JP2016062158A - Position sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position sensor that saves space.SOLUTION: A position sensor includes a sheet-like optical waveguide W obtained by sandwiching a sheet-like core pattern member, which has a grid portion 2A comprising a plurality of linear cores 2 and peripheral portions 2B-2E extending from the cores 2 of the grid portion 2A and arranged in bent condition along the outer periphery of the grid portion 2A, between an under-cladding layer 1 and an over-cladding layer 3. At least some of the bent portions of the cores 2 of the peripheral portion 2B form corners, each having an outer portion with a sloped surface 2b tilted at a prescribed angle relative to an axial direction of the cores 2, the sloped surface 2b being a light reflection surface for reflecting light to convert a light path along the corner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a position sensor that optically detects a pressed position.

  The present applicant has proposed a position sensor that optically detects the pressed position (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 4, this has a rectangular sheet-shaped optical waveguide W <b> 1 in which a sheet-shaped core pattern member is sandwiched between a rectangular sheet-like under cladding layer 11 and an over cladding layer 13. The core pattern member includes a lattice-shaped portion 12A formed by arranging a plurality of linear optical path cores 12 vertically and horizontally, and extends from the core 12 of the lattice-shaped portion 12A to the outer periphery of the lattice-shaped portion 12A. The outer peripheral parts 12B-12E arrange | positioned in the state along. The light emitting element 14 is connected to one end face of the core 12 of the outer peripheral portion 12B of the core pattern member, and the light receiving element 15 is connected to the other end face (end face of the core 12 of the outer peripheral portions 12D and 12E). Yes. The light emitted from the light emitting element 14 passes through the outer peripheral portions 12D and 12E on the opposite side through the lattice portion 12A from the outer peripheral portions 12B and 12C connected to the light emitting element 14 through the core 12. The light receiving element 15 receives light. A surface portion of the over clad layer 13 corresponding to the lattice portion 12A (a rectangular portion indicated by a one-dot chain line in the center of FIG. 4) is an input region 13A of the position sensor.

  When inputting, the input area 13A is pressed with, for example, an input pen tip. Thereby, the core 12 of the pressed portion is deformed, and the light propagation amount of the core 12 is reduced. Therefore, in the core 12 of the pressing portion, the detection level of light at the light receiving element 15 is lowered, so that the pressing position can be detected.

Japanese Patent No. 5513656

  Generally, in this type of position sensor, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are mounted on an electric circuit board. From the viewpoint of reducing the manufacturing cost by making the electric circuit board as compact as possible, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are combined. It is common technical knowledge to place them close together. In fact, in the position sensor shown in FIG. 4, both the light emitting element 14 and the light receiving element 15 are provided on one side (the lower end side in FIG. 4) of the rectangular sheet-shaped optical waveguide W <b> 1. Are placed close together.

  In general, in this type of position sensor, it is common technical knowledge to reduce the number of light emitting elements and light receiving elements as much as possible from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost. Actually, one position sensor is used in each of the position sensors shown in FIG.

  As described above, since the arrangement and the number of the light emitting elements 14 and the light receiving elements 15 are limited in terms of manufacturing cost, the light emitted from one light emitting element 14 is in the vertical direction of the lattice-shaped portion 12A. In order to be propagated to the core 12 in the two horizontal directions (XY directions), it is necessary to branch once by 90 ° along the vertical and horizontal side surfaces of the lattice-shaped portion 12A. Therefore, in the position sensor shown in FIG. 4, the core 12 from the light emitting element 14 extends along the side surface (left side surface in FIG. 4) of the lattice portion 12 </ b> A along one corner (upper left in FIG. 4). (Corner part) (reference numeral 12p), a part (reference numeral 12q) that is bent 90 degrees in an arc shape from the tip, and a part that is bent and extended 180 degrees (in an inverted U shape) in an arc shape from the tip part (reference numeral 12q) Branched to 12r). The cores 12p, 12q, and 12r on the light emitting element 14 side are thick from the light emitting element 14 to start branching into a plurality of vertical and horizontal cores 12s constituting the lattice portion 12A, and the number of branches increases from there to the tip side. It gradually gets thinner as you go. This is because the light emitted from the light emitting element 14 is sequentially branched, and the amount of light is reduced at the cutting edge.

