Electronic pen

Abstract

Provided is an electronic pen having a structure with an easily removable battery portion.　An electronic pen according to the present invention comprises: a housing configured by coupling a first housing portion on a pen tip side and a second housing portion on a rear end side on the side opposite to the pen tip side in the axial direction, and capable of releasing a coupling state between the first housing portion and the second housing portion; an electronic pen body including a pen tip side component disposed in a hollow of the housing on the pen tip side; and a power supply unit including a rechargeable battery disposed in the hollow of the housing on the rear end side. In the hollow of the housing, the pen tip side component of the electronic pen body and the power supply unit are arranged in the axial direction, and a circuit part of the electronic pen body and the power supply unit are electrically connected. The electronic pen is configured to allow the battery of the power supply unit to be taken out to the outside of the housing by releasing the coupling state of the housing between the first housing portion on the pen tip side and the second housing portion on the rear end side.

Description

Electronic pen

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic pen having a function for performing signal interaction with a position detection sensor, and in particular to an electronic pen having a battery-powered power supply.

[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, as well as a power supply unit that supplies power supply voltage to the signal transmission circuit. Electromagnetic induction type electronic pens also include a circuit that generates digital information, such as writing pressure information and identification information, when transmitting the information as digital information to an electronic device equipped with a position detection sensor, as well as a power supply unit that supplies power supply voltage to the circuit.

[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 a power supply part equipped with a battery, and these are stored in a columnar storage space in the hollow part inside the electronic pen housing.

[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 or unitized and the modularized or unitized components are stored in a columnar storage space in a hollow portion of the housing of the electronic pen. 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 the power supply unit are electrically connected and configured as a single modularized or unitized component.

[0005] Batteries used in the power supply unit include primary batteries and rechargeable secondary batteries, and an electronic pen that allows the primary battery to be replaced with a secondary battery is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 3 (WO2023 / 248507 A1). The electronic pen described in Patent Document 3 has a housing that is divided in two along the axis into a first housing portion on the pen tip side and a second housing portion on the rear end side, and the functional portion of the electronic pen main body and the power supply unit are each configured as a unit.

[0006] In the electronic pen of Patent Document 3, a power supply unit including a primary battery and a power supply unit including a secondary battery are provided as unitized power supplies (power supply units). The rear end side of the unitized electronic pen body in the axial direction is inserted into a fitting recess on the pen tip side in the axial direction of the power supply unit, and is coupled to be electrically connected, and the power supply unit is configured to be replaceable with either the power supply unit including a primary battery or the power supply unit including a secondary battery.

[0007] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for slim electronic pens. However, standardized batteries such as AA (commonly known in the United States) and AAA (commonly known in the United States) are relatively large, and even the slimmest AAA (commonly known in the United States) has a diameter of 8.3 mm, making it unsuitable for slim electronic pens. Also available as slim batteries are pin-type lithium-ion batteries, but even the slimmest of these, the Panasonic CG-320B pin-type lithium-ion battery, has a diameter of 3.5 mm, making it difficult to use in slim electronic pens.

[0008] On the other hand, element-type batteries come in a wide variety of sizes. However, due to the difficulty of handling element-type batteries, they are often fixed to a circuit board inside an electronic pen by soldering or the like. For example, Patent Document 4 (WO2021 / 084824 A1) discloses an electronic pen in which a lithium-ion battery is fixed to a circuit board by a special method in which the circuit board inside the electronic pen is made into a special shape and the positive and negative lead portions of the lithium-ion battery are soldered to the side of the circuit board.

[0009] Re-tabulation 2020 / 148977 publication Re-tabulation 2017 / 010336 publication WO2023 / 248507 A1 publication WO2021 / 084824 A1 publication

[0010] Incidentally, electronic pens equipped with the above-described power supply unit can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by being designed with a replaceable battery. In this case, it is desirable for the electronic pen to be designed so that the battery can be easily replaced. This is because it makes it easier to repair the electronic pen by replacing the battery at a factory and also makes it easier for users to replace the battery themselves.

[0011] However, conventional electronic pens, especially those that use secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries and are equipped with charging circuits for charging the secondary batteries, do not have a structure that allows for battery replacement because the batteries do not need to be replaced frequently. Therefore, when these types of electronic pens are discarded after use, they are often discarded with the secondary batteries still installed.

[0012] If the secondary battery is a lithium-ion battery, and the electronic pen is discarded with the lithium-ion battery still inside, there is a risk that the battery will catch fire during the crushing process at the waste disposal plant, when the electronic pen is crushed and sorted into metal, plastic, and other crushed materials for recycling.

[0013] Therefore, if the electronic pen is designed to allow the battery to be easily removed, users can be expected to remove the battery when disposing of the electronic pen, thereby avoiding the risk of battery fire as described above.Furthermore, if the electronic pen is designed to allow the battery to be easily removed, the battery can be easily removed at the disposal plant before crushing, thereby avoiding the risk of battery fire.

[0014] In the electronic pen disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 3, the electronic pen housing is divided into a first housing section and a second housing section, and is configured to include an electronic pen main body section and a power supply unit, so that the battery can be replaced (removed) by replacing (removing) the power supply unit.

[0015] However, the electronic pen of Patent Document 3 requires a special configuration in which the electronic pen housing is divided into a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and a separable electronic pen main body unit and power supply unit are provided. Also, the electronic pen of Patent Document 3 is configured such that the rear end side of the electronic pen main body unit in the axial direction is inserted into and fitted into a fitting recess on the pen tip side in the axial direction of the power supply unit, so that after separating the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the electronic pen main body unit and power supply unit in this coupled state must be removed from the electronic pen housing and then released from the coupling between them, making the removal (replacement) of the power supply unit a relatively cumbersome task.

[0016] In the electronic pen of Patent Document 4, the battery is fixed to the circuit board by soldering or the like, as described above, in consideration of the stability of the lithium ion battery, and there is a problem in that removing the battery is time-consuming.

[0017] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pen that can solve the above problems.

[0018] In order to solve the above problem, an electronic pen is provided, which comprises: a housing configured by joining a first housing portion on the pen tip side and a second housing portion on the rear end side opposite the pen tip side in the axial direction, wherein the joined state between the first housing portion and the second housing portion is releasable; an electronic pen main body portion arranged on the pen tip side within the hollow portion of the housing; and a power supply unit having a rechargeable battery arranged on the rear end side within the hollow portion of the housing, wherein a charging circuit is provided for charging the battery; within the hollow portion of the housing, the electronic pen main body portion and the power supply unit are arranged in the axial direction and are electrically connected; and the housing is configured such that the battery of the power supply unit can be removed from the housing by releasing the joined state between the first housing portion on the pen tip side and the second housing portion on the rear end side.

[0019] In the electronic pen with the above-described configuration, the housing is separated into a first housing portion on the pen tip side and a second housing portion on the rear end side, so that the power supply unit can be removed from the housing. In other words, removing (replacing) the power supply unit is very easy and does not require much effort.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the configuration of a first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining main parts of the configuration of the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a pen tip side configuration part of the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a rear end side of an electronic pen main body in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a power supply unit in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a part of the power supply unit in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an electrical connection state between an electronic pen main body and a power supply unit in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an electrical connection state between an electronic pen main body and a power supply unit in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is an exploded view for explaining an example of the configuration of a cap unit in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. A cross-sectional view for explaining coupling and decoupling of a housing main body and a cap unit in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. A block diagram for explaining an example of an electronic circuit in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a second embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a third embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic circuit in a third embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a fourth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a fifth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a sixth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an example of an electronic pen with another configuration example of the electrical connection between the electronic pen main body and the power supply unit. A sectional view for explaining another configuration example of the cap part in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. A sectional view for explaining another configuration example of the cap part in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. A sectional view for explaining another configuration example of the cap part in the first embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. A diagram for explaining a configuration example of a seventh embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention.FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of a cap portion in a seventh embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is an exploded structural view illustrating an example of the configuration of a cap portion in a seventh embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is an exploded structural view illustrating an example of the configuration of a cap portion in a seventh embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of another example of the cap portion in a seventh embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is an exploded structural view illustrating an example of the configuration of another example of the cap portion in a seventh embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an example of the configuration of an eighth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a main part of a configuration of a ninth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a main part of a configuration of a tenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a battery in a configuration of a tenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating an example of the configuration of an eleventh embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a main part of a configuration of a tenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 20 is a view illustrating a main part of a configuration of a twelfth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 21 is a view illustrating a main part of a configuration of a twelfth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 46 is an exploded configuration diagram for explaining a configuration example of a thirteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 47 is an exploded configuration diagram for explaining a pen module of the configuration example of the thirteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 48 is a sectional view for explaining a configuration example of the thirteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is a sectional view for explaining a main part of the configuration example of the thirteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is a sectional view for explaining a configuration example of a fourteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a fifteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a sixteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a seventeenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is a sectional view for explaining a configuration example of an eighteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is a sectional view for explaining a configuration example of the eighteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 49 is an enlarged partial view of FIG.FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration example of an eighteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a configuration example of a portion of the configuration example of the eighteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a configuration example of another portion of the configuration example of the eighteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a configuration example of yet another portion of the configuration example of the eighteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a still further configuration example of the configuration example of the eighteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a configuration example of a nineteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a modified example of the nineteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a modified example of the nineteenth embodiment of the electronic pen according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a configuration example of an electronic pen according to the present invention to which waterproof and dustproof measures have been implemented. Fig. 61 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a part of the electronic pen of the configuration example of Fig. 60. Fig. 62 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of another part of the electronic pen of the configuration example of Fig. 60. Fig. 63 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of yet another part of the electronic pen of the configuration example of Fig. 60. Fig. 64 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of yet another part of the electronic pen of the configuration example of Fig. 60.

[0021] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the electronic pen according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking an active capacitance type electronic pen as an example.

[0022] [First embodiment] <Outline of electronic pen according to embodiment> Figure 1 shows an outline of the configuration of an electronic pen 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1(A) showing an example of the overall configuration of the electronic pen 1 and Figure 1(B) being an exploded view for explaining the main components of the electronic pen 1. Figure 1(B) also shows a state in which the electronic pen has been separated into a first housing portion on the pen tip side and a second housing portion on the rear end side, with the battery removed from the housing.

[0023] The electronic pen 1 of this first embodiment is configured by housing an electronic pen main body 3 and a power supply 4 in a hollow portion of an electronic pen housing 2. The electronic pen main body 3 interacts with a position detection sensor to input a position indication, and in this embodiment, is configured using an active capacitance method. The power supply 4 supplies the necessary power supply voltage to the electronic pen main body 3, and in this example, is configured to include a rechargeable battery.

[0024] In this first embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2 is composed of a cylindrical housing main body 21, which is an example of a first housing portion on the pen tip side, and a cap portion 22, which is an example of a second housing portion on the rear end side. The housing main body 21 is made of a conductive material, such as a metal or a resin mixed with conductive powder, except for a tapered portion 21a that gradually tapers toward the pen tip side, which is one end side in the axial direction. The tapered portion 21a and the cap portion 22 are made of a non-conductive material, such as a resin.

[0025] An opening 21aa (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 3 described later) into which the core 5 is inserted is formed at the tip of the tapered portion 21a of the housing main body 21. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the core 5 is attached to the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body 3 with its tip portion 5a protruding outward from the opening 21aa (see FIG. 3 described later) of the tapered portion 21a of the housing main body 21.

[0026] In this first embodiment, the cap part 22 is attached to the rear end side of the housing main body 21 so as to close the opening 21b (see FIG. 1B) on the rear end side opposite the pen tip side of the housing main body 21, thereby forming the electronic pen housing 2. In this embodiment, by removing the cap part 22 from the rear end side of the housing main body 21, the electronic pen housing 2 can be separated in the axial direction into the housing main body 21 on the pen tip side and the cap part 22 on the rear end side.

[0027] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the electronic pen main body 3 is modularized and configured to be handled as a single component, and the power supply unit 4 is configured as a unit and configured to be handled as a single component. In this example, the unit of the power supply unit 4 is cylindrical.

[0028] In this example, the electronic pen body 3 is housed in the electronic pen housing 2 in a state where its pen tip side abuts against the inner wall of the hollow portion of the tapered portion 21a on the pen tip side within the electronic pen housing 2 (inside the housing body 21 in this example), and is unable to move toward the pen tip in the axial direction within the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 4 is disposed within the electronic pen housing 2 (inside the housing body 21 in this example) on the rear end side of the electronic pen body 3, aligned in the axial direction.

[0029] In this case, the electronic pen main body 3 and the power supply unit 4 are simply arranged side by side in the axial direction, without having a physical connecting structure such as, for example, having a mating recess at one axial end and inserting the other axial end into that mating recess to fit together.

[0030] 1A and 1B, the electronic pen body 3 has a flat end surface 3s at its rear end that is perpendicular to the axial direction, and the power supply 4 has a flat end surface 4s at its pen tip side that is perpendicular to the axial direction. Electrical terminals are provided on the rear end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3 and the pen tip side end surface 4s of the power supply 4.

[0031] Therefore, with this configuration, the electronic pen body 3 and the power supply 4 are housed within the electronic pen housing 2 (in the housing main body 21 in this example) with their end faces 3s and 4s butting against each other. In this embodiment, when the end faces 3s and 4s are in abutting contact, the terminals on the end faces 3s and 4s are electrically connected to each other. The cap 22 is provided with an elastic member, which elastically biases the power supply 4 from its rear end toward the pen tip within the electronic pen housing 2. Therefore, the end faces 3s and 4s are elastically pressed against each other to abut against each other, improving the strength of the electrical connection.

[0032] When the cap portion 22 is removed from the rear end side of the housing main body portion 21, the electronic pen main body portion 3 and the power supply portion 4 are not physically connected, so as shown in Figure 1 (B), the power supply portion 4 can be ejected to the outside from the rear end side of the housing main body portion 21 and can be easily removed.

[0033] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the electronic pen main body 3 is equipped with a side switch that can be switched on and off by the operator of the electronic pen 1, in this example, and is also equipped with a charging circuit that charges the battery of the power supply unit 4. As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, operation buttons 6A and 6B for the operator to control the side switch are provided on the peripheral side of the housing main body 21 in positions that can be operated with the operator's fingers when holding the electronic pen 1, and are exposed to the outside.

[0034] In this embodiment, the charging circuit is of a type that receives a charging voltage (charging current) from outside the electronic pen 1 through a charging terminal, which in this example is a terminal consisting of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1A and 1B, an opening 7 for the USB connector is provided on the peripheral side of the housing main body 21 at a position corresponding to the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3. A cover that can be opened and closed can be provided for this opening 7.

[0035] <Detailed Configuration Example of Electronic Pen 1> Next, a detailed configuration example of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment will be further described.

[0036] 2A and 2B are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, excluding the pen tip side, with Fig. 2A being a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along a plane parallel to the surface of the circuit board 30 of the electronic pen body 3, and Fig. 2B being a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board 30 of the electronic pen body 3. However, the cross-sectional structure of the power supply unit 4 is omitted, excluding its terminal portion.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2(B), the electronic pen body 3 has a circuit board 30 held by a holder 31 made of an insulating material, in this example, resin. As shown in Fig. 2(B), the holder 31 has a boat-like shape that extends from the pen tip side to the rear end side in the axial direction of the electronic pen body 3, and has a mounting portion for the circuit board 30 and a holding portion (not shown in Fig. 2) for the pen tip side components described below.

[0038] 2A and 2B, side switches 6AS and 6BS are disposed on the surface of the circuit board 30 of the electronic pen body 3 so as to be turned on and off by operation buttons 6A and 6B as shown in FIG. 2B. Also, as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, a rectangular cutout 30a is provided on the rear end of the circuit board 30, and a USB connector 7UC is disposed in the position of this cutout 30a. The cutout 30a is formed to correspond to the shape and size of the USB connector 7UC, and an opening 7 for the USB connector 7UC is provided corresponding to the position of this cutout 30a.

[0039] Further arranged on the surface of the circuit board 30 are circuit elements (all elements other than IC 300 are not shown) for constituting a signal transmission circuit for signal interaction with the position detection sensor, a circuit including an IC (Integrated Circuit) 300, a circuit for generating a power supply voltage from the voltage from the power supply unit 4, a charging circuit for charging the battery of the power supply unit 4, etc.

[0040] <Example of Pen Tip Side Component of Electronic Pen Body 3> Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of the pen tip side component of the electronic pen body 3. As shown in Figure 3, in this example, the pen tip side component is configured to include a writing pressure transmission member 8, a writing pressure detection unit 9, and a peripheral electrode 10. The housing main body 21 is configured such that a tapered portion 21a is fitted to the pen tip side, which is one end side in the axial direction. In the active capacitance type electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the core body 5 is made of a conductive material, is inserted into the electronic pen housing 2 from an opening on the pen tip side of the electronic pen housing 2, is attached to the writing pressure transmission member 8, and becomes part of the pen tip side component.

[0041] The peripheral electrode 10 is cylindrical and made of a conductive material, such as a conductive metal, and is arranged to surround the core body 5 including the conductive center electrode, as will be described later. In this example, the peripheral electrode 10 has a tapered shape that tapers toward the pen tip.

[0042] The holding portion of the pen tip side component, which is part of the holder 31, is configured as a cylindrical portion 31H. A pen tip side cap member 32 made of an insulating and elastic material, such as non-conductive rubber, is attached to the pen tip side of the cylindrical portion 31H of the holder 31. A writing pressure transmission member 8 and a writing pressure detection unit 9 are provided in the hollow portion between the cylindrical portion 31H and the pen tip side cap member 32. A peripheral electrode 10 is held by the pen tip side cap member 32.

[0043] The writing pressure transmission member 8 and writing pressure detection unit 9 are housed and held in a writing pressure detection unit holder 33 disposed in the hollow space between the cylindrical portion 31H and the pen tip side cap member 32. From the rear end side of the cylindrical portion 31H, in addition to the electrical connection terminal of the writing pressure detection unit 9, a terminal electrically connected to the peripheral electrode 10 and a terminal electrically connected to the conductor portion (center electrode) of the core body 5 are led out.

[0044] 3, the pen pressure detection unit holder 33 is formed by connecting a pipe-shaped holding member 331 and a cup-shaped pen pressure detection unit holding member 332. Then, in the communicating space between the peripheral electrode 10 and the pen pressure detection unit holder 33, the core body 5, the pen pressure transmission member 8, and the pen pressure detection unit 9 are arranged in series in the axial direction with their central axes aligned.

[0045] 3, the peripheral electrode 10 is connected to a predetermined conductor pattern on the circuit board 30 through a peripheral electrode coil spring 11C made of a conductive metal in this example. An end 11Ca of the coil spring 11C is led out onto the circuit board 30.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 3, in this example, the core body 5 is configured such that most of the core body 5, excluding the rear end side of the center electrode 51 made of a conductive material, is covered with a protective member 52 made of a non-conductive material. In this example, the core body 5 has a structure in which a space (air layer) 53 is provided between the center electrode 51 and the protective member 52, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the signal (electric field) is radiated relatively efficiently from the center electrode 51 and the center electrode 51 can transmit a good signal without being unnecessarily broad.

[0047] In this embodiment, the writing pressure transmission member 8 is made of a non-conductive material, such as a hard resin, and is composed of two separate members: a core body holding member 81 located on the pen tip side and holding the core body 5, and a pressing member 82 that engages with the writing pressure detection unit 9. The core body holding member 81 has a conductive elastic member 81c in the portion that holds the core body 5. The core body 5 is connected to the signal transmission circuit of the circuit board 30 via a core body coil spring 12C made of a conductive material, in this example, a conductive metal, provided on the outer periphery of the core body holding member 81. An end portion 12Ca of the core body coil spring 12C extends onto the circuit board 30, as shown in FIG. 3 .

[0048] 3, the pen pressure detection unit 9 has a known variable capacitance capacitor configuration in which a first electrode 91 faces one surface of a dielectric body 93 via a ring-shaped spacer 92, and a second electrode 94 is attached to the other surface of the dielectric body 93. The first electrode 91 is made of a conductive elastic material such as conductive rubber.

[0049] <Configuration Example of Key Parts of Electronic Pen Body 3> The pen tip side components of the electronic pen body 3 are configured as described above. The electronic pen body 3 is housed in the housing body 21 through the opening at the rear end of the housing body 21. As shown in FIG. 3 , the outer surface of the tapered portion of the peripheral electrode 10 abuts against the inner wall surface of the hollow portion of the tapered portion 21a of the housing body 21, preventing the electronic pen body 3 from moving further toward the pen tip. In this embodiment, a stepped portion 21s having a surface perpendicular to the axial direction is formed on the inner wall surface of the tapered portion 21a at the rear end of the housing body 21, as shown in FIG. 3 . The pen tip side tip of the pen tip side cap member 32 of the electronic pen body 3 abuts against the stepped portion 21s on the inner wall surface of the housing body 21, preventing the electronic pen body 3 from moving further toward the pen tip.

[0050] In this embodiment, the boat-shaped holder 31 of the electronic pen body 3 includes a wall 310 at its rear end, which has an end face 3s perpendicular to the axial direction, as shown in Figures 2(A), (B), and 4. On the end face 3s, which is the exposed surface at the rear end of the wall 310, a terminal 3tV connected to the positive (+) terminal of the circuit that generates the power supply voltage for the circuit board 30 and a terminal 3tE connected to the earth terminal of the circuit board are provided and exposed to the outside, as shown in Figures 2(A), (B), and 4.

[0051] In this embodiment, the end face 3s of the wall portion 310 has a circular shape, and a terminal 3tV is provided at the center of the circular end face 3s. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B, this terminal 3tV is configured as an electrode pin 34 that is connected to the positive (+) terminal of a circuit that generates a power supply voltage for the circuit board 30 and is fixed to the circuit board 30. That is, in this embodiment, the electrode pin 34 penetrates the wall portion 310, and the end face of the pin head is exposed at the center of the circular end face 3s as the terminal 3tV.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4 , the terminal 3tE is composed of a conductor 35 having a ring-shaped portion 35R whose inner diameter is larger than the diameter of the pin head of the electrode pin 34. The ring-shaped portion 35R of the conductor 35 is disposed around the terminal 3tV on the circular end surface 3s of the wall portion 310, with the terminal 3tV as its center. In this example, the conductor 35 also has extensions 35L1 and 35L2 extending from the ring-shaped portion 35R at positions spaced apart from each other by a predetermined angle, in this example, 180 degrees. These extensions 35L1 and 35L2 electrically connect the conductor 35 to the ground terminal of the circuit board 30 and also serve to attach and engage the conductor 35 to the wall portion 310, as will be described later.

[0053] <Configuration Example of Power Supply Unit 4> Fig. 5(A) shows an exploded view of the power supply unit 4. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 4 is configured with a battery unit 40, an outer case 41, an inner case 42, and two electrode pins 43 and 44, as shown in Fig. 5(A). In this embodiment, the battery unit 40 is configured to include a rechargeable secondary battery. In this example, the electrode pins 43 and 44 are configured as pogo pins that can elastically expand and contract in the axial direction, with the electrode pin 43 being for the positive electrode and the electrode pin 44 being for the negative electrode. Fig. 5(B) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the outer case 41, and Fig. 5(C) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the inner case 42.

[0054] In this example, the battery unit 40 has a cylindrical shape and contains one or more secondary battery elements (secondary battery cells), in this example, lithium ion battery elements, and has a positive terminal 40tV and a negative terminal 40tE on one end face in the axial direction. The positive terminal 40tV and the negative terminal 40tE are configured as lead portions consisting of lead wires connected to two electrode pins 43, 44.

[0055] The battery unit 40 can be slimmed down by incorporating one or more lithium ion battery elements, thereby slimming down the entire power supply unit 4. This allows the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment to have a slim electronic pen housing 2.

[0056] 6A and 6B show several configuration examples of the battery unit 40. The battery unit 40A shown in Fig. 6A is configured by housing one lithium-ion battery element 402A in a non-conductive case 401A made of, for example, resin. In this example, the lithium-ion battery element 402A has a positive electrode and a negative electrode on one side in the longitudinal direction, and the positive electrode of the lithium-ion battery element 402A is connected to the positive electrode terminal 40tV, and the negative electrode is connected to the negative electrode terminal 40tE.

[0057] 6B also includes a single lithium-ion battery element 402B housed in a non-conductive case 401B made of, for example, resin, etc. In this example, the lithium-ion battery element 402B has a positive electrode on one longitudinal side and a negative electrode on the other longitudinal side, with the positive electrode connected to the positive terminal 40tV and the negative electrode connected to the negative terminal 40tE.

[0058] 6C, the battery unit 40C is configured by housing two lithium ion battery elements 402C1 and 402C2 connected in series in a non-conductive case 401C made of, for example, resin, etc. In this example, the positive electrode of the lithium ion battery element 402C1 is connected to the positive electrode terminal 40tV, and the negative electrode of the lithium ion battery element 402C2 is connected to the negative electrode terminal 40tE.

[0059] 6D, a battery unit 40D is configured by housing one lithium-ion battery element 402D in a conductive case 401D made of, for example, a conductive metal. In this example, the conductive case 401D is connected to the negative terminal 40tE. In this example, the lithium-ion battery element 402A has a positive electrode and a negative electrode on one longitudinal side, with the positive electrode connected to the positive terminal 40tV and the negative electrode connected to the conductive case 401D that is connected to the negative terminal 40tE.

[0060] 6(E) , a battery unit 40E is configured by housing one lithium-ion battery element 402E in a conductive case 401E made of, for example, a conductive metal. The conductive case 401E is connected to a negative terminal 40tE. In this example, the lithium-ion battery element 402E has a positive electrode on one longitudinal side and a negative electrode on the other longitudinal side, and the positive electrode is connected to the positive terminal 40tV, and the negative electrode is connected to the case 401E that is connected to the negative terminal 40tE.

[0061] As the battery unit 40 of the power supply section 4 in FIG. 5, any of the battery units 40A to 40E shown in FIGS. 6(A) to 6(E) may be used.

[0062] 5A and 5C, the inner case 42 has an opening 42a at its rear end and is closed on the pen tip side by a disk-shaped wall portion 420 to which two electrode pins 43 and 44 are attached. In this embodiment, the end face (the exposed surface perpendicular to the axial direction) of this disk-shaped wall portion 420 constitutes the aforementioned end face 4s of the power supply unit 4.

[0063] The wall portion 420 is provided with through holes 421 and 422 that penetrate in the axial direction. The through hole 421 is formed at the center position of the end face (the exposed surface perpendicular to the axial direction) of the disk-shaped wall portion 420. The through hole 422 is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the ring-shaped portion 35R of the conductor 35 formed on the end face 3s of the electronic pen body 3 described above. In other words, the distance from the center position of the end face 3s of the ring-shaped portion 35R of the conductor 35 formed on the end face 3s of the electronic pen body 3 and the distance from the center position of the end face 4s of the wall portion 420 to the through hole 422 provided in the end face 4s of the wall portion 420 are configured to be approximately equal.

[0064] A positive electrode pin 43 passes through the through-hole 421 and is attached to the wall 420 with its tip slightly protruding from the end surface 4 s. A negative electrode pin 44 passes through the through-hole 422 and is attached to the wall 420 with its tip slightly protruding from the end surface 4 s.

[0065] The outer case 41 is cylindrical and houses an inner case 42 which houses the battery unit 40. As shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the pen tip side has an opening 41a and the rear end side is closed.

[0066] The battery unit 40 is housed in the inner case 42 by being inserted through an opening 42a at the rear end of the inner case 42, starting from the side where the terminals 40tV and 40tE are formed. The lead portion constituting the positive terminal 40tV of the battery unit 40 housed in the inner case 42 is electrically connected to the rear end of the electrode pin 43 by, for example, soldering. The lead portion constituting the negative terminal 40tE of the battery unit 40 is also electrically connected to the rear end of the electrode pin 44 by, for example, soldering.

[0067] In this manner, the inner case 42 containing the battery unit 40 is inserted rearward into the outer case 41 through the opening 41a on the pen tip side of the outer case 41. In this case, the inner case 42 containing the battery unit 40 is fixed to the outer case 41 by adhesive or the like. When the inner case 42 is thus housed inside the outer case 41, the end surface 4s of the wall portion 420 of the inner case 42, from which the electrode pins 43 and 44, which form pogo pins, protrude, is exposed from the opening 41a of the outer case 41.

[0068] <Explanation of Electrical Connection Between Electronic Pen Body 3 and Power Supply 4> In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the power supply 4 is arranged next to the rear end of the electronic pen body 3 within the hollow portion of the housing body 21. In this embodiment, the circular end face 3s on the rear end side of the electronic pen body 3 and the circular end face 4s on the pen tip side of the power supply 4 are arranged so that the centers of their circles are approximately aligned.

[0069] 7 , the electrode pin 34 constituting the terminal 3tV located at the center of the rear end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3 abuts against and is electrically connected to the positive electrode pin 43 connected to the positive terminal 40tV of the battery unit 40 located at the center of the pen tip end surface 4s of the power supply 4. Also, the ring-shaped portion 35R of the conductor 35 constituting the terminal 3tE on the rear end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3 abuts against and is electrically connected to the negative electrode pin 44 connected to the negative terminal 40tE of the battery unit 40 of the power supply 4. In this case, the electrode pin 44 of the power supply 4 abuts against and contacts the ring-shaped portion 35R of the conductor 35 of the electronic pen body 3. Therefore, regardless of the rotational position of the electrode pin 44, the power supply 4 abuts against the ring-shaped portion 35R of the conductor 35. In other words, rotational alignment around the axis is not required to electrically connect the electronic pen body 3 and the power supply 4.

