Position detection device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to enable various processes related to a position detection device to be performed without any need for button operation.　The position detection device is provided with a position detection sensor comprising a position detection region corresponding to an indication input surface on which an indication input by an indicator is received, a position detection circuit that detects at least an indication position in the position detection region of the position detection sensor on the basis of the interaction between the position detection sensor and the indicator, and a plurality of motion sensors. The position detection sensor comprises a flexible deformable part that is deformable together with the indication input surface by a user operation. The plurality of motion sensors include motion sensors between which the flexible deformable part exists.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a position detection device equipped with a position detection sensor. [Background technology]

[0002] Well-known position detection devices equipped with a position detection sensor are those configured as portable devices. For example, portable devices such as highly functional mobile phone terminals called smartphones and mobile PCs (PC is an abbreviation for personal computer) are equipped with position detection sensors that detect the position indicated by a pointer such as a finger or an electronic pen, and are configured to enable various inputs based on the detection results.

[0003] Recent mobile devices of this type are equipped with motion sensors such as gyro sensors and acceleration sensors, which detect the orientation of the mobile device, such as portrait (portrait use) or landscape (landscape use), as a state change of the mobile device.Based on the detection results, the image displayed on the display screen can be rotated to match the orientation of the mobile device.

[0004] In recent years, electronic paper, which is flexible and thin like paper and can display and retain images even without power, has come into use as a document viewing medium that can replace paper.

[0005] Furthermore, one type of electronic paper that has been proposed is one that allows a user to perform erase commands or page-turning operations on a displayed image in response to detecting state changes in the electronic paper, such as rotational changes such as turning or flipping the electronic paper, or movement changes to a specified location, without the need for button operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2005-266226)).

[0006] In Patent Document 1, a sensor such as a tilt detection sensor, rotation detection sensor, bend detection sensor, or overlap detection sensor is provided on the housing of the electronic paper, and depending on the change in state of the electronic paper detected by this sensor, one of the following operations can be performed: erasing the information image from the display unit, switching the information image being displayed (turning a page), or aligning or copying the information image. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-266226 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] As described above, it has been common practice to detect state changes in a portable device and use the detection results in processing of the portable device.

[0009] However, in the conventional mobile devices with the above-mentioned display screens, motion sensors such as gyro sensors and acceleration sensors are mainly used only for rotating the image displayed on the display screen, and are not used for other purposes. It was not designed to be used.

[0010] In this regard, the electronic paper of Patent Document 1 is convenient because it not only rotates the displayed image but also allows operations such as erasing the displayed image and turning the page based on the detection results of changes in the state of the electronic paper.

[0011] However, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to define one state change of the electronic paper housing corresponding to the operation that the electronic paper is to be able to perform, and to provide a sensor on each electronic paper housing to detect that state change. Therefore, in order to make the electronic paper perform multiple operations, it is necessary to provide the electronic paper with multiple types of sensors, such as a tilt detection sensor, a rotation detection sensor, a bend detection sensor, and an overlap detection sensor, in order to detect different state changes, which creates a problem of a complex configuration.

[0012] The present invention is a positioning device that can solve the above problems. Detection Device The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To solve the above problems, a position detection sensor having a position detection area corresponding to an instruction input surface that receives an instruction input by a pointer; a position detection circuit that detects at least a position pointed by the indicator within the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor based on an interaction between the position detection sensor and the indicator; A plurality of motion sensors; Equipped with the position detection sensor includes a flexible displaceable portion that is displaceable together with the instruction input surface by a user's operation, and two regions that sandwich the flexible displaceable portion are each independently displaceable by the flexible displaceable portion; At least one motion sensor is provided in each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion to detect displacement of each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion. 、 The entire area of ​​the pointing input surface is made up of the flexible displaceable portion. The present invention provides a position detection device characterized by the above.

[0014] In the position detection device having the above-described configuration, the motion sensors disposed via the flexible displacement parts can change state due to the presence of the flexible displacement parts. Therefore, it is possible to easily associate multiple types of processing with the position detection device based on the movements detected by the motion sensors, and various processes for the position detection device can be performed without the need for button operation. It is also possible to detect the movement of the position detection device, and it is possible to identify the state of the position detection device at a given time, for example. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a portable device that is a first embodiment of a position detection device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration of a main part of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic circuit section of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram used to explain the operation of a main part of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram used to explain the operation of a main part of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining the flow of operations of the main parts of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining the flow of operations of the main parts of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining the flow of operations of the main parts of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining the flow of operations of the main parts of an example of a portable device that is a position detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a position detection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration of a main part of an example of a position detection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic circuit unit of an example of a position detection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams used to explain the operation of the main parts of an example of a position detection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams used to explain the operation of a main part in an example of another embodiment of a position detection device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the position detection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an example of a portable device constituting a first embodiment of a position detection device according to the present invention, and is an example of a portable device having a foldable configuration using a foldable housing.

[0018] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the outline of the configuration of a portable device as a position detection device of this embodiment. The portable device 1 of this example is equipped with a flexible display element 3 and is configured to use a foldable electromagnetic induction coupling type position detection sensor. The portable device 1 of the example of Fig. 1 can be folded (valley fold) onto the display screen side of the flexible display element 3.

[0019] Fig. 1(A) shows the portable device 1 of this example in a fully opened state, and Fig. 1(B) shows the portable device 1 of this example in a folded state. Fig. 1(C) shows an example of a hinge structure for making the portable device 1 of this example foldable. In the portable device 1 of this example, when it is opened as shown in Fig. 1(A), a display screen 3P of a flexible display element 3 is exposed. When a position is indicated on this display screen 3P by an electronic pen 10 of an electromagnetic induction coupling type, the position indicated by the electronic pen 10 is detected by an electromagnetic induction coupling type position detection sensor 4 provided below (on the back side) of the electronic pen 10.

[0020] In this embodiment, the display area of ​​the display screen 3P and the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor 4 are made almost identical, and the display screen 3P is used as an input surface for position indication by the electronic pen 10, and the position indicated by the electronic pen 10 throughout the entire area is detected by the position detection sensor 4.

[0021] 1(A), (B), and (C), the outer casing (housing) 2 of the portable device 1 in this example has a structure in which a first frame member 21 and a second frame member 22 are foldably connected at hinge portions 23 and 24. Therefore, the outer casing 2 has a configuration in which a strip-shaped portion connecting the hinge portions 23 and 24 is provided as a flexibly displaceable portion.

[0022] 1, the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 have wall portions 21b, 22b formed around the bottom portions 21a, 22a so as to form a flat recess in which the flexible display element 3, the position detection sensor 4, and an electronic circuit portion (not shown in FIG. 1) connected thereto are accommodated. However, the wall portions 21b are formed on the sides of the bottom portions 21a, 22a of the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 that face each other on the hinge portions 23, 24 side. and 22b is not formed.

[0023] Therefore, in the folded state shown in FIG. 1(B), the portion between the hinge portion 23 and the hinge portion 24 is left as it is, and there is a risk of dust getting in. Therefore, in this embodiment, a protection plate 25 (see FIG. 1(C)) is provided in the portion between the hinge portion 23 and the hinge portion 24. ) is arranged.

[0024] In hinge sections 23 and 24 of mobile device 1 in this example, first frame member 21 and second frame member 22 have a biaxial hinge structure that allows them to rotate about different rotation axis positions. Since hinge section 23 and hinge section 24 have the same structure, only the structure of hinge section 23 will be described here, and a description of hinge section 24 will be omitted.

[0025] That is, as shown in Fig. 1(C), a through-hole 21c for fitting the pivot shaft is formed at the end of the hinge portion 23 of the wall portion 21b of the first frame member 21. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 1(C), a through-hole 22c for fitting the pivot shaft is formed at the end of the hinge portion 23 of the wall portion 22b of the second frame member 22.

[0026] Then, a hinge component plate 231 is prepared, on which pins 231a and 231b are formed to be inserted into through holes 21c and 22c. In this case, the diameters of pins 231a and 231b are smaller than the diameters of through holes 21c and 22c. The pins 231a and 231b of the hinge component plate 231 are inserted into through holes 21c in wall portion 21b of the first frame member 21 and through holes 22c in wall portion 22b of the second frame member 22, respectively, and thereby the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 are rotatably connected at hinge portion 23 by the hinge component plate 231. In this case, although not shown, a slip-out prevention member is fitted to the tip sides of pins 231a and 231b inserted into through holes 21c and 22c, so that the hinge component plate 231 does not come off.

[0027] The hinge portion 24 side is similarly configured, with a hinge component plate 241 attached, and the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 are rotatably connected at the hinge portion 24.

[0028] As described above, in the portable device 1 of this embodiment, the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 are rotatably connected at the hinge portions 23 and 24, so that the outer casing 2 can be changed from the folded state shown in Fig. 1(B) to the fully open state shown in Fig. 1(A). Note that position 3F shown by a dotted line in Fig. 1(A) indicates the bending position of the display screen 3.

