Electronic pen and method performed with the electronic pen

Abstract

To prevent the electronic pen 2 from interrupting the process of drawing against the user's intention.SOLUTION: An electronic pen includes a side switch provided on a side surface, a pressure sensor for detecting pressure applied to the pen tip, and a processor for acquiring contact information indicating whether or not the pen tip is in contact with the panel according to the detection result of the pressure sensor. The processor acquires switch information indicating the operating state of the side switch, outputs the switch information when the contact information is in a first state, and disables the value of the switch information when the contact information is in a second state different from the first state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a processor for controlling input by an electronic pen and a method executed by a computer used together with the electronic pen.

Background Art

[0002] Electronic pens having switches such as side switches and tail switches are known. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of this type of electronic pen. The document describes using a side switch to achieve functions similar to the left click and right click of a mouse.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the side switch of an electronic pen is usually provided at a position where the index finger of a user holding the electronic pen hits. This is for the consideration that it is easy to press in the state of holding the electronic pen, but since it is a switch that does not exist in traditional stationery such as ballpoint pens and pencils, when a user who is not used to the electronic pen uses it, the index finger may accidentally hit the side switch during writing. Then, functions such as left click and right click are activated, and as a result, the processing for drawing is interrupted, such as a stroke line being suddenly selected during writing. Therefore, improvement has been demanded.

[0005] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a processor and a method that can prevent the processing for drawing from being interrupted against the intention of the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The processor according to the present invention is a processor for controlling input by an electronic pen, wherein the electronic pen includes a side switch provided on its side and a contact information acquisition unit that acquires contact information indicating whether or not the tip of the electronic pen is in contact with a panel, and the processor acquires switch information indicating the pressed state of the side switch, determines whether or not the tip of the pen is in contact with the panel based on the contact information, outputs the switch information if it is determined that the tip of the pen is not in contact with the panel, and invalidates the value of the switch information if it is determined that the tip of the pen is in contact with the panel.

[0007] The present invention relates to a method performed by a computer used with an electronic pen, comprising the steps of: running a setting tool for setting cases in which the value of switch information indicating the pressed state of a side switch provided on the side of the electronic pen is invalidated; and if the tip of the electronic pen is in contact with a panel, and the setting tool is set to invalidate the value of the switch information when the tip of the electronic pen is in contact with the panel, the computer invalidates the value of the switch information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the function corresponding to the side switch will not be activated while the pen tip is in contact with the panel during drawing, thus preventing the drawing process from being interrupted against the user's intention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] (a) is a diagram showing the configuration of a position detection system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an electronic pen 2. [Figure 2] This figure shows the properties screen of the electronic device 3 displayed on the display 32 by the device driver 34. [Figure 3] This is a processing flow diagram showing the setting process performed by the device driver 34 included in the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a processing flow diagram showing the pen input processing performed by the device driver 34 included in the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a processing flow diagram showing the pen input processing performed by the touch controller 31 included in the position detection system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a processing flow diagram showing the pen input processing performed by the processor 26 of the electronic pen 2 included in the position detection system 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0011] Figure 1(a) shows the configuration of a position detection system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the position detection system 1 comprises an electronic pen 2 and an electronic device 3 which is a position detection device for detecting the electronic pen 2.

[0012] The electronic device 3 is, for example, a computer having a touch surface 3a, such as a tablet computer or a digitizer. Inside the electronic device 3, there is a sensor 30 positioned directly below the touch surface 3a, a touch controller 31 connected to the sensor 30, a display 32 positioned superimposed on the sensor 30, and a host processor 33 that controls each part of the electronic device 3, including these components.

[0013] The host processor 33 is the central processing unit of the electronic device 3 and is configured to read and execute various programs from memory (not shown). The programs executed in this manner include various applications, including the operating system and drawing applications of the electronic device 3. Among these, the drawing application is a program that performs processes such as generating digital ink based on position and data supplied from the touch controller 31 and storing it in the memory of the electronic device 3, and rendering the generated digital ink and generating a video signal showing the result and supplying it to the display 32. The display 32 is a device that displays the video signal supplied from the host processor 33 and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display.

