JP6719001B2 - Position indicator and signal processing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pen-shaped position indicator (stylus) and a signal processing device for detecting the state of the position indicator on a sensor capacitively coupled to the position indicator.

For example, a pen-shaped position indicator is used for inputting characters and pictures, but in this case, not only input by coordinate values, but also position indication based on the twist of the user's hand, personal habits, etc. There is a demand for inputting angle information such as the rotation angle and tilt angle of a container as data.

In order to respond to this request, an invention that makes it possible to detect the tilt angle of the position indicator on the sensor surface of the position detection device, and the rotation angle about the direction perpendicular to the sensor surface as an axis, for example, It is proposed in Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2014-35631) and Patent Document 2 (US Pat. No. 8,638,320B2).

In patent document 1, in order to detect the rotation angle of a position indicator, a 1st electrode and a 2nd electrode are provided in a core, and they are selected alternately and the electrode which sends an alternating current signal is switched. At this time, signal transmission pattern information indicating which of the first electrode and the second electrode the AC signal is transmitted is included in the AC signal transmitted from the position indicator. Then, the position detection device uses a plurality of coordinate positions on the sensor surface that have received the AC signal from the position indicator, which are obtained corresponding to the pattern information received from the position indicator, and are perpendicular to the sensor surface of the position indicator. Calculate the angle of rotation about the axis.

Further, in Patent Document 1, in order to detect the tilt angle of the position indicator, a housing (housing) is configured such that a tip portion on one side of the housing surrounds a core body protruding from an opening of the housing. In addition to providing three electrodes, a switching circuit for supplying an AC signal to one electrode selected based on a predetermined pattern is provided. Then, when the pattern is switched by the switching circuit, the position indicator sends pattern information indicating the type of the pattern to the position detection device. Then, the position detection device is configured to calculate the tilt angle of the position indicator with respect to the sensor surface from at least three coordinate positions and three signal intensities obtained corresponding to at least three types of pattern information received.

Further, in Patent Document 2, signals are supplied to the tip electrodes (tip electrodes 414, 714) and their surrounding electrodes (ring electrode 416, segment electrodes 716-A to 716-C), and signals of the tip electrodes in the touch panel are supplied. The rotation angle and the tilt angle of the position indicator (stylus) are detected from the reception pattern and the reception pattern of the signal from the peripheral electrodes.

JP, 2014-35631, A US Pat. No. 8,638,320 B2

As described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, even in the position indicator of the electrostatic coupling system that indicates the position on the sensor by capacitively coupling with the sensor of the position detection device, the position on the sensor surface It is required to detect the rotation status (rotation angle) of the indicator itself and the tilt angle of the position indicator with respect to the sensor surface. And recently, even in this kind of electrostatic coupling type position indicator, it is necessary to detect the indicated position when the tip of the core body (electrode) comes into contact with the sensor surface, which exceeds the basic performance, There is a demand to detect the position on the sensor surface indicated by the position indicator even in a so-called hover state in which the tip of the core (electrode) of the position indicator is separated from the sensor surface.

However, in the position indicator of Patent Document 1, the first electrode and the second electrode provided on the core are not used in a state in which the position is away from the sensor surface of the position detection device, that is, in the hover state, Since signals are sent to the sensor from the three electrodes provided so as to surround the core, the position indicator does not always send the signal to the sensor efficiently. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for the position detection device to detect the position indicator in the hover state apart from the sensor surface with high sensitivity.

In the case of the position indicator of Patent Document 2, since the signal is transmitted not only from the peripheral electrodes but also from the tip electrode, the position indicator can efficiently transmit the signal to the sensor. However, in the position indicator of Patent Document 2, even when the position indicator is in contact with the sensor surface or in the hover state apart from the sensor surface, the tip electrode and all the peripheral electrodes are always connected. Therefore, there is a problem that power consumption increases because the signals are simultaneously sent to the sensor. This type of position indicator is battery-powered, and the problem of power consumption is important.

In view of the above problems, the present invention is capable of detecting a tilt angle and a rotation angle in consideration of long-time driving or low power consumption, and can detect a hover state with high sensitivity. Signal processing that provides a position indicator that meets demands, efficiently detects angle information such as the tilt and rotation of the position indicator on the sensor, and can detect the state information indicating whether the hover state is high or not with high sensitivity. The purpose is to provide a device.

In order to solve the above problems, the position indicator according to the present invention,
A position indicator that has a pen-shaped housing and indicates a position by electrostatic coupling with a sensor included in a position detection device,
A first electrode arranged so as to project from one end of the housing in the axial direction;
A second electrode disposed in the vicinity of the first electrode so as to surround the axis of the housing,
A signal generation circuit for generating information and a position indication signal for identifying the position indicator,
A signal supply control circuit that controls the supply of the signal generated by the signal generation circuit to the position detection device;
A control signal receiving circuit for receiving a control signal sent from the position detecting device,
Is equipped with
The signal supply control circuit, based on the control signal sent from the position detection device received by the control signal receiving circuit, the tip portion of the position indicator indicates a position on the sensor surface of the sensor. A first operation mode and a second operation mode different from the first operation mode can be set,
The signal supply control circuit is configured so that the position indicating signal can be sent from the first electrode and the second electrode in a predetermined cycle in the first operation mode, and In the second operation mode, at least information for identifying the position indicator can be sent to the position detecting device.

In the invention of the position indicator having the above-mentioned configuration, the first operation mode in which the tip portion of the position indicator indicates the position on the sensor surface of the sensor by the control signal from the position detection device, and the first operation mode The second operation mode different from the mode is set. Further, the position indicating signal can be sent from each of the first electrode and the second electrode in a predetermined cycle in the first operation mode. Further, in the second mode, at least information for identifying the position indicator can be sent to the position detecting device.

It is a figure which shows embodiment of the position indicator by this invention with the electronic device provided with a position detection apparatus. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the structural structural example of 1st Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the signal processing circuit of 1st Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the processing operation example of the principal part of 1st Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing chart for description of the processing operation example of the principal part of 1st Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing chart for description of the processing operation example of the principal part of 1st Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing chart for description of the processing operation example of the principal part of 1st Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure for explaining the outline of the position detecting device used with the embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the position detection apparatus of the example of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of embodiment of the signal processing apparatus used with 1st Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the processing operation of the important section of the embodiment of the signal processor used with the 1st embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the processing operation of the important section of the embodiment of the signal processor used with the 1st embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the processing operation of the important section of the embodiment of the signal processor used with the 1st embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the processing operation of the important section of the embodiment of the signal processor used with the 1st embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure showing the flow chart for explaining the flow of the example of processing operation of the important section of the embodiment of the signal processor used with the 1st embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the signal processing circuit of 2nd Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the signal processing circuit of 3rd Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing chart used for operation|movement description of the signal processing circuit of 3rd Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the signal processing circuit of 4th Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing chart used for operation|movement description of the signal processing circuit of 4th Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the signal processing circuit of 5th Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing chart used for operation|movement description of the signal processing circuit of 5th Embodiment of the position indicator by this invention.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the position indicator and the position detection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a tablet information terminal 200 as an example of an electronic device using the position indicator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the tablet-type information terminal 200 is provided with a display screen 200D of a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the capacitance-type position detection device 201 is provided on the top (front side) of the display screen 200D. I have it.

The user inputs a position instruction on the sensor of the position detection device 201 of the tablet information terminal 200 with the position indicator 100 or an indicator such as a finger. The position detection device 201 detects a position indicated on the sensor of the position indicator 100 or the position detection device 201 by a finger, and also detects angle information such as a rotation angle and a tilt angle of the position indicator 100 at the indicated position. ..

[Structural Configuration of Position Indicator 100 of Embodiment]
The position indicator 100 of this embodiment includes a housing (housing) 1 having a pen-shaped appearance. FIG. 2 shows an outline of the structural configuration of the position indicator 100 of this embodiment. 2(A) shows a part of the housing 1 of the position indicator 100 by breaking the housing 1, and FIG. 2(B) is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2(A). Is.

The housing 1 is composed of a hollow cylindrical insulator portion made of an insulating material such as resin. Note that at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the insulator portion of the housing 1 where the operator holds the position indicator 100 may be covered with a conductor portion made of, for example, a metal.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the substrate holder 2 and a battery (not shown) as a driving power source are housed in the hollow portion of the housing 1. The substrate holder 2 is made of an insulating resin, such as a liquid crystal polymer, and includes a writing pressure detection module holder 2a and a printed board holder 2b. The position of the substrate holder 2 is regulated in the housing 1 so as not to move in the axial direction.

A writing pressure detection module holding portion 2a of the substrate holder 2 holds a writing pressure detection module 4 that detects writing pressure applied to a core body 3 that forms a center electrode A described later. The printed board 5 is held in the printed board holding portion 2 b of the board holder 2.

The signal processing circuit of this embodiment is formed on the printed circuit board 5. That is, a plurality of electronic components including a resistor, a capacitor, a switch circuit, an IC (Integrated Circuit), a wireless signal communication circuit, and a wiring pattern are formed on the printed circuit board 5, and the signal processing circuit uses these components. It is composed by.

The voltage of the driving power supply that drives the signal processing circuit is generated from a battery (not shown). In this example, a rechargeable secondary battery is used as this battery. A rechargeable electric double layer capacitor may be used instead of the battery.

The writing pressure detection module 4 of this example has a configuration of a variable capacitance capacitor whose capacitance changes according to the writing pressure applied to the core body 3. The writing pressure detection module 4 in this embodiment is configured by using a well-known variable capacitor disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-186803.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the pressure-sensitive component forming the writing pressure detection module 4 of this example includes a dielectric 41, a terminal member 42, a holding member 43, a conductive member 44, and an elastic member 45. It is composed of a plurality of parts, and is housed in the hollow portion of the tubular body 46 arranged in the axial direction.

In the variable capacitance capacitor configured as the writing pressure detection module 4 of this example, the dielectric 41 is sandwiched between the terminal member 42 forming one electrode and the conductive member 44 forming the other electrode. Composed. Although not shown, the terminal member 42 and the conductive member 44 are connected to the wiring pattern of the printed circuit board 5.

The holding member 43 that holds the conductive member 44 is configured to be movable in the axial direction within the tubular body 46. Then, the holding member 43 is constantly urged toward the core body 3 by the elastic member 45 formed of a coil spring made of a conductive material. The conductive member 44 and the elastic member 45 are electrically connected to each other, and one end of the coil spring forming the elastic member 45 is connected to the wiring pattern of the printed circuit board 5 as the other electrode of the variable capacitor.

The core body 3 is held by the core body holder 6 in this example. Then, the rod-shaped portion 6a of the core body holder 6 is press-fitted into the concave hole 43a of the holding member 43 of the writing pressure detection module 4, so that the core body holder 6 is prevented from falling off to the core body 3 side. 43 is engaged. The pressure applied to the core body 3 is transmitted to the writing pressure detection module 4 via the core body holder 6.

