JP6945034B2 - Electronic pen - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic pen that is used together with a position detecting device and has a pen pressure detecting function.

In recent years, as an input device for a portable tablet, a personal computer, etc., an electronic pen (stylus pen) constituting a position indicator and a position detection device having an input surface for receiving a pointing operation and character and graphic input by the electronic pen have been introduced. The one consisting of is used.

There are various types of electronic pens such as an electromagnetic induction method and an electrostatic coupling method, but generally, the electronic pen has a pen pressure detection function. In this type of electronic pen, an opening is provided in one of the axial directions of the housing of the electronic pen so that the tip of the rod-shaped core protrudes from this opening and inside the housing. A configuration having a space for the core body to be movable in the axial direction in order to be able to transmit the pen pressure applied to the core body to the arranged pen pressure detection unit. Is made to have.

By the way, recently, the number of outdoor use scenes such as tablets is increasing. However, as described above, the electronic pen is provided with an opening in the housing for projecting the tip of the core body to the outside, and when it has a pen pressure detection function, the core body is oriented in the axial direction. It has a structure having a space communicating with the opening so as to be movable. For this reason, water, dust, etc. may enter the housing through the opening and the space, affect the electric parts and connections housed in the housing of the electronic pen, and cause a malfunction of the electronic pen. was there.

Therefore, recently, waterproofness and dustproofness of electronic pens have been required, and various proposals have been made conventionally. For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-198193), for example, a conical rubber cap having a through hole formed at the top thereof so as to be closely fitted with a core body is used to form an opening of an electronic pen housing. A configuration that covers it is disclosed. In this configuration, the core body is attached through the through hole of the rubber cap and the tip is projected.

According to this configuration, the opening of the housing is covered with the rubber cap so that it is not exposed to the outside, and there is a gap between the core body and the rubber cap due to the close contact between the through hole and the side peripheral surface portion of the core body. Is prevented from occurring, so that waterproofness and dustproofness can be ensured.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-198193

However, in the case of Patent Document 1, since the rubber cap is put on the opening side of the electronic pen so as not to expose the opening of the housing of the electronic pen to the outside, the rubber cap itself is exposed to the outside. There is a risk that it will come off. Further, since the rubber cap of Patent Document 1 has a through hole at the top, if the adhesion between the through hole portion and the core body is lowered, the waterproof and dustproof effects may be lowered. .. In particular, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the contact portion between the through hole at the top and the core body elastically changes according to the movement of the core body in the axial direction in response to the application of pen pressure. The through hole of the is easily deformed, and the adhesion with the core body tends to be weakened, which may reduce the effects of waterproofness and dustproofness.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pen capable of solving the above problems and ensuring waterproofness and dustproofness.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
A housing with a hollow space inside and
An opening formed on one side in the axial direction of the housing and
A core body provided on the outside of the housing so as to project outward from the opening,
A pen pressure detection unit that detects the pen pressure applied to the core body,
A core body insertion portion having a space portion into which the core body is inserted, and a core body insertion portion.
With
The space portion communicates with a first space outside the housing and is separated from a second space in which the pen pressure detecting portion is present in the hollow space of the housing. Provide an electronic pen.

It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the electronic device which uses the embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is an exploded perspective view for demonstrating the internal structure example of the embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is an exploded perspective view for demonstrating the structural example of the pen pressure detection module in embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the component group of the pressure sensitive part used in the pen pressure detection module in embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the main part in the internal structure example of embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the main part in the internal structure example of embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the main part in the internal structure example of embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the main part in the internal structure example of embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the main part in the internal structure example of embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure which shows the circuit structure example of the position detection apparatus used together with the embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example of another embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention. It is a figure which shows the circuit structure example of the position detection apparatus used together with the other embodiment of the electronic pen by this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the electronic pen according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The electronic pen of the embodiment described below is a type in which the indicated position is transmitted to the position detecting device by an electromagnetic induction method.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an electronic device 200 using the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment. In this example, the electronic device 200 is a high-performance mobile phone terminal provided with a display screen 200D of a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and an electromagnetic induction method position detection is performed on the lower portion (back side) of the display screen 200D. The device 202 is provided.