[0014] In addition to the above, the program executed by the host processor 33 also includes a device driver 34 that controls the electronic pen 2 via the touch controller 31. The device driver 34 is a program that constitutes part of the operating system and mediates communication between the drawing application and the touch controller 31. It also accepts various user settings related to pen input by executing the setting tool shown in Figure 2, which will be described later, and performs processing according to the settings.

[0015] The touch controller 31 is a processor that communicates bidirectionally with the electronic pen 2 via the sensor 30 to determine the position of the electronic pen 2 within the touch surface 3a, acquire data from the electronic pen 2, and supplies the determined position and acquired data to the device driver 34 each time. The processor here includes processing circuits implemented by integrated circuits such as FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays). The device driver 34 is responsible for transferring the supplied position and data to the drawing application. At this time, the device driver 34 also performs processing to change the switch information (described later) contained in the data supplied from the touch controller 31 when predetermined conditions are met. Details of this will be described later.

[0016] Communication between the touch controller 31 and the electronic pen 2 is achieved, for example, by an active electrostatic method or an electromagnetic induction method. When using the active electrostatic method, the sensor 30 is configured to include a plurality of x-side linear electrodes that extend in the y direction and are arranged at equal intervals in the x direction, and a plurality of y-side linear electrodes that extend in the x direction and are arranged at equal intervals in the y direction. On the other hand, when using the electromagnetic induction method, the sensor 30 is configured to include a plurality of x-side loop coils that extend in the y direction, and a plurality of y-side loop coils that extend in the x direction. Hereinafter, the signal transmitted from the touch controller 31 to the electronic pen 2 will be referred to as the uplink signal US, and the signal transmitted from the electronic pen 2 to the touch controller 31 (pen signal) will be referred to as the downlink signal DS.

[0017] The touch controller 31 is configured to transmit an uplink signal US every predetermined frame period and receive a downlink signal DS within the interval of the uplink signal US. The uplink signal US serves to notify the electronic pen 2 of the timing that serves as a reference for the transmission / reception schedule of the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS (i.e., the transmission timing of the downlink signal DS and the reception timing of the next uplink signal US). The electronic pen 2 determines the transmission / reception schedule of the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS based on the reception timing of the uplink signal US, and executes the transmission of the downlink signal DS and the reception of the next uplink signal US according to the determined transmission / reception schedule. The transmission timing and the transmission duration of the downlink signal DS within the interval of the uplink signal US are predefined by the communication protocol.

[0018] When the communication between the touch controller 31 and the electronic pen 2 is performed by the active electrostatic method, the electronic device 3 may be configured as a so-called "in-cell type" position detection device. In this case, one of the plurality of x-side linear electrodes and the plurality of y-side linear electrodes constituting the sensor 30 also serves as the common electrode of the display 32 (an electrode for supplying a ground potential commonly to each pixel). Therefore, the touch controller 31 cannot transmit the uplink signal US or receive the downlink signal DS using the sensor 30 at the timing of driving the pixels in the display 32. Thus, the touch controller 31 acquires the timing of driving the pixels in the display 32 from the host processor 33, transmits the uplink signal US with a certain period determined by the pixel driving period as the above frame period, sets a plurality of time slots corresponding to the driving intervals of the pixels as the transmission interval of the uplink signal US, and is configured to receive the downlink signal DS from the electronic pen 2 using the time within each time slot.

[0019] Briefly explaining the configurations of the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS, first, the uplink signal US is a signal modulated by a command indicating an instruction for the electronic pen 2, and is composed of a pulse wave (rectangular wave) obtained by spreading each transmission bit by a predetermined chip sequence (spreading code). On the other hand, the downlink signal DS is a signal including a position signal for causing the touch controller 31 to detect the position of the electronic pen 2 and a data signal modulated by data transmitted to the touch controller 31. The data transmitted by the data signal includes normal data periodically transmitted for drawing, such as pen pressure values (contact information) or switch information to be described later, and response data transmitted as a response to a command. However, the transmission of the position signal is not essential, and the touch controller 31 can also detect the position of the electronic pen 2 from the data signal.

