Position detection device

Abstract

The present invention achieves a position detection device that is extremely thin and therefore easy to carry, and that has a simple structure. A sheet-shaped position detection sensor (21) is housed in a bag-shaped protective member (1), and the surface of the bag-shaped protective member (1) serves as an operation surface. Furthermore, a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes of the sheet-shaped position detection sensor (21) are connected to a position detection circuit (23) so that a position indicated by an electronic pen on the position detection sensor (21) is made detectable. In this way, the sheet-shaped position detection sensor (21) can be housed in the bag-shaped protection member (1) to constitute the position detection device, thus making it possible to achieve a position detection device which has a simple structure and which is extremely thin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a position detection device called a pen tablet or the like used as an input device for electronic equipment such as a personal computer, for example.

Background Art

[0002] So-called position detection devices called pen tablets or the like, which enable drawing input by performing a pointing operation using a pen-shaped operating element called an electronic pen or the like, are widely used. Pen tablets have become a necessity in cases such as when creating animations or designs. In the field of electronic equipment, a tablet means a plate-shaped computer or a computer peripheral device. Further, pen tablets include those called liquid crystal tablets and those called rectangular thin plate-shaped tablets (hereinafter referred to as graphic tablets). A liquid crystal tablet is an input / output device such as a personal computer that includes a liquid crystal display and a position detection sensor and is capable of performing drawing input and drawing display. A graphic tablet is an input device such as a personal computer that includes a position detection sensor but does not include a display device and is capable of performing drawing input.

[0003] As described also in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 mentioned later, a liquid crystal tablet is configured such that a mother board (4), a position detection sensor (3), and a liquid crystal display (2) are accommodated from the lower layer side in a housing (1B), and enclosed by a front panel (1A). The housing (1B) is formed of, for example, hard resin, and the front panel (1A) is formed using, for example, tempered glass. Also in the case of a graphic tablet, the configuration is the same as that of a liquid crystal tablet, except that it does not include a liquid crystal display (2). Therefore, the mother board (4), the position detection sensor (3), and the liquid crystal display (2), which need to be protected from external force, are configured to be protected by the housing (1B) and the front panel (1A), whereby a robust liquid crystal tablet or graphic tablet can be configured.

Prior Art Literature

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3224999 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] As mentioned above, LCD tablets and tablet tablets, which house position detection sensors and other components within a casing, are robust but quite thick, making them inconvenient to carry around. They are generally used in a fixed position on a desk. In recent years, tablet PCs, or similar flat-screen personal computers, have become widely popular. Tablet PCs are equipped with a thin display such as an LCD and a position detection sensor, and allow users to input drawings and other data using an electronic pen. Tablet PCs are typically B5 or A4 size, which are industrial paper sizes, and are relatively thin, with a thickness of around 10mm. This makes them convenient to carry around and widely used in public places.

[0006] However, tablet PCs are relatively expensive due to their LCD displays and other features, and their functions overlap with those of laptops and smartphones, making them not easily accessible to everyone. Therefore, there is a need for a simple, portable, and easily configured drawing tablet (with position detection capabilities) that connects to laptops and smartphones, provides a relatively large input area, allows drawing input with an electronic pen. In particular, for students, a portable drawing tablet would be an important learning tool, as it allows them to directly create digitized handwritten notes.

[0007] In view of the above, the purpose of this invention is to realize a position detection device that is easy to carry because it has a simple structure and is extremely thin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, A sheet-like sensor portion formed by stacking a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, A position detection circuit unit detects an indicated position on the sensor unit based on output signals from the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes of the sensor unit, The sensor unit and the Position detection circuit section A connector that connects the two A position detection sensor member equipped with, The aforementioned Position detection circuit section A connection cable that connects to and enables connection to external devices, A front sheet and a back sheet of the same shape are overlapped and their edges are bonded together, and at the upper end, there is a protective member opening made in the front sheet so that the sensor part can be inserted between the front sheet and the back sheet, and the position detection circuit part can be placed on the back sheet, and the surface of the front sheet is the operating surface of the bag-shaped protective member, A member provided on the upper end portion of the bag-shaped protective member where the protective member opening is provided, comprising a spacer member opening corresponding to the position detection circuit portion and a slit for pulling out the connecting cable, and having a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of the position detection circuit portion, A substrate cover member that covers the entire upper surface of the spacer member and A position detection device is provided that is configured to include the following. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a position detection device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating a bag-shaped protective member. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating a position detection sensor component. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view of a sensor section of a position detection sensor member. [Figure 5] It is a diagram for explaining a spacer member. [Figure 6] It is a diagram for explaining a substrate cover member. [Figure 7] It is a diagram for explaining a USB cable. [Figure 8] It is a diagram for explaining an arrangement aspect of a writing sheet and a non-slip rubber sheet. [Figure 9] It is a diagram for explaining a laminated structure of the position detection device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a diagram for explaining another example of the spacer member. [Figure 11] It is a diagram for explaining another example of the substrate cover member and the like. [Figure 12] It is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a capacitive sensor section. [Figure 13] It is an external view of a position detection device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] It is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a housing sheet. [Figure 15] It is a diagram for explaining a laminated structure of the position detection device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] It is a diagram for explaining an internal structure of the position detection device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] It is a diagram for explaining an external hook of the position detection device according to the second embodiment. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the position detection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The position detection device described below functions as a so-called tablet, which is used by being connected to a high-performance mobile phone called a notebook computer, a smartphone, or the like, for example. Since the position detection device of the embodiment is extremely thin and has a simple configuration, it is convenient to carry and can be easily used even when out of the office. Of course, it can also be used by connecting to a desktop personal computer at home.

[0012] It should be noted that position detection devices are classified into an electromagnetic induction type and a capacitive type. In the electromagnetic induction system, the position detection device includes a sensor unit provided with a plurality of loop coils in each of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. A transmission period in which power is sequentially supplied to the plurality of loop coils of the sensor unit to generate a magnetic field and a reception period in which power supply is stopped and a magnetic field from the outside is received are alternately provided. A corresponding electronic pen is provided with a resonance circuit composed of a coil and a capacitor, and generates a signal when a current flows through the coil in response to a magnetic field from the sensor unit, and includes pen pressure information in this signal Position detection device to transmit the same. The position detection device receives this during the reception period, and detects the indicated position and pen pressure by the electronic pen.

[0013] In the capacitive system, the position detection device includes a sensor unit provided with a plurality of line electrodes (linear conductors) in each of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The sensor unit detects an indicated position according to a change in capacitance (electric charge) generated in the line electrode when a finger or a capacitive pen (electronic pen) is brought close to the sensor unit. It should be noted that capacitive pens include a simple conductive rod-shaped one and a battery-driven one that transmits a signal (active capacitive pen). In the case of an active capacitive coupling method using an active capacitive pen, the capacitive pen transmits a signal from an oscillation circuit mounted thereon including pen pressure information, which is received by the position detection device to detect the indicated position and pen pressure.

[0014] The position detection device of this invention can be configured as an electromagnetic induction type (EMR (Electro Magnetic Resonance) type) or as an active capacitive type (AES (Active Electrostatic) type). In the following, we will first explain the case in which this invention is applied to an electromagnetic induction type position detection device as an example.

[0015] [Overall configuration of the position detection device (tablet) of the first embodiment] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a position detection device (tablet) according to the first embodiment. In Figure 1, the parts shown by solid lines are parts that can be directly seen, and the parts shown by dotted lines are parts that are housed inside and therefore cannot be directly seen. As shown in Figure 1, the position detection device according to the first embodiment consists of five parts: a bag-shaped protective member 1, a position detection sensor member 2, a spacer member 3, a substrate cover member 4, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 5.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the position detection device of the first embodiment is constructed by housing a position detection sensor member 2 inside a bag-shaped protective member 1, which is formed by joining the edges of two sheets together and providing an opening, although this will be described in detail later. The position detection sensor member 2 is a part formed by connecting a sheet-shaped sensor part 21 and a position detection circuit part 23 via a connecting part 22, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1.