The housing of the electronic device 200 of this example includes a storage recessed hole 201 for accommodating the electronic pen 1. If necessary, the user takes out the electronic pen 1 stored in the storage concave hole 201 from the electronic device 200 and performs a position instruction operation using the display screen 200D as an input surface.

In the electronic device 200, when the position instruction operation is performed by the electronic pen 1 on the display screen 200D, the position detection device 202 provided on the back side of the display screen 200D is operated by the electronic pen 1 at the position and pen pressure. Is detected, and the microcomputer included in the position detection device 202 of the electronic device 200 performs display processing according to the operation position and pen pressure on the display screen 200D.

In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, for example, a plurality of parts of the electronic pen 1 are arranged and stored in the hollow portion of a cylindrical case (housing) 2 made of resin in the axial direction. Then, one end side of the cylindrical case is tapered, and an opening (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided at the end portion, and the tip portion 32 of the rod-shaped core body 3, which will be described later, is penned through the opening. It is designed to be exposed first. The side of the case 2 opposite to the pen tip side is closed with the case cap 21 fitted in a state in which sealing in consideration of waterproofness and dustproofness is ensured.

Then, in this example, the electronic pen 1 is configured to include a side switch. That is, a printed circuit board is provided in the hollow portion inside the case 2 as described later, and a side switch is placed on the printed circuit board. A through hole (not shown in FIG. 2) is formed on the side peripheral surface of the case 2 of the electronic pen 1 at a position corresponding to the side switch, and a pressing operation for the side switch is formed in this through hole portion. The child 22 is exposed so that the side switch mounted on the printed circuit board can be pressed through the through hole. In this case, a predetermined function is assigned and set on the electronic device 200 side provided with the position detecting device 202 for the pressing operation of the side switch by the pressing operator 22. For example, in the electronic device 200 of this example, the pressing operation of the side switch by the pressing operator 22 can be assigned and set as the same operation as the clicking operation in a pointing device such as a mouse.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in which a group of parts housed in the case 2 of the electronic pen 1 is arranged for each part. In this embodiment, the outer shape (equal to the contour shape of the cross section of the case 2) in the direction orthogonal to the central axis of the case 2 is a flat shape. The hollow portion inside the case 2 also has a flat cross-sectional shape corresponding to the outer shape of the case 2, and the parts housed in the case 2 also have a shape corresponding to the flat shape of the hollow portion. It is said that.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the hollow portion of the case 2, the cap member 4, the coil member 5, and the coil member holder constituting the first sealing member are sequentially formed in the axial direction of the case 2 from the pen tip side. 6, the pressing member 7, the pen pressure detection module 8, and the substrate holder 9 are arranged. The printed circuit board 10 is stored and locked in the board storage portion 91 of the board holder 9. The printed circuit board 10 is an example of a circuit board.

The core body 3 is composed of a core body main body 31 and a tip 32 serving as a pen tip, and an opening on the pen tip side of the case 2 in a state where all the above parts are housed in the hollow portion of the case 2. The core body 31 is inserted into the core body 31 and is attached by engaging with a pressing member 7 provided on the pen pressure detection module 8 as described later. The core body 3 is made of a resin as an example of a hard non-conductive material so that the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the tip portion 32 can be transmitted to the pressure sensitive portion 83 of the writing pressure detecting portion 81. For example, it is made of polycarbonate, synthetic resin, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, or the like. The core body 3 is removable from the electronic pen 1.

The coil member 5 includes a coil 51 and a magnetic core around which the coil 51 is wound, in this example, a ferrite core 52. In this example, the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5 penetrates at a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the core body 31 in order to insert the core body 31 of the rod-shaped core 3 into the central shaft position. It has a columnar shape with holes 52a. In this embodiment, the ferrite core 52 has a flat cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion of the case 2, and the pen tip side is configured with a tapered portion 52b. In this example, the tip portion 32 of the core body 3 is configured to have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the core body main body portion 31.

