuration type 4 in this example, the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 repeats and outputs a signal in a pattern having a continuous transmission period and a transmission data period as one cycle under the control from the control unit 410. FIG. 13(A) shows an example of a control signal supplied from the control unit 410 of the position indicator 1C to the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412. During a certain period in which the high level of the control signal in FIG. 13(A) is maintained, as shown in FIG. 13(B), the oscillation signal of the frequency f2 is continuously transmitted as a burst signal (continuous transmission period in FIG. 13(C)).

[0133] The length of this continuous transmission period is set to a time length that enables the pen instruction detection circuit 26C of the position detection system 2C to detect the instruction position on the sensor unit 20C by the position indicator 1C. For example, it is a time length that allows all of the first conductor 211Y and the second conductor 212X to be scanned one or more times, preferably a plurality of times or more.

[0134] During this continuous transmission period, the control unit 410 of the position indicator 1C calculates the pen pressure applied to the center electrode 7 based on the capacitance of the variable capacitor of the pen pressure detection unit 9, and obtains the information of the calculated pen pressure value as a multi-bit value (binary code). Further, the control unit 410 generates the on / off information of the side switch 43 as side switch information as 1-bit or multi-bit information.

[0135] Then, as shown in FIG. 13(A), after the end of the continuous transmission period, in the transmission data period, the control unit 410 controls the control signal to be at a high level or a low level at a predetermined period (Td), thereby performing ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation on the AC signal of frequency f2. Instead of ASK modulation, an OOK (On Off Keying) signal may be used.

[0136] At this time, the first time of a predetermined period (Td) after the continuous transmission period is always at a high level, and this is used as the start signal in FIG. 13(C). This start signal is a timing signal for accurately determining the subsequent data transmission timing by the pen indication detection circuit 26C of the position detection system 2C. Instead of this start signal, the burst signal in the continuous transmission period can also be used as the timing signal.

[0137] The center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 of the position indicator 1C, under the control from the above control unit 410, sequentially transmits the multi-bit pen pressure information and 1 or multi-bit side switch information following the start signal in the transmission data period. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 13(A) and (B), when the transmission data (binary code) is "0", the control signal (FIG. 13A) is set to a low level and the AC signal is not transmitted, and when the transmission data (binary code) is "1", the control signal is set to a high level and the AC signal is transmitted, so as to perform ASK modulation.

[0138] In the pen instruction detection circuit 26C of the position detection system 2C, the control circuit 220C detects the instruction position by the position indicator 1C from the received signal during the continuous transmission period in the same manner as the above-described position detection system 2B. Then, the control circuit 220C waits for the end of the continuous transmission period, and when it detects the start signal after the end of the continuous transmission period, it detects the data of the pen pressure information and the side switch information during the transmission data period and performs an operation to restore them. Then, the control circuit 220C outputs the detection information of the instruction position by the position indicator 1C, the pen pressure information, and the side switch information together with the identification information received through the wireless communication unit 25C to a host computer or the like.

[0139] Note that also in the position indicator 1C of this configuration type 4, the frequency of the position detection signal may be switched in the same manner as the position indicator 1B of configuration type 3 so as to reduce the influence of noise. In that case, the band-pass filter 223C and the control circuit 220C of the position detection system 2C are also configured to have the same functions as the band-pass filter 223B and the control circuit 220B of the position detection system 2B corresponding to configuration type 3.

[0140] <The position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 and the corresponding position detection system 2D> FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a circuit example of the main part of the position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 and the corresponding position detection system 2D. The position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 transmits an AC signal of frequency f2 as the position detection signal, and all additional information, in this example, the pen pressure information, the side switch information, and the identification information ID1, is transmitted to the position detection system 2D through the center electrode 7 together with the position detection signal.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 14, the 2D position detection system includes a sensor unit 20D, a pen instruction detection circuit 26D connected to the sensor unit 20D, and a wireless communication unit 25D. In this example, the sensor unit 20D has the same configuration as the sensor unit 20B of the position detection system 2B. Also, the pen instruction detection circuit 26D has the same configuration as the pen instruction detection circuit 26C, including a band-pass filter 223D except for the control circuit 220D. That is, in this example, the band-pass filter 223D has a pass frequency band centered on the frequency f2. The control circuit 220D is provided with a function of detecting pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information ID1 sent together with the position detection signal.