That is, when pressure is applied to the tip 3a of the core body 3, the core body 3 and the core body holder 6 are displaced to the side opposite to the tip 3a side of the core body 3 according to the pressure, and this displacement causes The holding member 43 of the writing pressure detection module 4 is displaced toward the dielectric 41 side against the elastic biasing force of the elastic member 45. As a result, the conductive member 44 fitted to the holding member 43 is displaced toward the dielectric 41 side, the distance between the conductive member 44 and the dielectric 41, and further, the conductive member 44 and the dielectric 41. The contact area changes according to the pressure applied to the core body 3. As a result, the electrostatic capacitance of the variable capacitor that constitutes the writing pressure detection module 4 changes according to the pressure applied to the core body 3. Therefore, the writing pressure is detected by detecting the electrostatic capacity of the variable capacitor that constitutes the writing pressure detection module 4.

In this example, the core body 3 constitutes the center electrode A as an example of the first electrode, and is made of a conductive material such as a metal. The core body 3 may be made of a resin in which conductive metal powder is mixed, or may be made of a felt made of a conductive material.

The core body 3 is held by the core body holder 6 by fitting the end portion 3b on the side opposite to the tip end 3a thereof into the fitting recess 6b of the core body holder 6. The core body 3 is configured to be able to be pulled out from the core body holder 6 by pulling with a predetermined force while being fitted and held in the core body holder 6. At this time, the core body holder 6 is locked by the wall of the stepped portion between the writing pressure detection module holding portion 2a of the substrate holder 2 and the printed circuit board holding portion 2b, and does not drop off to the tip 3a side of the core body 3. Is configured.

In the state where the core body 3 and the core body holder 6 are fitted and housed in the housing 1, the center axis position of the core body 3 and the center axis position of the core body holder 6 are the same as those of the housing 1. The state is such that it coincides with the central axis position of the hollow portion. Then, in this state, the tip 3a of the core body 3 comes to project to the outside from the opening 1a formed at one end 1b of the housing 1 in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 2(A), the printed board holding portion 2b of the board holder 2 has a space for inserting the core body 3 at the center axis position of the hollow portion of the housing 1, and the printed board 5 is housed in the housing. It is configured to be held at a position deviated from the central axis position of the hollow portion 1.

In this embodiment, the core body holder 6 that holds the core body 3 is also made of a conductive material, and the conductive core body 3 is connected to the printed circuit board via the core body holder 6 as described below. 5 is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit formed in FIG.

That is, a coil spring 7 made of a conductive material such as a conductive metal is attached to the rod-shaped portion 6 a of the core holder 6, and the core holder 6 is always attached to the substrate holder 2 by the coil 7. It is configured to be biased toward the core body 3 side.

Then, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the writing pressure detection module holding portion 2a of the substrate holder 2 has conductivity through the conductive core holder 6 and the coil 7. A conductor terminal member 8 for electrically connecting the core body 3 to the signal processing circuit of the printed circuit board 5 is provided. The conductor terminal member 8 has an abutting plate portion 8a with which one end of the coil spring 7 abuts, and an extending portion 8b connected to a wiring pattern connected to the abutting plate portion 8a and the signal processing circuit of the printed circuit board 5. It consists of and. A signal from the signal processing circuit is supplied to the core body 3 forming the center electrode A via the conductor terminal member 8, the coil spring 7, and the core body holder 6.

In the hollow portion of the housing 1 on the side of the opening 1a, three electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 constituting the second electrode are arranged so as to surround the central axis of the casing. These three electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 are made of, for example, a conductive metal material, a conductive resin such as a conductive rubber, or the like, and are sectional views taken along the line AA in FIG. ), the core body 3 and the core body 3 are electrically separated from each other by the insulating member 90 and are also electrically separated from each other.

In this case, the three electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 have the same shape and the same size, and are formed so as to be separated from each other by the same distance in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the three electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 are arranged at positions separated from each other by an angle of 120 degrees in this embodiment.

The insulating member 90 is a cylindrical member having a through hole into which the core body 3 is inserted. In this example, the insulating member 90 is provided at the end of the printed board holding portion 2b of the board holder 2 on the opening 1a side of the housing 1. ing. The outer peripheral side surface of the insulating member 90 is a truncated cone shape in which the diameter of the outer peripheral side surface is gradually reduced as it approaches the opening 1a and becomes a tapered shape.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 are separated from each other by covering a predetermined angular range around the outer peripheral side surface of the truncated cone shape of the insulating member 90. Then, for example, they are arranged by being adhered or adhered. That is, each of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 covers an angular range smaller than 120 degrees around the outer peripheral side surface of the insulating member 90, and is arranged so as to be separated from each other by the same angular range. In this case, each of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 preferably covers an angular range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees around the outer peripheral side surface of the insulating member 90, and in this example, covers an angular range of 90 degrees. It is said that. Therefore, in this example, each of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 is separated by an angular range of 30 degrees.

These electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 are connected to respective wiring patterns connected to the signal processing circuit of the printed circuit board 5 at connection portions not shown.

The three electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the truncated cone shape of the insulating member 90 arranged near the opening 1a of the housing 1 by printing or by printing. Good.

In this embodiment, as described above, the writing pressure detection module holding part 2a of the substrate holder 2 holds the writing pressure detection module 4 on the core holder 6, and the printed board holding part 2b holds the printed board 5 and The one holding the insulating member 90 and the three electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 is configured as one module component. Then, a battery storage portion is connected to the writing pressure detection module holding portion 2a side of this module component, and they are stored in the hollow portion of the housing 1 from an opening on the side opposite to the opening 1a, and opposite to the opening 1a. The side opening is closed by the lid. Then, the position indicator 100 is configured by inserting the core body 3 through the opening 1a and fitting the core body 3 into the core body holder 6.

The opening 1a side of the housing 1 may be configured as a cap portion so as to be separated from the main body of the housing 1, and the cap portion may be screwed into the main body of the housing 1.

[Configuration Example of Signal Processing Circuit of Position Indicator 100]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a signal processing circuit of the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment. That is, the signal processing circuit of the position indicator 100 includes a controller 10, a battery 11 such as a rechargeable secondary battery as a driving power source, a signal generation circuit 12, and switch circuits 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. , 18, a DC/DC converter 19, and a wireless signal communication circuit 20. The controller 10 is connected to the variable capacitance capacitor 4C that constitutes the writing pressure detection module 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the position indicator 100 includes a power switch 21, and when the power switch 21 is turned on, the voltage of the battery 11 is applied to the controller 10 as the power voltage VDD. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the power switch 21 is turned on when a user presses a push button exposed on the outer peripheral side surface of the housing 1.

The controller 10 is composed of, for example, a microprocessor and constitutes a control circuit for controlling the processing operation of the position indicator 100, which will be described later, and is supplied with a power supply voltage VDD from a battery 11 as an example of a drive power supply. Has been done. As will be described later, the controller 10 controls the signal generation circuit 12 and controls on/off of each of the switch circuits 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 and controls the capacitance of the variable capacitor 4C. By monitoring, the writing pressure applied via the core 3 of the position indicator 100 is detected. In this embodiment, the controller 10 detects the writing pressure from the discharge time of the variable capacitor 4C as described later.

In the first embodiment, the signal generation circuit 12 includes an oscillation circuit that generates an AC signal having a predetermined frequency f1, for example, a frequency f1=1.8 MHz. The controller 10 supplies a control signal CT to the oscillation circuit that constitutes the signal generation circuit 12 to control the oscillation circuit to turn on and off. Therefore, the oscillation circuit that constitutes the signal generation circuit 12 intermittently generates the alternating signal that is generated in response to the control signal CT from the controller 10, so that the signal generation circuit 12 causes the ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation signal to be generated. Signal Sc is generated. That is, the signal generation circuit 12 generates the ASK modulation signal by controlling the oscillation circuit that constitutes the signal generation circuit 12 by the controller 10. Instead of the ASK modulation, the signal generated by the signal generation circuit 12 may be an OOK (On Off Keying) modulated signal.

In this embodiment, the controller 10 causes the signal generation circuit 12 to use the ASK modulation signal to identify information (ID (Identification)) for identifying the selected state of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93, as will be described later. ) Is added to the output signal. That is, the signal generation circuit 12 includes the ID adding unit 120 as a function. Further, the signal generation circuit 12 is controlled by the control signal CT from the controller 10 so that the position detection device 201 can detect the position indicated by the position indicator 100 as an ASK modulated signal. A signal Sc including a continuous transmission signal (burst signal) for enabling signal demodulation in the position detecting device 201 and necessary additional information is generated in synchronization with the signal transmission timing of the signal to be transmitted.

The signal Sc from the signal generation circuit 12 is amplified by an amplifier (not shown) and then supplied to the center electrode A that constitutes the core body 3 and, at the same time, supplied to the switch circuits 13, 14, 15 respectively. Through each of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93. The switch circuits 13, 14 and 15 are on/off controlled by switching control signals SW1, SW2 and SW3 from the controller 10. As a result, the signal Sc from the signal generation circuit 12 is selectively supplied to the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93.

Further, the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 are connected to the ground through the switch circuits 16, 17, 18 respectively in this embodiment. These switch circuits 16, 17, 18 are on/off controlled by switching control signals SW4, SW5, SW6 from the controller 10, and are connected to, for example, the ground when the signal Sc is not supplied to the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93. Controlled to be done.

In this case, the switching control signal SW4 is a signal having a reverse phase of the switching control signal SW1, the switching control signal SW5 is a signal having a reverse phase of the switching control signal SW2, and the switching control signal SW6 is a switching control signal SW3. The signal of the opposite phase of.

That is, in the switch circuits 13, 14, 15 one of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 connected to the electrode piece to which the signal Sc is supplied is turned on, and the switch circuits 16, 17 are turned on. , 18, two switch circuits connected to two of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 other than the electrode piece to which the signal Sc is supplied are turned on.

As a result, of the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93, the sensor of the position detection device 201 electrostatically couples only with the electrode piece to which the signal Sc is supplied, and two sensors other than the electrode piece to which the signal Sc is supplied. By inhibiting the adverse effect of the electrode piece, the signal from the electrode piece can be easily identified.

Note that, without providing the switch circuits 16, 17, and 18, the electrode piece of the electrode pieces 91, 92, and 93 to which the signal Sc is not supplied is in the floating state (the signal Sc of the switch circuits 13, 14, and 15 is the signal Sc). The switch circuit connected to the electrode piece to which is not supplied is turned off).

