Electronic pen

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic pen with a high degree of repairability and capable of preventing uneven wear of a core.　The electronic pen comprises an electronic pen body unit, an additional unit, and first and second housing sections that couple in an axial direction to form an electronic pen outer housing. The electronic pen body unit has a columnar shape, in which a core can be attached to one end in the axial direction, and an electrical first terminal part is provided at the other end in the axial direction. The additional unit has a columnar shape, in which a second terminal part electrically connected to the first terminal part of the electronic pen body unit is provided at one end in the axial direction. Inside the electronic pen outer housing, the electronic pen body unit and the additional unit are juxtaposed in a non-movable state in the axial direction, the first terminal part and the second terminal part are electrically connected, and the electronic pen body unit is unable to rotate about the axial direction with respect to the electronic pen outer housing.

Description

Electronic pen

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic pen having a function for signal interaction with a position detection sensor and having additional parts such as a charging terminal.

[0002] Well-known electronic pens include active capacitance type electronic pens and electromagnetic induction type electronic pens. Active capacitance type electronic pens include a signal transmission circuit that transmits signals for interaction with a position detection sensor, and a power supply that supplies a power supply voltage to this signal transmission circuit. Furthermore, electromagnetic induction type electronic pens, when transmitting writing pressure information and identification information as digital information to an electronic device equipped with a position detection sensor, also include a circuit that generates the digital information and a power supply that supplies a power supply voltage to the circuit. Furthermore, when a rechargeable battery is used as the power source, the electronic pen is often provided with a charging terminal.

[0003] In conventional electronic pens, whether they are active capacitance type electronic pens or electromagnetic induction type electronic pens, the part that performs the function of signal interaction with the position detection sensor (the functional part of the electronic pen main body) is electrically connected to additional parts such as a power supply, and these are stored in a columnar storage space inside the electronic pen's outer casing.

[0004] Recently, as shown in Patent Document 1 (Republished Patent Publication No. 2020 / 148977) and Patent Document 2 (Republished Patent Publication No. 2017 / 010336), for example, electronic pens have been proposed in which the internal components of the electronic pen are modularized and the modularized components are stored in a columnar storage space inside the electronic pen's outer casing. In this case, too, the functional part of the electronic pen main body that performs the function of signal interaction with the position detection sensor and additional parts such as a power supply are electrically connected and configured as a single modularized part.

[0005] Re-tabulation 2020 / 148977 publication Re-tabulation 2017 / 010336 publication

[0006] However, in the conventional electronic pens described above, only the core body with the pen tip was a replaceable part, and if the outer casing of the electronic pen was damaged or if some of the internal parts were broken, the electronic pen itself had to be replaced as a whole.

[0007] For this reason, if the electronic pen's outer casing is damaged, the internal modules that are functioning normally are also discarded. Also, if a part of the modularized component other than the power supply unit is damaged, the power supply unit that is functioning normally is also discarded. Furthermore, if only part of the power supply unit is damaged, the remaining parts of the modularized component that are not damaged are also discarded.

[0008] This situation is undesirable from the perspective of sustainability, and there is a demand for improved repairability for electronic pens.

[0009] Furthermore, if the modularized components housed in the electronic pen outer casing of the electronic pen are not prevented from rotating about their axis within the columnar storage space inside the electronic pen outer casing, there is a problem in that the tip of the core is likely to wear out unevenly, for example, when the electronic pen is used tilted relative to the input surface of the position detection sensor. In other words, even if a user rotates the electronic pen outer casing little by little about its axis to prevent uneven wear of the core, the modularized components will rotate freely about the axis within the electronic pen outer casing, so that the same part of the tip of the core always comes into contact with the input surface, resulting in the problem of uneven wear.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pen that can solve the above problems.

[0011] In order to solve the above problem, an electronic pen device comprises a first housing part and a second housing part which are coupled together in an axial direction to form an electronic pen outer housing; an electronic pen body unit which has a function of signal interaction with a position detection sensor and has a columnar shape which can be stored in the electronic pen outer housing, and has a core body which can be attached to one end side in the axial direction; and an additional unit which is disposed on the opposite side of the electronic pen body unit from the core body side in the axial direction and is electrically connected to the electronic pen body unit, wherein the electronic pen body unit has a first electrical terminal part on the opposite side to the side where the core body is attached, and the additional unit has a columnar shape which can be stored in the electronic pen outer housing, and has a second terminal part at one end side in the axial direction which is electrically connected to the first terminal part of the electronic pen body unit, An electronic pen is provided, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit and the additional unit are arranged side by side in the axial direction with the additional unit at the rear end side within the electronic pen outer casing, and are unable to move in the axial direction, the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are electrically connected, and at least the electronic pen main body unit is unable to rotate around the axial direction relative to the electronic pen outer casing.

[0012] The electronic pen having the above-described configuration comprises four components: an electronic pen main body unit, an add-on unit, a first housing unit, and a second housing unit. The electronic pen can be constructed simply by housing the electronic pen main body unit and the add-on unit in an electronic pen outer housing made up of the first housing and the second housing, so that they are coupled in the axial direction.

[0013] Therefore, with the electronic pen having the above configuration, if any of the four parts is damaged, the electronic pen can be repaired by replacing only the damaged part, thereby improving the repairability of the electronic pen.

[0014] Furthermore, since the electronic pen main body unit is unable to rotate around the axis inside the electronic pen outer casing, in order to prevent uneven wear of the lead, the user can rotate the electronic pen outer casing little by little around the axis while using it, and the electronic pen main body unit will rotate together with the electronic pen outer casing, thereby preventing uneven wear of the tip of the lead body.

[0015] 1 is a perspective view and an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of an example of the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention, viewed from a different angle. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of an example of the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a side switch portion of an example of the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic pen main unit constituting an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention housed in a pen tip side housing. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an add-on unit constituting an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention and a state of electrical connection between the add-on unit and the electronic pen main unit 3. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of the electrical configuration of the electronic pen main unit 3 and the add-on unit constituting an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating another example of the configuration of a main part of an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view illustrating yet another example of the configuration of a main part of an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of the configuration of a coupling portion that takes into consideration the alignment of a pen tip side housing portion and a rear end side housing portion in an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a view illustrating another example of the configuration of a terminal portion on the rear end side of an electronic pen main unit constituting an embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining another example of the configuration of the coupling portion taking into consideration the alignment of the pen tip side housing portion and the rear end side housing portion in an embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining yet another example of the configuration of the coupling portion taking into consideration the alignment of the pen tip side housing portion and the rear end side housing portion in an embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the add-on unit constituting another embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrodes of the terminal portion on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit and an example of the configuration of the electrodes on the add-on unit constituting an embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the electrodes of the terminal portion on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit and an example of the configuration of the electrodes on the add-on unit constituting an embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention.

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electronic pen according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment of the electronic pen described below is an active capacitance type electronic pen.

[0017] [Outline of Configuration of Electronic Pen of Embodiment] The electronic pen 1 of this embodiment uses a secondary battery as a power source, and is provided with a charging terminal so that it can be charged as needed.

[0018] Figures 1, 2, and 3 are diagrams for explaining an outline of an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment. Figure 1 is a diagram seen from an oblique front, showing the opening on the pen tip side of the electronic pen outer casing 2 of the electronic pen 1, and Figure 2 is a diagram seen from an oblique rear, showing the end face of the rear end side of the electronic pen outer casing 2 opposite the pen tip side of the electronic pen 1. Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining the state of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment in the middle of the assembly procedure.

[0019] 1A and 2A are exploded perspective views for explaining the components of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, and FIGS. 1C and 2B are diagrams showing the external appearance of the assembled electronic pen 1.

[0020] In this embodiment, the electronic pen outer casing 2 of the electronic pen 1 is configured by detachably joining a first casing portion and a second casing portion that are unit components divided in two along the axial direction of a cylindrical shape, and in this example, is configured by a pen tip side casing portion 21 as an example of the first casing portion and a rear end side casing portion 22 as an example of the second casing portion, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The pen tip side casing portion 21 and the rear end side casing portion 22 are made of an insulating material, resin in this example, and have an elongated cylindrical shape with a columnar storage space inside.

[0021] 1(A) and 2(A), the pen tip side housing 21 has a cylindrical shape with a hollow space inside, and one end side in the axial direction that is the pen tip side has a shape that gradually tapers, and has an opening 21a (see FIG. 1(A)) on the pen tip side for allowing the tip of a core body, which will be described later, to protrude to the outside. The rear end side in the axial direction of the pen tip side housing 21, on the opposite side from the pen tip side, is formed as an opening 21b (see FIG. 2(A)), and in this example, a threaded portion 21c is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface near the rear end opening 21b to be coupled to the rear end side housing 22 by screwing.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A , the rear-end housing 22 has a cylindrical shape with a hollow space therein, and a threaded portion 22c (see FIG. 3C ) that screws into the threaded portion 21c of the pen tip housing 21 is formed on the inner wall surface of an opening 22a at one end in the axial direction, which is the pen tip housing 21 side. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2A , the rear-end housing 22 is configured as a bottomed cylindrical body having a flat plate-shaped lid (bottom surface) 22d at the rear end, and an opening 22b is provided in the lid 22d. In this example, the opening 22b is shaped as an elongated hole that passes through the center of the lid 22d, and the terminal plate 42a of the USB connector 42 is exposed through the elongated opening 22a.

[0023] In this embodiment, the screw portion 21c of the pen tip side housing portion 21 and the screw portion 22c of the rear end side housing portion 22 are screwed together to form the electronic pen outer housing 2 of the electronic pen 1.

[0024] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the unit components housed in the electronic pen outer casing 2 are two unit components: an electronic pen main body unit 3 and an add-on unit 4. In this embodiment, the add-on unit 4 is a charging terminal unit, and in this example, is configured using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector.