[0017] As will be described later, the spacer member 3 is a member with an opening on the inside and a certain thickness. As shown by the rectangular dotted line at the upper end of Figure 1, the spacer member 3 is positioned above the bag-shaped protective member 1, forming a space for position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2. The substrate cover member 4 is a plate-like body of the same shape and size as the spacer member 3, and is positioned to cover the upper surface (front) of the spacer member 3.

[0018] The spacer member 3 and the substrate cover member 4 secure space for the position detection circuit unit 23, protect the position detection circuit unit 23, and also function as closing members that close the opening of the bag-shaped protective member 1. The USB cable 5 is connected to the position detection circuit unit 23, and a USB connector 51 is provided at the other end, enabling connection to electronic devices such as laptop computers and smartphones.

[0019] As described above, the position detection device of the first embodiment consists of five components, and its extremely simple configuration makes it easy to manufacture. Furthermore, because the position detection device of the first embodiment is constructed by housing a position detection sensor member 2, which has a sheet-like sensor section 21, in a bag-shaped protective member 1, it can be made extremely thin and is easy to carry. The following will provide a detailed description of each component of the position detection device of the first embodiment to clarify the overall configuration of the position detection device.

[0020] [Example of the structure of the bag-shaped protective member 1] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the bag-shaped protective member 1. The bag-shaped protective member 1 is made by overlapping a surface sheet 11 and a back sheet 12 made of resin material, welding the perimeter (shown by the dotted line) by ultrasonic heat welding, and providing a horizontally elongated opening 13 on the upper end of the surface sheet 11. In other words, the surface sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 are overlapped and the four sides (top, bottom, left, and right) are welded shut, but an opening 13 is provided. This creates a bag-shaped protective member (a protective member formed in the shape of a bag) 1 that functions as a "container" from which items can be put in and taken out through the opening 13. Except for the opening 13, its appearance is similar to a clear file used for stationery. The inner surface of the back sheet 12 is exposed through the opening 13.

[0021] The lower part of the opening 13 in the surface sheet 11 of the bag-shaped protective member 1 has a wide opening 13a, with the left and right ends protruding in a semicircular shape. The sheet-shaped sensor portion 21 of the position detection sensor member 2, which will be described later, can be easily inserted into the bag-shaped protective member 1 through this wide opening 13a. The upper part of the wide opening 13a has a rectangular opening 13b. The area formed by the opening 13a (excluding the left and right semicircular protruding portions) and the rectangular opening 13b is the area where the position detection circuit portion 23 of the position detection sensor member 2 and part of the USB cable 5 are located, as will be described in more detail later. A slit (gap) 13c connected to the outside is provided at the upper right end of the opening 13. The USB cable 5 is pulled out to the outside through this slit 13c.

[0022] Thus, the bag-shaped protective member 1 mainly houses the sensor part 21 of the position detection sensor member 2, which will be described later, and the area below the opening 13 becomes an operation input area (operation surface) 14 that accepts input of the indicated position by an electronic pen. In the first embodiment, the surface sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 are formed using, for example, polypropylene. Of course, this is just one example. The surface sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 can be formed using various resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polyacetal, polyvinyl chloride, ABS resin, and polycarbonate.

[0023] [Example configuration of position detection sensor member 2] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the position detection sensor member 2, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor portion 21 of the position detection sensor member 2. As mentioned above, the position detection sensor member 2 of the first embodiment is of the electromagnetic induction (EMR) type and consists of a sensor portion 21, a connection portion 22, and a position detection circuit portion 23. The sensor portion 21 has a Y-axis loop coil group 21Y consisting of m Y-axis loop coils 21Y1 to 21Ym that are extended in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). It also has an X-axis loop coil group 21X consisting of n X-axis loop coils 21X1 to 21Xn that are extended in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction) in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). In Figure 3, the Y-axis loop coils arranged at both the upper and lower ends of the sensor portion 21 and the X-axis loop coils arranged at both the left and right ends are shown, and the other loop coils are not shown. In practice, the sensor unit 21 has multiple Y-axis loop coils and multiple X-axis loop coils arranged at predetermined intervals across its entire surface.

[0024] More specifically, the structure of the sensor unit 21 is as shown in Figure 4. A group of Y-axis loop coils 21Y is formed above the insulating layer 21ZK, which is made of an insulating base film, and a group of X-axis loop coils 21X is formed below the insulating layer 21ZK. A metal sheet member 21MS is placed below the X-axis loop coil group 21X, and the sensor unit 21 as a whole has a four-layer structure and is configured as a so-called flexible printed circuit board. The metal sheet member 21MS constitutes a so-called magnetic path plate, enabling the Y-axis loop coils 21Y1 to 21Ym and the X-axis loop coils 21X1 to 21Xn to efficiently receive signals from the electronic pen.

[0025] The connection section 22 is the part that draws out the m Y-axis loop coils 21Y1 to 21Ym and the n X-axis loop coils 21X1 to 21Xn, which constitute the sensor section 21, and connects them to the position detection circuit section 23. The connection section 22 firmly connects the sensor section 21 and the position detection circuit section 23 by bundling the m Y-axis loop coils 21Y1 to 21Ym and the n X-axis loop coils 21X1 to 21Xn together. In this case, one end of each of the Y-axis loop coils 21Y1 to 21Ym and each of the X-axis loop coils 21X1 to 21Xn is connected to the position detection circuit section 23, and the other end is grounded. The connection section 22 also has a laminated structure similar to the sensor section 21 and is made of a flexible substrate.

[0026] During the transmission period, the position detection circuit 23 sequentially switches between m Y-axis loop coils 21Y1 to 21Ym and n X-axis loop coils 21X1 to 21Xn to transmit a signal. During the reception period, the position detection circuit 23 sequentially switches between m Y-axis loop coils 21Y1 to 21Ym and n X-axis loop coils 21X1 to 21Xn to receive a signal from the electronic pen. By receiving a signal from the electronic pen, the position detection circuit 23 detects the indicated position on the sensor unit 21 according to the change in the signal (current) generated in each loop coil. In simple terms, the intersection of the Y-axis loop coil and the X-axis loop coil where the signal (current) is changing significantly can be detected as the indicated position.

[0027] As described above, the position detection sensor member 2 consists of a sensor section 21, a connection section 22, and a position detection circuit section 23, but the sensor section 21 occupies the majority of the area. The sensor section 21 has a four-layer structure as described above, but its thickness is less than 1 mm. Furthermore, since the sensor section 21 is made of a flexible substrate, it is flexible and can be repeatedly deformed with weak force, and it has the characteristic of maintaining its electrical properties even when deformed. Therefore, the sensor section 21 is durable and will not be damaged even if it is bent slightly. Thus, the position detection sensor member 2 is an important component in constructing a position detection device that is also suitable for portability.

[0028] [Example of the configuration of spacer member 3] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the spacer member 3. In Figure 5, Figure 5(A) is a top view of the spacer member 3, and Figure 5(B) is a side view as seen from the side indicated by arrow a. As shown in Figure 5(A), the spacer member 3 is roughly rectangular in shape, and has an opening 31 in its inner portion that matches most of the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, and a slit (gap) 31a connecting to the outside is provided on the right end of the opening 31. That is, as shown in Figure 2, the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1 had a wide opening portion 13a, but the spacer member 3 does not have any semicircular protrusions on the left and right sides in its lower portion. Thus, the opening of the bag-shaped protective member 1 31 The difference between the spacer member 3 and the opening 13 is whether or not there are semicircular protrusions on the left and right sides of the lower portion.

[0029] Furthermore, the spacer member 3 has a predetermined thickness, as shown in the side view of Figure 5(B). This thickness is slightly greater than the thickness of the position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2. This protects the position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2, which will be located inside the opening 31, by preventing external forces (forces applied from the outside) from directly affecting it, as will be explained in more detail later.