[0142] Also in the position indicator 1D of configuration type 5 in this example, in the same manner as the position indicator 1C of configuration type 4 described above, the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 receives control from the control unit 410 and, as shown in FIG. 15, repeatedly outputs a signal in a pattern having a continuous transmission period and a transmission data period as one cycle.

[0143] FIG. 15(A) shows an example of a control signal supplied from the control unit 410 of the position indicator 1D to the center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412. The center electrode transmission signal generation unit 412 of the position indicator 1D in this example is controlled by the control signal in FIG. 15(A). During the continuous transmission period, as shown in FIG. 15(B), an oscillation signal of frequency f2 is continuously transmitted as a burst signal. Also, during the transmission data period, as shown in FIGS. 15(B) and (C), pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information ID1 are transmitted to the position detection system 2D through the center electrode 7 as ASK signals.

[0144] The control circuit 220D of the position detection system 2D detects the position on the sensor unit 20D indicated by the position indicator 1D based on the burst signal during the continuous transmission period, and also detects and restores pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information ID1 during the transmission data period.

[0145] And in this example, in order to make the signal transmission and reception between the position indicator 1D and the position detection system 2D more secure, the position indicator 1D sends the identification information ID2 from the wireless communication module 42 to the wireless communication unit 25D of the position detection system 2D. In this case, the identification information ID1 and the identification information ID2 are the same information (ID1 = ID2). The control circuit 220D collates the identification information ID2 acquired through the wireless communication unit 25D with the identification information ID1 received and detected through the central electrode 7, and only when the two match, processes the signal acquired from the position indicator 1D as valid.

[0146] And when the control circuit 220D validates the signal acquired from the position indicator 1D, it outputs the detection information of the indicated position by the position indicator 1D, the pen pressure information, the side switch information, and the identification information ID1 to a host computer or the like.

[0147] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of secure processing using the identification information ID1 and ID2 in the control circuit 220D of the position detection system 2D.

[0148] The control circuit 220D temporarily holds the identification information ID2 received through the wireless communication unit 25D (step S21). Next, the control circuit 220D acquires the identification information ID1 included in the information transmitted through the central electrode 7 of the position indicator 1D (step S22). Then, the control circuit 220D determines whether the identification information ID1 and the identification information ID2 match (step S23). When it is determined that the two identification information ID1 and ID2 match, the signal from the position indicator 1D is processed as valid (step S24), and then the process returns to step S21, and the processing after this step S21 is repeated. Also, when it is determined in step S23 that the identification information ID1 and the identification information ID2 do not match, the control circuit 220D processes the signal from the position indicator 1D as invalid (step S25), and then the process returns to step S21, and the processing after this step S21 is repeated.

[0149] Note that the secure process using the comparison between the identification information ID2 from the wireless communication module 42 and the identification information ID1 obtained through the center electrode 7 in the 2D position detection system is not essential and may not be performed.

[0150] [Other Embodiments] <Another Example of the Electrostatic Coupling Method> The plurality of configuration types of the above-described position indicators are merely examples, and it goes without saying that they are not limited to those of the configuration types connected here. For example, in the above-described active-type position indicator, a signal is sent only from the center electrode 7. However, in order to be able to detect the inclination angle or rotation angle of the position indicator on the position detection system, the peripheral electrode 6 is divided into a plurality of parts, and signals for identifying those peripheral divided electrodes are sent from each of the plurality of divided peripheral electrodes so that the peripheral divided electrodes can be identified. Such a configuration of the position indicator may be regarded as one configuration type.

[0151] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a main part of a position indicator 1E that can also constitute such a configuration type of the position indicator. FIG. 17(A) is a diagram for explaining the component on the center electrode 7 side, and FIG. 17(B) is a diagram when the position indicator 1E is viewed from the tip side of the center electrode 7 in the axial direction.

[0152] In this position indicator 1E, the peripheral electrode made of a conductor provided around the opening 3a into which the center electrode 7 is inserted in the housing 3 is provided as three peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C. These peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are electrically insulated and separated from each other as shown in FIGS. 17(A) and (B).

[0153] In the case of the above-described passive configuration type 1 and the active configuration types 3, 4, and 5, these peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are not used. In the case of the improved passive configuration type 2, the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are electrically connected, and the signals received by all of these peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C are combined and supplied to the feedback signal generation circuit 415.

