Electronic pen

Abstract

To provide an electronic pen that has a waterproof function, and is suitable for use for a foldable terminal.SOLUTION: An inside body 1 is closely adhered to a first sealing member 22 and a second sealing member 26 of an electronic pen body part 2 to seal a space between the first sealing member 22 and the second sealing member 26, and thereby a waterproof function is achieved at the portion. The electronic pen body part and the inside body are integrated and both made movable. In this way, measures can be easily and sufficiently taken for a foldable terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic pen that enables input of information by specifying coordinates to a position detection device mounted on an electronic device such as a tablet PC (Personal Computer). [Background technology]

[0002] For example, some electronic devices, such as tablet PCs (Personal Computers) and high-function mobile phone terminals known as smartphones, are equipped with a position detection device that allows users to input instructions using an electronic pen in order to perform more detailed drawing input. In view of the use of tablet PCs and high-function mobile phone terminals, which are often used while being carried around, it is being considered to make electronic pens thinner so that they are more suitable for portability.

[0003] Furthermore, electronic devices such as tablet PCs and high-performance telephone terminals, as well as electronic pens, are increasingly being used in environments where they are susceptible to water, such as outdoors in the rain or near bodies of water such as the sea, rivers, lakes, and pools. Therefore, the need for waterproofing measures for electronic devices as well as electronic pens has become increasingly important. Waterproofing measures for electronic pens are disclosed, for example, in Patent Documents 1 to 3, which will be described later.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for performing total sealing, which shields all of the important components of an electronic pen, such as the coil and circuit board. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for adding waterproofing by filling a hollow space in an internal housing that houses components that realize the electronic pen function with resin. Patent Document 3 discloses a technology for preventing the intrusion of water and the like from the outside by providing a waterproof elastic member (a cap member or a sealing member) on the pen tip side or the circuit board connection part inside the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2015 / 122280 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2017 / 149879 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-18149 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The technologies disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 to 3 are useful as technologies for adding waterproof functionality to electronic pens. However, there is a demand for electronic pens that are not only waterproof but also more suitable for use with foldable mobile terminals, such as foldable terminals. Because foldable terminals are foldable, it is not possible to provide a hard protective layer, such as tempered glass, on the display screen as with conventional mobile terminals.

[0007] Therefore, measures must be taken to prevent the core of the electronic pen from scratching the display screen of the foldable device and to prevent excessive writing pressure from being applied to the display screen of the foldable device. In this case, in the waterproofing techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 above, the core can slide slightly in response to writing pressure, but the parts other than the core that realize the electronic pen function are fixed inside the housing. For this reason, measures for foldable devices cannot be easily and sufficiently implemented.

[0008] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pen that has a waterproof function and is suitable for use with a foldable terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, an electronic pen body including a first sealing member that covers the periphery of the tip end side and a second sealing member that is provided along the outer edge at a position away from the tip end toward the rear end; an inner body that is a cylindrical body and that houses a predetermined portion of the electronic pen body from the front end to the rear end direction, and has an inner wall surface against which the first sealing member and the second sealing member are in close contact; a cylindrical body holder that accommodates a predetermined portion of the electronic pen body from the rear end toward the tip end and that fits into the inner body; an elastic body holder connected to a rear end side of the main body holder via an elastic body so that the main body holder can slide in an axial direction; To provide an electronic pen equipped with

[0010] According to this electronic pen, the gap between the first and second sealing members of the electronic pen main body is sealed by the tight contact between these sealing members and the inner body, providing a waterproof function to the relevant part. Furthermore, the electronic pen main body and the inner body are integrated and can move together. This allows for simple and sufficient waterproofing measures for foldable devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the internal configuration of the electronic pen according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic pen according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the pen tip side of the electronic pen according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views for explaining the states before and after excessive writing pressure is applied to the electronic pen of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. For example, an electromagnetic induction electronic pen includes a resonant circuit formed by connecting a coil and a capacitor, and transmits and receives a magnetic field between the electronic pen and a position detection device to indicate a position and notify writing pressure. For this reason, in the case of an electromagnetic induction electronic pen, a coil is provided on the pen tip side. However, if this coil becomes wet with water or the like, its electrical characteristics will change, so it is necessary to provide waterproofing measures for the coil.

