Electronic pen

Abstract

To provide an electronic pen having a narrow enclosure in which a connector can be stored.SOLUTION: The electronic pen includes a circuit board disposed in a hollow part having a columnar shape of a cylindrical enclosure and a connector which can be exposed to the outside from one opening in an axial direction of the enclosure. The circuit board is a plate-like body and is disposed in the hollow part of the enclosure in parallel with a direction along the axial direction of the hollow part of the enclosure. The connector is at least partially covered with a shell in the axial direction of the enclosure and is disposed on the circuit board being the plate-like body. The shell has a flat cylindrical shape and has a flat opening and is constituted such that a length in a longitudinal direction of the flat opening of the shell is longer than a length of the circuit board in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the enclosure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic pen for use with a position detection device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, battery-powered electronic pens have been used to transmit strong signals to the sensor unit of a position detection device. In cases where a rechargeable battery (secondary battery) is used as the battery in this case, the method of charging the secondary battery is generally a contact or non-contact charging method using a dedicated charger. However, preparing a dedicated charger is troublesome and costly.

[0003] Meanwhile, in recent years, a method of charging using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector has been widely used. This charging method using a USB connector is used in a wide variety of mobile terminals, partly because a general-purpose charger is sufficient. Therefore, it would be very convenient if this charging method using a USB connector could also be applied to electronic pens.

[0004] Meanwhile, the shape and size of USB connectors have changed in consideration of communication speed, stability, strength, and convenience, and currently, Type C USB connectors (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2017-208237 A)) which are slightly larger than the small Micro Type B USB connectors are being used.

[0005] 7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining a conventional configuration example of this type-C USB connector. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of USB connector 100 of this example. Also, Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the state in which USB connector 100 of this example is attached to circuit board 110. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, USB connector 100 of this example is configured such that housing 103 consisting of base portion 101 and contact portion 102 is covered with shell 104.

[0006] The base portion 101 and the contact portion 102 of the housing 103 are made of, for example, resin. The contact portion 102 is made of a flat plate-like body, and a plurality of linear contact conductors 105 are arranged in parallel to each other on the front (flat surface) and back (flat surface) of the plate-like body as shown in Fig. 7.

[0007] The base portion 101 has a thickness slightly larger than the plate thickness of the contact portion 102, and has a flat shape having a length slightly larger than the length in the alignment direction of the multiple contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102. The contact portion 102 is configured so as to be planted from the center of an end face 101a of the base portion 101 in a direction perpendicular to the end face 101a.

[0008] The base portion 101 is provided with terminal portions (not shown) electrically connected to the respective contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102 on the side opposite to the side coupled to the contact portion 102 .

[0009] Shell 104 has a cylindrical shape with hollow portion 104a slightly larger than base portion 101 of housing 103. Length L (see FIG. 8) of shell 104 in the alignment direction of multiple contact conductors 105 of contact portion 102 is set to a length obtained by adding the thickness of shell 104 to the length of multiple contact conductors 105 of contact portion 102 of base portion 101 in the alignment direction. In this example, the axial length of hollow portion 104a of shell 104 is selected to be approximately equal to the length from the end face of base portion 101 of housing 103 opposite end face 101a to the tip of contact portion 102.

[0010] Shell 104 is configured to surround housing 103 and fix housing 103 therein while exposing end surface 101a of base portion 101, as shown in Fig. 7. At this time, contact portion 102 of housing 103 is not in contact with shell 104 but is spaced at a predetermined distance from shell 104, and the tip surface side of the plate-like body on which contact conductor 105 is formed is exposed from one opening side of hollow portion 104a, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

[0011] The shell 104 is made of a conductive metal and is electrically connected to a ground conductor serving as a reference potential conductor provided in the housing 103. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the shell 104 is provided with protrusions 104b, 104c, 104d, and 104e (the protrusion 104e is not shown in Fig. 7) for connection to the circuit board 110. In this example, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, these protrusions 104b, 104c, 104d, and 104e are formed at both ends of the shell 104 in the arrangement direction of the multiple contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102.

[0012] Then, the protrusions 104b, 104c, 104d, and 104e of the shell 104 are fitted into and soldered to mating holes 110b, 110c, 110d, and 110e provided in a ground conductor (not shown) of the circuit board 110, thereby attaching the connector 100 to the circuit board 110.