[0029] In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, as described above, the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 of the outer casing 2 are configured to be rotatable about different rotation axis positions at the hinge portions 23, 24. The first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 can be rotated separately, and when the first frame member 21 is rotated, a state change occurs in the portable device 1 in which the left portion 3PL of the display screen 3P (the portion to the left of position 3F indicated by the dotted line) rotates, and when the second frame member 22 is rotated, a state change occurs in which the right portion 3PR of the display screen 3P (the portion to the right of position 3F indicated by the dotted line) rotates.

[0030] [Example of the configuration inside the outer casing 2 of the mobile device 1] As described above, the flexible display element 3, the position detection sensor 4, and the electronic circuit unit connected thereto are housed inside the outer casing 2. Fig. 2 is an exploded structural view for explaining these components.

[0031] The flexible display element 3 is composed of, for example, an organic EL display (organic electroluminescence display) element or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and has a display screen 3P on which a large number of display pixels are arranged in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and the Y-axis direction (vertical direction).

[0032] Below the flexible display element 3 (on the opposite side to the display screen 3P), an electromagnetic induction coupling type position detection sensor 4 is disposed in a state where it overlaps with the flexible display element 3.

[0033] The position detection sensor 4 is configured by arranging an X-axis loop coil group 42X consisting of a plurality of loop coils in the X-axis direction and a Y-axis loop coil group 42Y consisting of a plurality of loop coils in the Y-axis direction on a flexible substrate 41, where the horizontal direction parallel to the surface of the substrate 41 is the X-axis direction and the vertical direction is the Y-axis direction. In the example of Fig. 2, the Y-axis loop coil group 42Y is arranged on the front side of the flexible substrate 41, and the X-axis loop coil group 42X is arranged on the back side. The position detection sensor 4 is arranged, for example, by being attached to the surface of the flexible display element 3 opposite to the display screen 3P.

[0034] As described above, in this example, the display area of ​​the display screen 3P of the flexible display element 3 and the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor 4 are approximately the same size. The position detection sensor 4 uses the display screen 3P of the flexible display element 3 as an input surface for position instruction by the electronic pen 10, and detects the position indicated on the input surface by the electronic pen 10.

[0035] 2 is a bending position of the position detection sensor 4 corresponding to the bending position 3F of the flexible display element 3. In FIG.

[0036] A circuit board 5 is disposed on the surface of the position detection sensor 4 opposite to the surface (input surface) attached to the flexible display element 3. The circuit board 5 is configured by forming an electronic circuit section (not shown) on a flexible substrate 51. The electronic circuit section includes a position detection circuit connected to the position detection sensor 4 for detecting a position indicated by the electronic pen 10, a display control circuit for generating a display image to be displayed on the display screen 3P, and a processing control circuit for performing control processing in response to a state displacement of the outer casing 2, as will be described later.

[0037] In this embodiment, the flexible display element 3, the position detection sensor 4, and the circuit board 5 are stored in an overlapping state inside the outer casing 2, and the overlapping flexible display element 3, the position detection sensor 4, and the circuit board 5 can be bent by rotating the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22. Position 5F indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2 is a bending position corresponding to bending position 3F of the flexible display element 3 and bending position 4F of the position detection sensor 4.

[0038] In this embodiment, gyro sensors 6L and 6R are provided on the circuit board 5 as examples of motion sensors for detecting the movement (motion) of the outer casing 2. In this case, the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are arranged with a flexible portion that is capable of rotational displacement, i.e., a strip-shaped portion that connects the hinge portion 23 and the hinge portion 24, between them.

[0039] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the gyro sensor 6L is disposed at a predetermined position, in this example, approximately in the center, on the left side 5L of the circuit board 5 from the bending position 5F in order to detect at least the movement of the left side of the outer casing 2 due to the rotation of the first frame member 21. right In order to detect movement of the right portion, the sensor 1 is disposed at a predetermined position, in this example, approximately in the center, of the right portion 5R of the circuit board 5 relative to the bending position 5F.

[0040] In this example, gyro sensors 6L and 6R are triaxial sensors, and are arranged such that at least one axis direction is parallel to the Y-axis direction, which is a direction parallel to the strip-shaped portion connecting hinge section 23 and hinge section 24 (the vertical direction of outer casing 2), as shown by the dashed dotted line in Fig. 2. The other two axis directions of gyro sensors 6L and 6R are arranged such that one axis direction is parallel to the X-axis direction, which is the horizontal direction of outer casing 2, and the other axis direction is parallel to the Z-axis direction (a direction perpendicular to the surface of substrate 41 of position detection sensor 4). Gyro sensors 6L and 6R can detect rotational displacement about the rotation center in each axis direction.

[0041] The circuit board 5 may be configured such that the portion housed on the first frame member 21 side of the outer casing 2 and the portion housed on the second frame member 22 side are made of a hard board, and the strip-shaped portion connecting the hinge portions 23 and 24 is connected by a flexible board, so that the flexible board portion of the connecting portion can be bent.

[0042] As described above, in the portable device 1 of the first embodiment, the two gyro sensors 6L, 6R are arranged with at least a flexible portion between them that can be flexibly displaced. Therefore, when the outer casing 2 is put into a plurality of different state displacements by utilizing the presence of this flexible portion, each of the state displacements can be detected by the two gyro sensors 6L, 6R.

[0043] In this embodiment, the state displacement of the outer casing 2 of the portable device 1 detected by these two gyro sensors 6L, 6R is associated with instructions to start various processing functions, such as instructions to turn the power on or off in the portable device 1, instructions to turn a page as a displayed image, and instructions to complete input to the page being worked on, so that the power can be turned on or off, pages can be turned, etc. in the portable device 1 without operating any buttons.

[0044] [Example of electronic circuit configuration for mobile device 1] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the electronic circuit configuration of the portable device 1 of this embodiment. A position detection circuit 100, an operation information processing circuit 200, and a power supply circuit 300 are provided on a circuit board 5. As shown in Fig. 3, a position detection sensor 4 is connected to the position detection circuit 100. An output of the position detection circuit 100 is supplied to the operation information processing circuit 200. The power supply circuit 300 of the portable device 1 of this example includes, for example, a rechargeable battery as a power source, and supplies power supply voltage to each component.

[0045] The operation information processing circuit 200 controls the on / off of the power supply circuit 300, saves handwriting input data based on position input by the electronic pen 10, and in this example generates display image information of the handwriting input data and supplies it to the flexible display element 3 to be displayed on its display screen 3P. Note that in the portable device 1 of this example, even when the power is off, the power supply circuit 300 is configured to supply power supply voltage to the gyro sensors 6L, 6R and part of the operation information processing circuit 200, so that they are in an operable state.

[0046] 3, in this example, the position detection sensor 4 includes an X-axis loop coil group 42X and a Y-axis loop coil group 42Y configured on both the front and rear surfaces of the flexible substrate 41, as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the loop coils X1 to X of the X-axis loop coil group 42X is n and the loop coils Y1 to Y2 of the Y-axis loop coil group 42Y. m Each of the loop coils may have one turn or may have two or more turns. The numbers n and m of the loop coils in each of the loop coil groups 42X and 42Y may also be set appropriately depending on the size of the position detection sensor 4.

[0047] The position detection circuit 100 includes an oscillator 101, a current driver 102, a selection circuit 103, a switching connection circuit 104, a receiving amplifier 105, and a position detection processing circuit 106. The loop coils of each of the loop coil groups 42X and 42Y of the position detection sensor 4 are connected to the selection circuit 103.

[0048] The position detection processing circuit 106 controls the selection of the loop coil of the position detection sensor 4 in the selection circuit 103 and the switching of the switching connection circuit 104, and also has the function of controlling the processing timing for detecting the position indicated by the electronic pen 10 and the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the pen tip of the electronic pen 10.

[0049] The X-axis direction loop coil group 42X and the Y-axis direction loop coil group 42Y of the position detection sensor 4 are connected to a selection circuit 103. The selection circuit 103 sequentially selects one of the two loop coil groups 42X, 42Y. The oscillator 101 generates an AC signal with a frequency f0. The oscillator 101 supplies the generated AC signal to a current driver 102. The current driver 102 converts the AC signal supplied from the oscillator 101 into a current and sends it to a switching connection circuit 104.

[0050] The switching connection circuit 104 switches the connection destinations (transmission side terminal T, reception side terminal R) to which the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 103 is connected under the control of the position detection processing circuit 106. Of these connection destinations, the current driver 102 is connected to the transmission side terminal T, and the reception side terminal R is connected to the reception side terminal R. When a signal is to be transmitted from the position detection sensor 4, the switching connection circuit 104 is switched to the terminal T side, and conversely, when the position detection sensor 4 is to receive a signal from the outside, the switching connection circuit 104 is switched to the terminal R side.

[0051] When the switching connection circuit 104 is switched to the terminal T side, a current is supplied from the current driver 102 to the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 103. This generates a magnetic field in the loop coil, which transmits a signal (radio wave) to act on the resonant circuit of the electronic pen 10 on the input surface of the position detection sensor 4. The resonant circuit of the electronic pen 10 is configured to have a resonant frequency equal to the frequency f0 of the AC signal generated by the oscillator 101.