[0025] 1A and 2A, before the pen tip side housing 21 and the rear end side housing 22 are screwed together, the electronic pen main body unit 3 is inserted into the pen tip side housing 21 through the rear end side opening 21b and stored therein, and the additional unit 4 is inserted into the rear end side housing 22 through the pen tip side opening 22a and stored therein. In this case, in this embodiment, the electronic pen main body unit 3 is stored in the pen tip side housing 21 in a state where it cannot rotate about its axis relative to the pen tip side housing 21. In addition, the additional unit 4 is stored in the rear end side housing 22 in a state where it cannot rotate about its axis relative to the rear end side housing 22.

[0026] <Storage Structure of Electronic Pen Main Unit 3 in Pen Tip Side Housing 21> A terminal 31 constituting an example of a first terminal for electrical connection with the add-on unit 4 is provided on the rear end side of the electronic pen main unit 3. This terminal 31 has a first contact 311 consisting of a circular electrode exposed on the circular end surface on the rear end side in the axial direction of the electronic pen main unit 3, and a second contact 312 consisting of a flange-shaped electrode that protrudes in a ring shape from the side peripheral surface of the cylindrical main unit housing 3K of the electronic pen main unit 3. In this embodiment, the main unit housing 3K is formed as a metal pipe made of a conductive metal, for example, SUS (Stainless Used Steel).

[0027] 1A, 2A, and 3B, the flange portion constituting the second contact 312 has a so-called D-cut shape in which a predetermined angular range portion of the ring-shaped protruding circumferential portion is a flat portion 312D. The second contact 312 is in direct contact with the conductive metal main body unit housing 3K (see FIG. 5 described later), and the two are electrically connected.

[0028] 2A, 3A, and 3B, the opening 21b on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21 is a D-cut shaped opening that corresponds to the second contact 312 of the D-cut shaped flange and fits with the second contact 312. That is, the diameter of the opening 21b on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21 is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the second contact 312, and is configured to have a straight portion 21bD that corresponds to the D-cut shaped flat portion 312D of the second contact 312. In this example, the shaped portion of the opening 21b that corresponds to the shape of the second contact 312 is formed over a length in the axial direction that is the same as the width of the flange of the second contact 312.

[0029] The diameter of the cylindrical hollow portion of the tip side housing 21 is larger than the diameter of the main body unit housing 3K of the electronic pen main body unit 3. The diameter near the opening 21b on the rear end side of the tip side housing 21 is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical hollow portion of the tip side housing 21. For this reason, a step 21d is formed on the inner wall surface of the opening 21b on the rear end side of the tip side housing 21, as shown in FIG.

[0030] Therefore, when the electronic pen main body unit 3 is inserted into the pen tip side housing 21, the flange-shaped portion of the second contact 312 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 engages with the step portion 21d near the opening 21b of the pen tip side housing 21, and the electronic pen main body unit 3 becomes locked without moving further toward the opening 21a of the pen tip side housing 21 (see Figures 1 (B) and 3 (A)).

[0031] In this case, the flat surface 312D of the flange of the second contact 312 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 is aligned with the straight surface 21bD of the opening 21b of the pen tip side housing 21, so that the second contact 312 fits into the opening 21b and the flange of the second contact 312 engages with the step 21d near the opening 21b. Then, the flat surface 312D engages with the straight surface 21bD, so that the electronic pen main body unit 3 is locked in a state where it cannot rotate about the axis relative to the pen tip side housing 21.

[0032] 1(B) and 3(A), a predetermined portion of the electronic pen main body unit 3 on the pen tip side protrudes outward from the opening 21a of the pen tip side housing 21. A core 5 made of a conductive material, for example, a conductive metal, is provided at the tip of the portion of the electronic pen main body unit 3 that protrudes outward from the opening 21a of the pen tip side housing 21, and in this embodiment, this core 5 is configured to be detachable from the electronic pen main body unit 3. With the above configuration, the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment can prevent uneven wear of the core 5.

[0033] <Configuration of the Side Switch> In this embodiment, the electronic pen main body unit 3 is provided with a so-called side switch, and an operation unit 32 for turning the side switch on and off is provided at a predetermined position on the side periphery of the main body unit housing 3K. That is, in this example, the side switch provided in the electronic pen main body unit 3 is turned on and off by pressing the operation unit 32 from the outside.

[0034] The operation unit 32 (hereinafter referred to as the switch drive operation unit 32 for convenience) is provided at a predetermined position in the axial direction of the main body unit housing 3K and at a position within a predetermined angular range in the circumferential direction so as to be able to turn on and off a switch disposed on a substrate inside the electronic pen main body unit 3. In this embodiment, the electronic pen main body unit 3 is housed inside the pen tip side housing 21, and therefore the user cannot directly operate the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3.

[0035] In this embodiment, an operation unit 21SW (hereinafter referred to as side switch operation unit 21SW for convenience) is provided on the pen tip side housing 21, and a user can operate this side switch operation unit 21SW to drive a switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 housed in the pen tip side housing 21, thereby turning on and off a side switch in the electronic pen main body unit 3. For this reason, in this embodiment, when the electronic pen main body unit 3 is inserted and housed in the pen tip side housing 21, the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21 is positioned directly above the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3.

[0036] In this embodiment, the alignment between the switch drive operation section 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the side switch operation section 21SW of the pen tip side housing section 21 is achieved by the D-cut shape of the second contact 312 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the corresponding shape of the opening 21b on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3, and the fitting of the second contact 312 with the opening 21b on the rear end side.

[0037] That is, in this embodiment, the positional relationship between the circumferential angular position of the peripheral side surface of the main body unit housing 3K of the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the circumferential angular position of the D-cut shaped flat portion 312D of the second contact 312 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 on the peripheral side surface of the main body unit housing 3K is configured to be the same as the positional relationship between the circumferential angular position of the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21 on the peripheral side surface of the pen tip side housing 21 and the circumferential angular position of the straight portion 21bD of the opening 21b of the pen tip side housing 21 on the peripheral side surface of the pen tip side housing 21. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 3B, the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen body unit 3 and the flat portion 312D of the second contact 312 are provided at the same angular position in the circumferential direction on the peripheral side surface of the body unit housing 3K, and the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21 and the straight portion 21bD of the opening 21b are also provided at the same angular position in the circumferential direction on the peripheral side surface of the pen tip side housing 21. As a result, when the electronic pen body unit 3 is inserted into the pen tip side housing 21 and the second contact 312 of the electronic pen body unit 3 is fitted into and locked in the rear end opening 21b of the pen body unit 3, the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21 is located exactly above the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen body unit 3.

[0038] In this embodiment, the axial position of the operation section 32 in the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the axial position of the operation section 21SW of the pen tip side housing section 21 are determined so that when the electronic pen main body unit 3 is inserted into the pen tip side housing section 21 and the second contact 312 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 is engaged with and locked into the rear end side opening 21b of the pen main body unit 3, the operation section 21SW of the pen main body unit 3 is positioned directly above the operation section 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3, as shown by dotted lines in Figures 1 (B) and 3 (A).

[0039] Figure 4(A) is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing unit 21, and Figure 4(B) is a cross-sectional view for explaining the vicinity of the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing unit 21 and the side switch and switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3.

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4B, the electronic pen main body unit 3 is provided with two side switches 33 and 34 arranged on a circuit board 35. In this example, the switches 33 and 34 are self-resetting switches that return to their original positions when the pressing force is released.

[0041] The switch drive operation unit 32 is configured as an elongated thin plate and includes legs 32a and 32b for turning on and off the switches 33 and 34. The switch drive operation unit 32 is attached to the main body unit housing 3K of the electronic pen main body unit 3 so as to be able to perform a seesaw motion with the center of the switch drive operation unit 32 in the longitudinal direction as a fulcrum position. When a pressing force is applied to the leg 32a side, the leg 32a presses the switch 33 to turn it on or off, and when a pressing force is applied to the leg 32b side, the leg 32b presses the switch 34 to turn it on or off.

[0042] At a position in the middle of the axial direction of the pen tip side housing part 21, above the part where the switch drive operation part 32 is located when the electronic pen main body unit 3 is inserted inside and the second contact 312 is engaged with the opening 21b, there is provided a long hole 21e for accommodating the side switch operation part 21SW, as shown in Figure 4 (A).

[0043] In this example, as shown in Figures 4(A) and (B), the side switch operating unit 21SW is composed of two operating knobs 211 and 212 corresponding to the two switches 33 and 34, a knob bezel 213 for holding the operating knobs 211 and 212 in the elongated hole 21e, and coil springs 214 and 215 for returning the operating knobs 211 and 212 when they are operated.

[0044] As shown in Figures 4(A) and (B) , the operating knobs 211, 212 are configured to include heads 211a, 212a that are pressed down, flanges 211b, 212b that protrude from the periphery of the surface opposite the top surface of the heads 211a, 212a, and cylindrical legs 211c, 212c that protrude downward from the surface opposite the top surface of the heads 211a, 212a.

[0045] The knob bezel 213 has a thin plate shape that fits into the elongated hole 21e, and has through holes 213a and 213b into which the heads 211a and 212a of the operation knobs 211 and 212 are inserted to expose the heads 211a and 212a to the outside. The through holes 213a and 213b are larger than the heads 211a and 212a but smaller than the flanges 211b and 212b.

[0046] At the bottom of the elongated hole 21e of the pen tip side housing 21, through holes 21ea and 21eb having diameters larger than the leg portions 211c and 212c of the operation knobs 211 and 212 but smaller than the diameters of the coil springs 214 and 215 are formed.

[0047] The side switch operation unit 21SW is attached to the pen tip side housing 21 as follows: With the coil springs 214 and 215 attached so as to cover the peripheries of the legs 211c and 212c of the operation knobs 211 and 212, respectively, the legs 211c and 212c of the operation knobs 211 and 212 are inserted into the through holes 21ea and 21eb of the elongated hole 21e of the pen tip side housing 21. Thereafter, with the heads 211a and 212a of the operation knobs 211 and 212 inserted into the through holes 213a and 213b, the knob bezel 213 is arranged so as to be fixed to the elongated hole 21e of the pen tip side housing 21 by adhesive or the like.