[0070] Note that Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining the collision relationship between the ends 3tV and 3tE of the rear end face 3s of the electronic pen main body 3 and the terminals (electrode pins 43 and 44) ​​of the end face 4s of the power supply unit 4, and for convenience, the outer case 41 and inner case 42 of the power supply unit 4 are omitted in Figure 7.

[0071] 8 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along a plane parallel to the board surface of the circuit board 30) of a portion where the end face 3s of the electronic pen body 3 and the end face 4s of the power supply unit 4 abut against each other within the housing body 21 of the electronic pen 1. As shown in Fig. 8, the electrode pin 34 to which the terminal 3tV of the electronic pen body 3 is connected is fixedly attached to the circuit board 30, and abuts against and is electrically connected to the electrode pin 43 of the power supply unit 4.

[0072] The conductor 35 to which the terminal 3tE of the electronic pen body 3 is connected has a ring-shaped portion 35R attached to the end face (end face 3s) of the wall portion 310 at the rear end of the holder 31, one extension portion 35L1 extending to the circuit board 30 and connected to the earth conductor, and the other extension portion 35L2 bent to clamp the wall portion 310, thereby allowing the conductor 35 to engage with the wall portion 310. Then, as shown in Fig. 8, the electrode pin 44 of the power supply unit 4 abuts against the ring-shaped portion 35R of the conductor 35 of the electronic pen body 3 and is electrically connected thereto.

[0073] <Configuration Example of Cap Unit 22> As described above, the electronic pen body 3 and the power supply 4 are arranged side by side in the axial direction within the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2 so that the end faces 3s and 4s abut against each other, and the terminals 3tV and 3tE on the end face 3s are electrically connected to the terminals (electrode pins 43 and 44) ​​on the end face 4s of the power supply 4. In this case, in this embodiment, the power supply 4 is elastically displaced toward the electronic pen body 3 by the elastic member of the cap unit 22, so that the electrical connection between the electronic pen body 3 and the power supply 4 is firmly established.

[0074] An example of the configuration of the cap portion 22 equipped with an elastic member will now be described. Fig. 9(A) is an exploded perspective view of the cap portion 22 of this embodiment, and Fig. 9(B) is its longitudinal cross-sectional view. As shown in Fig. 9, the cap portion 22 of this embodiment is composed of a cap main body portion 221, a locking control member 222, a cap bottom member 223, and a coil spring 224 that constitutes an example of the elastic member.

[0075] The cap main body 221 has a cylindrical portion 2211 whose one opening is closed by a cap head 2212. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 2211 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing main body 21. The outer diameter of the cap head 2212 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the housing main body 21, and the cap head 2212 has a flange-like shape that protrudes radially from the cylindrical portion 2211.

[0076] An axial through-hole 2212h is formed at the center of the end face of the cap head 2212 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, into which a rod-shaped jig 23 (see FIG. 10 described later) is inserted, which is used when removing the cap part 22 from the housing main body 21. The diameter of this through-hole 2212h is not constant, and the diameter on the cylindrical part 2211 side is selected to be larger than the side into which the jig 23 is inserted. Therefore, the through-hole 2212h has a large diameter part and a small diameter part, and a step 2212ht is formed at the boundary between them.

[0077] 9(A) and 9(B), elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 that can be elastically deformed in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction are formed on the circumferential side surface of the cylindrical portion 2211 of the cap main body 221. These elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 are formed by forming hook-shaped notched through grooves 2211a at opposing positions offset from each other by an angular interval of 180 degrees on the circumferential side surface of the cylindrical portion 2211, as shown in Figs. 9(A) and 9(B). The axial direction is the longitudinal direction of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214, and the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 that are formed by the presence of the notched through grooves 2211a in the longitudinal direction are elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0078] Protrusions 2213a and 2214a that protrude radially inward from the inner wall surface are provided on the inner wall sides of the cylindrical portion 2211 of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214. The protrusions 2213a and 2214a are provided on the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 in the longitudinal direction due to the presence of the notched through-groove 2211a. For convenience of illustration, Fig. 9 only shows the protrusion 2214a provided on the inner wall surface of the elastic piece 2214 in Fig. 9(B), and does not show the protrusion 2213a provided on the inner wall surface of the elastic piece 2213 shown in Fig. 9(A).

[0079] The locking control member 222 is a member for controlling the elastic displacement state of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 of the cylindrical portion 221, and is provided in a state in which it is movable in the axial direction within the internal hollow space of the cylindrical portion 221. As shown in Figures 9(A) and (B) , this locking control member 222 has a configuration in which a flange-shaped protruding portion 2222 is provided at the middle portion of the rod-shaped portion 2221 in the axial direction.

[0080] The diameter of the portion 2221a of the rod-shaped portion 2221 that is closer to the cap head 2212 than the protruding portion 2222 is smaller than the large diameter portion of the through-hole 2212h but larger than the small diameter portion. Therefore, the portion 2221a of the rod-shaped portion 2221 that is closer to the cap head 2212 is inserted into the through-hole 2212h, but the step portion 2212ht acts as a stopper and prevents it from being inserted into the small diameter portion.

[0081] Furthermore, a coil spring 224 is attached to a portion 2221b of the rod-shaped portion 2221 opposite to the portion 2221a. In this example, a step 2223 is formed in the portion 2221b of the rod-shaped portion 2221, with which one end of the coil spring 224 in the axial direction abuts, and the coil spring 224 is attached so as not to fall off the locking control member 222.

[0082] The length of the protrusion portion 2222 in the protrusion direction, i.e., the size of the outer diameter of the protrusion portion 2222, is set to a size that can engage with the convex portions 2213a and 2214a on the inner wall surfaces of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214, thereby elastically displacing the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 outward.

[0083] The cap bottom member 223 is a member attached to the opening on the pen tip side of the cap portion 22, and has an insertion portion 2231 inserted into the cylindrical portion 221, and a bottom plate portion 2232 having a flange that abuts against the ring-shaped opening end surface of the cylindrical portion 221. The cap bottom member 223 is provided with a through-hole 223h that penetrates in the axial direction at the center of the circular surface of the bottom plate portion 2232. This through-hole 223h has a diameter large enough to allow the cap bottom member side portion 2221b of the rod-shaped portion 2221 of the locking control member 222 to be inserted with the coil spring 224 attached.

[0084] Then, with the locking control member 222 housed in the cap main body 221, the cap bottom member 223 is attached to cover the opening on the pen tip side of the cylindrical portion 2211 of the cap main body 221, and is fixed to the cap main body 221, for example, by bonding the flange portion of the bottom plate portion 2232 of the cap bottom member 223 to the ring-shaped end surface of the cylindrical portion 221 of the cap main body 221. At this time, within the cap main body 221, the locking control member 222 is in a state where a part of the portion 2221a of the rod-shaped portion 2221 on the cap head 2212 side is inserted into the through-hole 2212h, and the portion 2221b of the rod-shaped portion 2221 on the cap bottom member 223 side is inserted into the through-hole 223h of the cap bottom member 223 (see FIG. 10C , described later).

[0085] Attachment and detachment of the cap unit 22 configured as described above to and from the housing main body 21 will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10(A) is a diagram showing a state in which the cap unit 22 is attached to and locked on the housing main body 21, Fig. 10(B) is a diagram showing a state in which the locking control member 222 is pressed down by the rod-shaped jig 23 against the elastic force of the coil spring 224 in order to remove the cap unit 22 from the state in Fig. 10(A) in which the cap unit 22 is attached to and locked on the housing main body 21, and Fig. 10(C) is a diagram showing a state in which the cap unit 22 has been detached from the housing main body 21 due to the locking control member 222 being pressed down by the rod-shaped jig 23.

[0086] Then, when the cap portion 22 is detached from the housing main body portion 21 as shown in Figure 10 (C), the cap portion 22 can be pushed into the housing main body portion 21, thereby making it possible to achieve the state in which the cap portion 22 is attached to and locked onto the housing main body portion 21 as shown in Figure 10 (A).

[0087] 10A, 10B, and 10C, a ring-shaped recess 21c is formed on the inner wall surface on the rear end side of the housing main body 21 to form a step that engages with the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 of the locking control member 222. The position of this ring-shaped recess 21c is such that when the brim-shaped protruding portion of the cap head 2212 of the cap part 22 abuts against the rear end surface of the housing main body 21, the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 of the tubular part 2211 of the cap main body 221 engage with the ring-shaped recess 21c.

[0088] In addition, in this embodiment, in the cap portion 22, the protrusion 2222 of the locking control member 222 and the convex portions 2213a and 2214a on the inner walls of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 are shaped so that the engagement portions between them are cut at an angle, as shown in Figures 10 (A), (B), and (C), and this is configured to allow smooth elastic displacement of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 by the protrusion 2222 of the locking control member 222.

[0089] 10(C), when the cap 22 is not attached, the presence of the protruding portion 2222 of the locking control member 222 causes the locking control member 222 to remain within the cylindrical portion 221, and the portion 2221a of the rod-shaped portion 2221 of the locking control member 222 on the cap head 2212 side is slightly inserted into the larger-diameter portion of the through-hole 223h of the cap head 2212, while the portion 2221b of the rod-shaped portion 2221 of the locking control member 222 on the cap bottom member 223 side is inserted into the through-hole 223h of the cap bottom member 223. In this case, the coil spring 224 attached to the portion 2221b of the rod-shaped portion 2221 of the locking control member 222 on the cap bottom member 223 side protrudes further outward than the bottom plate portion 2232 of the cap bottom member 223. Furthermore, due to the elastic force of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214, the protruding portion 2222 of the locking control member 222 and the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 are not engaged with each other.

[0090] 10A , the coil spring 224 abuts against the rear end of the outer case 41 of the power supply unit 4 inside the housing body 21, generating a pressing elastic force that elastically displaces the power supply unit 4 toward the electronic pen body 3. However, as described above, the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3 abuts against the inner wall of the pen tip side of the housing body 21, and the electronic pen body 3 and power supply unit 4 are prevented from moving axially toward the pen tip side within the hollow portion of the housing body 21.

[0091] As a result, a reaction force against the pressing elastic force that elastically displaces the power supply unit 4 toward the electronic pen main body 3 is generated in the cap unit 22, and this reaction force causes the locking control member 222 to be elastically displaced toward the cap head 2212 of the cap unit 22. Due to this elastic displacement, the protruding portions 2222 of the locking control member 222 engage with the convex portions 2213a and 2214a on the inner walls of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214, generating a force that displaces the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 toward the inner wall surface of the housing main body 21 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0092] In this state, when the cap portion 22 is pushed into the housing main body portion 21 until the flange portion of the cap head portion 2212 abuts against the ring-shaped end surface at the rear end of the housing main body portion 21, as shown in Figure 10 (A), the free end sides of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 are positioned facing the ring-shaped recess 21c on the inner wall surface of the housing main body portion 21.

[0093] Then, due to the elastic force of the coil spring 224, the protrusion 2222 of the locking control member 222, which is engaged with the protrusions 2213a and 2214a on the inner walls of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214, moves toward the cap head 2212 along the tapered portions of the protrusions 2213a and 2214a, displacing the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and toward the inner wall surface of the housing main body 21, causing them to protrude beyond the side surface of the tubular portion 2211.

[0094] As a result, as shown in Figure 10 (A), the tips of the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 engage with the ring-shaped recess 21c on the inner wall of the housing main body 21, and the elastic force of the coil spring 224 firmly maintains this engagement, preventing it from coming loose.

[0095] When the cap 22 is attached to and locked in the housing body 21, the coil spring 224 constantly elastically presses the power supply 4 toward the electronic pen body 3. Therefore, the rear end face 3s of the electronic pen body 3 and the pen tip end face 4s of the power supply 4 are in pressure contact with each other, and the terminals provided on the end faces 3s and 4s are firmly electrically connected to each other.

[0096] The cap portion 22 attached as described above can be easily removed from the housing main body portion 21 by using a rod-shaped jig 23. That is, as shown in Fig. 10(B) , the rod-shaped jig 23 is inserted into the through-hole 2212h of the cap head portion 2212 of the cap portion 22, and the locking control member 222 is pressed down toward the power supply portion 4 against the elastic force of the coil spring 224.

[0097] Then, when the rod-shaped jig 23 presses the locking control member 222 toward the power supply unit 4, and the engagement between the protrusion 2222 and the convex portions 2213a and 2214a on the inner walls of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 is released, as shown in Figure 10 (B), the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 elastically return to their original position, and the engagement between the tips of the free ends of the elastic pieces 2213 and 2214 and the ring-shaped recess 21c on the inner wall surface of the housing main body 21 is released.

[0098] This allows the cap portion 22 to move freely in the axial direction within the hollow portion of the housing body portion 21. Therefore, the elastic force of the coil spring 224 applied to the locking control member 222 of the cap portion 22 causes the cap body portion 221 to pop out from the opening on the rear end side of the housing body portion 21. Therefore, it can be easily removed from the rear end side of the housing body portion 21, and the electronic pen housing 2 can be easily separated into the housing body portion 21 and the cap portion 22.

[0099] Then, when the electronic pen housing 2 is separated into the housing main body 21 and the cap 22 in this way, the electronic pen main body 3 and the power supply 4 are simply abutted against each other so that the end faces 3s and 4s are pressed together by the elastic force of the coil spring 224, which is an elastic member of the cap 22, and therefore the power supply 4 can be easily removed from the opening on the rear end side of the housing main body 21. In other words, the power supply 4 can be easily removed and replaced by removing the cap 22 from the rear end side of the housing main body 21.

[0100] <Example of electrical circuit configuration of electronic pen 1> As shown in Figure 11, the electrode pin 43 to which the positive terminal 40tV of the battery unit 40 of the power supply unit 4 is connected is connected to the terminal 3tV of the electronic pen main body 3, and the electrode pin 44 to which the negative terminal 40tE of the battery unit 40 of the power supply unit 4 is connected is connected to the terminal 3tE which is connected to an earth conductor on the circuit board 30 of the electronic pen main body 3.

[0101] In the electronic pen body 3, the terminal 3tV is connected to the input terminal of the power supply voltage generating circuit 301 and to the output terminal of the charging circuit 302. The input terminal of the charging circuit 302 is connected to the USB connector 7UC. The USB connector 7UC is also connected to a ground conductor.

[0102] The charging circuit 302 supplies a charging current input via the USB connector 7UC to the battery unit 40 of the power supply section 4 via the terminal 3tV and the electrode pin 43 (pogo pin) to charge the battery unit 40.

[0103] The power supply voltage generating circuit 301 receives voltage from the power supply unit 4 through the electrode pin 43 and the terminal 3tV, and generates a power supply voltage +B. The generated power supply voltage +B is supplied to a signal transmitting circuit 303, a signal receiving circuit 304, and a control circuit 305. In this example, a variable capacitance capacitor 9C that constitutes the writing pressure detection unit 9 is connected to the control circuit 305, and the control circuit 305 detects the writing pressure value from the electrostatic capacitance of this variable capacitance capacitor 9C.

[0104] The signal transmission circuit 303 includes an oscillator circuit of a predetermined frequency, generates a signal under the control of the control circuit 305, and transmits the signal to the position detection sensor by electrostatic coupling through the central electrode 51 of the core body 5. The signal transmitted from the signal transmission circuit 303 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.

[0105] In this example, the peripheral electrode 10 receives a signal from the position detection sensor by electrostatic coupling and supplies the signal to the control circuit 305. The control circuit 305 controls the output timing of the signal from the signal transmission circuit 303 based on the timing of the signal received from the position detection sensor.

[0106] As described above, in the electronic pen 1 in which the electronic pen body 3 and power supply 4 are housed side by side in the axial direction within the electronic pen housing 2, the electronic pen body 3 receives voltage from the battery unit 40 of the power supply 4 to generate a power supply voltage and performs signal interaction with the position detection sensor. As a result, the position detection sensor can detect the position indicated by the electronic pen 1 and the value of the writing pressure applied to the tip of the core 5.

[0107] [Second Embodiment] The electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment differs from the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment only in the configuration of the housing, and the electronic pen main body 3 and power supply 4 are configured in exactly the same manner as the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment. Fig. 12(A) is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment. Fig. 12(A) corresponds to Fig. 2(A) showing the example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above. In the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 12, parts that are the same as those of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0108] In the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2A is also composed of a housing main body 21A and a cap portion 22A. Fig. 12(B) is a perspective view showing an example of the cap portion 22A. As shown in Fig. 12(B), the cap portion 22A in the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment is configured such that a cap head portion 222A is integrally formed on one axial side of a cylindrical portion 221A.

[0109] The diameter of the cylindrical portion 221A of the cap portion 22A is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing main body 21A. A threaded portion 22As is formed on the circumferential side surface of the cylindrical portion 221A. Furthermore, an elastic member 24 made of an elastic material, in this example, elastic rubber, is attached to the end face of the cylindrical portion 221A opposite to the cap head 222A side.

[0110] The cap head 222A has a flange-like shape that protrudes radially from the side peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 221A, and the outer diameter of the cap head 222A is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the housing main body 21A.

[0111] In the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, the cylindrical portion 221A of the cap portion 22A is inserted into the rear end of the hollow portion of the housing body portion 21A and is screwed (threaded) into the housing body portion 21A by the threaded portion 22As, thereby forming the electronic pen housing 2A. As shown in Fig. 12A, a threaded portion 21As that threadably engages with the threaded portion 22As of the cap portion 22A is formed on the inner wall surface on the rear end side of the hollow portion of the housing body portion 21A.

[0112] In the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, similarly to the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, the electronic pen body 3 and the power supply unit 4 are housed in the hollow portion of the housing body 21A, aligned in the axial direction, and then the cap unit 22A is screwed onto the rear end of the housing body 21A. In the second embodiment, when the cap unit 22A is attached to the rear end of the housing body 21A in this manner, the power supply unit 4 is biased toward the electronic pen body 3 by the elastic member 24 attached to the cap unit 22A within the hollow portion of the housing body 21A. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the rear end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3 and the pen tip end surface 4s of the power supply unit 4 are in pressure contact, and the terminals on the end surfaces 3s and 4s are firmly electrically connected to each other.

[0113] The electronic pen housing 2A is separated into the housing body 21A and the cap 22A by unscrewing the cap 22A from the housing body 21A. Therefore, similar to the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, the power supply unit 4 can be easily removed from the opening on the rear end side of the housing body 21A. In other words, the power supply unit 4 can be easily removed and replaced by removing the cap 22A from the rear end side of the housing body 21A.

[0114] The elastic member 24 is not limited to elastic rubber, and may be configured as a leaf spring or a coil spring. The elastic member 24 may not be attached to the cap portion 22A, but may be a separate, independent member interposed between the cap portion 22A and the power supply unit 4. The cap portion 22A may also be configured to include a cylindrical portion instead of the columnar portion 221A. In this case, the elastic member 24 may be configured as elastic rubber, a coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like provided inside the cylindrical portion, or may be configured such that the ring-shaped end surface of the cylindrical portion is covered with elastic rubber, for example.

[0115] Furthermore, in the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment described above, the housing main body 21A and the cap 22A are configured to be coupled and locked together by being screwed together, but the configuration for coupling and locking them together is not limited to this. For example, a ring-shaped protrusion or recess may be provided on the inner peripheral side surface of the rear end of the housing main body 21A, and a ring-shaped recess or protrusion may be formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion 221A of the cap 22A that fits into the ring-shaped protrusion or recess on the inner peripheral side surface of the rear end of the housing main body 21A, so that by pushing the cap 22A into the housing main body 21A, the ring-shaped recess or protrusion on the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion 221A of the cap 22A fits into the ring-shaped protrusion or recess on the inner peripheral side surface of the rear end of the housing main body 21A, thereby coupling and locking them together.

[0116] [Third Embodiment] The electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment differs from the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the electronic pen housing and in the way in which the power supply unit 4 is charged, and therefore the configuration of the corresponding parts of the electronic pen main body is also different. Figure 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment. This Figure 13 corresponds to Figure 2(A) showing the example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above. In the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment shown in Figure 13, parts that are the same as those of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0117] The electronic pen body 3B of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment does not have a USB connector 7UC for charging, but instead has a coil 13 for generating a charging current as an electromagnetically induced current provided on a circuit board 30. In this example, the coil 13 is wound around a magnetic core, in this example a ferrite core 14. The rest of the configuration of the electronic pen body 3B of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment is the same as that of the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment, and includes terminals 3tV and 3tE on the end surface 3s on the rear end side.

[0118] An example of the circuit configuration of the electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment is shown in Figure 14. As shown in Figure 14, in the electronic pen body 3B of the third embodiment, one end of the coil 13 is connected to a charging circuit 302 via a rectifier circuit 306. The other end of the coil 13 is connected to a ground conductor. The other circuit configuration is the same as that of the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment.

[0119] In the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment, an alternating magnetic field generating means is provided externally, and an electromagnetic induction current is generated in the coil 13 by the alternating magnetic field generated by the alternating magnetic field generating means. This electromagnetic induction current is rectified by the rectifier circuit 306, and the rectified current is supplied as a charging current to the charging circuit 302. The charging circuit 302 charges the battery element of the battery unit 40 of the power supply unit 4 with this charging current.

[0120] In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13 , the electronic pen housing 2B is composed of a pen tip side housing 21B and a rear end side housing 22B, which are screwed together near the axial center of the electronic pen housing 2B. In this example, as shown in FIG. 13 , a small diameter portion 21Ba having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the pen tip side is formed on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21B, and a threaded portion 21Bs is provided on this small diameter portion 21Ba. In this case, the rear end of the small diameter portion 21Ba of the pen tip side housing 21B is located near the rear end surface 3s of the electronic pen main body 3B. In the example of FIG. 13 , the rear end of the small diameter portion 21Ba of the pen tip side housing 21B extends slightly rearward beyond the rear end surface 3s of the electronic pen main body 3B, allowing a portion of the pen tip side of the power supply unit 4 to be housed within the small diameter portion 21Ba.

[0121] The rear-end housing 22B has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 21Ba of the nib-side housing 21B, and the small-diameter portion 21Ba of the nib-side housing 21B is inserted into the rear-end housing 22B. A threaded portion 22Bs that screws into the threaded portion 21Bs of the small-diameter portion 21Ba is provided on the inner wall of the rear-end housing 22B that covers the small-diameter portion 21Ba of the nib-side housing 21B. An elastic member 25 made of an elastic material, in this example, elastic rubber, is attached to the bottom of the rear end of the hollow portion of the rear-end housing 22B.

[0122] In the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment, a rear housing 22B housing a power supply unit 4 is screwed into the rear end of a pen tip housing 21B housing an electronic pen body 3B. The electronic pen body 3B and the power supply unit 4 are then housed in the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2B, arranged sequentially in the axial direction. In this case, the power supply unit 4 is biased toward the electronic pen body 3B by an elastic member 25 attached to the rear housing 22B within the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2B, so that the end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3B and the end surface 4s of the power supply unit 4 are elastically pressed against each other. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the terminals on the rear end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3B and the end surface 4s of the power supply unit 4 are firmly electrically connected to each other.

[0123] The electronic pen housing 2B is separated into the pen tip side housing 21B and the rear end side housing 22B by releasing the screw connection between the rear end side housing 22B and the pen tip side housing 21B. When the rear end side housing 22B is separated from the pen tip side housing 21B, the power supply unit 4 is separated from the electronic pen main body 3B together with the rear end side housing 22B, and the power supply unit 4 can be easily removed from the rear end side housing 22B. In other words, the power supply unit 4 can be easily removed from the electronic pen 1B by releasing the screw connection between the rear end side housing 22B and the pen tip side housing 21B, and can also be easily replaced.

[0124] Like the elastic member 24 of the second embodiment, the elastic member 25 is not limited to elastic rubber and may be a leaf spring or a coil spring. The elastic member 25 may not be attached to the rear housing 22B, but may be a separate, independent member interposed between the power supply unit 4 and the rear housing 22B.

[0125] Furthermore, in the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment described above, an electronic pen main body 3B is used that charges the power supply unit 4 by electromagnetic induction, but instead of the electronic pen main body 3B, an electronic pen main body 3 that charges the power supply unit 4 using a charging current obtained from the outside through the USB connector 7UC may be used.

[0126] Conversely, in the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment and the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, the electronic pen body 3 may be replaced with an electronic pen body 3B.

[0127] Furthermore, in the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment described above, the pen tip side housing 21B and the rear end side housing 22B are configured to be coupled and locked together by being screwed together, but the configuration for coupling and locking them together is not limited to this. For example, a ring-shaped protrusion or recess may be provided on the peripheral side surface of the small diameter portion 21Ba of the pen tip side housing 21B, and a ring-shaped recess or protrusion that fits into the ring-shaped protrusion or recess on the peripheral side surface of the small diameter portion 21Ba of the pen tip side housing 21B may be formed on the inner wall surface of the rear end side housing 22B, and by pushing the rear end side housing 22B into the pen tip side housing 21B, the ring-shaped recess or protrusion on the inner wall surface of the rear end side housing 22B fits into the ring-shaped protrusion or recess on the peripheral side surface of the small diameter portion 21Ba of the pen tip side housing 21B, thereby coupling and locking them together.

[0128] [Fourth Embodiment] The electronic pens 1, 1A, 1B of the first to third embodiments described above have a structure in which, when the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B are separated into the pen tip side and the rear end side, the electronic pen main body 3, 3A, 3B and the power supply unit 4 are automatically separated electrically and physically. In contrast, the electronic pen 1C of the fourth embodiment described below is an example of a structure in which, simply by separating the electronic pen housing 2C into the pen tip side and the rear end side, the electronic pen main body 3C and the power supply unit 4 maintain an electrically and physically connected state, but the power supply unit 4 can be easily separated from the electronic pen main body 3C by a user's removal operation.

[0129] Fig. 15 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of an electronic pen 1C of this fourth embodiment. In this example, as in the above-described embodiments, parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. Fig. 15(A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1C of this fourth embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 2(A) showing the example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment. Fig. 15(B) is a diagram for explaining a configuration in which the electronic pen housing 2C is separated into a pen tip side and a rear end side to extract the power supply unit 4.

[0130] 15A and 15B, the electronic pen housing 2C of the electronic pen 1C of the fourth embodiment is configured to be, like the electronic pen housing 2B of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment, comprise a pen tip side housing 21C and a rear end side housing 22C, which are joined together near the center in the axial direction of the electronic pen housing 2C. In this example, too, a small diameter portion 21Ca is formed on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21C, and this small diameter portion 21Ca is inserted into the hollow portion of the rear end side housing 22C, thereby joining the pen tip side housing 21C and the rear end side housing 22C to form the electronic pen housing 2C.

[0131] In this case, the pen tip side housing 21C and the rear end side housing 22C may be joined by screwing as in the electronic pen housing 2B of the third embodiment, or by providing a ring-shaped protrusion or recess on one side and a recess or protrusion on the other side that fits into the ring-shaped protrusion or recess on the other side. In this example, too, the position of the rear end face of the small diameter portion 21Ca of the pen tip side housing 21C is located near the position of the end face 3s of the wall portion 310.

[0132] The holder 31C of the electronic pen body 3C of the electronic pen 1C of the fourth embodiment has a wall 310 at the rear end of the mounting portion for the circuit board 30, and the circular end face of the wall 310 serves as the end face 3s that abuts against the end face 4s of the power supply unit 4, similar to the configuration of the above-described embodiments. The holder 31C of the electronic pen body 3C in this embodiment extends further rearward than the wall 310, and this extension includes a storage section 311 for the power supply unit 4. The storage section 311 for the power supply unit 4 has a storage space 311a that is slightly longer than the axial length of the cylindrical power supply unit 4. An elastic member 26 is attached to the rear end of the storage space 311a of the storage section 311. In this example, the elastic member 26 is made of elastic rubber. Note that the elastic member 26 is not limited to elastic rubber, and may be a leaf spring, a coil, or the like, similar to the elastic members 24 and 25 of the electronic pens 1A and 1B of the second and third embodiments.

[0133] In the electronic pen 1C of the fourth embodiment, the holder 31C extends further rearward than the storage portion 311, and a holding portion 312 for the USB connector 7UC is provided on the extension. In this example, the USB connector 7UC (e.g., a connector jack) is held and fixed by the holding portion 312 so that an external USB connector (e.g., a connector plug) can be inserted from the rear end side in the axial direction of the electronic pen housing 2C, as shown in Figures 15(A) and 15(B) . Although not shown in Figure 15 , the electrical connection between the USB connector 7UC and the circuit board 30 is made via the storage portion 311, and is achieved by, for example, printing a copper foil pattern on the inner or outer wall surface of the storage space of the storage portion 311.

[0134] Since the USB connector 7UC is provided at the rear end of the electronic pen housing 2C, a through hole 22Ca is provided at the rear end of the rear housing 22C to expose the connector portion of the USB connector 7UC to the outside, as shown in Figures 15 (A) and (B).

[0135] 15(B), when the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3C is stored in the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21C, the storage portion 311 for the power supply unit 4 of the holder 31C is exposed to the outside at the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15(B), the power supply unit 4 can be stored in the storage space 311a of the storage portion 311 from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0136] When the power supply unit 4 is stored in the storage section 311, the power supply unit 4 is elastically biased toward the end surface 3s of the wall section 310 of the electronic pen body 3C by the elastic member 26 provided on the rear end side of the storage section 311. As a result, the terminals 3tV and 3tE on the end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3C are in firm electrical contact with the electrode pins (pogo pins) 43 and 44 protruding from the end surface 4s of the power supply unit 4, and the power supply unit 4 is also physically locked in the storage section 311.

[0137] In this state, by joining the rear end side housing 22C to the pen tip side housing 21C, the state shown in FIG. 15A can be achieved, and the electronic pen 1C can be formed.

