Electronic pen and electronic pen body

Abstract

To provide an electronic pen body unit of an electronic pen having a fountain pen function.SOLUTION: An electronic pen body unit includes: an ink writing unit in which a cartridge storing liquid ink is fitted to a rear end portion of a pen core, and a pen body is arranged to be superposed on the pen core in a direction orthogonal to a coupling direction of the pen core and the cartridge; and an interaction unit having an electronic component for exchanging a signal with a tablet. The pen core includes a coil wound about a magnetic material core. The interaction unit is disposed on a side of the pen core opposite to the pen body in a direction orthogonal to a coupling direction of the pen core and the cartridge. The electronic component of the interaction unit is configured to exist in a space partitioned from the ink writing unit by a predetermined member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic pen that also functions as a fountain pen as a writing implement, and to an electronic pen main body that constitutes the electronic pen. [Background technology]

[0002] A tablet has been proposed that allows users to simultaneously obtain electronic data (position coordinates and trajectory data) of characters or pictures drawn on paper (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (Publication No. WO2017 / 017800)).

[0003] As shown in Patent Document 1, an electronic pen used with this type of tablet is configured to have the functions of a writing implement such as a ballpoint pen or mechanical pencil. A user places a piece of paper on a flat surface that is the coordinate detection area of ​​the tablet's position detection sensor, and uses the writing implement function of the electronic pen to draw letters or pictures on the paper. The tablet then detects the coordinates and trajectory of the position indicated by the electronic pen when the letters or pictures are drawn on the paper, and stores the electronic data. This allows this type of tablet to acquire electronic data of the letters or pictures drawn on the paper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] WO2017 / 017800 publication Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] By the way, fountain pens are also a popular writing instrument for writing on paper. The characteristics of fountain pens are: Uses liquid ink The pen tip is designed to deliver ink. The pen body is often made of metal It is commonly used at an angle Examples include:

[0006] The above-mentioned characteristics of fountain pens are not compatible with electronic pens, as will be explained below, and there have been almost no concrete proposals to date for incorporating the functions of a fountain pen into an electronic pen.

[0007] That is, the pen tip of an electronic pen is equipped with an electronic component (for example, a coil in the case of an electromagnetic induction type) that interacts with the position detection sensor, but this electronic component is sensitive to moisture.Fountain pens often use metal for their pen bodies, and the electronic components that interact with the electronic pen are easily affected by metal.

[0008] Furthermore, fountain pens are used at an angle, and electronic components must be placed at the tip of the electronic pen to interact with the position detection sensor described above. However, the position of these electronic components becomes an issue when the pen tip of the electronic pen is configured to maintain the ease of writing with the fountain pen at an angle.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pen that can avoid the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the above problems, An electronic pen in which at least a side of an electronic pen body opposite to a pen tip side is housed in a cylindrical housing, The electronic pen body includes: an ink writing part in which a cartridge containing liquid ink is fitted to the rear end of a pen core, and a pen body is attached to the pen core in a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction of the pen core and the cartridge; an interaction unit having electronic components for exchanging signals with the tablet; Equipped with The interaction section Electronic Componentsincludes a coil wound around a magnetic core, before The electronic components of the interaction unit are configured to exist in a space separated from the ink writing unit by a predetermined member. The present invention provides an electronic pen characterized by the above features.

[0011] In the electronic pen of the above-described configuration, the interaction unit having electronic components for exchanging signals with the tablet is arranged on the opposite side of the pen body of the ink writing unit in a direction perpendicular to the connection direction between the pen core and the cartridge.

[0012] Therefore, with the electronic pen of the above-described configuration, the interaction part is arranged on the opposite side of the pen body, which is impregnated with liquid ink, via the pen core, so that the electronic components of the interaction part are less susceptible to the effects of the liquid ink. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention; [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a configuration example of an electronic pen configuration unit of a first embodiment of an electronic pen main body according to the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a first embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention; [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of a second embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a configuration example of a third embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention; [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of a fourth embodiment of an electronic pen body according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of an electronic pen and an electronic pen main body according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking the case of an electromagnetic induction type electronic pen.

[0015] 1 to 6 are diagrams illustrating the configuration of an electronic pen body 10 used in the electronic pen of the first embodiment. Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the electronic pen body 10 of the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of each part constituting the electronic pen body 10 of the first embodiment.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electronic pen main body 10 has a structure in which an electronic pen component unit 10U (see Figure 6) in which electronic pen components (electronic components) that make up the electronic pen functional part are arranged is combined in a holder 11, and an ink writing part 12 that realizes the function of a fountain pen.

[0017] The ink writing unit 12 has the structure of the pen tip side of a well-known fountain pen, and in this example, is configured by placing a metal pen body 121 on top of a pen core 122 with ink grooves 122a, and fitting an ink cartridge 123 into the pen core 122. The internal space of the ink cartridge 123 is filled with liquid ink 124.