[0052] An example of the configuration of the electronic circuit of electronic pen 10 is shown in the upper left of Fig. 3. Electronic pen 10 in this example has a resonant circuit RC consisting of position indication coil 10L and capacitor 10C. In this example, electronic pen 10 has a variable capacitance capacitor 11C, which is configured as a pen pressure detection unit that detects the pen pressure applied to the pen tip as a change in capacitance, connected in parallel to resonant circuit RC. The resonant frequency of resonant circuit RC changes depending on the capacitance of variable capacitance capacitor 11C, which changes depending on the pen pressure.

[0053] When the resonant circuit RC of the electronic pen 10 receives an AC signal of frequency f0 from the position detection sensor 4 through electromagnetic induction coupling and the position detection sensor 4 enters a receiving state, the resonant circuit RC feeds back the received signal to the position detection sensor 4. At this time, the frequency of the feedback signal from the resonant circuit RC varies in accordance with the capacitance corresponding to the writing pressure detected by the variable capacitance capacitor 11C comprising the writing pressure detection unit.

[0054] The position detection processing circuit 106 connects the switching connection circuit 104 to the terminal T to transmit an AC signal of frequency f0 to the resonant circuit RC of the electronic pen 10 by electromagnetic induction coupling, and then switches the switching connection circuit 104 to the terminal R side.

[0055] Then, an induced voltage generated in the loop coil of the position detection sensor 4 by a feedback signal from the resonant circuit RC of the electronic pen 10 is sent to the receiving amplifier 105 via the selection circuit 103 and the switching connection circuit 104. The receiving amplifier 105 amplifies the induced voltage supplied from the loop coil and sends it to the position detection processing circuit 106 as a received signal.

[0056] The position detection processing circuit 106 detects which loop coil was selected when the received signal from the receiving amplifier 105 was obtained, and thereby detects the coordinates on the position detection sensor 4 of the position indicated by the electronic pen 10 that sent the received signal.

[0057] The position detection processing circuit 106 also synchronously detects the received signal using the transmission signal from the oscillator 101 and detects the frequency shift (phase difference) between them, thereby detecting the writing pressure applied to the pen tip of the electronic pen 10. The position detection processing circuit 106 supplies the detected coordinate data of the position pointed by the electronic pen 10 and the detected writing pressure data to the operation information processing circuit 200.

[0058] 3, the operation information processing circuit 200 includes a processing control circuit 201, a memory 202, and a display image generating circuit 203. The operation information processing circuit 200 can be configured as a microprocessor unit with the memory 202 being externally attached.

[0059] The processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200 adds data on the time at which the coordinate data and writing pressure data received from the position detection processing circuit 106 were received, and generates handwriting input data as time-series data along the flow of time. The position detection processing circuit 106 can also detect the tilt angle of the electronic pen 10 relative to the input surface by a well-known method. In that case, information on the detected tilt angle is also included in the handwriting input data.

[0060] In this embodiment, the processing control circuit 201 includes a page buffer 2011 that temporarily stores handwritten input data for one screen of the display screen 3P, and stores the generated handwritten input data in the page buffer 2011. The processing control circuit 201 then supplies the handwritten input data stored in the page buffer 2011 to the display image generation circuit 203.

[0061] The display image generation circuit 203 generates display image (handwriting image) information from the input handwriting input data, supplies the generated display image information to the flexible display element 3, and causes the display image (handwriting image) to be displayed on its display screen 3P.

[0062] The process control circuit 201 also stores the detection outputs of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R in the page buffer 2011, along with data on the time at which they were received. That is, in this embodiment, the page buffer 2011 stores information on the movement of the outer casing 2 along with handwritten input data. In this case, the handwritten input data and the detection outputs of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R can be associated with each other using the time data. The handwritten input data and the detection outputs of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R associated with the time data may be stored in the page buffer 2011 as a single block of data. The data stored in the page buffer 2011 is stored in the memory 202 as one page's worth of data.

[0063] The processing control circuit 201 also includes a state change detection circuit 2012. This state change detection circuit 2012 detects a state change of the outer casing 2 of the portable device 1 by analyzing the detection outputs of the two gyro sensors 6L, 6R. In this embodiment, the processing control circuit 201 determines the operation status, such as the attitude and movement of the portable device 1, when the user performs a handwriting input operation on the portable device 1 based on the analysis result of the state change detection circuit 2012, and detects a state change corresponding to a predetermined control instruction for the portable device 1.

[0064] That is, based on the analysis result of the state change detection circuit 2012, the processing control circuit 201 determines the operation situation, such as whether the user is holding the portable device 1 in his / her hand and performing a handwriting input operation with the electronic pen 10, whether the portable device 1 is placed on a desk and performing a handwriting input operation with the electronic pen 10, whether the portable device 1 is being held in his / her hand while walking and performing a handwriting input operation with the electronic pen 10, or whether the user is lying on his / her back and performing a handwriting input operation with the portable device held in the air. In this embodiment, the processing control circuit 201 supplies the determination result of the operation situation to the display image generation circuit 203, which displays image information indicating the determined operation situation on the display screen 3P.

[0065] In addition, in the portable device 1 of this embodiment, a state change of the outer casing 2 corresponding to a control instruction for the portable device 1 is predetermined, and the processing control circuit 201 determines the control instruction corresponding to the state change detected by the state change detection circuit 2012, and executes processing corresponding to the control instruction.

[0066] The state changes detected by the state change detection circuit 2012 and the corresponding control instructions, as well as the processing executed by the processing control circuit 201, will be described in detail later, but the control instructions include an instruction to control the power supply circuit 300 on and off, an instruction to store handwritten input data on a page-by-page basis, an instruction to turn a page, etc.

[0067] That is, the above-described process of the process control circuit 201 controlling the on / off of the power supply circuit 300 is one of the processes that the process control circuit 201 performs in response to a state change. Furthermore, as will be described later, the process control circuit 201 assigns a page number to the handwritten input data stored in the page buffer 2011 in response to the detection output of the state change detection circuit 2012, and stores the handwritten input data in units of pages in the memory 202. Furthermore, in response to a page-turning instruction, the process control circuit 201 reads out the handwritten input data stored in the memory 202 and stores it in the page buffer 2011 of the process control circuit 201.

[0068] In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1(B), 2 When the device is folded, the power is turned off. 2 When fully open, the power is on.

[0069] In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, a change in state of the portable device 1 (outer casing 2) based on rotation around the hinge portions 23, 24 of the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 is detected, and the result of the detection of the change in state is interpreted as a power on / off instruction, thereby automatically controlling the power on / off of the portable device 1.

[0070] That is, the outer casing shown in FIG.2 4(B), when the state is changed from the folded and powered-off state to the fully-open state shown in Fig. 4(B), the state change is detected as a power-on instruction, and the power is turned on for the portable device 1. At this time, there are three modes of state change for changing from the folded state to the fully-open state: a state change in which only the first frame member 21 is rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise, a state change in which only the second frame member 22 is rotated 180 degrees clockwise, and a state change in which the first frame member 21 is rotated counterclockwise and the second frame member 22 is rotated clockwise.

[0071] At this time, the counterclockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) of the first frame member 21 is detected as a counterclockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) about the Y axis of the gyro sensor 6L, and the clockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) of the second frame member 22 is detected as a clockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) about the Y axis of the gyro sensor 6R. In this embodiment, the above three state displacements are detected depending on whether the sum of the counterclockwise rotational angle about the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6L and the clockwise rotational angle about the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6R is 180 degrees.

[0072] In the above description, the power is turned on when the outer casing 2 changes from the folded state to the fully open state, but when the outer casing 2 is opened by 90 degrees or more from the folded state, this state change may be detected as a power-on instruction. In that case, the power is controlled to be turned on when the sum of the counterclockwise rotation angle about the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6L and the clockwise rotation angle about the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6R becomes 90 degrees or more.

[0073] In addition, the outer casing shown in FIG. 2 When the power is on and the cover is fully open, 2is changed to a folded state, the state change is detected as a power-off instruction, and the power is turned off for the portable device 1. At this time, there are three modes of state change for changing from the fully open state to the folded state: a state change in which only the first frame member 21 is rotated 180 degrees clockwise, a state change in which only the second frame member 22 is rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise, and a state change in which the first frame member 21 is rotated clockwise and the second frame member 22 is rotated counterclockwise.

[0074] In this case, the clockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) of the first frame member 21 is detected as a clockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) about the Y axis of the gyro sensor 6L, and the counterclockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) of the second frame member 22 is detected as a counterclockwise rotational displacement (rotation angle) about the Y axis of the gyro sensor 6R. The above three state displacements can be detected based on whether the sum of the clockwise rotational angle about the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6L and the counterclockwise rotational angle about the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6R is 180 degrees.

