JP2022067616A5 - - Google Patents

Description

<Example of electromagnetic induction method>
FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of an electromagnetic induction type position detection module 11M. The position detection module 11M of this example includes a coil 113M wound around a magnetic core such as a ferrite core 112M, a pen pressure detection section 114M, and a circuit board 115M. The ferrite core 112M has an axial through hole (not shown) through which the core 111M is inserted. Then, the end portion of the core body 111M inserted through the through hole of the ferrite core 112M, which is opposite to the tip portion 111Ma, is fitted to the writing pressure detection portion 114M. The core 111M is made of a non-conductive material such as resin.

The electromagnetic induction type position detection module 11M can also be configured to supply a position detection sensor of the tablet 2 with a signal corresponding to the ON/OFF operation of a side switch that can be operated by the user. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the position detection module 11M with a side switch.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the pen housing 13 of the electronic pen 1 of this example is provided with a side switch 118, and a position detection module 11M is provided on the outer circumference of the pen housing 13 on the pen tip side. As a member for shifting the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit RC1, a magnetically coupleable coil 117 is arranged so as to mutually inductively couple with the coil 113M of the resonance circuit of the position detection module 11M. The side switch 118 is configured to be turned on by pressing the operating portion 118a, and is connected between one end 117a and the other end 117b of the coil 117. As shown in FIG. Note that a capacitor is provided in series with the side switch 118 in this example.

That is, the electronic pen 1 is configured by connecting in parallel a variable capacitor 114MC composed of a coil 113M, a capacitor 116M, and a writing pressure detection unit 114M as a circuit configuration of the position detection module 11M. A first resonant circuit RC1 is provided. A side switch 118 and a capacitor 119 are connected between one end 117a and the other end 117b of a coil 117 provided in the housing 13 of the electronic pen 1. When the side switch 118 is turned on, the coil A second resonant circuit RC2 closed circuit consisting of 117 and capacitor 119 is generated. Alternatively, the capacitor 119 may not be provided, and a closed circuit may be formed by connecting one end and the other end of the coil 117 by turning on the side switch 118 .

On the other hand, in the electronic pen 1, when the side switch 118 is turned on by the user's operation, a resonance circuit RC2 consisting of the coil 117 and the capacitor 119 is generated, and a closed circuit in which current flows through the coil 117 is formed. Then, the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit RC1 of the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1 causes mutual induction between the coil 113M and the coil 117 of the second resonance circuit RC2. Therefore, the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit RC1 of the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1 becomes a frequency f2 different from the frequency f1.

When the switching connection circuit 207 is switched to the terminal T side, the current from the current driver 205 is supplied to the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 206 . As a result, a magnetic field is generated in the loop coil, and a signal (radio wave) for acting on the first resonance circuit RC1 of the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1 facing the magnetic field can be transmitted.

That is, each loop coil of the X-axis direction loop coil group 201X and the Y-axis direction loop coil group 201Y receives (feeds back) radio waves from the first resonance circuit RC1 of the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1. An induced voltage is generated.

The position detection circuit 209 detects the induced voltage generated in the loop coil, that is, the received signal, with respect to the resonance frequency component of the first resonance circuit RC1 of the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1, and outputs the detection output signal. is converted into a digital signal and output to the control unit 212 .

The control unit 212 controls the position detection module 11 of the electronic pen 1 based on the digital signal of the resonance frequency component from the position detection circuit 209, that is, the level of the induced voltage generated in each loop coil. The coordinate values of the indicated positions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the tip portion 111 Ma of the M core 111 M are calculated.

The pen pressure detection circuit 210 synchronously detects the signal received from the reception amplifier 208 with the AC signal from the oscillator 204, and detects the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1 based on the frequency shift (phase difference) of both signals. The writing pressure applied to the tip portion 111 M a of the core body 111 M is detected.

The side switch operation detection circuit 211 detects the resonance frequency of the first resonance circuit RC1 of the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1 based on the frequency of the output signal from the reception amplifier 208. The resonance frequency when switch 118 is off or the resonance frequency when switch 118 is on is detected, and the detection result is output to control unit 212 . Based on the output of the side switch operation detection circuit 211, the control unit 212 detects whether the side switch 118 is on or off.

In the example of the electronic pen 1 described above, the side switch 118 can be provided in the electronic pen 1 even if the position detection module 11M is configured as a cartridge and housed in the pen housing 13 .