The DC/DC converter 19 boosts the voltage of the battery 11 to generate a power source of the voltage VP. In this embodiment, the DC-DC converter 19 is controlled by the controller 10 to generate the output voltage VP having a plurality of signal levels, for example, 9V and 30V. The signal level may be variably controlled from 9V to 30V. The signal generation circuit 12 receives the voltage VP having a plurality of signal levels as a drive voltage in this way, and thereby sets the amplitude of the signal Sc to an amplitude corresponding to the voltage VP.

The wireless signal communication circuit 20 is a circuit that wirelessly communicates signals with the position detection device 201. In this example, short-range wireless communication of Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard is used. The wireless signal communication circuit 20 may use Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard wireless communication, or is not limited to this and may use infrared communication, optical communication, or other wireless communication.

In this example, the wireless signal communication circuit 20 transmits, to the position detecting device 201, identification information assigned to the position indicator 100 for identifying each position indicator from each other. The wireless signal communication circuit 20 also receives a mode instruction signal including a hover mode and a position instruction mode sent from the position detection device 201. The controller 10 switches the mode of the position indicator 100 between the hover mode and the position indication mode based on the mode indication signal sent from the position detection device 201, and sends the AC signal from the position indicator 100. Control is performed. The mode switching setting operation for AC signal transmission control of the position indicator 100 by the controller 10 will be described below.

<Example of processing operation of position indicator 100>
The controller 10 of the position indicator 100 according to the first embodiment is based on the wireless signal communication with the position detection device 201 in a state where the power switch 21 is turned on and the controller 10 is powered on. By performing the mode switching setting operation of the position indicator 100, the transmission control of the AC signal is performed. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the flow of the switching setting operation of AC signal transmission by the controller 10 of the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment. 5 to 7 are time charts used for explaining the operation of the position indicator 100.

In the following description, the core 3 will be referred to as the center electrode A, and the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 will be referred to as the peripheral electrodes B, C and D, respectively.

In this embodiment, when the power switch 21 of the position indicator 100 is turned on, a power supply voltage is supplied to the wireless signal communication circuit 20, and wireless communication with the position detection device 201 is performed through the wireless signal communication circuit 20. The operation of signal communication is started (step S101), and it is determined whether or not wireless signal communication with the position detection device 201 is possible (step S102). When it is determined in step S102 that the wireless signal communication with the position detection device 201 is not possible, the controller 10 stops the oscillation operation of the oscillation circuit forming the signal generation circuit 12, and thus the signal Sc is sent out. No (step S103). Then, the controller 10 returns the processing to step S101 and repeats the processing of step S101 and thereafter.

If it is determined in step S102 that wireless signal communication with the position detection device 201 is possible, the controller 10 sets the position indicator 100 in the signal transmission state in the hover mode (step S104).

In this hover mode, the controller 10 wirelessly transmits the identification information of the position indicator 100 to the position detection device 201 through the wireless signal communication circuit 20, and the AC signal generated by the signal generation circuit 12 is transmitted to the center electrode A and the center electrode A. Signal transmission control is performed so that all of the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D transmit to the sensors of the position detection device 201 (see FIG. 5A).

That is, in this hover mode, the controller 10 always turns on the switch circuits 13, 14, 15 by the switching control signals SW1, SW2, SW3, and by the switching control signals SW4, SW5, SW6. 18 is always off. Then, the controller 10 intermittently drives the oscillation circuit that constitutes the signal generation circuit 12 by the control signal CT, so that the central electrode A, the peripheral electrode B, the peripheral electrode C, and the peripheral electrode D are respectively fed to the control circuit shown in FIG. ), (B), (C), and (D), the signal Sc is intermittently transmitted in the burst signal in the cycle TH.

The processing in the hover mode is different from the processing in the position indicating mode in which the position indicator 100 contacts the sensor surface of the position detecting device 201 to indicate a specific position, and the position indicator on the sensor of the position detecting device 201 is different. This is processing for favorably detecting the approaching state (so-called hover state) by the position detecting device 201. In this hover mode processing, the AC signal from the position indicator 100 is sent to only the center electrode A, and the three peripheral electrodes that form the first conductor and the second conductor are formed. By simultaneously transmitting the AC signals from all of the electrodes B, C, and D, the AC signal transmission energy is increased, and the sensor of the position detection device 201 facilitates detection of the AC signals from the position indicator 100. ..

In the hover mode, the controller 10 controls the DC-DC converter 19 to set the voltage VP to the first signal level, for example, 30 V, to increase the amplitude of the signal Sc output from the signal generation circuit 12. On the other hand, by controlling the duty ratio of the signal sending period of the signal Sc in the cycle TH and sending the signal Sc intermittently, the power consumption when time averaged is the first signal in the position indication mode described later. The signal level is set to be the same as when the signal Sc set to the second signal level, which is lower than the level, is transmitted. That is, when the signal Sc having a large signal level is transmitted, the signal is intermittently transmitted in a short time to prevent an increase in power consumption.

As described above, by transmitting the AC signal from all of the center electrode A, the peripheral electrode B, the peripheral electrode C, and the peripheral electrode D, and increasing the amplitude of the signal Sc, the position indicator 100 causes the position detection device 201 to operate. Even at a position above the sensor surface (hovering state) farther than the sensor surface, the output energy of the signal Sc sent from the position indicator 100 becomes larger, and the position detecting device 201 enters the hovering state. A certain position indicator 100 can be easily detected.

In the above description, in the hover mode, the signal Sc is transmitted from all of the center electrode A, the peripheral electrode B, the peripheral electrode C, and the peripheral electrode D at each cycle TH. However, as shown in FIGS. 6(E), (F), (G), and (H), the signal Sc is sent from the central electrode A in a burst signal at each period TH, and the peripheral electrode B and the peripheral electrode C are transmitted. The peripheral electrode D may be switched for each cycle TH to selectively send the signal Sc. Further, no AC signal is supplied to the center electrode A, and only the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D, as shown in FIGS. 6(B) to (D) or 6(F) to (H), An AC signal may be supplied. Further, when the remaining power amount of the driving power source such as a battery is limited, it is possible to supply the AC signal only to the center electrode A.

When the position detection device 201 receives the signal Sc from the position indicator 100 set in the hover mode, the position of the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 is set to the position detection device 201, as described later. It is detected whether or not the proximity state is a predetermined proximity distance to the sensor surface, for example, 5 mm to 1 cm or less. Then, when the position detecting device 201 determines that the position indicator 100 is not in the proximity state, the position detecting device 201 wirelessly transmits an instruction to set the hover mode to the position indicator 100. When determining that the position indicator 100 is in the proximity state, the position detection device 201 wirelessly transmits a position instruction mode setting instruction (instruction to change to the position instruction mode) to the position indicator 100.

As will be described later, in this embodiment, after the position detection device 201 has issued a mode setting instruction to the position indicator 100, the position indicator 100 is operated by the sensor of the position detection device 201 for a predetermined time ( Even if the vehicle moves away from the proximity state for a short time of, for example, 1 second or less, the position indicator 100 does not immediately transmit the mode change instruction to the hover mode. This is because it is considered that the user has the intention to continue the input operation of the position indication by the position indicator 100 for a short time of, for example, 1 second or less. That is, the mode switching between the hover mode and the position instruction mode is provided with a switching hysteresis for a predetermined time.

The controller 10 of the position indicator 100 that is in the AC signal transmission state in the hover mode in step S104 monitors the signal from the position detection device 201 received by the wireless signal communication circuit 20, and indicates the position from the position detection device 201. It is determined whether a mode instruction has been received (step S105).

When it is determined in step S105 that the position instruction mode instruction has not been received but the hover mode instruction has been received, the controller 10 returns the process to step S104 and sets the signal transmission state in the hover mode. maintain.

When it is determined in step S105 that the position instruction mode instruction has been received, the controller 10 switches the position indicator 100 to the position instruction mode signal transmission state (step S106).

Even in this position pointing mode, the controller 10 controls the wireless signal communication circuit 20 to wirelessly transmit the identification information of the position pointing device 100 to the position detecting device 201. Then, in this position indication mode, the controller 10 detects the position indicated by the position indicator 100 by the position detection device 201 and detects the rotation angle and the tilt angle of the position indicator 100. Always sends the AC signal generated by the signal generation circuit 12 from the center electrode A, and switches the peripheral electrodes B, C and D sequentially to selectively send the signal Sc ( See FIGS. 5B to 5E).

In the position pointing mode, the controller 10 controls the DC-DC converter 19 to set the voltage VP to a second signal level lower than the first signal level, for example, 9V. Even with such a low voltage, the position indicator 100 in the position indicating mode is in contact with or sufficiently close to the sensor surface of the position detecting device 201. It is possible to receive the transmission signal from the indicator 100 with high sensitivity.

In this embodiment, in the position pointing mode, the controller 10 sends the signal Sc from the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode B for a period TB as shown in FIGS. The period TC for transmitting the signal Sc from the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C and the period TD for transmitting the signal Sc from the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode D are sequentially switched. Then, the controller 10 controls the switch circuits 13 to 18 so that the period T, the period TC, and the period T having the total time length of the period TD (see FIG. 7A) are set as one cycle and the period T is repeated. ..

That is, as shown in FIGS. 7B to 7D, the controller 10 turns on the switch circuit 13 to which the peripheral electrode B is connected by the switching control signal SW1 in the period TB in order to send out the signal Sc. In the period TC, the switching control signal SW2 controls the switch circuit 14 connected to the peripheral electrode C to be turned on, and in the period TD, the switching control signal SW3 controls the switch circuit 15 connected to the peripheral electrode D to be turned on.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7E to 7G, the controller 10 turns on the switch circuits 17 and 18 by the switching control signals SW5 and SW6 during the period TB, and the peripheral electrodes C and D that do not supply the signal Sc. Is connected to the ground, the switching circuits 16 and 18 are turned on by the switching control signals SW4 and SW6 in the period TC, the peripheral electrodes B and D that do not supply the signal Sc are connected to the ground, and the switching control signal SW4 and The switch circuits 16 and 17 are turned on by SW5, and the peripheral electrodes B and C that do not supply the signal Sc are controlled to be connected to the ground, respectively.

Then, in this embodiment, the controller 10 causes the signal generation circuit 12 to transmit an AC signal from the oscillation circuit in the transmission period by the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode B in each of the period TB, the period TC, and the period TD. Control for adding identification information indicating that there is a transmission period, identification information indicating that the transmission period is between the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C, and identification information indicating that the transmission period is between the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode D. To do. Further, in this embodiment, during the period TB, the writing pressure applied to the core body 3 is detected based on the electrostatic capacitance of the variable capacitor 4C forming the writing pressure detection module 4, and the detected writing pressure is detected. The information (writing pressure data) is also controlled. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the period TB is longer than the other periods TC and TD.

The processing operation of the controller 10 in the periods TB, TC, TD at this time will be described with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. 5 and 7.