[0013] Furthermore, in the case of an active capacitance type electronic pen, a coil for charging the battery may be mounted, and waterproofing measures must be taken for the coil portion. As such, there are various types of electronic pens, and the need for waterproofing measures is increasing for each of them. The present invention can be applied to various electronic pens that have a portion requiring waterproofing measures. For simplicity of explanation, the following description will be given taking as an example the case where the present invention is applied to an electromagnetic induction type electronic pen.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the internal configuration of an electronic pen according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic pen according to this embodiment is composed of four main components: an inner body 1, an electronic pen main body 2, a main body holder 3, and an elastic body holder 4. As shown in FIG. 1(A), the inner body 1 is a cylindrical body tapered toward the tip, hollow, with a tip opening 11 at the tip and a rear opening 12 at the rear end. The inner body 1 has flat upper and lower surfaces, and a mating protrusion 13a is provided on the rear end of the upper surface. Although not visible in FIG. 1(A), a mating protrusion 13b is also provided on the rear end of the lower surface at a position opposite to the mating protrusion 13a.

[0015] The electronic pen main body 2 is the part that realizes the electronic pen function. As shown in Fig. 1(B), the external appearance of the electronic pen main body 2 is made up of a core 21, a first sealing member 22, a coil 24, a pen pressure detection unit 25, a second sealing member 26, a board holder 27, a circuit board 28, and a battery 29. The core 21 is rod-shaped and made up of a pen tip portion with a rounded tip and a shaft portion that extends from the pen tip portion toward the rear end.

[0016] The first sealing member 22 is a thick, cup-shaped member made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber, with an opening at its rear end and another opening at its front end, allowing the insertion and removal of the core 21. The first sealing member 22 is attached to the tip end of the electronic pen body 2 and closely contacts the electronic pen body 2 so as to cover the periphery of the tip end. The coil 24 is formed by winding an insulated conductor around the side of a ferrite core 23, which is not visible in FIG. 1. Both ends of the insulated conductor that constitutes the coil 24 are extended toward the rear end and connected to a capacitor provided on a circuit board 28, which will be described later, thereby forming a resonant circuit together with the coil 24 and the capacitor.

[0017] The writing pressure detection unit 25 is configured to include a variable capacitance capacitor therein, the capacitance of which changes in response to the pressure applied to the core body 21. This variable capacitance capacitor is connected in parallel to a resonant circuit formed by the coil 24 and the capacitor. This allows information indicating the writing pressure applied to the core body 21 to be transmitted as part of a magnetic field (signal) transmitted from the resonant circuit. The second sealing member 26 is, for example, a ring-shaped linear body of a certain thickness made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber, and is provided in close contact with the outer edge of the cylindrical substrate holding unit 27 located downstream of the writing pressure detection unit 25.

[0018] Board holding part 27 is provided behind second sealing member 26 so as to be connected to pen pressure detection part 25, and is shaped like a half pipe with an opening on the top side except for the connection part with pen pressure detection part 25. Board holding part 27 has a board area and a battery area, and as shown in Fig. 1(B) , circuit board 28 is mounted in the board area of ​​board holding part 27, and battery 29 is mounted in the battery area.

[0019] Circuit board 28 has an electronic circuit formed by various circuit components, such as a capacitor for a resonant circuit connected in parallel to coil 24, a control IC (Integrated Circuit), and a push switch (button switch) SW. The push switch SW is provided on the side of the electronic pen and serves as a so-called side switch that is operated by the user. In other words, different magnetic fields (signals) can be sent when the push switch SW is pressed and when it is not pressed.

[0020] As described above, the electronic pen of this embodiment is of the electromagnetic induction type, and operates by generating a current in a coil due to the action of a magnetic field, so basically no battery is required to supply power. However, since the electronic pen of this embodiment includes circuitry that requires a power supply, such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication circuit, a battery 29 is installed to supply power to these circuitry. The communication circuit is used, for example, to notify a terminal equipped with a position detection device of information related to the electronic pen.