[0018] The ink cartridge 123 is coupled to the rear end of the pen core 122 in the axial direction of the electronic pen of this embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as the axial direction). The pen body 121 is stacked on the pen core 122 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, with its tip (pen tip) protruding in the axial direction beyond the tip of the pen core 122 in the axial direction.

[0019] As is well known, ink 124 filled in ink cartridge 123 is supplied to pen body 121 through pen core 122, and letters and pictures can be drawn by bringing the tip of pen body 121 into contact with paper and moving it. Note that ink cartridge 123 is detachable from pen core 122, and ink cartridge 123 can be removed from pen core 122 and replaced.

[0020] 1, 2, and 3, in this embodiment, the holder 11 is made of an insulating material, for example, resin, and is composed of a first holder 111 and a second holder 112 that are axially coupled together. FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view of the first holder 111 and the second holder 112 coupled together, FIG. 3(B) is an exploded perspective view of the first holder 111 and the second holder 112, and FIG. 3(C) is an enlarged perspective view of the pen tip side of the first holder 111. In this example, the second holder 112 is inserted into the first holder 111 in the axial direction and coupled together to form the holder 11.

[0021] The holder 11 stores and holds the ink writing unit 12, as well as the electronic components that make up the electronic pen functional unit. The electronic components of the electronic pen main body 10 in this embodiment are composed of a coil 14 wound around a magnetic core, in this example a ferrite core 13, a printed circuit board 15, a capacitor 16 disposed on the printed circuit board 15 and electrically connected in parallel with the coil 14 to form a parallel resonant circuit, and a writing pressure detection unit 17.

[0022] 1 to 3, an ink writing part storage section 112a is formed on the pen tip side of the second holder 112 in the axial direction, and stores the ink cartridge 123 portion of the ink writing part 12 and part of the pen core 122. This ink writing part storage section 112a has a half-pipe shape like a cylinder split vertically in half.

[0023] 1 to 3, first holder 111 has a cylindrical shape into which second holder 112 can be inserted in the axial direction. The pen tip side of first holder 111 in the axial direction is provided with half-pipe-shaped recess 111a, like a cylinder split vertically in half, so that ink writing part storage part 112a of second holder 112 can be exposed to the outside.

[0024] 3(A), when the second holder 112 is connected to the first holder 111, the ink writing part storage section 112a of the second holder 112 is exposed to the outside, and as will be described later, it becomes possible to store the ink cartridge 123 and part of the pen core 122 of the ink writing part 12 from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. When the ink writing part 12 is stored in the ink writing part storage section 112a, the pen body 121 and part of the pen core 122 are not stored in the ink writing part storage section 112a but protrude toward the pen tip side.

[0025] The coil 14 wound around the ferrite core 13 is preferably provided as close to the pen tip as possible so as to interact with the position detection sensor through electromagnetic coupling. In this embodiment, the first holder 111 is formed with an accommodation portion 111b for accommodating the coil 14 wound around the ferrite core 13 so as to protrude further toward the pen tip in the axial direction than the tip of the half-pipe-shaped recess 111a, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0026] 1 and 3(C), the accommodation portion 111b of the first holder 111 has a recessed hole 111bh with a depth equal to the axial length of the ferrite core 13. The ferrite core 13 around which the coil 14 is wound is inserted and accommodated in the recessed hole 111bh of the accommodation portion 111b of the first holder 111, as shown by the arrow in FIG.

[0027] In this case, lead wires 14a and 14b at both ends of coil 14 are configured to be led out from this housing portion 111b into recess 111a of the first holder, as shown in Fig. 3(B), and as will be described later, a capacitor that forms a resonant circuit together with coil 14 is connected between lead wires 14a and 14b. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ferrite core 13 around which coil 14 is wound is housed in housing portion 111b, thereby forming an interaction portion of electronic pen main body 10.

[0028] A blocking portion 112b is formed at the axial tip of the second holder 112 so as to block at least the opening side of the recess 111a of the recessed hole 111bh of the accommodation portion 111b of the first holder 111 when the second holder 112 is inserted into and coupled to the first holder 111. In this case, as shown in Fig. 1, the blocking portion 112b of the second holder 112 is configured to provide a gap between the recessed hole 111bh of the accommodation portion 111b of the first holder 111 and the blocking portion 112b on the side opposite to the opening side of the recess 111a, and lead wires 14a and 14b at both ends of the coil 14 can be led out to the bottom of the recess 111a through this gap. As shown in Figure 1, a space is formed between the bottom of the inner wall surface of the recess 111a of the first holder 111 and the outer wall of the bottom of the ink writing part storage part 112a of the second holder 112, and lead wires 14a and 14b at both ends of the coil 14 are routed through this space.

