Coordinate input device

Abstract

To provide a coordinate input device with a sensor which ameliorates the problem of an increase in circuit size and in power consumption associated with an increase in the number of loop sections, and is capable of preventing deterioration of the loop sections due to bending of the sensor.SOLUTION: A coordinate input device is provided, comprising a display element and a sensor located adjacent to the display element, the sensor having multiple regions where a loop coil is provided. A given loop coil consists of a first loop section located in a first region of the multiple regions and a second loop section located in a second region different from the first region and connected in series with the first loop section such that a current flows from the first loop section to the second loop section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromagnetic induction type coordinate input device. [Background technology]

[0002] As disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP 2013-186784 A), for example, a sensor used in an electromagnetic induction coordinate input device is configured such that a plurality of rectangular loop coils are arranged (lined up) on a rectangular printed circuit board at a predetermined arrangement pitch in both the X direction (horizontal direction of the printed circuit board) and the Y direction (vertical direction of the printed circuit board). Each of the loop coils has a loop portion and is configured so that it can be driven independently.

[0003] In recent years, portable devices such as portable telephone terminals and portable computers have been provided that have the above-mentioned sensor superimposed on the back of a display element (display element) equipped with a display screen for displaying characters and images, and are configured to function as a coordinate input device that can detect position indications made on the display screen by an electronic pen with the sensor. This type of portable device can accept various operational inputs through the display screen, making it very convenient and easy to use.

[0004] Recently, the display screens of these types of portable devices have been getting larger. However, larger display screens also lead to larger portable devices, which may impair portability. Therefore, portable devices with foldable housings have been proposed using bendable flexible display elements, and some have emerged that can ensure a large display screen while maintaining a small size (see, for example, Patent Document 2 (JP Patent Publication No. 2017-510065)). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-186784 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2017-510065 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The above-mentioned electromagnetic induction type sensor can be made bendable by using a flexible substrate. Therefore, it is conceivable that a portable device equipped with a coordinate input device capable of receiving position instructions from an electronic pen can be made into a foldable configuration by combining a flexible display element as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 with a foldable sensor.

[0007] In a portable device equipped with such an input device, when the device is opened from a folded state, the entire surface of one side of the housing can be used as a display screen for the flexible display element, forming a display screen twice the size of that in the folded state, and the same area as the display screen can be used as the detection area of ​​the sensor to detect position instructions made by the electronic pen.

[0008] However, when a portable device is configured to be foldable as described above, the following problems may occur.

[0009] That is, in the portable device described above, the folded state and the unfolded state are frequently repeated, and therefore, in the sensor, there is a risk that the electrode conductors at the bent portions due to the repeated folding may deteriorate.

[0010] One way to solve this problem is to separate the sensor into two with the bent part as the boundary, and process the position detection outputs of the two sensors in an output information processing unit so that they can be handled in the same way as the position detection output from a single sensor.

[0011] However, with such a configuration, the loop coils of the two sensors must be driven independently, which means that the number of channels required by the drive circuit to drive each of the loop coils is doubled compared to when a single foldable sensor is used, resulting in problems such as an increase in the size of the circuit and increased power consumption.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input device that can solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To solve the above problems, A display element; a sensor adjacent to the display element and having a plurality of regions in which loop coils are disposed; Equipped with The predetermined loop coil is configured by connecting in series a first loop portion disposed in a first region among the plurality of regions and a second loop portion disposed in a second region different from the first region, A current is configured to flow from the first loop portion to the second loop portion. The present invention provides a coordinate input device characterized by the above features.

[0014] In the sensor of the coordinate input device having the above configuration, the predetermined loop coil is configured by connecting a first loop portion and a second loop portion, which are separated into a first region and a second region, in series. Therefore, by configuring the space between the first region and the second region with a bendable member, the loop coil can be folded. Furthermore, since the two loop portions are connected in series, the loop coil consisting of the two loop portions can be driven as one channel, thereby reducing the number of channels in the drive circuit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mobile device incorporating an embodiment of a sensor according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of a sensor according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of a plurality of loop portions of an embodiment of a sensor according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a loop coil in the Y-axis direction in the sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a loop coil in the X-axis direction in the sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a plurality of loop portions in another embodiment of the sensor according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a sensor according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, along with an example of a portable device using the sensor.