That is, in the period TB, as shown in FIGS. 7B to 7D, the controller 10 first turns on the switch circuit 13 and turns off the other switch circuits 14 and 15 to turn off the three peripheral electrodes B. , C, D, the peripheral electrode B is selected. Then, in this selected state, the controller 10 keeps the control signal CT at a high level for a certain period, as shown in FIG. 5C, and outputs the AC signal from the oscillation circuit forming the signal generation circuit 12. It is controlled to output continuously for a certain period. As a result, in this period TB, the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode B are in a state of emitting a burst signal in which an AC signal of frequency f1 continues for a certain period (burst signal transmission period (AB) in FIG. 5E). reference).

During the burst signal transmission period (AB) in this period TB, the controller 10 controls the terminal Pc to which the variable capacitance capacitor 4C is connected and is applied to the variable capacitance capacitor 4C constituting the writing pressure detection module 4. Ask for the writing pressure. That is, the controller 10 charges the variable capacitor 4C by setting the terminal Pc to the high level. Next, the controller 10 switches the terminal Pc to the input state. At this time, the electric charge stored in the variable capacitor 4C is discharged by the resistor R connected in parallel with the variable capacitor 4C, and the voltage Ec (see FIG. 5D) of the variable capacitor 4C gradually decreases. The controller 10 obtains the time Tp from when the terminal c is switched to the input state until the voltage Ec of the variable capacitor 4C drops below a predetermined threshold voltage. This time Tp corresponds to the writing pressure to be obtained, and the controller 10 obtains the writing pressure as a value of a plurality of bits, for example, 10 bits, from this time Tp.

Then, when the burst signal transmission period (AB) ends in the period TB, the controller 10 sets the control signal CT (see FIG. 5C) to the high level or the low level in a predetermined cycle Td, and the signal generation circuit 12 Control is performed to perform ASK modulation on the AC signal from the oscillation circuit. At this time, the controller 10 sets the control signal CT to a high level for the first time and sends a signal for a predetermined time (see the start signal in FIG. 5E). This start signal is provided so that the position detection device 201 can accurately determine the subsequent data transmission timing. That is, it is provided to synchronize signal processing such as ASK demodulation in the position detecting device 201 with the signal transmission timing of the start signal from the position indicator 100 received by the position detecting device 201. That is, the position detection device 201 can synchronize the signal processing such as ASK demodulation of the signal received from the position indicator 100 by using this start signal.

The position detection device uses the burst signal transmission period (AB), the burst signal transmission period (AC) to be described later, and the burst signal transmission period (AD) as the transmission timing of the signal transmitted from the position indicator 100. The signal processing at 201 can also be synchronized.

During the period of 2Td following this start signal, the identification information for identifying the electrode that sends out the signal Sc from the position indicator 100, that is, the peripheral electrode B that sends out the signal Sc together with the center electrode A in this period TB. It is a transmission section. In this example, the controller 10 controls the sending section of this identification information so as to add the code “00” to the peripheral electrode B as 2-bit identification information, as shown in FIG. 5(E). Control the signal CT. The 2-bit code is used to identify each of the three peripheral electrodes B, C, and D.

Following the identification information of the peripheral electrode B, the controller 10 sequentially transmits the 10-bit writing pressure data obtained by the above-described operation. That is, when the transmission data is “0”, the controller 10 sets the control signal CT (see FIG. 5C) to the low level to stop the generation of the AC signal from the oscillation circuit forming the signal generation circuit 12, and the transmission data is transmitted. Is "1", the control signal CT (see FIG. 5C) is set to a high level to control the oscillation circuit of the signal generation circuit 12 to generate an AC signal, thereby performing ASK modulation (FIG. 5E). ) Refer to the pen pressure data transmission period). In FIG. 5C, it is illustrated that the writing pressure to be transmitted is “0101110101”.

When the transmission of the 10-bit writing pressure data ends, the controller 10 ends the selection period of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode B and switches to the selection period TC of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C. Switching control is performed by the switching control signals SW1, SW2, and SW3 so that the switch circuit 13 and the switch circuit 15 are turned off and only the switch circuit 14 is turned on (see FIGS. 7B to 7D).

Then, in the selection period TC of the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode C, the controller 10 maintains the high level of the control signal CT for a certain period as shown in FIG. 5C, similarly to the period TB. In this way, the AC signal from the oscillation circuit of the signal generation circuit 12 is continuously output as the signal Sc for a certain period. As a result, the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode C are in a state of continuously transmitting burst signals for a certain period (see the burst signal transmission period (AC) in FIG. 5(E)).

When the burst signal transmission period (AC) is completed in the period TC, the controller 10 sets the control signal CT (see FIG. 5C) to a high level and sends a start signal, and then sends a signal Sc together with the center electrode A. The control signal CT is controlled so that “10” is added in this example as a code for 2 bits of the identification information for identifying the peripheral electrode C to be turned on. In this example, as described above, the writing pressure detection operation is not performed and the writing pressure data is not transmitted during the selection period TC of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C. Of course, the writing pressure detection operation may be performed during the selection period TC of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C to transmit the writing pressure data.

When the transmission of the identification information of the peripheral electrode C that transmits the signal Sc together with the center electrode A is completed in the period TC, the controller 10 ends the period TC and switches to the selection period TD of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode D. In order to turn on, the switching circuits 13 and 14 are turned off, and the switching control signals SW1, SW2, and SW3 are controlled so that only the switching circuit 15 is turned on.

In the selection period TD of the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode D, the controller 10 keeps the control signal CT (see FIG. 5C) for a certain period in the same manner as the selection period TC of the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode C. The control is performed so as to maintain the high level, and the AC signal from the oscillation circuit forming the signal generation circuit 12 is continuously output as the signal Sc for a certain period. As a result, the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode D are in a state of continuously transmitting the burst signal for a certain period (see the burst signal transmission period (AD) in FIG. 5E).

Then, when the burst signal transmission period (AD) ends, the controller 10 sets the control signal CT to the high level and sends the start signal, and then the identification information for identifying the peripheral electrode D that sends the signal Sc together with the center electrode A. In this example, the control signal CT is controlled so that "01" is added as a code for 2 bits. In this example, the writing pressure detection operation is not performed and the writing pressure data is not transmitted even during the selection period TD of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode D. Of course, the writing pressure detection operation may be performed during this period TD to transmit the writing pressure data.

After the burst signal transmission period (AD) in the period TD, when the transmission of the identification information of the peripheral electrode D that transmits the signal Sc together with the center electrode A is completed, the controller 10 ends the period Td and the center electrode A. The switching control signals SW1, SW2, SW3 are controlled to turn on the switch circuit 13 and the other switch circuits 14 and 15 are turned off so as to return to the selection period TB of the peripheral electrode B. Then, the controller 10 performs the above-described control processing in the period TB. Similarly, in the position instruction mode of step S106, the controller 10 performs control to sequentially cyclically switch the period TB, the period TC, and the period TD.

After step S106, the controller 10 monitors the signal from the position detection device 201 received by the wireless signal communication circuit 20, and instructs the position detection device 201 to set the hover mode (instruction to change to the hover mode). It is determined whether or not the signal has been received (step S107). When it is determined in step S107 that the hover mode instruction has not been received but the position instruction mode instruction has been received, the controller 10 returns the process to step S105 and repeats the process of step S105. ..

When it is determined in step S107 that the hover mode instruction has been received, the controller 10 returns the process to step S104, executes the process in the hover mode, and then repeats the processes of step S104 and subsequent steps described above. ..

<Configuration example of position detection device 201>
Next, a configuration example of the position detecting device 201 of the first embodiment used with the position indicator 100 described above will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration example of the position detection device 201 of this embodiment. The position detection device 201 of this example has a configuration of a capacitance type position detection device and includes a sensor having a so-called cross point (mutual capacitance) configuration, and detects an electrostatic touch such as a finger, particularly a multi-touch. In this case, the transmission signal is supplied to the conductor arranged in the first direction, and the signal is received from the conductor arranged in the second direction different from the first direction. When the pointer is an active electrostatic pen including an electric circuit for transmitting a position indicating signal and a driving power source for driving this electric circuit, such as the position indicator 100 described above, the first The signal is received from the respective conductors arranged in the first direction and the second direction. Regarding the principle and the like of the position detection device of the cross point type electrostatic capacitance method, JP-A-2011-3035, JP-A-2011-3036, and JP-A-2011-3036, which are the publications of the application of the applicant of this application, It is described in detail in, for example, 2012-123599.

As shown in FIG. 8, the position detection device 201 of this embodiment includes a sensor 300 that constitutes a touch panel (position detection sensor) and a control device section 400.

In this example, the sensor 300 is formed by stacking a Y conductor group 302, an insulating layer, and an X conductor group 301 in this order from the lower layer side, and the X conductor group 301 and the Y conductor group 302 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to each other. It has a grid configuration that intersects. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 to be described later, the Y conductor group 302 includes, for example, a plurality of Y conductors 302Y1, 302Y2,..., 302Yn (n is an integer of 1 or more) extending in the lateral direction (X axis direction). Are separated from each other by a predetermined distance and arranged in parallel. Further, the X conductor group 301 intersects with the Y conductors 302Y1, 302Y2,..., 302Yn, and in this example, a plurality of X conductors 301X1, 301X2,..., 301Xm extending in a vertical direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to each other. m is an integer equal to or greater than 1) and are arranged in parallel with each other with a predetermined distance therebetween.

In the sensor 300 of this embodiment, the plurality of X conductors 301X1, 301X2,..., 301Xm forming the X conductor group 301 are the first conductors, and the plurality of Y conductors 302Y1, 302Y2,. , 302Yn are the second conductors. As described above, in the position detection device 201, the position indicated by the finger fg or the pointer such as the position indicator 100 that constitutes the active electrostatic pen is used by using the sensor pattern formed by intersecting the X conductor and the Y conductor. It has a configuration for detecting.

The position detection device 201 of this embodiment is used by being mounted on an electronic device such as a mobile device called a smartphone. Therefore, the sensor 300 has a size corresponding to the size of the display screen included in the electronic device. An instruction input surface (sensor surface) 300S having a screen size of, for example, about 4 inches is formed of an X conductor group 301 and a Y conductor group 302 having light transmissivity.

The X conductor group 301 and the Y conductor group 302 may be arranged on the same surface side of the sensor substrate, or the X conductor group 301 may be arranged on one surface side of the sensor substrate and the other surface side. Alternatively, the Y conductor group 302 may be arranged in the position.

The control device section 400 includes a multiplexer 401 that serves as an input/output interface with the sensor 300, a finger touch/pen detection circuit 402, and a control circuit 403.