[0029] 1 to 3, 4, and 5, a board placement section 112c for placing a printed circuit board 15 is formed on the opposite side of the pen tip side from the ink writing part storage section 112a in the axial direction of the second holder 112. This board placement section 112c is formed by removing a semi-cylindrical portion of a solid cylindrical section of the second holder 112 on the opposite side of the opening of the ink writing part storage section 112a in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The portion of this board placement section 112c where the printed circuit board 15 is placed is flat, as shown in FIG.

[0030] 4A is a view of the holder 11 seen from the side opposite to the opening side of the recess 111a of the first holder 111, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the substrate placement portion 112c. Also, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the printed circuit board 15 is attached to the substrate placement portion 112c of the second holder 112 of the holder 11.

[0031] When the second holder 112 is inserted and joined to the cylindrical first holder 111, the portion to which the substrate mounting portion 112c corresponds is a half-pipe-shaped notch portion 111c, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, so that the substrate mounting portion 112c is exposed to the outside from the first holder 111 as well.

[0032] The side of the second holder 112 opposite the pen tip side in the axial direction from the substrate placement portion 112c is the rear end portion 112d of the second holder 112. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, this rear end portion 112d is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to have a cylindrical space 112e that communicates with the substrate placement portion 112c, and is open on the rear end side of the second holder 112.

[0033] 1, 2, and 4(A), the writing pressure detection unit 17 in this example is coupled to and attached to the rear end side of the printed circuit board 15 in the axial direction. As shown in Fig. 1, the writing pressure detection unit 17 in this example is made up of a mounting fixture 171 for fixing the printed circuit board 15 to the printed circuit board 15 so as to sandwich the printed circuit board 15, a pressure-sensitive unit 172, and a pusher member 173 for applying pressure to the pressure-sensitive unit 172. The pusher member 173 protrudes outward from the writing pressure detection unit 17 in a state in which it is movable in the axial direction of the housing 2 relative to the mounting fixture 171 and presses the pressure-sensitive unit 172.

[0034] The pressure sensitive section 172 of the writing pressure detection unit 17 is configured, for example, using a mechanism that changes the capacitance of a variable capacitor in response to the applied pressure (writing pressure) (see, for example, Patent Document (JP 2011-186803 A)). Note that the pressure sensitive section 172 of the writing pressure detection unit 17 may also use a variable capacitor configured with a semiconductor chip made of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) elements (see, for example, Patent Document (JP 2013-161307 A)). The configuration of the writing pressure detection unit 17 is not limited to these configuration examples, and the writing pressure may be detected as a change in inductance.

[0035] 4, the printed circuit board 15, with the pen pressure detection unit 17 connected thereto, is inserted into the cylindrical space 112e from the opening at the rear end 112d of the second holder 112 and fixed to the board mounting unit 112c. The opening of the cylindrical space 112e at the rear end 112d of the second holder 112 is closed by the lid 18.

[0036] The cover 18 has an axial through-hole 18a, and with the pen pressure detection unit 17 housed in the through-hole 18a, is press-fitted into the cylindrical space 112e at the rear end 112d of the second holder 112 to close the opening of the cylindrical space 112e. In this case, the axial end of the cover 18 press-fitted into the cylindrical space 112e abuts against the rear end of the printed circuit board 15, thereby fixing the axial position of the printed circuit board 15.

[0037] 1 and 5, the protruding portion of the pusher member 173 of the writing pressure detection unit 17 is in a state of protruding outward in the axial direction beyond the cover portion 18. In this example, the tip of the pusher member 173 is fitted with a fitting member 19 that fits with a fixed portion inside the housing of the electronic pen 1, which will be described later, as shown in FIGS.

[0038] The assembly procedure for the electronic pen body 10 configured as above will now be described.

[0039] First, as shown in Fig. 3(C), the ferrite core 13 around which the coil 14 is wound is inserted into the receiving portion 111b of the first holder 111. At this time, the lead wires 14a and 14b at both ends of the coil 14 are inserted into the recesses of the first holder 111. 111a The wire is placed along the axial direction of the bottom of the first holder 111 and extended to the notched portion 111c of the first holder 111 (see FIGS. 1, 3(B), and 4(A) and (B)).

[0040] Next, as shown in Fig. 3(B), the second holder 112 is inserted into the first holder 111 so that its ink writing part storage section 112a is stored in the recess 111a of the first holder 111, and the storage section 111b of the first holder 111 is closed by the closing section 112b at the axial tip of the second holder 112. At this time, the lead wires 14a and 14b at both ends of the coil 14 are present in the space between the ink writing part storage section 112a and the recess 111a of the first holder 111, as shown in Fig. 1, and the tips of the lead wires 14a and 14b at both ends of the coil 14 are present on the substrate placement section 112c of the second holder 112, as shown in Figs. 4(A) and (B).