[0030] Preferably, the spacer member 3 is made of a material that has a certain degree of elasticity, such as a resin material like urethane, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or felt, which can absorb external forces and prevent them from affecting the position detection circuit 23. Of course, it may also be made of a material such as hard resin, metal, or wood. In the first embodiment, the spacer member 3 is prepared as a so-called double-sided tape spacer member by applying adhesive to the entire surface of both the front and back surfaces and attaching release paper. This allows the spacer member 3 to be attached to the bag-shaped protective member 1 by treating it like double-sided tape, and the substrate cover member 4, described later, can be attached to the spacer member 3. In other words, the members can be easily attached.

[0031] [Example of the configuration of the substrate cover member 4] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the substrate cover member 4. The substrate cover member 4 is a rectangular plate-like body, and its outer edge shape is the same as that of the spacer member 3 shown in Figure 5(A). Its size is approximately the same as that of the spacer member 3 shown in Figure 5(A). The substrate cover member 4 has no openings and is attached to the spacer member 3 so as to cover the entire upper surface of the spacer member 3. This closes the opening 31 of the spacer member 3 and the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, and prevents the position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2, which is provided in the opening 31 portion of the spacer member 3, from being exposed, thereby protecting the position detection circuit section 23.

[0032] The substrate cover member 4 can be formed from various materials that do not easily deform and meet the required strength, such as hard resins like ABS resin, metals like aluminum, or leather materials. In the first embodiment, the substrate cover member 4 is formed from, for example, ABS resin.

[0033] [Example configuration for USB cable 5] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the USB cable 5. The USB cable 5 conforms to the USB standard, which is one of the serial bus standards for connecting peripheral devices to electronic devices (information processing devices) such as computers. In addition to transmitting and receiving information, it can also receive power. A circuit-side connection part 52 is provided at one end of the USB cable 5. The circuit-side connection part 52 of the USB cable 5 is connected to and fixed to the position detection circuit part 23 of the position detection sensor member 2. In the first embodiment, the USB cable 5 is provided connected to the position detection circuit part 23 of the position detection sensor member 2.

[0034] Furthermore, a USB connector (male (pin insert) side) 51 is provided at the other end of the USB cable 5. Through this USB connector 51, it can be connected to electronic devices such as personal computers and smartphones. As a result, information indicating the position indicated by the electronic pen, detected by the position detection sensor member 2, is supplied to the connected electronic device such as a personal computer via the USB cable 5. The electronic device such as a personal computer can then perform drawing processing, etc., according to the indicated position supplied via the USB cable 5.

[0035] [Assembly procedure for the position detection device (tablet)] As described above, by preparing the bag-shaped protective member 1, position detection sensor member 2, spacer member 3, substrate cover member 4, and USB cable 5, the position detection device (tablet) of the first embodiment can be easily assembled as follows. In this case, no tools are required. In the first embodiment, as also mentioned above, the USB cable 5 is provided with the circuit-side connection part 52 at one end already connected to the position detection circuit part 23 of the position detection sensor member 2. Therefore, there is no need to perform the step of connecting the USB cable 5 to the position detection circuit part 23. The assembly procedure will be described below.

[0036] First, as the first step, the bag-shaped protective member 1 (Figure 2) is placed on the workbench, and the entire sensor portion 21 of the position detection sensor member 2 (Figure 3) is inserted into the bag-shaped protective member 1 through the wide opening portion 13a of the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1. As a result, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1, the sensor portion 21 is positioned between the front sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, and the position detection circuit portion 23 is positioned inside the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1. Also, as shown in Figure 1, the connection portion 22 of the position detection sensor member 2 is positioned between the front sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, with a portion of it overlapping the lower part of the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1.

[0037] In this case, as a second step, double-sided tape is attached to the back surface of the connection portion 22 of the position detection sensor member 2 and the back surface of the position detection circuit portion 23, and then the other release paper is peeled off and attached to the inner surface of the back sheet 12 of the bag-shaped protective member 1. This allows the position detection sensor member 2 housed in the bag-shaped protective member 1 to be fixed to the bag-shaped protective member 1. Next, as a third step, the spacer member 3 (Figure 5) is attached to the upper part of the outer surface of the surface sheet 11 of the bag-shaped protective member 1 so that its opening 31 matches the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1. As described above, adhesive is applied to both sides of the spacer member 3, making it like double-sided tape.

[0038] Next, in the fourth step, the USB cable 5 (Figure 7) connected to the position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2 is routed to the outside through the slit 31a of the opening 31 of the spacer member 3. Note that a slit 13c of the bag-shaped protective member 1 is provided below the slit 31a of the opening 31 of the spacer member 3. Finally, in the fifth step, the substrate cover member 4 (Figure 6) is attached to the upper surface of the spacer member 3 which is attached to the bag-shaped protective member 1. As a result, the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1 and the opening 31 of the spacer member 3 are closed by the substrate cover member 4. As a result, the connection section 22 and the position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2 are covered by the substrate cover member 4, and the position detection device of the first embodiment is completed.

[0039] In this way, the position detection device is assembled in the following steps: insert the position detection sensor member 2 into the bag-shaped protective member 1 → fix the position detection sensor member 2 to the bag-shaped protective member 1 → fix the spacer member 3 to the bag-shaped protective member 1 → pull out the USB cable → fix the circuit board cover member. No tools are required in any of these steps (processes), and a position detection device that functions as a tablet can be assembled very easily. Note that the slit 13c is optional. Waterproofing can be achieved by passing the cable through the slit 31a and sealing the slit 31a with a rubber gasket or the like.

[0040] [Using writing-friendly sheets and anti-slip sheets] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the writing feel sheet and the anti-slip rubber sheet. As described above, in the first embodiment, the bag-shaped protective member 1 is made of polypropylene. Therefore, it is thought that when the electronic pen is brought into contact with the operation input area (operating surface) 14 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, it may be slippery or the writing feel may be poor. Also, when the position detection device is used on a desk, the surface of the desk is usually a smooth flat surface, so it is thought that the position detection device itself may move easily and become difficult to use.

[0041] Therefore, regarding the writing feel, as shown in Figure 8(A), a writing feel sheet 6 is attached to the operation input area 14 on the outer surface of the surface sheet 11 of the bag-shaped protective member 1. The writing feel sheet 6 is formed in sheet form from various resins, silicone, synthetic rubber, etc., and various writing feels are achieved through its material and the uneven processing applied to its surface. As a result, when the tip of the electronic pen is brought into contact with the writing feel sheet 6 attached to the bag-shaped protective member 1, it is possible to feel various writing sensations, such as writing with a pencil on paper or writing with a ballpoint pen on paper. Of course, the electronic pen will not slip when brought into contact with the writing feel sheet 6, allowing for good drawing (writing) input.

[0042] Furthermore, to address the problem of the position detection device itself being prone to movement, as shown in Figure 8(B), an anti-slip sheet 7 is attached to the outer surface of the back sheet 12 of the bag-shaped protective member 1. The anti-slip sheet 7 is formed using a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as synthetic rubber or natural rubber. For this reason, it is possible to use an anti-slip sheet formed using various resins or silicones that have characteristics such as flexibility and adhesiveness. This makes it possible to realize a position detection device that is less likely to slip (less likely to move) even when placed on a smooth, flat table, and can be used stably. Note that the shape of the anti-slip sheet 7 is not limited to a rectangular shape as shown in Figure 8(B). Various shapes such as circles and stars can be used as long as an anti-slip effect is obtained. Therefore, multiple small anti-slip sheets may be attached to the outer surface of the back sheet 12 of the bag-shaped protective member 1.

[0043] [Characteristics of the thickness of the position detection device (tablet)] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the laminated structure of the position detection device according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 9(A), the configuration of the operation input area 14, which is the part of the position detection device according to the first embodiment that receives instruction input, is such that the sensor portion 21 of the position detection sensor member 2 is located between the surface sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 of the bag-shaped protective member 1. As explained using Figure 4, the sensor portion 21 is formed by laminating a metal sheet member 21MS, an X-axis loop coil group 21X, an insulating layer 21ZK, and a Y-axis loop coil group 21Y from bottom to top, and its thickness is 1.0 mm or less.