[0021] The inner body 1 is attached to the front end side of the electronic pen body 2 by inserting the electronic pen body 2 from the pen tip side through the rear end opening 12. In this case, the outer shape of the first sealing member 22 is similar to the shape of the corresponding inner part of the inner body 1, but the size of the first sealing member 22 is slightly larger than the corresponding inner part of the inner body 1. Similarly, the outer shape of the second sealing member 26 is similar to the shape of the corresponding inner part of the inner body 1, but the size of the second sealing member 26 is slightly larger than the corresponding inner part of the inner body 1.

[0022] As described above, both the first sealing member 22 and the second sealing member 26 are made of an elastic material. Therefore, when the electronic pen main body 2 is inserted, pen tip side first, through the rear end opening 12 of the inner body 1 and pushed into a fixed position, the first sealing member 22 and the second sealing member 26 each come into close contact with the inner wall of the inner body 1 at the corresponding position. As a result, the space between the first sealing member 22 and the second sealing member 26 of the electronic pen main body 2 is sealed by the inner body 1 coming into close contact with the first sealing member 22 and the second sealing member 26, preventing the intrusion of water, etc. In other words, a waterproof function can be added to the portion of the electronic pen main body 2 covered by the inner body 1.

[0023] Additionally, waterproofing measures must also be implemented for the circuit board 28 portion. However, if the inner body 1 were extended toward the rear end, the push switch SW would become impossible to press. Therefore, in this embodiment, the circuit board 28 is covered with resin, thereby providing waterproofing to the circuit board 28 portion as well. Specifically, as will be described later, the circuit board 28 is covered with ultraviolet-curing liquid plastic (UV Bond (Bond is a registered trademark)) and the inside of the board holding portion 27 is filled with the liquid plastic, which is then cured by irradiating it with ultraviolet light, thereby providing waterproofing to the entire circuit board area of ​​the board holding portion 27. In this case, the thickness of the liquid plastic is made thinner in that portion so that the push switch SW can be operated.

[0024] The main body holder 3 holds the electronic pen main body 2 and includes connection plates 31a and 31b, a circuit board holding portion 32, a battery holding portion 33, a support portion 34, a pusher portion 35, and connection arms 36a and 36b. The electronic pen main body 2 with the inner body 1 attached is inserted into the main body holder 3 from the rear end side, from the connecting plates 31a and 31b side, so that the rear end surface 2T of the electronic pen main body 2 abuts against the bottom surface 33T of the battery holding portion 33. The connecting plates 31a and 31b hold the electronic pen main body 2 by sandwiching the rear end portion of the inner body 1 from above and below.

[0025] 1(C), the connecting plate 31a is provided with a fitting hole 31ah, and the connecting plate 31b is provided with a fitting hole 31bh (not shown) at a position facing the fitting hole 31ah of the connecting plate 31a. Therefore, the fitting protrusion 13a on the upper surface of the inner body 1 fits into the fitting hole 31ah of the connecting plate 31a, and the fitting protrusion 13b on the lower surface of the inner body 1 fits into the fitting hole 31bh of the connecting plate 31b. This prevents the electronic pen main body 2 with the inner body 1 attached from coming off the main body holder 3 easily.

[0026] The area between the circuit board holding portion 32 and the battery holding portion 33 is shaped like a half-pipe with an opening on the upper surface. The support portion 34 is an arch-shaped portion formed at the boundary between the circuit board holding portion 32 and the battery holding portion 33. Therefore, the battery area of ​​the board holding portion 27 of the electronic pen body 2 passes under the support portion 34 and reaches the battery holding portion 33 on the rear side of the support portion 34. In this case, the board area of ​​the board holding portion 27 of the electronic pen body 2 is located in the circuit board holding portion 32 on the front side of the support portion 34.

[0027] The pusher portion 35 extends from the support portion 34 toward the pen tip side through the air, and passes directly above the push switch SW on the circuit board 28 of the electronic pen body 2. As shown in Fig. 1(C), the pusher portion 35 is a long, thin plate made up of a shaft portion 35a and a pressing portion 35b. As described above, the top surface of the board holding portion 27 of the electronic pen body 2 and the top surface of the circuit board holding portion 32 of the body holder 3 are both open, so that the push switch SW on the circuit board 28 can be pressed via the pressing portion 35b of the pusher portion 35.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1(C), the rear end of the pusher portion 35 is fixed to the support portion 34. Therefore, the pusher portion 35 acts as a leaf spring with the support portion 34 as a fulcrum. Therefore, when the upper surface of the pressing portion 35b of the pusher portion 35 is pressed, the pressing portion 35b descends and presses the push switch SW on the circuit board 28. When the pressure on the upper surface of the pressing portion 35b is released, the pusher portion 35 acts as a leaf spring, and the pressing portion 35b returns to its original position, releasing the depression of the push switch SW. In this way, the pusher portion 35 is a member that constitutes a side switch.