The cap member 4 is provided on the tapered portion 52b side of the ferrite core 52, which is the pen tip side of the electronic pen. The cap member 4 is made of an elastic material, for example, elastic rubber, has a cap shape that covers the pen tip side of the ferrite core 52, and inserts the core body portion 31 of the core body 3. It has an opening (through hole) 4a. In this example, the diameter of the opening 4a is formed to be larger than the diameter of the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52. In this example, the appearance of the cap member 4 is a skirt shape with a wide hem as shown in the figure.

The coil member holder 6 is provided on the end side of the ferrite core 52 opposite to the tapered portion 52b on the pen tip side of the electronic pen. The coil member holder 6 is made of an elastic material, for example, elastic rubber. The end of the ferrite core 52 on the side opposite to the tapered portion 52b on the pen tip side of the electronic pen is a coil non-winding portion 52c in which the coil 51 is not wound. The coil member holder 6 includes a fitting portion 61 for fitting and accommodating the coil non-winding portion 52c of the ferrite core 52, and is press-fitted into the hollow portion 821a of the pen pressure transmission member 82 described later in the pen pressure detection module 8. A protrusion 62 to be fitted is provided.

The fitting portion 61 of the coil member holder 6 is provided with a concave hole 61a corresponding to the outer shape of the coil non-winding portion 52c. A through hole 62a (see FIGS. 5A and 5B described later) through which the core body 31 of the core 3 is inserted is formed in the protrusion 62. The through hole 62a of the protrusion 62 communicates with the concave hole 61a of the fitting portion 61. Therefore, the coil member holder 6 is formed with a hollow space through which the core body main body 31 of the core 3 is inserted through the fitting portion 61 and the protrusion 62.

Then, in a state where the coil non-winding portion 52c of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5 is fitted to the fitting portion 61 of the coil member holder 6, the ferrite core 52 has the core body portion 31 of the core body 3. Since the through hole 52a to be inserted is formed, a hollow space through which the core body main body 31 of the core 3 is inserted is formed through the coil member 5 and the coil member holder 6.

The pressing member 7 provided on the protrusion 62 side of the coil member holder 6 is a fitting recessed hole 7a into which the end 31a of the core body 31 of the core 3 is press-fitted (see FIG. 5A described later). ) Is provided. The outer diameter of the pressing member 7 is selected to be larger than the through hole 62a of the protrusion 62 of the coil member holder 6. Therefore, the core body 31 of the core 3 is inserted through the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5, the concave hole 61a of the fitting portion 61 of the coil member holder 6, and the through hole 62a of the protrusion 62. When the end portion 31a is fitted to the pressing member 7 in a state where the end portion 31a protrudes toward the pressing member 7, the core body 3 does not come off due to the presence of the pressing member 7. It becomes. However, if the core body 3 is strongly pulled toward the tip portion 32 side, the fitting between the end portion 31a of the core body main body 31 and the fitting concave hole 7a of the pressing member 7 is released, and the core body 3 is pulled out. be able to. That is, the core body 3 is replaceable.

In this embodiment, the pen pressure detection module 8 is configured by engaging and coupling the pen pressure detection unit 81 and the pen pressure transmission member 82.

In this embodiment, the pen pressure detection unit 81 includes a pressure sensitive unit 83 composed of a plurality of pressure sensitive parts, and a holder 84 having a function of holding the pressure sensitive unit 83 and making an electrical connection. .. The holder 84 is made of an insulating material such as resin, and has a holding portion 841 that holds the pressure-sensitive portion 83 and two electrodes included in the pressure-sensitive portion 83 held by the holding portion 841 in the substrate holder 9. The printed circuit board 10 is provided with a connection portion 842 for electrical connection.