[0020] FIG. 1(b) is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the electronic pen 2. As shown in the figure, the electronic pen 2 includes a core body 21, a pen tip electrode 22, a pressure sensor 23, side switches 24a and 24b, a battery 25, and a processor 26. The core body 21 is a member constituting the pen shaft of the electronic pen 2. The tip of the core body 21 constitutes the pen tip of the electronic pen 2, and the end abuts on the pressure sensor 23. The pen tip electrode 22 is a conductor provided at the pen tip and is electrically connected to the processor 26.

[0021] The pressure sensor 23 is a sensor that detects the pressure applied to the tip of the core body 21. The pressure detected by the pressure sensor 23 is supplied to the processor 26 as, for example, a 12-bit pen pressure value. The pen pressure value becomes 0 when the pen tip of the electronic pen 2 is in contact with a panel such as the touch surface 3a (hereinafter referred to as "during contact"), while it becomes 0 or more when the pen tip of the electronic pen 2 is not in contact with a panel such as the touch surface 3a (hereinafter referred to as "during hover"). Therefore, the pen pressure value functions as contact information indicating whether the pen tip of the electronic pen 2 is in contact with a panel such as the touch surface 3a. Further, the pressure sensor 23 functions as a contact information acquisition unit that acquires contact information.

[0022] Side switches 24a and 24b are push-button type switches located on the side of the electronic pen 2, and are configured to be turned on and off by the user. The operating state (on / off state) of side switches 24a and 24b is supplied to the processor 26 as, for example, 2-bit switch information.

[0023] The processor 26 is an integrated circuit powered by the battery 25 and is responsible for performing various processes, including receiving the uplink signal US, generating the downlink signal DS, and transmitting it. Specifically, it receives the uplink signal US by detecting a change in the potential of the pen tip electrode 22, generates the downlink signal DS based on the received uplink signal US, and transmits the downlink signal DS by changing the potential of the pen tip electrode 22 based on the generated downlink signal DS. Other processes performed by the processor 26 based on the uplink signal US include determining the transmission and reception schedule described above, using the timing of the reception of the uplink signal US as a reference time.

[0024] The processor 26 is configured to receive various data from the touch controller 31 via an uplink signal US. This data includes, for example, the attribute BrushColor, which determines the drawing color when a drawing application renders digital ink. In the third embodiment described later, this function is used to set the settings of the setting tool 46b, described later, in the processor 26.

[0025] Figure 2 shows the properties screen of the electronic device 3 displayed on the display 32 by the device driver 34. The device driver 34 is configured to launch this properties screen in response to user instructions received by the electronic device 3 via an input device such as an electronic pen 2.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the properties screen consists of an application selection box 40 and a settings selection tab 41. The application selection box 40 is a box for selecting the application that will use the settings provided by this properties screen. Figure 2 shows an example where all applications use the same settings. The settings selection tab 41 is a tab for selecting one of the multiple settings screens included in the properties screen. Figure 2 shows the settings screen 42 related to the electronic pen 2 selected.

[0027] The settings screen 42 consists of an illustration 43 of the electronic pen 2 and combo boxes 45a and 45b. Illustration 43 also includes illustrations 44a and 44b of the side switches 24a and 24b. The combo boxes 45a and 45b are provided in correspondence with the side switches 24a and 24b and are configured to allow selection of a function to be activated when the corresponding side switch is pressed. Since the functions that can be selected in combo boxes 45a and 45b are the same, the following explanation will focus on combo box 45a.

[0028] When the user clicks or taps the combo box 45a, the illustrated list box 46 is displayed. The list box 46 displays a list 46a of functions to be assigned to the side switch 24a, and a setting tool 46b for setting cases in which the switch information values ​​will be invalidated. The function selected in list 46a is displayed in the combo box 45a.

[0029] The configuration tool 46b has four options: "Follow application", "Disable", "Disable only when contact is drawn", and "Standard setting". Of these, "Standard setting" is the option to disable the switch information according to the standard setting of the device driver 34. The standard setting of the device driver 34 is one of "Follow application", "Disable", or "Disable only when contact is drawn", and is written to the device driver 34 in advance.