[0029] The connecting arms 36a and 36b are parts that enable connection with the elastic body holder 4, and connect the main body holder 3 to the elastic body holder 4 by sandwiching a holding portion 41 of the elastic body holder 4, which will be described later, from the left and right. Therefore, the electronic pen main body 2 with the inner body 1 attached is held by the main body holder 3, and this main body holder 3 is connected to the elastic body holder 4.

[0030] The elastic body holder 4 includes a holding portion 41 and an extension portion 42. As shown in Fig. 1(C), the holding portion 41 holds a coil spring 43 as an elastic body. The extension portion 42 is a portion that extends rearward from the rear end surface of the holding portion 41, and is intended to give a predetermined length to the internal structure of the electronic pen of this embodiment (the portion consisting of the inner body 1, electronic pen main body 2, main body holder 3, and elastic body holder 4). Grooves are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the holding portion 41, and the connecting arms 36a, 36b of the main body holder 3 described above fit into these left and right grooves, thereby connecting the main body holder 3 to the elastic body holder 4.

[0031] The rear ends of the connecting arms 36a, 36b are provided with convex portions that protrude inward and engage with the front ends of the left and right side grooves of the holding portion 41. This prevents the main body holder 3 from easily coming off the elastic body holder 4 and allows the main body holder 3 to slide in and out of the axial direction relative to the elastic body holder 4. When the main body holder 3 is connected to the elastic body holder 4, as shown in FIG. 1(C), a coil spring 43 is sandwiched between the outer bottom surface 36T of the main body holder 3 and the inner bottom surface 41T of the holding portion 41 of the elastic body holder 4. The coil spring 43 acts to separate the main body holder 3 and the elastic body holder 4.

[0032] However, suppose that a predetermined writing pressure, for example, 300 g (grams) or more, is applied to the core 21 of the electronic pen main body 2 attached to the main body holder 3 while the rear end surface 4T of the elastic body holder 4 is fixed. In this case, the main body holder 3 is pressed toward the elastic body holder 4, the coil spring 43 contracts, and the distance between the outer bottom surface 36T of the main body holder 3 and the inner bottom surface 41T of the holding portion 41 of the elastic body holder 4 decreases. Furthermore, when the writing pressure of 300 g or more is no longer applied, the coil spring 43 expands, and the distance between the outer bottom surface 36T of the main body holder 3 and the inner bottom surface 41T of the holding portion 41 of the elastic body holder 4 returns to the original distance.

[0033] In this way, the coil spring 43 is interposed between the main body holder 3 and the elastic body holder 4, thereby realizing the action of pushing the main body holder 3 housing the electronic pen main body 2 in and out in the axial direction in accordance with the writing pressure applied to the core 21. In this embodiment, if the writing pressure applied to the core 21 of the electronic pen main body 2 is less than a predetermined writing pressure (for example, less than 300 g), the coil spring 43 does not contract. However, if the writing pressure applied to the core 21 exceeds the predetermined writing pressure (300 g or more), the coil spring 43 contracts, causing the core 21 to retract in the axial direction.

[0034] Fig. 2 is a perspective view for explaining an electronic pen according to an embodiment. Fig. 2(A) shows the internal structure of the electronic pen in a state in which the inner body 1, electronic pen main body 2, main body holder 3, and elastic body holder 4 explained using Fig. 1 are connected together. That is, Fig. 2(A) shows a state in which the electronic pen main body 2 to which the inner body 1 is attached is attached to the main body holder 3, and the main body holder 3 is further connected to the elastic body holder 4.