[0017] [Example of a mobile device] FIG. 1 shows an example of a portable device that uses an embodiment of a sensor according to the present invention, and is an example of a portable device that has a foldable structure using a foldable housing.

[0018] Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration of a portable device of this example. The portable device 1 of this example has a foldable housing 2, a flexible display element 3, and a configuration using a foldable electromagnetic induction sensor 4. Note that the portable device 1 of this example in Fig. 1 is an example in which the housing 2 can be folded (valley fold) toward the display screen side of the flexible display element 3. Fig. 1(A) shows the portable device 1 of this example in a fully opened state, and Fig. 1(B) shows the portable device 1 in a folded state.

[0019] In this example, when the portable device 1 is in the unfolded state as shown in Fig. 1(A), a display screen 3P of the flexible display element 3 is exposed. When a position is pointed to on this display screen 3P by an electromagnetic induction type electronic pen 10, the position pointed to by the electronic pen 10 is detected by an electromagnetic induction type sensor 4 provided below (on the back side) of the display screen 3P. In this embodiment, the display area of ​​the display screen 3P and the position detection area of ​​the sensor 4 are substantially the same, and the display screen 3P is used as an input surface for pointing a position by the electronic pen 10, and the position pointed to by the electronic pen 10 throughout the entire area is detected by the sensor 4.

[0020] 1(A) and 1(B), the housing (housing) 2 of the mobile device 1 in this example has a structure in which a first frame member 21 and a second frame member 22 are foldably connected at hinge portions 23 and 24. A flexible display element 3, a sensor 4, and an electronic circuit portion (not shown in FIG. 1) connected thereto are housed within the housing 2. However, the flexible display element 3 is exposed to the outside when the housing 2 is opened.

[0021] As described above, in the portable device 1 of this embodiment, the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 are rotated at the hinge portions 23 and 24, so that the housing 2 can be changed from the folded state shown in Fig. 1(B) to the fully opened state shown in Fig. 1(A). Note that the position 3F indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1(A) indicates the bending position of the display screen 3P.

[0022] [Example of the internal configuration of the housing 2 of the mobile device 1] As described above, the flexible display element 3, the sensor 4, and the electronic circuitry connected thereto are housed within the housing 2. Fig. 2 is an exploded structural view for explaining these components.

[0023] The flexible display element 3 is composed of, for example, an organic electroluminescence display (OLED) element or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and includes a display screen 3P in which a large number of display pixels are arranged in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). When the horizontal direction of this display screen 3P is the X-axis direction and the vertical direction is the Y-axis direction, a bending position 3F is a linear position parallel to the Y-axis direction (the bending portion may have a predetermined width). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left side of the bending position 3F in the X-axis direction of the display area of ​​the display screen 3P is a left-half display area 3PL surrounded by a first frame member 21, and the right side is a right-half display area 3PR surrounded by a second frame member 22. In this example, the left-half display area 3PL and the right-half display area 3PR are rectangular areas of the same size.

[0024] An electromagnetic induction type sensor 4 is disposed below the flexible display element 3 (on the rear side of the display screen 3P) so as to be superimposed on the flexible display element 3. In this example, the sensor 4 is configured by arranging, on a flexible substrate 41, an X-axis direction loop coil 42X, a plurality of which are arranged in the X-axis direction, and a Y-axis direction loop coil 42Y, a plurality of which are arranged in the Y-axis direction.

[0025] 2, the Y-axis direction loop coil 42Y is disposed on the front side of the flexible substrate 41, and the X-axis direction loop coil 42X is disposed on the back side thereof. In this example, the sensor 4 is disposed, for example, by being attached to the back side of the display screen 3P of the flexible display element 3.

[0026] A circuit board 5 is disposed on the surface of the sensor 4 opposite to the surface (input surface) that is attached to the flexible display element 3. In this example, the circuit board 5 is configured by forming an electronic circuit section (not shown) on a flexible substrate 51. The electronic circuit section includes a position detection circuit that is connected to the sensor 4 and detects the position indicated by the electronic pen 10, a display control circuit that generates a display image to be displayed on the display screen 3P, a processing control circuit that performs predetermined control processing, and the like.