[0075] In the above description, the power is turned off when the outer casing 2 changes from a fully open state to a completely folded state, but when the outer casing 2 is closed by 90 degrees or more from the folded state, this state change may be detected as a power-off instruction. In that case, the power is turned off when the sum of the clockwise rotation angle around the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6L and the counterclockwise rotation angle around the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6R becomes 90 degrees or more. off The control is performed so that:

[0076] <Instructions to clear the displayed handwriting image (clear page)> In the portable device 1, when in handwriting input mode in which characters are input or pictures are drawn with the electronic pen 10, it may be desired to clear (hereinafter referred to as page clear) the handwriting image that has been input so far and that is stored in the page buffer 2011 of the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200 and displayed on the display screen 3P, and input a new image. In such a case, it would be convenient if the handwriting displayed on the display screen 3P could be erased all at once, rather than erasing the previously input handwriting portion by tracing it.

[0077] In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(E), when the outer casing 2 is fully open, the power is on, and the handwriting input mode is selected, when the user shakes the outer casing 2 of the portable device 1 in a direction parallel to the surface of the display screen 3P, the state change of the outer casing 2 is detected as a page clear instruction.

[0078] When the state change detection circuit 2012 detects a state change of a shaking action, which is a page clear instruction, the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200 erases and clears the handwriting input data that has been input and stored up to that point in the page buffer 2011. In this case, the shaking action may be an action of shaking the outer casing 2 once in a direction parallel to the surface of the display screen 3P, but it may also be assigned to a multiple shaking action of two or more times to reduce false detections.

[0079] At this time, the state displacement of this shaking motion is detected as rotational displacement in the same direction around the Z axis of the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R (see ZL and ZR in FIG. 4(E)). In other words, when a shaking motion is performed with the outer casing 2 fully open, the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R detect rotational displacement (rotation angle) in the same direction around the Z axis, thereby making it possible to detect the shaking motion.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 4(F), when the portable device 1 is shaken in a folded state, the rotational displacements of the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R around the Z axis are in opposite directions (see ZL and ZR in Fig. 4(F)). Therefore, the state displacement when the portable device 1 is shaken in a fully open state can be detected by detecting the rotational directions of the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R around the Z axis, and the rotational displacement (rotation angle) when both rotational directions are the same can be detected as a clear instruction, distinguishing it from the state displacement caused by a shaking operation when the portable device 1 is in a folded state.

[0081] In this embodiment, the power is turned off when the outer casing 2 is folded as shown in FIG. 4(F), so even if the rotation direction of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R around the Z axis during a shaking operation is not detected, the state change during a shaking operation when the power is on may be detected as a clear instruction.

[0082] In this case, the rotation angle during the shaking operation is set to a predetermined value or more, for example, 30 degrees or more, to prevent rotational displacements with a rotation angle smaller than the predetermined value from being erroneously detected as a clear command.

[0083] When a clear command is given by this shaking action, page clearing may be performed based solely on the state change caused by the shaking action, but when a state change caused by the shaking action is detected, a query message asking "Do you want to clear the page?" may be displayed on the display screen 3P, along with two icon buttons, "YES" and "NO." When the "YES" icon button is pressed with the electronic pen 10, clearing is performed, and when the "NO" icon button is pressed with the electronic pen 10, the clearing process may be stopped.

[0084] <Page turn (next page) instructions: Includes changing to a new page> In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(A), when the outer casing 2 is fully open, the power is on, and the handwriting input mode is selected, and the user rotates only the first frame member 21 of the outer casing 2 by a predetermined rotation angle or more, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5(A), and then stops or returns the rotation, the change in state of the outer casing 2 is detected as an instruction to turn a page (to the next page).

[0085] When the state change detection circuit 2012 detects this state change of page turning (next page), the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200 writes and saves the handwriting input data of the currently displayed page that has been stored in the page buffer 2011 to the memory 202, and then reads the handwriting input data of the page next to the currently displayed page from the memory 202 and stores it in the page buffer 2011. Thereafter, the processing control circuit 201 accepts the handwriting force of the electronic pen 10 and writes the handwriting input data of the page in question to the page buffer 2011.

[0086] The state displacement detection circuit 2012 detects the state displacement of this page turning (next page) as a rotational displacement of a predetermined rotation angle or more in the clockwise direction around the Y axis of the gyro sensor 6L and the rotational angle Rotation of The predetermined rotation angle is set to, for example, 30 degrees.

[0087] When the memory 202 of the operation information processing circuit 200 of the portable device 1 does not store the page next to the page displayed on the display screen 3P, the handwritten input data currently displayed in the page buffer 2011 is assigned a page number if one has not been assigned, and then stored in the memory 202, and the stored data in the page buffer 2011 is erased to create a new page (an uninputted page).

[0088] <Page turn (previous page) instructions> In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(B), when the outer casing 2 is fully open, the power is on, and the handwriting input mode is selected, if the user rotates only the second frame member 22 of the outer casing 2 by a predetermined rotation angle or more, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5(B), and then stops or returns the rotation, the change in state of the outer casing 2 is detected as an instruction to turn a page (to the previous page).

[0089] When the state change detection circuit 2012 detects this state change of page turning (previous page), the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200 writes and saves the handwriting input data of the currently displayed page buffer 2011 in the memory 202, and then reads out the handwriting input data of the page previous to the currently displayed page from the memory 202 and stores it in the page buffer 2011. Thereafter, the processing control circuit 201 accepts the writing force of the electronic pen 10 and stores it in the page buffer 2011, thereby updating the handwriting input data of the page.

[0090] The state displacement detection circuit 2012 detects the state displacement of this page turning (previous page) by detecting a rotational displacement of a predetermined rotation angle or more in the counterclockwise direction around the Y axis of the gyro sensor 6R and the rotational angle Rotation of The predetermined rotation angle is set to, for example, 30 degrees.

[0091] When the memory 202 of the operation information processing circuit 200 of the portable device 1 does not store the page previous to the page displayed on the display screen 3P, the processing control circuit 201 causes the display image generating circuit 203 to generate a message stating that "there is no previous page" and displays it on the display screen 3P to alert the user.

[0092] <Page unit memory instruction> In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(C), when the outer casing 2 is fully open, the power is on, and the handwriting input mode is selected, if the user simultaneously rotates both the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 of the outer casing 2 by a predetermined rotation angle or more, for example, 30 degrees or more, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5(C), and then stops or returns the rotation, the change in state of the outer casing 2 is detected as a page-by-page storage instruction.

[0093] When the state change detection circuit 2012 detects this state change of the page unit storage instruction, the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200 assigns a page number to the handwritten input data stored up to that point in the page buffer 2011 if the page number has not been assigned, or stores the handwritten input data of the same page in memory 202 in a state where the handwritten input data is overwritten. At this time, the handwritten input data stored in the page buffer is retained as is.

[0094] That is, this state change of the page unit storage instruction is made when the user wishes to save the handwriting input data of the handwriting image displayed on the display screen 3P in the memory 202. Then, by making this page unit storage instruction, the handwriting input data that has been input by hand up to that point for that page (the page currently being displayed) is appropriately stored in the memory 202 as the handwriting input data for that page.

[0095] [Example of operation of the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200] Next, an example of the operation of the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0096] In the portable device 1 of this embodiment, operation begins from the start of Fig. 6 when the outer casing 2 is folded and the power is off. As described above, even when the power is off, power supply voltage is supplied to the processing control circuit 201 of the operation information processing circuit 200, and the processing control circuit 201 is in an operating state. The operation of each step in the flowcharts of Figs. 6 to 9 will be described as being executed by the processing control circuit 201.

[0097] The processing control circuit 201 monitors the detection outputs of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R (step S101) and determines whether or not movement of the outer casing 2 has been detected (step S102). If it is determined in step S102 that movement of the outer casing 2 has not been detected, the processing control circuit 201 returns the processing to step S101 and repeats the processing from step S101 onwards.

[0098] If it is determined in step S102 that movement of the outer casing 2 has been detected, the process control circuit 201 determines whether or not what has been detected is rotation around the Y axis (step S103). If it is determined in step S103 that what has been detected is not rotation around the Y axis, the process control circuit 201 returns the process to step S101 and repeats the processes from step S101 onwards.

[0099] If it is determined in step S103 that rotation around the Y axis has been detected, the process control circuit 201 determines whether the sum of the rotation angles around the Y axis detected by the gyro sensors 6L and 6R is 180 degrees (step S104). If it is determined in step S104 that the sum of the detected rotation angles around the Y axis is not 180 degrees, the process control circuit 201 returns the process to step S101 and repeats the processes from step S101 onwards.

[0100] If it is determined in step S104 that the total rotation angle around the Y axis detected is 180 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the outer casing 2 has transitioned from the folded state to the fully open state and a power-on command has been issued, and controls the power supply circuit 300 to change the power-off state to the power-on state (step S105).

[0101] Next, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether the portable device 1 is in a handwriting input mode using the electronic pen 10 (step S106). If it is determined in step S106 that the portable device 1 is not in the handwriting input mode, the processing control circuit 201 proceeds to a processing routine for performing other processing (step S107). Note that in the processing routine for other processing in step S107, processing for a power-off instruction, which will be described later, is also performed in the same manner.