[0035] FIG. 2(B) shows the external appearance of the electronic pen in a state in which the internal structure of the electronic pen shown in FIG. 2(A) is housed in the outer housing 5 and used by a user (end user). The outer housing 5 is a cylindrical body tapered toward the pen tip, with a tip opening at the tip of the pen tip side and a rear opening at the rear end side. The internal structure of the electronic pen shown in FIG. 2(A) is inserted from the rear opening of the outer housing 5 so that the core body 21 protrudes from the tip opening. In this state, the tip portion of the inner body 1 abuts against the inner tip portion of the outer housing 5.

[0036] Furthermore, a columnar rear end cap 7 is fitted into the rear end opening of the outer housing 5. The rear end cap 7 consists of a fitting portion that fits inside the outer housing 5 and an exposed portion that is exposed to the outside. The outer diameter of the fitting portion of the rear end cap 7 is slightly longer than the inner diameter of the outer housing 5, and by pushing the entire rear end cap 7 into the outer housing 5, it is prevented from easily coming off. The outer diameter of the exposed portion of the rear end cap 7 is approximately the same length as the outer diameter of the outer housing 5.

[0037] When the rear end cap 7 is properly fitted into the outer casing 5, the front end surface of the fitting portion of the rear end cap 7 comes into contact with the rear end surface 4T of the extension portion 42 of the elastic holder 4 of the internal structure shown in Fig. 2(A). As a result, the internal structure shown in Fig. 2(A) is sandwiched between the inner tip portion of the outer casing 5 and the fitting portion of the rear end cap 7 within the outer casing 5, and its position within the outer casing 5 is regulated.

[0038] In this way, the internal structure shown in Fig. 2(A) is attached to the outer housing 5 and used as an electronic pen. In this case, when a writing pressure of a predetermined value or more is applied to the core body 21 protruding from the tip opening of the outer housing 5, the coil spring 43 sandwiched between the main body holder 3 and the elastic body holder 4 contracts, and the main body holder 3 slides toward the rear end, thereby storing the core body 21 inside the outer housing 5. This prevents the core body 21 from applying a writing pressure of a predetermined value or more to the operation surface. Note that when the writing pressure of a predetermined value or more is no longer applied to the core body 21, the coil spring 43 expands, and the core body 21 returns to a state in which it protrudes from the tip opening of the outer housing 5.

[0039] Furthermore, a side opening 5h is provided on the side of the outer housing 5. The side opening 5h is provided at a position corresponding to the push switch SW provided on the circuit board 28 of the electronic pen main body 2, and this position corresponds to the position of the pressing portion 35b of the presser portion 35. The operation portion 6 is fitted into the side opening 5h. As a result, when the user presses the operation portion 6, the pressing portion 35b of the presser portion 35 can press the push switch SW on the circuit board 28. When the pressing operation on the operation portion 6 is released, the pressing portion 35b returns to its original position due to the leaf spring action of the presser portion 35, and accordingly, the operation portion 6 also returns to its original state.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the pen tip side of an electronic pen according to an embodiment, with the operation unit 6 facing upward, showing the electronic pen cut longitudinally to separate the rear and front sides, with the front side removed. When the internal structure of the electronic pen according to this embodiment, shown in FIG. 2(A), is attached to the outer housing 5, the pen tip portion of the core 21 of the electronic pen main body 2 protrudes from the tip opening of the outer housing 5, as shown in FIGS. 2(B) and 3. The shaft of the core 21 passes through a through-hole in a cylindrical ferrite core 23 and reaches the pen pressure detection unit 25. A coil 24 is formed on the side of the ferrite core 23 by winding an insulated conductor. A first sealing member 22 is provided on the front end of the coil 24 to cover the front end of the ferrite core 23.

[0041] The writing pressure detection unit 25 comprises a pressing member 251, a first electrode 252, a dielectric 253, and a second electrode 254. The rear end of the shaft portion of the core 21 is inserted into the pressing member 251. A gap is provided between the first electrode 252 and one surface of the dielectric 253 facing it, and the first electrode 252 moves toward or away from the dielectric 253 via the pressing member 251 in response to writing pressure applied to the pen tip portion of the core 21. A second electrode 254 is provided on the other surface of the dielectric 253, making it possible to detect writing pressure based on the electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode 252 and the second electrode 254, which changes in response to writing pressure.