[0027] In this embodiment, the flexible display element 3, the sensor 4, and the circuit board 5 are stored in a stacked state within the housing 2, and by rotating the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22, the stacked flexible display element 3, the sensor 4, and the circuit board 5 can be folded.

[0028] In Figure 2, position 4F indicated by a dotted line on sensor 4 is the bending position of sensor 4 corresponding to bending position 3F of flexible display element 3, and position 5F indicated by a dotted line on circuit board 5 is the bending position of circuit board 5 corresponding to bending position 3F of flexible display element 3.

[0029] [Sensor embodiment] An example of the configuration of the sensor 4 of this embodiment will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the sensor 4 of this embodiment, and mainly shows an example of the configuration of loop portions 42XL, 42XR, 42YL, and 42YR (described later) that constitute the X-axis direction loop coil 42X and the Y-axis direction loop coil 42Y formed on the flexible substrate 41.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2, in the sensor 4, the area of ​​the flexible substrate 41 where the conductors of the loop portions of the loop coil are disposed is divided in two in the X-axis direction in this example by a bending position 4F, into a left region (example of a first region) AR1 and a right region (example of a second region) AR2. In this example, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 described below, a gap region GA is formed between the left region AR1 and the right region AR2. The length (width) of the gap region GA in the X-axis direction includes the bending position 4F and is set to a relatively short length that can reduce or prevent deterioration of the conductors of the loop portions formed in the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 when the sensor is bent.

[0031] In this example, the left area AR1 and the right area AR2 of the sensor 4 are rectangular areas of the same size corresponding to the left half display area 3PL and the right half display area 3PR of the display area, and are adjacent to each other via a gap area GA.

[0032] Then, in each of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 of the sensor 4, loop portions 42XL, 42XR for constituting a plurality of X-axis direction loop coils 42X and loop portions 42YL, 42YR for constituting a plurality of Y-axis direction loop coils 42Y are formed.

[0033] 3, in this example, the loop portions 42XL, 42XR are arranged in the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 at a predetermined arrangement pitch, in order from the left side to the right side of the flexible substrate 41, while allowing for some overlapping. In addition, in this example, the loop portions 42YL, 42YR are arranged in the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 at a predetermined arrangement pitch, in order from the top to the bottom of the flexible substrate 41, while allowing for some overlapping.

[0034] In this case, the conductor of the loop coil is not formed in the gap region GA between the left region AR1 and the right region AR2. Therefore, even if the sensor 4 is bent at the bending position 4F, there is no problem with deterioration of the conductor of the loop coil at the bending position 4F.

[0035] However, multiple loop portions 42XL, 42XR and multiple loop portions 42YL, 42YR are provided in the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 of the sensor 4, respectively, and if each of these loop portions is driven as a single loop coil, the number of loop coils that must be driven by the drive circuit will be greater than if multiple X-axis direction loop coils and multiple Y-axis direction loop coils were arranged over the entire flexible substrate 41, resulting in an increase in the size of the drive circuit and in power consumption.

[0036] In the sensor 4 of this embodiment, between the multiple X-axis direction loop portions 42XL provided in the left region AR1 and the multiple X-axis direction loop portions 42XR provided in the right region AR2, certain loop portions are connected in series to form a single loop coil, so that the number of X-axis direction loop coils that must be driven is the same as when multiple X-axis direction loop coils are arranged over the entire flexible substrate 41.

[0037] Similarly, between the multiple Y-axis direction loop portions 42YL provided in the left region AR1 and the multiple Y-axis direction loop portions 42YR provided in the right region AR2, certain loop portions are connected in series to form a single loop coil, so that the number of Y-axis direction loop coils that need to be driven is the same as when multiple Y-axis direction loop coils are arranged over the entire flexible substrate 41.

[0038] As will be described later, in this embodiment, the specified loop portions connected in series to form a single loop coil are a plurality of loop portions 42XL and a plurality of loop portions 42XR in the X-axis direction, and a plurality of loop portions 42YL and a plurality of loop portions 42YR in the Y-axis direction, each of which is a loop portion that is partially adjacent to each other with a gap region GA between them.