[0048] With the side switch operation unit 21SW attached to the pen tip side housing 21 in this manner, the operation knobs 211, 212 are elastically displaced by the coil springs 214, 215 so as to be constantly pushed up toward the heads 211a, 212a. In this embodiment, the lengths of the legs 211c, 212c of the operation knobs 211, 212 are set to a length that allows the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 to be seesaw-driven by being pressed down against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 214. However, the lengths of the legs 211c, 212c of the operation knobs 211, 212 are set to a length that does not protrude into the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21 in this attached state.

[0049] Therefore, even if the difference between the inner diameter of the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing portion 21 and the outer diameter of the electronic pen main body unit 3 is made small in order to make the pen tip side housing portion 21 as thin as possible, when inserting the electronic pen main body unit 3 into the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing portion 21, the tips of the legs 211c, 212c do not get in the way, and the electronic pen main body unit 3 can be inserted smoothly.

[0050] When the electronic pen main body unit 3 is inserted into the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21 to which the side switch operation unit 21SW is attached in this manner and the second contact 312 is engaged with the opening 21b, the legs 211c and 212c of the operation knobs 211 and 212 of the side switch operation unit 21SW are positioned above the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3, as shown in Figure 4 (B).

[0051] Therefore, when the user presses down the head 211a of the operation knob 211 of the side switch operation unit 21SW against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 214, the leg 211c of the operation knob 211, which is inserted through the through hole 21ea of ​​the elongated hole 21e of the pen tip side housing 21, presses down the leg 32a side of the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3, turning on and off the switch 33. Also, when the user presses down the head 212a of the operation knob 212 of the side switch operation unit 21SW against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 215, the leg 212c of the operation knob 212, which is inserted through the through hole 21eb of the elongated hole 21e of the pen tip side housing 21, presses down the leg 32b side of the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3, turning on and off the switch 34.

[0052] <Example of Internal Configuration of Electronic Pen Main Unit 3> Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the internal configuration of the electronic pen main unit 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic pen main unit 3 when housed in the pen tip side housing 21, with Figure 5(A) being a cross-sectional view on the pen tip side relative to the position of the side switch operation unit 21SW, and Figure 5(B) being a cross-sectional view on the rear end side relative to the position of the side switch operation unit 21SW. Note that the cross-sectional view of the portion where the side switch operation unit 21SW is provided is the same as that shown in Figure 4(B), and therefore will not be shown here.

[0053] 5B, the terminal portion 31 on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3 has a structure in which a first contact 311 exposed on the circular end surface on the rear end side and a second contact 312 consisting of a flange-shaped portion are connected via an insulator 313 made of, for example, resin. The side peripheral surface of the terminal portion 31 from the flange-shaped portion of the second contact 312 to the first contact 311 is covered with a cylindrical insulator 314.

[0054] As mentioned above, the flange-shaped portion of the second contact 312 that protrudes in a ring shape from the side surface of the main body unit housing 3K engages with the step portion 21d provided in the opening 21b (not shown in Figure 5) on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21, thereby stopping the electronic pen main body unit 3 from moving axially toward the pen tip within the pen tip side housing 21 and locking it in a stored position within the pen tip side housing 21.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 5B, a rechargeable secondary battery 36 is provided within the electronic pen main unit 3, and a charging circuit (not shown in Fig. 5) is provided on the circuit board 35. The first contact 311 and the second contact 312 of the electronic pen main unit 3 are connected to the positive and negative terminals (ground terminals) of the charging terminal formed by the add-on unit 4. In this embodiment, the first contact 311 is connected to the positive terminal, and the second contact 312 is connected to the ground terminal. The first contact 311 is connected to a conductor pattern on the circuit board 35 to which the positive side of the charging terminal should be connected, and the second contact 312 is connected to the ground conductor pattern.

[0056] In this embodiment, as described above, the main body unit housing 3K is made of a conductive metal, and the second contact 312, which is the flange-shaped portion, is electrically connected to the main body unit housing 3K, and the potential of the main body unit housing 3K is set to earth potential.

[0057] The circuit board 35 is held by a board holder 37 made of an insulating material, for example, resin. The board holder 37 has a boat-like shape with its longitudinal direction aligned with the axis of the main unit housing 3K. As shown in Figure 5A, a pen pressure detection unit holding portion 371 is provided on the pen tip side of the board holder 37 in the longitudinal direction, and a board placement portion 372 is formed in the middle.

[0058] The writing pressure detection unit holder 371 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the writing pressure detection unit 6 is held within the hollow space inside the cylindrical portion, as shown in FIG. 5A . The writing pressure detection unit 6 is configured to detect, in this example, a change in capacitance as a displacement of the core body 5 in the axial direction in response to writing pressure applied to the tip of the core body 5. The writing pressure detection unit 6 in this example is configured such that the capacitance changes as the contact area between the dielectric 61 and the conductive elastic member 62 changes in response to the applied pressure (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2016-126503 A)). Note that the writing pressure detection unit 6 that detects writing pressure using capacitance may also be configured with a semiconductor device in which the distance between two contact points facing each other via a dielectric air layer changes in response to the applied pressure (see, for example, Patent Document 2 (JP 2013-161307 A)).

[0059] 5A, in this embodiment, the writing pressure applied to the core 5 is transmitted to the writing pressure detection unit 6 via the writing pressure transmission member 7. That is, in this embodiment, in the hollow portion of the main body unit housing 3K of the electronic pen main body unit 3, a writing pressure transmission member holder 38 made of an insulating material, for example, resin, is provided on the pen tip side of the writing pressure detection unit holding portion 371 of the board holder 37. The writing pressure transmission member 7 is held by this writing pressure transmission member holder 38 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

[0060] The core body 5 is detachably fitted to the pen tip side of the writing pressure transmission member 7 in the axial direction, and the rear end side of the writing pressure transmission member 7 is fitted to a pressing member 63 that axially presses the conductive elastic member 62 of the writing pressure detection unit 6. A return coil spring 64 is provided between the pressing member 63 and the dielectric 61 to return the axial positional relationship between the dielectric 61 and the conductive elastic member 62 to their original state when the writing pressure is removed.

[0061] In this embodiment, the pen pressure transmission member 7 is made of a conductive material, and the conductive core body 5, although not shown in the figure, is configured to be electrically connected to the conductor pattern of the circuit board 35 via this pen pressure transmission member 7.

[0062] 5A, a peripheral electrode 8 is provided on the outer periphery on the pen tip side of the writing pressure transmission member holder 38. The peripheral electrode 8 covers the periphery on the pen tip side of the writing pressure transmission member holder 38 while being insulated from the main body unit housing 3K by a ring-shaped protrusion 38a provided on the outer periphery of the writing pressure transmission member holder 38, and is further provided on the pen tip side in such a manner as to form an extension of the main body unit housing 3K.

[0063] The peripheral electrode 8 is cylindrical and made of a conductive material, such as a conductive metal, and is arranged to surround the core 5 constituting the conductive central electrode except for its tip, and in this example, serves as a contact point for receiving signals from the position detection sensor. In this example, the peripheral electrode 8 has a tapered shape that tapers toward the pen tip, and its maximum outer diameter is configured to be equal to the outer diameter of the main unit housing 3K.

[0064] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5A, a pen tip cap member 39 made of an insulating and elastic material is interposed between the peripheral electrode 8 and the core 5 to allow axial movement of the core 5. In this case, as shown in Fig. 5, the core 5 has a large-diameter portion at the tip and a small-diameter portion extending from the tip to the rear end. The pen tip cap member 39 is configured to have a step that matches the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion of the core 5, and is configured so that a space (air layer) 39a is formed near the junction of the small-diameter portion with the large-diameter portion. The presence of this space 39a allows the core 5 to move axially.

[0065] The signal (electric field) emitted from the large-diameter portion of the pen tip of the core body 5 is emitted relatively efficiently. However, the radiation of the signal (electric field) from the small-diameter portion of the core body 5 is suppressed by the action of the space 39a and the pen tip side cap member 39. This is because the space 39a and the pen tip side cap member 39 have different dielectric constants, and this portion functions like a double capacitor. As a result, even if the electronic pen 1 is tilted with respect to the input surface of the position detection sensor, the core body 5 can transmit a good signal that does not become unnecessarily broad.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the core body 5 is configured to be movable in the axial direction while movement in a direction intersecting the axial direction is restricted due to the presence of the pen tip side cap member 39. This reduces wobbling of the tip of the core body 5, and allows the writing pressure applied to the core body 5 to be properly transmitted to the writing pressure detection unit 6 via the writing pressure transmission member 7, allowing the writing pressure to be properly detected by the writing pressure detection unit 6.

[0067] 5A and 5B, in this embodiment, when the electronic pen main body unit 3 is housed in the pen tip side housing 21 and the second contact 312 is fitted into the step 21d on the opening 21b side, not only the tip of the core 5 but also the tapered tip of the peripheral electrode 8 protrudes to the outside from the opening 21a of the pen tip side housing 21. As mentioned above, the core 5 is detachable from the writing pressure transmission member 7 and is therefore replaceable.

[0068] The board mounting portion 372 has a board mounting surface formed by cutting out a semicircular or more portion of the cylindrical portion rearward from the pen tip side component holding portion 371. The circuit board 35 is placed and held on the board mounting surface of the board mounting portion 372.

[0069] In this example, the circuit board 35 is configured in the shape of a long, narrow rectangular plate, and the switches 33 and 34, as described above, as well as a signal generating circuit and a charging circuit are provided on the board surface. Furthermore, the circuit board 35 is formed with conductive patterns for electrically connecting the writing pressure transmission member 7 electrically connected to the core body 5, the writing pressure detection unit 6, the secondary battery 36, the first contact 311 and the second contact 312 of the terminal unit 31, and other electronic components on the board surface.