[0042] A connecting member 2CN is provided behind the second electrode 254. The connecting member 2CN connects the writing pressure detection unit 25 and the substrate holding unit 27. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the writing pressure detection unit 25 is connected to the front end of the connecting member 2CN, and the pen tip side tip of the substrate holding unit 27 is fitted to the rear end of the connecting member 2CN, thereby connecting the writing pressure detection unit 25 and the substrate holding unit 27 via the connecting member 2CN. The pen tip side of the substrate holding unit 27 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a ring-shaped second sealing member 26 is provided around the side surface thereof in close contact with the side surface periphery (outer edge). As described above, the inner body 1 is attached to the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body 2.

[0043] 3, the pen tip side inside the inner body 1 is in close contact with the first sealing member 22, and the rear end side inside the inner body 1 is in close contact with the second sealing member 26. As a result, the part of the inner body 1 consisting of the coil 24 and the writing pressure detection unit 25 is sealed against the inner body 1 by the first sealing member 22 and the second sealing member 26 being in close contact with the inner body 1, thereby realizing a waterproof function.

[0044] Circuit board 28 and battery 29 are mounted on board holding portion 27. The upper surface of circuit board 28 is filled with UV bond, which is irradiated with ultraviolet light to harden in a state of close contact with circuit board 28 and the inner wall of board holding portion 27, forming protective layer 28B, thereby realizing a waterproof function for circuit board 28, as described above. Circuit board 28 is a double-sided board configured with circuit components arranged on both sides, but by filling board holding portion 27 with UV bond, it is possible to prevent liquids such as water from penetrating the underside of circuit board 28.

[0045] A push switch SW is provided on the top surface of circuit board 28, and UV-bonded protective layer 28B is thin around the push switch SW so that it can be pressed. In main body holder 3, at least the top surface of the electronic pen main body 2 where circuit board 28 is located is open, and this portion is shaped like a half pipe. As shown in FIG. 3, main body holder 3 also includes pusher portion 35, which is an elongated plate-like body that extends from support portion 34 toward the pen tip.

[0046] The pusher portion 35 is made up of a shaft portion 35a and a pressing portion 35b, and the pressing portion 35b is located so that it can press a push switch SW provided on the circuit board 28. As shown in Fig. 3, the pressing portion 35b has a convex portion on its underside, and by pressing the operation portion 6 provided in the side opening 5h of the outer housing 5, the push switch SW can be pressed via the pressing portion 35b of the pusher portion 35.

[0047] When the pressure applied to the operation unit 6 is released, the pusher unit 35 acts as a leaf spring. Therefore, when the pressure applied to the operation unit 6 is released, the pusher unit 35 acts to return to its original state with the support unit 34 as a fulcrum. This releases the pressure on the push switch SW, pushing up the operation unit 6 and returning it to its original state. In this way, the electronic pen of this embodiment realizes a side switch that can reliably switch between pressed and unpressed states with a simple configuration.

[0048] Furthermore, the operation unit 6 has a front end overhang that slightly overhangs toward the pen tip at its front end, and a rear end overhang that slightly overhangs toward the rear at its rear end. This prevents the operation unit 6 from easily coming off the side opening of the outer casing 5. In other words, the operation unit 6 simply rests on the upper surface of the pressing portion 35b of the pusher unit 35, with the front end overhang and rear end overhang simply engaging with the inner wall of the outer casing 5.

[0049] For this reason, as described above, even if the body holder 3 to which the electronic pen body 2 is attached is pushed toward the rear of the electronic pen by applying a writing pressure of a predetermined value or more to the pen tip portion of the core body 21, the operation unit 6 does not interfere with the sliding movement of the body holder 3. Note that when the operation unit 6 is attached to the side opening of the outer housing 5, it can be attached by pushing it in. Furthermore, when removing the operation unit 6 from the outer housing 5, the operation unit 6 can be easily removed from inside the outer housing 5 by removing the internal components shown in FIG. 2(A) from the outer housing 5.

[0050] 4 is a diagram for explaining the states before and after excessive writing pressure is applied to the electronic pen of the embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view when the side where the operation unit 6 is located is the upper side and the opposite side is the lower side, cut vertically in the longitudinal direction, and the upper side is removed. In Fig. 4, Fig. 4(A) shows a state in which no writing pressure is applied to the pen tip portion of the core body 21 (writing pressure = 0 g), and Fig. 4(B) shows a state in which a writing pressure of 300 g or more is applied to the pen tip portion of the core body 21.