  However, the two arcs have a large radius so that light hardly leaks and propagates gently in the two arcs of the branching portion. In general, when the bending radius of the core is small, light propagating through the core is likely to leak, and it is difficult to smoothly propagate the core. Therefore, the inverted U-shaped width T1 of the outer peripheral portion (the outer peripheral portion on the left side in FIG. 4) 12B where the branch portion is formed is increased, and the peripheral portion F1 of the optical waveguide W1 corresponding to the outer peripheral portion 12B. The width (frame width) is also increased. As a result, the position sensor requires a large space. In this respect, the position sensor has room for improvement.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a position sensor capable of saving space.

  In order to achieve the above object, a position sensor according to the present invention includes a lattice portion composed of a plurality of linear cores, and is bent from the core of the lattice portion so as to extend along the outer periphery of the lattice portion. A sheet-shaped optical waveguide sandwiched between two sheet-shaped clad layers, a light-emitting element connected to the core of the optical waveguide, A light receiving element, and the light emitted by the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element through the core of the optical waveguide, and the surface portion of the core pattern member corresponding to the lattice portion of the core pattern member is input to the input region. And a position sensor that specifies a pressing position in the input region by a light propagation amount of the core changed by the pressing, wherein at least a part of the bent portion of the core of the outer peripheral portion is a square portion. The outer portion of the angular portion is formed on an inclined surface inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the core, and the inclined surface reflects light and converts the optical path along the angular portion. It is configured to be a light reflecting surface.

  In the position sensor of the present invention, the periphery of the core in the outer peripheral portion is covered with the cladding layer. In the optical waveguide, the refractive index of the core is set higher than the refractive index of the surrounding cladding layer. Therefore, light is reflected by the outer inclined surface at the angular portion of the core.

  The position sensor of the present invention is arranged in a state where the core of the outer peripheral portion where the core of the lattice-like portion is extended is bent along the outer periphery of the lattice-like portion, and at least one of the bent portions. The part is a square part. Thus, even if the bent portion is a horn portion, the outer portion of the horn portion is formed on an inclined surface inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the core, and the inclined surface reflects light. Since it is a light reflecting surface that converts the optical path along the angular portion, light can appropriately propagate through the core. That is, unlike the prior art, the bent portion does not have an arc shape with a large radius, but has a square portion as described above. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the width of the outer peripheral portion of the core pattern member in which the square portion is formed, and it is also possible to reduce the width (frame width) of the peripheral portion of the optical waveguide corresponding to the outer peripheral portion. As a result, the position sensor of the present invention can save space.

  In particular, the angular portion of the core in the outer peripheral portion is right-angled, and the inclined angle of the inclined surface of the outer portion of the right-angled angular portion with respect to the axial direction of the core is 45 °, and the inclined surface When the optical path conversion angle with the light reflecting surface is 90 °, the angular portion of the core in the outer peripheral portion is a right angle, and therefore the design and manufacture of the core in the outer peripheral portion is simplified.

(A) is a top view which shows typically one Embodiment of the position sensor of this invention, (b) is an expanded sectional view of the center part, (c), (d) is the above-mentioned It is an enlarged view of the bending part of the core enclosed with the circles C and D of (a). (A)-(f) is an enlarged plan view which shows typically the cross | intersection form of the core of the lattice-like part in the said position sensor. (A), (b) is an enlarged plan view which shows typically the course of the light in the cross | intersection part of the core of the said lattice-shaped part. It is a top view which shows the conventional position sensor typically.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Fig.1 (a) is a top view which shows one Embodiment of the position sensor of this invention, FIG.1 (b) is the figure which expanded the cross section of the center part. The position sensor of this embodiment includes a substantially rectangular sheet-shaped optical waveguide W and two light-emitting elements 4 and 2 arranged on one side of the optical waveguide W (the lower side in FIG. 1A). Light receiving elements 5.