[0070] <Configuration Example of Add-on Unit 4 and Storage Structure Example in Rear-End Housing 22> Figures 6(A) and (B) are exploded perspective views of the add-on unit 4, with Figure 6(A) being an exploded perspective view of the add-on unit 4 viewed from the pen tip side, and Figure 6(B) being an exploded perspective view of the add-on unit 4 viewed from the rear end side. Note that for convenience, the scales of Figures 6(A) and 6(B) are slightly different. Also, Figure 6(C) is a partial cross-sectional view of the rear-end housing 22 and the pen tip housing 21 screwed together with the add-on unit 4 stored in the rear-end housing 22.

[0071] As shown in Figures 6(A), (B), and (C), in this embodiment, the additional unit 4 is configured so that a USB connector 42 is held by a connector holder 43 and stored within an additional unit housing 41.

[0072] The additional unit housing 41 is a cylindrical body made of an insulating material, for example, resin, and its axial length is shorter than the axial length of the rear housing portion 22, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 6C. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 6A, and 6B, flat portions 41a and 41b are formed on the side surfaces of the additional unit housing 41 at positions 180 degrees apart from each other, from one end to the other in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the flat portions 41a and 41b are flat not only on the outer peripheral side surfaces of the additional unit housing 41 but also on the inner wall surfaces.

[0073] 1A and 3C , flat surfaces 22ea and 22eb that engage with the flat surfaces 41a and 41b of the additional unit housing 41 are formed on the inner wall surface of the rear-end housing part 22 at positions spaced 180 degrees from each other. When the additional unit housing 41 is inserted into and housed in the rear-end housing part 22, the flat surfaces 41a and 41b of the additional unit housing 41 engage with the inner wall surface flat surfaces 22ea and 22eb of the rear-end housing part 22, rendering the additional unit housing 41 unable to rotate around the axis relative to the rear-end housing part 22 within the rear-end housing part 22.

[0074] As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the USB connector 42 has a connector terminal board 42a on which a group of terminals, including two terminals for receiving an external charging voltage, are arranged on a plane. The USB connector 42 is disposed on a surface of a circuit board 421 parallel to the plane of the connector terminal board 42a. The circuit board 421 has a pair of conductive patterns formed thereon to electrically connect the two terminals for receiving the charging voltage of the USB connector 42. The circuit board 421 also has a connection terminal pin 422, e.g., a pogo pin, electrically connected to one of the pair of conductive patterns. One end of a conductive coil spring 423 made of a conductive metal is electrically connected to the other of the pair of conductive patterns on the circuit board 421. The inner diameter of the conductive coil spring 423 is larger than the outer diameter of the terminal portion 31 of the electronic pen main unit 3, and the outer diameter is configured to be approximately equal to the outer diameter of the flange portion of the second contact 312 of the terminal portion 31.

[0075] The connection terminal pin 422 and the conductive coil spring 423 form terminals for supplying the charging voltage received from the outside via the USB connector 42 to the charging circuit of the electronic pen main body unit 3. In this example, the connection terminal pin 422 is the positive terminal and the conductive coil spring 423 is the negative terminal (earth terminal).

[0076] The connector holder 43 includes a connector mounting and holding portion 431 on which the USB connector 42 is mounted and held, and a connection fitting portion 432 into which the terminal portion 31 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 is inserted to establish an electrical connection with the USB connector 42.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 6(C), a circuit board 421 to which the USB connector 42 is electrically connected and fixed is placed and held on the connector mounting and holding portion 431. The upper part of the connector mounting and holding portion 43a is configured to be covered with a cover portion 44, as shown in FIG. 6(C). The upper part of the cover portion 44 has a flat portion 44a formed thereon, which is parallel to the plane of the connector terminal plate portion 42a of the USB connector 42 and is adapted to engage with the inner wall of the flat portion 41a of the additional unit housing 41, as shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B). The bottom side of the connector holder 43, which is parallel to and opposite the flat portion 44a, has a flat portion 43e formed thereon, which is adapted to engage with the inner wall of the flat portion 41b of the additional unit housing 41.

[0078] 6A, the connection fitting portion 432 has a fitting recess 432a that has an opening on the side where it is coupled to the terminal portion 31 of the electronic pen main body unit 3. The inner diameter of this fitting recess 432a is larger than the outer diameter of the conductive coil spring 423, and as shown in FIG. 6C, the conductive coil spring 423 is housed in this fitting recess 432a.

[0079] Through holes 432b and 432c are formed in the wall on the connector mounting and holding portion 431 side that constitutes the bottom of the fitting recess 432a of the connection fitting portion 432. The through hole 432b is provided at the center position of the bottom of the connection fitting portion 432, so that the tip of the connection terminal pin 422 on the circuit board 421 protrudes into the fitting recess 432a of the connection fitting portion 432 through the through hole 432b, as shown in FIG.

[0080] 6(C), in this embodiment, the tip of the connection terminal pin 422 protruding into the fitting recess 432a of the connection fitting portion 432 is arranged to be inserted into a through hole of a ring-shaped shock absorbing material 45 made of an elastic material such as rubber. As shown in FIG. 6(C), in this example, the shock absorbing material 45 is arranged to be engaged with a recess at the bottom of the fitting recess 432a of the connection fitting portion 432.

[0081] In this example, the through hole 432c is provided near the bottom of the connection fitting portion 432 on the circuit board 421, and one end of the conductive coil spring 423 housed in the fitting recess 432a of the connection fitting portion 432 is inserted through this through hole 432c and reaches the top of the circuit board 421. Then, one end of this conductive coil spring 423 is soldered to a conductive pattern on the circuit board 421, so that the conductive coil spring 423 is fixed to and electrically connected to the circuit board 421.

[0082] In this embodiment, a flat surface 432d is formed on the upper part of the side surface of the connection fitting portion 432, flush with the flat surface portion 44a of the cover portion 44 and so as to engage with the inner wall side of the flat surface portion 41a of the additional unit housing 41.

[0083] As described above, the connector holder 43 holds the USB connector 42 mounted on the circuit board 421, and also holds the connection terminal pin 422 and conductive coil spring 423 to which the charging voltage receiving terminal of the USB connector 42 is connected. Then, with the cover part 44 mounted on the circuit board 421, the connector holder 43 is inserted into the additional unit housing 41, thereby forming the additional unit 4.

[0084] In this add-on unit 4, due to the engagement of the flat surface 41a of the add-on unit 4 with the flat surface 432d of the connector holder 43 and the flat surface 44a of the cover part 44, and also the engagement of the flat surface 41e on the bottom side of the connector holder 43 with the flat surface 41b of the add-on unit 4, the connector holder 43 becomes unable to rotate about the axis relative to the add-on unit housing 41 within the add-on unit housing 41. In other words, the USB connector 42 is stored in the add-on unit housing 41 in a state where it cannot rotate about the axis relative to the add-on unit housing 41.

[0085] The add-on unit 4 is inserted through the pen tip side opening 22a of the rear end housing part 22 and stored within the rear end housing part 22. In this case, the flat surfaces 41a and 41b of the add-on unit housing 41 engage with the flat surfaces 22ea and 22eb (see FIG. 3C ) formed within the hollow portion of the rear end housing part 22, and the add-on unit 4 is stored in a state where it cannot rotate about the axis direction relative to the rear end housing part 22. In this state, the longitudinal direction of the elongated opening 22b of the rear end cover part 22d of the rear end housing part 22 and the plate surface direction of the terminal plate part 42a of the USB connector 42 coincide with each other, and an external connector can be connected to the USB connector 42 through the opening 22b of the rear end housing part 22.

[0086] In this manner, the rear end housing 22, in which the additional unit 4 is housed, is screwed into the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21, in which the electronic pen main body unit 3 is housed, to form the electronic pen 1. In this electronic pen 1, the terminal portion 31 of the electronic pen main body unit 3, which protrudes from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21, is inserted into the connection fitting portion 432 of the additional unit 4 in the rear end side housing 22, and the first contact 311 of the terminal portion 31 is electrically connected to the connection terminal pin 422, and the second contact 312 is electrically connected to the conductive coil spring 423. In this case, the first contact 311 of the terminal portion 31 has a circular end face centered on the center position of the cross section of the electronic pen outer casing 2, and the connection terminal pin 422 is provided at approximately the center position of the cross section of the electronic pen outer casing 2, and a conductive coil spring 423 is connected to the ring-shaped second contact 312 of the terminal portion 31, so there is no need to align the two electrical connection points.

[0087] In this electronic pen 1, the second contact 312 of the terminal portion 31 is electrically connected by a conductive coil spring 423, and the first contact 311 and the connecting terminal pin 422 are electrically connected via a ring-shaped shock absorbing material 45. Therefore, for example, even if the electronic pen 1 is dropped and an impact load is applied to the core body 5, the impact can be absorbed by the presence of the shock absorbing material 45.

[0088] [Explanation of an Example of the Electrical Configuration of the Electronic Pen 1] The electrical configuration of the electronic pen 1 is as shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 7, in the additional unit 4, the connection terminal pin 422 is connected to a power receiving terminal that receives a charging voltage from the USB connector 42, and the conductive coil spring 423 is connected to the ground terminal of the USB connector 42.

[0089] In the electronic pen main body unit 3, the first contact 311 of the terminal portion 31 is connected to the input terminal of a charging circuit 361. The output terminal of this charging circuit 361 is connected to the input terminal of a power supply voltage generating circuit 362 and also to the positive terminal of the secondary battery 36. The charging circuit 361 supplies a charging current to the secondary battery 36 based on a charging voltage input from the USB connector 42 through the connection terminal pin 422 and the first contact 311, thereby charging the secondary battery 36.