[0044] Furthermore, since the front sheet 11 is the side operated by the electronic pen, a polypropylene sheet with a thickness of 0.7 mm is used, and since the back sheet 12 is not the side operated by the electronic pen, a polypropylene sheet with a thickness of 0.2 mm is used. In this case, the thickness of the part that receives instruction input from the position detection device will be 2.0 mm or less, making it possible to realize an extremely thin position detection device (tablet). Note that the front sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 may be the same thickness. As will be described later, a single sheet may also be folded in half to form the bag-shaped protective member 1.

[0045] Figure 9(A) We consider attaching the writing feel sheet 6 and anti-slip sheet 7 described above to the position detection device with the configuration shown. That is, Figure 9(B) As shown, a writing-feel sheet 6 is provided on the top layer, and an anti-slip sheet 7 is provided on the bottom layer. In this case, if both the writing-feel sheet 6 and the anti-slip sheet 7 have a thickness of 0.5 mm, then even with the writing-feel sheet 6 and the anti-slip sheet 7 provided, an extremely thin position detection device (tablet) with a thickness of 3.0 mm or less can be realized.

[0046] Furthermore, if the writing feel sheet 6 is provided, the thickness of the surface sheet 11 of the bag-shaped protective member 1 can also be made to, for example, about 0.2 mm, so even with the writing feel sheet 6 and anti-slip sheet 7 provided, a position detection device (tablet) with a thickness of about 2.5 mm can be realized. In addition, since the thicknesses of the surface sheet 11, back sheet 12, sensor unit 21, writing feel sheet 6, and anti-slip sheet 7 can be adjusted in various ways, a position detection device (tablet) with a thickness of the part that receives instruction input within the range of 1.85 mm to 3.5 mm can be realized.

[0047] [Effects of the First Embodiment] According to the position detection device of the first embodiment described above, it is possible to realize a position detection device that is extremely thin, does not break when bent, is easy to carry, and has a simple structure. Furthermore, it is possible to realize a position detection device that can be produced in many sizes while keeping initial costs down. Moreover, it becomes possible to provide a variety of position detection devices to suit the user's preferences. Specifically, multiple types of bag-shaped protective members 1, position detection sensor members 2, spacer members 3, substrate cover members 4, and USB cables 5 with different colors, sizes, and shapes are prepared.

[0048] Users can create and use their own customized position detection device (tablet) by selecting and assembling a bag-shaped protective member 1, a position detection sensor member 2, a spacer member 3, a circuit board cover member 4, and a USB cable 5, taking into consideration their preferred color, size, and shape. In this case, the type of USB cable connector, the type of writing surface sheet, and the type of anti-slip sheet can also be selected. Furthermore, an inexpensive position detection device (tablet) can be realized overall.

[0049] Furthermore, since the position detection sensor member 2 is housed inside the bag-shaped protective member 1 and the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1 is closed, a position detection device with excellent waterproof and moisture-proof properties can be realized. In other words, even if a drink or the like is spilled on the position detection device of the first embodiment, wiping it off will not cause any problems with its performance, and the device can be used continuously.

[0050] Furthermore, the surface sheet 11 and back sheet 12 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, the spacer member 3, and the substrate cover member 4 can be mass-produced using a so-called die-cutting method. In addition, if the substrate cover member 4 is made of metal, it can be mass-produced using wire discharge cutting technology. For this reason, the position detection device of the first embodiment is suitable for mass production of inexpensive position detection devices.

[0051] [Modified version of the first embodiment] The simplest configuration of the position detection device (tablet) 1 of the first embodiment is to house a position detection sensor member 2 connected to a USB cable inside a bag-shaped protective member made by welding three sides of two polypropylene sheets, and then weld the unwelded side (entrance) to close it. However, as described above, by using a bag-shaped protective member 1 with an opening 13 in the surface sheet 11, the sensor part 21 of the position detection sensor member can be easily housed inside the bag-shaped protective member 1 to form a position detection device.

[0052] In this case, the opening 13 can be sealed with a protective seal or wide tape to enhance the waterproof and moisture-proof effects. Furthermore, as described in the first embodiment above, by using a configuration with a spacer member 3 and a substrate cover member 4, the position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2 can also be properly protected, and a stable position detection device (tablet board) can be realized.

[0053] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the bag-shaped protective member 1 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene. In this case, it is desirable that at least the surface sheet 11 is made of a transparent or translucent material. This is because the location of the sensor part 21 of the position detection sensor member 2 can be visually recognized, allowing for effective use of the operation input area and preventing the inconvenience of performing instruction operations with the electronic pen outside the operation input area. In this case, if the range of the operation input area is indicated directly on the sensor by silk printing or the like, the operation input area can be visually confirmed.

[0054] Furthermore, if at least the surface sheet 11 is not formed from a transparent or translucent material, the following measures can be taken. For example, a line can be drawn along the outer edge of the sensor portion 21 of the position detection sensor member 2 within the operation input area 14 of the surface sheet 11, or protrusions and recesses can be provided along the outer edge, or the inside of the outer edge can be colored or uneven. Also, as shown in Figure 8(A), the operation input area can be clearly indicated even when the writing feel sheet 6 is attached to match the operation input area 14 of the sensor portion 21.

[0055] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the inner side of the outer edge of the bag-shaped protective member 1 (the part indicated by the dotted line in Figure 2) was described as being joined by heat welding, but this is not the only method. For example, various methods can be used to join the surface sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 along their outer edges, such as using an adhesive or mechanically joining them with staples. Also, if the surface sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 are of the same thickness, a single sheet with the combined area of ​​the surface sheet 11 and the back sheet 12 may be folded in half, and the three unjoined sides may be joined by heat welding or other means. In this case, the number of joined sides can be reduced from four to three. In this case, when an opening 13 is provided at the folded side, the above-mentioned opening 13a does not need to be present, because only the position detection circuit section 23 and the connection section 22 need to pass through the sheet.

[0056] Furthermore, the spacer member 3 can be deformed in various ways. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a double-sided tape spacer member. The spacer member 3A shown in Figure 10 is also made of the same material as the spacer member 3 described using Figure 5, is substantially rectangular in shape, has a predetermined thickness, and has an opening 31A in its inner portion. However, the shape of the opening 31A is slightly different.

[0057] In the case of the spacer member 3A shown in Figure 10, the opening 31A upper right sideAn inwardly protruding portion 31Aa is provided. A slit 31Ab is also provided slightly to the left of the upper center of the opening 31A. The slit 31Ab serves as the outlet for the USB cable 5, and the portion of the spacer member 3A that sandwiches the slit 31Ab is semicircular. When a spacer member 3A of this shape is attached and fixed to the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, a circular member 8 with double-sided tape having the same thickness as the spacer member 3A is further attached to the left side of the protruding portion 31Aa. Additionally, a circular member 9 with double-sided tape having the same thickness as the spacer member 3A is attached to the right side of the protruding portion 31Aa.

[0058] As a result, as shown in Figure 10, the USB cable 5 connected to the position detection circuit section 23 of the position detection sensor member 2 can be routed through the opening 31A of the spacer member 3A attached to the bag-shaped protective member, as indicated by the dotted arrow. In this case, the USB cable 5 is in contact with the semicircular portions of the spacer member 3A on both sides of the slit 31Ab, as well as the circular members 8 and 9 with double-sided tape and the protruding portion 31Aa. This prevents excessive force from being applied to the position detection circuit section 23 to which the circuit-side connection portion 52 of the USB cable 5 is connected, even if the USB cable 5 is pulled out to the outside and subjected to strong pulling. This makes it possible to construct a robust position detection device (tablet) that is not prone to malfunctions in the USB cable 5.

[0059] Furthermore, the substrate cover member 4 can also be modified in various ways. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the substrate cover member. For example, as shown in Figure 10, if the slit 31Ab is provided in the upper central part of the spacer member 3A, a substrate cover member 4A can be formed with the hook hole provided, for example, on the right end side, as shown in Figure 11(A). Also, as shown in Figure 5, if the slit 31a is provided in the upper right part of the spacer member 3, a substrate cover member 4B can be formed with the hook hole provided, for example, on the central side, as shown in Figure 11(B). In other words, a substrate cover member can be formed with a different position for the hook hole depending on where the USB cable 5 is routed out.