  A feature of the position sensor of this embodiment is that an inverted U-shaped bent portion of the core 2 from the light emitting element 4 surrounded by a circle C in FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of FIG. As shown, it consists of two continuous rectangular sections. As a result, the reverse U-shaped width T of the outer peripheral portion (the left outer peripheral portion in FIG. 1A) 2B formed with the inverted U-shaped bent portion can be reduced, and the outer peripheral portion 2B The width (frame width) of the peripheral edge portion F of the corresponding optical waveguide can also be reduced. As a result, the position sensor can save space. Further, in this embodiment, a 90 ° bent portion of the core 2 from the light emitting element 4 surrounded by a circle D is also formed in a right-angled angular portion as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. It has been characterized. Thereby, the width | variety of outer peripheral part 2D required for the bending of the said core 2 can be made small.

  Hereinafter, the entire position sensor will be described.

  The optical waveguide W is extended on the surface of the substantially quadrilateral sheet-like under cladding layer 1 from a lattice portion 2A composed of a plurality of linear optical path cores 2 and the core 2 of the lattice portion 2A. A sheet-like core pattern member having outer peripheral portions 2B to 2E arranged in a bent state along the outer periphery of the lattice-like portion 2A is formed (see FIG. 1A), and the core pattern member is In the covered state, an over clad layer 3 is formed on the surface of the under clad layer 1 (see FIG. 1B). Then, one end surface and the other end surface of the core 2 of the outer peripheral portions 2C to 2E from which the longitudinal core 2 of the lattice portion 2A is extended, and the lateral core 2 of the lattice portion 2A are extended. One end face and the other end face of the core 2 of the outer peripheral portions 2B and 2D are positioned on one side of the substantially rectangular sheet-shaped optical waveguide W [lower end side in FIG. 1A]. In FIG. 1A, the core 2 is indicated by a chain line, and the thickness of the chain line indicates the thickness of the core 2. Also in this embodiment, the core 2 on the side of the light emitting element [in this embodiment, the left and right light emitting elements in FIG. 1A] 4 side is separated from the light emitting element 4 by the lattice-like portion 2A as in the prior art shown in FIG. Is thicker until it starts branching to a plurality of vertical and horizontal cores 2s, and the light is diverged to the vertical and horizontal cores 2s from there to the tip, so that the amount of light decreases. In FIG. 1A, the number of cores 2s of the lattice-like portion 2A is omitted, and the interval between the cores 2s is widened. Moreover, the arrow of Fig.1 (a) has shown the direction where light travels.

  Then, one light emitting element 4 is connected to one end surface of the core 2 of the outer peripheral portion 2D where the longitudinal core 2 of the lattice-like portion 2A of the core pattern member is extended, and the other end surface (outer peripheral portion thereof). 2E) (one end face of the core 2), one light receiving element 5 is connected to the end face of the core 2 of the outer peripheral part 2B in which the horizontal core 2 of the lattice-like part 2A extends. One light emitting element 4 is connected, and the other light receiving element 5 is connected to the other end face (end face of the core 2 of the outer peripheral portion 2D). In such a position sensor, the light emitted from the light emitting element 4 passes through the core 2 from the outer peripheral parts 2B and 2C connected to the light emitting element 4 through the lattice-like part 2A and the outer peripheral part 2D on the opposite side. , 2E, and the light receiving element 5 receives the light. The surface portion of the over clad layer 3 corresponding to the lattice-like portion 2A of the core pattern member [rectangular portion indicated by a one-dot chain line in the center of FIG. 1A] is an input region 3A.

  In this embodiment, as described above, the core 2 from the light emitting element 4 of one of the two light emitting elements 4 (the left end in FIG. 1A) is one side surface of the lattice portion 2A [ 1A (left side in FIG. 1A) extends to one corner of the grid-like portion 2A (upper left corner in FIG. 1A) (reference numeral 2p), and extends perpendicularly from the tip [FIG. ) Is bent 90 degrees to the right (reference 2q), and is immediately further bent at a right angle (down 90 degrees in FIG. 1A) (reference 2r), thereby 180 ° (inverted U-shape). Bend and extend. And it branches to each core 2 (code | symbol 2s) of the horizontal direction of 2 A of lattice-like parts.

  Further, the core 2 from the light emitting element 4 of the remaining one (right end in FIG. 1A) has its lattice shape along the other side surface (right side surface in FIG. 1A) of the lattice portion 2A. Extends to the other corner of the portion 2A (upper right corner in FIG. 1 (a)) (reference numeral 2t), and bends and extends 90 ° (90 ° to the left in FIG. 1 (a)) at a right angle from the tip. (Reference numeral 2u). And it is branched to each core 2 (code | symbol 2s) of the vertical direction of 2 A of grid | lattice-like parts.