[0090] The power supply voltage generating circuit 362 receives the voltage of the secondary battery 36 and generates a power supply voltage +B. The generated power supply voltage +B is supplied to a signal transmitting circuit 363, a signal receiving circuit 364, and a control circuit 365. In this example, a variable capacitance capacitor 6C that constitutes the writing pressure detection unit 6 is connected to the control circuit 365, and the control circuit 365 detects the writing pressure value from the electrostatic capacitance of this variable capacitance capacitor 6C.

[0091] The signal transmission circuit 363 includes an oscillator circuit of a predetermined frequency, generates a signal under the control of the control circuit 365, and transmits the signal to the position detection sensor by electrostatic coupling through the core body 5 serving as the central electrode. The signal transmitted from the signal transmission circuit 363 includes a position detection signal and a writing pressure value information signal. The position detection signal is transmitted as a burst signal of a predetermined frequency, and the writing pressure value information, in this example, is converted into a binary digital signal, and the binary digital signal is transmitted as, for example, an ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulated signal or an OOK (On Off Keying) modulated signal.

[0092] The peripheral electrode 8 receives a signal from the position detection sensor by electrostatic coupling and supplies the signal to the control circuit 365. The control circuit 365 controls the output timing of the signal from the signal transmission circuit 363 based on the timing of the signal received from the position detection sensor.

[0093] <Effects of the Electronic Pen 1 of the Embodiment> As described above, the electronic pen 1 of the embodiment described above is made up of four unit components: the pen tip side housing 21, the rear end side housing 22, the electronic pen main body unit 3, and the additional unit 4, and is configured to be able to be assembled using these four unit components. Therefore, if any of the four unit components is damaged or malfunctions, the electronic pen 1 can be repaired by replacing only the damaged or malfunctioning unit component.

[0094] Furthermore, in the electronic pen 1 of the above-described embodiment, the core 5 is configured to be supported on the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body unit 3, so the pen tip side opening of the pen tip side housing part 21 of the electronic pen outer housing 2 does not need to be configured to support the core 5. Therefore, the pen tip side housing part 21 does not need to be designed taking into account the diameter of the core 5, and this increases the degree of freedom in design, which in turn increases the degree of freedom in designing the electronic pen outer housing.

[0095] Furthermore, in the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, by joining the pen tip side housing 21 and the rear end side housing 22, the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the additional unit 4 are firmly and elastically joined and are securely electrically connected. In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the electronic pen main body unit 3 is housed in the electronic pen outer housing 2 in a state where it cannot rotate in the axial direction by using the D-cut shape portion of the second contact 312 of the terminal portion 31 with respect to the pen tip side housing 21. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to prevent uneven wear of the core 5 in the electronic pen 1.

[0096] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the D-cut shape portion of the second contact 312 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 is used to store it in the electronic pen outer casing 2 so that it cannot rotate, and the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side casing 21 can be positioned directly above the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3.

[0097] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the configuration for this purpose is simply to make the shape of the second contact of the terminal portion of the electronic pen a D-cut shape and to make the opening 22b on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing portion 21 a corresponding D-cut shape, which can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0098] [Modifications] <<Example 1>> In the electronic pen 1 of the above-described embodiment, the second contact 312 of the terminal portion 31 of the electronic pen main body unit 3 has a D-cut portion, and the shape of the opening 21b on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21 is configured to match the D-cut portion of the second contact 312, making the electronic pen main body unit 3 unrotatable relative to the pen tip side housing 21 and allowing for alignment of the side switch. However, the configuration for making the electronic pen main body unit 3 unrotatable relative to the pen tip side housing 21 and for aligning the side switch is not limited to the configuration using a D-cut shape.

[0099] Figure 8 shows an example of such a modified example, and shows parts corresponding to the components of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and pen tip side housing unit 21 of the above-mentioned embodiment. Parts with the same configuration are given the same reference numerals, and parts that differ are shown with the same reference numerals plus the suffix A.

[0100] That is, in the example shown in Figure 8, the terminal portion 31A on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3A is equipped with a ring-shaped second contact 312A that does not have a D-cut shaped portion 312D, instead of the ring-shaped second contact 312 having a D-cut shaped portion 312D, and a protrusion (or convex portion) 315 that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body unit housing 3KA is provided integrally with this ring-shaped second contact 312A (or it may be separate from the second contact 312A) at a position closer to the pen tip than the second contact 312A, and at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the main body unit housing 3K.

[0101] 8, the pen tip side housing 21A has a groove 21f (or a recess into which a protrusion fits) on the inner wall surface of the opening 21b at the rear end thereof, into which the protrusion 315 on the electronic pen main body unit 3A fits. The electronic pen main body unit 3A is then inserted into the pen tip side housing 21A, and the protrusion 315 on the electronic pen main body unit 3A fits into the groove 21f on the pen tip side housing 21A, thereby joining the two together. The electronic pen main body unit 3A is thereby housed and locked in the pen tip side housing 21A in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the pen tip side housing 21A.

[0102] In this case, the positions at which the protrusion 315 on the electronic pen main body unit 3A and the recessed groove 21f on the pen tip side housing 21A are formed are such that the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3A and the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21A are aligned, as shown in Fig. 8. That is, in the example of Fig. 8, the engagement of the protrusion 315 on the electronic pen main body unit 3A with the recessed groove 21f on the pen tip side housing 21A causes the electronic pen main body unit 3A to be housed within the pen tip side housing 21A in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the pen tip side housing 21A, and also aligns the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3A with the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21A.

[0103] 8, the protrusions 315 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body unit housing 3K of the electronic pen main body unit 3, and the recessed grooves 21f are formed on the inner wall surface of the pen tip side housing 21, but convex portions may be provided instead of the protrusions, and concave portions may be provided instead of the concave grooves. Also, protrusions (or convex portions) may be provided on the inner wall surface of the pen tip side housing 21A, and concave grooves (or concave portions into which the convex portions fit) may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body unit housing 3K of the electronic pen main body unit 3A.

[0104] <<Example 2>> In the electronic pen 1 of the above-described embodiment, the electronic pen main body unit 3 is configured to be non-rotatable relative to the pen tip side housing 21 in order to prevent the electronic pen main body unit 3 from rotating relative to the electronic pen outer housing 2. However, the electronic pen main body unit 3 can also be made non-rotatable relative to the electronic pen outer housing 2 by making the electronic pen main body unit 3 non-rotatable relative to the rear end side housing 22.

[0105] 9 shows an example of such a configuration, with parts corresponding to those of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the pen tip side housing 21 of the above-described embodiment, with the same reference numerals used for parts with the same configuration and the same reference numerals used for parts that differ with the suffix B. Fig. 9(A) shows the terminal portion 31B on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3B, which is a main part of this example, and the connector holder 43B of the add-on unit 4, Fig. 9(B) shows the electronic pen main body unit 3B, the add-on unit 4B, and the rear end side housing 22B, and Fig. 9(C) shows an example of the configuration of the terminal portion 31B on the end face of the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3B of this example, as viewed from the axial direction.

[0106] 9, in the terminal portion 31B on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3B, the first contact 311B and the second contact 312B are formed side by side on the circular end face 31Ba on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3B, as shown in FIG. 9C. In this example, the first contact 311B is provided at the center position of the circular end face 31Ba on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3B.

[0107] Although not shown, the voltage terminal and ground terminal of the USB connector 42 on the additional unit 4B side are configured as two pogo pins arranged side by side so as to be electrically connected to the first contact 311B and the second contact 312B of this terminal portion 31B. In this case, the pogo pin to which the voltage terminal of the USB connector 42 is connected is arranged so as to be connected to the first contact 311B provided at the center of the circular end face 31Ba on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3B, and the pogo pin to which the ground terminal of the USB connector 42 is connected is arranged side by side so as to be connected to the second contact 312B.

[0108] 9A, a protrusion 316 (or a convex portion) is provided at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the portion of the electronic pen main unit 3A that is inserted into the connection fitting portion 432B of the connector holder 43B of the add-on unit 4B. Also, a recess 432e (or a recess into which the convex portion fits) into which the protrusion 316 (or the convex portion) of the electronic pen main unit 3A fits is provided on the inner wall surface of the connection fitting portion 432B of the connector holder 43B of the add-on unit 4B.

[0109] In this case, the angular position in the circumferential direction forming the protrusion 316 on the electronic pen main body unit 3A side and the recessed groove 432e of the connection fitting portion 432B of the connector holder 43B is configured so that the first contact 311B and the second contact 312B of the terminal portion 31B of the electronic pen main body unit 3A are electrically connected to the two pogo pins to which the voltage terminal and earth terminal of the USB connector 42 on the additional unit 4B side are connected.

[0110] 9B, the rear end portion of the electronic pen main unit 3B, on which the terminal portion 31B is formed, is inserted into the connection fitting portion 432 of the connector holder 43 housed in the additional unit housing 41 of the add-on unit 4, and the two are coupled together by fitting the protrusion 316 on the electronic pen main unit 3B into the recessed groove 432e of the connection fitting portion 432B of the connector holder 43B. This electrically connects the first contact 311B and the second contact 312B of the terminal portion 31B of the electronic pen main unit 3A to the two pogo pins connected to the voltage terminal and ground terminal of the USB connector 42 on the add-on unit 4B, and the electronic pen main unit 3B is coupled to the add-on unit housing 41 in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the add-on unit housing 41.

[0111] As described above, the additional unit housing 41 is housed in the rear housing 22B in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the rear housing 22B. Therefore, the electronic pen main body unit 3B is locked to the rear housing 22B in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the rear housing 22B.

[0112] By screwing the rear end side housing part 22B, to which the electronic pen main body unit 3B is engaged, into the pen tip side housing part 21B, the electronic pen main body unit 3B can be made non-rotatable relative to the electronic pen outer housing 2B.

[0113] 9, with the above configuration, the electronic pen body unit 3B is engaged with the rear end housing 22B, and the circumferential positional relationship between the electronic pen body unit 3B and the pen tip housing 21B is not a specific one. Therefore, it is not possible to align the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen body unit 3B with the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip housing 21B in this state.