[0039] Although not shown, the connection lines between each of the loop portions 42XL, 42XR, 42YL, and 42YR and the drive circuit of the circuit board 5 are formed on a part of the flexible board 41 of the sensor 4, a part of the circuit board 5, or in some cases on a separate flexible board for connecting these boards 41 and 5. Then, predetermined ones of the plurality of loop portions 42XL, 42XR, 42YL, and 42YR are connected in series at the connection lines.

[0040] The predetermined loop coils connected in series will be further described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. In the example of the sensor 4 shown in Figure 3, each of the loop portions 42XL, 42XR, 42YL, and 42YR is configured as nine loop portions, but it goes without saying that the number of loop portions in Figure 3 is for convenience of explanation and is not limited to this.

[0041] 3, nine loop portions X10, X11, X12, . . . , X18 are formed as the X-axis direction loop portions 42XL, and nine loop portions Y10, Y11, Y12, . . . , Y18 are formed as the Y-axis direction loop portions 42YL in the left-side region AR1 of the flexible substrate 41. Furthermore, nine loop portions X20, X21, X22, . . . , X28 are formed as the X-axis direction loop portions 42XR, and nine loop portions Y20, Y21, Y22, . . . , Y28 are formed as the Y-axis direction loop portions 42YR in the right-side region AR2 of the flexible substrate 41.

[0042] In this example, the loop portions X10 to X18 and the loop portions X20 to X28 in the X-axis direction are formed on the back side of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 of the flexible substrate 41, and the loop portions Y10 to Y18 and the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the Y-axis direction are formed on the front side of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 of the flexible substrate 41.

[0043] In this example, the loop portions Y10 to Y18 and the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the Y-axis direction are all formed in rectangular shapes of the same size and shape, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4(A) shows one loop portion Y10 and one loop portion Y20 in each of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4(A), the length of the long side of each of the loop portions Y10 to Y18 and the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the Y-axis direction, which is the length in the X-axis direction of the rectangle, is length Lya, which is slightly shorter than the lateral length of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2, and the length of the short side of each of the rectangular shapes in the Y-axis direction is length Lyb, which is longer than the arrangement pitch of the loop portions in the Y-axis direction.

[0044] The loop portions Y10 to Y18 and the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the Y-axis direction are similarly arranged at a predetermined arrangement pitch in each of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 of the flexible substrate 41. In this case, the loop portions Y10 to Y18 and the loop portions Y20 to Y28 are arranged at the same arrangement pitch in the Y-axis direction in the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 so that the short sides of the rectangular shapes of the loop portions at the same arrangement positions are close to each other, as shown in Figures 3 and 4(A).

[0045] Therefore, as is clear from Figure 3, with regard to the loop portions in the Y-axis direction in sensor 4 of this embodiment, the short sides of the rectangular shapes of the loop portions Y10 to Y18 in the Y-axis direction in the left region AR1 of sensor 4 and the short sides of the rectangular shapes of the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the right region AR2 are all arranged in the same arrangement position, close to each other with the gap region GA in between.

[0046] In the sensor 4 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4(A), the loop portions Y10 to Y18 in the Y-axis direction in the left region AR1 and the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the Y-axis direction in the right region AR2 are all connected in series at the same arrangement positions to form nine loop coils. At this time, the loop portions Y10 to Y18 in the left region AR1 and the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the right region AR2 are connected in series so that current flows in the same direction in the long side portions, as shown by arrows R1 and R2 in Fig. 4(A), and are connected to the drive circuit 5DY.

[0047] Therefore, when each of the loop portions Y10 to Y18 in the left region AR1 and each of the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the right region AR2, which are connected in series, are driven by the drive circuit 5DY, current flows as shown by arrows R1 and R2 in Figure 4(A), and an induced magnetic field is generated in the area surrounded by each of the loop portions Y10 to Y18 in the left region AR1 and the area surrounded by each of the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the right region AR2.