[0138] 15(A), when the connection between the rear end housing 22C and the pen tip side housing 21C is released and the rear end housing 22C is removed from the pen tip side housing 21C as shown in Fig. 15(B), the power supply unit 4 stored in the storage section 311 of the holder 31C of the electronic pen main body 3C becomes exposed to the outside, as described above. Therefore, the power supply unit 4 can be removed from the storage section 311 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the power supply unit 4 can be replaced.

[0139] In the fourth embodiment of the electronic pen 1C shown in the example of Figure 15, the USB connector 7UC is configured to be located at the end of the electronic pen housing 2D, closer to the rear end than the storage section 311 of the power supply unit 4. However, as with the electronic pen main body 3 of the first embodiment, a cutout portion may be provided in the circuit board 30, and the USB connector may be configured to be connected to an external USB connector through an opening 7 on the side surface of the electronic pen housing 2C, and may be located closer to the pen tip than the power supply unit 4.

[0140] Furthermore, the electronic pen main body 3C is configured to have a USB connector 7UC as a configuration for charging the power supply unit 4, but it may also be configured to have an electromagnetic induction coil and use the induced current as a charging current, as in the electronic pen main body 3B of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment.

[0141] Fifth Embodiment Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an electronic pen 1D according to a fifth embodiment. Fig. 16(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1D according to the fifth embodiment, corresponding to Fig. 15(A) illustrating the example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1C according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 16(B) is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the electronic pen housing 2D of the electronic pen 1D according to the fifth embodiment is separated into a pen tip side and a rear end side to allow the power supply unit 4 to be removed. In the electronic pen 1D according to the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 16, parts similar to those of the electronic pen 1C according to the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 15 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0142] 16A and 16B , like the holder 31C of the electronic pen body 3C of the electronic pen 1C of the fourth embodiment, the holder 31D of the electronic pen body 3D of the electronic pen 1D of the fifth embodiment is provided with a storage section 311 that extends further rearward than the wall section 310 and has a storage space 311a for the power supply unit 4 at its extension. The power supply unit 4 is stored in the storage space 311a of the storage section 311 while being elastically biased toward the wall section 310 of the holder 31D of the electronic pen body 3D by the elastic member 26. As a result, in the fifth embodiment as well, the terminals 3tV and 3tE on the end surface 3s of the electronic pen body 3D are in firm electrical contact with the electrode pins (pogo pins) 43 and 44 protruding from the end surface 4s of the power supply unit 4, and the power supply unit 4 is also physically locked in the storage section 311.

[0143] In the electronic pen 1D of the fifth embodiment, the holder 31D also extends further rearward than the storage portion 311, and a holding portion 312D for the USB connector 7UC is provided on the extension. However, unlike the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment differs in that the USB connector 7UC (e.g., a connector jack) is held and fixed by the holding portion 312D so that it can be inserted into an external USB connector (e.g., a connector plug) in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the electronic pen housing 2D, as shown in Figures 16(A) and 16(B). Although not shown in Figure 16, the electrical connection between the USB connector 7UC and the circuit board 30 is established via the storage portion 311, for example, by providing a copper foil pattern by printing on the inner or outer wall surface of the storage space of the storage portion 311, as in the fourth embodiment.

[0144] As shown in Figures 16 (A) and (B) , the electronic pen housing 2D of the electronic pen 1D of this fifth embodiment is composed of a housing main body portion 21D and a cap portion 22D, similar to the electronic pen housing 2A of the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, and the cap portion 22D is screwed onto the housing main body portion 21D to form the electronic pen housing 2D.

[0145] In this fifth embodiment, the USB connector 7UC is held by the holding portion 312D as described above, and therefore an opening 7D for exposing the connector portion of the USB connector 7UC to the outside is provided near the rear end of the side surface of the housing main body portion 21D of the electronic pen housing 2D, as shown in Figures 16 (A) and (B).

[0146] In the electronic pen 1D of the fifth embodiment, the power supply unit 4 is stored in the storage section 311 of the holder 31D of the electronic pen main body 3D, and then the electronic pen main body 3D with the power supply unit 4 stored in the holder 31D is inserted into the housing main body 21D from the opening on the rear end side. In this state, the electronic pen main body 3D with the power supply unit 4 stored in the holder 31D is movable in the axial direction within the hollow section of the housing main body 21D.

[0147] In the fifth embodiment, the cap 22D is then screwed onto the housing body 21D, so that the holder 31D of the electronic pen body 3D is immovable in the axial direction within the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2D. An elastic member such as elastic rubber may be provided between the end of the cap 22D on the pen tip side and the end of the holder 31D on the rear side of the electronic pen body 3D.

[0148] In the electronic pen 1D of the fifth embodiment, the power supply unit 4 can be removed from the electronic pen housing 2D and replaced as follows. First, in the state shown in Fig. 16A, the housing body 21D and the cap 22D are unscrewed, and the cap 22D is removed from the housing body 21D. Then, the electronic pen body 3D, with the power supply unit 4 housed in the holder 31D, becomes movable axially within the hollow portion of the housing body 21D. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 16B, the housing portion 311, which houses the power supply unit 4 of the holder 31D of the electronic pen body 3D, can be pulled out from the rear end of the housing body 21D.

[0149] Therefore, the power supply unit 4 can be easily removed in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction from the storage unit 311 that has been pulled out to the outside, and can also be easily replaced.

[0150] In the fifth embodiment of the electronic pen 1D shown in the example of Figure 16, the USB connector 7UC is configured to be located at the end of the electronic pen housing 2D, closer to the rear end than the storage section 311 of the power supply unit 4. However, as with the electronic pen main body 3 of the first embodiment, a cutout portion may be provided in the circuit board 30, and the USB connector may be configured to be connected to an external USB connector through an opening 7 on the side surface of the electronic pen housing 2D, and may be located closer to the pen tip than the power supply unit 4.

[0151] Furthermore, the electronic pen main body 3D is configured to have a USB connector 7UC as a configuration for charging the power supply unit 4, but it may also be configured to have an electromagnetic induction coil and use the induced current as a charging current, as in the electronic pen main body 3B of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment.

[0152] In the electronic pen 1C of the fourth embodiment and the electronic pen 1D of the fifth embodiment, the holders 31C and 3D of the electronic pen main bodies 3C and 3D are configured to be extended toward the rear end to provide the storage section 311 for the power supply unit 4, but a holder having a storage section for the power supply unit 4 may be configured separately from the holders 31C and 31D. In that case, the holder having a storage section for the power supply unit is configured to be aligned in the axial direction with the holders 31C and 3D of the electronic pen main bodies 3C and 3D that do not have an extension section.

[0153] [Sixth embodiment] In the electronic pens 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D of the above embodiments, the pen tip side housing portion (housing main body portion 21, 21A, 21D or pen tip side housing 21B, 21C) constituting the electronic pen housing 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D is separated from the rear end side housing portion (cap portion 22, 22A, 22D or rear end side housing 22B, 22C) so that the electronic pen housing 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D is separated into the pen tip side and the rear end side, and the power supply unit 4 can be removed from the electronic pen housing 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D of the electronic pen 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D.

[0154] However, for example, when a waste disposal company disposes of a large number of electronic pens, as described above, it may be troublesome to separate the housing part on the pen tip side (housing main body part 21, 21A, 21D or pen tip side housing 21B, 21C) from the housing part on the rear end side (cap part 22, 22A, 22D or rear end side housing 22B, 22C).

[0155] The electronic pen of the sixth embodiment is configured so that the electronic pen housing can be relatively easily separated into a pen tip side and a rear end side with a simple operation. The sixth embodiment can be applied to each of the first to fifth electronic pens 1 to 1D described above, and is characterized in that by applying a force to the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D so as to bend them at a predetermined intermediate position in the axial direction of the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D can be easily separated into a pen tip side and a rear end side from the predetermined intermediate position.

[0156] In this case, in this embodiment, the specified intermediate position is a position in the axial direction of the outer peripheral side surface of the electronic pen housing 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, near the position corresponding to the position where the end face 3s of the electronic pen main body 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D stored in the electronic pen housing 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D collides with the end face 4s of the power supply unit 4.

[0157] In this embodiment, a recess is provided in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral side surface of each of the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D at a predetermined intermediate position in the axial direction, thereby thinning the thickness of the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D at the predetermined intermediate position, thereby making the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D more easily breakable. However, even though the recess is made more easily breakable, the shape, width, and depth (thickness of the thin wall) of the recess are selected so that the electronic pen housings 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D will not break under normal use conditions of the electronic pens 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D and have appropriate strength.

[0158] The recesses may be formed in a ring shape with a uniform shape, width, and depth at a predetermined intermediate position in the axial direction on the outer peripheral side surface of the electronic pen housing 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2D. However, when forming the ring shape, one or more of the shape, width, and depth may be changed to form the recesses unevenly, taking into consideration the strength of the electronic pens 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, or 1D under normal use conditions. Furthermore, the recesses may not be formed continuously in a ring shape, but may be formed in ring shapes at discrete positions. Furthermore, the recesses may be formed in a portion of the ring shape, such as a semicircle.

[0159] 17A is a diagram illustrating an electronic pen 1E when the sixth embodiment is applied to the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above. In this Fig. 17A, parts similar to those of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. In the electronic pen 1E of this example, as shown in Fig. 17A, the housing main body 21E that is combined with the cap portion 22 to form the electronic pen housing 2E has a ring-shaped V-groove 21Ev as an example of a recess on its outer peripheral side, which is different from the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment. In other respects, the electronic pen 1E is configured similarly to the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment.

[0160] 17A, the ring-shaped V-groove 21Ev is located at a predetermined intermediate position in the axial direction on the outer peripheral side surface of the housing main body 21E constituting the electronic pen housing 2E, near a position corresponding to a collision between an end face 3s of the electronic pen main body 3 housed in the housing main body 21E and an end face 4s of the power supply unit 4. As shown by a balloon in FIG. 17A, the V-groove 21Ev is thin-walled at that portion and is formed with a width and depth that provide sufficient strength during normal use.

[0161] In the electronic pen 1E configured in this manner, when the housing main body 21E in which the V groove 21Ev is formed is fixed, for example, at one position on either side of the V groove 21Ev in the axial direction, and a strong force is applied to the other position in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the housing main body 21E is broken so as to break at the V groove 21Ev portion, since the V groove 21Ev portion is thin and has little strength, and is separated into a portion closer to the pen tip than the V groove 21Ev and a portion closer to the rear end than the V groove 21Ev.

[0162] Then, since the electronic pen main body 3 and the power supply 4 inside the housing main body 21E of the electronic pen 1E of this example are not physically connected, the power supply 4 can be removed to the outside. That is, in the electronic pen 1E of this example, the power supply 4 can be removed by folding and breaking the housing main body 21E at the V-shaped groove 21Ev, which makes it easy to remove and discard the power supply 4 when disposing of the electronic pen 1E.

[0163] In the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment in which the electronic pen housing 2A is composed of a housing main body portion 21A and a cap portion 22A, and in the electronic pen 1D of the fifth embodiment in which the electronic pen housing 2D is composed of a housing main body portion 21D and a cap portion 22D, as in the electronic pen 1E of the example in Figure 17 (A), a recess, for example a V-groove, is provided at the above-mentioned predetermined intermediate position in the axial direction on the outer peripheral side surface of the housing main body portions 21A and 21D, so that the housing main body portion 21E can be folded and broken at the V-groove portion to remove the power supply unit 4, making it easy to remove and discard the power supply unit 4 when disposing of the electronic pens 1A and 1D.

[0164] 17B is a diagram illustrating an electronic pen 1F when the sixth embodiment is applied to the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment described above. In this Fig. 17B, parts similar to those of the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. As shown in Fig. 17B, the electronic pen 1F of this example differs from the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment in that a rear-end housing 22F, which is coupled to a pen tip housing 21B to form an electronic pen housing 2F, has a ring-shaped V-groove 22Fv as an example of a recess on its outer peripheral side surface. The rest of the electronic pen 1F is configured similarly to the electronic pen 1B of the first embodiment.

[0165] 17(B), the predetermined intermediate position of the ring-shaped V-groove 22Fv on the outer peripheral side surface of the rear-end housing 22F constituting the electronic pen housing 2F is located near a position corresponding to a position where an end surface 3s of the electronic pen main body 3 and an end surface 4s of the power supply unit 4 inside the rear-end housing 22F collide with each other. As shown by a balloon in FIG. 17(B), the V-groove 22Fv is thin-walled at that portion and is formed with a width and depth that provide sufficient strength during normal use.

[0166] Even in an electronic pen 1F configured in this manner, if an electronic pen housing 2F having a V groove 22Fv formed in a rear end housing 22F is fixed at one position on either side of the V groove 22Fv in the axial direction and a strong force is applied to the other position in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the electronic pen housing 2F will bend so as to break at the V groove 21Ev portion, since the V groove 22Fv portion of the rear end housing 22F is thin and has little strength, and will be separated into a portion closer to the pen tip than the V groove 22Fv and a portion closer to the rear end than the V groove 22Fv.

[0167] Then, since the electronic pen main body 3B and the power supply unit 4 inside the electronic pen housing 2F of the electronic pen 1F of this example are not physically connected, the power supply unit 4 can be removed to the outside. That is, in the electronic pen 1F of this example as well, the power supply unit 4 can be removed by folding and breaking the electronic pen housing 2F at the V-shaped groove 21Ev, making it easy to remove and discard the power supply unit 4 when disposing of the electronic pen 1F.

[0168] In the fourth embodiment of the electronic pen 1C, in which the electronic pen housing 2C is composed of a pen tip side housing 21C and a rear end side housing 22C, as in the electronic pen 1F of the example in Figure 17 (B), a recess, for example a V-groove, is provided at the above-mentioned predetermined intermediate position in the axial direction of the outer peripheral side surface of the rear end side housing 22C, so that the electronic pen housing 2C can be folded and broken at the V-groove portion to remove the power supply unit 4, making it easy to remove and discard the power supply unit 4 when disposing of the electronic pen 1C.

[0169] In the examples of Figures 17(A) and (B), the shape of the recess is a V-shaped groove, but as described above, the shape of the recess is not limited to a V-shape and may be, for example, a U-shape or other shape.

[0170] Furthermore, in the sixth embodiment of the electronic pen, if the configuration does not require replacement of the power supply unit 4, the connection between the housing part on the pen tip side (housing main body part 21, 21A, 21D or pen tip side housing 21B, 21C) and the housing part on the rear end side (cap part 22, 22A, 22D or rear end side housing 22B, 22C) may be by adhesive bonding or the like.

[0171] [Another Example of Electrical Connection Between Electronic Pen Body and Power Supply Unit] In the configuration of the electronic pen of the above-described embodiment, the electronic pen body and the power supply unit are arranged side by side in the axial direction within the housing, and the rear end face of the electronic pen body and the pen tip end face of the power supply unit are configured to abut against each other, thereby electrically connecting the electronic pen body and the power supply unit. However, the method of electrically connecting the electronic pen body and the power supply unit is not limited to this.

[0172] In the electronic pen 1G of the example of Figure 18, the electronic pen main body 3G and the power supply unit 4G are electrically connected by coupling the connector (connector plug or connector jack) of the power supply unit 4G to a connector (connector jack or connector plug) arranged on a circuit board 30G placed on a holder 31G of the electronic pen main body 3G.

[0173] Fig. 18 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1G of this example, Fig. 18(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1G of this example, and Fig. 18(B) is a diagram for explaining a configuration in which the electronic pen housing 2G of the electronic pen 1G of this example is separated into a pen tip side and a rear end side to extract the power supply unit 4G. In Fig. 18, parts that are the same as those in the electronic pens of the above-mentioned embodiments are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0174] In this example of the electronic pen 1G, the electronic pen housing 2G is composed of a pen tip side housing 21G and a rear end side housing 22G, as shown in Figure 18 (A), and the two are joined near the center of the axial direction of the electronic pen housing 2G.

[0175] 18 is configured to apply the sixth embodiment, and a circumferential recess, in this example a V-groove 22Gv, is formed at a predetermined axial position on the outer peripheral side surface of the rear housing 22G. In this case, the pen tip housing 21G and the rear housing 22G may be joined by screwing or by fitting a ring-shaped protrusion into a ring-shaped recess. Furthermore, if the power supply unit 4G does not need to be replaced, the pen tip housing 21G and the rear housing 22G may be joined by adhesive or the like.

[0176] The electronic pen body 3G of the electronic pen 1G of this example, like the electronic pen body 3 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above, has a circuit board 30G provided on the board mounting portion of a holder 31G, an IC 300 on the circuit board 30G, side switches 6AS and 6BS, and a pen tip side component as shown in Fig. 3. However, the holder 31G of the electronic pen 1G of this example is configured to extend to the rear end side of the electronic pen housing 2G, i.e., into the rear end housing 22G, and the circuit board 30G held by the holder 31G also extends to the rear end side of the electronic pen housing 2G.

[0177] In the electronic pen 1G of this example, a USB connector 7UC constituting a charging terminal is provided at the rear end of the circuit board 30G. An opening 22Ga is provided at the rear end surface of the rear housing 22G to expose the connector connection portion of the USB connector 7UC.

[0178] Furthermore, in this example of the electronic pen 1G, a connector 15, in this example a connector jack 15J, for electrically connecting to the power supply unit 4G is provided at a position closest to the pen tip side housing 21G in the part of the circuit board 30G located within the rear end side housing 22G.

[0179] The power supply unit 4G of this example has a similar configuration to the above-described power supply unit 4, except for the configuration of the terminals. That is, the power supply unit 4G of this example is not provided with pogo pins 43, 44, and instead, the electrode terminals 40tV and 40tE of the battery unit 40 are connected to lead portions 43G and 44G, and the lead portions 43G and 44G are connected to the connector 15, which in this example is a connector plug 15P.

[0180] In the electronic pen 1G of this example, as shown in Figure 18 (A), with the power supply unit 4G placed between the USB connector 7UC and the connector jack 15J of the circuit board 30G, the connector plug 15P to which the lead portions 43G and 44G of the power supply unit 4G are connected is inserted into the connector jack 15J of the circuit board 30G and electrically connected.

[0181] As shown in Figure 18A, the axial length of the hollow space of the rear housing 22G of the electronic pen 1G in this example is long enough to accommodate the connector 15, power supply unit 4G, and USB connector 7UC. As shown in Figures 18A and 18B, the rear end of the circuit board 30G relative to the portion where the connector jack 15P is formed is further rearward than the rear end of the tip housing 21G. In other words, when the rear housing 22G is not coupled to the tip housing 21G, the rear end of the circuit board 30G relative to the portion where the connector jack 15P is formed is exposed to the outside.

[0182] As shown in Figures 18(A) and 18(B), the axial position of the V-groove 22Gv formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the rear housing 22G is such that when the rear housing 22G is broken and separated at the position of the V-groove 22Gv, the connector jack 15P provided on the circuit board 30G is exposed to the outside, allowing the connector plug 15P to be removed from the connector jack 15J. In the example of Figures 18(A) and 18(B), the V-groove 22Gv is formed at a position that coincides with the position of the connector jack 15P provided on the circuit board 30G closest to the pen tip. Note that the position of the V-groove 22Gv is preferably the position closest to the pen tip of the connector jack 15P, or a position further toward the pen tip than that position.

[0183] 18B , when a force is applied to the electronic pen 1G so as to break the electronic pen housing 2G at the V-groove 22Gv, the rear housing 22G is broken at the position of the V-groove 22Gv and separated into a portion 22Gb on the pen tip side of the V-groove 22Gv and a portion 22Gc on the rear side of the V-groove 22Gv, exposing the portion of the circuit board 30G on the rear side of the connector 15. Therefore, by disconnecting the connector plug 15P to which the power supply unit 4G is connected from the connector 15, the power supply unit 4G can be separated and removed.

[0184] In addition, if the rear end side housing 22G is configured to be able to be released from its connection with the pen tip side housing 21G, by releasing the connection between the rear end side housing 22G and the pen tip side housing 21G, the power supply unit 4G can be separated and removed in the same manner as described above, and the power supply unit 4G can be replaced, just like in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0185] In addition, in the electronic pen 1G of the example in Figure 18, the USB connector 7UC may be provided closer to the pen tip than the power supply unit 4G, or an electromagnetic induction coil may be provided instead of the USB connector 7UC, allowing charging to be performed contactlessly from the outside.

[0186] [Modifications of Cap Section] The cap section detachably coupled to the housing main body section 21, 21E in the electronic pen of the above-described embodiment is not limited to the configuration of the above-described cap section 22. Figures 19 to 21 show other configuration examples of the cap section detachably coupled to the housing main body section 21, 21E.

[0187] The cap portion 22H in the example of Fig. 19 is made of an elastic material, in this example, resin, and is made up of a cap main body portion 221H and a screw member 222H. Fig. 19(A) is a diagram showing the state of the cap portion 22H in this example before it is attached and fixed to the housing main body portion 21H, and Fig. 19(B) is a diagram showing the state after it has been attached and fixed to the housing main body portion 21H.

[0188] The cap main body 221H has a cap head 221Ha and an insertion portion 221Hb that is inserted into the hollow portion of the housing main body 21H. A through hole 221Hc is provided at the center of the cap main body 221H. A screw member 222H is inserted and screwed into this through hole 221Hc. A threaded portion 221Hd that screws into the threaded portion 222Ha of the screw member 222H is formed in at least the narrowed portion on the tip side of the insertion portion 221Hb inside the through hole 221Hc.

[0189] As shown in FIG. 19A, a protrusion 221He is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the narrowed portion on the tip side of the insertion portion 221Hb, protruding in a direction intersecting the axial direction.

[0190] 19A and 19B, a ring-shaped recess 21Ha is formed on the inner wall surface of the housing main body 21H that is coupled to the rear end side of the cap portion 22H, in this example, at a position that allows engagement with the protrusion 221He of the insertion portion 221Hb of the cap main body 221H when the cap portion 22H is coupled to the rear end portion of the housing main body 21H.

[0191] The screw member 222H has a screw head 222Hb and a screw shank 22Hc having a threaded portion 222Ha formed at least at the tip end thereof. In this example, the screw shank 22Hc has the same diameter as the threaded portion 222Ha.

[0192] In this example, as shown in FIG. 19A, after the cap main body 221H of the cap part 22H is attached to the rear end side of the housing main body 21, the screw member 222H is inserted into the through hole 221Hc of the cap main body 221H and screwed in.

[0193] Then, as shown in Figure 19 (B), the narrowed portion of the insertion portion 221Hb of the cap main body portion 221H of the cap portion 22H is elastically pushed open in a direction intersecting the axial direction as the screw member 222H is screwed in, and the protrusion portion 221He of the insertion portion 221Hb engages with the recess 21Ha of the housing main body portion 21H, and the cap portion 22H is engaged with the rear end side of the housing main body portion 21H.

[0194] Conversely, when the screw member 222H is removed from the cap main body 221H of the cap portion 22H, the engagement between the protrusion 221He of the insertion portion 221Hb and the recess 21Ha of the housing main body 21H is released as shown in Figure 19 (A), and the cap portion 22H can be separated from the rear end of the housing main body 21H.

[0195] 20 includes a cap body 221I, a locking control member 222I, and a coil spring 223I that constitutes an example of an elastic member. The cap body 221I includes a cylindrical portion 2211I and a cap head 2212I that is provided on one side of the cylindrical portion 2211I in the axial direction.

[0196] The locking control member 222I is provided in a hollow portion of the cylindrical portion 2211I and is locked in a state in which it is pressed and displaced by a coil spring 223I in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In this case, a through hole 2211Ia is formed in the side peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 2211I, and one end 222Ia of the locking control member 222I can be inserted through the through hole 2211Ia of the cylindrical portion 2211I, and the one end 222Ia of the locking control member 222I is configured to protrude further than the outer peripheral surface through the through hole 2211ia of the cylindrical portion 2211I due to the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 223I.

[0197] Furthermore, on the inner wall surface of the housing main body 21I to which the cap portion 22I is joined at the rear end side, a through hole 21Ia is formed into which one end portion 222Ia of the locking control member 222I of the cap portion 22I is inserted and engaged, as shown in Figure 20.

[0198] The cap portion 22I in this example is attached by pushing the cap portion 22I into the rear end portion of the housing main body 21I in a state in which one end portion 222Ia of the locking control member 222I does not protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 2211I of the cap main body 221I. In this attached state, the one end portion 222Ia of the locking control member 222I of the cap portion 22I is inserted into and engaged with the through-hole 21Ia of the housing main body 21I through the through-hole 2211ia of the cylindrical portion 2211I by the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 223I, and the cap portion 22I is locked to the rear end side of the housing main body 21I.

[0199] The cap 22I thus attached to the housing body 21I is removed as follows: In this example, as shown in Fig. 20 , a rod-shaped jig 23I is inserted into the through-hole 21Ia of the housing body 21I, and one end 222Ia of the locking control member 222I of the cap 22I is pressed against the elastic force of the coil spring 223I so as to be housed within the cylindrical portion 2211I.

[0200] This disengages one end 222Ia of the locking control member 222I from the through hole 21Ia of the housing main body 21I, and in this state, by pulling the cap head 2212I of the cap part 22I, the cap part 22I can be separated from the rear end of the housing main body 21I.

[0201] 21A, the cap portion 22J is configured as a single piece of elastic resin. As shown in FIG. 21A, the cap portion 22J in this example is configured with a cap head 221J and two insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J that are formed integrally with the cap head 221J, inserted into the hollow portion of the housing main body 21J, and engaged with the housing main body 21J as described below.

[0202] The two insertion engaging pieces 222J and 223J are provided to stand on a circular surface 221Ja of the cap head 221J facing the hollow portion of the housing body 21J, and are provided at positions that are point-symmetrical with respect to the center of the circular surface 221Ja. In this case, the standing positions of the two insertion engaging pieces 222J and 223J on the circular surface 221Ja of the cap head 221J are set to positions that fit within the hollow portion of the housing body 21J.

[0203] In this example, protrusions 222Ja and 223Ja are provided on the outer peripheries of the tip ends of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J. As shown in Figure 21(A), these protrusions 222Ja and 223Ja protrude in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction to form a step, and have a tapered portion that slopes from this step toward the tip end. In this example, the tip ends of these two insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J are configured to be elastically displaceable in a direction intersecting the axial direction.

[0204] On the other hand, the housing main body 21J to which the cap portion 22J is attached at the rear end side is provided with through holes 21Ja and 21Jb into which the step portions of the convex portions 222Ja and 22Ja of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J respectively engage when the cap portion 22J is attached at the rear end side of the housing main body 21J, as shown in Figure 21 (A).

[0205] The cap portion 22J in this example is attached to and engaged with the rear end portion of the housing body 21J as follows: That is, the cap portion 22J is attached by pushing the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J into the rear end portion of the housing body 21J. Then, the tapered portions of the protrusions 222Ja and 223Ja of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J of the cap portion 22J abut against the inner wall surface of the housing body 21J, and as the cap portion 22J is pushed into the hollow portion of the housing body 21J, the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J are elastically displaced inward so as to approach each other.

[0206] Then, as shown in Figure 21 (A), when the cap head 221J of the cap portion 22J abuts against the ring-shaped end surface on the rear end side of the housing main body portion 21J, the stepped portions of the convex portions 222Ja and 223Ja of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J of the cap portion 22J are positioned so that they can engage with the through holes 21Ja and 21Jb of the housing main body portion 21J.

[0207] Therefore, when the positions of the convex portions 222Ja and 223Ja of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J of the cap portion 22J are aligned with the positions of the through holes 21Ja and 21Jb of the housing main body portion 21J, the step portions of the convex portions 222Ja and 223Ja of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J engage with the through holes 21Ja and 21Jb of the housing main body portion 21J, and the cap portion 22J is engaged with the rear end side of the housing main body portion 21J.

[0208] The cap portion 22J thus attached to the housing body portion 21J is removed as follows using a jig 23J shown in FIG. 21(B).

[0209] As shown in Fig. 21(B), the jig 23J is made of an elastic material, such as resin, and has rod-shaped protrusions 23Jb and 23Jc formed on one end and the other end of the semicircular arc portion 23Ja, extending toward the center of the semicircular arc portion 23Ja. The distance between the tips of the rod-shaped protrusions 23Jb and 23Jc is equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the housing main body 21J. The jig 23J configured in this manner can be elastically displaced by applying a force as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 21(B) to reduce the distance between the tips of the rod-shaped protrusions 23Jb and 23Jc.

[0210] In this example, when separating the cap portion 22J from the housing main body portion 21J, the rod-shaped protrusions 23Jb and 23Jc of the jig 23J are inserted into the through holes 21Ja and 21Jb of the housing main body portion 21J, and then a force as shown in Figure 21 (B) is applied to the jig 23J to shorten the distance between the tips of the rod-shaped protrusions 23Jb and 23Jc.

[0211] Then, the rod-shaped protrusions 23Jb and 23Jc of the jig 23J elastically displace the protrusions 222Ja and 223Ja of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J of the cap portion 22J inward, disengaging the steps of the protrusions 222Ja and 223Ja of the insertion engagement pieces 222J and 223J of the cap portion 22J from the through-holes 21Ja and 21Jb of the housing body 21J. Therefore, when the cap head 221J of the cap portion 22J is pulled in this state, the cap portion 22J can be separated from the rear end of the housing body 21J.

[0212] The configuration of the cap portion is not limited to the above configuration, and it goes without saying that various other configurations are possible.