The control circuit 403 is for controlling the overall operation of the position detection device 201, and is configured by an MPU (microprocessor unit) in this example. The position detection device 201 of this embodiment controls to detect the finger touch and the pen touch by the position indicator 100 and the like in a time-division manner. That is, in the position detection device 201 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a pen detection period PP for detecting a pen touch and a finger touch detection period PF for detecting a finger touch are alternately time-divided. I'm trying to run.

The control circuit 403 controls switching of the multiplexer 401 and the finger touch/pen detection circuit 402 between the finger touch detection period PF and the pen detection period PP.

In the finger touch detection period, the control device unit 400 changes the capacitance at each intersection of the sensor patterns of the grid-structured sensor 300 formed by intersecting the X conductor and the Y conductor, at the position where the finger is touched. Therefore, the position of the finger touch is detected by detecting the change in the capacitance.

Further, the control device unit 400 causes the sensor 300 to detect the signal Sc sent from the position indicator 100 during the pen detection period PP. Then, the control device section 400 is based on the reception information of the signal Sc from the position indicator 100, and the position indicator 100 is at a distance more than a certain distance from the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300, for example, a distance of 5 mm or more. It is determined whether the vehicle is in a hover state, is in a hover state in which the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300 is within 5 mm, or is in contact with the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300. Based on the result, a mode instruction signal for the position indicator 100 is generated and transmitted to the position indicator 100 through the wireless signal communication circuit.

Then, when the position indicator 100 is in a state of being close to the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300 and in a state of being in contact with the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300, in the position detection device 201, the position indicator 100 is The signal Sc from is received not only by the X conductor group 301 (first conductor: X conductor) but also by the Y conductor group 302 (second conductor: Y conductor) of the sensor 300. Then, the control device section 400 measures the level of the signal Sc sent from the position indicator 100 for each of the conductors forming the first conductor and the second conductor, and the received signal becomes high level. By specifying each of the first conductor and the second conductor that are present, the position indicated by the position indicator 100 on the sensor 300 is detected.

Further, when in contact with the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300, the position detection device 201 receives the writing pressure data applied to the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 and detects the writing pressure, and The rotation angle and the tilt angle of the position indicator 100 are detected.

<Example of Configuration of Control Unit 400 of Position Detection Device 201>
FIG. 10 shows an example of a configuration diagram of the control device section 400 of the position detection device 201, and mainly shows a configuration example in which the portion of the pen detection circuit 402P is mainly extracted. Therefore, the circuit of the configuration example of FIG. 10 operates during the pen detection period PP. The pen detection circuit 402P constitutes the first embodiment of the signal processing device.

As shown in FIG. 10, the pen detection circuit 402P of this example has a conductor selection circuit 411 provided for the sensor 300, an amplification circuit 412, a bandpass filter circuit 413, a detection circuit 414, and a sample hold circuit 415. And an analog-digital conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as an AD conversion circuit) 416, and the control circuit 403 described above.

Further, a wireless signal communication circuit 417 is connected to the control circuit 403 and provided in the pen detection circuit 402P. The wireless signal communication circuit 417 is for performing wireless communication with the wireless signal communication circuit 20 of the position indicator 100, and in this embodiment, short-range wireless communication of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard is used.

The conductor selection circuit 411 constitutes a part of the multiplexer 401 described above. The amplification circuit 412, the bandpass filter circuit 413, the detection circuit 414, the sample hold circuit 415, and the AD conversion circuit 416 constitute the pen detection circuit portion of the finger touch/pen detection circuit 402 described above. ..

The conductor selection circuit 411 selects one conductor from each of the first conductors 301X1 to 301Xm and the second conductors 302Y1 to 302Yn based on the control signal from the control circuit 403. The conductor selected by the conductor selection circuit 411 is connected to the amplification circuit 412, and the signal from the position indicator 100 is detected by the selected conductor and amplified by the amplification circuit 412. The output of the amplifier circuit 412 is supplied to the bandpass filter circuit 413, and only the frequency component of the signal transmitted from the position indicator 100 is extracted.

The output signal of the bandpass filter circuit 413 is detected by the detection circuit 414. The output signal of the detection circuit 414 is supplied to the sample hold circuit 415, sampled and held at a predetermined timing by the sampling signal from the control circuit 403, and then converted into a digital value by the AD conversion circuit 416. The digital data from the AD conversion circuit 416 is read by the control circuit 403 and processed by the program stored in the ROM inside the control circuit 403.

That is, the control circuit 403 operates so as to send control signals to the sample hold circuit 415, the AD conversion circuit 416, and the conductor selection circuit 411, respectively. Then, the control circuit 403 detects the hover state of the position indicator 100, the position coordinates indicated by the position indicator 100 on the sensor 300, and the rotation angle of the position indicator 100 from the digital data from the AD conversion circuit 416. And signal processing for detecting angle information such as detection of an inclination angle of the sensor 300 of the position indicator 100 with respect to the sensor surface 300S.

Next, a process of detecting the hover state of the position indicator 100 in the control circuit 403 will be described.

As described above, the position indicator 100 sends out the signal Sc from all of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C and D in the hover state. Then, in the position detecting device 201, in this hover state detection process, the sensor 300 receives the signal transmitted from the position indicator 100, and the control circuit 403 causes the center electrode of the position indicator 100 on the sensor surface 300S. Whether or not the position indicator 100 is in a hover position within a predetermined height (distance) close to the sensor surface 300S by determining the reception state of the signals from the A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D. To judge. In this example, as described above, "within a predetermined height in proximity" means that the distance between the sensor surface 300S and the tip of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 is within 5 mm to 1 cm, for example, within 5 mm. It is said that

In this embodiment, the control circuit 403 has an object area detection circuit 4031 and an object area appearance state determination circuit 4032 as a software processing function of a software program for detecting the hover state, as shown in FIG. And a determination result instruction circuit 4033.

Here, the object area is a sensitive area formed on the sensor 300 by signals transmitted from the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D, respectively. In the following description, for simplification of description, each of the object regions formed on the sensor 300 by the signals transmitted from the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D is referred to as the object region of the central electrode A. And the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are referred to as object regions.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the change in the appearance state of the object area on the sensor according to the difference in the distance from the sensor surface 300S of the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100. This is a case where the container 100 is in an upright state with respect to the sensor surface 300S. The height (distance) of the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 from the sensor surface 300S is shown on the left side of FIG. 11, and the object area formed on the sensor surface 300S at that time is shown in the center. , And the signal level from the conductor of the sensor 300 detected by the control circuit 403 at that time is shown on the right side. In addition, in FIG. 11, the signal level indicates a change in the X coordinate direction at a specific Y coordinate position Yi of the sensor surface 300S.

FIG. 11A shows a state in which the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 is at a position of height h1 relatively far away from the sensor surface 300S (third hover state), for example, 10 cm or more away. In this state, the object area OB1 is formed on the sensor surface 300S so that the object areas of the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are not separated from each other but are aggregated as a whole. It Then, at this time, the signal level from the conductor of the sensor 300 detected by the control circuit 403 is in a low state as a whole.

FIG. 11B shows that the height of the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 from the sensor surface 300S is smaller than the height h1 but is smaller than the height h3 in the proximity state (for example, 5 mm to 1 cm). The state (the second hover state) at the position of the large height h2 is shown. Also at this time, the object area OB2 in which the object area of the central electrode A and the object areas of the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are not clearly separated from each other and are collectively formed on the sensor surface 300S is formed. To be done. However, at this time, the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D may be distinguishable from each other by the signal level from the conductor of the sensor 300 detected by the control circuit 403.

FIG. 11C shows a state in which the height 3a of the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 from the sensor surface 300S is smaller than the height h2 and is at the position of the height h3 in the proximity state (the first position). Hover state). At this time, the object area OBa of the central electrode A, the object area OBb of the peripheral electrode B, the object area OBc corresponding to the peripheral electrode C, and the object area OBd corresponding to the peripheral electrode D are formed on the sensor surface 300S. , Separated from each other. Then, at this time, the signal level from the conductor of the sensor 300 detected by the control circuit 403 corresponds to each of the object regions OBa, OBb, OBc, and OBd.

When the position indicator 100 is not upright with respect to the sensor surface 300S but is tilted at a predetermined angle, part of the object regions OBb, OBc, OBd formed corresponding to the peripheral electrodes B, C, D. May overlap the object area OBa of the central electrode A, but at least one of the object areas OBb, OBc, and OBd of the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D does not overlap the object area OBa of the central electrode A. Then, they are separated from each other.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11C, in the control circuit 403, the object area OBa corresponding to the center electrode A is at least the object areas OBb, OBc, OBd of the peripheral electrodes B, C, D. When they are separated from each other without overlapping with one, it is determined that the position indicator 100 is in a state of being close to the sensor surface 300S.

The position indication based on the fact that the object area OBa of the center electrode A does not overlap with at least one of the object areas OBb, OBc, and OBd of the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D and is separated from each other is performed. When it is detected that the signal level obtained in the object area OBa of the center electrode is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level Lth, instead of determining that the container 100 has come close to the sensor surface 300S, the position is detected. It may be determined that the indicator 100 is in a state of being close to the sensor surface 300S. In that case, by changing the threshold level Lth, the height h3 of the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100, which is detected as the proximity state, can be changed.

In the control circuit 403, the object area detection circuit 4031 detects the object area formed by the signal transmitted from the position indicator 100. Then, in the object area appearance state determination circuit 4032, it is checked whether the appearance state of the detected object area is one of the states shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, and the detected object area is detected. , It is determined whether or not it is in the appearance state of FIG. Then, the object area appearance state determination circuit 4032 passes the determination result to the determination result instruction circuit 4033. The determination result instruction circuit 4033 transmits the instruction information of either the hover mode or the position instruction mode to the position indicator 100 through the wireless signal communication circuit 417 according to the determination result received from the object area appearance state determination circuit 4032. To do so.

As described above, in the determination result instruction circuit 4033, the position indicator 100 is in the state of transmitting the hover mode instruction from the state of instructing the position indicator 100 in the position instruction mode. Even if the determination is made, the hover mode instruction is not immediately transmitted to the position indicator 100, and the state in which the hover mode instruction is transmitted from the state in which the position instruction mode instruction is issued is determined. When it is determined that has continued for a predetermined time or more, for example, for one second or more, the hover mode instruction is transmitted to the position indicator 100.

Next, the operation of the pen detection circuit 402P of the position detection device 201 when detecting the designated position, the rotation angle, and the tilt angle of the position indicator 100 will be described below.

In this embodiment, the control circuit 403 includes a designated position detection circuit 4034, a rotation angle detection circuit 4035, and a tilt angle detection circuit 4036 as software processing functions by a software program, as shown in FIG. The indicated position detection circuit 4034, the rotation angle detection circuit 4035, and the tilt angle detection circuit 4036 are in a state in which the position indicator 100 is instructed in the position indication mode, that is, the position indicator 100 is close to the sensor surface 300S. And is controlled to operate in the first hovering state.