[0048] However, in this case, as shown in Figures 3 and 4(A), since the gap area GA is short, the induced magnetic field is equivalent to the induced magnetic field when a single loop coil YT as shown in Figure 4(B), which is formed to enclose the sum of the area surrounded by each of the loop portions Y10 to Y18 in the left area AR1 and the area surrounded by each of the loop portions Y20 to Y28 in the right area AR2, is driven by the drive circuit 5DY, and a similar effect is obtained.

[0049] That is, in the sensor 4 of this embodiment, the loop coil arrangement area of ​​the flexible substrate 41 is divided into a left area AR1 and a right area AR2 in the X-axis direction, and is formed separately into loop portions 42YL and 42YR in the Y-axis direction, but by connecting the divided loop portions 42YL and 42YR in series, it is possible to equivalently configure the entire area of ​​the flexible substrate 41 as a Y-axis direction loop coil with the X-axis direction as the long side.

[0050] As a result, in the sensor 4 of this embodiment, for the multiple loop coils (equivalent loop coils) arranged in the Y-axis direction at a predetermined pitch in the Y-axis direction, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the conductors of the loop portions when they are bent, while also preventing an increase in the number of channels in the drive circuit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the circuit scale of the drive circuit for the Y-axis loop coils, thereby enabling power saving.

[0051] Next, a configuration example of the loop coil in the X-axis direction in the sensor 4 of this embodiment will be described.

[0052] The loop coils in the X-axis direction are arranged in order from one side of the flexible substrate 41 in the X-axis direction to the other side (from the left edge to the right edge) in the X-axis direction at a predetermined arrangement pitch. In this example, the loop coils in the X-axis direction are rectangular and of the same size and shape, and are arranged with their long sides in the Y-axis direction and their short sides in the X-axis direction, as shown in Fig. 5(A). As shown in Fig. 5(A), the length of the long sides of the loop coils in the X-axis direction is Lxa, which is slightly shorter than the length of the flexible substrate 41 in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction), and the length of the short sides is Lxb, which is longer than the arrangement pitch of the loop coils.

[0053] In the sensor 4 of this embodiment, the length in the X-axis direction of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2 of the flexible substrate 41 is smaller than the length Lxb of the short side of the loop coil in the X-axis direction. Therefore, among the loop portions X10 to X18 and the loop portions X20 to X28 in the X-axis direction of the left region AR1 and the right region AR2, the loop portions X10 to X15 and X23 to X28 that do not overlap the bending position 4F can themselves form the loop coil in the X-axis direction as shown in FIG. 5(A).

[0054] However, because the loop portions X16 to X18 in the left region AR1 that extend over the bending position 4F form loop portions within the left region AR1, the length of their short sides, as shown in Fig. 3, is shorter than the length Lxb of the short side of the loop coil in the X-axis direction shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5(B), the sum of the length of the short sides of the loop portions X16 to X18 in the left region AR1 and the length of the short sides of the loop portions X20 to X23 in the right region AR2 is made equal to the length Lxb of the short side of the loop coil in the X-axis direction shown in Fig. 5(A). Therefore, the length of the short sides of the loop portions X20 to X22 in the right region AR2 is shorter than the length Lxb of the short side of the loop coil in the X-axis direction shown in Fig. 5.

[0055] Then, by connecting the loop portions X16 to X18 in the left area AR1 and the loop portions X20 to X22 in the right area AR2 in series, the loop coil is configured to operate equivalently to the loop coil in the X-axis direction shown in Figure 5(A).

[0056] In this embodiment, in the example of Fig. 3, the combinations of loop portions X16 and X20, loop portions X17 and X21, and loop portions X18 and X22 are configured so that the total length of the short sides is equal to length Lxb, and the loop portions of these combinations are connected in series as shown in Fig. 5(B). At this time, the above-mentioned pairs of loop portions X16 to X18 in the left region AR1 and loop portions X20 to X22 in the right region AR2 are connected in series so that current flows in the same direction in the long sides, as shown by arrows R3 and R4 in Fig. 5(B), and are connected to drive circuit 5DX.

[0057] Therefore, when the above-mentioned set of loop portions X16 to X18 in the left region AR1 and loop portions X20 to X22 in the right region, which are connected in series, is driven by the drive circuit 5DX, current flows as shown by arrows R3 and R4 in Figure 5(B), and an induced magnetic field is generated in the area surrounded by each of the loop portions X16 to X18 in the left region AR1 and the area surrounded by each of the loop portions X20 to X22 in the right region AR2.