[0213] As described above, the electronic pen of the present invention uses a rechargeable secondary battery, includes a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery, and includes a USB connector as an example of a charging terminal for connecting an external power source to the charging circuit. If an opening for this USB connector is formed on the peripheral side of the electronic pen housing of the electronic pen, it is desirable to position the opening for the USB connector closer to the rear end of the electronic pen so that it does not interfere with the user's hand when holding the electronic pen. The electronic pen of the embodiment described below is an example that has been designed to solve this problem.

[0214] [Seventh embodiment] An electronic pen 1K according to a seventh embodiment is an example of a configuration in which a small, so-called coin-type lithium ion battery having a short axial length is used as a rechargeable secondary battery. Figure 22 shows the configuration of the electronic pen 1K according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 22(A) being a cross-sectional view of a portion of the electronic pen 1K excluding the pen tip side, and Figure 22(B) being a cross-sectional view of the rear end of the electronic pen 1K on the side opposite the pen tip side.

[0215] In this seventh embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2K is composed of a housing body 21K and a cap portion 22K. As in the above-described embodiments, the housing body 21K has a cylindrical body made of a conductive material, such as metal or resin mixed with conductive powder, and a tapered portion 21Ka made of a non-conductive material, such as resin, attached to the pen tip side (see FIG. 3). In this seventh embodiment, the cap portion 22K is made of a conductive material, such as metal.

[0216] Although not shown in Fig. 22, the configuration of the pen tip side component of the electronic pen body 3K of the electronic pen 1K of the seventh embodiment is the same as that shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 22(A), the electronic pen body 3K of the electronic pen 1K of the seventh embodiment also has a circuit board 30K, which has a circuit configuration similar to that shown in Fig. 11, held by a holder 31K. In the seventh embodiment, a USB connector 7UC, which serves as a charging terminal, is provided in a cutout 30Ka formed on the rear end of the circuit board 30K.

[0217] As in the above-described embodiments, in this seventh embodiment, the ground conductor serving as the negative electrode of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30K is electrically connected to the conductive housing main body 21K. Although not shown in Fig. 22, the electronic pen 1K of this seventh embodiment may also be configured to include a side switch.

[0218] Although not shown in FIG. 22 , an opening (see FIG. 27A , described later) for inserting a USB connector jack into the USB connector 7UC is provided at the rear end of the peripheral side of the housing main body 21K at a position corresponding to the USB connector 7UC of the electronic pen main body 3K. A lid that can be opened and closed can be provided for this opening. The circuitry configured on the circuit board 30K also includes a charging circuit (see FIG. 11 ) that receives external power supply voltage through the USB connector 7UC and charges the electronic pen 1K. As is clear from FIG. 22A , the opening for the USB connector 7UC is located near the rear end of the electronic pen housing 2K in the axial direction, near the tail end where the cap 22K is attached.

[0219] Next, the configuration of the power supply unit 4K electrically connected to the electronic pen main body 3K will be described. In the electronic pen 1K of this seventh embodiment, a coin-type lithium ion battery 40K is housed and locked in the cap 22K to form the power supply unit 4K. Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the components of the power supply unit 4K, and Fig. 24 is an exploded view of the components of the power supply unit 4K. The configuration of the power supply unit 4K in the electronic pen 1K of this seventh embodiment will be described with reference to these figures.

[0220] 22 to 24, the battery 40K in this example has a cylindrical or disc-like shape with a relatively short length in the centerline direction, e.g., 3 to 4 mm, and a diameter of e.g., 5 to 6 mm, and a positive electrode 40Ka is provided on one end surface in the centerline direction. The battery 40K in this example has a negative electrode 40Kb formed over the entire peripheral side surface and the end surface opposite to the one end surface in the centerline direction on which the positive electrode 40Ka is formed.

[0221] As described above, the cap portion 22K is made of a conductive metal in this example and includes a cylindrical recess 22Ka capable of housing the entire battery 40K. In this case, the battery 40K is housed in the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K with the center line of the battery 40K aligned with the center line of the cylindrical recess 22Ka, and with the end surface on which the positive electrode 40Ka is formed exposed to the outside through the opening of the recess 22Ka. In this case, the positive electrode Ka of the battery 40K does not contact the cap portion 22K and is electrically disconnected. Furthermore, the peripheral side surface constituting the negative electrode of the battery 40K and the end surface opposite the positive electrode 40Ka contact and are electrically connected to the inner wall of the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K. Therefore, the cap portion 22K serves as the negative terminal of the power supply unit 4K.

[0222] After the battery 40K is stored in the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K, a ring-shaped stopper 220K (see Figures 23 and 24) having a through hole 220Ka is attached to the opening side of the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K, thereby locking and fixing the battery 40K in the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K.

[0223] In this example, a threaded portion 220Kb is formed on the outer periphery of the ring-shaped stopper 220K, and a threaded portion 22Kc that screws into the threaded portion 220Kb is formed on the inner circumferential wall surface of the recessed portion 22Ka of the cap portion 22K, so that the battery 40K is locked and fixed in the recessed portion 22Ka of the cap portion 22K by screwing the ring-shaped stopper 220K into the recessed portion 22Ka of the cap portion 22K. As shown in Figure 24, the ring-shaped stopper 220K in this example is provided with a groove 220Kc for engaging the tip of a screwdriver tool when the ring-shaped stopper 220K is rotated to screw in the stopper.

[0224] As shown in Figures 22 to 24, the diameter of the through hole 220Ka of the ring-shaped stopper 220K is large enough to fully expose the positive electrode 40Ka of the battery 40K to the outside, and is also large enough so that the terminal pin on the electronic pen main body 3K, which will be described later, can come into contact with the positive electrode 40Ka of the battery 40K through this through hole 220Ka.

[0225] In this example, the cap 22K is attached by being screwed into the opening at the rear end of the housing body 21K. For this reason, as shown in Figures 22B, 23 and 24, a threaded portion 22Kb is formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the cap 22K, and a threaded portion 21Kb that screws into the threaded portion 22Kb is formed on the inner wall surface of the opening at the rear end of the housing body 21K.

[0226] Meanwhile, an electrode pin 34K, which is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30K (corresponding to terminal 3tV in FIG. 3 ) at the rear end of the electronic pen body 3K, is provided so as to protrude in the axial direction of the electronic pen 1K. In this example, the electrode pin 34K is a pogo pin. When the cap 22K is screwed onto the rear end of the housing body 21K, the electrode pin 24K of the pogo pin contacts and elastically presses against the positive terminal 40Ka of the battery 40K through the through-hole 220Ka of the ring-shaped stopper 220K of the power supply 4K.

[0227] In the electronic pen 1K of the seventh embodiment, as described above, the power supply unit 4K is made up of the cap 22K, the battery 40K, and the ring-shaped stopper 220K. When the cap 22K comprising this power supply unit 4K is attached to the opening at the rear end of the housing body 21K, the positive side of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30K of the electronic pen body 3K is electrically connected to the positive electrode 40Ka of the battery 40K via the electrode pin 34K in the form of a pogo pin, and the negative side (ground conductor) of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30K is electrically connected to the negative side of the battery 40K through the conductive housing body 21K and the cap 22K.

[0228] This causes the power supply voltage from the battery 40K to be supplied to the circuit section of the circuit board 30K. When an external power source is connected to the USB connector 7UC, the battery 40K is charged by a charging circuit provided on the circuit board 30K.

[0229] In the electronic pen 1K of the seventh embodiment, the power supply unit 4K can be removed from the electronic pen 1K by removing the cap unit 22K from the rear end side of the housing main body 21K. In the seventh embodiment, the battery 40K can be removed and replaced or discarded by removing the ring-shaped stopper 220K from the cap unit 22K. It should be noted that the power supply unit 4K, which is made up of the cap unit 22K, battery 40K, and ring-shaped stopper 220K, may also be replaced or discarded without removing the battery 40K from the cap unit 22K.

[0230] In the electronic pen 1K of the seventh embodiment, the length of the battery 40K in the centerline direction (axial direction of the electronic pen 1K) is short, and the battery 40K is housed in the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K. This allows the axial position of the USB connector 7UC to be closer to the rear end of the electronic pen housing 2K. This has the advantage that when a user holds and uses the electronic pen 1K, the user's hand does not interfere with the opening of the USB connector 7UC.

[0231] In the seventh embodiment described above, the ring-shaped stopper 220K is screwed into the cap portion 22K to lock and fix the battery 40K within the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K, but the configuration for locking and fixing the battery 40K within the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that various locking and fixing methods are possible.

[0232] 25 and 26 are diagrams showing an example of another configuration for locking and fixing the battery 40K in the recess 22Ka of the cap portion. In the example of Figures 25 and 26, the battery 40K is locked and fixed in the recess 22Ka of the cap portion 22K by pushing the ring-shaped stopper 220K' into the cap portion 22K'. The cap portion 22K' and the ring-shaped stopper 220K' differ from the cap portion 22K and the ring-shaped stopper 220K of the above example only in the method of locking and fixing the battery 40K, and are otherwise similar in configuration. Similar parts are indicated by adding a prime to the reference numerals used in the cap portion 22K and the ring-shaped stopper 220K of the above example, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0233] 25 and 26, the ring-shaped stopper 220K' does not have a threaded portion 220Kb or a groove 220Kc on its peripheral surface, but instead has two engaging protrusions 220Kd1 and 220Kd2 on its peripheral surface. The cap 22K' does not have a threaded portion 22Kb, but instead has two fitting holes 22Kd1 and 22Kd2 into which the engaging protrusions 220Kd1 and 220Kd2 on the peripheral surface of the ring-shaped stopper 220K' fit.

[0234] 25 and 26, after the battery 40K is placed in the recess 22Ka' of the cap portion 22K', the ring-shaped stopper 220K' is pressed into the recess 22Ka' of the cap portion 22K'. The engagement protrusions Kd1 and 220Kd2 of the ring-shaped stopper 220K' then fit into the two fitting holes 22Kd1 and 22Kd2 of the cap portion 22K', locking the ring-shaped stopper 220K' into the cap portion 22K'. This secures the battery 40K in the recess 22Ka' of the cap portion 22K'.

[0235] In the example of Figures 25 and 26, a jig similar to the jig 23J shown in Figure 21 (B) is used to disengage the fitting holes 22Kd1 and 22Kd2 of the cap portion 22K' from the engaging protrusions Kd1 and 220Kd2 of the ring-shaped stopper 220K', thereby removing the ring-shaped stopper 220K' from the cap portion 22K', and the battery 40K in the recess 22Ka' can be removed and replaced or discarded.

[0236] 25 and 26, instead of removing the battery 40K from the cap portion 22K', the power supply portion 4K' consisting of the cap portion 22K', the battery 40K, and the ring-shaped stopper 220K' may be replaced or discarded.

[0237] In the above-described power supply units 4K and 4K', a conductive elastic body may be provided on the bottom and / or inner peripheral wall of the recesses 22Ka and 22K' to ensure a more reliable electrical connection between the negative electrode side of the battery 40K and the cap units 22K and 22K'. If an elastic body is provided on the bottom of the recesses 22Ka and 22K', when the ring-shaped stopper 220K or the ring-shaped stopper 220K' is removed from the cap unit 22K or the cap unit 22K', the elastic force of the elastic body will push the battery 40K toward the opening of the recess 22Ka or the recess 22Ka', thereby making it easier to remove the battery 40K.

[0238] Eighth Embodiment The eighth embodiment is also another example of a configuration in which a coin-type lithium-ion battery is used as the rechargeable secondary battery, and is a modification of the seventh embodiment. In the seventh embodiment, the battery is entirely housed within the recess of the cap and is locked and fixed within the cap. In contrast, in the eighth embodiment, a portion of the battery in the direction of the center line of the cylindrical shape, for example, approximately half, is housed within the recess of the cap, but is not locked and fixed within the cap.

[0239] Figure 27 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1L of this eighth embodiment, where Figure 27(A) is a diagram showing the appearance of the electronic pen 1L, Figure 27(B) is a cross-sectional view of the part of the electronic pen 1L excluding the pen tip side component, and Figure 27(C) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the end part on the rear end side of Figure 27(B).

[0240] In the electronic pen 1L of this eighth embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2L is also composed of a cylindrical housing main body 21L made of a conductive material, such as metal or resin mixed with conductive powder, and a cap portion 22L made of a conductive material, such as metal. As in the above-described embodiments, the housing main body 21L has a tapered portion 21La made of a non-conductive material, such as resin, attached to the pen tip side (see FIG. 3).

[0241] As shown in Figures 27(A) and (B), an opening 7L for the USB connector 7UC is provided at a position near the tail end where the cap portion 22L is attached on the rear end side of the peripheral side of the housing main body portion 21L, and at a position corresponding to the USB connector 7UC of the electronic pen main body portion 3L.

[0242] Although not shown in Fig. 27, the pen tip side components of the electronic pen body 3L of the electronic pen 1L of the eighth embodiment have the same configuration as that shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 27(B), the electronic pen body 3L of the electronic pen 1L of the eighth embodiment also has a circuit board 30L, which has a circuit configuration similar to that shown in Fig. 11, held by a holder 31L. In the eighth embodiment, a USB connector 7UC is disposed in a cutout portion 30La formed on the rear end side of the circuit board 30L, and a charging circuit (see Fig. 11) is also provided for charging the electronic pen 1L by receiving an external power supply voltage via the USB connector 7UC.

[0243] Next, the configuration of the power supply unit 4L electrically connected to the electronic pen body 3L will be described. In the electronic pen 1L of this eighth embodiment, the power supply unit 4L is configured by housing approximately half of a coin-type lithium ion battery 40L in the centerline direction within the cap 22L. The battery 40L used in the electronic pen 1L of this eighth embodiment is the same as the battery 40K in the seventh embodiment described above.

[0244] As described above, the cap portion 22L is made of a conductive metal in this example, and is configured to be screwed into the housing main body portion 21L as shown in Fig. 27(C) . By releasing this screwing, the cap portion 22K can be separated and removed from the housing main body portion 21K.

[0245] The cap portion 22L has a recess 22La for accommodating the battery 40L, and in this eighth embodiment, a coil spring 45 made of conductive metal is attached to the bottom of the recess 22La with one end of the coil spring 45 being engaged and fixed to the bottom.

[0246] As in the seventh embodiment, the battery 40L is stored in the recess 22La of the cap portion 22L with the center line direction of the battery 40L aligned with the center line direction of the cylindrical shape of the recess 22La, and with the end face side on which the positive electrode 40La is formed exposed to the outside through the opening of the recess 22La, but due to the presence of the coil spring 45, about half of the cap portion 22L in the center line direction is not stored within the recess 22La and is exposed to the outside. In this eighth embodiment, the power supply unit 4L does not have the ring-shaped stopper 220K of the seventh embodiment, and the battery 40L is not locked and fixed to the recess 22La of the cap portion, but is free to move in the center line direction.

[0247] Meanwhile, a terminal piece 34L is provided at the rear end of the electronic pen body 3L, and is electrically connected to the positive electrode side (corresponding to the terminal 3tV in FIG. 3) of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30L. In this example, the terminal piece 34L is made of a conductive and elastic metal plate, and has a protrusion 34La that elastically contacts the positive electrode 40La of the battery 40L, as shown in FIGS. 27B and 27C .

[0248] In the electronic pen 1L of the eighth embodiment, as described above, the power supply unit 4L is made up of the cap 22L, the battery 40L, and the coil spring 45. In the electronic pen 1L of the eighth embodiment, the cap 22L, which houses about half of the battery 40L in the centerline direction, is attached to the opening at the rear end of the housing body 21L. This electrically connects the positive electrode of the power supply circuit on the circuit board 30L of the electronic pen body 3L to the positive electrode 40La of the battery 40L via the terminal piece 34L, and the negative electrode (ground conductor) of the power supply circuit on the circuit board 30L to the negative electrode of the battery 40L via the conductive housing body 21L, the cap 22L, and the coil spring 45.

[0249] This causes the power supply voltage from the battery 40L to be supplied to the circuit section of the circuit board 30L. When an external power source is connected to the USB connector 7UC, the battery 40L is charged by a charging circuit provided on the circuit board 30L.

[0250] In the electronic pen 1L of the eighth embodiment, the battery 40L can be removed for replacement or disposal by removing the cap 22L from the rear end of the housing body 21L. In this case, the coil spring 45 always applies an elastic force to the battery 40L in a direction that causes the battery 40L to be removed from the recess 22La, so that the battery 40L can be easily removed by removing the cap 22L from the housing body 21L.

[0251] Furthermore, since the electronic pen 1L of the eighth embodiment uses a coin-type battery 40L, the axial position of the USB connector 7UC can be positioned closer to the rear end of the electronic pen housing 2K, which has the advantage that when a user holds and uses the electronic pen 1K, the opening of the USB connector 7UC does not interfere with the user's hand.

[0252] [Ninth Embodiment] The ninth embodiment is a modification of the eighth embodiment described above, and differs from the eighth embodiment in the coupling configuration between the cap portion and the housing main body and the electrical connection configuration between the battery and the electronic pen main body, but is otherwise similar in configuration. Figure 28 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the main parts of an electronic pen 1M of this ninth embodiment, with Figure 28(A) being an exploded configuration diagram of the rear end side of the electronic pen 1M, Figure 28(B) being a cross-sectional view of the rear end side of the electronic pen 1M, and Figure 28(C) being a cross-sectional view illustrating the electrical connection configuration between a circuit board 30M of an electronic pen main body 3M in the electronic pen 1M and a battery 40M of a power supply unit 4M.

[0253] The battery 40M used in the electronic pen 1M of this ninth embodiment is a coin-type lithium-ion battery similar to the batteries 40K and 40L of the seventh and eighth embodiments, but has a different electrode configuration. As shown in Figures 28A to 28C, the battery 40M in this example has a positive electrode 40Ma and a negative electrode 40Mb formed on one end face in the center line direction. That is, as shown in Figure 28B, the positive electrode 40Ma is formed at a predetermined radius at the center position of one circular end face in the center line direction of the battery 40M, and the negative electrode 40Mb is formed in a ring shape at a predetermined distance from the positive electrode 40Ma.

[0254] The rear end of the electronic pen body 3M is provided with an electrode pin 34M that contacts the positive electrode 40Ma of the battery 40M to establish electrical connection, and an electrode pin 35M that contacts the negative electrode 40Mb of the battery 40M to establish electrical connection. In this example, the electrode pin 35M is configured as a pogo pin.

[0255] 28A, the cap portion 22M of the electronic pen 1M of the ninth embodiment has a recess 22Ma, similar to the cap portion 22L of the eighth embodiment, and a coil spring 45M is provided within the recess 22Ma, one end of which is fastened to the bottom of the recess 22Ma. As in the eighth embodiment, the battery 40M is configured so that approximately half of the battery 40M in the centerline direction is contained within the recess 22Ma of the cap portion 22M, and the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 45M causes the battery 40M to always be displaced toward the opening of the recess 22Ma.

[0256] The cap portion 22M of the electronic pen 1M of this ninth embodiment is made of a non-conductive and elastic material, such as resin. The wall of the peripheral side surface of the recess 22Ma of the cap portion 22M has U-shaped notches formed therein, as shown in Fig. 28(B), to form elastic displacement portions 22Mb and 22Mc that are configured to be elastically displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and are provided at angular intervals of 180 degrees from each other. These elastic displacement portions 22Mb and 22Mc are provided with protrusions 22Md and 22Me that protrude in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0257] On the other hand, near the opening on the rear end side of the housing main body 21M, as shown in Figures 28 (A) and (B), through holes 21Md and 21Me are provided into which the protrusions 22Md and 22Me of the elastic displacement portions 22Mb and 22Mc of the cap portion 22M are fitted.

[0258] In the electronic pen 1M of the ninth embodiment, as described above, the power supply unit 4M is made up of the cap portion 22M, the battery 40M, and the coil spring 45M. In the electronic pen 1M of the ninth embodiment, the cap portion 22M, which houses about half of the battery 40M in the centerline direction, is pushed into the opening on the rear end side of the housing main body 21M. Then, the protrusions 22Md and 22Me of the elastic displacement portions 22Mb and 22Mc of the cap portion 22M fit into the through-holes 21Md and 21Me of the housing main body 21M, and the cap portion 22M is coupled to and attached to the housing main body 21M.

[0259] In this state, the positive conductor of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30M of the electronic pen main body 3M is electrically connected to the positive terminal 40Ma of the battery 40M via the electrode pin 34M, and the earth conductor of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30L is electrically connected to the negative terminal 40Mb of the battery 40L via the electrode pin 35M having a pogo pin configuration.

[0260] In the electronic pen 1M of this ninth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28C , the electrode pins 34M and 35M at the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3M are configured to have different protruding heights in the axial direction of the electronic pen 1M, and a guide portion 36 is provided. The guide portion 36 has a guide wall 36a for guiding movement of the battery 40M toward the center line (axial direction of the electronic pen). By adopting a configuration in which the electrode pins 34M and 35M are configured to have different heights and the guide portion 36 is provided as shown in FIG. 28C , the battery 40M is prevented from tilting when it moves toward the center line (axial direction of the electronic pen). This protects the battery 40M from short-circuiting between the positive electrode 40Ma and the negative electrode 40Mb of the battery 40M when the electrode pins 34M and 35M are connected to the positive electrode 40Ma and the negative electrode 40Mb of the battery 40M.

[0261] By attaching the cap 22M constituting the power supply 4M to the main housing 21M in this manner, the power supply voltage from the battery 40M is supplied to the circuitry on the circuit board 30M. Then, by connecting an external power source to the USB connector 7UC, the battery 40M is charged by a charging circuit provided on the circuit board 30M.

[0262] In the electronic pen 1M of this ninth embodiment, a jig similar to the jig 23J shown in FIG. 21B is used to press the protrusions 22Md and 22Me of the elastic displacement portions 22Mb and 22Mc of the cap portion 22M through the through-holes 21Md and 21Me of the housing main body 21M, thereby disengaging the cap portion 22M from the housing main body 21M and separating the cap portion 22M from the housing main body 21M. In this case, the presence of the coil spring 45M allows the cap portion 22M to easily detach from the housing main body 21M due to its elastic force. That is, as shown in FIG. 28 , the cap portion 22M of the electronic pen 1M of this ninth embodiment is designed without a gripping portion at the end of the housing main body 21M. However, even with this design, the cap portion 22M is easily separated from the housing main body 21M. This allows the battery 40K to be removed from the recess 22Ma of the cap portion 22M and replaced or disposed of.

[0263] In the eighth and ninth embodiments described above, about half of the battery 40L or 40M is housed in the recess 22La or 22Ma of the cap portion 22L or 22M, but the battery may be configured not to be housed in the recess of the cap portion. The tenth embodiment is configured in this manner.

[0264] Figures 29 and 30 are diagrams for explaining the main parts of the configuration of the electronic pen 1N of this tenth embodiment, with Figure 29 being a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the rear end side of the electronic pen 1N, and Figure 30 being a diagram for explaining the battery 40N used in this tenth embodiment. Figure 30(A) is a side view of the battery 40N, and Figure 30(B) is a view of the battery 40N as seen from one end face side in the direction of its center line.

[0265] 29, in the same manner as the electronic pen 1L of the eighth embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2N is configured with a cylindrical housing main body 21N having a tapered portion 21Na made of resin on the pen tip side and made of a conductive material such as a metal or a resin mixed with conductive powder, and a cap portion 22N made of a conductive material, for example, a metal. As in the eighth embodiment, the cap portion 22N is coupled to the housing main body 21N by being screwed into the opening on the rear end side of the housing main body 21N, and can be separated from the housing main body 21N by unscrewing it.

[0266] The cap portion 22N has a recess 22Na, and a coil spring 45N made of a conductive metal is attached to the recess 22Na with one end thereof fastened to the bottom of the recess 22Na. In the tenth embodiment, the coil spring 45N is long enough to protrude from the recess 22Na of the cap portion 22N.

[0267] The battery 40N used in this tenth embodiment is also a small coin-type lithium ion battery, but in this tenth embodiment, the diameter of the battery 40N is larger than the diameter of the recess 22Na of the cap portion 22N, as shown in Figures 29 and 30. The battery 40N in this example has a positive electrode 40Na formed on one end face in the center line direction, and a negative electrode 40Nb formed over the entire peripheral side surface and the end face opposite to the one end face in the center line direction on which the positive electrode 40Na is formed.

[0268] Meanwhile, a terminal piece 34N is provided at the rear end of the electronic pen body 3N, and is electrically connected to the positive electrode side (corresponding to the terminal 3tV in FIG. 3) of the power supply circuit of the circuit board 30N. In this example, the terminal piece 34N is made of a conductive and elastic metal plate, and has a protrusion 34Na that elastically contacts the positive electrode 40Na of the battery 40N.

[0269] In the electronic pen 1N of the tenth embodiment, as described above, the power supply unit 4N is composed of the cap 22N, battery 40N, and coil spring 45N. In the electronic pen 1N of the tenth embodiment, the battery 40N is inserted into the housing body 21N through the rear opening of the housing body 21N, positive terminal 40Na first. The cap 22N is then screwed onto the housing body 21N to close the rear opening. This electrically connects the positive terminal of the power supply circuit on the circuit board 30N of the electronic pen body 3N to the positive terminal 40Na of the battery 40N via the terminal piece 34N, and the negative terminal (ground conductor) of the power supply circuit on the circuit board 30N to the negative terminal of the battery 40N via the conductive housing body 21N, cap 22N, and coil spring 45N.

[0270] This causes the power supply voltage from the battery 40N to be supplied to the circuit section of the circuit board 30N. When an external power source is connected to the USB connector 7UC, the battery 40N is charged by a charging circuit provided on the circuit board 30N.

[0271] In the electronic pen 1N of the tenth embodiment, the battery 40N can be removed for replacement or disposal by removing the cap 22N from the rear end of the housing main body 21N. Furthermore, since the electronic pen 1N of the tenth embodiment also uses a coin-type battery 40N, the axial position of the USB connector 7UC can be positioned closer to the tail end of the rear end of the electronic pen housing 2N. This has the advantage that when a user holds and uses the electronic pen 1N, the opening of the USB connector 7UC does not interfere with the user's hand.

[0272] [Eleventh Embodiment] An electronic pen 1P of an eleventh embodiment is an example of a case in which a rechargeable secondary battery is used that is cylindrical and has a relatively long length in the direction of the center line. Figure 31 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1P of this eleventh embodiment, with Figure 31(A) being an exploded configuration diagram of the electronic pen 1P and Figure 31(B) being a cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1P excluding the pen tip side.

[0273] As shown in Fig. 31(A), the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment is composed of a housing main body 21P having a tapered portion 21Pa coupled to the pen tip side, a cap portion 22P, and a pen module 100 housed in the housing main body 21P. The electronic pen housing 2P is formed by attaching the cap portion 22P to the rear end side of the housing main body 21P. As shown in Fig. 31(B), a coil spring 221P is housed in the cap portion 22P. When the cap portion 22P is attached to the housing main body 21P, the coil spring 221P presses the pen module 100 in the housing main body 21P so as to elastically displace it toward the pen tip side.

[0274] The pen module 100 includes an electronic pen body 3P and a power supply 4P aligned axially, and is provided with a USB connector 7UC. As shown in FIG. 31B , in the electronic pen 1P of this eleventh embodiment, the holder 31P of the electronic pen body 3P extends rearward, and the extension includes a storage section 311P for the power supply 4P. This storage section 311P has a storage space 311Pa that is slightly longer than the axial length of the cylindrical battery 40P. In the electronic pen 1P of this eleventh embodiment, the battery 40P is configured to be stored in the storage space 311Pa of the storage section 311P from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the electronic pen 1P. Therefore, the side of the storage space 311Pa of the storage section 311P where the battery 40P is inserted is open.

[0275] In the electronic pen 1P of this eleventh embodiment, the holder 31P extends further rearward than the storage portion 311P, and a holding portion 312P for the USB connector 7UC is provided at the extension. As in the above-described embodiments (excluding the fourth embodiment), the USB connector 7UC (connector jack) is held and fixed by the holding portion 312P so that an external USB connector plug can be inserted from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing main body 21P.

[0276] In the electronic pen 1P of this eleventh embodiment, the circuit board is separated into a circuit board 30PA on the electronic pen main body 3P side and a circuit board 30PB on the USB connector 7UC side by a storage section 311P for the power supply section 4P. The configuration of the pen tip side component of the electronic pen main body 3P is not shown in Fig. 31, but is the same as that shown in Fig. 3 above. Also, although not shown in Fig. 31, the circuit board 30PA and the circuit board PB are electrically connected via the storage section 311P, for example, by a flexible substrate.

[0277] A wall is provided on the circuit board 30PA side of the storage section 311P of the power supply section 4P of the holder 31P. A terminal member 41Pa to which the positive electrode of the battery 40P is connected is provided on the circuit board 30PB side of the storage section 311P. In this example, the terminal member 41Pa is made of a conductive and elastic metal plate, is provided so as to elastically contact the positive electrode of the battery 40P, and is electrically connected to the circuit board 30PB.

[0278] 31B, the battery 40P used in the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment is a lithium ion battery having a long, thin cylindrical shape, and has a positive electrode on one end surface in the direction of the center line (in this example, on the circuit board 30PB side), and a negative electrode on the peripheral side surface and the other end surface in the direction of the center line. Note that the battery 40P in this example may be a standalone secondary battery, or may be configured like the battery unit 40 described above.

[0279] In this embodiment, the peripheral side of the battery 40P is used as the negative electrode for connection, and a terminal member 41Pb that contacts the peripheral side of the battery 40P is provided on the bottom side of the storage space 311Pa of the storage section 311P, where the battery 40P is inserted, as shown in Figure 31(B) . In this example, this terminal member 41Pb is made of a conductive and elastic metal plate, and is provided so as to elastically contact the peripheral side, which is the negative electrode, of the battery 40P, and is electrically connected to the circuit board 30PA.