[0030] The "Follow Application" option means that the device driver 34 does not perform the process of disabling the switch information and leaves it to the application. When this option is selected, the device driver 34 outputs the switch information contained in the data supplied from the touch controller 31 to the application without any processing.

[0031] The "Disabled" option means that the device driver 34 will always disable the value of the switch information. When this option is selected, the device driver 34 will always disable the value of the switch information contained in the data supplied from the touch controller 31. The specific process for disabling the value of the switch information is not limited to any process that results in the same state as when the side switch 24a is not pressed. For example, if the switch information is configured to be 1 when the side switch 24a is pressed and 0 when it is not pressed, the value of the switch information may be forcibly rewritten to 0 and output to the application. Alternatively, the switch information may not be output to the application. Furthermore, if the device driver 34 performs a process that generates an event corresponding to the function assigned to the side switch 24a, the value of the switch information can also be disabled by not generating that event.

[0032] The "Disable only during contact drawing" option disables the switch information value when the electronic pen 2 is in the contact state described above. When this option is selected, the device driver 34 first refers to the contact information (pressure value) contained in the data supplied from the touch controller 31 and determines whether the electronic pen 2 is in the contact state or the hover state. Then, only if it is determined that the electronic pen 2 is in the contact state, the switch information value is disabled. The specific processing for disabling the switch information value is the same as in the "Disable" case. If it is determined that the electronic pen 2 is in the hover state, the device driver 34 outputs the switch information contained in the data supplied from the touch controller 31 to the application without any processing.

[0033] Figures 3 and 4 are processing flow diagrams showing the processes performed by the device driver 34 included in the position detection system 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 3 shows the process for setting a case in which the value of the switch information is invalidated (hereinafter referred to as the "setting process"), and Figure 4 shows the process for pen input by the electronic pen 2 (hereinafter referred to as the "pen input process").

[0034] First, referring to Figure 3, the device driver 34 displays the properties screen shown in Figure 2 in response to user instructions (step S10). As described above, this properties screen includes a setting tool 46b for setting cases in which the values ​​of the switch information are disabled. When the user presses the OK button on the displayed properties screen (step S11), the device driver 34 stores the settings and supplies the information required by the application, touch controller 31, and electronic pen 2, respectively (step S12), and then terminates the process. In this embodiment, the settings of the setting tool 46b do not necessarily have to be included in the information supplied to other devices or processing units in step S12.

[0035] Next, referring to Figure 4, the device driver 34 first receives the position of the electronic pen 2 and the data transmitted by the electronic pen 2 from the touch controller 31 (step S20). The data thus received includes the contact information and switch information described above.

[0036] Next, the device driver 34 executes the processes in steps S22 to S25 for each of the side switches 24a and 24b of the electronic pen 2 (step S21). Specifically, the device driver 34 first determines whether "disabled" is set in the setting tool 46b for the corresponding side switch (step S22). The result of this determination is positive if "disabled" is set in the setting tool 46b, or if "standard setting" is set in the setting tool 46b and the standard setting of the device driver 34 is "disabled", and negative in all other cases.

[0037] If the device driver 34 obtains a negative result in step S22, it then determines whether "Disable only during contact drawing" is set in the setting tool 46b (step S23). The result of this determination is positive if "Disable only during contact drawing" is set in the setting tool 46b, or if "Standard setting" is set in the setting tool 46b and the standard setting of the device driver 34 is "Disable only during contact drawing", and negative in all other cases. If the device driver 34 obtains a positive result in step S23, it further refers to the contact information received in step S20 and determines whether the state of the electronic pen 2 is in contact (step S24).

[0038] If a positive result is obtained in step S22, or if contact is determined in step S24, the device driver 34 decides to invalidate the corresponding switch information value (step S25) and then moves on to the next side switch. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step S23, or if contact is not determined in step S24, the device driver 34 moves on to the next side switch without making the decision in step S25.