At this time, as described above, the position indicator 100 always sends out the signal Sc from the central electrode A in accordance with the position instruction mode setting instruction from the position detection device 201, and from the peripheral electrodes B, C, D. Is in the position indicating mode in which the signals Sc are sequentially selected and selected and the signal Sc is transmitted. Then, on the sensor surface 300S of the position detection device 201, as shown in FIG. 11C, the object regions OBa, OBb, OBc, and OBd formed by the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are mutually adjacent. It can be detected separately.

Then, in the position pointing mode, the position indicator 100 includes the identification information for identifying the electrode supplying the signal Sc in the signal Sc, so that the control circuit 403 of the pen detection circuit 402P identifies the electrode. By detecting the information, the received signals from the respective object areas OBa, OBb, OBc, OBd can be identified and acquired.

The pointing position detection circuit 4034 of the control circuit 403 of the position pointing device 100 detects the barycentric position of the object area OBa of the center electrode A as the pointing position on the sensor 300 by the position pointing device 100. Here, the barycentric position of the object area OBa is a position calculated using signal levels obtained for a plurality of conductors on the sensor 300 in the object area.

That is, when the position indicator 100 is perpendicular to the sensor surface 300S as shown in FIG. 12(A), the object area OBa has a perfect circular shape as shown in FIG. The pointed position Pt by the core 3 of the pointing device 100 coincides with the center position of the object area OBa. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12C, when the position indicator 100 is tilted, the object area OBa on the sensor surface 300S becomes an ellipse as shown in FIG. The designated position Pt by the position indicator 100 is displaced from the center position of the object area OBa.

However, the level of the signal obtained by the conductor on the sensor 300 included in the object area OBa is a signal level according to the pointing position of the tip 3a of the core body 3, and the position pointed by the position pointing device 100 is indicated. As a result, you get almost right. The same applies to the positions of the peripheral electrodes B, C and D detected from the object areas OBb, OBc and OBd.

In this example, the rotation angle detection circuit 4035 detects, for example, the orientation with the Y-axis direction of the sensor surface 300S of the peripheral electrode B as a reference. The rotation angle detection circuit 4035 acquires the position coordinates (X0, Y0) of the center electrode A detected by the designated position detection circuit 4034. Next, the position coordinates (X1, Y1) of the peripheral electrode B are detected in the same manner as the above-described position coordinate detection of the center electrode A. Then, the rotation angle θ is detected from the two position coordinates (X0, Y0) and (X1, Y1).

FIG. 13 is a principle diagram for calculating a rotation angle θ about the sensor surface 300S of the position indicator 100 when the two coordinate values (X0, Y0) and (X1, Y1) are obtained. Is. In FIG. 13, the positive direction of the Y axis is set as a reference (θ=0), the range of θ is −180°<θ≦+180°, and the direction of the peripheral electrode B corresponding to the coordinate value (X1, Y1) is defined. To do. At this time, the rotation angle θ of the position indicator 100 is calculated by the rotation angle detection circuit 4035 from X0, Y0, X1, Y1 and the following equations (1) to (5).

次に、この実施形態では、制御回路４０３の傾き角検出回路４０３６は、位置指示器１００の３つの周辺電極Ｂ，Ｃ，Ｄから送出された信号Ｓｃを受信して得られた各受信信号強度により、位置指示器１００の傾き角を求める。受信信号強度として、Ｘ軸座標値検出の際のレベルを用いても良いし、Ｙ軸座標値検出の際のレベルを用いても良いが、ここでは、Ｘ軸座標値検出の際のレベルを用いることにする。

Next, in this embodiment, the tilt angle detection circuit 4036 of the control circuit 403 receives the signals Sc sent from the three peripheral electrodes B, C, and D of the position indicator 100, and obtains each received signal strength. Thus, the tilt angle of the position indicator 100 is obtained. As the received signal strength, the level at the time of detecting the X-axis coordinate value may be used, or the level at the time of detecting the Y-axis coordinate value may be used, but here, the level at the time of detecting the X-axis coordinate value is used. I will use it.

FIG. 14 is a principle for obtaining the tilt angle of the position indicator 100 by using the received signal intensities V1, V2, V3 obtained by receiving the signals Sc sent from the three peripheral electrodes B, C, D. It is a figure. In FIG. 14, the height direction from the sensor surface 300S of the position detection device 201 is taken as the z-axis, and the points corresponding to the positions of the peripheral electrodes B, C, D of the position indicator 100 are designated as B, C, D, respectively. The coordinate axes are set so that the center G of the formed equilateral triangle is on the yz plane and the point B corresponding to the position of the peripheral electrode B is on the z axis. The coordinates of each point at this time are represented as a B point (0, 0, z1), a C point (x2, y2, z2), a D point (x3, y3, z3), and a G point (0, yg, zg). Then, the tilt angles (θx, θy) of the position indicator 100 are obtained as shown in the following equations (6) and (7).

ここで、位置指示器１００の３つの周辺電極Ｂ，Ｃ，Ｄの先端位置であるＢ点、Ｃ点、Ｄ点とセンサ面３００Ｓからの距離（ｚ１、ｚ２、ｚ３）は受信信号強度Ｖ１，Ｖ２，Ｖ３にほぼ反比例するので、αを比例係数として以下の（８）式、（９）式のように表す。

Here, the distances (z1, z2, z3) from the sensor surface 300S to the points B, C, D, which are the tip positions of the three peripheral electrodes B, C, D of the position indicator 100, are the received signal strength V1, Since it is almost inversely proportional to V2 and V3, α is expressed as the following equations (8) and (9) with a proportional coefficient.

ここで、α/ｒは定数であるからこの値をあらかじめ求めておけば前記関係式よりθｘ、θｙを求めることができる。

Here, since α/r is a constant, if this value is obtained in advance, then θx and θy can be obtained from the above relational expression.

Next, an example of the flow of processing in the control circuit 403 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

The control circuit 403 receives the signal Sc from the position indicator 100 through the conductor group of the sensor 300, and executes the object area detection process by the function of the object area detection circuit 4031 (step S201).

When the detection processing of the object area is completed in step S201, the control circuit 403 checks the appearance status of the object area on the sensor surface 300S by the function of the object area appearance status determination circuit 4032, and the object areas are separated from each other. It is determined whether or not the state can be detected. If the object areas can be detected separately from each other, the area attribute of each of the object areas of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, D is determined (step S202).

Then, the control circuit 403 determines whether or not the object area of the central electrode A is distinguishable from the object areas of the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D by the function of the object area appearance state determination circuit 4032 ( Step S203).

When it is determined in step S203 that the object area formed by the center electrode A cannot be distinguished from the object area formed by the peripheral electrodes B, C, D, the control circuit 403 determines that the object area appearance state. By the function of the determination circuit 4032, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, for example, one second has elapsed from the state in which the position indicating mode instruction was previously transmitted to the position indicator 100 (step S204).

When it is determined in step S204 that the predetermined time or more has elapsed from the state in which the position instruction mode instruction was previously transmitted, the control circuit 403 causes the wireless signal communication circuit 417 to operate by the function of the determination result instruction circuit 4033. Through, a hover mode setting instruction is sent to the position indicator 100 by a wireless signal (step S205). After this step S205, the control circuit 403 returns the process to step S201, and repeats the processes after step S201.

When it is determined in step S203 that the object region formed by the center electrode A can be distinguished from the object region formed by the peripheral electrodes B, C, D, the control circuit 403 determines By the function of the instruction circuit 4033, a setting instruction of the position instruction mode is sent to the position indicator 100 by a wireless signal through the wireless signal communication circuit 417 (step S206). Even when it is determined in step S204 that the predetermined time or more has not elapsed from the state in which the position instruction mode instruction was previously transmitted, the control circuit 403 proceeds to step S206 and causes the wireless signal communication circuit 417 to operate. A position indication mode instruction is sent to the position indicator 100 by a wireless signal.

After sending the position pointing mode setting instruction to the position indicator 100 in step S206, the control circuit 403 causes the function of the pointed position detection circuit 4034 to detect the position of the sensor 300 indicated by the position indicator as described above. The coordinates of the position are detected (step S207).

Next, the control circuit 403 is required to detect the rotation angle and the tilt angle of the position indicator 100 as a function of the electronic device provided with the position detection device 201 or connected to the position detection device 201. It is determined whether or not it is present (step S208), and when it is determined that it is not requested, the process is returned to step S201, and the processes of step S201 and thereafter are repeated.

Further, when it is determined in step S208 that the detection of the rotation angle and the tilt angle of the position indicator 100 is required, the control circuit 403 uses the functions of the rotation angle detection circuit 4035 and the tilt angle detection circuit 4036 to perform the above-described operation. In this way, the rotation angle and tilt angle of the position indicator 100 are detected (step S209). After that, the control circuit 403 returns the processing to step S201, and repeats the processing from step S201.

It should be noted that the position indicator 100 sets itself in the hover mode when neither the position instruction mode nor the hover mode setting instruction is received from the pen detection circuit 402P of the position detection device 201.

[Effects of First Embodiment]
In the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment described above, in the hover mode, the AC signal is sent from all of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, D, so that the sensor 300 of the position detection device 201. The signal energy transmitted to the position detector 201 becomes large, and the position detecting device 201 can easily detect the hover state of the position indicator 100.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the amplitude of the AC signal supplied to the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D in the hover mode is made larger than that in the position indicating mode, so that position detection is also performed at that point. It becomes easy for the device 201 to detect the hover state of the position indicator 100. Then, even if the amplitude of the AC signal is increased, the AC signal is intermittently transmitted from the position indicator 100, so that an increase in power consumption can be suppressed.

Then, in the position detecting device 201, the hover state of the position indicator 100 on the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300 of the position detecting device 201 is identified based on the received signal from the position indicator 100, and the position indicator 100 When the hover state is sufficiently close to the sensor surface 300S of the sensor 300 of the position detecting device 201, the position indicating device 100 transmits the position indicating mode setting instruction to the position indicator 100. From the time when the position indicator 100 is in the hover state where it is not in contact with the sensor surface 300S, it becomes possible to detect the indicated position and also detect the rotation angle and the tilt angle of the position indicator 100.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
In the above-described first embodiment, the pen detection circuit 402P of the position detection device 201 sends both the hover mode setting instruction and the position instruction mode setting instruction to the position indicator 100. When the position indicator 100A reaches a predetermined height (distance) close to the sensor surface 300S without sending the hover mode setting instruction, the position instruction mode instruction is sent to the position indicator 100A through the sensor 300. The position indicator 100A may be configured to send a position indication mode cancellation instruction to the position indicator 100 when the position indicator 100A is not close to the sensor surface 300S and has a predetermined height, for example, for one second.