The electromagnetic induction type position detection module 11M having the configuration described above does not require a power supply. It was configured to be detected by a detection device. On the other hand, the electromagnetic induction type position detection module 11M can be configured to transmit the writing pressure detection output of the writing pressure detection unit 114M to the position detection device 200M side as a digital value, for example. In this case, the position detection module 11M needs to be provided with a control circuit for that purpose and requires a power supply voltage. The power supply voltage of the position detection module 11M may be generated by providing a battery. It can also be configured to generate by

FIG. 12 shows a configuration example of the electronic circuit 40 on the circuit board 115M of the position detection module 11M in such a configuration. In this example, the resonance circuit 40R of the position detection module 11M of the electronic pen 1 exchanges position detection signals by electromagnetic induction coupling with the conductor of the position detection sensor of the tablet 2, and the pen pressure detection unit 114M. and the identification information of the position detection module 11M (hereinafter, the identification information of the position detection module 11M is referred to as identification information ID1) to the position detection sensor 201 of the tablet 2. configured as

Further, in this example, as shown in FIG. 12, the control circuit 401 is connected to a variable capacitor 114MC composed of the writing pressure detection unit 114M, and a resistor R is connected in parallel with the variable capacitor 114MC . It is connected to the. After charging the variable capacitor 114MC, the control circuit 401 discharges the variable capacitor 114MC through the resistor R, measures the time until the voltage across the variable capacitor 114MC reaches a predetermined threshold value, and determines the capacitance of the variable capacitor 114MC. to measure.

Also, in this example, an ID memory 409 is connected to the control circuit 401 . The ID memory 409 stores a unique multi-bit digital signal including, for example, a manufacturer number and a product number as identification information ID11M of the position detection module 11M.

The selection circuit 231 selects one conductor 221Y or 222X from the first conductor group or the second conductor group based on the control signal from the control circuit 234 . The position detection circuit 232 extracts only the frequency component of the signal transmitted from the position detection module 11C of the electronic pen 1 for the conductor selected by the selection circuit 231, and detects the signal level of the extracted frequency component. The information obtained is output to the control circuit 234 . The control circuit 234 controls the position on the position detection sensor 220 indicated by the tip portion 111Ca of the core body 111C of the position detection module 11C of the electronic pen 1 based on the information corresponding to the signal level from the position detection circuit 232. Calculate the coordinates.

In addition, in the position detection module 11M and the position detection module 11C described above, additional information such as writing pressure value information and identification information ID11M or ID11C is transmitted by providing a Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless communication unit, for example. It may be configured to transmit the tablet 2 through its wireless communication unit separately from the position detection signal. However, in that case, the position detection module 11M must also be provided with a power supply circuit.

[Configuration example of extended function module 12]
Next, a configuration example of the extended function module 12 will be described. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the extended function module 12. As shown in FIG. As described above, the extended function module 12 in the example of FIG. 16 includes an information generation unit 121 that generates characteristic selection information, and a wireless communication unit 122 that is an example of a transmission unit that transmits the generated characteristic selection information. Prepare. Also, in this example, the extended function module 12 includes a stimulus generator 123 . Further, in this example, the extended function module 12 includes an ID memory 124 that stores identification information of the extended function module 12 (hereinafter referred to as identification information ID2 of the extended function module 12). The identification information ID2 stored in the ID memory 124 is unique information including, for example, the manufacturer number and product number.

The control circuit 120, the information generating section 121, and the wireless communication section 122 constitute a first functional section. The control circuit 120, the information generation section 121, and the stimulus generation section 123 , or the control circuit 120, the wireless communication section 122, and the stimulus generation section 124 constitute a second functional section. Note that the texture detection unit 10X, the control circuit 120, and the stimulus generation unit 123 , which will be described later, may constitute a second functional unit.

The control circuit 120 converts the motion detection output of the gyro sensor 1211 and the acceleration sensor 1222 received from the information generation unit 121 into a transmission signal to be transmitted to the PC 3 as information for selecting actual characteristics, and transmits the signal to the PC 3 through the wireless communication unit 122. Send to Note that the motion detection output transmitted through the wireless communication unit 122 of the extended function module 12 is synchronized with the writing input operation when the core body 111 of the position detection module 11 contacts the input surface of the position detection sensor. Needless to say, the coordinate output and writing pressure value information sent to the PC 3 through the PC 2 are also synchronized in timing.

When the extended function module 12 arranged inside the pen housing 13 is provided with a housing, a transparent housing through which light is transmitted is used. Then, at a position of the extended function module 12 where the incident light through the opening 18Ra of the rotating ring 18R is received, the incident light is incident through the opening 18Ra along the circumferential direction around the axial center position of the pen housing 13. A light receiving sensor 19PD for detecting light is provided. As shown in FIG. 18B, the light receiving sensor 19 PD has a plurality of divided areas in the circumferential direction. The light-receiving sensor PD constitutes an operation state detection section 1213 of the information generation section 121A.

The light detection output in each divided area of the light receiving sensor 19 PD is supplied to the desired characteristic selection information generating section 1214 of the information generating section 121A. The desired characteristic selection information generation unit 1214 determines the rotational angle position of the opening 18Ra of the rotary ring 18R depending on which of the plurality of divided regions of the light receiving sensor 19PD has the maximum level of light detection output. to detect

In this example, hardness and density of a pencil lead as characteristics of the core body 111 are assigned in advance as examples of desired characteristics corresponding to each divided area of the light receiving sensor 19 PD. The characteristic selection information generation unit 1214 detects the hardness and density of the pencil lead assigned to the divided area of the light receiving sensor 19PD with the light detection output at the maximum level, and determines the hardness and density of the pencil lead detected. Desired characteristic selection information is generated as information specifying hardness and density.