By engaging the pen pressure transmitting member 82 with the holding portion 841 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting portion 81, a plurality of pressure sensitive parts of the pressure sensitive portion 83 are held by the holding portion 841 of the holder 84. do. As described above, the pen pressure transmission member 82 also includes a hollow portion 821a into which the protrusion 62 of the coil member holder 6 is press-fitted. The pen pressure detection module 8 and the coil member 5 are formed by press-fitting the protrusion 62 of the coil member holder 6 into the hollow portion 821a of the pen pressure transmission member 82 that is engaged and coupled with the pen pressure detection unit 81. And are combined.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a configuration example of the pen pressure detection module 8 in more detail. Further, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a group of pressure-sensitive parts constituting the pressure-sensitive unit 83. Further, FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the pen pressure detection module 8 in a state of being housed in the case 2. 5 (B) is an external perspective view of the coil member holder 6 when viewed from the protruding portion 62 side, and FIG. 5 (C) shows the pen pressure transmitting member 82 and the pen pressure detecting unit 81. It is an external perspective view when viewed from the joint part side with.

In this embodiment, the pressure sensitive unit 83 of the pen pressure detecting unit 81 is composed of a dielectric 831, a spacer 832, and a conductive elastic body 833, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the dielectric 831 has, for example, a substantially disk shape, has one circular surface 831a and the other surface 831b facing each other, and has one surface of the dielectric 831. A circular conductor layer 834 is formed on the 831a. The conductor layer 834 constitutes the first electrode of the capacitance variable capacitor as the pressure sensitive portion 83 of this example.

The spacer 832 is made of an insulating material, and as shown in FIG. 4B, has a ring-shaped thin plate-like structure having the same outer diameter as the diameter of the dielectric 831.

In this example, the conductive elastic body 833 is made of elastic rubber having conductivity. As shown in FIG. 4C, the conductive elastic body 833 of this example is 180-square apart from each other of the thin disk-shaped plate-shaped bodies 833a having the same outer diameter as the diameter of the dielectric 831. The shape is such that two protrusions 833b and 833c are formed from the peripheral edge. The spacer 832 is adhered to, for example, the disc-shaped plate-shaped body 833a of the conductive elastic body 833.

Then, by superimposing the conductive elastic body 833 on the other surface 831b side of the dielectric 831 via the spacer 832, the capacitance variable capacitor as the pressure sensitive portion 83 of this example is configured. The capacitance variable capacitor as the pressure sensitive portion 83 of this example has a first electrode made of a conductor layer 834 formed on one surface 831a of the dielectric 831 and a second electrode made of a conductive elastic body 833. It is equipped with an electrode.

The holder 84 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 is configured to integrally include a holding unit 841 and a connecting unit 842, for example, as an injection molded product using resin. The connection portion 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 is a plate-shaped protrusion that projects in the axial direction (the same direction as the pen pressure application direction) in a direction parallel to the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10. A unit 8421 is provided. The protrusion 8421 has a plane parallel to the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10. The flat surface of the protrusion 8421 is provided so as to be in direct contact with the substrate surface 10a when the pen pressure detection module 8 is fitted with the substrate holder 9 and engaged with the printed circuit board 10.

In this embodiment, the holder 84 has two terminal members 843 and 844 (for ease of understanding, FIG. 2) extending from the holding portion 841 to the connecting portion 842 as a conductive three-dimensional fine pattern. And in FIG. 3, shown with diagonal lines) are formed along the direction in which the writing pressure is applied, that is, in the axial direction of the electronic pen 1. As a result, the terminal members 843 and 844 are integrally formed with the holder 84.

Here, as a method of forming the two terminal members 843 and 844 as a three-dimensional fine pattern on the surface of the holder 84, for example, MIPTEC (Microscopic Integrated Processing Technology) developed by Panasonic Corporation can be used. A nickel-plated layer is formed on the surfaces of the terminal members 843 and 844 formed as a three-dimensional fine pattern in order to facilitate electrical connection by contact, and a gold-plated layer is further formed on the nickel-plated layer.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the two terminal members 843 and 844 have lengths in the direction in which the writing pressure is applied at both end edges in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the writing pressure is applied in the protruding portion 8421. It is formed along the sides so as to be separated from each other. The two terminal members 843 and 844 are formed so as to be exposed at least at both end edges of the protruding portion 8421.