[0051] In the case of the electronic pen of this embodiment, as long as the writing pressure applied to the pen tip portion of the core body 21 is within a range of 0 g or more and less than 300 g, the pen tip portion of the core body 21 remains protruding from the tip opening of the outer housing 5, as shown in FIG. 4(A). Therefore, when the electronic pen of this embodiment is used on the operating surface of a foldable terminal, the electronic pen can function normally as an electronic pen as long as the writing pressure is less than 300 g. However, when the writing pressure applied to the pen tip portion of the core body 21 becomes 300 g or more, the coil spring 43 begins to contract, and the main body holder 3 to which the electronic pen main body 2 is attached gradually moves toward the rear end, and the pen tip portion of the core body 21 enters the inside of the outer housing 5.

[0052] This operation prevents the pen tip portion of the core body 21 from applying a writing pressure of 300 g or more to the operation surface. When the writing pressure applied to the pen tip portion of the core body 21 reaches a predetermined value of 300 g or more, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the pen tip portion of the core body 21 is stored within the outer housing 5 and does not protrude from the tip opening of the outer housing 5. In this case, the pen tip portion of the core body 21 prevents a writing pressure of 300 g or more from being applied to a very small area of ​​the operation surface. Therefore, damage caused by excessive writing pressure applied through the pen tip portion of the core body 21 to the operation surface of a foldable device that cannot be provided with a strong protective layer such as tempered glass can be prevented. Furthermore, when the writing pressure applied to the pen tip portion of the core body 21 becomes less than 300 g, the coil spring 43 expands and can return to the state shown in FIG. 4(A).

[0053] In the case of the electronic pen of this embodiment, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 4, the internal structure consisting of the inner body 1, electronic pen main body 2, main body holder 3, and elastic body holder 4 can be slidably moved rearward by a distance α within the outer housing 5. In this way, even if the main body holder 3 to which the electronic pen main body 2 is attached slides in response to the writing pressure applied to the pen tip of the core 21, no physical changes occur in the inner body 1 portion attached to the electronic pen main body 2 or the protective layer 28B portion on the circuit board 28. Therefore, even if the internal structure slides, the waterproof function of the inner body 1 portion or the waterproof function of the protective layer 28B provided on the circuit board 28 is not deteriorated or lost.

[0054] [Effects of the embodiment] In the electronic pen of the above-described embodiment, the coil 24 and writing pressure detection unit 25 are waterproofed by the inner body 1, first sealing member 22, and second sealing member 26. The circuit board 28 is also waterproofed by providing a protective layer 28B made of UV bonding. These waterproofing functions are not affected by the sliding movement of the main body holder 3 to which the electronic pen main body 2 is attached in response to the writing pressure applied to the pen tip of the core 21, and the waterproofing of these portions is not deteriorated or lost. Therefore, an electronic pen that is waterproof and suitable for use with a foldable device can be realized.

[0055] [Variations] In the electronic pen of the embodiment described above, the connection portion with the battery 29 is also covered by providing the protective layer 28B on the circuit board 28, so the battery 29 portion is not provided with a waterproofing measure, but this may be done. Also, in the electronic pen of the embodiment described above, the circuit board 28 portion is provided with a waterproofing function using a UV bond, but this is not limited to this. It is also possible to provide a waterproofing function using various resin materials.

[0056] Furthermore, in the electronic pen of the above-described embodiment, elastic holder 4 is provided with extension 42, but this is not limited to this. The function of extension 42 can be achieved by increasing the length of the fitting portion of rear end cap 7, or by dividing outer housing 5 into two parts: a front part that houses the internal structure, and a rear part that presses the internal structure from the rear end side.

[0057] In the electronic pen of the above-described embodiment, the elastic body located between the main body holder 3 and the elastic body holder 4 is the coil spring 43, but this is not limitative. For example, various elastic bodies that can function in the same way as the coil spring 43, such as synthetic rubber or sponge, can be used.