[0058] However, in this case, as shown in Figures 3 and 5(B), since the gap region GA is short, the induced magnetic field is equivalent to the induced magnetic field when a single X-axis direction loop coil as shown in Figure 5(A), which is formed to surround the sum of the area surrounded by each of the loop portions X16 to X18 in the left region AR1 and the area surrounded by each of the loop portions X20 to X22 in the right region AR2, is driven by the drive circuit 5DX, and a similar effect is obtained.

[0059] Therefore, in the sensor 4 of this embodiment, even if the loop coil arrangement area of ​​the flexible substrate 41 is divided into a left area AR1 and a right area AR2 in the X-axis direction, by connecting the loop portions in the X-axis direction near the gap area GA between the two areas in series, it is possible to equivalently arrange a plurality of rectangular loop coils (Figure 5(A)) with a long side length of Lxa and a short side length of Lxb in the X-axis direction at a predetermined arrangement pitch in the X-axis direction of the entire area of ​​the flexible substrate 41, in this example 15 pieces.

[0060] As a result, in the sensor 4 of this embodiment, even for the multiple loop coils arranged at a predetermined pitch in the X-axis direction, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the conductors of the loop portions when the loops are bent while minimizing an increase in the number of channels in the drive circuit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the circuit size of the drive circuit for the loop coils in the X-axis direction and to save power.

[0061] [Other embodiments] The sensor 4 in the above embodiment is applied to a portable device whose housing can be folded in half, so the area in which the loop coil is disposed in the sensor 4 is divided into two areas by the bending position 4F. However, the present invention is also applicable to cases in which the area in which the loop coil is disposed in the sensor is divided into three or more areas.

[0062] For example, the present invention can be applied to a sensor used in a portable device whose housing can be folded into three. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sensor 4A used in a portable device whose housing can be folded into three.

[0063] 6A, in sensor 4A of this example, the loop coil arrangement area of ​​flexible substrate 41A is divided into three adjacent areas ARa, ARb, and ARc in the X-axis direction, with two bending positions 4F1 and 4F2 as boundaries. Then, in each of areas ARa, ARb, and ARc, a plurality of loop portions Xa1 to XaM (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the X-axis direction and loop portions Ya1 to YaN (N is an integer of 2 or more) in the Y-axis direction, a plurality of loop portions Xb1 to XbM in the X-axis direction and loop portions Yb1 to YbN in the Y-axis direction, and a plurality of loop portions Xc1 to XcM in the X-axis direction and loop portions Yc1 to YcN in the Y-axis direction are formed, as in the above-described embodiment.

[0064] As for the loop coils in the X-axis direction of sensor 4A, similarly to the case of sensor 4 of the above-described embodiment, the lengths of the short sides of the loop portions Xa1-XaM and Xb1-XbM in regions ARa and ARb near bending position 4F1 are adjusted and connected in series, similarly to the above-described embodiment. Furthermore, the lengths of the short sides of the loop portions Xb1-XbM and Xc1-XcM in regions ARb and ARc near bending position 4F2 are adjusted and connected in series. This allows the loop coils to be formed in the X-axis direction of flexible substrate 41A equivalently as being sequentially arranged at a predetermined arrangement pitch in the X-axis direction.

[0065] In addition, in this example, for the loop coil in the Y-axis direction of the sensor 4A, in three areas ARa, ARb, and ARc, three loop portions in the Y-axis direction aligned in the X-axis direction, for example, loop portions Ya1, Yb1, and Yc1 shown in Fig. 6(A), are connected in series in sequence and connected to the drive circuit 5DY. In this case, too, the three loop portions aligned in the X-axis direction are connected in series so that current flows in the same direction through each loop portion.

[0066] In the sensor 4A of this example, the deterioration of the conductors of the loop portions when bent can be prevented while preventing an increase in the number of channels of the drive circuit for the multiple loop coils arranged at a predetermined pitch in the X-axis direction and the multiple loop coils arranged at a predetermined pitch in the Y-axis direction, thereby enabling the circuit scale of the loop coil drive circuit to be reduced and power consumption to be reduced.