[0154] When configuring a position indicator of a configuration type that enables the inclination angle and rotation angle on the position detection system to be detected by the position indicator 1E, a position detection signal and additional information selected according to the configuration type are transmitted from the center electrode 7, and signals that can be detected by the position detection system are sent out from each of the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C so that each of these peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C can be detected by the position detection system.

[0155] For example, each of the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C is configured to send out corresponding identification information (for example, a 2-bit signal). Alternatively, signals of different frequencies or phases are sent out from each of the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C. Alternatively, after the transmission of the signal from the center electrode 7 is completed, a signal of one frequency is configured to be sent out from the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C in order for a predetermined period each.

[0156] The position detection system corresponding to the position indicator of the configuration type that enables the inclination angle and rotation angle on the position detection system to be detected has a function of detecting the rotation angle and inclination angle of the position indicator 1E from the reception intensity of the signals from each of the peripheral divided electrodes 6A, 6B, and 6C, the spread distribution pattern of the received signals, and the like.

[0157] <Example of electromagnetic coupling method> Also, the above-described embodiment is for the case of an electrostatic coupling type position indicator and position detection system, but this invention is also applicable to the case of an electromagnetic coupling type position indicator and position detection system.

[0158] FIG. 18 shows a configuration example of the electromagnetic coupling type position indicator 100 according to the present invention, which corresponds to the conceptual configuration diagram of FIG. 1 showing the position indicator 1 of the above-described embodiment.

[0159] As shown in FIG. 18, the position indicator 100 of this embodiment includes a signal transmission control circuit 141, a wireless communication module 142, a side switch 143, an ID memory 144, and an oscillator 145 in a cylindrical housing 103 made of an insulator such as resin, and also includes a pen pressure detection unit 109. A battery 105 is provided in the housing 103 as a power supply voltage source for the signal transmission control circuit 141, the wireless communication module 142, the side switch 143, the ID memory 144, the oscillator 145, etc. The signal transmission control circuit 141 includes a pen type discrimination unit 1411.

[0160] A core 107 penetrating through a ferrite core 110 is coupled to the pen pressure detection unit 109, and the pen pressure detection unit 109 detects the pen pressure applied to the core 107 as the capacitance of a variable capacitance capacitor constituted by the pen pressure detection unit 109. A coil 111 is wound around the ferrite core 110, and both ends of this coil 111 are connected to the signal transmission control circuit 141. Also, a capacitor 112 that constitutes a resonance circuit with the coil 111 is connected between both ends of the coil 111.

[0161] The signal transmission control circuit 141 is connected to the wireless communication module 142, the side switch 143, the ID memory 144, and the oscillator 145 in the same manner as the position indicator 1 of the above-described embodiment, and the variable capacitance capacitor constituted by the pen pressure detection unit 109 is also connected to this signal transmission control circuit 141.

[0162] In this position indicator 100, the signal transmission control circuit 141 selectively controls the signal transmitted through the resonance circuit including the coil 111 and the capacitor 112, and also selectively controls whether to transmit additional information such as pen pressure information, side switch information, and identification information from the wireless communication module 142 or as a signal from the resonance circuit.

[0163] That is, in the case of the position indicator 100 of this embodiment, the resonance circuit constitutes the first transmission unit, and the transmission function unit of the wireless communication module 142 constitutes the first transmission unit. Also, the reception function unit of the wireless communication module 142 constitutes a reception unit that receives pen type information from the position detection system. The pen type information received from the position detection system by the reception function unit of the wireless communication module 142 is supplied to the pen type discrimination unit 1411 of the signal transmission control circuit 141. The pen type discrimination unit 1411 can be composed of a pen type determination processing unit and a pen type table memory even in this embodiment, although not shown in the figure.

[0164] The signal transmission control circuit 141 of the position indicator 100 of this embodiment receives the pen type information from the position detection system, determines the pen type by the pen type discrimination unit 1411, and can configure the position indicators 100A, 100B, and 100C of three configuration types 6, 7, and 8 as shown in FIGS. 19(A), (B), and (C), for example.

[0165] When the pen type information received from the position detection system through the reception function unit of the wireless communication module 142 of the position indicator 100 is of configuration type 6, the signal transmission control circuit 141 configures the position indicator 100A as shown in FIG. 19(A). That is, in this configuration type 6, a variable capacitance capacitor composed of the pen pressure detection unit 109 is connected in parallel to the parallel resonance circuit composed of the coil 111 and the capacitor 112, and further, a series circuit of the side switch 143 and the capacitor 113 is connected.