[0013] A mating connector for this USB connector 100 is coupled to the USB connector 100 by being inserted into the hollow portion 104 a of the shell 104 along the direction in which the linear contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102 are formed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0014] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-208237 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] When the above-mentioned USB connector 100 is mounted on an electronic pen, the mating connector is provided in an opening on the opposite side of the tubular housing of the electronic pen from the pen tip side so that the mating connector is inserted from a direction along the axial direction of the tubular housing of the electronic pen. Therefore, when viewed from the opening side opposite the pen tip side of the tubular housing of the electronic pen, the USB connector 100 is provided in the housing of the electronic pen so that it is exposed as shown in FIG.

[0016] Incidentally, in recent years, electronic pens are desired to have thinner housings, in keeping with the trend toward smaller and thinner portable terminals in which they are used.

[0017] When the USB connector 100 is disposed on one opening side of the hollow portion of the housing of the electronic pen, the length in the arrangement direction of the multiple contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102 of the USB connector 100 and the length (width) in the same direction of the circuit board 110 become important, and both must be smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow portion of the cylindrical housing of the electronic pen if the hollow portion is cylindrical.

[0018] However, in the case of the USB connector 100 having the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the protrusions 104b, 104c, 104d, and 104e of the shell 104 are formed at both ends of the shell 104 in the arrangement direction of the multiple contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102, and these are fitted into and soldered to fitting holes 110b, 110c, 110d, and 110e provided in a ground conductor (not shown) of the circuit board 110, thereby attaching the connector 100 to the circuit board 110. For this reason, the width of the circuit board 110, i.e., the length of the circuit board 110 in the arrangement direction of the multiple contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102 of the USB connector 100, becomes larger than the length L of the shell 104 in the same direction.

[0019] Therefore, in the configuration of the conventional USB connector 100, even if the length L in the arrangement direction of the multiple contact conductors 105 of the contact portion 102 of the shell 104 of the USB connector 100 is made smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical hollow portion of the housing of the intended electronic pen, the length in the same direction of the circuit board 110 to which the USB connector 100 is attached is large, so the diameter of the cylindrical hollow portion of the housing of the electronic pen must be made larger, which creates a problem in that it becomes difficult to make the housing of the electronic pen thinner.

[0020] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pen that can solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0021] In order to solve the above problems, An electronic pen having a circuit board and a connector disposed in a cylindrical hollow portion of a cylindrical housing, the connector being exposed to the outside from one opening in an axial direction of the housing and capable of being coupled to a mating connector inserted from a direction along the axial direction of the housing, the circuit board is a plate-like body and is disposed in the hollow portion of the housing in a state parallel to a direction along an axial direction of the hollow portion of the housing, At least a portion of the connector in the axial direction of the housing is covered by a shell, and the connector is disposed on the circuit board of the plate-like body, The shell has a flattened cylindrical shape and includes a flattened opening; The length of the flat opening of the shell in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the circuit board in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing. The present invention provides an electronic pen.

[0022] In the electronic pen having the above-described configuration, the connector is at least partially covered in the axial direction of the housing by the shell and is disposed on the plate-shaped circuit board. The shell has a flat, cylindrical shape and includes a flat opening, and the longitudinal length of the flat opening is longer than the length of the circuit board in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing.

[0023] With the above-mentioned configuration, the connector can be housed in the hollow portion of the housing without considering the width of the circuit board, and therefore the connector can be housed in an electronic pen with a slim housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a configuration example of a connector used in an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic circuit of an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining another example of the configuration of the connector used in the embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a main part of an embodiment of an electronic pen using the connector of the example of Figure 4. [Figure 6] 13A to 13C are diagrams for explaining still another configuration example of a connector used in an embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of a conventional connector. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a conventional connector is attached to a circuit board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example an active electrostatic electronic pen.

[0026] 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of an electronic pen 1 according to this embodiment. The electronic pen 1 according to this embodiment is configured such that a group of components of the electronic pen are housed in a cylindrical hollow portion 2a of a housing 2 having a cylindrical external appearance.