[0067] It goes without saying that the same configuration can be applied when folding the sheet into three or more folds.

[0068] [Other embodiments or modifications] In the above-described embodiment, in the example of a sensor for a foldable portable device, the sensor substrate is a flexible substrate, but the first and second regions, or the three regions in the example of Figure 6, may each be made of a rigid printed circuit board, and the printed circuit boards in each region may be connected by a bendable member, such as a flexible substrate.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the sensor is configured for a foldable portable device, so the sensor is also foldable, but the present invention can also be applied to sensors that do not need to be folded. Even in such cases, the sensor according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to suppress an increase in the number of channels that drive multiple loop portions.

[0070] For example, if it is desired to extend the length of the sensor in the X-axis direction, the loop portion of the first region and the loop portion of the second region can be connected in series as described above, thereby satisfying the extension requirement and suppressing an increase in the number of channels that drive the loop coil.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the first and second regions are the same size, but in cases where a requirement for enlargement is satisfied, the sizes do not necessarily have to be the same and may be different. The shapes of the first and second regions may also be different. This also applies to sensors for foldable mobile devices where the sizes of the folded portions may be different.

[0072] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the regions in which the first and second loop portions connected in series are disposed are adjacent to each other, but they do not need to be adjacent and may be spaced apart. For example, when detecting an indication by a position indicator such as an electronic pen on either the first or second loop portion that are located apart from each other, connecting the first and second loop portions in series allows the drive channel to be shared, thereby reducing the circuit size and contributing to power saving.

[0073] The shape of the loop portion is not limited to a rectangle, but may be any shape, such as a circle.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the case where the loop coil arrangement area of ​​the sensor is divided in the X-axis direction has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where the area is divided in the Y-axis direction. In that case, however, the processing for the loop portion in the X-axis direction and the processing for the loop portion in the Y-axis direction are interchanged with those in the above embodiment.

[0075] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a sensor in which loop coils are arranged in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to a sensor in which loop coils are arranged in only one of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0076] Furthermore, although the above description has been given of a case where multiple first and second loop portions connected in series are arranged in the first and second regions, the present invention is also applicable to a case where one loop portion is arranged in each of the first and second regions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 4, 4A...sensor, 4F, 4F1, 4F2...bending position, 41, 41A...flexible board, AR1...left area (example of first area), AR2...right area (example of second area), 42XL and X10 to X18...loop portion in the X-axis direction of the left area (example of first area), 42XR and X20 to X28...loop portion in the X-axis direction of the right area (example of second area), 42YL and Y10 to Y18...loop portion in the Y-axis direction of the left area (example of first area), 42YR and Y20 to Y28...loop portion in the Y-axis direction of the right area (example of second area), GA...gap area

Claims

1. A display element; a sensor adjacent to the display element and having a plurality of regions in which loop coils are disposed; Equipped with The predetermined loop coil is configured by connecting in series a first loop portion disposed in a first region among the plurality of regions and a second loop portion disposed in a second region different from the first region, A current is configured to flow from the first loop portion to the second loop portion. A coordinate input device characterized by:

2. the display element and the sensor have a flexible configuration; The bending position of the display element corresponds to the bending position of the sensor.

2. The coordinate input device according to claim 1.

3. The bending position of the sensor is between the first region and the second region.

3. The coordinate input device according to claim 2.

4. a circuit board connected to the loop coil; 3. The coordinate input device according to claim 2.

5. the circuit board is a flexible board, The bending position of the circuit board corresponds to the bending position of the display element and the bending position of the sensor.

5. The coordinate input device according to claim 4.

6. The loop coil is disposed between the display element and the circuit board.

5. The coordinate input device according to claim 4.

7. The first region and the second region are adjacent to each other.

2. The coordinate input device according to claim 1.

8. The predetermined loop coil is configured such that the first loop portion and the second loop portion are connected in series between the adjacent first and second regions, and portions of the loop portions are close to each other.

8. The coordinate input device according to claim 7.

9. The first and second regions are rectangular regions, and the first loop portion and the second loop portion have a rectangular shape.