[0041] 4(A) and 4(B), the printed circuit board 15, on which the capacitor 16 is disposed and the pen pressure detection unit 17 is coupled to the rear end side, is inserted through the opening of the cylindrical space 112e in the rear end portion 112d of the second holder 112 and placed on the board placement portion 112c of the second holder 112. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the tip 15a of the printed circuit board 15 is fitted into the recessed hole 112f provided in the second holder 112, so that the printed circuit board 15 is locked so as not to fall off the board placement portion 112c.

[0042] Then, the cover 18 is press-fitted into the cylindrical space 112e of the rear end 112d of the second holder 112 with the pen pressure detection unit 17 housed in the through-hole 18a, resulting in the state shown in FIG.

[0043] 5, lead wires 14a and 14b at both ends of coil 14 are soldered to printed circuit board 15 so as to be connected in parallel with capacitor 16. In this example, further, lead wires extending from pressure sensitive section 172 of pen pressure detection section 17 are soldered to printed circuit board 15 so as to connect the variable capacitor constituting pen pressure detection section 17 in parallel with capacitor 16.

[0044] Then, fitting member 19 is attached to the tip of plunger member 173 of writing pressure detection unit 17 that protrudes beyond lid portion 18, forming electronic pen component unit 10U as shown in Fig. 6(A). Ink writing unit 12 is stored in ink writing unit storage portion 112a of second holder 112 of electronic pen component unit 10U from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 6(A). This forms electronic pen body 10 of this embodiment as shown in Fig. 6(B).

[0045] Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, in which the electronic pen main body 10 of this embodiment created as described above is housed in a cylindrical housing 2. To facilitate understanding, Fig. 7 shows only the cylindrical housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 in cross section.

[0046] The cylindrical housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment is made up of a pen tip side housing 21 and a rear end side housing 22, which are screwed together. That is, as shown in Fig. 7, a threaded portion 21S is formed on the inner wall surface on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21, and a threaded portion 22S is formed on the outer circumferential surface on the pen tip side of the rear end side housing 22. The pen tip side housing 21 and the rear end side housing 22 are joined together by screwing together the threaded portion 21S and the threaded portion 22S.

[0047] The pen tip side housing 21 has an opening 21a on the pen tip side. The pen tip side of the pen body 121 and pen core 122 of the ink writing unit 12 of the electronic pen main body 10, and the housing portion 111b of the first holder 111 housing the ferrite core 13 around which the coil 14 is wound, are protruding from this opening 21a.

[0048] As shown in Figure 7, the end face of the first holder 111 of the electronic pen main body 10, from which the storage section 111b protrudes, collides with the inner wall surface near the opening 21a of the pen tip side housing 21, thereby restricting movement of the electronic pen main body 10 within the housing 2 in the axial direction toward the pen tip side.

[0049] 7, the rear end side of the rear end housing 22 is not open, but has a closed hollow portion, and has an inner wall surface perpendicular to the axial direction. The inner wall surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the rear end side of the rear end housing 22 is provided with a recess 22a into which the fitting member 19 on the rear end side of the electronic pen body 10 fits. When the pen tip side housing 21 and the rear end housing 22 are screwed together with the electronic pen body 10 housed, the fitting member 19 of the electronic pen body 10 fits into the recess 22a of the rear end housing 22, and the electronic pen body 10 is configured to not rattle in the axial direction.

[0050] When pressure (writing pressure) is applied to the pen tip of the pen body 121 of the electronic pen 1, the electronic pen body 10 is displaced so as to move in the axial direction in response to the applied pressure. However, as described above, the rear end side of the electronic pen body 10 is restricted in position by the rear end housing 22 of the housing 2, so that the displacement of the electronic pen body 10 causes the pressure sensitive section 172 in the writing pressure detection section 17 to receive a pressure equal to the pressure applied to the pen tip by the plunger member 173, but from the direction opposite to the direction of the pressure applied to the pen tip. As a result, the writing pressure detection section 17 detects the pressure applied to the pen tip of the pen body 121 of the electronic pen body 10.

[0051] In the housing 2 of the electronic pen 1, the electronic pen main body 10 can be easily removed from the housing 2 by unscrewing the pen tip side housing 21 and the rear end side housing 22. The ink writing unit 12 can then be removed in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction from the ink writing unit storage section 112a of the second holder 112 of the electronic pen configuration unit 10U. In the ink writing unit 12, the ink cartridge 123 can then be pulled out from the pen core 122 and replaced with a new ink cartridge 123. Of course, the entire ink writing unit 12 may also be replaced.

[0052] [Effects of the embodiment] In the electronic pen body 10 of the embodiment configured as described above, the interaction section for exchanging signals with the tablet is configured by housing the ferrite core 13 around which the coil 14 is wound in the housing 111b, and is disposed on the opposite side of the pen body 121, which is impregnated with the liquid ink of the ink writing section 12, across the pen core 122. Therefore, the coil 14 as an electronic component constituting the interaction section is separated from the metal pen body 121 by the resin pen core 122 and is partitioned by the housing 111b so as to be a separate space from the ink writing section 12, making it less susceptible to the influence of the metal pen body 121 and less susceptible to the influence of the liquid ink.