[0102] If it is determined in step S106 that the handwriting input mode is active, the processing control circuit 201 accepts the handwriting force applied by the electronic pen 10, writes the accepted handwriting input data into the page buffer 2011, and controls the display screen 3P to display a handwriting image based on the handwriting input data (step S108).

[0103] Next, the processing control circuit 201 monitors the detection output of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R to determine whether or not movement of the outer casing 2 has been detected (step S109), and if it determines that movement has not been detected, returns the processing to step S108 and repeats the processing from step S108 onwards.

[0104] If it is determined in step S109 that a movement has been detected, the process control circuit 201 determines whether or not what has been detected is a rotation around the Y axis (step S110).

[0105] If it is determined in step S110 that rotation around the Y axis has been detected, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether rotation around the Y axis has been detected by both gyro sensors 6L and 6R (step S111 in FIG. 7).

[0106] If it is determined in step S111 that the rotation around the Y axis has not been detected by both the gyro sensors 6L and 6R, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether the rotation around the Y axis has been detected only by the gyro sensor 6L (step S112).

[0107] If it is determined in step S112 that the rotation around the Y axis is detected by the gyro sensor 6R and not by the gyro sensor 6L, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether the detected rotation angle is 180 degrees (step S113).

[0108] If it is determined in step S113 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6R is 180 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the outer casing 2 has changed state from the fully open state to the folded state, and controls the power supply circuit 300 to change from the power-on state to the power-off state (step S114), and then ends this processing routine.

[0109] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S113 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6R is not 180 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the detected rotation angle is 180 degrees or less, since the outer casing 2 of the portable device 1 in this embodiment is structured so that it can only rotate up to 180 degrees, and determines whether the rotation angle is a predetermined rotation angle, for example, 30 degrees or more (step S115).

[0110] If it is determined in step S115 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6R is equal to or greater than 30 degrees and equal to or less than 180 degrees, which is a predetermined rotation angle, the process control circuit 201 determines that the second frame member 22 of the outer casing 2 has been rotated as shown in Fig. 5(B), causing the outer casing 2 to change state, and that a page turn (previous page) instruction has been issued, and performs control processing in accordance with the page turn (previous page) instruction (step S116). That is, in step S116, the process control circuit 201 assigns a page number to the handwriting input data of the currently displayed page stored in the page buffer 2011, if no page number has been assigned, and then saves the data to the memory 202. Thereafter, the process control circuit 201 reads out the handwriting input data of the previous page from the memory 202 and writes it to the page buffer 2011, and controls the display screen 3P to display a handwriting image based on the handwriting input data.

[0111] After step S116, the process control circuit 201 returns the process to step S108 and repeats the processes from step S108 onwards. Furthermore, if it is determined in step S115 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6R is smaller than the predetermined rotation angle of 30 degrees, the process control circuit 201 ignores the rotation of the second frame member 22, returns the process to step S108, and repeats the processes from step S108 onwards.

[0112] Also, when it is determined in step S112 that the rotation around the Y axis has been detected by the gyro sensor 6L, the processing control circuit 201 calculates the rotation angle around the Y axis detected by the gyro sensor 6L (step S131 in FIG. 8), and determines whether the calculated rotation angle is 180 degrees (step S132).

[0113] If it is determined in step S132 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6L is 180 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the outer casing 2 has changed state from the fully open state to the folded state, and controls the power supply circuit 300 to change from the power-on state to the power-off state (step S133), and then ends this processing routine.

[0114] Also, when it is determined in step S132 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6L is not 180 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the detected rotation angle is 180 degrees or less, and determines whether the rotation angle is a predetermined rotation angle, for example, 30 degrees or more (step S134).

[0115] In step S134, when it is determined that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6L is a predetermined rotation angle of 30 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the first frame member 21 of the outer casing 2 has been rotated as shown in Figure 5 (A), causing a state change in the outer casing 2, and that a page turn (next page) instruction has been given, and performs control processing in accordance with the page turn (next page) instruction.

[0116] That is, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether or not handwriting input data for the page following the currently displayed page is stored in the memory 202 (step S135), and if it determines that handwriting input data for the next page is stored in the memory 202, it saves the handwriting input data for the currently displayed page stored in the page buffer 2011 to the memory 202, then reads the handwriting input data for the next page from the memory 202 and writes it to the page buffer 2011, and controls the display screen 3P to display a handwriting image based on the handwriting input data (step S136).

[0117] Also, if it is determined in step S135 that the handwritten input data for the next page is not stored in memory 202, the processing control circuit 201 saves the handwritten input data for the currently displayed page stored in page buffer 2011 to memory 202 after assigning a page number to the data if one has not been assigned, and then clears the handwritten input data from the page buffer and also clears the handwritten image displayed on display screen 3P, thereby changing to a new page (step S137).

[0118] Then, after step S136 or step S137, the process control circuit 201 returns the process to step S108 and repeats the processes from step S108 onwards. Also, if it is determined in step S134 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6L is smaller than the predetermined rotation angle of 30 degrees, the process control circuit 201 ignores the rotation of the first frame member 21, returns the process to step S108, and repeats the processes from step S108 onwards.

[0119] Also, when it is determined in step S111 of FIG. 7 that rotation around the Y axis is detected by both gyro sensors 6L and 6R, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether the sum of the rotation angles around the Y axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R is 180 degrees (step S117).

[0120] If it is determined in step S117 that the sum of the rotation angles around the Y axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R is 180 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the outer casing 2 has changed state from the fully open state to the folded state, and proceeds to step S114, where it controls the power supply circuit 300 to change from the power-on state to the power-off state.

[0121] If it is determined in step S117 that the sum of the rotation angles around the Y axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R is not 180 degrees but is less than 180 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether the rotation angles around the Y axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are both a predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees or more (step S118).

[0122] If it is determined in step S118 that neither of the rotation angles around the Y axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R is a predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees or more, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether only the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6R is a predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees or more (step S119).

[0123] In this step S119, if it is determined that only the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6R is a predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees or more, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the second frame member 22 of the outer casing 2 has been rotated as shown in FIG. 5(B), causing a state change in the outer casing 2, and that a page turning (previous page) instruction has been given, and proceeds to step S116, where the processing from step S116 onwards is executed.

[0124] If it is determined in step S119 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6R is not equal to or greater than the predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether or not only the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6L is equal to or greater than the predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees (step S120).

[0125] In this step S120, when it is determined that only the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6L is a predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees or more, the processing control circuit 201 determines that the first frame member 21 of the outer casing 2 has been rotated as shown in FIG. 5(A), causing a state change in the outer casing 2, and that a page turning (next page) instruction has been given, and proceeds to step S135 in FIG. 8, and executes the processing from step S135 onwards.

[0126] If it is determined in step S120 that the rotation angle detected by the gyro sensor 6L is not equal to or greater than the predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees, the processing control circuit 201 ignores the movement detected by the gyro sensors 6L and 6R, returns the processing to step S108 in FIG. 6, and repeats the processing from step S108 onwards.

[0127] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S118 that both of the rotation angles around the Y axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are a predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees or more, the processing control circuit 201 determines that a state change has occurred in which both the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 have been simultaneously rotated from the fully open state by a predetermined rotation angle or more, in this example, 30 degrees or more, as shown in Figure 5 (C), and that a page-by-page storage instruction has been issued, and executes control processing corresponding to the page-by-page storage instruction (step S121).

[0128] That is, in step S121, the process control circuit 201 assigns a page number to the handwritten input data previously stored in the page buffer 2011 if the data has not already been assigned a page number, and if a page number has been assigned, stores the data in memory 202 overwritten on the handwritten input data of the same page. At this time, the handwritten input data stored in the page buffer 2011 is retained as is, and the display image on the display screen 3P remains unchanged. After step S121, the process control circuit 201 returns the process to step S108 and repeats the processes from step S108 onwards.

[0129] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S110 of FIG. 6 that the detected rotation is not around the Y axis but around the Z axis, the processing control circuit 201 determines whether the rotation angle around the Z axis is a predetermined rotation angle, in this example, 30 degrees or more, which is a shaking motion (step S141 of FIG. 9).

[0130] If it is determined in step S141 that a shaking action has occurred, the process control circuit 201 determines whether the rotation directions about the Z axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are the same (step S142). If it is determined in step S142 that the rotation directions about the Z axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are the same, the process control circuit 201 determines that the state change of the determined shaking action is a page unit storage instruction, and performs control processing corresponding to the page unit storage instruction (step S143).

[0131] In step S143, the process control circuit 201 erases and clears the handwriting input data that has been input and stored in the page buffer 2011. At this time, the page buffer 2011 is cleared of stored data, and the handwriting image that has been displayed on the display screen 3P also disappears.

[0132] Then, after step S143, the process control circuit 201 returns the process to step S108 and repeats the processes from step S108 onwards. Also, if it is determined in step S141 that the motion is not a shaking motion, or if it is determined in step S142 that the rotation directions around the Z axis detected by the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are opposite to each other and do not match, the process control circuit 201 also returns the process to step S108 and repeats the processes from step S108 onwards.