[0280] In this case, the elastic force of the terminal member 41Pb is relatively strong, and even when the battery 40P is inserted into the storage space 311Pa, an elastic force acts against the insertion direction of the battery 41P into the storage space 311Pa, so that, for example, the positive electrode of the battery 40P and the terminal member 41Pa remain out of contact with each other. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 4P is made up of the battery 40P, the terminal member 41Pa, and the terminal member 41Pb.

[0281] In this example, the electronic pen main body 3P and power supply 4P of the holder 31P configured as described above are housed in a cylindrical module case 101 as shown in Fig. 31(A), with the holding portion 312P on the rear end side of the holder 31P exposed to the outside, thereby forming the pen module 100. As shown in Fig. 31(A), an opening 101a is provided on the peripheral side of the module case 101 at a position corresponding to the opening of the storage space 311Pa of the storage portion 311P for the battery 40P, for inserting the battery 40P into the storage space 311Pa of the storage portion 311P from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0282] In the electronic pen 1P of this eleventh embodiment, the pen module 100 is inserted from the opening at the rear end of the housing body 21P with the pen tip side facing forward, and then the cap part 22P is attached to the rear end of the housing body 21P, thereby forming the electronic pen 1P. In this state, the pen module 100 is always elastically biased toward the pen tip side by the coil spring 221P provided in the cap part 22P, and is locked in a state where it cannot move axially within the electronic pen housing 2P.

[0283] In Figure 31 (A), the pen module 100 is shown to have a core body 5 attached thereto, but in reality, the core body 5 is attached to the pen module 100 by being inserted through the opening of the tapered portion 21Pa after the pen module 100 is stored in the electronic pen housing 2P.

[0284] When the pen module 100 is housed in the electronic pen housing 2P, as shown in Fig. 31(B), the side peripheral surface of the battery 40P housed in the housing space 311Pa of the housing portion 311P, which is exposed from the housing portion 311P and the opening 101a of the module case 101, abuts against the inner wall surface of the housing main body 21P. That is, when the pen module 100 is housed in the electronic pen housing 2P, the housing space 311Pa of the housing portion 311P and the opening 101a of the module case 101 are closed by the housing main body 21P. The battery 40P is always pressing against the inner wall of the housing main body 21P due to the elastic force of the terminal member 41Pb. That is, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 31 (C), within the electronic pen 1P, the peripheral side surface of the battery 40P is in contact with the inner wall surface of the housing main body portion 21P, and the center line position of the battery 40P is in an eccentric position that is deviated from the center line position of the electronic pen 1P.

[0285] Next, a configuration for connecting and disconnecting the cap portion 22P to and from the housing main body portion 21P will be described with reference to Fig. 32. Fig. 32(A) is a diagram showing the appearance of the rear end side of the electronic pen 1P, Fig. 32(B) is an exploded configuration diagram of the rear end side of the electronic pen 1P, and Fig. 32(C) is a cross-sectional view of the rear end side of the electronic pen 1P.

[0286] The cap portion 22P of the electronic pen 1P of this eleventh embodiment is made of a non-conductive and elastic material, such as resin. As shown in Figures 32(B) and (C) , the wall of the peripheral side surface of the recess 22Pa of the cap portion 22P has U-shaped notches formed therein, as shown in Figure 32(B), to form elastic displacement portions 22Pb and 22Pc that are configured to be elastically displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and are provided at angular intervals of 180 degrees from each other. These elastic displacement portions 22Pb and 22Pc are provided with protrusions 22Pd and 22Pe that protrude in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0287] On the other hand, near the opening on the rear end side of the housing main body 21M, as shown in Figures 32 (A), (B) and (C), through holes 21Pd and 21Pe are provided into which the protrusions 22Pd and 22Pe of the elastic displacement portions 22Pb and 22Pc of the cap portion 22P are fitted.

[0288] As described above, when the cap portion 22P is pushed into the opening at the rear end of the housing main body portion 21P into which the pen module 100 has been inserted, the protrusions 22Pd and 22Pe of the elastic displacement portions 22Pb and 22Pc of the cap portion 22P engage with the through holes 21Pd and 21Pe of the housing main body portion 21P, and the cap portion 22P is coupled to and attached to the housing main body portion 21P.

[0289] In the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment, a jig similar to the jig 23J shown in FIG. 21B is used to press the protrusions 22Pd and 22Pe of the elastic displacement portions 22Pb and 22Pc of the cap portion 22P through the through holes 21Pd and 21Pe of the housing main body 21P, thereby disengaging the cap portion 22P from the housing main body 21P and separating the cap portion 22P from the housing main body 21P. In this case, due to the presence of the coil spring 221P, the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 221P allows the cap portion 22P to easily detach from the housing main body 21P. That is, as shown in FIG. 32A , the cap portion 22P of the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment is designed so that there is no gripping portion at the end of the housing main body 21P. However, even with this design, the cap portion 22P is easily separated from the housing main body 21P.

[0290] In the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment, the cap portion 22P is separated from the housing body portion 21P, and then the pen module 100 is pulled out from the housing body portion 21P. Fig. 33(A) is a diagram showing a state in which the pen module 100 is pulled out from the housing body portion 21P and the storage portion 311P is exposed to the outside of the housing body portion 21P, and Fig. 33(B) is a cross-sectional view of that portion.

[0291] 33(A) and 33(B), when the opening 101a (storage section 311P) of the pen module 100 is exposed to the outside of the housing main body 21P, the housing main body 21P no longer blocks the storage space 311Pa and the opening 101a of the module case 101, and therefore, as shown in Fig. 33(B), the elastic force of the terminal member 41Pb pushes the battery 40P up from the opening 101a of the module case 101 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing main body 21P. This allows the battery 40P to be easily removed from the storage section 311P and replaced or discarded.

[0292] In the above-described eleventh embodiment, the positive electrode of the battery 40P is connected to the circuit board 30PB, and the negative electrode of the battery 40P is connected to the circuit board 30PA. However, the positive electrode of the battery 40P may be connected to the circuit board 30PA, and the negative electrode of the battery 40P may be connected to the circuit board 30PB. In the above-described eleventh embodiment, the terminal member 41Pb is a member that also serves as an elastic member that elastically displaces the battery 40P in the direction of ejection from the storage portion 311P. However, the terminal member and the elastic member may be configured separately. The electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment may also be configured with a side switch.

[0293] [Twelfth Embodiment] The twelfth embodiment is a modified example of the eleventh embodiment. In the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment, the battery 40P is removed by removing the cap 22P from the housing body 21P and then pulling the pen module 100 out of the housing body 21P. In contrast, in the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment, the cap is coupled to the rear end of the pen module, and when the cap is separated from the housing body, the pen module can be pulled out from the housing body by holding the cap. Furthermore, in the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment, the pen module is not pulled out entirely from the housing body, but is pulled out only a distance that allows the battery to be removed.

[0294] 34A is a diagram showing the appearance of the electronic pen 1Q of this twelfth embodiment, and the electronic pen housing 2Q is configured, similarly to the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment, by attaching a cap portion 22Q to the rear end side of a housing main body 21Q to which a tapered portion 21Qa is joined on the pen tip side. In this case, the cap portion 22Q is joined to and separated from the housing main body 21Q in a configuration similar to that of the cap portion 22P in the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment.

[0295] The cap portion 22Q is made of, for example, resin, and has elastic displacement portions 22Qb and 22Qc (elastic displacement portion 22Qc is not shown) on which protrusions 22Qd and 22Qe (protrusion 22Qe is not shown) are respectively provided, as shown in Fig. 34(B) . At the rear end side of the housing main body 21Q, as shown in Fig. 34(A) , through holes 21Qd and 21Qe (through hole 21Qe is not shown) into which the protrusions 22Qd and 22Qe of the elastic displacement portions 22Qb and 22Qc of the cap portion 22Q are fitted.

[0296] Then, the protrusions 22Qd and 22Qe of the elastic displacement portions 22Qb and 22Qc of the cap portion 22Q fit into the through holes 21Qd and 21Qe of the housing main body portion 21Q, and the cap portion 22Q is coupled to and attached to the housing main body portion 21Q. The coupling between the housing main body portion 21Q and the cap portion 22Q is released by removing the engagement between the protrusions 22Qd and 22Qe and the through holes 21Qd and 21Qe using a tool or the like.

[0297] The electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment is also configured so that the pen module 100Q can be inserted into and pulled out from the housing main body 21Q. Figures 34B and 34C are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of the pen module 100Q in the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment.

[0298] The pen module 100Q of the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment has the same configuration as the pen module 100 of the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment, but differs in the configuration described below.

[0299] First, the pen module 100Q is configured such that an electronic pen main body 3Q (not shown in FIG. 34) and a power supply 4Q of a holder 31Q (not shown) configured similarly to the holder 31P in the above-described pen module 100 are housed in a cylindrical module case 101Q, with a holding portion 312Q on the rear end side of the holder 31Q exposed to the outside. The electronic pen main body 3Q is configured similarly to the electronic pen main body 3P of the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment.

[0300] The power supply unit 4Q in the pen module 100Q of the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment has a configuration as shown in Fig. 35(A). The battery 40Q used in the twelfth embodiment has the same configuration as the battery 40P.

[0301] A terminal member 41Qa, to which the positive electrode of the battery 40Q is connected in this example, is provided on the circuit board 30QA side (the circuit board on the electronic pen main body 3Q side) of the storage section 311Q of the power supply section 4Q of the holder 31Q. In this example, the terminal member 41Qa is made of a conductive and elastic metal plate, and is provided so as to elastically contact the positive electrode of the battery 40Q and is electrically connected to the circuit board 30QA.

[0302] Furthermore, a terminal member 41Qb to which the negative electrode of the battery 40Q is connected is provided on the circuit board 30QB side of the storage section 311Q (the circuit board on the USB connector 7UC side). In this example, the terminal member 41Qb is also made of a conductive and elastic metal plate and is electrically connected to the circuit board 30QB.

[0303] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 35(A), a coil spring 42Q is provided at the bottom of the storage space 311Qa of the storage section 311Q in the holder 31Q, where the battery 40Q is inserted, so that an elastic force acts against the insertion direction of the battery 41Q into the storage space 311Qa. As a result, as shown by the dotted arrow in Fig. 35(A), an elastic displacement force is applied to the battery 40Q from the storage space 311Qa and the opening 101Qa of the module case 101Q in the ejection direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0304] In the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment, when the pen module 100Q is stored in the electronic pen housing 2Q, the storage space 311Qa of the storage section 311Q and the opening 101Qa of the module case 101Q are blocked by the housing main body 21Q. Fig. 35(A) shows the state in which the pen module 100Q is pulled out from the rear end side of the housing main body 21Q up to the power supply unit 4Q, and the opening 101a of the module case 101Q is not blocked by the housing main body 21Q.

[0305] In this case, in the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment, the inner wall portion of the rear end side of the housing main body 21Q facing the opening 101Qa of the module case 101Q is formed as a thin-walled portion 21Qf with a so-called weight reduction, as shown in Fig. 35(A). Therefore, as shown in Fig. 35(A), when the pen module 100Q is pulled out from the rear end side of the housing main body 21Q to the power supply unit 4Q, a gap is formed between the peripheral side surface of the battery 40Q and the thin-walled portion 21Qf.

[0306] Due to the presence of a gap between the peripheral side surface of this battery 40Q and the thin-walled portion 21Qf, and the fact that a force is constantly applied to the battery 40Q by the coil spring 42Q, which elastically displaces the battery 40Q toward the opening 101Qa of the module case 101Q, the negative electrode side of the battery 40Q is pushed up and can be displaced and sucked into an oblique position, thereby releasing the electrical connection between the negative electrode and the terminal member 41Qb, making it easy to remove from the storage section 311Q.

[0307] That is, as shown in FIG. 35A , even if one end of the battery 40Q in the centerline direction (in this example, the positive terminal side) is still stored in the housing main body 21Q, the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 42Q generates a force against the other end of the battery 40Q in the centerline direction (in this example, the negative terminal side), which lifts the negative terminal side of the battery 40Q, as indicated by the dotted arrow in FIG. 35A . In this case, because there is a space between the positive terminal side of the battery 40Q and the thin-walled portion 21Qf at the rear end of the housing main body 21Q, the negative terminal side of the battery 40Q is released from electrical contact with the terminal member 41Qb and displaces upward, so that it pops out. This allows the battery 40Q to be easily removed from the storage section 311Q. At this time, the electrical connection between the negative terminal of the battery 40Q and the terminal member 41Qb is released, and the pen module 100R is electrically inoperative.

[0308] In the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment, the same effects as those described above can be obtained by providing a thin portion by hollowing out the inner wall of the rear end of the housing main body 21P.

[0309] The second difference between the pen module 100Q of the electronic pen 1Q of this 12th embodiment and the pen module 100 of the electronic pen 1P of the 11th embodiment is that in the 12th embodiment, the cap portion 22Q is connected to the rear end side of the pen module 100Q.

[0310] 35(B) is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which a cap part 22Q is coupled to the rear end side of the pen module 100Q. In this example, as shown in FIG. 35(B), a holding part 312Q on the rear end side of the pen module 100Q is provided with two coupling arms 312Qa and 312Qb extending in the axial direction from positions spaced apart by an angular interval of 180 degrees from each other. Engagement protrusions 312Qc and 312Qd that protrude in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction are formed on the tip sides of the coupling arms 312Qa and 312Qb, respectively.

[0311] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 35 (B), the cap portion 22Q has a coil spring 221Q housed within a recess 22Qa, and protrusions 22Qf and 22Qg are provided on the inner wall surface of the recess 22Qa to engage with the engaging protrusions 312Qc and 312Qd of the connecting arms 312Qa and 312Qb of the holding portion 312Q.

[0312] To attach the cap portion 22Q to the rear end side of the pen module 100Q, the arms 312Qa and 312Qb of the holding portion 312Q are housed in the recess 22Qa of the cap portion 22Q, and the cap portion 22Q is pushed toward the rear end side of the pen module 100Q. Then, the protrusions 22Qf and 22Qg of the cap portion 22Q climb over and engage with the engaging protrusions 312Qc and 312Qd of the connecting arms 312Qa and 312Qb. This engagement between the engaging protrusions 312Qc and 312Qd of the connecting arms 312Qa and 312Qb and the protrusions 22Qf and 22Qg prevents the cap portion 22Q from coming off the rear end side of the pen module 100Q.

[0313] The cap part 22Q is coupled to the housing main body 21Q as described above, and in this coupled state, the pen module 100Q is elastically displaced toward the pen tip by the coil spring 221Q, preventing the pen module 100Q from displacing axially within the electronic pen housing 2Q. Then, when the cap part 22Q is released from the housing main body 21Q as described above, the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 221Q causes the cap part 22Q and the pen module 100Q to be ejected outward from the opening on the rear end side of the housing main body 21Q.

[0314] This configuration in which the cap portion 22Q is attached to the pen module 100Q makes it easy to slide the pen module 100Q in the axial direction, and since the cap portion 22Q will not separate as a single unit, it is possible to prevent the cap portion 22Q from being lost.

[0315] The third difference between the pen module 100Q of the electronic pen 1Q of this 12th embodiment and the pen module 100 of the electronic pen 1P of the 11th embodiment is that in the 12th embodiment, the pen module 100Q is not slid in the axial direction so that the entire pen module is pulled out from the housing main body 21Q to the outside, but is configured to slide only a distance that allows the battery 40Q to be removed.

[0316] The module case 101Q of the pen module 100Q of the electronic pen 1Q of this twelfth embodiment does not have a constant outer diameter. As shown in Figures 34(B) and (C), the portion on the electronic pen main body 3Q side is a small-diameter portion 101Qb whose outer diameter is smaller than that of the power supply unit 4Q. This small-diameter portion 101Qb is inserted into a cylindrical slide guide 110 whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 101Qb. As shown in Figures 34(B) and (C), a guide hole 110a is formed in the slide guide 110 over a predetermined length in the axial direction. The axial length of this guide hole 110a corresponds to the distance over which the battery 40Q can be removed.

[0317] A protrusion 101Qbp that fits into the guide hole 110a of the slide guide 110 is formed on the peripheral side of the small diameter portion 101Qb of the module case 101Q. As shown in Figures 34(B) and (C) , the small diameter portion 101Qb slides relative to the slide guide 110, causing the pen module 100Q to move as a whole relative to the slide guide 110. This sliding movement is achieved by the protrusion 101Qbp on the peripheral side of the small diameter portion 101Qb of the module case 101Q moving along the guide hole 110a of the slide guide 110, and the moving distance is limited to the axial length of the guide hole 110a.

[0318] In the electronic pen 1Q of this twelfth embodiment, the slide guide 110 is fixed to the pen tip side inside the housing main body 21Q, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 34(A). When the cap part 22Q is coupled to the housing main body 21Q, the convex part 101Qbp of the small diameter part 101Qb of the pen module 100Q is located at the tip side position in the axial direction of the guide hole 110a of the slide guide 110, as shown in Figs.

[0319] When the cap part 22Q and the housing main body 21Q are released from the connection, the pen module 100Q can slide together with the cap part 22Q by the predetermined length described above. Figure 34(D) is a diagram showing a state in which the pen module 100Q has been pulled out by the slidable distance, and the convex part 101Qbp of the small diameter part 101Qb of the pen module 100Q is positioned at the rearmost position in the axial direction of the guide hole 110a of the slide guide 110.

[0320] In the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment, the pen module 100Q can be pulled out to the state where the positive electrode side of the battery 40Q is still housed at the rear end of the housing main body 21Q, as shown in FIG. 35A. As described above, even if the positive electrode side of the battery 40Q is still housed at the rear end of the housing main body 21Q, as shown in FIG. 35A, the battery 40Q can be removed. In this way, by minimizing the length of the pen module 100Q pulled out from the housing main body 21Q, bending of the pen module 100Q can be minimized. Furthermore, the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment also achieves the same effects as the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment.

[0321] 34A to 34C show that the pen module 100Q can slide when the core body 5 is attached, but in reality, the pen module 100Q is slid after the core body 5 is pulled out of the pen module 100Q. After the cap portion 22Q is coupled to the housing main body portion 21Q, the core body 5 is inserted from the opening of the tapered portion 21Pa and attached to the pen module 100Q.

[0322] The electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment can also be configured to include a side switch.

[0323] [Thirteenth Embodiment] The electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment is also an example of a case in which a battery 40R is used as a rechargeable secondary battery, which has a cylindrical shape and a relatively long length in the direction of the centerline, similar to the batteries 40P and 40Q of the eleventh and twelfth embodiments described above. The electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment also has a configuration in which the battery can be removed by sliding the pen module axially out from the housing portion on the pen tip side of the electronic pen housing.

[0324] This thirteenth embodiment of the electronic pen 1R will be described, focusing on the differences from the eleventh and twelfth embodiments described above. Parts that are similar to those of the eleventh and twelfth embodiments described above will be indicated by the same numbers with the suffix R, and their description will be simplified or omitted.

[0325] Figure 36 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration of the electronic pen 1R of this thirteenth embodiment. As shown in Figures 36(A) and (B), the electronic pen housing 2R of this electronic pen 1R of this thirteenth embodiment is composed of a pen tip side housing 21R and a rear end side housing 22R. As will be described in detail later using Figure 37, this electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment is configured to include a pen module 100R having a configuration similar to that of the pen module 100 of the electronic pen 1P of the eleventh embodiment. The rear end side housing 22R is fixedly attached to the rear end side of the pen module 100R with a holding portion 312R of the USB connector 7UC on the rear end side of this pen module 100R housed therein.

[0326] The electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment is configured by inserting the pen module 100R, having the rear end housing 22R fixed to the rear end thereof, into the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21R through an opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21R. In this case, in the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment, the pen module 100R is locked in an axially immovable state relative to the pen tip side housing 21R at a position where the ring-shaped end surface on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21R and the ring-shaped end surface on the pen tip side of the rear end side housing 22R abut, as described below. Note that the core body 5 is removed when inserting the pen module 100R into the pen tip side housing 21R, and after the pen module 100R is locked in an axially immovable state relative to the pen tip side housing 21R, it is inserted through the opening of the tapered portion 21Ra and attached to the pen module 100R.

[0327] In this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, this locked state is configured to be released by applying a force perpendicular to the axial direction using a rod-shaped member or the like through the lock release hole 21Rg provided in the pen tip side housing 21R.

[0328] In this embodiment, after the lock is released as described above, the electronic pen 1R can be slid axially to separate the rear end housing 22R from the pen tip housing 21R, as shown in FIG. 34 . In this case, as with the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment, the sliding distance of the thirteenth embodiment is configured to be the shortest distance possible for removing the battery 40R. That is, as with the twelfth embodiment, when the battery 40R is slid so that a portion of the battery 40R is located within the pen tip housing 21R along the centerline, the positive electrode portion of the battery 40R is pushed up and tilted, as shown in FIG. 36 (B), allowing for easy removal of the battery 40R. In FIG. 36 , 6R denotes the operating portion of a side switch.

[0329] Next, a detailed configuration example of the electronic pen 1R of this thirteenth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 37 to 40. Figure 37(A) is a diagram showing the configuration of the pen tip side housing 21R, and Figure 37(B) is a diagram showing the entire pen module 100R with the rear end side housing 22R attached to the rear end side. Figure 38 is an exploded configuration diagram of the pen module 100R. Figure 39 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1R shown in Figure 36(A). Figure 40(A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the joint between the pen tip side housing 21R and the rear end side housing 22R in Figure 39. Figure 40(B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1R in a state where the pen module 100R with the rear end side housing 22R attached to the rear end side has been slid axially from the pen tip side housing 21R and pulled out to a position where the battery 40R can be removed, as shown in Figure 36(B).

[0330] In the electronic pen 1R of this thirteenth embodiment, as shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 39 and 40(A), a pipe-shaped member 46 configured to cover the periphery of the power supply unit 4R of the pen module 100R is provided at the rear end side of the hollow part of the pen tip side housing 21R and is fixed to the inner wall surface of the pen tip side housing 21R. As shown in Figures 39 and 40(A), this pipe-shaped member 46 is fixed to the pen tip side housing 21R in a state where the ring-shaped end face on the rear end side in the axial direction is positioned substantially coincident with the ring-shaped end face of the pen tip side housing 21R.

[0331] In this case, the upper rear end of the pipe-shaped member 46 has a cutout 46a at the side where the battery 40R of the power supply unit 4R is exposed, as shown in Fig. 37(A). This cutout 46a, like the thin portion 21Qf of the housing main body 21Q of the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment described above, functions to enable the battery 40R to be moved in the removal direction at an angle as shown in Fig. 36(B) even when the battery 40R is partially housed within the housing as shown in Fig. 40(B).

[0332] As shown in FIG. 38, the pen module 100R is made up of a holder 31R, a cover 313 that covers the top of the holder 31R, and a module case 101R that houses the holder 31R and cover 313 combined together.

[0333] The holder 31R has the same configuration as the eleventh embodiment described above, and includes a portion for the electronic pen main body 3R, a storage portion 311R for the power supply 4R, and a holding portion 312R for the USB connector 7UC. The holder 31R is provided with a circuit board 30RA on the electronic pen main body 3R side and a circuit board 30RB on the USB connector 7UC side, separated by the power supply 4R, and the circuit board 30RA and the circuit board RB are electrically connected by a connecting member made of a flexible substrate 314, as shown in Figures 38 to 40 .

[0334] In the power supply unit 4R, as shown in Figures 38 to 40, similar to the power supply unit 4Q in the case of the electronic pen 1Q of the 12th embodiment, terminal members 41Ra and 41Rb are provided on the circuit board 30RA side and the circuit board 30RB side of the storage section 311R of the holder 31R to contact the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 40R and make an electrical connection.

[0335] 38 to 40, an elastic member 42R configured to exert an elastic force against the insertion direction of the battery 41R into the storage section 311R is provided on the bottom side of the storage space of the storage section 311R in the holder 31R, where the battery 40R is inserted. This elastic member 42R applies an elastic displacement force to the battery 40R in a direction that ejects the battery 40R from the storage space of the storage section 311R, perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0336] In the electronic pen 1R of this thirteenth embodiment, the opening of the storage space of the storage unit 311R on the discharge side of the battery 40R is blocked by the pipe-shaped member 46. However, because this pipe-shaped member 46 is fixed to the pen tip side housing 21R, it is essentially equivalent to the opening of the storage space of the storage unit 311R on the discharge side of the battery 40R being blocked by the pen tip side housing 21R.

[0337] The rear end housing 22R is connected to the pen module 100R in such a way that the holding portion 312R of the USB connector 7UC, which is the combined holder 31R and cover 313, is housed inside the rear end housing 22R.

[0338] The cover 313 has an opening 313a for allowing the battery 40R to be inserted into the storage compartment 311R from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, an opening 313b for attaching the side switch operation unit 6, and an elastic piece 313c with a U-shaped notch that allows elastic deformation in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The elastic piece 313c is provided with a protrusion 313cp.

[0339] The elastic piece 313c is a member for locking the pen module 100R within the pen tip side housing 21R. In this embodiment, a notch 313aw is formed on the pen tip side of the cover opening 313a so as to extend the opening 313a in the axial direction. Similar to the thin portion 21Q of the housing main body 21Q of the electronic pen 1Q of the twelfth embodiment described above, this notch 313aw also functions to enable the battery 40R to be moved obliquely in the removal direction as shown in FIG. 36(B) even when part of the battery 40R is stored within the housing.

[0340] In this thirteenth embodiment, as shown in Figures 38 to 40, a coil spring 315 as an example of an elastic member is provided at a position of the holder 31R corresponding to the position of the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c of the cover 313 so as to constantly elastically displace the elastic piece portion 313c outward.

[0341] 38, the cover 313 is further provided with an engaging protrusion 313d that protrudes in the axial direction at a position that is a predetermined distance toward the pen tip from the position of the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece 313c in the axial direction. In this embodiment, two engaging protrusions 313d are provided at positions that are 90 degrees apart from the position of the elastic piece 313c in the circumferential direction of the pen module 100R, and are spaced 180 degrees apart from each other.

[0342] As will be described later, the engaging protrusion 313d engages with the pipe-shaped member 46 to stop the pen module 100R from being pulled out from the pen tip side housing 21R in the states shown in Figures 36(B) and 40(B). The axial distance between the position of the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c and the engaging protrusion 313d corresponds to the distance over which the pen module 100R can be pulled out from the pen tip side housing 21R.

[0343] As shown in Figure 38, the module case 101R is provided with an opening 101a so that the battery 40R can be stored in the storage section 311R from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, an opening 101b for attaching the side switch operating section 6, an opening 101Rc so that the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece section 313c provided on the cover 313 can protrude outward, and an opening 101Rc so that the engagement protrusion 313d can protrude outward.

[0344] The pen module 100R shown in Fig. 37(B) is constructed by fixing the rear end housing 22R to the cover 313 and the holding portion 312R of the combined holder 31R and cover 313, and inserting the portion closer to the pen tip than the holding portion 312 into the module case 101R. As shown in Fig. 37(B), in the pen module 100R, the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c protrudes from the opening 101Rc, and the engagement protrusion 313d protrudes from the opening 101Rd.

[0345] With the core body 5 of the pen module 100R, which has the rear end housing 22R configured as described above connected to its rear end, removed, the pen module 100R is inserted into the pen tip housing 21R from its rear end. Then, as shown in FIGS. 39 and 40A, when the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece 313c of the cover 313 protruding from the pen module 100R climbs over the pipe-shaped member 46, the elastic force of the coil spring 315 displaces the protrusion 313cp toward the inner wall of the pen tip housing 21R. As a result, the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece 313c engages with the pipe-shaped member 46, preventing the pen module 100R from falling off the rear end of the pen tip housing 21R and locking the pen module 100R in the pen tip housing 21R so that it cannot move in the axial direction. In this way, the electronic pen 1R shown in FIG. 36A is configured in this thirteenth embodiment. In this case, an elastic member (not shown) is provided on the pen tip side of the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21R. The elastic force of this elastic member causes the pen module 100R inserted into the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21R to be elastically displaced toward the rear end at all times.

[0346] 39 and 40A, in the electronic pen 1R, the unlocking hole 21Rg of the pen tip side housing 21R is located at the top of the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece 313c. With the electronic pen 1R in this state, when the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece 313c is pressed down through the unlocking hole 21Rg of the pen tip side housing 21R against the elastic force of the coil spring 315 using, for example, a rod-shaped member, the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece 313c is disengaged from the pipe-shaped member 46, thereby releasing the lock. At this time, the elastic force of the elastic member provided on the pen tip side of the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21R displaces the pen module 100R toward the rear end, and the protrusion 313cp moves to the bottom of the module case 101R. In other words, at the same time as the pen tip side housing 2R and the pen module 100R are unlocked, the pen module 100R moves so as to pop out toward the rear end relative to the pen tip side housing 2R, maintaining the unlocked state, and the pen module 100R can be pulled out from the opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21R.

[0347] 36(B) and 40(B), when the pen module 100R is pulled out to a state where the battery 40R can be removed, the engaging protrusion 313d of the cover 313 engages with the pipe-shaped member 46 (not shown), preventing further pulling. In this state, as shown in Fig. 40(B), the negative side of the battery 40R is still stored in the pen tip side housing 21R, but in the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment, there is space in the removal direction of the portion of the pen tip side housing 21R where the battery 40R is stored, due to the cutout 313aw of the opening 313a of the cover 313 and the cutout portion 46a of the pipe-shaped member 46, so that the battery 40R can be displaced by tilting it obliquely as shown in Fig. 36(B).