[0027] Fig. 1(A) is a diagram showing the housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment in a broken state along the axial direction of the cylindrical hollow portion 2a in order to explain the components of the electronic pen inside the cylindrical hollow portion 2a of the housing 2. Fig. 1(B) is a diagram showing the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, with a cap 3 described later removed, as viewed in the axial direction from an opening 2b on the opposite side to the pen tip side of the housing 2 (hereinafter referred to as the rear end side). Fig. 1(C) is an enlarged view of the rear end side of the housing 2 of Fig. 1(A).

[0028] 1(A), the housing 2 is tapered toward the pen tip, and an opening 2c is formed at the tip, through which the core 11 can be inserted. The side of the housing 2 opposite the pen tip is formed with an opening 2b having the same diameter as the hollow portion 2a, and the cap 3 is fitted to the housing 2 so as to close the opening 2b. In this case, the cap 3 is removable.

[0029] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the core body 11 is made of a conductive metal or a resin mixed with a conductive material. An end portion of the core body 11 opposite to the tip portion is fitted into a pressure transmitting member 12 as shown in Fig. 1(A). The pressure transmitting member 12 is configured such that the side opposite to the side where the core body 11 is fitted is fitted into a writing pressure detecting member 13, and the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the core body 11 is transmitted to the writing pressure detecting member 13.

[0030] In this example, the pressure transmitting member 12 is made of a conductive elastic body, such as conductive rubber, and a signal from a signal generating circuit 16, which will be described later, is supplied to the core body 11 through this pressure transmitting member 12.

[0031] The pen pressure detection member 13 is configured, for example, using a mechanism that changes the capacitance of a variable capacitor in response to the applied pressure (pen pressure) (see, for example, patent document (JP Patent Publication No. 2011-186803)). The pen pressure detection member may also be configured with a variable capacitor made of a semiconductor chip made of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) elements (see, for example, patent document (JP Patent Publication No. 2013-161307)). The configuration of the pen pressure detection member 13 is not limited to this example.

[0032] The writing pressure detection member 13 is held by a writing pressure detection member holder portion 14a of a holder 14. The holder 14 also includes a circuit board mounting holder portion 14b. A circuit board 15 is mounted and held on the circuit board mounting holder portion 14b of the holder 14. As shown in FIG. 1(A), the circuit board 15 is a flat plate-like body, and in this example, has a rectangular shape that is elongated in the axial direction of the hollow portion 2a of the housing 2.

[0033] In this example, a signal transmission circuit 16 that generates a signal to be sent to the position detection device through the core body 11 is provided on a flat surface (hereinafter referred to as a board surface) 15a of the circuit board 15, which is a flat plate-like body, and a power supply circuit 17 is also provided. In this example, a USB connector 20 is attached to the end of the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15 on the opening 2b side of the housing 2. As will be described later, the power supply circuit 17 includes a rechargeable storage element 172 and a charging circuit 171 (see FIG. 3).

[0034] 1(A), (B), and (C), the USB connector 20 includes a housing 23 having a contact portion 21 and a base portion 22, and in this example, a shell 24 that covers the base portion 22 of the housing 23. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the USB connector 20, with Fig. 2(A) showing the housing 23 and Fig. 2(B) showing the shell 24. By combining the housing 23 shown in Fig. 2(A) with the shell 24 shown in Fig. 2(B), the USB connector 20 shown in Fig. 2(C) is formed.

[0035] The housing 23 is made of, for example, resin, and has a similar configuration to the housing 103 of the above-mentioned conventional USB connector 100. That is, as shown in Fig. 2(A), the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 of the housing 23 are connected in a direction that corresponds to the axial direction of the hollow portion 2a when the USB connector 20 is stored in the hollow portion 2a of the housing 2 of the electronic pen 1.

[0036] The contact portion 21 is configured of a flat plate-like body, and a plurality of linear contact conductors 25 are arranged on the front surface (plane) 21a and the back surface (plane) 21b of the plate-like body in a state where they extend in the axial direction of the hollow portion 2a and are aligned so as to be parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 2(A). The alignment direction of the contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 is a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the hollow portion 2a of the housing 2.

[0037] Base portion 22 has a thickness slightly larger than the plate thickness of contact portion 21, and has a flat shape having a length slightly larger than the length in the alignment direction of multiple contact conductors 105 of contact portion 102. Housing 23 has a shape such that contact portion 21 is planted upright from the center of end face 22a of the joint portion between base portion 22 and contact portion 21 in a direction perpendicular to end face 22a.