[0133] As described above, the mobile device 1 of the above-described embodiment has a foldable outer casing 2 with the strip-shaped portion connecting the hinge portions 23 and 24 as a flexible, displaceable portion, and two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are provided at positions sandwiching the flexible, displaceable portion, and various state displacements of the outer casing 2 can be detected by using the detection outputs of one or both of the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R.

[0134] In the portable device 1 of the above-described embodiment, various state displacements of the outer casing 2 that can be detected using the detection outputs of one or both of the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are assigned to correspond to control instructions in the portable device 1, so that various processes can be performed on the portable device 1 without the need for button operation.

[0135] In the portable device 1 of the above-described embodiment, handwritten input data and the detection output of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R are stored in memory 202 in a time-correlated manner, making it possible to correlate handwritten input with state displacement relative to the outer casing.

[0136] Furthermore, there is an advantage that it is possible to determine not only the state displacement relative to the outer casing but also the operation state, which is the state of the portable device 1 during handwriting input operation, from the motion detection outputs of the gyro sensors 6L and 6R.

[0137] That is, for example, the operating situation when the user is using the mobile device 1 while walking at a predetermined speed, or the operating situation when the user is lying on his / her back and holding the mobile device 1 in the air, can be determined, and the operating situation can be associated with the handwriting input data. Therefore, it becomes possible to determine the posture and operating situation under which the user wrote by hand.

[0138] [Modification of the first embodiment] The two gyro sensors 6L and 6R are arranged in approximately the center of each of the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22 of the outer casing 2, but central locations are not essential. The gyro sensors 6L and 6R may be arranged, for example, in the corners or peripheral edges of the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22. The point is that the two gyro sensors 6L and 6R should be arranged at two positions sandwiching the strip-shaped portion connecting the hinge portions 23 and 24, which are flexibly displaceable portions.

[0139] In the above embodiment, the gyro sensors 6L and 6R are three-axis sensors, but they may be multi-axis sensors with three or more axes as long as at least one axis is parallel to the Y-axis direction. The gyro sensors 6L and 6R may be one-axis sensors with one axis parallel to the Y-axis direction, or two-axis sensors.

[0140] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, one gyro sensor is provided on each of the first frame member 21 and the second frame member 22, but a plurality of gyro sensors may be provided on each of them.

[0141] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the display element 3, the position detection sensor 4, and the circuit board 5, which are made of flexibly deformable members, are housed in a hard outer casing 2 for protection, and the outer casing 2 is made up of a first frame member 21 and a second frame member 22 and is configured to be foldable. However, if the outer casing is not made of a hard member but of a protective member that is flexibly deformable, the position detection device can be flexibly deformed at any position, which increases the degree of freedom in the placement of the multiple motion sensors.

[0142] Furthermore, while the first embodiment described above was an example of a portable device in which the position detection device can complete processing as a standalone device, there are also cases in which the position detection device is used as an input device for an information processing device such as a personal computer.

[0143] The position detection device 1A of the second embodiment has the configuration of a so-called tablet terminal, and as shown in FIG. 10, is wirelessly connected to a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as PC) 400 and configured as an input device for the PC 400. The position detection device 1A of the second embodiment has an electromagnetic induction type position detection sensor similar to that of the first embodiment, but does not have a display element with a display screen. In the description of the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment, the same components as those of the mobile device 1 of the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0144] Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a position detection device 1A according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 11, the position detection device 1A according to the second embodiment includes an electromagnetic induction type position detection sensor 4 and a circuit board 5A. As described above, the position detection sensor 4 is configured by forming an X-axis direction loop coil group 42X and a Y-axis direction loop coil group 42Y on a rectangular flexible board 41, and is capable of flexible displacement as a whole.

[0145] 11 and an electronic circuit section including a circuit for transmitting output data, which will be described later, and a position detection circuit 100, not shown in FIG. 11, are formed on the rectangular flexible board 5A, which is disposed on the surface opposite to the input surface of the position detection sensor 4, as in the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the circuit board 5A as a whole is also capable of flexible displacement.

[0146] In the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment, the input surface side of the position detection sensor 4 is covered with a front protective sheet 7 made of a flexible material. The surface of the circuit board 5A opposite to the position detection sensor 4 side is covered with a back protective sheet 8 made of a flexible material. A user uses the front surface of the front protective sheet 7 as an input surface to perform handwriting input with an electronic pen 10.

[0147] The position detection device 1A of the second embodiment has the above-described configuration, and therefore the position detection device 1A as a whole is configured to be capable of flexible displacement.

[0148] 11, in the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment, gyro sensors 61, 62, 63, and 64, which are examples of motion sensors, are arranged at four corners of a rectangular circuit board 5A. Therefore, the gyro sensors 61, 62, 63, and 64 are arranged with flexible portions between them that allow for rotational displacement. In this example, the gyro sensors 61, 62, 63, and 64 are triaxial sensors in the X-axis direction (the horizontal direction of the input surface of the position detection sensor 4), the Y-axis direction (the vertical direction of the input surface of the position detection sensor 4), and the Z-axis direction (the direction perpendicular to the input surface of the position detection sensor 4).

[0149] Therefore, the user can freely bend or fold the position detection device 1A, and the gyro sensors 61 to 64 each output a detection output corresponding to the state displacement of the position detection device 1A at that time. In other words, it is possible to determine what state displacement the position detection device 1A is exhibiting from the detection outputs of the gyro sensors 61 to 64.

[0150] Unlike the portable device 1 of the first embodiment, the position detection device 1A of this second embodiment does not have a memory for storing handwritten input data for multiple pages, a processing control circuit having a state displacement detection circuit, or a display control circuit, but only has the function of wirelessly transmitting handwritten input data based on position indication input by the electronic pen 10 and the detection output of the gyro sensors 61 to 64 to the PC 400.

[0151] In this second embodiment, the PC 400 that receives information wirelessly transmitted from the position detection device 1A has a functional unit of a processing control circuit having a memory for storing handwritten input data for multiple pages and a state displacement detection circuit, and also has a functional unit of a display image generation circuit for displaying a handwritten image based on the handwritten input data on the display screen of the display 410 provided in the PC 400.

[0152] [Example of electronic circuit configuration of main parts of position detection device 1A and PC 400] Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of an electronic circuit unit of the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment and an example of the configuration of the main parts of the PC 400. In Fig. 12, the same components as those in the mobile device 1 of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the example of the configuration of the PC 400 shown in Fig. 12, a program for the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment is installed in the PC 400 in advance, and the functions of the program are shown as mechanism blocks.

[0153] That is, in the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment, the position indicated by the electronic pen 10 on the surface of the front surface side protective sheet 7 is detected by the position detection processing circuit 106 via the position detection sensor 4 as described above. The position detection processing circuit 106 also detects the writing pressure applied to the pen tip of the electronic pen 10 and the tilt angle of the electronic pen 10 with respect to the input surface. In this second embodiment, the position detection processing circuit 106 supplies the coordinate data of the position indicated by the detected electronic pen, writing pressure data, and tilt angle data to the transmission data generation circuit 210.

[0154] The transmission data generating circuit 210 is also supplied with the detection outputs of the four gyro sensors 61 to 64.

[0155] The transmission data generation circuit 210 adds the time data t indicating the receipt of the coordinate data (x, y), pen pressure data p, and tilt angle data s received from the position detection processing circuit 106 to generate a block of position detection output data (x, y, p, s, t), and also adds the time data t indicating the receipt of the detection outputs (G1x, G1y, G1z), (G2x, G2y, G2z), (G3x, G3y, G3z), and (G4x, G4y, G4z) around the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of each of the four gyro sensors 61, 62, 63, and 64 to generate a block of motion detection output data (G1x, G1y, G1z, G2x, G2y, G2z, G3x, G3y, G3z, G4x, G4y, G4z, t).

[0156] Then, the transmission data generation circuit 210 combines the position detection output data and the motion detection output data with the same time data t to generate transmission data in the following format, and wirelessly transmits it to the PC 400 via the wireless communication unit 220.

[0157] That is, the format of the transmitted data is (x, y, p, s, G1x, G1y, G1z, G2x, G2y, G2z, G3x, G3y, G3z, G4x, G4y, G4z, t) This becomes:

[0158] At a predetermined time t, the writing data by the electronic pen, i.e., the position detection output data (x, y, p, s, t) and the movement detection output data of the gyro sensor are detected separately. Therefore, not only the information about the drawing written by the operator but also the position detection device ( canvas ) state information can be recorded. When drawing on the position detection device 1A with the electronic pen, it is also possible to record whether the position detection device 1A is held upright or rotated upside down. Since even the environment during drawing is recorded, when reproducing the drawing data, it is possible to reproduce even the subtle movements of the operator when inputting writing with the electronic pen.

[0159] The handwriting data from the electronic pen and the motion detection output data from the gyro sensor may be recorded separately. This is because there may be cases where only the handwriting data is needed, excluding the motion detection output data (environmental data) from the gyro sensor during drawing.