[0114] 10, one or more, in this example, three, convex portions 21g, 21h, and 21i (convex portion 21i is not shown) are provided at the base on the pen tip side of threaded portion 21c of pen tip side housing portion 21B, and concave portions 22f, 22g, and 22h that fit into convex portions 21g, 21h, and 21i are provided at the tip of threaded portion 22c of rear end side housing portion 22B. In this case, the circumferential positions of the multiple convex portions and the corresponding concave portions are not at equal angular intervals, and for example, the positions of the three convex portions 21g, 21h, and 21i and concave portions 22f, 22g, and 22h are such that the shape connected between them does not form an equilateral triangle.

[0115] In this configuration, when the rear-end housing 22B, to which the electronic pen main body unit 3B is locked as described above, is screwed into the pen tip side housing 21, the convex portions 21g, 21h, and 21i engage with the concave portions 22f, 22g, and 22h in the final stage of screwing, the screwing stops, and the electronic pen 1B is locked in this state to form the electronic pen 1B. This electronic pen 1B is aligned so that the side switch operation portion 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21B is located directly above the switch drive operation portion 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3B.

[0116] Furthermore, due to this alignment, the longitudinal direction of the elongated opening 22b through which the terminal of the USB connector 42 on the rear end side of the rear end side housing part 22B is exposed is in a specific positional relationship with the side switch operation part 21SW, for example, when the side switch operation part 21SW of the pen tip side housing part 21B is facing directly upwards, it is facing directly to the side.

[0117] <<Example 3>> In the example of Fig. 9, the terminal portion 31B of the electronic pen main body unit 3B has the first contact 311B and the second contact 312B formed side by side on the circular end face 31Ba, as shown in Fig. 9(C) . Therefore, the protrusion 316 (or convex portion) formed on the rear end portion of the electronic pen main body unit 3B and the recessed groove 432e of the connection fitting portion 432B of the connector holder 43 had to be arranged in consideration of the alignment of the first and second contacts 311B and 312B of the terminal portion 31B with the two pogo pins connected to the terminal of the connector 42 on the additional unit 4B side.

[0118] However, by configuring the terminal portion at the rear end of the electronic pen main body unit as in the example of Fig. 11, it is possible to configure it so that there is no need to consider alignment of the contact points. Note that in this example as well, parts that correspond to the components of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the additional unit 4 and have the same configuration are given the same reference numerals, and parts that differ are described using the same reference numerals with the suffix C added.

[0119] In this example of the electronic pen main body unit 3C, the terminal portion 31C at the rear end has a first contact 311C formed at the center position of the circular end face 31Ca at the rear end, as shown in Figure 11, and also has a second contact 312C formed in the shape of an electrically isolated ring concentric with the first contact 311C.

[0120] On the other hand, the two pogo pins of the USB connector 42 disposed in the connector holder 43 are arranged side by side in the same manner as in the case of the electronic pen main body unit 3B shown in Fig. 9. In this case, the pogo pin to which the voltage terminal of the USB connector 42 is connected is arranged so as to be connected to the first contact 311C provided at the center of the circular end face 31Ca on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3C, and the pogo pin to which the earth terminal of the USB connector 42 is connected is arranged side by side so as to be connected to the ring-shaped second contact 312C.

[0121] 11 , there is no need to consider the alignment of the two contacts of the electronic pen body unit 3C with the two pogo pins of the USB connector 42 provided in the connector holder 43.

[0122] The example of FIG. 11 can also be applied to the terminal portions 31 and 31B of the electronic pen main body units 3, 3A and 3B described above.

[0123] <<Example 4>> The connection of the rear-end housing part 22 to the pen tip-side housing part 21 is not limited to the screw-type connection as in the above example. For example, one of the pen tip-side housing part 21 and the rear-end-side housing part 22 can be inserted into the other, and the two can be locked and fixed at the insertion point using a predetermined locking and fixing means.

[0124] 12 shows an example in which the connection between the pen tip side housing 21 and the rear end side housing 22 is configured in this way in the electronic pen 1 of the above-described embodiment. Note that in this example, parts that correspond to the respective components of the electronic pen 1 described above and have the same configuration are given the same reference numerals, and different parts are described using the same reference numerals with the suffix D.

[0125] Fig. 12(A) shows the pen tip side housing 21D, in which the electronic pen main body unit 3 is housed and locked, and the rear end side housing 22D, in which the additional unit 4 is housed, aligned in the axial direction of the electronic pen 1D of this example. Fig. 12(B) is a view of the pen tip side housing 21D, in which the electronic pen main body unit 3 is housed and locked, viewed from the circular end face of the first electrode 311 of the terminal portion 31, in a direction perpendicular to the circular end face. Fig. 12(C) is a view of the rear end side housing 22D, in which the additional unit 4 is housed, viewed in the axial direction from the pen tip side opening 22Da. Note that the internal additional unit 4 is not shown in Fig. 12(C).

[0126] Fig. 12(D) shows the electronic pen 1D in a state where the pen tip side housing part 21D and the rear end side housing part 22D of Fig. 12(A) are joined together, and Fig. 12(E) shows the electronic pen 1D of Fig. 12(D) in a state where it is rotated 180 degrees around the axial direction.

[0127] 12(A) and 12(B), a protrusion 21k (or a convex portion) is formed at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction on small-diameter portion 21j, which has a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of rear-end housing portion 22D, at the rear end side of pen tip side housing portion 21D. Meanwhile, a recessed groove 22i (or a recess that fits into the convex portion) is formed at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction on the inner wall surface on the pen tip side opening 22Da side of rear-end housing portion 22D, as shown in FIGS.

[0128] In this case, the protrusion 21k of the pen tip side housing portion 21D and the recessed groove 22i of the rear end side housing portion 22D are determined so that the direction of the long hole 22d on the rear end side of the rear end side housing portion 22D can be aligned with the position of the side switch operating portion 21SW of the pen tip side housing portion 21D, as described in the example of Figure 10.

[0129] Then, with the protrusion 21k of the pen tip side housing part 21D and the recessed groove 22i of the rear end side housing part 22D aligned, the rear end side housing part 22D is pushed into the small diameter part 21Dj of the pen tip side housing part 21D, whereby the rear end side housing part 22D is joined to the pen tip side housing part 21D and locked in this joined state, as shown in Figure 12 (D).

[0130] In this example, a locking and fixing means is used to fix the rear-end side housing portion 22D in a coupled state to the pen tip side housing portion 21D, and in this example, the locking and fixing means is a screw (machine screw) 23. That is, as shown in Fig. 12(E) , a threaded hole 22j for the screw 23 is provided in the rear-end side housing portion 22D at a position that will cover the small diameter portion 21j of the pen tip side housing portion 21D when the rear-end side housing portion 22D is coupled to the pen tip side housing portion 21D, and the screw 23 is screwed through this threaded hole 22j, and the tip of the screw 23 abuts against the small diameter portion 21j of the pen tip side housing portion 21D, thereby locking and fixing the rear-end side housing portion 22D to the pen tip side housing portion 21D.

[0131] In the above example, a protrusion (or convex portion) is provided on the pen tip side housing portion 21D side, and a concave groove (or a concave portion into which the convex portion fits) is provided on the rear end side housing portion 22D side, but conversely, a protrusion (or convex portion) may be provided on the rear end side housing portion 22D side, and a concave groove (or a concave portion into which the convex portion fits) may be provided on the pen tip side housing portion 21D side.

[0132] Furthermore, the locking and fixing means is not limited to the use of the screw 23 as in the above example. For example, as shown in Fig. 13, a ring-shaped protrusion 21m may be provided on the small diameter portion 21j of the tip side housing 21D, and a ring-shaped recess 22k may be provided on the inner wall surface of the rear end side housing 22D. In this way, when the rear end side housing 22D is connected to the tip side housing 21D, the ring-shaped protrusion 21m of the small diameter portion 21j of the tip side housing 21D fits into the ring-shaped recess 22k on the inner wall surface of the rear end side housing 22D, thereby locking and fixing the connection between the tip side housing 21D and the rear end side housing 22D.

[0133] 14 may be configured so that one of the pen tip side housing portion 21 and the rear end side housing portion 22 is inserted into the other and the two are locked and fixed at the insertion portion by a predetermined locking and fixing means. In this example, parts that correspond to the respective components of the electronic pen 1 described above and have the same configuration are given the same reference numerals, and parts that differ are described using the same reference numerals with a suffix E.

[0134] Fig. 14A shows the electronic pen 1E of this example, with the pen tip side housing 21E in which the electronic pen main body unit 3 is housed and locked, and the rear end side housing 22E in which the additional unit 4 is housed, lined up in the axial direction. Fig. 14B shows the electronic pen 1E in a state in which the pen tip side housing 21E and the rear end side housing 22E of Fig. 14A are joined together.

[0135] 14A, the small-diameter portion 21Ej at the rear end of the pen tip side housing 21E in this example is thin-walled. At a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction of the small-diameter portion 21Ej, a U-shaped cutout 21n is formed in the thin-walled small-diameter portion 21Ej, thereby forming an elastic piece 21p whose longitudinal direction is the axial direction of the pen tip side housing 21E. The elastic piece 21p is elastically displaceable in a direction intersecting the axial direction.

[0136] At the tip position of the U-shaped cutout portion 21n in the longitudinal direction of this elastic piece 21p, on the U-shaped bent portion side, there is provided a convex portion 21q that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 21Ej, as shown in Figure 14 (A).

[0137] The rear-end housing 22E has a through-hole 22m at a position corresponding to the protrusion 21q of the elastic piece 21p when the opening 22a of the rear-end housing 22E is axially coupled to the pen tip housing 21E so as to cover the small-diameter portion 21Ej. In this case, the positions of the elastic piece 21p and the through-hole 22m are determined so that the direction of the elongated hole 22d on the rear end of the rear-end housing 22D can be aligned with the position of the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip housing 21D, as in the example of Fig. 12 .