[0166] And the sensor unit of the position detection system 200A that is used together with this position indicator 100A of configuration type 6 and sends configuration type 6 to the position indicator 100A as pen type information, although not shown in the figure, is configured by arranging a plurality of loop coils in the X direction and the Y direction that are orthogonal to each other, and a transmission signal (alternating current signal) of frequency fa is transmitted from the loop coil to the position indicator 100A.

[0167] In the position indicator 100A, an alternating current signal from the position detection system 200A is received by a resonance circuit through electromagnetic coupling, and then the alternating current signal is fed back from the resonance circuit to the position detection system 200A. In the position detection system 200A, the position indicated by the position indicator 100A is detected from the position of the loop coil that transmitted the alternating current signal and the position of the loop coil that received the feedback signal from the position indicator 100A.

[0168] In this case, the feedback signal from the position indicator 100A changes because the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit changes due to the value of the capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor that constitutes the pen pressure detection unit 109. Therefore, in the position detection system 200A, the pen pressure information is detected by the change in its frequency (or the change in phase).

[0169] Also, since the capacitor 113 is connected or disconnected to the resonance circuit by turning the side switch 143 on or off, the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit changes according to the on / off of the side switch 143. In the position detection system 200A, the side switch information corresponding to the on / off of the side switch 143 is detected by the change in the frequency (or the change in phase) of the feedback signal from the position indicator 100A.

[0170] Note that the identification information of this position indicator 100A of configuration type 6 is transmitted to the wireless communication unit of the position detection system 200A through the transmitter function unit of the wireless communication module 142.

[0171] When the pen type information received from the position detection system through the receiver function unit of the wireless communication module 142 of the position indicator 100 is of configuration type 7, the signal transmission control circuit 141 configures the position indicator 100B as shown in FIG. 19(B). That is, in this configuration type 7, the parallel resonance circuit is composed of a coil 111 and a capacitor 112. Then, the pen pressure information, the side switch information, and the identification information are all transmitted to the wireless communication unit of the position detection system 200B through the transmitter function unit of the wireless communication module 142.

[0172] The sensor unit of the position detection system 200B that is used together with this configuration type 7 position indicator 100B and sends configuration type 7 as pen type information to the position indicator 100B has the same configuration as the sensor unit of the position detection system 200A, and transmits a transmission signal (alternating current signal) with a frequency fa from the loop coil to the position indicator 100B.

[0173] In the position indicator 100B, in the same manner as the position indicator 100A, the alternating current signal from the position detection system 200B is received by the resonance circuit through electromagnetic coupling, and then the alternating current signal is fed back from the resonance circuit to the position detection system 200B. In the position detection system 200B, in the same manner as the position detection system 200A, the position indicated by the position indicator 100B is detected.

[0174] This configuration type 7 position detection system 200B does not have a function of monitoring the change in the frequency and phase of the feedback signal to detect additional information. Then, the position detection system 200B decodes the additional information received through the wireless communication unit to obtain the pen pressure information, the side switch information, and the identification information.

[0175] When the pen type information received from the position detection system through the receiver function unit of the wireless communication module 142 of the position indicator 100 is of configuration type 8, the signal transmission control circuit 141 configures the position indicator 100C as shown in FIG. 19(C). That is, in this position indicator 100C of configuration type 8, the parallel resonance circuit composed of the coil 111 and the capacitor 112 is coupled to the oscillator 145 to form the oscillation circuit 145S. Then, the oscillation signal from this oscillation circuit 145S is transmitted to the position detection system 200C through the parallel resonance circuit composed of the coil 111 and the capacitor 112.

[0176] Then, the pen pressure information, the side switch information, and the identification information are all transmitted to the wireless communication unit of the position detection system 200C through the transmitter function unit of the wireless communication module 142.

[0177] And the sensor unit of the position detection system 200C that is used together with this position indicator 100C of configuration type 8 and sends configuration type 8 as pen type information to the position indicator 100C is, although not shown in the figure, composed of a plurality of loop coils arranged in the X direction and the Y direction perpendicular to each other.

[0178] Then, the position detection system 200C receives the AC signal transmitted from the position indicator 100C by the loop coil through electromagnetic coupling. And the position detection system 200C detects the position indicated by the position indicator 100C from the positions of the loop coils in the X direction and the Y direction that have received the AC signal.