[0160] The position detection output data is not limited to (x, y, p, s, t), but may also include, for example, data on the height h between the tip of the electronic pen and the writing input surface.

[0161] In the PC 400, the data transmitted from the wireless communication unit 220 of the position detection device 1A is received by the wireless communication unit 401. In this example, the wireless communication unit 220 and the wireless communication unit 401 are configured to perform short-range wireless communication according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

[0162] 12, the PC 400 includes, as functional units, a processing control circuit 402 having a state change detection circuit 4021, a memory 403 that stores handwriting input data and motion detection output data in page units, and a display image generation circuit 404 that generates display image information to be displayed on the display screen of the display 410. Although not shown in FIG. 12, the processing control circuit 402 includes a page buffer.

[0163] The processing control circuit 402 controls writing and reading to and from the memory 403. Also, under the control of the processing control circuit 402, the display image generation circuit 404 displays a handwriting image based on the handwriting input data stored in the page buffer on the display screen of the display 410.

[0164] The state change detection circuit 4021 of the processing control circuit 402 detects a state change of the position detection device 1A from the motion detection output data among the transmission data from the position detection device 1A received via the wireless communication unit 401. In this second embodiment, the program for the position detection device 1A defines control instructions corresponding to various state changes of the position detection device 1A. The processing control circuit 402 determines the control instruction according to the state change of the position detection device 1A detected by the state change detection circuit 4021, and executes control processing corresponding to the control instruction.

[0165] Various state transitions of the position detection device 1A and examples of control instructions corresponding to the state transitions will be described with reference to FIG.

[0166] [Examples of state changes of the position detection device 1A and control instructions corresponding to the state changes] 13, it is assumed that a plurality of pages are stored in memory 403 of PC 400, and the operator causes a state change in position detection device 1A while looking at display 410 of PC 400. Note that position detection device 1A may be configured to include a flexible display element.

[0167] <Page turn (next page) instructions: Includes changing to a new page> 13(A), in this example, a state change in which the left short side of the position detection device 1A in the horizontal direction is bent toward the input surface, for example, at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or more, is regarded as a page-turning (next page) instruction. The state change detection circuit 4021 detects the state change shown in FIG. 13(A) by determining whether the rotation angle around the Y axis of each of the gyro sensors 61 at the upper left corner and 62 at the lower left corner of the position detection device 1A is 30 degrees or more, based on the motion detection outputs G1y and G2y around the Y axis of the gyro sensor 61 at the upper left corner and the gyro sensor 62 at the lower left corner.

[0168] When the state change detection circuit 4021 detects this state change of page turning (next page), the processing control circuit 402 writes and saves the handwritten input data currently displayed on the display 410 in the page buffer in the memory 403, and then reads out the handwritten input data of the page next to the currently displayed page from the memory 403 and stores it in the page buffer. After that, the page buffer stores the transmission data received from the position detection device 1A as the data of the page.

[0169] When the memory 403 does not store the page next to the page displayed on the display 410, the handwritten input data in the currently displayed page buffer is assigned a page number if no page number has been assigned, and then stored in the memory 403, after which the stored data in the page buffer is erased and made into a new page (an uninputted page).

[0170] Another example of a page-turning (next page) instruction may be a state displacement in which the upper left corner of the position detection device 1A is bent, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 13(C).

[0171] <Page turn (previous page) instructions> 13(B), in this example, a state change in which the right short side of the position detection device 1A in the horizontal direction is bent toward the input surface, for example, at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or more, is regarded as a page-turning (previous page) instruction. The state change detection circuit 4021 detects the state change shown in FIG. 13(B) by determining whether the rotation angle around the Y axis of each of the gyro sensors 63 at the upper right corner and 64 at the lower right corner of the position detection device 1A is 30 degrees or more, based on the motion detection outputs G3y and G4y around the Y axis.

[0172] When the state change detection circuit 4021 detects this state change of page turning (previous page), the processing control circuit 402 writes and saves the handwritten input data in the page buffer currently displayed on the display 410 to the memory 403, and then reads out the handwritten input data of the page previous to the currently displayed page from the memory 403 and stores it in the page buffer. After that, the page buffer stores the transmission data received from the position detection device 1A as the data of the page.

[0173] Another example of a page-turning (previous page) instruction may be a state displacement in which the upper right corner of the position detection device 1A is bent, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 13(D).

[0174] <Page unit memory instruction> In this second embodiment, although not shown, the state change shown in Figure 13(A) in which the left short side of the position detection device 1A in the horizontal direction faces the input surface, for example, at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or more, and the state change shown in Figure 13(B) in which the right short side of the position detection device 1A in the horizontal direction faces the input surface, for example, at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or more, are associated with a page-by-page storage instruction.

[0175] When the state change detection circuit 4021 detects this state change of the page unit storage instruction, the process control circuit 402 assigns a page number to the handwritten input data stored up to that point in the page buffer if the page number has not been assigned, or stores the handwritten input data of the same page in memory 403. At this time, the handwritten input data stored in the page buffer of the process control circuit 402 is retained as is.

[0176] <Registering a page (bookmark)> As shown by the dashed lines in Figures 13(C) and 13(D), in this second embodiment, the state displacement in which the upper left corner and the upper right corner of the position detection device 1A are bent is treated as a bookmark (marked as a bookmark). Once a bookmark is registered, it is possible to quickly access a page you want to view. In this second embodiment, by recording a location where you want to add notes later, you can quickly access the page.

[0177] That is, as shown in Fig. 13(C), when the position detection device 1A is bent so that the upper left corner is on the input surface side, for example, at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or more, the state displacement is registered (bookmarked) on the left page. Also, as shown in Fig. 13(D), when the position detection device 1A is bent so that the upper right corner is on the input surface side, for example, at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or more, the state displacement is registered (bookmarked) on the right page.

[0178] The state displacement detection circuit 4021 of the processing control circuit 402 of the PC 400 detects the state displacement shown in FIG. 13(C) by determining whether the upper left corner of the position detection device 1A has been bent and the rotation angle has reached a predetermined angle or more, in this example, 30 degrees or more, based on the motion detection output G1y around the Y axis and the motion detection output G1x around the X axis of the gyro sensor 61 at the upper left corner of the position detection device 1A.

[0179] Furthermore, the state displacement detection circuit 4021 of the processing control circuit 402 of the PC 400 detects the state displacement shown in FIG. 13(D) by determining whether the upper right corner of the position detection device 1A has been bent and the rotation angle has become a predetermined angle or more, in this example, 30 degrees or more, based on the motion detection output G3y around the Y axis and the motion detection output G3x around the X axis of the gyro sensor 63 at the upper right corner of the position detection device 1A.

[0180] In the processing control circuit 402 of the PC 400, when the state displacement detection circuit 4021 detects the state displacement of the upper left corner of the position detection device 1A shown in FIG. 13(C), the display image generation circuit 404 displays a message saying "Left page XX has been registered" on the display screen of the display 410. The registered page number is displayed on the display 410 or on the display element 3. Furthermore, when the state displacement detection circuit 4021 detects the state displacement of the upper right corner of the position detection device 1A shown in FIG. 13(D), the display image generation circuit 404 displays a message saying "Right page XX has been registered" on the display screen of the display 410. The registered page number is displayed on the display 410 or on the display element.

[0181] <Access to registered (bookmarked) pages> Next, when accessing the registered page, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 13(E) or (F), in this example, the user presses the button at the bottom left corner of the position detection device 1A. or bottom right corner but It is considered to be a bending state displacement.

[0182] 13(E) or 13(F), a state change in which the position detection device 1A is bent so that the bottom left corner is toward the input surface, for example, at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or more, is treated as an instruction to move to the registration page. In this example, the same operation is performed for both the bottom right corner and the bottom left corner.

[0183] As described above, the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment described above has the entire position detection device 1A as a flexibly displaceable part, and gyro sensors 61 to 64 are provided at the four corners of its rectangular outer shape, and various state displacements of the position detection device 1A can be detected by using the detection outputs of these four gyro sensors 61 to 64.

[0184] In the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment described above, by assigning control instructions in the position detection device 1A to each of the various state displacements that can be detected using the detection outputs of the four gyro sensors 61 to 64, the position detection device 1A can be configured to perform various control processes in a system configured as an input device for a personal computer.

[0185] In the second embodiment described above, the handwriting input data and the detection outputs of the gyro sensors 61 to 64 are transmitted from the position detection device 1A to the personal computer 400 in a predetermined transmission format in which the handwriting input data and the detection outputs of the gyro sensors 61 to 64 are associated with each other over time and combined, so that the handwriting input can be associated with the movement and state change of the position detection device 1A. This has the effect of making it possible to determine the status of the position detection device 1A during the handwriting input operation.

[0186] [Modification of the second embodiment] In the second embodiment described above, gyro sensors are provided at all four corners of the rectangular position detection device 1A, but they may be provided at any two or more of the four corners.

[0187] In the above-described embodiment, the position detection device 1A does not include a display element for displaying the trajectory of the pointing position input by the electronic pen 10, but as in the first embodiment, the position detection device 1A may include a display element made of a flexible, deformable material, such as an organic EL element or electronic paper.