[0138] By pushing the rear end housing portion 22E into the small diameter portion 21Ej of the tip side housing portion 21D configured as described above, the rear end side housing portion 22E is coupled to the tip side housing portion 21E, as shown in Fig. 14(B) . In this state, the elastic piece 21p of the small diameter portion 21Ej of the tip side housing portion 21E is elastically displaced toward the hollow portion of the tip side housing portion 21E by the amount of the protrusion 21q.

[0139] In this example, in this coupled state, when the rear-end housing portion 22E is rotated axially relative to the tip-side housing portion 21E so that the through-hole 22m of the rear-end housing portion 22E is positioned at the position of the convex portion 21q of the elastic piece 21p of the small-diameter portion 21Ej of the tip-side housing portion 21E, the elastic piece 21p of the small-diameter portion 21Ej of the tip-side housing portion 21E is elastically displaced in a direction intersecting the axial direction so as to insert the convex portion 21q into the through-hole 22m of the rear-end housing portion 22E. As a result, the convex portion 21q of the elastic piece 21p of the small-diameter portion 21Ej of the tip-side housing portion 21E is fitted into the through-hole 22m of the rear-end housing portion 22E, and the rear-end housing portion 22D is locked and fixed to the tip-side housing portion 21D.

[0140] From this locked and fixed state, by rotating the rear end side housing part 22E relative to the pen tip side housing part 21E around the axial direction as the center of rotation, the engagement between the convex part 21q of the elastic piece 21p of the small diameter part 21Ej of the pen tip side housing part 21E and the through hole 22m of the rear end side housing part 22E can be released, and the pen tip side housing part 21E and the rear end side housing part 22E can be easily separated.

[0141] The small diameter portion 21Ej may have one U-shaped cutout 21n and one or more elastic pieces 21p, but these U-shaped cutouts 21n and elastic pieces 21p may not be equiangularly spaced.

[0142] 14 is not limited to the case of an electronic pen 1 in which the electronic pen main body unit 3 is non-rotatably housed in the pen tip side housing 21, but can also be applied to the case in which the rear end side housing 22B in which the electronic pen main body unit 3B described with reference to Fig. 9 is non-rotatably housed is coupled to the pen tip side housing 21B. In that case, the positions of the elastic piece 21p and the through hole 22m are determined not only to take into consideration the alignment of the direction of the elongated hole 22d on the rear end side of the rear end side housing 22D with the position of the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21D, but also so that the side switch operation unit 21SW of the pen tip side housing 21B can be aligned directly above the switch drive operation unit 32 of the electronic pen main body unit 3B.

[0143] [Other Embodiments] In the electronic pen 1 described above, the rechargeable secondary battery 36 is provided in the electronic pen main unit 3. However, the secondary battery may be provided, for example, in the add-on unit rather than in the electronic pen main unit. In this case, the charging circuit for the secondary battery may be provided in the electronic pen main unit or in the add-on unit.

[0144] If the charging circuit is provided on the add-on unit side, the number of contacts for connection between the electronic pen main unit and the add-on unit may be two, as in the above example, but if the charging circuit is provided on the electronic pen main unit side, a charging contact is required, making three contacts necessary.

[0145] The electrical configuration of the electronic pen main body unit 3E and the add-on unit 4E configured in this manner is as shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 15 differs from the electrical configuration of the electronic pen main body unit 3 and the add-on unit 4 shown in Fig. 7 in that a secondary battery 46 is provided within the add-on unit 4E, three contacts 311E, 312E, and 315E are provided on the electronic pen main body unit 3E side, and three contacts 422E, 423E, and 424E are provided on the add-on unit 4E side.

[0146] 15, in the additional unit 4E, the contact 422E is connected to the power receiving terminal of the charging voltage of the USB connector 42, and the contact 423E is connected to the ground terminal of the USB connector 42. Furthermore, the contact 424E is connected to the positive terminal of the secondary battery 46 provided in the additional unit 4E. The negative terminal of the secondary battery 46 is connected to the contact 423E.

[0147] In the electronic pen main body unit 3E, the contact 311E, which is connected to the contact 422E, is connected to the input terminal of the charging circuit 361. The output terminal of this charging circuit 361 is connected to the input terminal of the power supply voltage generating circuit 362, and is also connected to the positive terminal of the secondary battery 46 provided in the additional unit 4E via the contacts 315E and 424E.

[0148] The charging circuit 361 supplies a charging current based on a charging voltage input from the USB connector 42 via the contact 422E and the contact 311E to the secondary battery 46 via the contact 311E and the contact 424E, thereby charging the secondary battery 46.

[0149] The power supply voltage generating circuit 362 receives the voltage of the secondary battery 46 of the additional unit 4E through contacts 424E and 315E, and generates a power supply voltage +B. The generated power supply voltage +B is supplied to a signal transmitting circuit 363, a signal receiving circuit 364, and a control circuit 365. The other configurations are the same as those of the circuit example in FIG.

[0150] In this case, an example of the configuration of the three contacts 311E, 312E, and 315E on the electronic pen main body unit 3E side and an example of the configuration of the three contacts 422E, 423E, and 424E on the add-on unit 4E side will be described with reference to Fig. 16. Fig. 16 shows three example configurations.

[0151] 16A, three contacts 311E, 312E, and 315E are arranged side by side on a circular end surface 31Ea at the rear end of the electronic pen main body unit 3E. In this case, contact 311E is formed at the center of the circular end surface 31Ea, and contacts 312E and 315E are formed on either side of contact 311E. In this example, contact 312E corresponds to the second contact 312 of the terminal portion 31 in the above-described embodiment and has a D-cut portion 312ED.

[0152] 16A, the three contacts 422E, 423E, and 424E on the add-on unit 4E are arranged side by side in a corresponding manner. In this example, when the electronic pen main body unit 3E and the add-on unit 4E are coupled, they must be aligned so that the corresponding contacts are connected, as in the above example.

[0153] 16B, three contacts 311E, 312E, and 315E are formed concentrically on a circular end face 31Ea on the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit 3 E. In this case, contact 311E is formed at the center of the circular end face 31Ea, with a ring-shaped contact 312E formed outside of that, and contact 315E formed further outside of that.

[0154] 16(B), the three contacts 422E, 423E, and 424E on the additional unit 4E side are provided at positions where they can be connected to the center electrode 311E and the ring-shaped contacts 312E and 315E, respectively. In this example, when the electronic pen main body unit 3E and the additional unit 4E are coupled, no alignment is required to connect the corresponding contacts to each other.

[0155] 16B, contacts 311E and 315E are concentrically formed on a circular end surface 31Ea on the rear end side of the electronic pen body unit 3E. Similarly to the second contact 312 of the terminal portion 31 of the electronic pen body unit 3, the contact 312E is configured as a flange-shaped ring contact that protrudes beyond the outer periphery of the electronic pen body unit 3E.

[0156] 16(C), of the three contacts 422E, 423E, and 424E on the additional unit 4E side, contacts 422E and 424E are provided in positions that allow connection with center electrode 311E and ring-shaped contact 315E, respectively. Contact 423E is configured as a conductive coil to connect with contact 312E, which is a flange-shaped ring contact. Contacts 422E and 424E are configured to be disposed within the conductive coil of contact 423E. In this example, when connecting the electronic pen main body unit 3E and the additional unit 4E, alignment for connecting the corresponding contacts is not required.

[0157] The configuration of the electrical connection between the electronic pen main body unit and the additional unit is not limited to the configuration in which electrical connection is made by pressing multiple contact pins (pogo pins) against the terminal surface as in the example described above, and various other configurations are possible.

[0158] 17 is a diagram showing another example of the electrical connection between the electronic pen main body unit and the add-on unit. In this example, a connector plug 31P is provided at the rear end of the electronic pen main body unit 3F. The add-on unit 4F in this example is provided with a connector jack 47J into which the connector plug 31P is fitted.

[0159] 17A to 17C are diagrams illustrating a first configuration example of the connector plug 31P of the electronic pen main body unit 3F and the connector jack 47J of the add-on unit 4F, and Fig. 17D is a diagram illustrating a second configuration example. In the examples of Fig. 17, each has three contacts.

[0160] As shown in Fig. 17(A), the connector plug 31P of the first configuration example is provided as a terminal portion 31F of the electronic pen main body unit 3F, and the connector jack 47J of the first configuration example is provided at a fitting portion of the additional unit 4F with the terminal portion 31F of the electronic pen main body unit 3F, as shown in Fig. 17(B). Fig. 17(C) is a diagram for explaining the electrical connection relationship between the connector plug 31P of the first configuration example and the connector jack 47J.

[0161] The connector plug 31P of the electronic pen body unit 3F is electrically connected to an electronic circuit formed on the circuit board 35 of the electronic pen body unit 3P and includes a plurality of terminals that are insulated from one another, three contacts 311F, 312F, and 315F in this example. The three contacts 311F, 312F, and 315F correspond to the three contacts 311E, 312E, and 315E of the electronic pen body unit 3E described above, respectively.

[0162] The three contacts 311F, 312F, and 315F of the connector plug 31P of the electronic pen main body unit 3P according to the first configuration example are configured as follows: In this example, the contact 311F is configured from a conductive metal that forms a central shaft. The connector plug 31P is configured in this example by combining cylindrical contacts 312F and 315F, each with an insulating layer formed on its inner wall surface, concentrically around the rod-shaped conductive metal of the contact 311F.

[0163] 17A, the conductive metal contact 311F constituting the central mandrel is the axial tip, and its annular circumferential surface and tip are exposed for a predetermined length in the axial direction, while the cylindrical contacts 312F, 315F each have their annular circumferential surface exposed for a predetermined length in the axial direction. That is, the three contacts 311F, 312F, 315F of the connector plug 31P have annular conductor contact portions exposed at different positions in the axial direction. Although the contact 311F is cylindrical, its annular circumferential side surface and tip form the conductor contact portion.