  In the square part bent at the above right angle [the square part surrounded by the circles C and D in FIG. 1A], as shown in enlarged views in FIGS. Is formed on an inclined surface 2b inclined by 45 ° with respect to the axial direction of the core 2, and the inclined surface 2b is a light reflecting surface that reflects light and converts the optical path by 90 °. The outer side of the side wall (including the inclined surface 2b) of the angular portion is the over clad layer 3, and the refractive index is lower than that of the core 2, so that light is reflected by the inclined surface 2b. As a result, in the rectangular portion having a right angle, light is properly propagated along the rectangular portion.

  And in the above-mentioned 180 ° (inverted U-shaped) bent portion (the square portion surrounded by the circle C in FIG. 1A), unlike the prior art (see FIG. 4), it has an arc shape with a large radius. However, as described above, the right-angled angular portion is in a state of being continuous twice. Therefore, the width T of the outer peripheral portion (the outer peripheral portion on the left side in FIG. 1A) 2B formed with the above-mentioned square portion can be reduced, and the width of the peripheral portion F of the optical waveguide corresponding to the outer peripheral portion 2B. (Frame width) can also be reduced. As a result, the position sensor can save space. Also, the portion bent 90 ° (perpendicularly) (the square portion surrounded by the circle D in FIG. 1A) has an arc shape with a large radius, unlike the prior art (see FIG. 4). Since it is a right-angled square portion, the width of the outer peripheral portion 2D can be reduced and the core 2 can be bent.

  Furthermore, when the input area 3A of the position sensor is widened or the detection accuracy of the pressed position in the input area 3A is improved, the number of cores 2 needs to be increased. As described above, since two light emitting elements 4 and two light receiving elements 5 are used, it is possible to easily cope with an increase in the number of cores 2 without weakening the intensity of light propagating through the cores 2. That is, the position sensor can easily cope with the enlargement of the input area 3A and the improvement of the detection accuracy of the pressed position.

  Further, as described above, by connecting the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (XY direction) of the grid-like portion 2A, the light in these two directions can be individually controlled. Can do. Thereby, the intensity of light can be made equal in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and the detectability of the pressed position can be improved.

  Input of characters or the like to the position sensor is performed by writing characters or the like in the input area 3A directly or via a resin film or paper with an input body such as a pen. At this time, the input area 3A is pressed with a pen tip or the like, the core 2 of the pressed portion is deformed, and the light propagation amount of the core 2 is reduced. Therefore, in the core 2 of the pressing portion, the detection level of light at the light receiving element 5 is lowered, so that the pressing position (XY coordinate) can be detected.

  In the optical waveguide W, the elastic modulus of the core 2 is preferably set to be larger than the elastic modulus of the under cladding layer 1 and the over cladding layer 3. The reason is that if the elastic modulus is set in the opposite direction, the periphery of the core 2 becomes hard, so that the optical waveguide having an area considerably larger than the area of the pen tip or the like that presses the input region 3A portion of the over clad layer 3 This is because the W portion is recessed and it is difficult to accurately detect the pressed position. Therefore, as each elastic modulus, for example, the elastic modulus of the core 2 is set within a range of 1 GPa or more and 10 GPa or less, and the elastic modulus of the over clad layer 3 is set within a range of 0.1 GPa or more and less than 10 GPa, The elastic modulus of the under cladding layer 1 is preferably set within a range of 0.1 MPa to 1 GPa. In this case, since the elastic modulus of the core 2 is large, the core 2 is not crushed by a small pressing force (the cross-sectional area of the core 2 is not reduced), but the optical waveguide W is recessed by the pressing, and therefore corresponds to the recessed portion. Light leakage (scattering) occurs from the bent part of the core 2, and the detection level of light in the light receiving element 5 decreases in the core 2, so that the pressed position can be detected.