[0053] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the writing pressure detection unit 17 is provided at the rear end of the electronic pen main body 10, and is configured so that the entire electronic pen main body 10 displaces in the axial direction in accordance with the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the pen tip of the pen body 121, and is configured to detect pressure in accordance with the displacement in the axial direction of the electronic pen main body 10, thereby enabling the writing pressure applied to the pen tip of the pen body to be reliably detected.

[0054] [Second embodiment] In the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above, the writing pressure is detected by using the axial displacement of the entire electronic pen body 10 within the housing 2 in response to the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the pen tip of the pen element 121. However, it is considered that writing with the ink writing unit 12 is often performed by a user with the housing 2 of the electronic pen 1 tilted obliquely relative to the paper. For this reason, there are cases where it is difficult to detect the writing pressure using a method based on the axial displacement of the electronic pen body 10.

[0055] The electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment is an example in which the electronic pen main body 10B is configured so that it can be rotated and displaced in a direction intersecting the axial direction within the housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B, and the pen pressure detection unit is configured so that it can detect the force that rotates and displaces the electronic pen main body 10B in a direction intersecting the axial direction, making it possible to relatively effectively detect the pressure (pen pressure) applied to the pen tip of the pen body 121 from an oblique direction.

[0056] Fig. 8(A) is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment, and Fig. 8(B) and Fig. 8(C) are diagrams illustrating the main parts of electronic pen main body 10B constituting electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment.

[0057] In the ink writing part 12B of this second embodiment, the pen body 121 and the ink cartridge 123 are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but the pen tip 122B is configured slightly differently from the pen tip 122 of the first embodiment.

[0058] That is, the pen tip 122B of the ink writing unit 12B of this second embodiment is configured by connecting a rotating shaft holder 1222 to the rear end side of a pen tip body 1221. The rotating shaft holder 1222 has a rotating shaft 1223 that is perpendicular to the axial direction and located at a position shifted from the center line position of the housing of the electronic pen 1B. An ink cartridge 123 is then detachably attached to the rear end side of this rotating shaft holder 1222 to configure the ink writing unit 12B.

[0059] The electronic pen component unit 10BU of the electronic pen main body 10B of this second embodiment includes a holder 11B having a half-pipe-shaped ink writing unit storage section 11Ba, a storage section 11Bb that constitutes the interaction section, and a board mounting section 11Bc on which a printed circuit board 15 is placed.

[0060] Although not shown, the housing 11Bb of the electronic pen configuration unit 10BU houses a ferrite core 13 around which a coil 14 is wound, as in the first embodiment, and lead wires 14a, 14b at both ends of the coil 14 extend to the board mounting section 11Bc via the ink writing section housing section 11Ba. In this embodiment, a printed circuit board 15 on which a capacitor 16 is disposed is also placed on the board mounting section 11Bc, and the coil 14, the capacitor 16, and a variable capacitor formed by the writing pressure detection section 17B are connected in parallel on the printed circuit board 15 to form a resonant circuit.

[0061] As in the first embodiment, the ink cartridge 123 of the ink writing part 12B and the rotating shaft holding part 1222 of the pen tip 122B are stored in the ink writing part storage part 11Ba of the holder 11B. At this time, the storage part 11Bb is placed on the side of the pen tip body 1221 of the pen tip 122B opposite to the side where the pen body 121 is provided, in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 2B.

[0062] As described above, when the ink writing part 12B is stored in the ink writing part storage part 11Ba of the holder 11B and the storage part 11Bb is placed over the pen core 122B, the ink writing part 12B and the holder 11B are fixed by the fixing member 125. In this case, the rotating shaft holding part 1222 is fixed in a state where the rotating shaft 1223 is exposed to the outside on the same side of the pen core body 1221 as the side on which the pen element 121 is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 2B.

[0063] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8(B), two half-pipe-shaped bearing members 126 and 127 cover the rotating shaft holding portion 1222, including part of the ink writing part storage portion 11Ba of the holder 11B, with the rotating shaft 1223 being supported by the bearings. As shown in Fig. 8(B), the bearing members 126 and 127 have bearing holes 126a and 127a on opposing circumferential edges of the half-pipe shape, which support one and the other axial ends of the rotating shaft 1223.

[0064] Then, as shown in Fig. 8(C), bearing members 126 and 127 are coupled to cover part of the peripheral side surface of rotating shaft holding portion 1222 and ink writing portion storage portion 11Ba of holder 11B, with bearing holes 126a and 127a supporting both ends of rotating shaft 1223. In this state, as shown in Fig. 8(C), pen tip side housing 21B constituting housing 2B of electronic pen 1B of this second embodiment is inserted from the rear end side of substrate placement portion 11Bc of holder 11B, and the coupled state of the two coupled bearing members 126 and 127 is maintained by pen tip side housing 21B, as shown in Fig. 8(A).