In this case, the desired characteristic selection information generation unit 1214 includes table information corresponding to the desired characteristic selection information corresponding to the hardness of the designated core 111, and uses the correspondence table information to generate the desired characteristic selection information for the designated core. Desired characteristic selection information may be generated according to body hardness. Then, the control circuit 120 transmits the desired characteristic selection information generated by the information generation section 121A to the PC 3 through the wireless communication section 122 .

It is also possible to specify the characteristics of the input surface 2a of the position detection sensor instead of specifying the characteristics of the core body 111 as the desired characteristics using the rotating ring 18R . Different characteristics of the input surface 2a are assigned to each of the divided areas. For example, since the characteristics are specified by the material that constitutes the input surface 2a, it is possible to assign and specify "glass surface", "hard resin surface", "soft resin surface", "Kent paper", "Japanese paper", etc. .

In the electronic pen 1 of the embodiment described above, when writing is input on the input surface 2a of the tablet 2, the position detection module 11 and the extended function module 12 are accommodated in the pen housing 13. Not only that, even in the configuration of the cap - type pen shown in FIG.

In the above example, the PC 3 uses the identification information ID2 from the extended function module 12 to identify the line width and line density. The identification information ID1 (ID 11 M or ID 11 C) obtained from the . The same applies to the following examples.

<Processing Operation Example 1-2: Determination of Display Attribute/Display Mode of Handwriting Trace with Electronic Pen 1 Using Desired Characteristic Selection Information>
The electronic pen 1 that constitutes the input system in the case of this example has an outer periphery of the pen housing 13 of the electronic pen 1 shown in FIG. , a rotatable ring 18R arranged in a portion where the extended function module 12 is provided. In this example, the rotating ring 18R allows the user to select the material of the input surface 2a. It is configured so as to be transmitted to the PC 3 through the wireless communication unit 122 as information for use.

FIG. 27 shows an example of the operation flow of the electronic pen 1 in this example. That is, the position detection module 11 of the electronic pen 1 monitors the electromagnetic induction coupling with the position detection sensor of the tablet 2 (step S11), and when the electromagnetic induction coupling is established, the position detection sensor and the position detection module 11 , signal interaction is performed by electromagnetic induction coupling, and the position coordinates of the tip portion 111a of the core body 111 can be detected in the tablet 2 (step S12).

<Processing Operation Example 2-2: Generating Stimulus with Texture Detection Output from Texture Detection Unit 10 TX During Writing>
The electronic pen 1 constituting the input system in this example includes a texture detection section 10TX, as in the processing operation example 1-3 described above. In this example, the imaging output of the imaging element 101CM of the texture detection unit 10TX and the sound pickup output of the microphone 102MC are input to the control circuit 120 of the extended function module 12. FIG. The extended function module 12 of this example transmits the image pickup output of the image sensor 101CM of the texture detection unit 10TX and the sound pickup output of the microphone 102MC to the PC 3 through the wireless communication unit 122 as information for selecting actual characteristics. Also, in this example, the extended function module 12 is provided with a stimulus generator 123 .

In this example, similarly to the processing operation example 1-2 described above, the user can use the rotating ring 18R as an example of the operation means 18 for designating the desired characteristic selection information provided in the electronic pen 1. , selects and designates the material of the input surface 2a. The extended function module 12 that has received this selection specification transmits information indicating the material of the input surface 2a that has been selected and specified to the PC 3 through the wireless communication unit 122 as desired characteristic selection information.

Note that the characteristic selection information (actual characteristic selection information and desired characteristic selection information) generated by the extended function module 12 is transmitted by wireless communication of the position detection module 11 by providing the position detection module 11 with a wireless communication unit. It can also be configured to transmit to the PC 3 through the unit.

Further, without providing the position detection module 11 with a wireless communication unit, the characteristic selection information (actual characteristic selection information and desired characteristic selection information) generated by the extended function module 12 can be transmitted from the position detection module 11 to the position detection module 11 . It may be configured such that it is transmitted to the tablet 2 together with the detection signal and transmitted from the tablet 2 to the PC 3 . In this way, when the characteristic selection information is transmitted from the electronic pen 1 to the PC 3 through the tablet 2, the rotating ring 18R and the switch operation means 18S for selecting the desired characteristic selection information are expanded. It is provided in relation to the position detection module 11 instead of the function module 12, and the position detection module 11 is provided with means for detecting the selection state by the rotating ring 18R and the selection state by the switch operation means 18S. good too.

Claims (3)

The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the second functional module comprises a battery or a power storage element for generating power supply voltage. The second function module generates a stimulus based on the characteristic selection information generated by the first function unit or based on the characteristic selection information received from the outside through the communication unit. A position indicator according to claim 1. A texture detection unit that detects the texture of the input surface,
2. The position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said second functional module generates a stimulus according to the texture of said input surface detected by said texture detection section.

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