[0348] Therefore, in the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment, as in the twelfth embodiment, the pen module 100R can be pulled out by sliding it to the minimum extent, thereby easily removing the battery 40R for replacement or disposal. In addition, the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment also achieves the same effects as the twelfth embodiment.

[0349] [Fourteenth Embodiment] The fourteenth embodiment is a modified example of the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment. In the thirteenth embodiment, the rear housing 22R is fixed to the holding portion 312R of the USB connector 7UC at the rear end of the pen module 100R, and the entire pen module 100R is slid and pulled out together with the rear housing 22R. Therefore, in order to slide the pen module 100R, it is necessary to pull out and remove the core 5 in advance, as shown in FIG. 36(B). However, this is a tedious task, and there is also a risk of losing the pulled-out core 5.

[0350] The electronic pen 1R' of the fourteenth embodiment improves on the problems of the thirteenth embodiment. Fig. 41 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1R' of the fourteenth embodiment. In the description of Fig. 41, parts similar to those of the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. Fig. 41(A) is a cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1R' of the fourteenth embodiment excluding the pen tip side, and Fig. 41(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the rear end housing 22R has been slid and the power supply unit 4R has been pulled out to a state in which the battery 40R can be removed.

[0351] The pen module 100R' in the electronic pen 1R' of this fourteenth embodiment is the same as the pen module 100R of the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment, but separated in the axial direction into an electronic pen main body 3P side and a rear end side relative to the power supply unit 4R. The rear end housing 22R is fixed to a holding portion 312R on the rear end side of the pen module 100R'. The rear end side portion of the pen module 100R' to which the rear end housing 22R is fixed is locked to the pen tip side housing 21R, and by releasing this lock, it can be slid relative to the pen tip side housing 21R and pulled out a predetermined distance. The pen tip side portion of the electronic pen main body 3R of the pen module 100R is attached to the pen tip side of the pen tip side housing 21R in a state where it cannot move in the axial direction.

[0352] That is, as shown in Figure 41 (A), in this 14th embodiment of the electronic pen 1R', the holder 31R and circuit board 30RA in the 13th embodiment of the electronic pen 1R are divided in two in the axial direction into a holder 31RA and circuit board 30RA1 on the electronic pen main body 3R side, and a holder 31RB and circuit board 30RA2 on the power supply unit 4R and holding unit 312R side.

[0353] The circuit boards RA1 and 30RA2 are electrically connected by a flexible board 316 whose length takes into account the sliding distance required to remove the battery 40R. In this case, as shown in Figure 41 (A), the flexible board 316 is in a bent state when the rear end portion of the pen module 100R', where the rear end housing 22R is fixed to the pen tip housing 21R, is locked. The circuit board 30B on the holding portion 312R side of the USB connector 7UC is electrically connected to the circuit board 30RA2 via the flexible board 314.

[0354] The cover is also divided into two parts, a pen tip side cover 313A and a rear end side cover 313B, to match the division of the holder and the circuit board. In this case, the elastic piece 313c with the protrusion 313cp is formed on the rear end side cover 313B. Furthermore, although not shown, an engagement protrusion 313d for restricting sliding movement is also formed on the rear end side cover 313B.

[0355] Since the electronic pen 1R' of the 14th embodiment is configured as described above, when, in the state shown in Figure 41 (A), a force perpendicular to the axial direction is applied by a rod-shaped member or the like through the unlock hole 21Rg of the pen tip side housing 21R, the engagement between the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c of the cover 313B of the pen module 100R' and the pipe-shaped member 46 is released, and the rear end portion of the pen module 100R' to which the rear end side housing 22R is fixed becomes able to slide.

[0356] 41B, when the rear end of the pen module 100R' is pulled out far enough to allow the battery 40R to be removed, the engaging projection 313d of the cover 313B engages with the pipe-shaped member 46 (not shown), preventing further removal. As with the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment, the battery 40R can be easily removed in the state shown in FIG.

[0357] In the electronic pen 1R' of the 14th embodiment, the same effects as those of the electronic pen 1R of the 13th embodiment can be obtained, and in addition, the pen tip side portion of the pen module 100R' is configured not to move in the axial direction within the pen tip side housing 21R, so even when sliding the rear end side to remove the battery 40R, there is no need to remove the core body 5. This simplifies the operation of removing the battery 40R and has the effect of preventing the core body 5 from being lost.

[0358] [Fifteenth Embodiment] The fifteenth embodiment, like the fourteenth embodiment, is an example of a configuration in which it is not necessary to remove the core body 5 when removing the battery. Fig. 42 is a diagram for explaining an example configuration of an electronic pen 1S of this fifteenth embodiment. In this electronic pen 1S of this fifteenth embodiment, the pen module 100R in the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment can be used as is, so in the explanation of Fig. 42, the components of the pen module 100R are given the same reference numerals as those in the electronic pen 1R of the thirteenth embodiment, and explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0359] Fig. 42(A) is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the electronic pen 1S of the 15th embodiment, Fig. 42(B) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the battery 40R is removed from the electronic pen 1S, and Fig. 42(C) is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the electronic pen 1S of the 15th embodiment excluding the pen tip side. As shown in Figs. 42(A) to (C), in the electronic pen 1S of the 15th embodiment, as in the electronic pen 1R of the 13th embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2S is made up of a pen tip side housing 21S and a rear end side housing 22S.

[0360] However, in the electronic pen 1S of the fifteenth embodiment, the axial length of the pen tip side housing 21S is short enough that, when the pen module 100R is stored, the protruding portion of the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c of the cover 313 is exposed from the opening 101Rc of the module case 101R, as shown in Fig. 42(B). The pen module 100R is configured to be stored in the pen tip side housing 21S in a state where it cannot move in the axial direction.

[0361] 42(B), the rear end housing 22S is not fixed to the pen module 100R, but is configured to be able to slide freely relative to the pen module 100R. The axial length of the rear end housing 22S is set to a length that can cover the power supply unit 4R and the holding portion 312R of the USB connector 7UC of the pen module 100R, and also can cover the portion where the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c of the cover 313 protrudes from the opening 101Rc of the module case 101R.

[0362] The rear end housing 22S has an engagement hole 22Sg into which the protrusion 313cp protruding from the opening 101Rc of the module case 101R of the pen module 100R is fitted when the ring-shaped end surface on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21S and the ring-shaped end surface on the pen tip side of the rear end housing 22S are butted together and joined, as shown in Figures 42 (A) and (C).

[0363] 42(B), when the rear housing 22S is moved to a position where the ring-shaped end surface on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21S and the ring-shaped end surface on the pen tip side of the rear housing 22S are abutted against each other so as to cover the rear end side of the pen module 100R, the protrusion 313cp of the pen module 100R fits into the engagement hole 22Sg of the rear housing 22S, and the rear housing 22S is locked so as not to move in the axial direction relative to the pen module 100R, thereby forming the electronic pen 1S shown in FIG. 42(A). In this state, as shown in FIG. 42(C), the opening of the storage section 311R for the battery 40R of the pen module 100R facing the ejection direction of the battery 40R and the upper part of the opening 101Ra of the module case 101R are covered by the rear housing 22S. As shown in FIGS. 42A and 42B, an opening 7S for the USB connector 7UC provided on the pen module 100R is provided on the side periphery of the rear housing 22S.

[0364] In this state, when the electronic pen 1S is pressed against the elastic force of the coil spring 315 by using, for example, a rod-shaped member to press the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c through the engagement hole 22Sg of the rear end housing 22S, the engagement between the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c and the engagement hole 22Sg of the rear end housing 22S is released, and only the rear end housing 22S can be slid and removed, as shown in Figure 42 (B).

[0365] Figure 42(D) is a cross-sectional view of the pen tip side housing 21S and pen module 100R when the rear end side housing 22S in Figure 42(B) has been removed. As shown in Figure 42(D), in this state there is nothing blocking the removal direction of the battery 40R, and furthermore, an elastic force is applied to the battery 40R by the elastic member 42R in the ejection direction of the battery 40R, so the battery 40R is lifted in the ejection direction and can be easily removed. The fifteenth embodiment also has the same effects as the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0366] [16th Embodiment] The 16th embodiment is a modification of the 15th embodiment. In the electronic pen 1S of the 15th embodiment, the rear housing 22S is configured to be detachable from the pen module 100R and is separable. In contrast, in the electronic pen 1S' of the 16th embodiment, the rear housing 22S is configured to be slidable relative to the pen module 100R only to a position where the battery 40R can be removed. Figure 43 shows a diagram illustrating the main components of the electronic pen 1S' of this 16th embodiment. Figure 43(A) shows a state in which the rear housing 22S has been slid and pulled out to a position where the battery 40R can be removed, and Figure 43(B) is a cross-sectional view thereof.

[0367] 43A, in the electronic pen 1S' of the 16th embodiment, an engaging protrusion 22Sp is provided on the inner wall of the rear housing 22S, and an engaging protrusion 313e is also provided on the side peripheral surface of the holding portion 312R of the USB connector 7UC of the pen module 100R. In the electronic pen 1S' of the 16th embodiment, the engaging protrusion 22Sp and the engaging protrusion 313e engage with each other, so that the rear housing 22S is locked at that position to prevent sliding movement in the pull-out direction.

[0368] In the electronic pen 1S' of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 43 (A) and (B), the portion on the pen tip side of the rear end housing 22S corresponding to the opening in the ejection direction from the storage section 311R of the battery 40R and the opening 101Ra of the module case 101R is made into a thin-walled portion 22Sf with a hollowed-out portion.

[0369] Therefore, in the electronic pen 1S' of the sixteenth embodiment, as in the electronic pen 1R of the eleventh embodiment described above, as shown in Figures 43(A) and (B), the presence of the thin portion 22Sf, in combination with the elastic force of the elastic member 42R, allows the battery 40R to be displaced as shown by the arrow in Figure 43(A) even when one axial end of the battery 40R (in the example of Figure 43, the positive electrode side) is housed in the rear housing 22S, making it easy to remove the battery 40R. The sixteenth embodiment also has the same effects as the above-described embodiments.

[0370] [Seventeenth Embodiment] An electronic pen 1T of the seventeenth embodiment corresponds to a modified example of the pen tip side housing 21S and the rear end side housing 22S of the fifteenth embodiment. Fig. 44 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1T of this seventeenth embodiment, Fig. 44(A) is a diagram showing the appearance of the example of the configuration of the electronic pen 1T of this seventeenth embodiment, and Figs. 44(A) and (B) are diagrams showing a state where the rear end side housing is removed. Also, Fig. 44(D) is a cross-sectional view of the pen tip side housing 21S and the rear end side housing 22S in a coupled state.

[0371] 44A, in the electronic pen 1T of the seventeenth embodiment, the pen module 100R is also housed in an electronic pen housing 2T. In the electronic pen 1T of the seventeenth embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2T is made up of a pen tip side housing 21T and a rear end side housing 22T.

[0372] As shown in Fig. 44A, the pen tip side housing 21T is configured as a cylindrical body capable of housing the entire pen module 100R within its hollow portion. In this example, the pen tip side housing 21T also has a tapered portion 21Ta connected to the pen tip side. The pen module 100R is housed in the pen tip side housing 21T in a state where it cannot move in the axial direction.

[0373] In the electronic pen 1T of the seventeenth embodiment, an elongated hole 21Th is formed on the rear end side of the housing of the pen tip side housing 21T so as to expose to the outside the side portions of the power supply unit 4R and the holding portion 312R of the USB connector 7UC of the pen module 100R housed in the pen tip side housing 21T. As shown in Figures 44(B) and (C) , this elongated hole 21Th is provided on the opening side of the storage portion 311R for the battery 40R so that the battery 40R can be removed from the power supply unit 4R of the housed pen module 100R.

[0374] The rear end housing 22T includes a cap portion 22Ta that covers the rear end opening of the tip side housing 21T when coupled to the tip side housing 21T, and an arm-shaped slide portion 22Tb that extends from the cap portion 22Ta toward the tip side and covers the elongated hole 21Th. A protruding portion 22Tc is formed on the side of the arm-shaped slide portion 22Tb. As shown in FIG. 44(D), this protruding portion 22Tc fits into the inner wall surface of the side of the elongated hole 21Th of the tip side housing 21T. The presence of this protruding portion 22Tc allows the rear end housing 22T to slide toward the rear end of the tip side housing 21T without falling off. In this example, the cap portion 22Ta has a protruding portion 22Td that fits into the rear end opening of the tip side housing 21T, as shown in FIG. 44(C).

[0375] Furthermore, an engagement hole 22Tg is provided near the tip end on the pen tip side of the arm-shaped slide portion 22Tb of the rear-end housing 22T, which engages with a protrusion 313cp of an elastic piece portion 313c provided on a cover 313 of the pen module 100R housed in the pen tip side housing 21T. When the rear-end housing 22T is slid from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21T toward the pen tip side and pushed in until the opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21T is closed by the cap portion 22Ta, the elastic force of the coil spring 315 causes the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c to enter the engagement hole 22Sg of the rear-end housing 22S, and the rear-end housing 22T is locked to the pen module 100R fixed to the pen tip side housing 21T.

[0376] In this state of the electronic pen 1T, if the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c is pressed down against the elastic force of the coil spring 315 by, for example, a rod-shaped member through the engagement hole 22Tg of the arm-shaped slide portion 22Tb of the rear-end housing 22T, the engagement between the protrusion 313cp of the elastic piece portion 313c and the engagement hole 22Tg of the arm-shaped slide portion 22Tb of the rear-end housing 22T is released, and the rear-end housing 22T can be slid and removed as shown in Figures 44 (B) and (C).

[0377] 44(B) and 44(C), in this state there is nothing blocking the removal direction of the battery 40R, and as described above, the elastic member 42R applies an elastic force to the battery 40R in the ejection direction, so the battery 40R is lifted in the ejection direction and can be easily removed. The seventeenth embodiment also has the same effects as the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0378] [Eighteenth Embodiment] The electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment is an example of a configuration in which the electronic pen 1U is separated into a first housing portion on the pen tip side and a second housing portion on the rear end side, so that the battery can be removed from the housing, and waterproof and dustproof measures are taken to prevent a short circuit between the positive and negative terminals of the battery due to moisture or dust. The electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment is also configured to provide dustproof and waterproof measures for the electronic circuit components mounted on the electronic pen main body 3U.

[0379] The electronic pen 1U of this eighteenth embodiment is an example of an electromagnetic induction electronic pen. As is well known, some electromagnetic induction electronic pens do not require a battery. However, when generating and transmitting a digital value based on the writing pressure applied to the tip of the core detected by a writing pressure detection unit, when generating and outputting additional information such as electronic pen identification information as a digital signal, or when transmitting the writing pressure information, identification information, or other additional information via short-range wireless communication, a power source for the circuitry for generating and transmitting the digital signal is required. The electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment is an example that is equipped with a battery as a power source for this purpose. Note that the eighteenth embodiment is not limited to electromagnetic induction electronic pens, but can be applied to all electronic pens that use batteries, such as the active capacitance electronic pen described above.

[0380] Figure 45 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of the configuration of an electronic pen 1U according to an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 45(A) showing the overall appearance and example configuration of the electronic pen 1U, and Figure 45(B) being an exploded perspective view for explaining the main components of the electronic pen 1U. Figure 45(B) is also a diagram showing a state in which the electronic pen 1U has been separated into a first housing portion on the pen tip side and a second housing portion on the rear end side, with the battery removed from the housing.

[0381] In this 18th embodiment of the electronic pen 1U, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 45 (A), the electronic pen main body 3U and power supply unit 4U are stored in the axial direction within the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2U, and the second housing portion is axially connected to the first housing portion, so that the electronic pen main body 3U and power supply unit 4U cannot move in the axial direction.

[0382] The electronic pen body 3U inputs a position indication using a position detection sensor, and in this embodiment, is configured using an electromagnetic induction system. The power supply 4U supplies the necessary power supply voltage to the electronic pen body 3U, and in this example, is configured using a rechargeable battery 40U. The electronic pen body 3U is provided with a charging circuit for the battery 40U. The battery 40U that constitutes the power supply 4U may be a primary battery. In this example, the power supply 4U is configured only with the battery 40U, and therefore, in the following explanation, the power supply 4U will be described as the battery 40U.

[0383] 45A and 45B, the electronic pen housing 2 in this first embodiment is composed of a cylindrical pen tip side housing 21U, which is an example of a first housing portion on the pen tip side, and a rear end side housing 22U, which is an example of a second housing portion on the rear end side. The pen tip side housing 21U has a tapered portion 21Ua that gradually tapers toward the pen tip side, which is one end side in the axial direction, and in this example, this tapered portion 21Ua and the entire housing are made of resin. In this example, the rear end side housing 22U is also made of resin.

[0384] An opening 21Uaa (not shown in FIG. 45 , see FIG. 53 ) through which the core 5U is inserted is formed at the tip of the tapered portion 21Ua of the pen tip side housing 21U. As shown in FIGS. 45A and 45B , the core 5U is attached to the pen tip side of the electronic pen main body 3U with its tip portion 5Ua protruding from the opening 21Uaa of the tapered portion 21Ua of the pen tip side housing 21U. The core 5U is made of a nonmagnetic and nonconductive material, in this example, resin. In this embodiment, the electronic pen main body 3U includes a side switch 6US (see FIGS. 46 and 48 , described below), and an operating unit 6U for controlling the side switch 6US (e.g., on / off control) is provided on the side peripheral surface of the pen tip side housing 21U in an operable manner. The operation unit 6U is disposed in a through-hole 21Uc formed on the peripheral side surface of the pen tip side housing 21U.

[0385] As shown in Figure 45 (B), the rear-end housing 22U has an insertion section 221U that is inserted into the rear end of the nib-side housing 21U and a closing section 222U that closes the opening on the rear end of the nib-side housing 21U. The insertion section 221U of the rear-end housing 22U has an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow section of the nib-side housing 21U and has a hollow section with a predetermined inner diameter. In this example, the closing section 222U of the rear-end housing 22U has a flange that extends from the end on the rear end of the insertion section 221U so as to have an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the nib-side housing 21U.

[0386] Within the hollow portion of the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U, as will be described later, there are provided a locking member 23U (see Figure 49) for maintaining the connection with the pen tip side housing 21U when connected to the pen tip side housing 21U, and a connecting member 24U (see Figure 49 described later) for electrically connecting one of the positive and negative terminals of the battery 40U, the negative terminal in this example, to the circuit board of the electronic pen main body portion 3U. Figure 45 (B) shows a state in which a locking piece 231Ua provided on an upper member 231U (see Figure 49) that constitutes a main part of the locking member 23U provided in the hollow portion of the insertion portion 221U of the rear end housing 22U protrudes from the opening 221Ua of the insertion portion 221U in a state in which it can be elastically displaced in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction as described below, and also shows an electrode pin 241U that contacts the negative terminal of the battery 40U and a connecting conductor piece 242U as a conductive member for electrical connection with the earth conductor of the circuit board 30U of the electronic pen main body portion 3U.

[0387] In this 18th embodiment of the electronic pen 1U, when the battery 40U is inserted into the rear end side of the electronic pen main body 3U, the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U is inserted into the pen tip side housing 21U from the opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U, and is pushed in until the closing portion 222U of the rear end side housing 22U abuts against the end portion on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U.

[0388] In this 18th embodiment, when the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U is pushed into the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21U, the locking piece 231Ua is configured to elastically displace toward the inside of the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U so as not to interfere with the pushing.

[0389] When the rear end housing 22U is pushed into the tip housing 21U until its closing portion 222U abuts against the end face of the rear end opening of the tip housing 21U, the locking piece 231Ua elastically protrudes in the axial direction and engages with a step in the tip housing 21U. This locks the rear end housing 22U from the tip housing 21U, preventing it from coming off, and the two are joined to form the electronic pen housing 2U. In this state, the electrode pin 241U comes into contact with the negative electrode of the battery 40U.

[0390] As shown in FIG. 45A, a through-hole 21Uh is provided on the rear side of the tip housing 21U for disengaging the tip housing 21U from the rear housing 22U. When the rod-shaped tip of the disengaging tool 25U is inserted into this through-hole 21Uh, a locking piece 231Ua provided on the insertion portion 221U of the rear housing 22U is pushed toward the insertion portion 221U. This disengages the locking piece 231Ua from a step in the tip housing 21U, disengaging the rear housing 22U from the tip housing 21U. The rear housing 22U can then be removed from the opening at the rear end of the tip housing 21U. Removing the rear housing 22U allows the battery 40U to be removed from the opening at the rear end of the tip housing 21U, as shown in FIG. 45B. Details of the configuration of the above-mentioned locking member 23U provided in the insertion portion 221U of the rear end housing 22U and the connecting member 24U for electrically connecting the negative terminal of the battery 40U to the earth conductor of the circuit board of the electronic pen main body portion 3U will be described later.

[0391] Next, an example of the internal configuration of the electronic pen 1U of this 18th embodiment will be described. Fig. 46 shows cross-sectional views of the electronic pen 1U, with Fig. 46(A) being a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the board surface of the circuit board 30U of the electronic pen main body 3U, and Fig. 46(B) being a cross-sectional view taken along a plane parallel to the board surface of the circuit board 30U. Figs. 47(A) and (B) are enlarged views of the rear end sides of Figs. 46(A) and (B), respectively.

[0392] Fig. 48 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic pen housing 2U of the electronic pen 1U and its internal components. Fig. 49 is an exploded perspective view of the rear end housing 22U and its internal components. Fig. 50 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the pen tip side opening 21Uaa of the pen tip side housing 21U of the electronic pen 1U.

[0393] 46(A), 46(B), and 48, the electronic pen body 3U of the electromagnetic induction type electronic pen 1U of this embodiment has a circuit board 30U held by a holder 31U made of an insulating material, in this example, resin. The holder 31U has a boat-like shape that extends from the pen tip side to the rear end side in the axial direction of the electronic pen body 3U, and has a mounting portion for the circuit board 30U and a holding portion for the pen tip side component.

[0394] The pen tip side component of the electronic pen main body 3U of the electromagnetic induction type electronic pen 1U of this embodiment includes a coil member formed by winding a coil 321U around a magnetic core, such as a ferrite core 322U, a writing pressure transmission member 8U, and a writing pressure detection unit 9U. As shown in FIG. 50 , the ferrite core 322U has an axial through-hole 322Ua. The core body main body 5Ub of the core 5U is inserted through the through-hole of the ferrite core 322U and attached to the writing pressure transmission member 8U (see FIGS. 46(A) and 46(B)). In this case, as shown in FIG. 50 , the core 5U is attached so that its tip end 5Ua protrudes from the tip-side opening 21Uaa of the pen tip side housing 21U. The writing pressure transmission member 8U serves to transmit writing pressure applied to the tip end 5Ua of the core 5 to the writing pressure detection unit 9U.

[0395] The holding portion of the pen tip side component of the holder 31U is configured as a cylindrical portion 31UH. The writing pressure transmission member 8U and the writing pressure detection unit 9U are housed and held within the cylindrical portion 31UH of the holder 31U. In addition, a coil member holder 323U is attached to the pen tip side of the cylindrical portion 31UH of the holder 31U. As shown in Figures 46(A) and (B), the coil member holder 323U holds the rear end side of the ferrite core 322U, thereby holding the coil member.

[0396] In the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 46(A), (B), 48, and 50, a cap member 324U constituting a sealing member for waterproofing and dustproofing is provided at the tip of the ferrite core 322U around which the coil 321U is wound. The cap member 324U is made of an elastic material, such as elastic rubber, and has a cap shape that covers the tip side of the ferrite core 322U and has an opening (through hole) 324a for inserting the core body main body portion 5Ub of the core body 5U. In this example, the cap member 324U has a skirt-like appearance with a flared bottom, as shown in Figure 50.

[0397] 46(A) and 46(B), the electronic pen main body 3U and battery 40U, which are arranged in the axial direction, are elastically pressed toward the pen tip side as a whole within the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2U of the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment. Therefore, the cap member 324U separates the external space of the opening 21Uaa of the pen tip side housing 21U from the space containing the coil member and the writing pressure detection unit 9U, thereby providing dustproof and waterproof protection.

[0398] Furthermore, the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment is configured so that the space through the through-hole 322Ua of the ferrite core 322U is isolated from the space in which the coil member and the writing pressure detection unit 9U are present. This configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

[0399] Fig. 51A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the coil member holder 323U, pressure transmission member 8U, and writing pressure detection unit 9U in the electronic pen main body 3U of the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment. Fig. 51B is an external perspective view of the coil member holder 323U, and Fig. 51C is an external perspective view of the pressure transmission member 8U.

[0400] The coil member holder 323U is made of an elastic material, such as elastic rubber. As shown in Figures 51(A) and 51(B), the coil member holder 323U has a fitting portion 3231U that fits and stores the non-wound portion of the ferrite core 322U, and a protrusion 3232U that is press-fit into the hollow portion 81Ua of the pen pressure transmission member 8U. The protrusion 3232U of the coil member holder 323U has a through-hole 3232Ua that communicates with the through-hole of the fitting portion 3231U, so that the core body main body portion 5Ub of the core 5U can be inserted through the coil member holder 323U and pressed into the pressure transmission member 8U.

[0401] In this example, two ring-shaped protrusions 3232Ub and 3232Uc are provided on the side peripheral surface of the protrusion 3232U of the coil member holder 323U, as shown in Figures 51(A) and (B). These ring-shaped protrusions 3232Ub and 3232Uc allow the coil member holder 323U to fit onto the pen pressure transmission member 8U without creating a gap between the coil member holder 323U and the inner wall of the hollow portion 81Ua of the pen pressure transmission member 8U. These two ring-shaped protrusions 3232Ub and 3232Uc also serve as sealing members for dustproofing and waterproofing. Note that, although two ring-shaped protrusions 3232Ub and 3232Uc are formed on the protrusion 3232U in this example, only one ring-shaped protrusion may be used.

[0402] As shown in Figures 51(A) and 51(C), the writing pressure transmission member 8U is configured by integrally forming a cylindrical body portion 81U having a hollow portion 81Ua therein and a barrier 82U that closes the hollow space of the hollow portion 81Ua of the cylindrical body portion 81U. A pressing member 83U is housed within the hollow portion 81Ua of the cylindrical body portion 81U. As shown in Figure 51(A), the core body main body portion 5Ub of the core body 5U is press-fitted into a fitting recessed hole 83Ua of the pressing member 83U. However, if the core body 5U is pulled strongly toward the tip end portion 5Ua, the core body 5U can be pulled out of the pressing member 83U. In other words, the core body 5U is replaceable.

[0403] 51(A) and 51(C), a recess is formed in the thin plate, and the recessed portion is made thin-walled, allowing for elastic deformation in the thickness direction of the plate. In this embodiment, the barrier 82U is made of an elastic material, such as an elastomer, and in combination with the thin-walled portion of the recessed portion, it is configured to be more elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the plate.

[0404] The cylindrical body 81U may be made of a non-elastic material, such as a resin, or may be made of an elastomer like the barrier 82U. When the cylindrical body 81U is made of a non-elastic material and the barrier 82U is made of an elastic elastomer, the pen pressure transmission member 8U may be manufactured by two-color molding.

[0405] Prior to press-fitting the coil member holder 323U into the cylindrical body portion 81U of the writing pressure transmission member 8U, the pressing member 83U is stored in the hollow portion 81Ua of the cylindrical body portion 81U so that the fitting recessed hole 83Ua faces the opening side of the cylindrical body portion 81U and the side opposite the fitting recessed hole 83Ua abuts against the barrier 82U. Because the outer diameter of the pressing member 83U is larger than the through-hole 3232Ua of the protrusion 3232U of the coil member holder 323U, when the coil member holder 323U is press-fitted into the hollow portion 81Ua of the cylindrical body portion 81U, the pressing member 83U is stored in the hollow portion 81Ua without falling out of the writing pressure transmission member 8U.

[0406] When the core body main body portion 5Ub of the core body 5U is press-fitted into the pressing member 83U in the hollow portion 81Ua of the pen pressure transmission member 8U and pen pressure is applied to the core body 5U, the pressing member 83U presses the barrier 82U of the pen pressure transmission member 8U, and the barrier 82U elastically moves in the axial direction in accordance with the applied pen pressure.

[0407] As described above, in the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment, the hollow space formed by the through-hole 322Ua of the ferrite core 322U of the coil member, the through-hole of the coil member holder 323U, and the hollow portion 81Ua of the writing pressure transmission member 8U is blocked by the barrier 82U of the writing pressure transmission member 8U. The ring-shaped protrusions 621, 622 of the coil member holder 323U allow the coil member holder 323U to be fitted to the writing pressure transmission member 8U without creating a gap between the coil member holder 323U and the writing pressure transmission member 8U. Therefore, in the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment, the hollow space formed by the through-hole 322Ua of the ferrite core 322U, the through-hole of the coil member holder 323U, and the hollow portion 81Ua of the writing pressure transmission member 8U is in communication with the outside through the opening 21Uaa, but is isolated from the internal space of the electronic pen 1U, providing dustproofing and waterproofing.

[0408] 51(A), the pen pressure detection unit 9U has a known variable capacitance capacitor configuration in which a first electrode 91U faces one surface of a dielectric 93U via a ring-shaped spacer 92U, and a second electrode is provided on the other surface of the dielectric 93U. The first electrode 91U is formed in a plate shape from a conductive elastic material such as conductive rubber. Although not shown, the first electrode 91U and the second electrode are electrically connected to the circuit board 30U via a connecting portion 94U, which is made of resin with a conductive pattern.