[0179] Note that the above configuration types 6 to 8 are just examples, and there are various other configuration types for the electromagnetic coupling type position indicator and the position detection system. Needless to say, the position indicator of the present invention can be configured to be compatible with these various configuration types. For example, in the examples of the above configurations 6 to 8, the identification information was not transmitted through the resonance circuit, but the identification information can be transmitted from the core 107 side as an ASK modulation signal or an OOK signal by controlling the resonance operation of the resonance circuit or the on / off of the oscillation operation of the oscillation circuit 145S.

[0180] [Other Embodiments or Variations] In the pen pressure detection units 9 and 109 of the above-described embodiments, a dielectric is sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, and one of the first electrode and the second electrode is made movable in the axial direction according to the pen pressure, so that a variable capacitance capacitor whose capacitance varies according to the pen pressure is used. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the pen pressure detection unit 9 can also be configured using a semiconductor element whose capacitance varies according to the pen pressure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-161307. Further, instead of capacitance, a structure or element whose inductance value or resistance value varies according to the pen pressure may be used to configure the pen pressure detection unit.

[0181] Also, as described above, the additional information is not limited to pen pressure information, side switch information, identification information, etc. For example, various other information such as the remaining battery level information can be used as the additional information.

[0182] In the description of the above-described embodiment, the driving power source of the position indicator is a battery. However, a capacitor for accumulating the power supply voltage may be provided in the position indicator, and the capacitor may be used as the driving power source. In that case, the configuration for accumulating the power supply voltage in the capacitor may be a configuration of a charging circuit that receives power energy from the outside and charges it by electromagnetic induction or electric field coupling. Alternatively, a charging terminal may be further provided in the position indicator, and the charging current may be supplied from a dedicated charging device through the charging terminal. The external power energy (electromagnetic energy or electric field energy) may be supplied from the position detection device to the position indicator, or may be supplied from a dedicated power supply device.

[0183] In the above-described embodiment, the position indicator has two radio communication modules and a central electrode in the transmission unit. However, it may be configured to include three or more.

[0184] In the description of the position indicator in the above-described embodiment, by bringing the position indicator closer to the sensor unit of the position detection system, etc., the position indicator is automatically configured to be a configuration type corresponding to the position detection system. However, instead of the position detection system, the position indicator may communicate with an external device such as a personal computer that can communicate with the radio communication module of the position indicator, and the position indicator may be configured to be set to the selected desired configuration type by selecting the configuration type with the external device such as a personal computer.

[0185] Alternatively, a switch for switching the configuration type may be provided in the position indicator, and the position indicator may be configured to be set to the desired configuration type by a switching operation using the switch for switching the setting. That is, for example, in the example of FIG. 18, a push button switch 146 operable by the user is provided on the housing 103, and the push operation signal of the push button switch 146 is supplied to the signal transmission control circuit 141. In this case, the signal transmission control circuit 141 controls, for example, to change the configuration type each time the push button switch 146 is pushed by the user. In the example of FIG. 1, it is of course possible to provide a push button switch in the same manner.

Explanation of Symbols

[0186] 1, 1A~1E, 100A~100C... position indicators, 2, 2A~2D, 200A~200C... position detection systems, 3... housing, 31... insulator part, 32... conductor part, 5... battery, 6... peripheral electrode 6... center electrode, 8... shield member, 9... pen pressure detection unit, 40... printed wiring board, 41... signal transmission control circuit, 42... wireless communication module, 43... side switch, 44... ID memory, 45, 46... oscillators, 48... power switch, 410... control unit, 411... pen type determination unit

Claims

1. A position indicator capable of communicating with a position detection system having a sensor, a first communication unit that transmits a position detection signal for detecting a position indicated by the position indicator with respect to the sensor of the position detection system, a communication unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system, and a second communication unit different from the first communication unit, control means for controlling to transmit additional information different from the position detection signal via the first communication unit in a first mode and to transmit the additional information via the second communication unit in a second mode different from the first mode, A position indicator characterized by comprising:

2. The first communication unit is a communication unit that receives a signal transmitted by the sensor of the position detection system, The second communication unit is a communication unit that receives a signal transmitted from the position detection system, The control means controls to send the additional information via the first transmission unit in the first mode and to transmit the additional information via the second transmission unit in the second mode based on a signal received by the first communication unit or the second communication unit. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that:

3. A central electrode provided in the axial direction of the housing of the position indicator, and a peripheral electrode provided around the central electrode, The first communication unit is a communication unit that receives a signal transmitted by the sensor of the position detection system, The control means controls the first communication unit to receive a signal transmitted from the position detection system via the peripheral electrode. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that:

4. The second communication unit is a communication unit that receives a signal transmitted from the position detection system, The control means controls to transmit the additional information to the position detection system via the second communication unit based on a signal received by the first communication unit via the peripheral electrode. The position indicator according to claim 3, characterized in that:

5. A central electrode provided in the axial direction of the housing of the position indicator, and a peripheral electrode provided around the central electrode, The first communication unit is a communication unit that receives a signal transmitted by the sensor of the position detection system, The second communication unit is a communication unit that receives a radio signal transmitted from the position detection system, The control means controls such that the second communication unit receives a signal transmitted from the position detection system and the first communication unit transmits the additional information to the position detection system via the center electrode. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

6. The second communication unit is a communication unit that receives a signal transmitted from the position detection system, The control means controls such that the second communication unit receives a signal transmitted from the position detection system and the second communication unit sends out the additional information to the position detection system. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

7. A center electrode provided so as to protrude in the axial direction of the housing of the position indicator, Pressure detection means for detecting the pressure applied to the center electrode, and The additional information is information on the pressure detected by the pressure detection means. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

8. It includes storage means, The additional information is information stored in the storage means and is identification information for identifying the position indicator. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

9. It includes an operation switch, The additional information is information generated according to the operation of the operation switch. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

10. The first communication unit is configured to receive a signal based on a spreading code transmitted via the sensor unit of the position detection system. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

11. The first communication unit is configured to transmit the position detection signal through electrostatic coupling with the sensor of the position detection system. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

12. The first communication unit is configured to transmit the position detection signal through electromagnetic coupling with the sensor of the position detection system. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

13. The second communication unit constitutes wireless communication means. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

14. The wireless communication means is wireless communication means conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The position indicator according to claim 13, characterized in that.

15. The control means controls the first communication unit or the second communication unit to be in a standby state in response to the first communication unit or the second communication unit being unable to receive a signal transmitted from the position detection system for a predetermined time. The position indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that.

16. A position indicator used together with a position detection system having a sensor, A first receiving unit that receives a signal transmitted from the sensor of the position detection system, A second receiving unit different from the first receiving unit that receives a signal transmitted from the position detection system, A first transmitting unit that transmits a signal to the sensor unit of the position detection system, A transmitting unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system, and a second transmitting unit different from the first transmitting unit, Control means for transmitting additional information different from the position detection signal for detecting the position indicated by the position indicator in the first mode via the first transmitting unit, and transmitting the additional information via the second transmitting unit in a second mode different from the first mode. Comprising The first transmitting unit includes a central electrode provided so as to protrude in the axial direction of the housing of the position indicator, and a peripheral electrode provided around the central electrode. The control means is configured to control the transmission of the position detection signal via the central electrode and to control the transmission of the position detection signal via the peripheral electrode. A position indicator characterized by that.

17. The control means controls to transmit the additional information via the first transmitting unit in the first mode and to transmit the additional information via the second transmitting unit in the second mode based on the signal received by the first receiving unit. The position indicator according to claim 16, characterized in that.

18. A position indicator used together with a position detection system having a sensor, A first receiving unit that receives a signal transmitted from the sensor unit of the position detection system, A second receiving unit different from the first receiving unit that receives a signal transmitted from the position detection system, A first transmitting unit that transmits a signal to the sensor unit of the position detection system, A transmitting unit that transmits a signal to the position detection system, and a second transmitting unit different from the first transmitting unit, Control means for transmitting additional information different from the position detection signal for detecting the position indicated by the position indicator in the first mode via the first transmitter, and controlling to transmit the additional information via the second transmitter in a second mode different from the first mode; comprising; the first transmitter includes a center electrode provided so as to project in the axial direction of the housing of the position indicator, and a peripheral electrode provided around the center electrode; the control means is configured to control the transmission of the position detection signal via the center electrode and also control the transmission of the position detection signal via the peripheral electrode A position indicator characterized by this.

19. Based on the signal received by the second receiving unit, the control means controls to send the additional information via the first transmitter in the first mode and transmit the additional information via the second transmitter in the second mode. The position indicator according to claim 18, characterized by this.

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