In the above-described embodiment, in the position pointing mode, the signal Sc generated by the signal generation circuit 12 has 2-bit identification information for identifying the peripheral electrodes B, C, D supplied together with the center electrode A. The position indicator 100 sends the signal Sc so that it is included in the signal Sc. However, the method for identifying the peripheral electrodes B, C, D supplied with the signal Sc together with the center electrode A is not limited to the method of including the 2-bit identification information in the signal Sc.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the signal Sc supplied to the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode B includes the writing pressure data, and the signals supplied to the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C and the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode D. Sc does not include writing pressure data. The peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are sequentially switched in a predetermined procedure in the order of peripheral electrode B→peripheral electrode C→peripheral electrode D. Therefore, the position detection device 201 can identify that the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode B are selected by the position indicator 100 when receiving the signal Sc including the writing pressure data, Then, the burst signal of the signal Sc in the next period is transmitted from the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C, and the burst signal of the signal Sc in the next period is transmitted from the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode D. It becomes possible to identify that there is.

Further, from the same idea, the period length of the period in which the signal Sc is transmitted from the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode B, the signal Sc is transmitted from the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode C, and between the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode D. It is discriminated that the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode B are selected by the position indicator 100 from the difference between the period length of the selected period and the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode C, or the center electrode A from the discrimination result. It is also possible to identify the state in which the peripheral electrode D is selected.

That is, in short, when the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are sequentially switched in the order of, for example, the peripheral electrode B→the peripheral electrode C→the peripheral electrode D, the signal Sc is supplied together with the central electrode A. It is sufficient that any one of the peripheral electrodes can be identified. Therefore, for example, only after the period when the signal Sc is transmitted from the central electrode A and the peripheral electrode B, a signal pause period of a predetermined length is provided, or instead of the pause period, a predetermined signal that can be distinguished from others is inserted. Alternatively, the period during which the signal Sc is transmitted from the center electrode A and the peripheral electrode B may be identified. In addition, any method may be used as a method of identifying which peripheral electrode is supplied with the signal Sc together with the center electrode A.

Further, in each hover state detection process in the above-described embodiment, the object area appearance state determination circuit 4032 determines that the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the position indicator 100 is close to the sensor surface of the position detection device 201. , The center electrode A is discriminated from the peripheral electrodes B, C, D, but not the center electrode A, or not only the center electrode A, but also the peripheral electrodes B, C, D. The determination may be made based on whether or not each of the object areas formed by can be distinguished from each other.

In addition, the object area appearance state determination circuit 4032 indicates the position based on whether or not the size of the object area of the central electrode A and/or the size of the object area of the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D is a predetermined size. The proximity state of the tip 3a of the core body 3 of the container 100 to the sensor surface of the position detection device 201 may be determined.

[Second Embodiment]
In the above-described first embodiment, the hover mode setting instruction and the position instruction mode setting instruction, which are the determination results from the determination result instruction circuit 4033 of the pen detection circuit 402P of the position detection device 201, are transmitted to the wireless signal communication circuit 417 and The signal is sent to the position indicator 100 through the wireless signal communication circuit 20. However, the hover mode setting instruction and the position instruction mode setting instruction from the pen detection circuit 402P of the position detecting device 201 are sent from the sensor 300 of the position detecting device 201 through the center electrode A (core 3) of the position indicator 100. It can also be transmitted. The second embodiment is an example of such a case.

FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of the signal processing circuit of the position indicator 100A according to the second embodiment. 16, the same parts as those of the position indicator 100 of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, a changeover switch circuit 22 is provided and its common contact terminal is connected to the center electrode A (core body 3). Then, one fixed contact terminal T of the changeover switch circuit 22 is connected to the output end of the signal generating circuit 12, and the other fixed contact terminal R is connected to the signal receiving terminal of the controller 10 via the receiving amplifier 23. Then, the controller 10 supplies the changeover control signal SW7 to the changeover switch circuit 22. Others are configured similarly to the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the controller 10 causes the wireless signal communication circuit 20 to send only the identification information of the position indicator 100A to the position detection device 201.

In the position indicator 100A according to the second embodiment, in the hover mode, the controller 10 fixes the changeover switch circuit 22 by the changeover control signal SW7 during the intermittent burst signal transmission period shown in FIG. The connection is controlled to be connected to the contact terminal T, and immediately after the intermittent burst signal is transmitted, switching control is performed so as to be connected to the fixed contact terminal R only for a sufficient period to receive the signal from the sensor 300. ..

Further, in the position instruction mode, the controller 10 causes the changeover switch circuit 22 to switch the changeover switch circuit 22 at an appropriate intermittent timing, for example, immediately after the burst signal transmission period shown in FIG. The connection is controlled to be connected to the fixed contact terminal R only for a sufficient period to receive the signal from, and to be connected to the fixed contact terminal T for the other period.

On the other hand, based on the burst signal received from the position indicator 100A, the pen detection circuit 402P of the position detection device 201 sets the time when the reception of the burst signal is interrupted as the start time to the hover mode from the determination result instruction circuit 4033. Information of the setting instruction or the setting instruction of the position instruction mode is transmitted to the position indicator 100A through the sensor 300.

The controller 10 of the position indicator 100A sets the position indicator 100A in the hover mode state when it receives the hover mode instruction from the position detection device 201 and when it receives no signal from the position detection device 201. Then, when the position indication mode instruction is received from the position detection device 201, the position indicator 100A is switched to the position indication mode.

In the case of the second embodiment, the pen detection circuit 402P of the position detection device 201 does not send the hover mode setting instruction, and the position indicator 100A is close to the sensor surface 300S. When (distance) is reached, a position instruction mode setting instruction is sent to the position indicator 100A through the sensor 300, and the position indicator 100A is not close to the sensor surface 300S at a predetermined height (distance) for a predetermined time. For example, after continuing for 1 second or more, a position instruction mode cancellation instruction may be sent to the position indicator 100A.

[Third Embodiment]
In the position indicator 100 according to the first embodiment described above, the signal Sc generated by the signal generation circuit 12 is constantly supplied to the core body 3 as the center electrode A. However, the signal Sc may be selectively supplied not only to the three electrode pieces 91, 92 and 93 as the peripheral electrodes B, C and D but also to the center electrode A. The position indicator 100B of the third embodiment is an example of a case configured as such.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a signal processing circuit of the position indicator 100B of the third embodiment. 17, the same parts as those of the position indicator 100 of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the position indicator 100B according to the third embodiment, the signal Sc from the signal generation circuit 12 is supplied to the center electrode A (core body 3) via the switch circuit 24, and The center electrode A is connected to the ground through the switch circuit 25. The switch circuits 24 and 25 are on/off controlled by a switching control signal SW8 from the controller 10 and a switching control signal SW9 having a phase opposite to the switching control signal SW8. Others are the same as those of the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the position indicator 100B according to the third embodiment, in the hover mode, the controller 10 turns on the switch circuits 13 to 15 and the switch circuit 24, and turns off the switch circuits 16 to 18 and the switch circuit 25, so that the state shown in FIG. As shown in A), similar to the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment, an AC signal in the hover mode generated by the signal generation circuit 12 is applied to all of the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D. To supply. In this case, the AC signal in the hover mode supplied from the signal generating circuit 12 to the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, D is intermittently transmitted as shown in FIGS. 6(A) to 6(D). Signal.

Also in this case, as shown in FIGS. 6E to 6H, an AC signal is always supplied from the signal generating circuit 12 to the central electrode A, and to the peripheral electrodes B, C, D. Alternatively, the supply may be sequentially switched. Further, no AC signal is supplied to the center electrode A, and only the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D, as shown in FIGS. 6(B) to (D) or 6(F) to (H), An AC signal may be supplied.

In the position detecting device 201 of the third embodiment, the hover state detection process is performed based on the received signal of the signal from the position indicator 100B in the same manner as described in the first embodiment described above. Hover state detection processing can be performed.

In the position indicator 100B of the third embodiment, in the position indicating mode, the controller 10 causes the switching control signals SW1 to SW3 (see FIGS. 18E to 18G) and the switching control signal SW8 (see FIG. 18( 18D), the switch circuits 13 to 15 and the switch circuit 24 are controlled to be turned on/off, and the period during which the signal Sc generated by the signal generation circuit 12 is transmitted is set as shown in FIG. In the example, the period TA of the central electrode A, the period TB′ of the peripheral electrode B, the period TC′ of the peripheral electrode C, and the period TD′ of the peripheral electrode D are switched in this order.

Then, in the period TA during which the signal Sc generated by the signal generation circuit 12 via the switch circuit 24 is sent to the central electrode A by the switch control signals SW1 to SW3 and the switch control signal SW8, the switch circuit 25 is switched by the switch control signal SW9. Is turned off and the switch control signals SW4 to SW6 are turned on to control the switch circuits 16 to 18 to connect all the peripheral electrodes B, C and D to the ground in synchronization with the transmission of the signal Sc to the central electrode A. Control. That is, when the signal Sc is sent to the center electrode A to indicate the position indicated by the position indicator 100B, the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are controlled to be connected to the ground, so that the peripheral electrodes B and C are connected. , D are electrostatically coupled to the sensor 300, it is possible to suppress the influence of a visual error due to the position indicated by the center electrode A being deviated and detected.

In the example of the third embodiment, the signal Sc sent in each of the period TA of the central electrode A and the periods TB′, TC′, TD′ of the peripheral electrodes B, C, D is as shown in FIG. ), the burst signal transmission period and the writing pressure data transmission period are all the same as described above, and as shown in FIG. Make sure to add identification information.

The position detection device 201 in the third embodiment can perform the hover state detection process, the designated position detection process, the rotation angle detection process, and the tilt angle detection process in substantially the same manner as in the above-described first embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

In the description of the third embodiment described above, the identification information is included in the signal Sc sent in each of the period TA of the central electrode A and the periods TB′, TC′, TD′ of the peripheral electrodes B, C, D. Is added to identify the periods TA, TB′, TC′, and TD′ in the position detection device 201. However, also in the third embodiment, a modification of the first embodiment is made. As described in the example, the position detection device 201 can identify the periods TA, TB′, TC′, and TD′ without adding the identification information to the signal Sc.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the position indicator 100 according to the above-described first embodiment, the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D are supplied with signals of the same frequency f1. However, the signals supplied to the central electrode A and the signals supplied to the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D may have different frequencies. The position indicator 100C of the fourth embodiment is an example of such a configuration.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a signal processing circuit of the position indicator 100C of the fourth embodiment. 19, the same parts as those of the position indicator 100 of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The oscillation circuit included in the signal generation circuit 12C of the fourth embodiment generates a signal of frequency f1 and a signal of frequency f2. Then, the controller 10 supplies the control signal CN1 for controlling the oscillation of the signal of the frequency f1 and the control signal CN2 for controlling the oscillation of the signal of the frequency f2 to the signal generating circuit 12C.