[0188] For example, any electronic paper can be used as long as it is made of a magnetic induction type, an electrophoresis type, or any other type of flexible displacement material.

[0189] [Other embodiments or modifications] It goes without saying that the motion sensor is not limited to the gyro sensor in the above example, and other motion sensors such as an acceleration sensor can also be used.

[0190] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the state change of the position detection device is associated with a control instruction for a predetermined process of the position detection device, but it may also be associated with a modification or transformation of handwritten input data or the assignment of attributes to handwritten input data, rather than a control instruction.

[0191] For example, the position detection device 1A of the second embodiment, which is configured to be capable of flexible displacement as a whole, can be used as a canvas, for example, to input ink by dropping ink with an electronic pen to form an ink puddle mark PI as shown in Figure 14(A), and then when the user changes the state of the position detection device 1A in a wavy manner as shown in Figure 14(B), the handwritten input data can be modified or transformed in accordance with this state change so that it is transformed into an image PIa in which ink drips from the ink puddle mark PI.

[0192] Moreover, handwritten input data drawn on the entire surface of the position detection device 1A (which may have a display element) can be expressed as hanging down by pointing the upper long side of the position detection device 1A upward and the lower long side downward. Also, by changing the inclination, the speed of movement (hanging speed) can be expressed. Furthermore, by moving the right short side up or down, or by moving the left short side up or down, the drawn object can be displayed on the position detection device ( canvas ) can be deformed according to its movement.

[0193] Although the position detection device of the above embodiment is configured to use an electromagnetic induction type position detection sensor, it may also be configured to use a capacitance type (including an active electrostatic coupling type) position detection sensor.

[0194] In addition, not only position detection devices that can use electronic pens, but also touch panels that detect finger touch using a capacitive method can detect the movement of the position detection device by providing a motion sensor such as a gyro sensor, and the same operation and effect as described above can be reproduced.

[0195] In the position detection device of the first embodiment, the flat display screen 3P is formed by opening the outer casing from a folded, closed state so that the first frame member and the second frame member form a 180-degree angle, but the display screen may be exposed even when the outer casing is folded and closed, and the flat display screen 3P may be formed when the outer casing is opened 180 degrees. Also, the angle formed by the first frame member and the second frame member may be 0 degrees in the closed folded state so that the display screen is not exposed, and the angle formed by the first frame member and the second frame member may be 360 ​​degrees so that the display screen remains exposed.

[0196] In the first and second embodiments described above, the circuit board is the same size as the sensor board, but the circuit board may be the same size as a portion of the sensor board, or may be strip-shaped, as long as it extends to the area where a motion sensor such as a gyro sensor is located. Also, the motion sensor does not have to be disposed on the circuit board as long as it is electrically connected to the circuit board. [Explanation of symbols]

[0197] 1...Mobile device, 2...Outer housing, 3...Flexible display element, 4...Position detection sensor, 5...Circuit board, 6L, 6R...Gyro sensor, 10...Electronic pen, 21...First frame member, 22...Second frame member, 23, 24...Hinge members, 61 to 64...Gyro sensor, 100...Position detection sensor, 200...Operation information processing circuit, 201...Processing control circuit, 202...Memory, 220...Wireless communication unit, 2012...State displacement detection circuit, 400...PC

Claims

1. a position detection sensor having a position detection area corresponding to an instruction input surface that receives an instruction input by a pointer; a position detection circuit that detects at least a position pointed by the indicator within the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor based on an interaction between the position detection sensor and the indicator; A plurality of motion sensors; Equipped with the position detection sensor includes a flexible displaceable portion that is displaceable together with the instruction input surface by a user's operation, and two regions that sandwich the flexible displaceable portion are each independently displaceable by the flexible displaceable portion; at least one motion sensor is provided in each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion to detect displacement of each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion; The entire area of ​​the pointing input surface is made up of the flexible displaceable portion. A position detection device characterized by:

2. the pointing input surface is rectangular, The motion sensors are disposed at at least two of the four corners of the pointing input surface.

2. The position detection device according to claim 1.

3. a position detection sensor having a position detection area corresponding to an instruction input surface that receives an instruction input by a pointer; a position detection circuit that detects at least a position pointed by the indicator within the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor based on an interaction between the position detection sensor and the indicator; A plurality of motion sensors; Equipped with the position detection sensor includes a flexible displaceable portion that is displaceable together with the instruction input surface by a user's operation, and two regions that sandwich the flexible displaceable portion are each independently displaceable by the flexible displaceable portion; at least one motion sensor is provided in each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion to detect displacement of each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion; the pointing input surface is rectangular, At least two of the four corners of the pointing input surface are made up of the flexible displaceable parts, and the motion sensor is disposed on the flexible displaceable parts. A position detection device characterized by:

4. a position detection sensor having a position detection area corresponding to an instruction input surface that receives an instruction input by a pointer; a position detection circuit that detects at least a position pointed by the indicator within the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor based on an interaction between the position detection sensor and the indicator; A plurality of motion sensors; Equipped with the position detection sensor includes a flexible displaceable portion that is displaceable together with the instruction input surface by a user's operation, and two regions that sandwich the flexible displaceable portion are each independently displaceable by the flexible displaceable portion; at least one motion sensor is provided in each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion to detect displacement of each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion; a holding circuit for holding output data from the position detection circuit and output data from the plurality of motion sensors in a state in which the output data can be associated with each other; The holding circuit holds the output data of the position detection circuit including the time when the pointed position was detected, and holds the output data of the plurality of motion sensors including the time when the motion was detected, and the output data of the position detection circuit and the output data of the plurality of motion sensors are associated with each other by the time. A position detection device characterized by:

5. The holding circuit holds the output data of the position detection circuit, including the time when the pointed position was detected, and the output data of the plurality of motion sensors, including the time when the preceding motion was detected, as combined data, associated by the time.

5. The position detection device according to claim 4.

6. a communication circuit for transmitting the output data of the position detection circuit and the output data of the plurality of motion sensors held in the holding circuit to an external device; 5. The position detection device according to claim 4.

7. a position detection sensor having a position detection area corresponding to an instruction input surface that receives an instruction input by a pointer; a position detection circuit that detects at least a position pointed by the indicator within the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor based on an interaction between the position detection sensor and the indicator; A plurality of motion sensors; Equipped with the position detection sensor includes a flexible displaceable portion that is displaceable together with the instruction input surface by a user's operation, and two regions that sandwich the flexible displaceable portion are each independently displaceable by the flexible displaceable portion; at least one motion sensor is provided in each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion to detect displacement of each of the two regions sandwiching the flexible displaceable portion; a trajectory display unit for displaying a trajectory of a position pointed to by the pointer on the pointing input surface by the pointer, the trajectory display unit being superimposed on the position detection area of ​​the position detection sensor; At least a portion of the trajectory display unit that overlaps with the flexible displaceable portion is a flexible displaceable portion that is displaceable together with the pointing input surface. A position detection device characterized by:

8. The trajectory display section is made of paper.

8. The position detection device according to claim 7.

9. The path display unit is configured with a display element made of electronic paper, a liquid crystal display, or an organic EL display that displays the path of the indicated position as a display image.

8. The position detection device according to claim 7.

10. a determination circuit for determining the type of motion detected based on the output data of the plurality of motion sensors; a display image generating circuit that generates a display image of the locus of the indicated position based on the output data of the position detection circuit, and changes the display image of the display element based on the determination result of the determination circuit; 10. The position detection device according to claim 9.

11. a memory for storing output data of the position detection circuit for a plurality of pages; Based on the determination result of the determination circuit, the display image of the display element is changed to an image of a turned page.

11. The position detection device according to claim 10.

12. The motion sensor is a gyro sensor capable of measuring angular velocity around at least one axis.

8. The position detection device according to claim 1, 3, 4 or 7.

13. The flexible displaceable portion is provided in a strip shape at a position that divides the pointing input surface into the two regions so that the pointing input surface can be folded.

8. The position detection device according to claim 1, 3, 4 or 7.

14. The at least one motion sensor provided in each of the two regions is a gyro sensor capable of measuring at least an angular velocity around one axis having an axial direction along the strip-shaped flexible displaceable portion.

14. The position detection device according to claim 13.

15. The at least one motion sensor provided in each of the two regions separated by the flexible displaceable portion is a gyro sensor capable of measuring angular velocity around multiple axes, including two or more axes whose axial direction is along the strip-shaped flexible displaceable portion.

14. The position detection device according to claim 13.

16. The motion sensor is provided in the center of the two areas.

8. The position detection device according to claim 1, 3, 4 or 7.

17. The motion sensors are provided at the corners of the two areas.

8. The position detection device according to claim 1, 3, 4 or 7.

18. a determination circuit for determining the type of motion detected based on the output data of the plurality of motion sensors, and a power supply circuit; The power supply circuit is controlled to be turned on or off based on the determination result of the determination circuit.

8. The position detection device according to claim 1, 3, 4 or 7.

Images