[0164] 17(B), the connector jack 47J of the additional unit 4F has a recess into which the connector plug 31P is inserted, and the recess is provided with three contacts 47J1, 47J2, 47J3 that elastically contact the three contacts 311F, 312F, 315F of the connector plug 31P, as shown in Fig. 17(C). The three contacts 47J1, 47J2, 47J3 are made of conductive elastic metal, and the three contacts 47J1, 47J2, 47J3 of the additional unit 4F correspond to the three contacts 422E, 423E, 424E of the additional unit 4E, respectively, and are connected to an electronic circuit disposed on the circuit board 421 of the additional unit 4F.

[0165] When the connector plug 31P of the electronic pen main body unit 3P is inserted into the connector jack 47J of the add-on unit 4F, as shown in Fig. 17(C), the three contacts 311F, 312F, and 315F of the connector plug 31P are elastically connected to the three contacts 47J1, 47J2, and 47J3 provided on the connector jack 47J, respectively. This forms an electronic circuit similar to the electronic circuit shown in Fig. 15, whereby a power supply voltage is supplied from the secondary battery 46 of the add-on unit 4F to the electronic pen main body unit 3F and the secondary battery 46 is rechargeable.

[0166] 17(D), the three contacts 311F', 312F', and 315F' of the connector plug 31P are configured as follows: The connector plug 31P in this example has a configuration similar to that of, for example, an audio pin plug, and in this example, the three contacts 311F', 312F', and 315F' have annular conductor contact portions of the same diameter exposed at different positions in the axial direction.

[0167] That is, of the three contacts 311F', 312F', and 315F', the tip contact 311F' is a tip contact, and the two intermediate contacts 312F' and 315F' are annular terminals insulated from the other contacts by insulating rings 311S, 312S, and 315S, respectively.

[0168] The configuration of the connector jack of the additional unit 4F that is connected to the connector plug 31P of the electronic pen main body unit 3P in this second configuration example is well known, so it will not be shown in the illustration, but similar to the first configuration example described above, it is configured to have three contacts that come into contact with each of the circular conductor contact portions of the three contacts 311F', 312F', and 315F' to form an electrical connection.

[0169] As described above, in the example shown in Figure 17, the connector plug 31P provided on the electronic pen main body unit 3P is inserted into and engaged with the connector jack 47J provided on the additional unit 4F, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the electronic pen main body unit 3F and the additional unit 4F, similar to the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0170] 17, the conductor contact portions of the annular contacts of the connector plug 31P are connected to the conductor contact portions of the contacts of the connector jack 47J, so that even if the electronic pen main body unit 3P rotates about its axial centerline, electrical connection is always maintained, thereby preventing electrical non-contact. In other words, when connecting the electronic pen main body unit 3P and the add-on unit 4F, no positioning members are required for aligning the connection between the multiple contacts.

[0171] In the example of Figure 17, a connector plug is provided on the electronic pen main body unit 3P and a connector jack is provided on the add-on unit 4F side, but the opposite configuration may also be used, where a connector jack is provided on the electronic pen main body unit 3P and a connector plug is provided on the add-on unit 4F side.

[0172] Other Embodiments and Modifications In the embodiment in which the battery is provided on the additional unit side, a primary battery may be used as the power source instead of a secondary battery.

[0173] In the above-described embodiment, the electronic pen main body unit of the electronic pen is configured as an active capacitance type electronic pen, but it goes without saying that it can also be configured as an electromagnetic induction type electronic pen.

[0174] 1...electronic pen, 2...electronic pen housing, 3...electronic pen main body unit, 4...additional unit, 5...core body, 6...pen pressure detection unit, 21...pen tip side housing unit, 22...rear end side housing unit 22SW...side switch operation unit, 31...terminal unit, 32...switch drive operation unit, 33, 34...side switch, 35...circuit board, 36, 46...secondary battery, 41...additional unit housing, 42...USB connector, 43...connector holder

Claims

1. A pen device comprising a first housing part and a second housing part which are joined in the axial direction to form an electronic pen casing; an electronic pen body unit which has the function of signal interaction with a position detection sensor and has a columnar shape which can be stored in the electronic pen outer casing, and has a core body which can be attached to one end side in the axial direction; and an additional unit which is arranged on the opposite side of the electronic pen body unit to the core body side in the axial direction and is electrically connected to the electronic pen body unit, wherein the electronic pen body unit has a first electrical terminal part on the opposite side to the side where the core body is attached, and the additional unit has a columnar shape which can be stored in the electronic pen outer casing, and has a second terminal part at one end side in the axial direction which is electrically connected to the first terminal part of the electronic pen body unit, An electronic pen characterized in that, within the electronic pen outer casing, the electronic pen main body unit and the additional unit are arranged side by side in the axial direction with the additional unit at the rear end side, the electronic pen main body unit and the additional unit are immovable in the axial direction, the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are electrically connected, and at least the electronic pen main body unit is immovable relative to the electronic pen outer casing around the axial direction.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit and the additional unit are in a state in which they cannot rotate around the axial direction relative to the electronic pen outer casing within the electronic pen outer casing.

3. The electronic pen described in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has a rotation prevention portion for preventing rotation around the axial direction, and the first housing portion has an engagement portion for engaging with the rotation prevention portion of the electronic pen main body unit.

4. The electronic pen described in claim 1, characterized in that, when the first housing part and the second housing part are in a combined state, they are unable to rotate relative to each other, the electronic pen main body unit has a rotation prevention part for preventing rotation around the axial direction, and the first housing part or the second housing part has an engagement part that engages with the rotation prevention part of the electronic pen main body unit.

5. The electronic pen described in claim 2, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has a rotation prevention portion for preventing rotation around the axial direction, and the additional unit has an engagement portion that engages with the rotation prevention portion and is connected to the electronic pen main body unit in the axial direction.

6. An electronic pen according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the rotation prevention portion has a D-cut shape.

7. An electronic pen according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the rotation inhibiting portion is a convex portion or a concave portion, and the engaging portion is a concave portion and a convex portion that engages with the convex portion or the concave portion.

8. The electronic pen described in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit is provided with a switch unit, located in the middle of the axial direction, that is turned on and off by a pressing force in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the first housing unit is provided with a pen tip side opening that allows the tip of the core body to protrude to the outside, and is provided with a switch operation unit, located in the middle of the axial direction corresponding to the switch unit of the electronic pen main body unit that is in a state where rotation about the axial direction is not possible, for pressing down the switch unit.

9. The electronic pen described in claim 8, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has a rotation prevention portion for preventing rotation around the axial direction, and the first housing portion has an engagement portion that engages with the rotation prevention portion of the electronic pen main body unit, and the switch portion of the electronic pen main body unit and the switch operation portion of the first housing portion are aligned by the engagement of the rotation prevention portion with the engagement portion.

10. The electronic pen described in claim 8, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has a rotation prevention portion for preventing rotation around the axial direction, and the second housing portion has an engagement portion that engages with the rotation prevention portion of the electronic pen main body unit, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are joined in a state in which relative rotation between them is not possible, and one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion is formed with a convex portion or a concave portion, and the other is formed with the other of the convex portion or the concave portion, and in the joined state, the concave portion fits into the convex portion, thereby aligning the switch portion of the electronic pen main body unit and the switch operation portion of the first housing portion.

11. The electronic pen described in claim 8, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has a rotation prevention portion for preventing rotation around the axial direction, the additional unit is connected to the electronic pen main body unit in the axial direction and has an engagement portion that engages with the rotation prevention portion, and is arranged within the second housing portion in a state in which rotation around the axial direction is impossible, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are connected in a state in which relative rotation between them is impossible, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion is formed with a convex portion or a concave portion, and the other is formed with the other of the convex portion or the concave portion, and in the connected state, the concave portion fits into the convex portion, thereby aligning the switch portion of the electronic pen main body unit and the switch operation portion of the first housing portion.

12. The electronic pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the first housing part and the second housing part are joined by being screwed together.

13. The electronic pen described in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has the first terminal portion on a first end face opposite the side to which the core body is attached in the axial direction, and the additional unit has the second terminal portion on a second end face on one end side in the axial direction, and within the electronic pen outer casing, the electronic pen main body unit and the additional unit are arranged side by side in the axial direction with the first end face on which the first terminal portion is arranged facing the second end face on which the second terminal portion is arranged, and at least one of the first terminal portion on the first end face and the second terminal portion on the second end face is configured to be elastically displaceable in the axial direction.

14. The electronic pen according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one of the first terminal portion on the first end surface and the second terminal portion on the second end surface is configured to include a pogo pin (contact probe) that is elastically displaceable in the axial direction.

15. The electronic pen described in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit is provided with a rechargeable secondary battery as a power source, and the additional unit is provided with a charging terminal portion for the secondary battery that can be exposed to the outside through the second housing portion.

16. The electronic pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional unit is provided with a rechargeable secondary battery as a power source and is provided with a charging terminal portion that can be exposed to the outside through the second housing portion.

17. The electronic pen described in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit and the add-on unit are configured such that one of the electronic pen main body unit and the add-on unit is inserted into a recess provided in the other in the axial direction, and the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are engaged in an electrically connected state.

18. The electronic pen according to claim 6, characterized in that the D-cut portion of the rotation preventing portion has a ring-like shape that protrudes from the side surface of the columnar housing of the electronic pen main body unit.

19. The electronic pen according to claim 18, characterized in that the D-cut portion constitutes one of the contact points of the first terminal portion.

20. The electronic pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has an electromagnetic induction function.

21. The electronic pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic pen main body unit has an active capacitance function.

22. The electronic pen described in claim 1, characterized in that the first terminal portion of the electronic pen main body unit is configured as a first connector plug or a first connector jack, and the second terminal portion of the additional unit is configured as a second connector jack or a second connector plug that fits with the first connector plug or the first connector jack of the first terminal portion of the electronic pen main body unit.

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