[0038] 2(A) and 2(B), the base portion 22 includes a terminal portion 22b on the side opposite to the coupling side with the contact portion 21, on which a plurality of terminal conductors 26 are formed, each of which is electrically connected to a plurality of contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21. The plurality of contact conductors 25 and the plurality of terminal conductors 26 are electrically connected in the base portion 22.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2(B), the shell 24 has a cylindrical shape with a hollow portion 24a that is slightly larger than the flat base portion 22. The length L1 (see FIG. 1(B) and FIG. 2(B), (C)) of the shell 24 in the alignment direction of the plurality of contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 of the base portion 22 is the length of the alignment direction of the plurality of contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 of the base portion 22 plus the thickness of the shell 24. The length L2 (see FIG. 1(B) and FIG. 2(B)) of the shell 24 in the thickness direction of the contact portion 21 of the shell 24 is the length of the thickness direction of the contact portion 21 of the base portion 22 (direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the contact portion 21 of the plate-like body) plus the thickness of the shell 24, which is shorter than the length L1 (L1>L2). In this case, the length L1 of the shell 24 is selected to be smaller than the diameter of the hollow portion 2a of the housing 2 in this example, as shown in FIG. 1(B).

[0040] In this example, the axial length of the cylindrical shell 24 is selected to be approximately equal to the length of the base portion 22 of the housing 23 in the direction of connection with the contact portion 21. That is, in this example, the shell 24 is sized to cover only the base portion 22 of the housing 23.

[0041] 2(C), shell 24 is configured to surround base portion 22 and fix housing 23 therein while exposing end surface 22a of base portion 22. Therefore, in USB connector 20, contact portion 21 of housing 23 is exposed and protrudes from end surface 22a of base portion 22 without being covered by shell 24, as shown in FIG.

[0042] 2(B), the shell 24 has a notch 24e at a position corresponding to the terminal 22b of the base 22 of the housing 23. As a result, the USB connector 20 is configured such that the terminal 22b of the base 22 is exposed from the flat portion 24d of the shell 24 facing the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15.

[0043] In this example, the shell 24 is made of a conductive metal and is electrically connected to a ground conductor (not shown) that serves as a reference potential conductor provided on the base portion 22 of the housing 23.

[0044] 2B and 2C, the shell 24 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 24b, 24c (two in this example) at a predetermined interval in the direction of the length L1 of the shell 24 for connection with the circuit board 15. In this example, as shown in Figs. 2B and 2C, these protrusions 24b, 24c are formed so as to protrude toward the circuit board 15 from a flat portion 24d of the shell 24 that faces the upper surface of the circuit board 15 when the USB connector 20 is attached to the circuit board 15. In this example, the protrusions 24b, 24c are formed by making U-shaped cuts in the corresponding parts of the flat portion 24d and bending the U-shaped parts generated by the cuts so as to protrude from the flat portion 24d.

[0045] 1(B) and 2(B) and (C), the two protrusions 24b, 24c are formed at positions within a range of the length L1 in the alignment direction of the multiple contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 on the flat portion 24d of the shell 24. Therefore, the distance between the two protrusions 24b, 24c is smaller than the length L1 of the shell 24.

[0046] The length L3 of the circuit board 15 in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 2 of the plate surface of the plate-like body constituting the circuit board 15) (hereinafter referred to as the width of the circuit board 15) need only be larger than the distance between the two protrusions 24b, 24c, as shown in FIG. 1(B), and can be smaller than the length L1 of the shell 24.

[0047] Then, the shell 24 is placed on and coupled to the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15 with the flat portion 24d of the shell 24 facing the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15, with the width L3 of the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15 being within the length L1 of the shell 24, as shown in Fig. 1(B). The circuit board 15 has mating holes 15b and 15c formed at positions mating with the protrusions 24b and 24C of the shell 24. In this example, the mating holes 15b and 15c are provided in an area of ​​the circuit board 15 where the ground conductor is formed.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1(A), (B), and (C), the USB connector 20 is attached to the circuit board 15 by fitting the protrusions 24b, 24c of the shell 24 into the fitting holes 15b, 15c of the circuit board 15 and soldering them to connect them to the ground conductor.