[0065] In this second embodiment, the pen pressure detection unit 17B is attached to the holder 11B so as to detect pressure in a direction intersecting the axial direction. That is, the pen pressure detection unit 17B used in this second embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the pen pressure detection unit 17 in the first embodiment, and is composed of a mounting part 171B attached and fixed to the back surface of the substrate mounting part 11Bc of the holder 11B, a pressure-sensitive part 172B, and a pusher member 173B that applies pressure to the pressure-sensitive part 172B. The pusher member 173B protrudes outward from the pen pressure detection unit 17B in a state in which it is movable relative to the mounting part 171B in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 2B and presses the pressure-sensitive part 172B.

[0066] 8(A), the rear-end housing 22B constituting the housing 2B is axially coupled to the pen tip housing 21B in a state in which the entire holder 11B is housed in the axial direction. At this time, the pusher member 173B of the writing pressure detection unit 17B protrudes outward from the writing pressure detection unit 17B in a state in which the pusher member 173B is movable relative to the mounting fixture 171 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 2B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8(A), the tip of the pusher member 173B of the writing pressure detection unit 17B comes into contact with the inner peripheral wall surface of the rear-end housing 22B of the housing 2B.

[0067] 8A , when pressure is applied to the pen tip of the pen element 121 of the ink writing unit 12B of the electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment configured as described above, the rear end side of the electronic pen main body 10B rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow ARb around the rotation axis 1223. As a result, the pusher member 173B of the writing pressure detection unit 17B is pressed against the inner wall surface of the rear end housing 22B of the housing 2B with a force corresponding to the pressure applied to the pen tip of the pen element 121. As a result, the pusher member 173B of the writing pressure detection unit 17B receives a reaction force from the inner peripheral wall surface of the rear end housing 22B and applies pressure to the pressure sensitive unit 172B, and the writing pressure detection unit 17B detects a pressure corresponding to the pressure applied to the pen tip of the pen element 121.

[0068] Therefore, the electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment has the same effect as the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above, and also has the effect of being able to effectively detect the pressure applied to the pen tip of the pen body 121 of the ink writing part 12B, which is generally used at an angle, by the writing pressure detection part 17B.

[0069] It goes without saying that the configuration in which the electronic pen main body 10B can be rotated in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction relative to the housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B and the pen pressure detection unit 17B can detect pressure in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is not limited to the configuration using the rotation axis 1223 described above, and various configurations are possible.

[0070] [Third embodiment] In the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above, the writing pressure is detected by the writing pressure detection unit 17 based on the pressure in the axial direction of the housing 2, and in the electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment, the writing pressure is detected by the writing pressure detection unit 17B based on the pressure in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 2B. However, when the electronic pen is used at an angle, the actual writing pressure is the resultant force of the pressure in the axial direction of the housing and the pressure in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0071] In the third embodiment, in consideration of this, an electronic pen 1C is provided that, as a pen pressure detection means, includes a pen pressure detection unit 17C having a configuration similar to that of the pen pressure detection unit 17 of the electronic pen of the first embodiment in addition to the pen pressure detection unit 17B of the electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment.

[0072] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of electronic pen 1C of the third embodiment, which corresponds to Fig. 8(A) for explaining an example of the configuration of electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment. In Fig. 9, the same parts as those of electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted.

[0073] 9, in the electronic pen 1C of this example, a writing pressure detection unit 17C that detects pressure in the axial direction of the housing 2C is provided on the rear end side of the substrate placement portion 11Bc of the holder 11B of the electronic pen configuration unit 10CU. This writing pressure detection unit 17C has a configuration similar to that of the writing pressure detection unit 17 in the first embodiment, and is composed of an attachment fixing portion 171C for fixing to the rear end of the substrate placement portion 11Bc of the holder 11B, a pressure-sensitive portion 172C, and a pusher member 173C. A fitting member 19C is attached to the portion of the pusher member 173C that protrudes outward.

[0074] Similar to the electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment, the housing 2C of the electronic pen 1C of this third embodiment is made up of a pen tip side housing 21C and a rear end side housing 22C, and the pen tip side housing 21C has the same configuration as the pen tip side housing 21B of the second embodiment. The rear end side housing 22C in this third embodiment is combined with the pen tip side housing 21C to form the housing 2C, but the rear end side of the rear end side housing 22C is not open, but has a closed hollow portion and has an inner wall surface in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0075] A recess 22Ca into which the fitting member 19C on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body 10C fits is provided on an inner wall surface of the rear end side of the rear end side housing 22C in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. When the pen tip side housing 21C and the rear end side housing 22C are coupled with the electronic pen main body 10C stored, the fitting member 19C of the electronic pen main body 10C fits into the recess 22Ca of the rear end side housing 22C, and the electronic pen main body 10C is configured to not rattle in the axial direction.