[0060] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11(C), through-holes HL may be provided so as to penetrate the substrate cover member 4C, spacer members 3 and 3A, and bag-shaped protective member 1. The through-holes HL can be used as holding holes for the electronic pen to hold the electronic pen with the position detection device (tablet) by hooking the clip of the electronic pen onto them.

[0061] Furthermore, in the case of the position detection device of the first embodiment described above, adhesive is applied to both sides of the spacer member 3, creating a configuration similar to double-sided tape, thereby joining the bag-shaped protective member 1 and the substrate cover member 4 via the spacer member 3. However, since this joining is done with adhesive on both sides of the spacer member 3, it is conceivable that some users may feel that the joining is weak. In such cases, through holes are provided at both the left and right ends of the substrate cover member 4, passing through the substrate cover member 4, the spacer member 3, and the bag-shaped protective member 1, and rivets are inserted into these holes and crimped. This makes it possible to firmly maintain the joined state of the substrate cover member 4, the spacer member 3, and the bag-shaped protective member 1.

[0062] Furthermore, a cushioning material such as sponge or felt may be provided between the position detection circuit section 23, which is located in the opening 13 of the bag-shaped protective member 1, and the substrate cover member 4 to provide more robust protection for the position detection circuit section 23.

[0063] Furthermore, although the position detection sensor member 2 of the first embodiment described above was of the electromagnetic induction type, it is not limited to this. The position detection sensor member 2 can also be configured as a capacitive type. In the case of a capacitive type position detection sensor member 2A, the basic configuration is the same as that of the electromagnetic induction type position detection sensor member 2 described with reference to Figure 3, and includes a sensor unit 21A, a connection unit 22A, and a position detection circuit unit 23A. However, its internal configuration is different. Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the capacitive type sensor unit 21A. In Figure 12, the selection circuit 231 constitutes a part of the position detection circuit unit 23A connected through the connection unit 22A.

[0064] As shown in Figure 12, the capacitive sensor unit 21A has a Y-axis line electrode group YL consisting of m Y-axis line electrodes Y1 to Ym that extend in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) arranged in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). In addition, an X-axis line electrode group XL consisting of n X-axis line electrodes X1 to Xn that extend in the Y-axis direction (horizontal direction) is arranged in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). That is, although not shown in Figure 12, the sensor unit 21A has multiple Y-axis line electrodes and multiple X-axis line electrodes arranged at equal intervals across its entire surface, as shown in Figure 12. These multiple Y-axis line electrodes and multiple X-axis line electrodes are connected to the position detection circuit unit 23A through the connection part 22A.

[0065] The capacitive position detection circuit section 23A includes the selection circuit shown in Figure 12, an amplification circuit (not shown), a position detection circuit, a pressure sensitivity detection circuit, a control circuit, etc. The position detection circuit section 23A has a configuration in which the line electrodes that receive signals are sequentially switched by the control signal CT1. 23A isThe system includes a configuration in which the signal (electric field) received through the line electrode selected via the selection circuit 231 is supplied to the position detection circuit and the pen pressure detection circuit via the signal line SG1. This makes it possible to detect the position and pressure indicated by the electronic pen. In this way, a capacitive position detection sensor member 2A can be configured, and a capacitive position detection device (tablet) can be configured using this.

[0066] Furthermore, while the first embodiment described above uses a USB cable 5, it is not limited to this. Depending on the digital interface provided by the connected electronic device, cables conforming to various digital interface standards can be used.

[0067] [Position detection device (tablet) of the second embodiment] The position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, described below, is constructed by arranging a position detection circuit section 301 on the front side of a flexible housing sheet 101 and a sensor section 302 on the back side. In this case, the position detection circuit section 301 arranged on the front side of the housing sheet 101 is protected by a high-rigidity spacer member 110, and the housing sheet 101 is folded over. In this way, the position detection circuit section 301 and the high-rigidity spacer member 110 are enclosed in the housing sheet 101, forming an integrated position detection device 100. The position detection device 100 of the second embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0068] <External Configuration of the Position Detection Device in the Second Embodiment> Figure 13 is an external view of the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, where Figure 13(A) shows the front (top) side and Figure 13(B) shows the back (bottom) side. As shown in Figure 13(A), the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment is constructed by folding the folded portion 101b of a single housing sheet 101, which consists of a folded portion 101b and a main body portion 101a, back to the front side so that it faces the main body portion 101a. The housing sheet 101 is made of polypropylene with a thickness of 0.7 mm (millimeters), as will be described in more detail later. The polypropylene housing sheet 101 has excellent heat resistance and flexibility, is easy to make thin and lightweight, and has the characteristics of low CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions during production and processing.

[0069] Slits (notches) SL1 to SL6 are provided at the folding point of the housing sheet 101, that is, at the boundary between the folded portion 101b and the main body portion 101a. As shown in Figure 13(A), the folded portion 101b is located on the upper end side of the surface of the position detection device 100, and the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 is located opposite the folded portion 101b and below the folded portion 101b. By folding the folded portion 101b, the surface of the folded portion 101b that becomes the surface side of the position detection device 100 (the part that would normally be the back side of the housing sheet 101) is made into a so-called textured surface with fine irregularities. This improves the appearance (aesthetic appeal).

[0070] At the position where the folded portion 101b of the housing sheet 101 and the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 face each other, a position detection circuit unit 301 and a high-rigidity spacer member 110 (not shown) are arranged, as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 13(A). A USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 130 connected to the position detection circuit unit 301 is routed out to the outside through the slit SL6. The USB cable 130 consists of a cable portion 130a and a connector portion 130b, and is the same as the USB cable 5 in the first embodiment.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13(A), an operation surface sheet 200 is attached to the main body portion 101a below the folded portion 101b (the front surface of the main body portion 101a), forming an operation input area (operation surface) that accepts instructions from an electronic pen. The surface of the main body portion 101a to which the operation surface sheet 200 is attached is made smooth and glossy, improving the adhesion of the adhesive applied to the back surface of the operation surface sheet.

[0072] The operating surface sheet 200 protects the surface of the main body 101a and, similar to the writing feel sheet 6 of the first embodiment described above, provides various writing experiences to suit the user's purpose. Specifically, the operating surface sheet 200 is formed in sheet form from silicone or synthetic rubber, and improves the writing experience through its material and surface texture, while also ensuring scratch resistance.

[0073] On the other hand, a back surface protective sheet 102 is attached to the back surface (back surface (bottom surface)) of the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101, which is the back side of the position detection device 100. The back surface protective sheet 102 is made of polypropylene with a thickness of 0.2 mm. In the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 13(B), a sheet-like sensor portion (position detection sensor) 302 is provided between the back surface of the main body portion 101a and the back surface protective sheet 102. Thus, as described above, the position detection circuit portion 301 is arranged on the front surface (front side) of a single flexible housing sheet 101, and the sensor portion 302 is arranged on the back surface (back side), forming an integrated position detection device 100.

[0074] Furthermore, as mentioned above, by using a thinner back protective sheet 102 than the housing sheet 101, the bulge caused by the thickness of the sensor section 302 can be relieved onto the back surface of the position detection device 100, which is a non-writing surface. As a result, the surface of the operation surface sheet 200 can be made into a uniformly flat operation input area. Also, as will be described in more detail later, because the back protective sheet is thin, the welding (adhesion) strength can be improved when welding along the outer edge of the back protective sheet 102.

[0075] <Detailed configuration of enclosure sheet 101> Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the housing sheet 101. In Figure 14, Figure 14(A) is an overall view of the housing sheet 101, and Figure 14(B) is a view of the housing sheet 101 with the folded portion 101b folded back. As shown in Figure 14(A), the housing sheet 101 is a single sheet-like member made of polypropylene with a thickness of 0.7 mm and formed in a rectangular shape. In the housing sheet 101 shown in Figure 14(A), the lower side of the folded position b indicated by the dotted line is the main body portion 101a, and the upper side of the folded position b is the folded portion 101b. The housing sheet 101 is provided with slits (notches) SL1 to SL6 that straddle the folded position b, that is, that connect the upper end of the main body portion 101a and the lower end of the folded portion 101b.