[0049] As described above, when the USB connector 20 of the above embodiment is used, the width L3 of the circuit board 15 can be made smaller than the length L1 in the alignment direction of the multiple contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 of the USB connector 20. Therefore, according to the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1(B), the USB connector 20 attached to the circuit board 15 can be stored in the hollow portion 2a of the housing 2 simply by making the diameter of the cylindrical hollow portion 2a of the housing 2 larger than the length L1 in the alignment direction of the multiple contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 of the shell 24 of the USB connector 20.

[0050] In this case, as shown in FIG. 1(B), if the maximum length position in the direction of length L1 of the USB connector 20 is set to be equal to the diameter position of the cylindrical hollow portion 2a of the housing 2 of the electronic pen 1, the diameter of the cylindrical hollow portion 2a of the housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 can be minimized, and the electronic pen 1 can be made as thin as possible.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of an electronic circuit including a signal transmission circuit 16 and a power supply circuit 17 arranged on a circuit board 15 in the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment.

[0052] 3, the power supply circuit 17 of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment includes a charging circuit 171, a power storage element 172, and a power supply voltage generating circuit 173. The power storage element 172 is formed of, for example, a lithium ion battery. The power storage element 172 may be formed of, for example, an electric double layer capacitor instead of a secondary battery.

[0053] A part of the terminal conductor 26 of the terminal portion 22 b provided on the base portion 22 of the housing 23 of the USB connector 20 is connected to the charging circuit 171 of the power supply circuit 17 .

[0054] When charging the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the cap 3 is removed from the housing 2 to expose the contact portion 21 of the USB connector 20 from the opening 2b side of the housing 2, as shown in Fig. 1(B). In this state, the mating connector is inserted along the formation direction of the linear contact conductor 25 of the contact portion 21, that is, in the axial direction of the housing 2, so as to be coupled with the contact portion 21 of the USB connector 20. Then, the charging current sent through the mating connector is supplied to the charging circuit 171 of the power supply circuit 17 through the USB connector 20.

[0055] The charging circuit 171 charges and stores electricity in the storage element 172 with the charging current sent through the USB connector 20. Then, when the storage voltage of the storage element 172 reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, the power supply voltage generating circuit 173 generates a power supply voltage and supplies the generated power supply voltage to the signal transmitting circuit 16 as its operating voltage.

[0056] In this example, the signal transmission circuit 16 includes an oscillator circuit, and transmits an oscillation signal to the position detection device through the core body 11. In this example, the variable capacitor 13C formed by the writing pressure detection member 13 is connected to the oscillator circuit of the signal transmission circuit 16, and the oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuit changes according to the electrostatic capacitance of the variable capacitor 13C, which varies according to the writing pressure. Therefore, the position detection device is configured to be able to detect the writing pressure applied to the core body 11 by detecting the frequency of the signal from the electronic pen 1.

[0057] [Modifications of the above embodiment] Fig. 4 shows another example of a USB connector used in the electronic pen of the embodiment of the present invention. In the USB connector 20A of the example in Fig. 4, the configuration of the shell 24B is different from that of the USB connector 20 used in the electronic pen 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment. In the USB connector 20A of this example described below, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as those of the USB connector 20 used in the electronic pen 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0058] The housing 23 of the USB connector 20A used in the electronic pen 1A of this example is configured in exactly the same manner as the housing 23 of the USB connector 20 described above, as shown in FIG. 4(A).

[0059] As shown in Figures 4(B) and (C), the shell 24A of the USB connector 20A in this example not only covers the base portion 22 of the housing 23, but is also configured to have protruding wall portions 24Af and 24Ag that are parallel to the planes 21a and 21b on which the contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 are formed and are spaced a predetermined distance apart.

[0060] That is, in this example, as shown in Figures 4(B) and 4(C), the protruding wall portion 24Ag is formed to protrude from a flat portion 24Ad of the shell 24A facing the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15, at a predetermined interval from the flat surface 21a on which the contact conductor 25 of the contact portion 21 is formed. Also, as shown in Figures 4(B) and 4(C), the protruding wall portion 24Af is formed to protrude from a flat portion 24Ah facing the flat portion 24Ad of the shell 24A across the hollow portion 24Aa, at a predetermined interval from the flat surface 21b on the opposite side to the flat surface 21a of the contact portion 21.