[0039] After executing steps S22 to S25 for all side switches 24a, 24b, the device driver 34 outputs the position and data received in step S20 to the application (step S26) and returns processing to step S20. However, if there is switch information whose value is to be invalidated in step S25, the device driver 34 executes a process to invalidate the value of that switch information in step S26. The specific details of this process are as described above. That is, the device driver 34 may forcibly rewrite the value of the switch information to an invalid value, or it may choose not to output the switch information, or it may choose not to generate an event corresponding to the function assigned to the side switch.

[0040] As explained above, with the position detection system 1 according to this embodiment, the value of the switch information becomes invalid when the tip of the electronic pen 2 is in contact with the panel during drawing, as specified by the user settings. Therefore, the functions corresponding to the side switches 24a and 24b are not activated. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the drawing process being executed by the application from being interrupted against the user's intention.

[0041] Figure 5 is a processing flow diagram showing the pen input processing performed by the touch controller 31 included in the position detection system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The position detection system 1 according to this embodiment differs from the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment in that the process of invalidating the switch information value is performed by the touch controller 31 instead of the device driver 34, but is otherwise the same as the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment. Below, we will focus on the differences from the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment and explain the processing performed in the position detection system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0042] In this embodiment, in step S12 shown in Figure 3, the settings from the setting tool 46b are supplied to the touch controller 31 from the device driver 34. The touch controller 31 stores the supplied settings and uses them during pen input processing.

[0043] Referring to Figure 5, the touch controller 31 first transmits an uplink signal US via the sensor 30 shown in Figure 1 (step S30), and then receives a downlink signal DS transmitted by the electronic pen 2 via the sensor 30 (step S31). Subsequently, the touch controller 31 derives the position of the electronic pen 2 within the touch surface 3a based on the received intensity of the downlink signal DS (specifically, the position signal described above) at each of the linear electrodes or loop coils constituting the sensor 30 (step S32), and acquires the data transmitted by the pen by demodulating the downlink signal DS (step S33).

[0044] After executing step S33, the touch controller 31 performs the processes in steps S35 to S38 for each of the side switches 24a and 24b of the electronic pen 2 (step S34). The specific details of this process are the same as those in steps S22 to S25 shown in Figure 4. After performing the processes in steps S35 to S38 for all of the side switches 24a and 24b, the touch controller 31 outputs the position derived in step S32 and the data acquired in step S33 to the device driver 34 (step S39), and returns to step S30. However, if there is switch information whose value has been decided to be invalidated in step S38, the touch controller 31 performs the process to invalidate the value of that switch information in step S39, using the same process as in Figure 4. This makes it possible to invalidate the value of the switch information according to the user's settings in the setting tool 46b.

[0045] As explained above, even with the position detection system 1 according to this embodiment, the value of the switch information becomes invalid when the tip of the electronic pen 2 is in contact with the panel during drawing, as set by the user, so that the functions corresponding to the side switches 24a and 24b are not activated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drawing process being executed by the application from being interrupted against the user's intention.

[0046] Figure 6 is a processing flow diagram showing the pen input processing performed by the processor 26 of the electronic pen 2 included in the position detection system 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The position detection system 1 according to this embodiment differs from the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment in that the process of invalidating the switch information value is performed in the processor 26 of the electronic pen 2 rather than in the device driver 34, and is otherwise the same as the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment. Below, we will focus on the differences from the position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment and explain the processing performed in the position detection system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0047] In this embodiment, in step S12 shown in Figure 3, the settings of the setting tool 46b are supplied from the device driver 34 to the electronic pen 2 via the touch controller 31. The processor 26 of the electronic pen 2 stores the supplied settings and uses them when processing pen input.

[0048] Referring to Figure 6, the processor 26 first receives the uplink signal US via the pen tip electrode 22 shown in Figure 1(b) (step S40). This reception is achieved when the pen tip electrode 22 approaches the sensor 30 while the processor 26 is performing the receiving operation continuously or intermittently.

[0049] Upon receiving the uplink signal US, the processor 26 determines the transmission and reception schedule for the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS based on the reception timing of the uplink signal US (step S41). Subsequently, the processor 26 acquires transmission data including switch information and contact information (step S42), and executes the processes in steps S44 to S47 for each side switch 24a, 24b (step S43). The specific details of this process are the same as those in steps S22 to S25 shown in Figure 4.