9. The coordinate input device according to claim 8.

10. a plurality of the first loop portions are arranged in the first region in a direction intersecting the direction in which the first region and the second region are adjacently arranged, and a plurality of the second loop portions are arranged in the second region in the same direction as the direction in which the first loop portions are arranged in the first region; The predetermined loop coil is configured by connecting in series the plurality of first loop portions in the first region and the plurality of second loop portions in the second region such that the portions along the arrangement direction are close to each other.

8. The coordinate input device according to claim 7.

11. The lengths of the first loop portion and the second loop portion in the arrangement direction are equal, and the first loop portion and the second loop portion are formed at the same arrangement pitch.

11. The coordinate input device according to claim 10.

12. a plurality of the first loop portions are arranged in the first region in a direction in which the first region and the second region are adjacent to each other, and a plurality of the second loop portions are arranged in the second region in the same direction as the direction in which the first loop portions are arranged, The predetermined loop coil is configured by connecting in series one or more of the first loop portions, of which a portion in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction is close to a portion where the first region and the second region are adjacent, and one or more of the second loop portions, of which a portion in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction is close to a portion where the first region and the second region are adjacent.

8. The coordinate input device according to claim 7.

13. The loop coils other than the predetermined loop coil are each composed of only the first loop portion or the second loop portion.

13. The coordinate input device according to claim 12.

14. the first loop portion and the second loop portion are formed at the same arrangement pitch, The loop coils other than the predetermined loop coil are configured only with the first loop portion or the second loop portion, The sum of the areas surrounded by the first loop portion and the second loop portion that are connected in series to form the predetermined loop coil is approximately equal to the area surrounded by the first loop portion or the second loop portion of a loop coil other than the predetermined loop coil.

13. The coordinate input device according to claim 12.

15. In the first region, the plurality of first loop portions are formed as a plurality of first direction loop portions arranged in a first direction intersecting a direction in which the first region and the second region are adjacently arranged, and a plurality of second direction loop portions arranged in a second direction in which the first region and the second region are adjacently arranged, In the second region, the plurality of second loop portions are formed, the plurality of first direction loop portions being arranged in the first direction intersecting the direction in which the first region and the second region are adjacently arranged, and the plurality of second direction loop portions being arranged in the second direction in which the first region and the second region are adjacently arranged, the predetermined loop coils are composed of predetermined first directional loop coils arranged in the first direction and predetermined second directional loop coils arranged in the second direction, the predetermined first-directional loop coil is configured by connecting in series the plurality of first-directional loop portions in the first region and the plurality of first-directional loop portions in the second region such that portions along the arrangement direction are close to each other, The predetermined second direction loop coil is configured by connecting in series one or more of the second direction loop parts of the plurality of second direction loop parts in the first region, the portions of which in a direction intersecting the second direction are close to the adjacent portions of the first region and the second region, and one or more of the second direction loop parts of the plurality of second direction loop parts in the second region, the portions of which in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction are close to the adjacent portions of the first region and the second region.

8. The coordinate input device according to claim 7.

16. Of the loop coils constituted by the second direction loop portions in the first region and the second region, loop coils other than the predetermined second direction loop coil are constituted only by the second direction loop portion in the first region or the second direction loop portion in the second region.

16. The coordinate input device according to claim 15.

17. the second direction loop portions of the first region and the second region are formed at the same arrangement pitch, Among the loop coils constituted by the second direction loop portions in the first region and the second region, loop coils other than the predetermined second direction loop coil are constituted only by the second direction loop portion in the first region or the second direction loop portion in the second region, The total area surrounded by the first loop portion and the second loop portion connected in series to form the predetermined second directional loop coil is approximately equal to the area surrounded by the first loop portion or the second loop portion of the loop coil other than the predetermined second directional loop coil among the loop coils formed by the second directional loop portions of the first region and the second region.

16. The coordinate input device according to claim 15.

18. At least the area between the first region and the second region is bendable.

2. The coordinate input device according to claim 1.

19. The first and second regions have the same shape so that they overlap each other when folded at the adjacent portion.

19. The coordinate input device according to claim 18.

20. The first region and the second region are separate substrates.

2. The coordinate input device according to claim 1.

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