[0061] In this case, the length of the protruding walls 24Af and 24Ag in the alignment direction of the contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 is shorter than the length L1 of the shell 24A in the same direction (see FIG. 4(B)). Also, the height of the protruding walls 24Af and 24Ag in the protruding direction is shorter than the height of the contact portion 21 from the base portion 22.

[0062] 4(B) and (C), in this example, two protrusions 24Ab and 24Ac protruding from the shell 24A toward the circuit board 15 are provided on a protruding wall portion 24Ag protruding from the flat portion 24Ad of the shell 24A at a predetermined interval in the alignment direction of the multiple contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21. The method of forming the protrusions 24Ab and 24Ac is the same as that described above.

[0063] Since the length of the protruding wall portions 24Af and 24Ag in the alignment direction of the multiple contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 is shorter than the length L1 of the shell 24A in the same direction, it goes without saying that the distance between the two protrusion portions 24Ab and 24Ac is smaller than length L1.

[0064] Therefore, in this example as well, the width L3A (see FIG. 5(D) described later) of the circuit board 15 to which the USB connector 20A is attached, facing the flat portion 24Ad of the shell 24A, can be made smaller than the length L1 of the shell 24 in the alignment direction of the multiple contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21, as in the above-mentioned embodiment. Therefore, when the USB connector 20A of this example is used, the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained.

[0065] Fig. 5 shows a configuration diagram of the rear end side of electronic pen 1A when USB connector 20A of this example is attached to circuit board 15. Note that Fig. 5 is a diagram corresponding to the enlarged view of the rear end side of electronic pen 1 in Fig. 1(C).

[0066] Fig. 5(A) is a view of the electronic pen 1A seen from a direction parallel to the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15. Fig. 5(B) is a view of the electronic pen 1A seen from above the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15 in a direction perpendicular to the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15, and Fig. 5(C) is a view of the electronic pen 1A seen from the opposite side of the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15. Fig. 5(D) is a view of the electronic pen 1A seen in the axial direction with the cap 3 removed from the rear end of the housing 2.

[0067] 5(A) and 5(C), protrusions 24Ab, 24Ac formed on a protruding wall 24Ag of a shell 24A of a USB connector 20A are fitted into fitting holes 15b, 15c formed in a circuit board 15, and are soldered and electrically connected to a ground conductor formed on a surface 15d opposite to the board surface 15a of the circuit board 15. In this way, the USB connector 20A is fixed to the circuit board 15.

[0068] According to this example, when a mating connector is inserted into the USB connector 20A so as to be connected to the multiple contact conductors 25 of the contact portion 21 of the USB connector 20A, the tip of the mating connector is clamped between the flat surface 21a and its rear flat surface 21b of the contact portion 21 and the protruding walls 24Af, 24Ag of the shell 24A. Therefore, the movement of the mating connector inserted and coupled to the USB connector 20A in a direction perpendicular to the flat surfaces 21a, 21b of the contact portion 21 is restricted, preventing rattling and ensuring good electrical connection between the two.

[0069] The protrusions 24Ab and 24Ac on the protruding wall portion 24Ag of the USB connector 20A are formed by bending a U-shaped portion created by making a U-shaped cut in the corresponding portion of the protruding wall portion 24Ag of the shell 24A, similar to the protrusions 24b and 24c of the USB connector 20 in the above-mentioned embodiment, but the method of forming the protrusions 24Ab and 24Ac is not limited to this.

[0070] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, protrusions may be formed on both ends of the protruding wall portion 24Ag in the direction of the length L1 of the shell 24A, and these may be bent to form protrusions 24Ab' and 24Ac'.

[0071] 4 and 6, the protrusions 24Ab, 24Ac and the protrusions 24Ab', 24Ac' are provided only on the protruding portion 24Ag, but in addition to these protrusions 24Ab, 24Ac and the protrusions 24Ab', 24Ac', two protrusions may be provided on the surface 24Ad as shown in Fig. 2(B). In this case, the USB connector 20A is connected to the circuit board 15 by four protrusions, so that the USB connector 20A is connected to the circuit board 15 more firmly.