Then, the signal Sc(f1) of the frequency f1 from the signal generation circuit 12C is constantly supplied to the center electrode A. Further, the signal Sc(f2) of the frequency f2 from the signal generation circuit 12C is supplied to each of the peripheral electrodes B, C, D via each of the switch circuits 13, 14, 15. Other configurations are the same as those of the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the position indicator 100C of the fourth embodiment, in the hover mode, the controller 10 turns on the switch circuits 13 to 15 and turns off the switch circuits 16 to 18, and as shown in FIG. Similar to the position indicator 100 of the first embodiment, the center electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, D are all supplied with the AC signal in the hover mode generated by the signal generation circuit 12.

Also in the position detection device 201 of the fourth embodiment, the hover state detection processing is performed in the same manner as described in the first embodiment described above based on the received signal of the signal from the position indicator 100C. The detection process of the hover state can be performed. However, in the fourth embodiment, the frequency of the signal transmitted from the center electrode A is f1 and the frequency of the signal transmitted from the peripheral electrodes B, C, D is f2, so that the position detection device 201 By utilizing the difference in frequency, the received signal of the signal sent from the central electrode A and the received signal of the signal sent from the peripheral electrodes B, C, D can be separated and processed.

Therefore, in the position detection device 201, in the detection processing of the object area formed by the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B to D in the above-described hover state detection processing, the object area by the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B to C are detected. The object area detection process can be performed separately.

Even in the case of the fourth embodiment, the AC signals in the hover mode supplied from the signal generation circuit 12C to the central electrode A and the peripheral electrodes B, C, D are as shown in FIGS. The signal is intermittently transmitted as shown in.

Also in this case, as shown in FIGS. 6E to 6H, an AC signal is always supplied from the signal generating circuit 12 to the central electrode A, and to the peripheral electrodes B, C, D. Alternatively, the supply may be sequentially switched. Further, no AC signal is supplied to the center electrode A, and only the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D, as shown in FIGS. 6(B) to (D) or 6(F) to (H), An AC signal may be supplied.

In the position pointing device 100C of the fourth embodiment, in the position pointing mode, the controller 10 sends the signal Sc(f1) generated by the signal generating circuit 12C to the center electrode as shown in FIG. Always supply to A. Further, the controller 10 controls the switching circuits 13 to 15 to be turned on and off by the switching control signals SW1 to SW3 (see FIGS. 20C to 20D), and outputs the signals as shown in FIG. 20B. In this example, the period during which the signal Sc(f2) generated by the generation circuit 12C is transmitted is, in this example, the period TB″ of the peripheral electrode B, the period TC″ of the peripheral electrode C, and the period TD″ of the peripheral electrode D. , Switch.

In the position pointing device 100C of the fourth embodiment, in the position pointing mode, from the center electrode A, the burst signal transmission period and the writing pressure data transmission period shown as the transmission signal of the period TB of FIG. And are sent repeatedly.

The position detection device 201 extracts the component of the frequency f1 from the received signal from the position indicator 100C, and processes the extracted component in the pointed position detection circuit 4034 in the control circuit 403. The pointed position is detected.

In the position indicator 100C of the fourth embodiment, the signals are sent to the peripheral electrodes B, C and D in the periods TB″, TC″ and TD″ of the peripheral electrodes B, C and D, respectively. It is assumed that the signal Sc(f2) has 2-bit identification information added after the burst signal transmission period shown as the transmission signal in the periods TC and TD in FIG. 5(E).

The position detection device 201 extracts the component of the frequency f2 from the received signal from the position indicator 100C, and processes the extracted component in the rotation angle detection circuit 4035 and the tilt angle detection circuit 4036 in the control circuit 403. The rotation angle and tilt angle of the position indicator 100C are detected.

In addition, in the above description of the fourth embodiment, the identification information is added to the signal Sc sent in each of the periods TB″, TC″, and TD″ of the peripheral electrodes B, C, and D. Then, the position detection device 201 discriminates the periods TB″, TC″, and TD″ from each other. However, also in the fourth embodiment, the modification of the first embodiment will be described. By doing so, the position detection device 201 can identify the periods TB″, TC″, and TD″ without adding the identification information to the signal Sc.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the position indicator 100C of the fourth embodiment described above, the core body 3 as the center electrode A is always supplied with the signal Sc(f1) generated by the signal generation circuit 12. However, the signal Sc(f1) and the signal Sc(f2) are selectively supplied not only to the three electrode pieces 91, 92 and 93 as the peripheral electrodes B, C and D but also to the center electrode A. You may do it. The position indicator 100D of the fifth embodiment is an example of such a configuration, and has the same relationship as the third embodiment with respect to the first embodiment in which the frequency of the signal Sc uses only f1.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a signal processing circuit of the position indicator 100D of the fifth embodiment. 21, the same parts as those of the position indicator 100C of the above-described fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 19 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the signal processing circuit of the position indicator 100D of the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, the signal Sc(f1) of the frequency f1 from the signal generation circuit 12C is passed through the switch circuit 26 to the central electrode A (core body). 3) is supplied. The center electrode A (core body 3) is connected to the ground through the switch circuit 27.

The switch circuits 26 and 27 are on/off controlled by a switching control signal SW10 from the controller 10 and a switching control signal SW11 having a phase opposite to that of the switching control signal SW10. Others are the same as those of the position indicator 100C of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

The operation of the position indicator 100D of the fifth embodiment is that the frequency of the signal transmitted from the center electrode A of the position indicator 100D and the frequency of the signal transmitted from the peripheral electrodes B, C, D are different. Except for this, the position indicator 100C is the same as the position indicator 100C of the third embodiment, and therefore its description is omitted here. 22 shows a timing chart of the position indicator 100D of the fifth embodiment corresponding to the timing chart of FIG. 18 in the case of the position indicator 100B of the third embodiment.

Similarly, in the fifth embodiment, in the position detecting device 201, the signal component from the central electrode A and the signal components from the peripheral electrodes B, C and D are frequency-separated and processed. Except for the above, it is the same as the case of the above-described third embodiment, and therefore its description is omitted here.

[Other Embodiments or Modifications]
In the position indicator of the above-described embodiment, the number of electrode pieces (peripheral electrodes) forming the second electrode is three, but may be three or more.

Further, in the position indicator of the above-described embodiment, the electrode pieces 91, 92, 93 (peripheral electrodes B, C, D) forming the second electrode for transmitting a signal are provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the housing 1. However, it may be formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the housing 1.

Although the second electrode (peripheral electrode) is divided into a plurality of pieces in the position indicator of the above-described embodiment, the second electrode (peripheral electrode) is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the core body (center electrode) all around. It may be one.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Housing, 3... Core body (center electrode), 4... Writing pressure detection module, 5... Printed circuit board, 6... Core body holder, 12... Signal generation circuit, 91, 92, 93... Electrode piece, 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D... Position indicator, 201... Position detection device, 400... Control device section, 402P... Pen detection circuit, 403... Control circuit

Claims (18)

A position indicator that has a pen-shaped housing and indicates a position by electrostatic coupling with a sensor included in a position detection device,
A first electrode arranged so as to project from one end of the housing in the axial direction;
A second electrode disposed in the vicinity of the first electrode so as to surround the axis of the housing,
A signal generation circuit for generating information and a position indication signal for identifying the position indicator,
A signal supply control circuit that controls the supply of the signal generated by the signal generation circuit to the position detection device;
A control signal receiving circuit for receiving a control signal sent from the position detecting device,
Is equipped with
The signal supply control circuit, based on the control signal sent from the position detection device received by the control signal receiving circuit, the tip portion of the position indicator indicates a position on the sensor surface of the sensor. A first operation mode and a second operation mode different from the first operation mode can be set,
The signal supply control circuit is configured so that the position indicating signal can be sent from the first electrode and the second electrode in a predetermined cycle in the first operation mode, and In the second operation mode, at least the information for identifying the position indicator can be sent to the position detecting device. The signal supply control circuit, in the first operation mode, the position command signal which is periodically transmitted from the position indicator signal and said second electrode is periodically sent from the first electrode and each other The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the position indicator is controlled so as to be superimposed and transmitted for a time. The position pointing device according to claim 2, wherein the position pointing signal sent from the first electrode and the signal sent from the second electrode are signals having different frequencies. In the first operation mode, the signal supply control circuit controls so as to time-divisionally send each position indicating signal periodically sent from the first electrode and the second electrode. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein: The position pointing signal according to claim 4, wherein the position pointing signal sent from the first electrode and the position pointing signal sent from the second electrode are signals of the same frequency. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the control signal receiving circuit receives the control signal via electrostatic coupling with the sensor included in the position detection device. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the control signal receiving circuit receives the control signal by a radio signal transmitted from the position detecting device. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the signal supply control circuit sets the position indicator to the second operation mode when the control signal is not received. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the control signal transmitted from the position detection device is generated based on a signal transmitted from the position indicator received by the sensor. The control signal transmitted from the position detection device determines the proximity state of the position indicator to the sensor surface of the sensor based on the signal level of the signal transmitted from the position indicator received by the sensor. The position indicator according to claim 9, wherein the position indicator is generated by being generated. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein in the second operation mode, the information for identifying the position indicator is configured to be transmitted to the position detection device by a radio signal. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode has an annular shape. The position indicator according to claim 12, wherein the second electrode having the annular shape is composed of a plurality of electrode pieces. The position according to claim 13, wherein the signal supply control circuit is configured to selectively supply the position indicating signal generated by the signal generating circuit to the plurality of electrode pieces. Indicator. A position detecting device for transmitting a control signal to a position indicator , wherein the position indicator detects the position indicated on the sensor surface of the sensor by electrostatic coupling,
The position indicator has a pen-shaped housing, and the first electrode is arranged to project from one end of the housing in the axial direction of the housing and the first electrode so as to surround the axial center of the housing. together and a second electrode disposed in the vicinity of the electrodes, on the basis of the received control signal from the position detecting device, from each of said first electrode and said second electrode, a first mode that allows sending a position indicating signal is configured such that the second mode for transmitting the information for identifying the position indicator is set,
In response to the transmission of the previous SL control signal for setting the position indicator in the first mode, which is detected via the sensor, of the first electrode and the second electrode of the position indicator A position detecting device configured to acquire angle information of the position indicator with respect to the sensor surface based on the position indicating signals transmitted from the respective positions.

The position detection device according to claim 15, wherein the respective signals transmitted from the first electrode and the second electrode of the position indicator are signals having frequencies different from each other . The position detection device according to claim 15, wherein the respective signals transmitted from the first electrode and the second electrode of the position indicator are time-divided and transmitted . Wherein the time divided the respective signals that will be transmitted, the position detection apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the signal having the same frequency.

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