[0076] By providing slits SL1 to SL6, when the folded portion 101b is folded back towards the main body portion 101a at the folding position b, the bulge and springback that occur near the folding position b of the housing sheet 101 can be reduced. Springback refers to the phenomenon where a material such as a plate returns to its original shape after being bent. Furthermore, as mentioned above, slit SL6 also functions as an outlet for the USB cable 130 connected to the position detection circuit 301.

[0077] At the upper end of the main body portion 101a below the folding position b, there is a space SP where the position detection circuit portion 301 and the high-rigidity spacer member 110 (described later) are arranged, as shown by the dotted rectangle. Therefore, when the folding portion 101b is folded back towards the main body portion 101a at folding position b, the folding portion 101b is configured to cover the entire space SP. When the housing sheet 101 with the folding portion 101b folded back towards the main body portion 101a at folding position b is viewed from the direction indicated by arrow c in Figure 14(A), the state of the housing sheet 101 is as shown in Figure 14(B). That is, a portion consisting only of the main body portion 101a and a portion where the main body portion 101a and the folding portion 101b face each other are formed.

[0078] In Figure 14(B), the portion where the main body portion 101a and the folded portion 101b face each other corresponds to the space SP shown in Figure 14(A), and the position detection circuit portion 301 and the high-rigidity spacer member 110 are provided in this portion. For this reason, Figure 14(B) also shows the USB cable 130 connected to the position detection circuit portion 301, so as to correspond to the appearance of the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment shown in Figure 13. Furthermore, the front side (surface) of the portion consisting only of the main body portion 101a is provided with an operating surface sheet 200, as shown in Figure 13(A). Furthermore, the back side (back surface) of the portion consisting only of the main body portion 101a is provided with a sensor portion 302 and a back surface protective sheet 102, as shown in Figure 13(B).

[0079] Thus, the position detection circuit unit 301 is provided on the front side of the main body 101a, while the sensor unit 302 is provided on the back side of the main body 101a. For this reason, as shown in Figure 14(A), an opening HX is provided at the lower left end of the space SP, and a connection part 302a, which will be described later, for connecting the position detection circuit unit 301 and the sensor unit 302 can be inserted through the opening HX. By arranging the position detection circuit unit 301 and the sensor unit 302 separately on the front and back sides of the main body 101a of the housing sheet 101 in this way, the thickness of the part on which the position detection circuit unit 301 and the like are mounted can be prevented from affecting the operation input area (operation surface).

[0080] <Laminated structure of the position detection device 100 in the second embodiment> Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating the stacked structure of the position detection device 100 in the second embodiment. It is a cross-sectional view taken when the position detection device 100 is cut at the position indicated by the dotted line AA in Figure 13(A) and viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow a in Figure 13(A). Therefore, in Figure 15, the cut surface at the position indicated by the dotted line AA in Figure 13(A) is shown as a cross section with diagonal lines, but the part where the position detection circuit section 301 and the high-rigidity spacer member 110 are arranged is not a cross section, so its stacked structure is shown without diagonal lines.

[0081] As shown in Figure 15, a back protective sheet 102 is located at the bottom layer, and a leaf spring 111L is provided on the left side of the front (top) side of the back protective sheet 102, and a leaf spring 111R is provided on the right side. The leaf springs 111L and 111R are strip-shaped (strip-shaped) made of stainless steel (SUS (Steel Use Stainless)) with a thickness of 0.2 mm, and suppress the warping of the sensor part 302 of the position detection device 100, making it easier for the sensor part 302 to return to its initial flat state even if it is bent. In addition, by placing the leaf spring 111L on the left side of the sensor part 302 and the leaf spring 111R on the right side, it is possible to prevent the operation input area (operation surface) of the position detection device 100 from lifting up due to warping or twisting of the leaf springs 111L and 111R themselves.

[0082] A sheet-like sensor section 302 is provided on the front (top) side of the leaf springs 111L and 111R. An ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet 121L with a thickness of 0.01 mm is provided between the left side of the leaf spring 111L and the back protective sheet 102 and the sensor section 302. Similarly, an ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet 121R with a thickness of 0.01 mm is provided between the right side of the leaf spring 111R and the back protective sheet 102 and the sensor section 302. As a result, the leaf springs 111L and 111R and the back protective sheet 102 are attached to the back (bottom) surface of the sensor section 302 by the ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheets 121L and 121R.

[0083] Furthermore, an ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet 121UP with a thickness of 0.01 mm is provided between the surface (top surface) of the sensor unit 302 and the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101. As a result, the sensor unit 302 is attached to the back surface (bottom surface) of the main body portion 101a by the ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet 121UP. The back surface protective sheet 102 is rectangular in shape, as shown in Figure 13(B), and is welded to the back surface (bottom surface) of the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 by ultrasonic welding along the outer edges of its four sides. As a result, the sensor unit 302 is sealed between the back surface (bottom surface) of the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 and the back surface protective sheet 102.

[0084] Furthermore, since the ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheets 121L, 121R, and 121UP are each extremely thin with a thickness of 0.01 mm, they do not create any steps in the operation input area which serves as the operating surface (writing surface). The sensor unit 302 can be fixed on both sides with the ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheets 121L, 121R, and 121UP between the housing sheet 101 and the back protective sheet 102, eliminating gaps and providing a firm feel when writing, thereby improving the writing experience.

[0085] On the other hand, in the folded portion 101b at the upper end of the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, the high-rigidity spacer member 110 is fixed to the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 by double-sided adhesive tape 120a. That is, the surface (upper surface) of the main body portion 101a and the back surface (lower surface) of the high-rigidity spacer member 110 are bonded together by double-sided adhesive tape. A position detection circuit 301 is arranged in the inner portion of the high-rigidity spacer member 110, and a USB cable 130 connected to this position detection circuit 301 is routed outwards as explained using Figure 13(A).

[0086] Furthermore, a double-sided adhesive tape 120b is provided between the high-rigidity spacer member 110 and the folded portion 101b, so that the two are bonded together. That is, the surface (upper surface) of the high-rigidity spacer member 110 and the surface of the folded portion 101b facing the surface (upper surface) of the high-rigidity spacer member 110 are bonded together by the double-sided adhesive tape 120b. As a result, the position detection circuit unit 301 is mounted in the space SP portion shown in Figures 14(A) and (B) so as to be protected by the high-rigidity spacer member 110, and is enclosed by the main body portion 101a and the folded portion 101b of the housing sheet 101, thereby forming an integrated position detection device 100.

[0087] Furthermore, by using adhesive tapes made of rigid polyurethane resin, such as the double-sided adhesive tapes 120a and 120b, high resistance to peeling can be achieved. In other words, the position detection circuit section 301 and the high-rigidity spacer member 110 can be sealed between the main body section 101a and the folded-over section 101b of the housing sheet 101.

[0088] Furthermore, as mentioned above, by giving the folded portion 101b of the housing sheet 101 a textured surface when folded, and the rest of the housing sheet 101 a glossy surface through a glossy treatment, multiple properties can be obtained from a single material. In other words, the glossy surface provides adhesive adhesion, while the textured surface improves the aesthetic appearance.

[0089] <Internal structure of the position detection device 100 in the second embodiment> Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the position detection device 100 according to the second embodiment. In Figure 16, Figure 16(A) is a top view of the position detection device 100, with the housing sheet 101, double-sided adhesive tape 120b, and USB cable 130 omitted, and Figure 16(B) is a bottom view of the position detection device 100, with the back protective sheet 102 omitted. The top view refers to a view of the front (top) surface of the position detection device 100 from directly above, and the bottom view refers to a view of the back (bottom) surface of the position detection device 100 from directly below.

[0090] As shown in Figure 16(A), the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment is equipped with a position detection sensor member 300, which is configured by connecting an electromagnetic induction type sensor unit 302 to a position detection circuit unit 301 via a connection unit 302a. The position detection sensor member 300 is configured similarly to the position detection sensor member 2 of the first embodiment described above, which consists of a sensor unit 21, a connection unit 22, and a position detection circuit unit 23.