  Examples of the material for forming the under cladding layer 1, the core 2 and the over cladding layer 3 include a photosensitive resin, a thermosetting resin, and the like, and the optical waveguide W can be manufactured by a manufacturing method corresponding to the forming material. . The refractive index of the core 2 is set to be larger than the refractive indexes of the under cladding layer 1 and the over cladding layer 3. The refractive index and the elastic modulus can be adjusted by, for example, selecting the type of each forming material and adjusting the composition ratio. The thickness of each layer is set, for example, such that the under cladding layer 1 is in the range of 10 to 500 μm, the core 2 is in the range of 5 to 100 μm, and the over cladding layer 3 is in the range of 1 to 200 μm. Note that a rubber sheet may be used as the undercladding layer 1 and the cores 2 may be formed in a lattice shape on the rubber sheet.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, each of the intersecting portions of the core 2 of the lattice-shaped portion 2A is normally formed in a state in which all of the four intersecting directions are continuous, as shown in an enlarged plan view in FIG. Others are acceptable. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, only one intersecting direction may be divided by the gap G and discontinuous. The gap G is formed of a material for forming the under cladding layer 1 or the over cladding layer 3. The width d of the gap G exceeds 0 (zero), and is usually set to 20 μm or less. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 2 (c) and 2 (d), two intersecting directions (two opposing directions in FIG. 2 (c) and two adjacent directions in FIG. 2 (d)) are discontinuous. As shown in FIG. 2 (e), the three intersecting directions may be discontinuous, or as shown in FIG. 2 (f), all the four intersecting directions may be discontinuous. It may be discontinuous. Furthermore, it is good also as a grid | lattice shape provided with the 2 or more types of cross | intersection part of the said cross | intersection part shown to Fig.2 (a)-(f). That is, in the present invention, the “lattice shape” formed by the plurality of linear cores 2 means that a part or all of the intersections are formed as described above.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2B to 2F, when at least one intersecting direction is discontinuous, the light crossing loss can be reduced. That is, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), in an intersection where all four intersecting directions are continuous, if one of the intersecting directions (upward in FIG. 3 (a)) is noted, the light incident on the intersection A part of the light reaches the wall surface 2a of the core 2 orthogonal to the core 2 through which the light has traveled, and is transmitted through the core 2 because the reflection angle at the wall surface is large [two points in FIG. (See chain line arrow). Such transmission of light also occurs in the direction opposite to the above (downward in FIG. 3A). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), when one intersecting direction (upward in FIG. 3 (b)) is discontinuous by the gap G, the interface between the gap G and the core 2 is Part of the light that is formed and passes through the core 2 in FIG. 3 (a) has a smaller reflection angle at the interface, and thus is reflected at the interface without passing through and continues to travel through the core 2 [FIG. 3 (b), see the two-dot chain line arrow]. From this, as described above, if at least one intersecting direction is discontinuous, the light crossing loss can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to increase the detection sensitivity of the pressed position by the pen tip or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the bent portions of the core 2 of the outer peripheral portions 2B and 2D are rectangular (90 °), but may be square portions having other angles. In that case, the angle of the outer inclined surface 2b is set so that light is reflected along the angular portion.

  Next, examples will be described together with comparative examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the examples.

[Formation material of under clad layer and over clad layer]
Component a: 60 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation YL7410).
Component b: 40 parts by weight of epoxy resin (manufactured by Daicel, EHPE3150).
Component c: 4 parts by weight of a photoacid generator (manufactured by Sun Apro, CPI101A).
By mixing these components a to c, materials for forming the under cladding layer and the over cladding layer were prepared.

[Core forming material]
Component d: 90 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by Daicel Corporation, EHPE3150).
Component e: 10 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Epicoat 1002).
Component f: 1 part by weight of a photoacid generator (manufactured by ADEKA, SP170).
Component g: 50 parts by weight of ethyl lactate (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., solvent).
A core forming material was prepared by mixing these components d to g.

[Production of optical waveguide]
First, a substantially rectangular undercladding layer was formed by spin coating using the undercladding layer forming material. The thickness of this under cladding layer was 25 μm. The elastic modulus was 240 MPa and the refractive index was 1.496. The elastic modulus was measured using a viscoelasticity measuring device (TA instruments Japan Inc., RSA3).