[0072] [Other embodiments or modifications] The above-described embodiment is a case in which the present invention is applied to an active electrostatic electronic pen, but the present invention can also be applied to an electromagnetic induction electronic pen or other electronic pens as long as the electronic pen has circuit elements that require a drive voltage.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the housing of the electronic pen is cylindrical with a cylindrical hollow portion. However, the external appearance of the housing of the electronic pen does not have to be cylindrical as long as it has a cylindrical hollow portion, and may be a polygonal tube shape such as a square tube shape or a hexagonal tube shape.

[0074] The cross section of the cylindrical hollow part of the housing may be an ellipse instead of a perfect circle. In that case, the USB connector is disposed so that the length L1 of the shell in the alignment direction of the contact conductors is the same as the major axis of the ellipse. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1,1A...electronic pen, 2...housing, 2a...hollow portion of housing 2, 3...cap, 11...core body, 15...circuit board, 17...power supply circuit, 20,20A...USB connector, 21...contact portion, 22...base portion, 23...housing, 24,24A...shell, 24b,24c...projection portion, 24Af,24Ag...projecting wall portion, 25...contact conductor, 171...charging circuit, 172...energy storage element

Claims

1. An electronic pen having a circuit board and a connector disposed in a cylindrical hollow portion of a cylindrical housing, the connector being exposed to the outside from one opening in an axial direction of the housing and capable of being coupled to a mating connector inserted from a direction along the axial direction of the housing, the circuit board is a plate-like body and is disposed in the hollow portion of the housing in a state parallel to a direction along an axial direction of the hollow portion of the housing, At least a portion of the connector in the axial direction of the housing is covered by a shell, and the connector is disposed on the circuit board of the plate-like body, The shell has a flattened cylindrical shape and includes a flattened opening; The length of the flat opening of the shell in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the circuit board in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing.

1. An electronic pen comprising:

2. The connector is disposed such that the longitudinal direction of the flat opening of the shell coincides with the diametric direction of the cylindrical hollow portion of the housing.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

3. The connector includes a housing having a contact portion and a base portion connected in an axial direction of the case, and the shell covers at least the base portion of the housing.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

4. A plurality of terminals are provided on the side of the base portion opposite to the side where the base portion is coupled to the contact portion, and the plurality of terminals are electrically connected to the plurality of contact conductors of the contact portion, and the plurality of terminals are electrically connected to the circuit board.

4. The electronic pen according to claim 3.

5. A storage element is provided in the hollow portion of the housing, and a charging circuit is provided on the circuit board. The connector is connected to the charging circuit, and the storage element is charged by the charging circuit through the mating connector.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

6. The shell is made of a conductor, and the shell is electrically connected to the reference potential of the circuit board by joining a part of the shell to the circuit board.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

7. the shell has a protrusion protruding toward the circuit board from a surface facing the circuit board, The protrusion is inserted into a fitting hole provided in the circuit board, and the connector and the circuit board are coupled together.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

8. The shell has a protruding wall portion that protrudes from the base portion toward the contact portion at a predetermined distance from a plane on which the plurality of contact conductors of the contact portion are formed.

4. The electronic pen according to claim 3.

9. The connector includes a housing having a contact portion and a base portion connected in an axial direction of the case, the shell at least covers the base portion of the housing, the shell includes a protruding wall portion protruding from the base portion toward the contact portion at a predetermined distance from a plane on which the plurality of contact conductors of the contact portion are formed, The protrusion is provided on the protruding wall of the shell.

8. The electronic pen according to claim 7.

10. The one opening side in the axial direction of the housing is opposite to the other opening side in the axial direction on which the core body is provided.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

11. The one opening side of the housing is covered with a removable cap.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 .

12. The circuit board is provided with a signal transmission circuit that transmits a signal that interacts with a position detection device, and a power supply voltage based on the stored voltage of the storage element is supplied to the signal transmission circuit.

6. The electronic pen according to claim 5.

13. The connector is disposed in the hollow portion of the housing in such a state that a direction of the shell of the connector that is parallel to a plane on which the contact conductors of the contact portion are formed and perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing coincides with a diameter direction of the hollow portion of the housing.

4. The electronic pen according to claim 3.

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