[0058] Furthermore, in the electronic pen of the above-described embodiment, the protruding portions of the operation unit 6 that protrude forward and backward engage with the front and rear inner walls of the side opening 5h of the outer housing 5 to prevent the operation unit 6 from coming off the outer housing 5, but this is not limited to this. A slit is provided in the pressing portion 35b of the pusher unit 35 along the axial direction (the longitudinal direction of the electronic pen), with the lower side having a protruding portion in a direction intersecting with the axial direction, for example, like an inverted T. Meanwhile, an engagement portion (protrusion) is provided on the lower side of the operation unit 6, with the lower side having a protruding portion in a direction intersecting with the axial direction, corresponding to the slit in the pressing portion 35b.

[0059] In this case, when attaching the internal structure shown in FIG. 2(A) to the outer housing 5, once the connecting plate 31a passes through the side opening 5h, the operation unit 6 is fitted into the side opening 5h, and the internal structure is pushed toward the pen tip. This causes the engagement portion of the operation unit 6 to fit into the slit in the pressing unit 35b, making it possible to attach the operation unit 6 to the pressing unit 35b. Because the engagement portion of the operation unit 6 fits into the axial slit in the pressing unit 35b, even if the internal structure slides in the axial direction, the movement is not impeded. Furthermore, the operation unit 6 will not come off the pressing unit 35b. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1...inner body, 11...tip opening, 12...rear opening, 13a, 13b...fitting protrusion, 2...electronic pen main body, 21...core body, 22...first sealing member, 23...ferrite core, 24...coil, 25...pen pressure detection unit, 26...second sealing member, 27...board holding unit, 28...circuit board, 29...battery, SW...push switch, 2T...rear end surface of electronic pen main body, 3...main body holder, 31a, 31b...connection plate , 31ah, 31bh...fitting hole, 32...circuit board holding portion, 33...battery holding portion, 33T...bottom surface of battery holding portion, 34...support portion, 35...push portion, 35a...shaft portion, 35b...pressing portion, 36a, 36b...connecting arm, 36T...outer bottom surface, 4...elastic body holder, 41...holding portion, 41T...inner bottom surface, 42...extension portion, 4T...rear end surface of elastic body holder, 43...coil spring, 5...outer housing, 5h...side opening, 6...operation portion

Claims

1. an electronic pen body including a first sealing member covering the periphery of the tip end side and a second sealing member provided along the outer edge at a position spaced from the tip end toward the rear end; an inner body, which is a cylindrical body that houses a predetermined portion of the electronic pen body from the front end to the rear end direction, and has an inner wall surface against which the first sealing member and the second sealing member are in close contact; a cylindrical body holder that accommodates a predetermined portion of the electronic pen body from the rear end toward the tip end and that fits into the inner body; an elastic body holder connected to a rear end side of the main body holder via an elastic body so that the main body holder can slide in an axial direction; An electronic pen comprising:

2. a core body connected to the electronic pen body, The elastic body slides the electronic pen main body, the main body holder, and the inner body toward the rear end in the axial direction when a pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the core body in the axial direction. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

3. an external housing that houses the electronic pen main body, the inner body, the main body holder, and the elastic body holder; When the elastic body slides toward the rear end of the shaft center, the core body does not protrude from the opening at the front end side of the external housing. The electronic pen according to claim 2 .

4. The electronic pen according to claim 1 , a circuit board and a half-pipe-shaped board holder having an opening on the top side for accommodating the circuit board are connected to a rear stage of the second sealing member of the electronic pen body; The upper surface of the circuit board is covered with resin. An electronic pen characterized by:

5. 2. The electronic pen according to claim 1, A coil is formed between the first sealing member and the second sealing member of the electronic pen body. An electronic pen characterized by:

6. The electronic pen according to claim 1 , an outer housing that houses a portion consisting of the inner body, the electronic pen main body, the electronic pen main body holder, and the elastic body holder; Equipped with a circuit board on which a push switch is mounted is connected to a rear stage of the second sealing member of the electronic pen body; The electronic pen body holder is provided with a rod-shaped pusher portion extending through a hollow pen tip side from a fixed portion on a rear end side to pass above the push switch, an opening is provided on a side surface of the outer housing at a position corresponding to the push switch on the circuit board, and an operation unit is provided in the opening; The push switch on the circuit board is operated via the operating portion and the pusher portion. An electronic pen characterized by:

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