[0409] When writing pressure is applied to the tip 5Ua of the core body 5U, the pressing member 83U of the writing pressure transmission member 8U presses the barrier 82U, displacing the barrier 82U toward the rear end in the axial direction. This displacement of the barrier 82U causes the conductive elastic member constituting the first electrode 91U to contact one end surface of the dielectric 93U via the ring-shaped spacer 92U. The contact area at this time corresponds to the writing pressure applied to the tip 5Ua of the core body 5U. The variable capacitance capacitor constituting the writing pressure detection unit 9U exhibits a capacitance corresponding to the contact area, and the writing pressure applied to the tip 5Ua of the core body 5U is detected from the capacitance of this variable capacitance capacitor.

[0410] 46(A), 46(B), 48, and 51(A), in the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment, an O-ring 325U made of an elastic material is provided on the outer peripheral side surface, in this example, the rear end side, of the cylindrical body portion 81U of the holder 31U that houses the writing pressure transmission member 8U and the writing pressure detection unit 9U as described above, and this O-ring 325U prevents a gap from occurring between the inner wall surface of the pen tip side housing 21U and the cylindrical body portion 81U. This O-ring 325U blocks the space on the pen tip side opening 21Uaa side of the O-ring 325U from the space rearward of the O-ring 325U within the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 21U, thereby blocking the external space through the pen tip side opening 21Uaa from the space rearward of the O-ring 325U, which also serves to prevent dust and water.

[0411] Next, on the surface of the circuit board 30U of the electronic pen body 3U, there are provided a capacitor connected to the coil 321U wound around the ferrite core 322U to form a resonant circuit for electromagnetic induction coupling with the position detection sensor, and a control circuit (not shown) that converts the writing pressure detected by the writing pressure detection unit 9U into a digital value and sends it to the position detection device, as described above. Also, in this embodiment, a side switch 6US that is turned on and off by the operation unit 6U is provided on the surface of the circuit board 30U, as shown in Figures 46(A), 46(B) and 48.

[0412] In this example, as shown in FIG. 48, an operation unit mounting and transmission member 60U is provided between the operation unit 6U and the side switch 6US to engage the operation unit 6U with the electronic pen 1U and to transmit the pressing operation of the operation unit 6U to the side switch 6US.

[0413] In this embodiment, the rear end of the electronic pen 1U includes an electrode pin 327U at the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3U, which is electrically connected to one of the electrodes of the battery 40U, the positive electrode in this example, as shown in Figures 46(A), (B), 47(A), (B), and 48. This electrode pin 327U is electrically connected to a conductor pattern connected to the positive side of the power supply terminal of the circuit board 30U, as shown in Figures 46(A), (B), and 47(A), (B). The tip of the electrode pin 327U protrudes from the rear end face of the holder 31U toward the battery 40U and is in contact with the positive electrode of the battery 40U, as shown in Figures 46(A), (B), and 47(A), (B).

[0414] In the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment, the surface of the circuit board 30U is covered with a resin coating layer 326U made of, for example, ultraviolet-curable resin, as shown in Figures 46(A), 47(A), and 51(A). In this case, the side switch 6US has an operating element that is pressed by the operating unit 6U exposed to the outside without being coated, but the electrical contact portion of the side switch 6US is covered with the resin coating layer. Furthermore, not only the side switch 6US but also other electrical contact portions, such as those electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery 40U, are covered with the resin coating layer. Therefore, even if moisture or dust enters through the through-hole in the portion where the operating unit 6U of the side switch 6US is located, the waterproof and dustproof properties of the electronic components on the surface of the circuit board 30U are ensured.

[0415] As shown in Figures 46(A), (B), 47(A), (B), and 48, a conductive pipe member 26U made of a conductive material, in this example, a conductive metal, is disposed at the rear end of the hollow portion of the tip housing 21U. This conductive pipe member 26U serves as a member for electrically connecting the conductor pattern serving as the ground conductor of the circuit board 30U of the electronic pen main body 3U to the connection member 24 for connecting the negative terminal of the battery 40U in the insertion portion 221U of the rear housing 22U. As shown in Figures 46(A), (B), 47(A), (B), and 48, the axial length of this conductive pipe member 24U extends from near the rear edge of the tip housing 21U to the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3U.

[0416] As shown in Figures 46(A), (B), 47(A), (B), and 48, the outer diameter of this conductive pipe member 26U is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pen tip side housing 21U, and as shown in Figures 46(A), (B), and 47(A), (B), when inserted into the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U, it is adhered to the inner wall surface of the pen tip side housing 21U, for example with an adhesive, and is fixed and attached inside the pen tip side housing 21U.

[0417] 46(A), (B), 47(A), (B), and 48, a conductive member, in this example a connecting conductor piece 328U made of an elastic conductive metal plate, electrically connected to the ground conductor of the circuit board 30U is provided at the rear end of the electronic pen body 3U at the position where the portion of the circuit board 30U is housed in the conductive pipe member 26U. This connecting conductor piece 328U has a bent portion that is bent so as to be in elastic contact with the inner wall surface of the conductive pipe member 24U, as shown in FIGS.

[0418] In this embodiment, the conductive pipe member 26U also serves to engage with a locking piece 231Ua of a locking member disposed in the insertion portion 221U of the rear-end housing 22U. For this purpose, as shown in Figures 46(A), 47(A), and 48, through holes 26Ua are formed at predetermined positions on the peripheral side surface of the conductive pipe member 26U so as to form steps that engage with the locking pieces 231Ua. That is, the position at which the through hole 26Ua is formed on the peripheral surface of the conductive pipe member 26U is such that, as described above, when the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U is pushed into the pen tip side housing 21U until the blocking portion 222U abuts against the end face of the opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U, the locking piece 231Ua is inserted into the through hole 26Ua and the locking piece 23Ua engages with the step portion formed by the through hole 26Ua, as shown in Figures 46 (A) and 47 (A).

[0419] Next, details of the rear end housing 22U and the locking member 23U and connecting member 24U provided in the insertion section 221U of the rear end housing 22U will be described with reference to FIG.

[0420] As shown in Figure 49, in this embodiment, the locking member 23U is composed of an upper member 231U and a lower member 232U made of an elastic material, such as resin, and a coil spring 233U as an example of an elastic member arranged between the upper member 231U and the lower member 232U.

[0421] In this embodiment, the connecting member 24U is composed of an electrode pin 241U and a connecting conductor piece 242U. In this example, the electrode pin 241U is a pogo pin that is elastically expandable and contractible in the axial direction. The connecting conductor piece 242U is made of an elastic conductive material, in this example, an elastic conductive metal. As shown in Figures 46(B), 47(B), and 49, the connecting conductor piece 242U has a flat portion that is pressed against the rear end surface of the electrode pin 14U by the pen tip side end of the lower member 232U, and plate portions extending from both sides of the flat portion are bent so as to elastically contact the inner wall surface of the conductive pipe member 24U.

[0422] As shown in FIG. 49 , a through-hole 221Ua is provided on the peripheral side of the insertion portion 221U of the rear housing 22U, on the blocking portion 222U side, for allowing the locking piece 231Ua of the upper member 231U of the locking member 23U to protrude outward. An opening 221Ub is provided on the pen tip side of the insertion portion 221U of the rear housing 22U, for allowing the tip of the electrode pin 241U to protrude outward. A through-hole 221Uc is provided on the peripheral side of the insertion portion 221U of the rear housing 22U, on the pen tip side opening 221Ub side, for allowing the connection conductor piece 242U of the connection member 24U to protrude outward. In this example, two through-holes 221Uc are provided on the peripheral side, spaced 180 degrees apart from each other (only one is shown in FIG. 49 ).

[0423] The upper member 231U of the locking member 23U has a cylindrical portion 231Ub on the pen tip side, and an arm portion 231Uc extends from a part of the ring-shaped end surface on the rear end side of the cylindrical portion 231Ub toward the rear end side, and a locking piece 231Ua is formed on the tip side of the arm portion 231Uc. Therefore, the presence of the arm portion 231Uc allows the locking piece 231Ua to be elastically displaced in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 231Ub.

[0424] The lower member 232U of the locking member 23U has a boat-like shape composed of a columnar portion 232Ua that is stored in the hollow portion of the insertion portion 221U of the rear-end housing 22U, further on the blocking portion 222U side than the position of the through hole 221Ua, a columnar portion 232Ub that is stored on the rear end side of the tubular portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U, and a connecting portion 232Uc that connects the columnar portion 232Ua and the columnar portion 232Ub at a predetermined angular interval on the peripheral side surface.

[0425] In this example, the columnar portion 232Ub of the lower member 232U is shaped so that the side of its peripheral surface where it is joined to the connecting portion 232Uc and the side 180 degrees apart from that are flat. Engagement protrusions 232Ud and 232Ue are provided on these flat portions of the peripheral surface of the columnar portion 232Ub, as shown in FIG.

[0426] On the other hand, through holes 231Ud and 231Ue into which the engaging protrusions 232Ud and 232Ue of the lower member 232U fit are provided at a predetermined position on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U on the side where the arm-shaped portion 231Uc is formed and at a predetermined position 180 degrees apart from that position, as shown in Fig. 49. Furthermore, the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the columnar portion 232Ub of the lower member 232U.

[0427] 46(A), 46(B) and 47(A), 47(B), the electrode pin 241U is first stored in the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U with its tip end protruding from the opening of the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U. Then, the flat portion of the connection conductor piece 242U is pressed against the rear end surface of the electrode pin 241U, and the electrode pin 241U is stored in the cylindrical portion 231Ub with its bent portion facing the rear end.

[0428] Thereafter, the columnar portion 232Ub of the lower member 232U is further housed in the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U. In this case, as shown in FIG. 49 , a slit is formed in the rear end of the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U, allowing the rear end of the cylindrical portion 231Ub to be elastically deformable. By pushing the columnar portion 232Ub of the lower member 232U from the rear end, it can be housed in the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U. Then, the engaging protrusions 232Ud and 232Ue of the lower member 232U are fitted into the through-holes 231Ud and 231Ue of the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U. This couples and locks the lower member 232U to the upper member 231U.

[0429] When the lower member 232U is coupled to the upper member 231U in this manner, a space is formed between the arm-shaped portion 231Uc and the locking piece 231Ua of the upper member 231U and the connecting portion 232Uc of the lower member 232U, allowing the arm-shaped portion 231Uc and the locking piece 231Ua to move toward the connecting portion 232Uc. The engaging protrusions 232Ud and 232Ue of the lower member 232U, the through-holes 231Ud and 231Ue of the cylindrical portion 231U of the upper member 231U, the shape of the columnar portion 232Ub of the lower member 232U, and the shape of the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 231Ub of the upper member 231U play a role in positioning to achieve this state.

[0430] In this embodiment, a recessed hole 232Uf for engaging one end of a coil spring 233U is formed on the surface of the connecting portion 232Uc of the lower member 232U facing the locking piece 231Ua, as shown in Fig. 49. One end of the coil spring 233U is housed in the recessed hole 232Uf of the connecting portion 232Uc of the lower member 232U, and the coil spring 233U is disposed between the upper member 231U and the lower member 232U, as shown in Figs. 46(A), (B) and 47(A), (B). The coil spring 233U elastically displaces the locking piece 231Ua in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and away from the connecting portion 232Uc of the lower member 232U.

[0431] In this manner, the locking member 23U, in which the upper member 231U and the lower member 232U are connected with the coil spring 233U interposed therebetween, is inserted into the insertion portion 221U of the rear-end housing 22U with the locking piece 23Ua of the locking member 23U displaced toward the connecting portion 232Uc of the lower member 232U against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 233U, so that the locking piece 23Ua protrudes from the through hole 221Ua and the connecting conductor piece 242U protrudes from the through hole 221Uc (see Figures 46(A) and (B) and Figures 47(A) and (B)). At this time, the locking piece 23Ua protrudes from the through hole 221Ua and the connecting conductor piece 242U protrudes from the through hole 221Uc, so that the locking member 23U is locked in place without coming off from the insertion portion 221U of the rear-end housing 22U.

[0432] 46(A) and 46(B), with the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment, the electronic pen main body 3U is housed in the pen tip side housing 21U, and the battery 40U is inserted into the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3U with the positive terminal facing the pen tip. Thereafter, the rear end side housing 22U, with the locking member 23U housed in the insertion portion 22 as described above, is inserted from the opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U and pushed toward the pen tip side, as shown in FIGS. As described above, when the locking piece 231Ua protruding from the peripheral side of the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U engages with the step portion formed by the opening 26Ua of the pipe member 26U glued to the inner wall surface at the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U through the through hole 221Ua of the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U, the rear end side housing 22U is locked to the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U, and the rear end side housing 22U is joined to the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U.

[0433] 46(A), (B) and 47(A), (B), the negative terminal of the battery 40U contacts the electrode pin 241U of the connecting member 24U housed in the insertion portion 221U of the rear housing 22U, and at this time, the battery 40U is elastically pressed and displaced toward the pen tip by the elastic force of the electrode pin 241U, which is a pogo pin. Therefore, the positive terminal of the battery 40U is elastically pressed and contacted by the electrode pin 327U protruding from the rear end face of the electronic pen body 3U, as shown in FIGS. 46(A), (B) and 47(A), (B), and is connected to the + side of the power supply terminal of the circuit board 30U of the electronic pen body 3U.

[0434] As shown in Figures 46(A) and (B) and Figures 47(A) and (B), the connection conductor piece 242U elastically protruding outward from the through hole 221Uc of the insertion portion 221U of the rear end housing 22U is in contact with the conductor pipe member 26U, and the connection conductor piece 328U connected to the earth conductor of the circuit board 30U of the electronic pen main body portion 3U is also in elastic contact with the conductor pipe member 26U.

[0435] Since the connecting conductor piece 242U is electrically connected to the electrode pin 241U which is in contact with and electrically connected to the negative electrode of the battery 40U, the negative electrode of the battery 40U is connected to the earth conductor of the circuit board 30U of the electronic pen main body 3U through the electrode pin 241U, the connecting conductor piece 242U, the conductor pipe member 26U and the connecting conductor piece 327U.

[0436] 46(A), (B), 47(A), (B), and 48, a watertight member that blocks the space between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 40U to prevent moisture from passing through, in this example, a ring-shaped elastic member 27U made of elastic rubber, is disposed between the positive electrode side of the battery 40U and the rear end face of the electronic pen main body 3U. Note that the watertight member does not need to be an elastic member as in this example, and in short, any member that blocks the space between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 40U to prevent moisture from passing through can be used.

[0437] 48 and 52, the ring-shaped elastic member 27U is formed in a ring shape having an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the end surface on which the positive electrode 40Ua of the cylindrical battery 40U in this example is formed, and an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the protruding positive electrode 40Ua of the battery 40U and the diameter of the electrode pin 327U. Also, as shown in Figures 52 and 53 (enlarged cross-sectional views of the vicinity of the joint between the positive electrode 40Ua of the battery 40U and the rear end surface of the electronic pen main body 3U), in this example, a recess 31Ua is provided in the rear end surface of the electronic pen main body 3U, i.e., the rear end surface of the holder 31U, to fit and accommodate the ring-shaped elastic member 27U, and the ring-shaped elastic member 27U is configured to be accommodated in this recess 31Ua.

[0438] In the electronic pen 1U of this embodiment, as described above, the battery 40U is elastically pressed toward the pen tip by the elastic force of the pogo pin electrode pin 241U, and the ring-shaped elastic member 27U is compressed by the pressing force of the pogo pin electrode pin 241U. As a result, the peripheral end surface of the positive electrode 40Ua of the battery 40U and the rear end surface of the electronic pen main body 3U are in close contact with each other via the ring-shaped elastic member 27U. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 53 , the space where the positive electrode 40Ua of the battery 40U is located is separated from the space where the negative electrode of the battery 40U is located via the outer peripheral side surface of the battery 40U by the ring-shaped elastic member 27U, thereby providing a waterproof structure between the positive and negative electrodes.

[0439] As described above, in the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment, as shown in Figure 45 (A), the jig 25U is inserted into the through hole 21Uh of the pen tip side housing 21U, and the locking piece 231Ua of the locking member 23U in the rear end side housing 22U is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 233U, thereby releasing the connection between the rear end side housing 22U and the pen tip side housing 21U.

[0440] When this coupled state is released, the elastic force of the electrode pin 241U, which is a pogo pin electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery 40U, causes the rear end housing 22U to move axially toward the rear end relative to the pen tip side housing 21U, thereby causing the blocking portion 222U of the rear end side housing 22U to be separated from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U.

[0441] Therefore, by grasping the closing portion 222U on the rear end side of the rear end side housing 22U, the rear end side housing 22U can be easily pulled out from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U. After the rear end side housing 22U has been pulled out from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U, the battery 40U can be easily removed from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U. This makes it easy to replace or dispose of the battery 40U.

[0442] In the electronic pen 1U of this 18th embodiment, although the battery 40U is structured in such a way that it can be easily removed and replaced or discarded, when the rear end side housing 22U is attached and connected to the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21U, the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 40U are spatially separated by the ring-shaped elastic member 27U, thereby preventing a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes due to moisture and ensuring waterproofing.

[0443] Moreover, in the electronic pen 1U of this 18th embodiment, a waterproof and dustproof cap member 324U and an O-ring 325U are provided on the pen tip side component of the electronic pen main body 3U, and are configured to isolate the space inside the pen tip side housing 21U from the external space communicating with the pen tip side opening 21Uaa of the pen tip side housing 21U, thereby providing a configuration in which waterproofing measures have been firmly implemented for the electronic pen 1U. Furthermore, a resin coating is applied to the circuit board 30U, so that even if there is a gap in the portion of the operation unit 6U for the side switch 6US, waterproof and dustproof measures have been implemented for the electrical contact portion.

[0444] That is, according to the electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment, the battery 40U can be easily removed and replaced or discarded, and an electronic pen with sufficient waterproof and dustproof measures can be constructed.

[0445] [Modification of the Electronic Pen 1U of the Eighteenth Embodiment] In the above-described embodiment, the waterproof and dustproof cap member 324U and the O-ring 325U are provided on the pen tip side component of the electronic pen main body 3U, thereby isolating the space inside the pen tip side housing 21U from the external space that communicates with the pen tip side opening 21Uaa of the pen tip side housing 21U. However, it goes without saying that the configuration for isolating the space inside the pen tip side housing 21U from the external space that communicates with the pen tip side opening 21Uaa of the pen tip side housing 21U is not limited to this.

[0446] Furthermore, the mechanism for releasing the connection between the pen tip side housing 21U and the rear end side housing 22U is not limited to the configuration of the 18th embodiment described above, and for example, the configuration of the first embodiment described using Figure 10, the screw-type configuration shown in Figure 12, or the configurations shown in Figures 19 to 21 can also be used.

[0447] In the above-described embodiment, the waterproof and dustproof ring-shaped elastic member 27U provided between the rear end face of the electronic pen body 3U and the positive end face of the battery 40U is configured as a separate component sandwiched between the rear end face of the electronic pen body 3U and the positive end face of the battery 40U. However, as shown in Fig. 54, the ring-shaped elastic member 27U may be provided in advance in a recess 31Ua in the rear end face of the holder 31U of the electronic pen body 3U by adhesive or the like. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 55, the ring-shaped elastic member 27U may be attached in advance to the positive end face of the battery 40U by adhesive or the like.

[0448] Furthermore, instead of using the ring-shaped elastic member 27U, the battery 40U may be covered with a cover 400U made of an elastic member, such as elastic rubber, as shown in Figure 56, and the end face of the positive electrode of the battery 40U on this cover 400U may be used as a sealing member that separates the space where the positive electrode of the battery 40U is located from the space where the negative electrode is located. In this case, the cover 400U is placed so as to cover the entire battery 40U excluding the positive and negative electrodes.

[0449] In the eighteenth embodiment, the electrode pin 237 of the electronic pen body 3U is connected to the power supply terminal of the circuit board 30U and to the positive terminal of the battery 40U, and the electrode pin 241U provided on the locking member 23U of the rear housing 22U is connected to the negative terminal of the battery 40U and to the ground terminal of the circuit board 30U, but the orientation of the battery 40U can be reversed. That is, the electrode pin 237 of the electronic pen body 3U is connected to the ground terminal of the circuit board 30U and to the negative terminal of the battery 40U, and the electrode pin 241U provided on the locking member 23U of the rear housing 22U is connected to the positive terminal of the battery 40U and to the power supply terminal of the circuit board 30U.

[0450] [Nineteenth Embodiment] The electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment is another example of a configuration in which the power supply unit (battery) is configured to be removable from the housing and is configured to be waterproof and dustproof to prevent a short circuit between the positive and negative terminals of the battery due to moisture or dust, and is a modified example of the electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment. The electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment uses a battery 40V as the power supply unit 4V, which has a positive terminal on one side in the axial direction and a negative terminal on the peripheral side of the battery 40V.

[0451] The main difference between the electronic pen 1V of the ninth embodiment and the electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment is the configuration in which the earth conductor of the circuit board 30U mounted on the electronic pen main body 3U is connected to the negative terminal of the battery 40V. Figure 57 is a diagram for explaining the electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment, with Figure 57(A) being an exploded perspective view of the main components of the electronic pen 1V, and Figure 57(B) being a cross-sectional view of a portion in the pen tip side housing 21V where the electronic pen main body 3V and the rear end side housing 22V are aligned in the axial direction with the battery 40V sandwiched between them.

[0452] In this 19th embodiment of the electronic pen 1V, the only difference in the configuration of the electronic pen main body 3V is the connecting conductor piece 328V that is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery 40V, as will be described later, and therefore the same parts as those of the electronic pen main body 3U of the 18th embodiment of the electronic pen 1U are given the same reference symbols.

[0453] In the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment, the electronic pen housing 2V is composed of a pen tip side housing 21V and a rear end side housing 22V having configurations substantially similar to the pen tip side housing 21U and the rear end side housing 22U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment. However, in the rear end side housing 22V of the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment, the blocking portion 222V is similar to the blocking portion 222U of the rear end side housing 22U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment, but the configuration of the insertion portion 221V is different from the insertion portion 221U of the rear end side housing 22U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment.

[0454] The insertion section 221V of the rear housing 22V of the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the battery 40V, and is longer in the axial direction than the insertion section 221U of the rear housing 22U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment, so that it is long enough to accommodate all but the positive electrode side of the battery 40V. A locking member 23V is housed within this insertion section 221V, as shown in Figures 57(A) and (B), but this locking member 23V has a different configuration from the locking member 23U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment.

[0455] That is, the locking member 23V in the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment is configured as a single member, rather than being separated into upper and lower members like the locking member 23U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment. However, like the locking member 23U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment, the locking member 23V in the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment has a locking piece 23Va provided at the tip of the arm portion 23Vb, and the locking piece 23Va is elastically displaced in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction by the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 23Vc. The locking member 23U is stored in the insertion portion 221V of the rear-end housing 22V with the locking piece 23Va protruding outward from the through-hole 221V of the insertion portion 221V of the rear-end housing 22V.

[0456] In the electronic pen 1V of this 19th embodiment, a pogo pin or connecting conductor piece for connecting the negative terminal of the battery 40V to the ground conductor of the circuit board 30U is not provided inside the rear housing 22V, as will be described later. The locking member 23V is composed of a single member, and its tip and rear ends are truly cylindrical. As shown in Figure 57(B), in this example, one end of a coil spring 29V is attached to and locked onto the end face of the cylindrical portion of the locking member 23V on the tip side.

[0457] The battery 40V is inserted into the insertion section 221V of the rear housing 22V through the opening 22Vb on the pen tip side and loosely fits into the insertion section 221V. At this time, the end face of the battery 40V opposite the positive electrode side in the axial direction abuts against the other end of the coil spring 29V, and is elastically biased toward the pen tip side.

[0458] 57A, an axial slit 221Vc is formed on the pen tip side of the insertion portion 221V of the rear end housing 22V of the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment. This slit 221Vc is formed in a position where the tip of the connection conductor piece 328V attached to the circuit board U of the electronic pen main body 3V can be positioned, and in this example, is formed at the same angular position in the circumferential direction of the side peripheral surface of the insertion portion 221V as the through hole 221Va for the locking piece 23Va.

[0459] The electronic pen 1V of this 19th embodiment does not require the conductive pipe member 24U of the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment, and does not require the electrode pin 241U and connecting conductor piece 242U connected to the negative terminal of the battery 40V. Instead, in this electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment, the connecting conductor piece 328V connected to the ground conductor of the circuit board 30U extends to the slit 221Vc of the rear housing 22V, as shown in FIG. 57(B). The tip 328Va of this connecting conductor piece 328V is bent as shown in FIG. 57(B) to elastically contact the peripheral side surface of the negative terminal of the battery 40V exposed through the slit 221Vc. In other words, this connecting conductor piece 328V electrically connects the ground conductor of the circuit board 30U to the negative terminal of the battery 40V.

[0460] 57A and 57B, in the electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment, a pipe member 28V, which constitutes a member that engages with the locking piece 23Va, is joined to the inner wall of the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21V, instead of the conductive pipe member 24U. The axial length of this pipe member 28V only needs to be longer than the end on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21V and the position where the through-hole 21Vh is present, and does not need to be as long as the conductive pipe member 24U, reaching the position of the electronic pen main body 3U.

[0461] The pipe member 28V does not need to be a conductor and may be made of metal, but may also be made of resin. As shown in Figure 57(A), the pipe member 28V has a through hole, in this example a slit 28Va, formed therein to form a step for engaging with the locking piece 23Va of the locking member 23U.

[0462] As shown by the dotted line in Fig. 57(A), a pipe member fitting portion 21Vd is formed at the rear end of the nib side housing 21V, with an inner diameter increased by the thickness of the pipe member 28V. The pipe member 28V is joined and attached to the pipe member fitting portion 21Vd on the rear end side of the nib side housing 21V in a state where the slit 28Va is located directly below the through-hole 21Vh, which is formed on the side peripheral surface on the rear end side of the nib side housing 21V and through which a decoupling jig 25U (see Fig. 45) is inserted.

[0463] In the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment, the rear housing 22V, which houses the battery 40V loosely in the insertion section 221V except for its positive terminal, is inserted and pushed in through the opening at the rear end of the pen tip housing 21V. Then, similar to the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment, the locking piece 23Va engages with the step formed by the slit 28Va of the pipe member 28V, locking the pen tip housing 21V and the rear housing 22V in a coupled state, as shown in FIG. 57(B). In this coupled state, the battery 40V is constantly elastically biased toward the pen tip by the coil spring 29V in the insertion section 221V of the rear housing 22V.

[0464] At this time, as shown in Figure 57(B), the positive electrode of the battery 40V is electrically connected to the electrode pin 327U due to the bias of the coil spring 29V, and the connecting conductor piece 328V comes into contact with the negative electrode on the side surface of the battery 40V, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the battery 40V and the circuit board 30U.

[0465] As with the electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment, the positive end face of the battery 40V and the end face of the holder 31U of the electronic pen main body 3V are tightly attached to each other by the ring-shaped elastic member 27U without any gaps. Therefore, as with the eighteenth embodiment, in the electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment, the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 40V are spatially separated by the ring-shaped elastic member 27U, which prevents short-circuiting between the positive and negative electrodes due to moisture and ensures waterproofing.

[0466] In this 19th embodiment of the electronic pen 1V, too, the connection between the rear-end housing 22V and the pen-tip side housing 21V can be released by inserting a jig 25U (see Figure 45) into the through hole 21Vh of the pen-tip side housing 21V and displacing the locking piece 23Va of the locking member 23V of the rear-end side housing 221V in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 23Vc.

[0467] When this connection state is released, the elastic force of the coil spring 29V, which elastically displaces the battery 40V toward the pen tip side, causes the rear end housing 22V to move toward the rear end in the axial direction relative to the pen tip side housing 21V, and as a result, the blocking portion 222V of the rear end side housing 22V becomes separated from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21V.

[0468] Therefore, by grasping the rear-end closing portion 222V of the rear-end housing 22V, the rear-end housing 22V can be easily pulled out from the rear end of the tip housing 21V. When the rear-end housing 22V is pulled out from the rear end of the tip housing 21V, the battery 40V remains in the tip housing 21V because it is loosely fitted in the insertion portion 221V of the rear-end housing 22V. However, the connecting conductor piece 328V applies an elastic displacement force to the battery 40V in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, causing it to move away from contact with the electrode pin 327U, allowing the battery 40V to be easily removed from the rear end of the tip housing 21V. This facilitates replacement or disposal of the battery 40V. In addition to this effect, the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment also provides the same effects as the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment.

[0469] [Variation of the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment] In the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment described above, the battery 40V is configured to be loosely fitted into the insertion portion 221V of the rear end housing 22V, so when the rear end housing 22V is released from the connection with the pen tip side housing 21V and then pulled out, as described above, the battery 40V may remain inside the pen tip side housing 21V.

[0470] The electronic pen 1V' shown in Figure 58 is an example that improves on this point. The electronic pen 1V' in this example differs in that it uses a battery 40V' that is slightly different in shape from the battery 40V of the electronic pen 1V described above, and in that it uses a rear-end housing 22V' that has a different insertion section configuration from the rear-end housing 22V of the electronic pen 1V described above, but is otherwise configured in the same way as the electronic pen 1V described above. In Figure 58, parts that are the same as those of the electronic pen 1V described above are given the same reference numerals.

[0471] Fig. 58(A) is a cross-sectional view of the rear end side of electronic pen 1V' in this example, Fig. 58(B) is a cross-sectional view of the rear end housing 22V' in the state of Fig. 58(A) after it has been released from the pen tip side housing 21V and slightly pulled out. Also, Fig. 58(C) is a perspective view for explaining the state in which battery 40V' is housed in insertion section 221V' of rear end housing 22V' in electronic pen 1V'.