[0050] After performing steps S44 to S47 for all side switches 24a and 24b, the processor 26 transmits the downlink signal DS via the pen tip electrode 22 according to the determined transmit / receive schedule (step S48). However, if there is switch information whose value is to be disabled in step S47, the processor 26 disables the value of that switch information in step S48 using the same process as in Figures 4 and 5. This makes it possible to disable the value of the switch information according to the user's settings in the setting tool 46b.

[0051] Next, the processor 26 receives the next uplink signal US according to the determined transmit / receive schedule (step S48) and returns processing to step S41. After this, the processor 26 repeatedly executes the processing from step S41.

[0052] As explained above, even with the position detection system 1 according to this embodiment, the value of the switch information becomes invalid when the tip of the electronic pen 2 is in contact with the panel during drawing, as set by the user, so that the functions corresponding to the side switches 24a and 24b are not activated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drawing process being executed by the application from being interrupted against the user's intention.

[0053] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited in any way to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its essence.

[0054] For example, in the first embodiment, the device driver 34 (host processor 33) performs a process to invalidate the value of the switch information; in the second embodiment, the touch controller 31 performs a process to invalidate the value of the switch information; and in the third embodiment, the processor 26 in the electronic pen 2 performs a process to invalidate the value of the switch information. However, the process to invalidate the value of the switch information may be performed in other devices or processing units. For example, the process to invalidate the value of the switch information may be performed in an application executed within the host processor 33. In this case, in step S12 of Figure 3, it is preferable to supply the settings of the setting tool 46b to the device or processing unit that performs the process to invalidate the value of the switch information from the device driver 34. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1. Position detection system 2 Electronic pen 3 Electronic equipment 3a Touch surface 21 Core body 22 Pen tip electrodes 23 Pressure Sensor 24a, 24b Side Switch 25 batteries 26 processors 30 sensors 31 Touch Controller 32 displays 33 Host Processors 34 Device Drivers 40 Application Selection Box 41. Settings Selection Tab 42 Settings screen 43 Illustration of Electronic Pen 2 Illustrations of side switches 24a and 24b (44a, 44b) 45a, 45b Combo Box 46 List Box 46a List 46b Configuration Tool DS Downlink Signal US Uplink Signal

Claims

1. A side switch located on the side, A pressure sensor that detects the pressure applied to the pen tip, The system includes a processor that acquires contact information indicating whether or not the pen tip is in contact with the panel, in accordance with the detection result of the pressure sensor, The aforementioned processor, The switch information indicating the operating status of the side switch is acquired, If the contact information is in the first state, the switch information is output. If the contact information is in a second state different from the first state, the value of the switch information is invalidated. The first state corresponds to a state in which the pen tip is not in contact with the panel. The second state corresponds to the state in which the pen tip is in contact with the panel. Electronic pen.

2. The processor outputs the switch information by transmitting a pen signal that includes the switch information. The electronic pen according to claim 1.

3. The processor is configured to receive an uplink signal from the touch controller and to transmit the pen signal in accordance with the received uplink signal. The electronic pen according to claim 2.

4. The processor transmits a pen signal containing the switch information, which is an invalid value, when the contact information is in the second state. The electronic pen according to claim 1.

5. The processor transmits a pen signal that does not include the switch information when the contact information is in the second state. The electronic pen according to claim 1.

6. A side switch located on the side, A pressure sensor that detects the pressure applied to the pen tip, A method performed by an electronic pen including, The steps include obtaining contact information indicating whether or not the pen tip is in contact with the panel, based on the detection result of the pressure sensor, The steps include: obtaining switch information indicating the operating status of the side switch; The steps include outputting the switch information when the contact information is in a first state, and invalidating the value of the switch information when the contact information is in a second state different from the first state, Includes, The first state corresponds to a state in which the pen tip is not in contact with the panel. The second state corresponds to the state in which the pen tip is in contact with the panel. method.

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