  Next, a sheet-like core pattern member having a lattice-shaped portion composed of a plurality of linear cores and an outer peripheral portion is formed on the surface of the under-cladding layer by the photolithography method using the core forming material. did. Among the cores of the outer peripheral portion, the core connected to the light emitting element has a right-angled bent portion from the connecting portion with the light emitting element to the lattice portion, and one core is bent by 180 ° [FIG. ) And (c)], and the other core was bent 90 [deg.] (Similar to FIGS. 1 (a) and (d)). Further, each end face of the core in the outer peripheral portion was positioned on one side of the rectangular shape of the under cladding layer [see FIG. 1 (a)]. The size of the grid portion (input area) was 210 mm long × 297 mm wide. The width of the core was 100 μm, the thickness was 50 μm, and the width of the gap between adjacent parallel linear cores in the lattice portion was 500 μm. The elastic modulus was 1.58 GPa and the refractive index was 1.516.

  Next, an over-cladding layer was formed on the surface of the under-cladding layer by spin coating using the over-cladding layer forming material so as to cover the core pattern member. The thickness of this over clad layer (thickness from the surface of the core) was 40 μm. The elastic modulus was 240 MPa and the refractive index was 1.496. In this way, a substantially rectangular sheet-shaped optical waveguide was produced.

[Production of position sensor]
Two light emitting elements (manufactured by Optowell, XH85-S0603-2s) and two light receiving elements (manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics, s10226) were prepared. Then, one light emitting element is connected to one end surface of the core of the outer peripheral portion where the longitudinal core of the lattice-shaped portion of the core pattern member is extended, and one light receiving element is connected to the other end surface thereof. The remaining one light emitting element is connected to one end surface of the core of the outer peripheral portion where the horizontal core of the lattice-like portion is extended, and the remaining one light receiving element is connected to the other end surface thereof [See FIG. 1 (a)].

[Comparative Example]
In the above embodiment, the core connected to the light emitting element is less likely to leak light from the core, and until the light is gently propagated in the core until it branches from the connecting portion with the light emitting element to the lattice portion. The bent portion was formed into an arc shape, and a 90 ° bent portion and a 180 ° bent portion were formed (see FIG. 4). Moreover, each end surface of the core of the outer peripheral part of the core pattern member was positioned on one side of the rectangular shape of the under cladding layer (see FIG. 4). Then, one light emitting element and one light receiving element are provided, and one light emitting element is connected to one end surface of both cores of the outer peripheral part extending in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the lattice-like part, and the other One light receiving element was connected to the end face (see FIG. 4).

  In the above-described examples and comparative examples, the width (T, T1) of the outer peripheral portion where the portion where the core was bent by 180 ° was formed was measured. As a result, in the example, it was 25 mm (T), whereas in the comparative example, it was 35 mm (T1) [see FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 4].

  From the above results, it can be seen that the position sensor of the example can save space compared to the position sensor of the comparative example.

  The position sensor of the present invention can be used for space saving.

W Optical waveguide 1 Under clad layer 2 Core 2A Lattice portion 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E Outer peripheral portion 2b Inclined surface 3 Over clad layer

Claims (2)

  A sheet-like structure comprising a lattice-shaped portion composed of a plurality of linear cores, and an outer peripheral portion that extends from the core of the lattice-shaped portion and is bent along the outer periphery of the lattice-shaped portion. A sheet-shaped optical waveguide having a core pattern member sandwiched between two sheet-shaped clad layers, a light emitting element and a light receiving element connected to the core of the optical waveguide, and light emitted from the light emitting element The light is received by the light receiving element through the core of the optical waveguide, and the surface portion of the core pattern member corresponding to the lattice portion of the core pattern member is used as an input region, and the pressing position in the input region is changed by the pressing. A position sensor specified by the amount of light propagation of the core, wherein at least a part of the bent part of the core of the outer peripheral part is a square part, and an outer part of the square part is an axis of the core direction Is formed on the inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle for a position sensor that the inclined surface reflects the light, characterized in that the optical path has the light reflecting surface to convert along the corner-shaped portion.   The angular part of the core in the outer peripheral part is right-angled, and the inclination angle of the inclined part of the outer part of the right-angled angular part with respect to the axial direction of the core is 45 °. The position sensor according to claim 1, wherein an optical path conversion angle as a reflection surface is 90 °.

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