[0472] As shown in Figures 58(A), (B), and (C), the battery 40V' in this example has a constricted portion 40Va, which is smaller in diameter than the other portions, located slightly rearward of the end where the positive electrode is formed. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 58(A), (B), and (C), the tip end of the insertion portion 221V' of the rear housing 22V' on the pen tip side is provided with a protrusion 221Vd that protrudes inward. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 58(C), the insertion portion 221V' of the rear housing 22V' has multiple slits 221Ve of a predetermined length extending from the tip end of the insertion portion 221V' on the pen tip side toward the rear end. Note that Figure 58(C) shows only one slit 221Ve, and the other slits 221Ve are omitted.

[0473] Due to the presence of these multiple slits 221Ve and the presence of slit 221Vc that allows the tip portion 328Va of the connecting conductor piece 328V to contact the negative electrode on the peripheral side of the battery 40V', the pen tip side of the insertion portion 221V' of the rear end housing 22V' is configured to be able to elastically displace to increase its diameter.

[0474] This elastic displacement of the pen tip side of the insertion section 221V' of the rear housing 22V' allows the battery 40V' to be inserted through the opening on the pen tip side of the insertion section 221V' of the rear housing 22V'. When the battery 40V' is pushed in against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 29V inside the insertion section 221V', the constricted portion 40Va of the battery 40V' engages with the protrusion 221Vd of the insertion section 221V', and the battery 40V' is locked in place within the insertion section 221V' of the rear housing 22V' (see FIG. 58B).

[0475] 58(A), (B), and (C), the axial length of the constricted portion 40Va of the battery 40V' is greater than the axial length of the protrusion 221Vd at the tip of the insertion portion 221V' of the rear housing 22V'. Therefore, when the battery 40V' is housed in the insertion portion 221V' of the rear housing 22V', the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 29V causes the protrusion 221Vd of the insertion portion 221V' of the rear housing 22V' to engage with the rearmost axial end of the constricted portion 40Vd of the battery 40V' (see FIG. 58(B)). In this state, when a force is applied to the positive electrode side of the battery 40V' in the direction toward the rear end, the battery 40V' can be displaced in the direction of being pushed into the insertion portion 221V' of the rear end housing 22V' against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 233U.

[0476] In the electronic pen 1V' of the example shown in Figure 58, rear housing 22V', which houses battery 40V' locked within insertion section 221V, is inserted and pushed in through the opening at the rear end of pen tip housing 21V. Then, similar to the electronic pen 1V described above, locking piece 23Va engages with the step formed by slit 28Va of pipe member 28V, locking the pen tip housing 21V and rear housing 22V in a coupled state as shown in Figure 58(A). In this coupled state, battery 40V' is constantly elastically biased toward the pen tip by coil spring 29V within insertion section 221V' of rear housing 22V'.

[0477] 58(A), similarly to the electronic pen 1V described above, the positive electrode of the battery 40V' is electrically connected to the electrode pin 327U by the bias of the coil spring 29V, and the connecting conductor piece 328V contacts the negative electrode on the side surface of the battery 40V', thereby establishing an electrical connection between the battery 40V and the circuit board 30U.

[0478] The positive end face of the battery 40V' and the end face of the holder 31U of the electronic pen main body 3V are tightly fitted together by the ring-shaped elastic member 27U without any gaps. Therefore, in this example of the electronic pen 1V', the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 40V' are spatially separated by the ring-shaped elastic member 27U, which prevents short-circuiting between the positive and negative electrodes due to moisture and ensures waterproofing.

[0479] In this example of the electronic pen 1V', too, the connection between the rear-end housing 22V' and the pen-tip side housing 21V can be released by inserting a jig 25U (see Figure 45) into the through hole 21Vh of the pen-tip side housing 21V and displacing the locking piece 23Va of the locking member 23V of the rear-end side housing 221V' in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction against the elastic displacement force of the coil spring 23Vc.

[0480] When this coupled state is released, the elastic force of the coil spring 29V, which elastically displaces the battery 40V' toward the pen tip side, causes the rear end housing 22V' to move toward the rear end in the axial direction relative to the pen tip side housing 21V, thereby causing the blocking portion 222V of the rear end housing 22V' to be separated from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21V (see Figure 58 (B)).

[0481] Therefore, by grasping the closing portion 222V on the rear end side of the rear housing 22V', the rear housing 22V can be easily pulled out from the rear end side of the pen tip housing 21V. In the electronic pen 1V' of this example, by pulling the rear housing 22V' out from the rear end side of the pen tip housing 21V, the battery 40V' housed in the insertion portion 221V' of the rear housing 22V' can also be simultaneously removed from the pen tip housing 21V. The battery 40V' can also be removed from the rear housing 22V' by grasping and pulling the positive terminal side of the battery 40V' protruding from the insertion portion 221V' of the rear housing 22V'. Therefore, the electronic pen 1V' of this example also facilitates the replacement or disposal of the battery 40V'. In addition to this effect, the electronic pen 1V' of this example also achieves the same effects as the electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment.

[0482] In the electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment and the electronic pens 1V and 1V' of the nineteenth embodiment, the electronic pen body is configured as an electromagnetic induction type, but it may also be configured as an active capacitance type. In that case, the active capacitance electronic pen body should also be provided with waterproof and dustproof measures such as O-rings as described above.

[0483] [Further Modifications of the Electronic Pen with Waterproof and Dustproof Measures] <First Modification> In the electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment and the electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment described above, waterproof and dustproof measures were not taken at the joint between the pen tip side housing 21U or 21V and the rear end side housing 22U, 22V, or 22V'. The first modification is an example in which waterproof and dustproof measures are taken at the joint between the pen tip side housing and the rear end side housing. This first modification is not limited to the electronic pen 1U of the eighteenth embodiment and the electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment described above, but can be applied to all electronic pens in which the pen tip side housing and the rear end side housing are joined in the axial direction.

[0484] In the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment and the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment described above, the positive and negative poles of the battery 40U or 40V or 40V' are spatially isolated from each other, so waterproof and dustproof measures are not required for the joint between the pen tip side housing 21U, 21V and the rear end side housing 22U, 22V, 22V'. However, it goes without saying that more effective waterproof and dustproof measures can be achieved by applying this first modified example.

[0485] Fig. 59 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the main parts of an electronic pen to which this first modified example is applied. The example shown in Fig. 59 is a case in which this first modified example is applied to the electronic pen 1V of the nineteenth embodiment.

[0486] As shown in Figures 59 (A) and (B), in this example, an O-ring 225 is provided on the outer periphery of the insertion portion 221V of the rear end side housing 22V, in the axial direction, at a position closer to the pen tip side than a location that may be connected to the space outside the electronic pen housing 2V when the rear end side housing 22V is connected to the pen tip side housing 21V to form the electronic pen housing 2V.

[0487] In the example of Figure 59, the through-hole 221Va of the insertion portion 221V of the rear-end housing 22V may communicate with the space outside the electronic pen housing 2V via the through-hole 21Vh of the pen tip side housing 21V, and may also communicate with the external space through the gap between the pen tip side housing 21V and the blocking portion 222V of the rear-end housing 22V. Therefore, in this example, a recessed groove 221Vf is provided closer to the pen tip than the through-hole 221Va, which is located closer to the pen tip than the blocking portion 222V, and in this example, closer to the rear end than the slit 221Vc. An O-ring 225 made of an elastic member, such as elastic rubber, is disposed in this recessed groove 221Vf, with a portion of it slightly protruding from the outer peripheral side surface of the insertion portion 221V. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the electronic pen 1V shown in Figure 57.

[0488] 59(B), when the insertion portion 221V of the rear-end housing 22V is inserted into the tip-side housing 21V and the rear-end housing 22V and the tip-side housing 21V are joined to form the electronic pen housing 2V, the O-ring 225 comes into close contact with the inner wall surface of the tip-side housing 21V and the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion 221V of the rear-end housing 22V. As a result, the external space through the through-hole 21Vh of the tip-side housing 21V and the external space through the gap between the tip-side housing 21V and the closing portion 222V of the rear-end housing 22V are isolated from the internal space on the tip side of the O-ring 225 of the tip-side housing 21V, thereby providing waterproofing and dustproofing.

[0489] The cap member 324U and O-ring 325U of the electronic pen main body 3V provide waterproof and dustproof protection between the outside through the opening on the tip side of the pen tip side housing 21V and the internal space of the pen tip side housing 21V, making this example an electronic pen with even greater waterproof and dustproof effects. In particular, in the case of an electronic pen that does not have a side switch and its operating unit, or an electronic pen in which waterproof and dustproof measures are implemented for the operating unit of the side switch, the electronic pen of this first modified example has such a high waterproof and dustproof effect that it is not necessary to apply the resin coating described above to the circuit board 30U.

[0490] In the example shown in Figure 59, a ring-shaped elastic member 27U is provided between the positive end face of the 40V battery and the rear end face of the holder 31U of the electronic pen main body 3U, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, but in the case of an electronic pen that is configured without a side switch and its operating unit, or an electronic pen that has waterproof and dustproof measures in place for the operating unit of the side switch, this ring-shaped elastic member 27U does not need to be provided.

[0491] The first variant example is not limited to the electronic pen 1U of the 18th embodiment or the electronic pen 1V of the 19th embodiment described above, but is applicable to all electronic pens in which the rear end housing is connected to the pen tip housing in the axial direction.

[0492] <Second Modification> This second modification is an example in which waterproof and dustproof measures are implemented for the operating portion of the side switch, and a USB connector that serves as a charging terminal is provided on the rear end, and waterproof and dustproof measures are also implemented for the USB connector.

[0493] Fig. 60 is a diagram illustrating the main components of an electronic pen 1W to which this second modified example is applied. Fig. 60(A) is an external view of the electronic pen 1W of this example, Fig. 60(B) is a cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1W of this example as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of a circuit board 30W mounted on an electronic pen main body 3W, and Fig. 60(C) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear end side of the electronic pen 1W as viewed from a direction parallel to the upper surface of the circuit board 30W mounted on an electronic pen main body 3W.

[0494] As shown in Figure 60 (A), in this example, the electronic pen 1W is configured such that, in the axial direction, an electronic pen main body 3W and a power supply unit 4W are stored within the hollow portion of the electronic pen housing 2W, in that order from the pen tip side, and the second housing portion is axially connected to the first housing portion, so that the electronic pen main body 3W and the power supply unit 4W cannot move in the axial direction.

[0495] The electronic pen body 3W in the electronic pen 1W of this example may be configured using a capacitance method or an electromagnetic induction method, and the waterproof and dustproof configuration for the space outside the opening on the pen tip side of the electronic pen body 3W can be the same as that of the electronic pen body 3U in the example of the electronic pen 1U of the above-mentioned 18th embodiment. Note that detailed configuration of the electronic pen body 3W is omitted in Figure 60.

[0496] In this example, the power supply unit 4W in the electronic pen 1W has a configuration similar to that of the power supply unit 4 in the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 4 ), and is configured such that the positive and negative terminals of the battery in the power supply unit 4W are electrically connected to the power terminal conductor and the ground conductor of the circuit board 30W of the electronic pen main body 3W at the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3W. Note that, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 4 , the rear end of the electronic pen main body 3W has a wall portion on which a terminal connected to the positive (+) terminal of the circuit that generates the power supply voltage for the circuit board 30W and a terminal connected to the ground terminal are exposed to the outside. Note that, for simplicity of explanation, FIG. 60 also omits the details of the connection between the power supply unit 4W and the electronic pen main body 3W.

[0497] As shown in Figures 60(A) to 60(C), the electronic pen 1W of this example has an electronic pen housing 2W that is made up of a pen tip side housing 21W and a rear end side housing 22W. As shown in Figures 60(A) to 60(C), the rear end side housing 22W of the electronic pen 1W of this example includes an insertion section 221W that is inserted into the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21W, and a connector housing section 222W that is integrally formed with the rear end side of the insertion section 221W and that houses a USB connector 7WUC. The outer diameter of the connector housing section 222W is the same as the outer diameter of the pen tip side housing 21W. In addition, an opening 7W is formed in the connector housing section 222W for connecting an external USB memory or USB terminal to the USB connector.

[0498] In this example, a ring-shaped recessed groove 221Wa is formed in the insertion portion 221W of the rear end side housing 22W, and a ring-shaped protrusion 21Wa is formed on the inner wall on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21W at a position where the ring-shaped recessed groove 221Wa abuts when the insertion portion 221W is inserted into the pen tip side housing 21W.

[0499] As a result, when the insertion portion 221W of the rear-end housing 22W is inserted into the rear end of the pen tip side housing 21W and pushed in, the ring-shaped protrusion 21Wa on the inner wall of the pen tip side housing 21W fits into the ring-shaped recessed groove 221Wa of the insertion portion 221W of the rear-end housing 22W, and the rear-end housing 22W is locked in a coupled state with the pen tip side housing 21W. In this state, the power supply unit 4W is slightly displaced toward the pen tip side by the rear-end housing 22W, and the electronic pen main body 3W and the power supply unit 4W are electrically connected.

[0500] In this example, a waterproof and dustproof O-ring 225W is attached to the peripheral side of the insertion portion 221W of the rear housing 22W, closer to the rear end than the ring-shaped groove 221Wa, as shown in Figures 60(A) to 60(C). Therefore, when the insertion portion 221W of the rear housing 22W is inserted and pushed into the rear end of the tip housing 21W, the O-ring 225W tightly seals the inner wall surface of the tip housing 21W with the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion 221W of the rear housing 22W. This isolates the space outside the electronic pen housing 2W from the space inside the tip housing 21W, via the gap between the inner wall surface of the tip housing 21W and the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion 221W of the rear housing 22W.

[0501] 60(A), when the rear-end housing 22W is pulled in a direction away from the pen tip side housing 21W, the ring-shaped recessed groove 221Wa of the insertion portion 221W of the rear-end housing 22W and the ring-shaped protrusion 21Wa on the inner wall of the pen tip side housing 21W are disengaged, allowing the rear-end housing 22W to be pulled out from the pen tip side housing 21W. After the rear-end housing 22W is pulled out from the pen tip side housing 21W, the power supply unit 4W can be easily removed from the opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21W.

[0502] In the electronic pen 1W of this example, an opening 7W is provided in the side peripheral surface of the connector housing 222W of the rear-end housing 22W, and as shown in Figures 60(A) and 60(C), the USB connector 7WUC is provided in the connector housing 222W so that the socket is exposed to the outside through this opening 7W. Therefore, in this example, a USB memory or a USB terminal is configured to be inserted into the socket of the USB connector 7WUC through the opening 7W from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the connector housing 222W.

[0503] The USB connector 7WUC used in this example is a Type-C standard connector, and is made watertight by special insert molding. As shown in Figure 61, this USB connector 7WUC is provided with an elastic member, in this example an O-ring 7WOR made of elastic rubber, on the outer casing portion 7WUCa of the USB connector 7WUC's socket.

[0504] As shown in Figure 61, the USB connector 7WUC is arranged on a circuit board 7WP for the connector, and electrical connection with the circuit board 30W of the electronic pen main body 3W is made by connecting a narrow, plate-like flexible board 7WF and a connector plug 7WFC provided at the end of this flexible board 7WF to a connector jack formed on the circuit board 7WP (not shown).

[0505] In this case, the longitudinal length of the flexible substrate 7WF is set to a length that enables the rear-end housing 22W to be separated from the pen tip side housing 21W to an extent that the power supply unit 4W can be removed from the opening on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 21W when the rear-end housing 22W is pulled out from the pen tip side housing 21W. When the rear-end housing 22W is joined to the pen tip side housing 21W to form the electronic pen housing 2W, as shown in Figure 60(B), the flexible substrate 7WF is folded within the connector housing portion 222W of the rear-end housing 22W.

[0506] In the electronic pen 1W of this example, the USB connector 7WUC is accommodated in the connector accommodating section 222W of the rear end housing 22W through an opening 7WB on the opposite side to the opening 7W through which the USB connector 7WUC is inserted, as shown in FIG.

[0507] First, the connector plug 7WFC provided at one end of the flexible substrate 7WF, the other end of which is electrically and physically connected to the circuit board 30W of the pen tip side housing 21W, is pulled out through the opening 7WB and inserted into the connector jack of the circuit board 7WP shown in Fig. 61, thereby electrically and physically connecting the flexible substrate 7WF to the circuit board 7WP. Next, with the flexible substrate 7WF folded as shown in Fig. 60(B), the USB connector 7WUC provided on the circuit board 7WP is inserted through the opening 7WB into the connector housing portion 222W of the rear end side housing 22W with its socket facing the opening 7W.

[0508] In this case, a fitting portion 221Wa into which an outer casing portion 7WUCa of the USB connector 7WUC is inserted and fitted is provided within the connector housing portion 222W of the rear-end housing 22W, and the USB connector 7WUC presses the outer casing portion 7WUCa of the socket into the fitting portion 221Wa. In this state, as shown in Fig. 60(C), the outer casing portion 7WUCa of the socket and the fitting portion 221Wa are tightly fitted together with no gap at the O-ring 7WOR provided on the outer casing portion 7WUCa of the socket, and the external space through the opening 7W is blocked from the space inside the connector housing portion 222W of the rear-end housing 22W, thereby providing waterproofing and dustproofing.

[0509] As shown in Fig. 60(C), an opening 70W of the connector housing 222W of the rear-end housing 22W opposite the opening 7W is closed by a closing cover member 70W shown in Fig. 62. In the electronic pen 1W of this example, an O-ring 70WOP is provided at an insertion portion 70Wa of the closing cover member 70W into the connector housing 222W, as shown in Figs. 60(C) and 62. Therefore, at the portion of this O-ring 70WOP, the inner wall of the opening 70W of the connector housing 222W and the insertion portion 70Wa of the closing cover member 70W are tightly fitted with no gaps, blocking the external space through the opening 70W from the space inside the connector housing 222W of the rear-end housing 22W, thereby providing waterproofing and dustproofing.

[0510] In this example of the electronic pen 1W, when the rear end housing 22W is pulled out from the pen tip side housing 21W, the rear end housing 22W and the pen tip side housing 21W remain connected by the flexible substrate 7WF, but as mentioned above, since the flexible substrate 7WF is long, the power...

Claims

a housing configured by joining a first housing portion on the pen tip side and a second housing portion on the rear end side opposite the pen tip side in an axial direction, the joining state of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being releasable; an electronic pen body disposed on the pen tip side in the hollow portion of the housing; a power supply unit including a rechargeable battery disposed on the rear end side within the hollow portion of the housing; An electronic pen comprising: Within the hollow portion of the housing, the electronic pen body and the power supply unit are arranged in an axial direction, and the electronic pen body and the power supply unit are electrically connected to each other, The housing is configured such that the battery of the power supply unit can be removed from the housing by releasing the coupling state between the first housing portion on the pen tip side and the second housing portion on the rear end side. An electronic pen characterized by: 　 The electronic pen includes an elastic member that generates an elastic force on the battery in a direction along the battery removal direction when the electronic pen body and the power supply are housed in the hollow portion of the housing.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 The second housing portion is a cap member for closing the opening at the rear end side of the first housing portion, and the battery is housed in the cap member.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 the battery is housed in the second housing portion made of the cap member with the surface on which the electrodes are disposed perpendicular to the axial direction, A terminal electrically connected to the electrode of the battery is provided on a surface of the electronic pen body at the rear end in the axial direction and perpendicular to the axial direction.

4. The electronic pen according to claim 3. 　 The terminal on the surface perpendicular to the axial direction at the rear end side of the electronic pen body in the axial direction is a terminal that can be elastically displaced in the axial direction.

5. The electronic pen according to claim 4. 　 a positive electrode of the battery is electrically connected to a terminal provided on a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the rear end of the electronic pen body; The cap member is made of a conductive material and is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the battery, and is also electrically connected to the earth electrode of the electronic pen body via the conductive portion of the first housing portion.

4. The electronic pen according to claim 3. 　 The battery is locked in the cap member by a stopper member so as not to be removed from the cap member.

7. The electronic pen according to claim 6. 　 The stopper member is detachable from the cap member, and the battery can be removed from the cap by removing the stopper member from the cap member.

8. The electronic pen according to claim 7. 　 the battery has positive and negative electrodes on an end surface in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the end surface facing a surface of the electronic pen body that is perpendicular to the axial direction, the second housing portion is a cap member for closing the opening on the rear end side of the first housing portion, an elastic member is housed within the cap member, which elastically displaces the battery in an axial direction toward the electronic pen body when the cap member is coupled to the first housing; A surface of the electronic pen body in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction at the rear end side in the axial direction is provided with a plurality of terminals electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, including terminals that are elastically displaceable in the axial direction, and the electronic pen body is provided with a structure that regulates displacement of the battery in the axial direction.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 the battery is housed in a housing provided with an opening for removing the battery in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, When the power supply unit is housed in the hollow portion of the housing, the opening of the battery housing is closed by the housing, and displacement of the battery in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is restricted.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 The battery storage section is provided with an elastic member that elastically displaces the battery stored in the storage section toward the opening.

11. The electronic pen according to claim 10. 　 When the battery housed in the housing is exposed to the outside of the first housing part, at least one electrode of the battery is in an electrically non-contact state due to the elastic force of the elastic member.

12. The electronic pen according to claim 11. 　 The battery is configured to be removable from the storage portion when a portion of one side of the battery in the axial direction is not exposed from the opening.

11. The electronic pen according to claim 10. 　 After the first housing portion and the second housing portion are released from their combined state, the second housing portion is slid in the axial direction by a distance shorter than the axial length of the battery portion, thereby making the battery removable from the storage portion.

11. The electronic pen according to claim 10. 　 the electronic pen body and the power supply are arranged in a holder and aligned in an axial direction, and the battery is arranged in the holder so as to be removable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction; When the first housing portion and the second housing portion are released from their combined state, the battery can be exposed to the outside of the housing so that it can be removed from the holder in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 When the first housing portion and the second housing portion are released from their combined state, the holder in which the electronic pen main body and the power supply portion are disposed can be pulled out in the axial direction from the hollow portion of the housing, and the battery is exposed to the outside in a state in which it can be removed from the holder in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

16. The electronic pen according to claim 15. 　 The holder is configured so that the entire holder can be pulled out in the axial direction from within the hollow portion of the housing.

17. The electronic pen of claim 16. 　 The holder is configured to be able to be pulled out in the axial direction from within the hollow portion of the housing to a position where the battery is exposed to the outside.

17. The electronic pen of claim 16. 　 When the first housing portion and the second housing portion are released from their joined state and the second housing portion is separated, the battery portion is exposed to the outside so as to be removable from the holder in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

16. The electronic pen according to claim 15. 　 When the first housing portion and the second housing portion are released from their joined state and the second housing portion is slid in the axial direction, the battery is exposed to the outside so that it can be removed from the holder in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

16. The electronic pen according to claim 15. 　 After the first housing part and the second housing part are released from their joined state, the holder slides in the axial direction in conjunction with the axial sliding movement of the second housing part, and the battery is exposed to the outside so that it can be removed from the holder in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

16. The electronic pen according to claim 15. 　 the holder is configured to be separable in an axial direction into an electronic pen body side and a power supply side, and a battery storage section is provided on the power supply side of the holder; After the first housing part and the second housing part are released from their combined state, the power supply part side of the holder slides in the axial direction in conjunction with the axial sliding movement of the second housing part, thereby exposing the battery to the outside so that it can be removed from the storage part in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

16. The electronic pen according to claim 15. 　 The electronic pen body side and the power supply side of the holder are electrically connected using a flexible substrate, The flexible substrate has a length that allows the sliding movement.

23. The electronic pen of claim 22. 　 the second housing portion of the housing is a cap member attached to a rear end side of the first housing portion, The cap member includes a cylindrical portion inserted into the rear end side of the first housing portion, and the cylindrical portion is provided with an elastic displacement mechanism for pressing an inner wall surface of the first housing portion when the cap member is attached to the first housing portion, thereby locking the cap member to the first housing portion; The cap portion is provided with a through hole into which a member for releasing the pressure on the inner wall surface of the first housing portion by the elastic displacement mechanism is inserted.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 The first housing portion and the second housing portion of the separable housing are joined by screwing, and the joining is released by releasing the screwing.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 An external power supply connector is provided for connecting to an external power supply for charging; An opening for a terminal portion for connection with the external power supply of the external power supply connection portion is provided on an end surface on the rear end side in the axial direction of the second housing portion.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 An external power supply connector is provided for connecting to an external power supply for charging; An opening for a terminal portion for connection to the external power supply of the external power supply connection portion is provided on a side peripheral surface of the second housing portion.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 An external power supply connector is provided for connecting to an external power supply for charging; An opening of a terminal portion for connecting to the external power supply of the external power supply connecting portion is formed on a side peripheral surface of the housing at a position where it does not interfere with the hand when the user holds the housing in his / her hand to indicate a position.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 An external power supply connection section for connecting to an external power supply for charging is disposed in a notch in the circuit board of the electronic pen body, and an opening for a terminal section for connection to the external power supply of the external power supply connection section is provided on the side peripheral surface of the housing.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 An external power supply connector is provided for connecting to an external power supply for charging; The external power supply connection section is configured to connect to an external power supply in a non-contact manner.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 The external power supply connection section includes an electromagnetic induction coil.

31. The electronic pen of claim 30. 　 The electronic pen body has an active capacitance type configuration.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 The electronic pen body has an electromagnetic induction type configuration.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 the battery has one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode on a first surface that is perpendicular to the axial direction and faces the electronic pen body, a first terminal electrically connected to the one electrode of the battery is provided on a second surface of the electronic pen body at a rear end in the axial direction and perpendicular to the axial direction, Between the first surface and the second surface, a watertight member is arranged to cover the periphery of a contact portion between the first terminal of the electronic pen body and the one electrode of the battery, in a state of isolating a space in which the contact portion exists from an external space.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 The watertight member is attached to the second surface of the electronic pen body.

35. An electronic pen according to claim 34. 　 The watertight member is attached to the first surface of the battery.

35. An electronic pen according to claim 34. 　 The watertight member is configured by a cover that covers at least a portion of the battery including the first surface, excluding one of the positive and negative electrodes.

35. An electronic pen according to claim 34. 　 A biasing member that biases the battery toward the electronic pen body is provided on the opposite side of the battery from the first surface in the axial direction.

35. An electronic pen according to claim 34. 　 The biasing member is made of a conductive member that is electrically connected to the other of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery.

39. An electronic pen according to claim 38. 　 the second housing portion includes a closing portion that closes an opening on the rear end side of the first housing portion and an insertion portion that is inserted into the first housing portion, The biasing member is disposed in the insertion portion of the first housing portion.

39. An electronic pen according to claim 38. 　 the electronic pen body includes a circuit board on which electronic circuit components are mounted, and is housed within the first housing portion; The surface of the circuit board on which the electronic circuit components are mounted is covered with a resin coating layer.

35. An electronic pen according to claim 1 or claim 34. 　 The resin coating layer is made of an ultraviolet curable resin.

42. An electronic pen according to claim 41. 　 In the housing, at least the rear end side of the electronic pen body and the electronic pen body side of the battery are housed in a conductive pipe member, The other of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery and the electronic pen body are electrically connected via the conductive pipe member.

35. An electronic pen according to claim 34. 　 the second housing portion includes a closing portion that closes an opening on the rear end side of the first housing portion and an insertion portion that is inserted into the first housing portion, the battery has one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode on a first surface that is perpendicular to the axial direction and faces the electronic pen body, a first terminal electrically connected to the one electrode of the battery is provided on a second surface of the electronic pen body at a rear end in the axial direction and perpendicular to the axial direction, a biasing member is disposed in the insertion portion of the second housing portion from the opposite side of the battery from the first surface in the axial direction, the biasing member biasing the battery toward the electronic pen main body; A ring-shaped elastic member is provided to elastically close a gap between an inner wall surface of the first housing portion and an outer circumferential wall of the insertion portion of the second housing portion.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 a release mechanism is provided that releases the coupled state between the first housing portion and the second housing portion by a predetermined operation, The ring-shaped elastic member is disposed closer to the pen tip than the release mechanism in the axial direction.

45. An electronic pen according to claim 44. 　 The biasing member is provided in the insertion portion of the second housing portion.

45. An electronic pen according to claim 44. 　 The biasing member and at least the rear end side of the battery are configured to be housed in the insertion portion of the second housing portion.

45. An electronic pen according to claim 44. 　 The electronic pen body includes a pen pressure detection unit that detects a pen pressure applied to a tip of a core body that protrudes to the outside from an opening on the pen tip side of the housing, and a rear end of the core body opposite to the pen tip side is configured to be fitted into the pen pressure detection unit directly or via a pen pressure transmission member, The electronic pen body is provided with a member that separates the internal space of the housing from the external space through the opening on the pen tip side of the housing.

45. An electronic pen according to claim 44. 　 The electronic pen body includes a circuit board, and the circuit board is provided with a side switch that is controlled by an operation unit attached to an opening provided in a side peripheral surface of the housing. In relation to the operation unit, a member is provided that separates the external space through the opening in the side peripheral surface of the housing from the internal space of the housing.

49. An electronic pen according to claim 48. 　 the second housing portion includes a closing portion that closes an opening on the rear end side of the first housing portion and an insertion portion that is inserted into the first housing portion, The insertion portion is provided with an elastic member for sealing the gap between the inner peripheral wall of the first housing portion and the outer peripheral wall of the insertion portion.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1 . 　 A member is provided to isolate the external space through an opening of a terminal portion for connecting the external power supply to the external power supply connector from the internal space of the housing.

30. The electronic pen according to claim 26, wherein the electronic pen is a pen having a plurality of electrodes.

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