[0076] In the third embodiment, the recess 22Ca on the inner wall surface at the rear end of the rear housing 22C in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is larger than the fitting member 19C at the rear end of the electronic pen body 10C so that the fitting member 19C can be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, as shown in Fig. 9. This is because the entire electronic pen body 10C can be rotated and displaced about the rotation axis 1223 to detect the writing pressure in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction with the writing pressure detection unit 17B, and the size of the recess 22Ca is set to a size that enables the writing pressure detection unit 17B to detect the writing pressure in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0077] In the third embodiment, when the pen tip side housing 21C and the rear end side housing 22C are joined together in this manner, a gap g is formed between the pen tip side housing 21C and the rear end side housing 22C, as shown in Fig. 9, which is long enough to detect writing pressure in the axial direction. This gap g allows the entire electronic pen body 10C to be displaced in the axial direction relative to the rear end side housing 22C of the housing 2C when pressure is applied to the pen tip of the pen body 121 of the ink writing part 12B. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the electronic pen 1B of the second embodiment.

[0078] In electronic pen 1C of the third embodiment, when pressure is applied to the pen tip of pen body 121 of ink writing unit 12B, the axial component of the pressure is detected by pen pressure detection unit 17C, and the component in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is detected by pen pressure detection unit 17B. In electronic pen 1C of the third embodiment, the pen pressure information detected by pen pressure detection unit 17C and the pen pressure information detected by pen pressure detection unit 17B are transmitted to a position detection device. The position detection device then combines (vector combines) the pen pressure information detected by pen pressure detection unit 17C and the pen pressure information detected by pen pressure detection unit 17B to detect the pressure as the pressure applied to the pen tip of pen body 121 of electronic pen 1C.

[0079] In addition, the electronic pen 1C may perform a calculation to combine (vector combine) the writing pressure information detected by the writing pressure detection unit 17C and the writing pressure information detected by the writing pressure detection unit 17B, and transmit the combined writing pressure information to the position detection device.

[0080] [Correction of the electronic pen's pointing position detected by the position detection device] In the electronic pens 1, 1B, and 1C of the above-described embodiments, the positions of the housings 111b and 111Bb constituting the electromagnetic induction type interaction unit are shifted in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction from the pen tip of the pen body 121 of the ink writing unit 12, 12B. As a result, the coordinates of the pointing position of the electronic pens 1, 1B, and 1C detected by the position detection device are shifted from the coordinates of the pointing position by the pen tip of the pen body 121 of the ink writing unit 12, 12B.

[0081] However, in the electronic pens 1, 1B and 1C of the above-described embodiments, the ink writing portion 12, 12B and the storage portions 111b and 111Bb that constitute the interaction portion of the electronic pen component units 10U and 10BU are connected, and their relative positions are fixed.

[0082] Therefore, the position detection device used with the electronic pens 1, 1B, and 1C of this embodiment is provided with a correction circuit that corrects the coordinates of the detected position indicated by the electronic pens 1, 1B, and 1C based on the positional relationship between the ink writing units 12 and 12B and the housing units 111b and 111Bb that constitute the interaction units of the electronic pen configuration units 10U and 10BU. This allows the position detection device to correctly detect the position indicated by the pen tip of the pen body 121 of the ink writing unit 12 and 12B of the electronic pens 1, 1B, and 1C.

[0083] [Fourth embodiment] The electronic pens 1, 1B, and 1C of the first to third embodiments described above are all applied to electronic pens of the electromagnetic induction type, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the electromagnetic induction type and can also be applied to electronic pens of other types, such as electrostatic coupling type.

[0084] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic pen main body 10D according to a fourth embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an active electrostatic coupling type electronic pen. The example of the electronic pen main body 10D shown in Fig. 10 is obtained by changing the configuration of the electromagnetic induction type electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment to an active electrostatic coupling type electronic pen. The same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as those shown in Fig. 1, and their description will be omitted.

[0085] In the electronic pen main body 10D of the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 10, the configuration of the ink writing unit 12 is similar to that of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, and consists of a pen body 121, a pen core 122, and an ink cartridge 123.

[0086] In the electronic pen main body 10D of this fourth embodiment, the electronic pen component unit 10DU has a configuration similar to that of the holder 11 of the electronic pen main body 10 of the first embodiment, and consists of a first holder 111D that is slightly different from the first holder 111 of the first embodiment, and a second holder 112 that has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.

[0087] That is, the first holder 111D has a storage section 111Db that is placed on the ink groove 122a side of the pen tip 122 of the ink writing part 12, opposite the pen body 121, and this storage section 111Db stores a conductive rod-shaped body 31 instead of the ferrite core 13 around which the coil 14 is wound. This conductive rod-shaped body 31 constitutes the core body of an active electrostatic coupling type electronic pen that does not have a writing function.