[0091] In the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 16(A), a high-rigidity spacer member 110 is used to appropriately protect the position detection circuit section 301 of the position detection sensor member 300. The high-rigidity spacer member 110 is a 2 mm thick plate-like body having a housing section 110a for the position detection circuit section 301 and a placement section 110b for the cable section 130a of the USB cable 130. Both the housing section 110a and the placement section 110b penetrate from the front to the back surface. In the second embodiment, the high-rigidity spacer member 110 is constructed using a high-rigidity material such as hard resin, metal, or wood. Here, high rigidity means being strong against deformation caused by external forces.

[0092] As shown in Figure 16(A), the arrangement portion 110b of the high-rigidity spacer member 110 is meandering. This is to prevent the position detection circuit portion 301 to which the USB cable 130 is connected from being affected even if the cable portion 130a that is pulled out to the outside of the position detection device 100 is pulled. Also, in Figure 16(A), as mentioned above, the ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet 121UP is for attaching the sensor portion 302 to the back surface (bottom surface) of the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101.

[0093] In Figure 16(A), the housing sheet 101 is omitted, but as shown in Figure 16(B), the sensor portion 302 of the position detection sensor member 300 is attached to the back surface (bottom surface) of the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 using an ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet 121UP. As shown in Figure 16(A), only the upper portion of the sensor portion 302 is adhered to the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 (not shown) using the ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet 121UP. This reduces the stress acting on the sensor portion 302 when the housing sheet 101 is bent. In addition, multiple small ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheets 121UP may be provided at multiple locations to adhere to the main body portion 101a.

[0094] The position detection circuit section 301 of the position detection sensor member 300 is located on the surface (upper surface) of the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101, at a position opposite to the folded portion 101b of the housing sheet 101. Therefore, as shown in Figure 16(B), the connecting portion 302a, which is extended from the sensor portion 302, is inserted through the opening HX provided in the main body portion 101a of the housing sheet 101 and connected to the position detection circuit section 301 of the position detection sensor member 300.

[0095] As described above, the sensor unit 302 is positioned on the back (bottom) surface of the main body 101a of the housing sheet 101, and the position detection circuit unit 301 is positioned on the front (top) surface of the main body 101a of the housing sheet 101. This ensures that the operation input area on the sensor unit 302 remains nearly horizontal at all times, without being affected by the thickness of the position detection circuit unit 301 or the high-rigidity spacer member 110, resulting in a flat operation input area that allows for proper position input using an electronic pen.

[0096] Furthermore, leaf springs 111L and 111R are attached to the sensor portion 302 of the position detection sensor member 300 on both the left and right sides using ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheets 121L and 121R. Also, the ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheets 121L and 121R have a relatively large surface area. Therefore 、The ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheets 121L and 121R attach the back protective sheet 102, which is not shown in Figure 16(B), to the sensor part 302. As mentioned above, the outer edge of the back protective sheet 102 is welded to the back (bottom) surface of the main body part 101a of the housing sheet 101 by ultrasonic welding, and the sensor part 302 and the leaf springs 111L and 111R are sealed between the main body part 101a and the back protective sheet 102.

[0097] [Extended functions of the second position detection device 100] Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating the external hook of the position detection device 100 according to the second embodiment. As mentioned above, the position detection device 100 according to the second embodiment has a housing sheet 101 consisting of a main body portion 101a and a folded portion 101b, with the folded portion 101b of the housing sheet 101 folded over the main body portion 101a. This results in the position detection device 100 having the appearance shown in Figure 17(A).

[0098] The folded portion is provided with slits SL1 to SL6, which are used as outlets for the USB cable 130. Slits SL1 to SL5 primarily function to reduce bulging and springback in the folded portion. Therefore, as shown in Figure 17(A), we consider using slits SL1 to SL5 to attach the external hook 400 to the position detection device 100.

[0099] As shown in Figure 17(B), the external hook 400 comprises a main body 401, legs ft1 to ft4, and hook parts hk1 and hk2. The main body 401 is the part that connects the legs ft1 to ft4 and the hook parts hk1 and hk2. ft4 These are four parts that extend downward from the main body 401, with their ends protruding laterally. They are inserted into slits SL2 to SL5 to attach the external hook 400 to the position detection device 100. The hook parts hk1 and hk2 are designed to hook onto the rings of a ring binder.

[0100] This allows the position detection device (tablet) of the second embodiment to be attached to a ring binder, so that it can be carried together with the ring binder without worrying about losing or damaging it, and can be used even when out and about. Note that the external hook is not limited to those shown in Figures 17(A) and (B). For example, as shown in Figure 17(C), an external hook 500 can be considered in which hook portions hkL and hkR are provided on both the left and right ends of the main body portion 501 which has a ring hole, with hook portions hkL and hkR protruding inward.

[0101] In the case of the external hook 500 shown in Figure 17(C), the hooks hkL and hkR that protrude inward are inserted into the folded portion where the main body 101a and the folded portion 101b of the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment face each other, and are attached to the position detection device 100. The ring holes of the main body correspond to, for example, 26-hole or 30-hole ring notebooks, and the position detection device 100 can be attached to a ring notebook by inserting the rings of the ring notebook into the ring holes of the main body 501.

[0102] As mentioned above, in the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, the thickness of the housing sheet 101 is 0.7 mm and the thickness of the back protective sheet 102 is 0.2 mm. Therefore, for example, if the thickness of the sensor part 302 is 0.4 mm and the thickness of the operating surface sheet 200 is 0.3 mm, then many of the parts where the operating surface sheet 200 is provided The thickness of the part, A thin position detection device with a thickness of 1.6 mm or less can be realized. In this case, even when considering leaf springs 111L, 111R, etc., a position detection device with an overall thickness of 2.0 mm or less can be realized.

[0103] [Effects of the second embodiment] According to the position detection device of the second embodiment described above, it is possible to realize a position detection device that is extremely thin, does not warp or twist, allows for flat and smooth input using an electronic pen, is easy to carry, and has a simple structure. Furthermore, it is possible to realize a position detection device that can be produced in many sizes while keeping initial costs down. Moreover, it becomes possible to provide a variety of position detection devices to suit the user's preferences.

[0104] Furthermore, the sensor unit 302 can be enclosed between the back surface of the housing sheet 101 and the back surface protective sheet 102, and the position detection circuit unit 301 can be enclosed between the main body 101a and the folded portion 101b of the housing sheet 101. Thus, a position detection device 100 with excellent waterproof and moisture-proof properties can be realized. In addition, since the position detection circuit unit 301 can be covered by the high-rigidity spacer member 110, the position detection circuit unit 301 can be firmly protected, thus realizing a position detection device suitable for portability.

[0105] Furthermore, in the case of the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, the housing sheet 101, the back protective sheet 102, the high-rigidity spacer member 110, the operating surface sheet, etc., can be mass-produced using a so-called die-cutting method. Also, if the high-rigidity spacer member 110 is made of metal, it can be mass-produced using wire discharge cutting technology. For this reason, the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment is also inexpensive and suitable for mass production.

[0106] [Modified version of the second embodiment] In the second embodiment described above, the housing sheet 101 and the back protective sheet 102 were described as being made of polypropylene, but are not limited to this. The housing sheet 101 and the back protective sheet 102 can be formed using various resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polyacetal, polyvinyl chloride, ABS resin, and polycarbonate.

[0107] Furthermore, although the high-rigidity spacer member 110 has been described as being formed from a hard material such as hard resin, metal, or wood, it is not limited to these materials. For example, it may be formed from a material that has a certain degree of elasticity, such as a resin material like urethane, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or felt, which can absorb external forces and prevent them from affecting the position detection circuit section 301.

[0108] Furthermore, although the USB cable 130 was used in the second embodiment described above, it is not limited to this. Depending on the digital interface provided by the connected electronic device, cables conforming to various digital interface standards can be used.

[0109] Furthermore, although the second embodiment described above uses an electromagnetic induction type sensor unit 302, it is not limited to this. Similar to the position detection device of the first embodiment, it is also possible to mount a capacitive type sensor unit shown in Figure 12, provide a position detection circuit unit corresponding to the capacitive type sensor unit, and use a capacitive type position detection sensor member.

[0110] Furthermore, in the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment described above, the high-rigidity spacer member 110 had holes that penetrated from the front to the back for the installation portions of the position detection circuit unit 301 and the USB cable 130, but it is not limited to this. It may also be provided as a recess that does not penetrate for the installation portions of the position detection circuit unit 301 and the USB cable 130, so as to cover the position detection circuit unit 301 and the USB cable 130 which are arranged on the housing sheet 101. In this case, it is not necessarily required to provide a folded portion 101b on the housing sheet 101 to cover the high-rigidity spacer.

[0111] Furthermore, in the case of the position detection device of the second embodiment described above, slits SL1 to SL6 are provided in the folded portion at the boundary between the main body portion 101a and the folded portion 101b of the housing sheet 101. Folded sectionAt the folded-over portion of the boundary with 101b, slits of an appropriate width and number can be provided. Furthermore, if multiple slits are provided, their respective vertical and horizontal dimensions can be set to appropriate lengths.

[0112] [Modified examples of the position detection device according to the first and second embodiments] It is also possible to apply the leaf springs 111L and 111R used in the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment described above to the position detection device of the first embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to attach an anti-slip sheet to the exposed surface of the back protective sheet 102 of the position detection device 100 of the second embodiment, or to add an anti-slip function to the back protective sheet 102 itself.

[0113] Furthermore, parts of the position detection device 100 of the first embodiment that are interchangeable can be modified. For example, the spacer member 3 used in the first embodiment can be used in place of the high-rigidity spacer 110 of the second embodiment, or conversely, the high-rigidity spacer 110 of the second embodiment can be used in place of the spacer 3 of the first embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0114] 1…Bag-shaped protective member, 11…Surface sheet, 12…Back sheet, 13…Opening, 13a…Wide opening section, 13b…Rectangular opening section, 13c…Slit, 14…Operation input area, 2…Position detection sensor member, 21…Sensor section (electromagnetic induction method), 22…Connection section, 23…Position detection circuit section, 21Y1~21Ym…Y-axis direction loop coil, 21Y…Y-axis direction loop coil group, 21X1~21Xn…X-axis direction loop coil, 21X…X-axis direction loop coil group, 21ZK…Insulating layer, 21MS…Metal sheet, 21A…Sensor section (capacitive method), Y1~Ym…Y-axis direction line electrode, YL…Y-axis direction line electrode group, X1~Xn…X-axis direction line electrode, XL…X-axis direction line electrode group, 3, 3A…Spacer member, 31, 31A…Opening, 31a, 31Ab…Slit, 31A a...Protruding part, 4, 4A, 4B, 4C...Circuit board cover member, HL...Through hole, 5...USB cable, 51...USB connector, 52...Circuit side connection part, 6...Writing feel sheet, 7...Anti-slip sheet, 8, 9...Circular double-sided tape member, 100...Position detection device, 101...Housing sheet, 101a...Main body part, 101b...Folded part, 102...Back protective sheet, 110...High rigidity spacer member, 111 L, 111R…Leaf spring, 120a, 120b…Double-sided adhesive tape, 121L, 121R, 121UP…Ultra-thin double-sided adhesive sheet, 200…Operating surface sheet, 300…Position detection sensor component, 301…Position detection circuit section, 302…Sensor section, 302a…Connection section, 400, 500…External hook, 401, 501…Main body section, ft1~ft4…Leg section, hk1, hk2, hkL, hkR…Hook section

Claims

1. A sheet-like sensor portion formed by stacking a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, A position detection circuit unit detects an indicated position on the sensor unit based on output signals from the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes of the sensor unit, A connection part that connects the sensor unit and the position detection circuit unit. A position detection sensor member equipped with, A connection cable is connected to the position detection circuit section to enable connection with external devices, A front sheet and a back sheet of the same shape are overlapped and their edges are bonded together, and at the upper end, there is a protective member opening made in the front sheet so that the sensor part can be inserted between the front sheet and the back sheet, and the position detection circuit part can be placed on the back sheet, and the surface of the front sheet is the operating surface of the bag-shaped protective member, A member provided on the upper end portion of the bag-shaped protective member where the protective member opening is provided, comprising a spacer member opening corresponding to the position detection circuit portion and a slit for pulling out the connecting cable, and having a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of the position detection circuit portion, A substrate cover member that covers the entire upper surface of the spacer member and A position detection device comprising the following:

2. A position detection device according to claim 1, The operating surface of the bag-shaped protective member is provided with a top sheet that allows the user to feel the desired writing sensation when the position indicator is brought into contact with the sheet for writing input. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

3. A position detection device according to claim 1, A non-slip sheet is placed on the side of the bag-shaped protective member opposite to the operating surface. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

4. A position detection device according to claim 1, At least the operating surface of the bag-shaped protective member is formed of a transparent or translucent material. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

5. A position detection device according to claim 1, The aforementioned bag-shaped protective member is made of a resin material and is configured to be deformable. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

6. A position detection device according to claim 1, The aforementioned bag-shaped protective member is made of a resin material and is formed into a bag shape by heat welding to tightly seal the edges. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

7. A position detection device according to claim 1, A metal sheet is provided on the back of the sensor portion, and the metal sheet and the sensor portion are housed within the bag-shaped protective member. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

8. A position detection device according to claim 1, An insulating layer is provided between the multiple first electrodes and the multiple second electrodes that are stacked in the sensor portion. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

9. A position detection device according to claim 1, The first electrode and the second electrode are configured as a loop coil, forming an electromagnetic induction type sensor unit. The position detection circuit can alternately provide a transmission period in which power is supplied to electrodes sequentially selected from the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes to generate a magnetic field, and a reception period in which the power supply is stopped and an external magnetic field is received through electrodes sequentially selected from the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

10. A position detection device according to claim 1, The first electrode and the second electrode are linear conductors and constitute a capacitive position detection sensor. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

11. A sheet-like sensor portion formed by stacking a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, A position detection circuit unit detects an indicated position on the sensor unit based on output signals from a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes of the sensor unit, A connection section that connects the sensor section and the position detection circuit section, A position detection sensor member equipped with, A connection cable is connected to the position detection circuit section to enable connection with external devices, A single housing sheet comprising a main body and a folded portion, wherein when the folded portion is folded back toward the surface side of the main body, the portion of the surface of the main body facing the folded portion becomes the mounting space for the position detection circuit, the back surface of the main body becomes the mounting position for the sensor, and the lower end of the aforementioned mounting space has an opening through which the connection portion is inserted, and an outlet for the connection cable is provided at the boundary between the folded portion and the main body, The facility comprises a housing for the position detection circuit unit placed on the mounting space, and a section for arranging the connecting cable connected to the position detection circuit unit, and a spacer member thicker than the thickness of the position detection circuit unit. Equipped with, The position detection circuit and the spacer member are enclosed within the housing sheet by folding the aforementioned folded portion back toward the surface side of the main body. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

12. A position detection device according to claim 11, One or more slits are provided in the folded portion at the boundary between the main body portion and the folded portion of the housing sheet. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

13. A position detection device according to claim 11, An external hook is provided on the folded portion at the boundary between the main body portion and the folded portion of the housing sheet. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

14. A position detection device according to claim 11, Leaf springs are provided at both the left and right ends of the back surface of the sensor portion, which is located on the back surface of the housing sheet. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

15. A position detection device according to claim 11, A protective back sheet is provided on the back surface of the housing sheet to cover the sensor portion. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

16. A position detection device according to claim 11, The first electrode and the second electrode are configured as a loop coil, forming an electromagnetic induction type sensor unit. The position detection circuit can alternately provide a transmission period in which power is supplied to electrodes sequentially selected from the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes to generate a magnetic field, and a reception period in which the power supply is stopped and an external magnetic field is received through electrodes sequentially selected from the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

17. A position detection device according to claim 11, The first electrode and the second electrode are linear conductors and constitute a capacitive position detection sensor. A position detection device characterized by the following features.

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