[0088] In this example, the conductive rod 31 is connected to a lead wire 33, which passes through the gap between the first holder 111D and the second holder 112 and extends to a printed circuit board 15D provided on the board mounting portion 112c of the second holder 112. A signal generating circuit 32 is provided on the printed circuit board 15D, and the lead wire 33 is connected to the output terminal of the signal generating circuit 32.

[0089] The other configurations are the same as those of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, including the fact that the writing pressure detection unit 17 is connected to the printed circuit board 15D.

[0090] The electronic pen 1D of the fourth embodiment is coupled to a position detection device by electrostatic coupling, and interacts with the position detection device by transmitting a signal from the signal generating circuit 32 through the conductive rod 31 in the housing portion 111Db. In this example, the writing pressure information detected by the writing pressure detection unit 17 is transmitted as a change in the frequency of the signal from the signal generating circuit 32. The signal from the signal generating circuit 32 may also include writing pressure information as an ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) signal. Other operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same effects as those of the first embodiment are achieved.

[0091] [Other embodiments or modifications] In the above-described embodiment, the pen pressure information is transmitted from the electronic pen to the position detection device by interacting with the position detection device using an electromagnetic induction method or an electrostatic coupling method, but it is also possible to provide a wireless communication unit using, for example, a short-range wireless communication method in both the electronic pen and the position detection device, and transmit the information separately through that wireless communication unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1, 1B, 1C, 1D...electronic pen, 2, 2B, 2C...housing, 10, 10B, 10C, 10D...electronic pen main body, 10U, 10DU...electronic pen component unit, 11, 11B, 11C, 11D...holder, 12, 12B...ink writing part, 13...ferrite core, 14...coil, 15...printed circuit board, 16...capacitor, 17, 17B, 17C...pen pressure detection part, 111a...ink writing part storage part, 111b...storage part, 121...pen body, 122, 122B...pen core, 123...ink cartridge

Claims

1. an ink writing part in which a cartridge containing liquid ink is fitted to the rear end of the pen core, and a pen body is placed on top of the pen core in a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction of the pen core and the cartridge; an interaction unit having electronic components for exchanging signals with the tablet; Equipped with The electronic components of the interaction unit include a coil wound around a magnetic core, The electronic components of the interaction unit are configured to exist in a space separated from the ink writing unit by a predetermined member. An electronic pen body.

2. an ink writing part in which a cartridge containing liquid ink is fitted to the rear end of the pen core, and a pen body is placed on top of the pen core in a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction of the pen core and the cartridge; an interaction unit having electronic components for exchanging signals with the tablet; Equipped with The electronic components of the interaction unit include a coil wound around a magnetic core, The ink writing part is detachable. An electronic pen body.

3. The cartridge of the ink writing part is replaceable.

3. The electronic pen body according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. At least the side opposite to the pen tip side is provided with a holder that is housed in a cylindrical housing of the electronic pen; An electronic component accommodating portion that accommodates the electronic components of the interaction portion and protrudes toward the pen tip side of the holder is provided on the pen tip side of the electronic pen.

3. The electronic pen body according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. At least the side opposite to the pen tip side is provided with a holder that is housed in a cylindrical housing of the electronic pen; The holder includes an ink writing part storage part that can store the ink writing part from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the electronic pen.

3. The electronic pen body according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. the holder includes an ink writing part storage part that can store the ink writing part from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the electronic pen, The ink writing part is housed in the ink writing part housing part in a state where the opposite side of the pen core from the pen body faces the electronic component housing part.

5. The electronic pen body according to claim 4.

7. The holder includes a printed circuit board mounted with components electrically connected to the electronic components housed in the electronic component housing in a portion housed in the housing of the electronic pen.

5. The electronic pen body according to claim 4.

8. An electronic pen in which at least a side of an electronic pen body opposite to a pen tip side is housed in a cylindrical housing, The electronic pen body includes: an ink writing part in which a cartridge containing liquid ink is fitted to the rear end of a pen core, and a pen body is attached to the pen core in a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction of the pen core and the cartridge; an interaction unit having electronic components for exchanging signals with the tablet; Equipped with The electronic components of the interaction unit include a coil wound around a magnetic core, The electronic components of the interaction unit are configured to exist in a space separated from the ink writing unit by a predetermined member. An electronic pen characterized by:

9. An electronic pen in which at least a side of an electronic pen body opposite to a pen tip side is housed in a cylindrical housing, The electronic pen body includes: an ink writing part in which a cartridge containing liquid ink is fitted to the rear end of a pen core, and a pen body is attached to the pen core in a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction of the pen core and the cartridge; an interaction unit having electronic components for exchanging signals with the tablet; Equipped with The electronic components of the interaction unit include a coil wound around a magnetic core, The ink writing part is detachable. An electronic pen characterized by:

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