The holding portion 841 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting portion 81 includes a recess 841a for accommodating the pressure-sensitive portion 83 in which the dielectric 831, the spacer 832, and the conductive elastic body 833 are coupled, and the shaft is formed from the recess 841a. It is provided with engaging protrusions 841b, 841c, 841d, 841e that project toward the pen pressure transmission member 82 side (core body 3 side) in the center direction. At the bottom of the recess 841a, one end 844a of the terminal member 844 is exposed and formed (see the shaded portion in FIG. 3). The dielectric 831 is housed so that the conductor layer 834 formed on one surface 831a abuts on one end 844a of the terminal member 844 at the bottom of the recess 841a. Therefore, in a state where the dielectric 831 is housed and held in the recess 841a, the conductor layer 834 as the first electrode of the pressure sensitive portion 83 and the one end portion 844a of the terminal member 844 come into contact with each other and electrically. It will be connected.

Further, between the engaging protrusions 841b and 841c of the holding portion 841 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting portion 81, and between the engaging protrusions 841d and 841e, the protruding portion 833b of the conductive elastic body 833 and the protruding portion 833b of the conductive elastic body 833 An end face is formed where the 833c abuts. Then, in this embodiment, one end portion 843a of the terminal member 843 is exposed and formed on the end surface between the engaging protrusions 841b and 841c (see the shaded portion in FIG. 3). Therefore, in a state where the conductive elastic body 833 is housed and held together with the dielectric 831 and the spacer 832 in the recess 841a of the holder 84, the protruding portion 833b of the conductive elastic body 833 is one end of the terminal member 843. By abutting with 843a, the conductive elastic body 833 and the terminal member 843 come into contact with each other and are electrically connected.

Thus, in this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive unit 83 is housed and held in the holding portion 841 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting unit 81, so that the first electrode and the second electrode of the pressure-sensitive unit 83 are connected to the connecting portion 842. It is automatically and electrically connected to the two terminal members 843 and 844 of the above.

Then, in this embodiment, the two terminal members 843 and 844 of the connection portion 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 have a conductive pattern formed on the printed circuit board 10 housed in the substrate holder 9. It is configured to be electrically connected.

The substrate holder 9 is made of an insulating material such as resin, and includes a substrate accommodating portion 91 and a fitting portion 92 for fitting the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting portion 81 of the pen pressure detecting module 8.

The board storage portion 91 of the board holder 9 is formed in a box shape without a lid, and the electronic pen 1 is formed in the recess 91a of the board storage portion 91 in the direction of the long side of the elongated rectangular printed circuit board 10. It should be stored in the direction of the axis of. In the case of this example, the depth of the recess 91a of the substrate storage portion 91 is substantially equal to the thickness of the printed circuit board 10.

Further, in this embodiment, the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9 has a cylindrical shape having a hollow portion into which the connecting portion 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting portion 81 of the pen pressure detecting module 8 is inserted. The printed circuit board 10 is electrically connected to the two terminal members 843 and 844 connected to the two electrodes of the pressure sensitive unit 83 of the connecting unit 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting unit 81. Conductor patterns 101 and 102 are formed so as to be aligned with each other (see FIG. 2).

Then, when the connection portion 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detection module 8 is inserted into the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9, it is stored in the substrate storage portion 91 of the substrate holder 9 as shown in FIG. 5 (A). The printed circuit board 10 is engaged so as to be in contact with the upper surface (board surface) 10a of the printed circuit board 10. As a result, the two electrodes of the pressure sensitive unit 83 held by the pen pressure detecting unit 81 and the conductor patterns 101 and 102 formed on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10 are connected to the two connecting portions 842. It is electrically connected through the terminal members 843 and 844 of the above. The two terminal members 843,844 of the connection portion 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 of the pen pressure detection module 8 and the conductor patterns 101 and 102 of the printed circuit board 10 are the pen pressure detection of the pen pressure detection module 8. The portion 81, the substrate holder 9, and the printed circuit board 10 are brought into contact with each other by fitting and coupling, and are electrically connected. In this embodiment, they are soldered to strengthen the electrical connection. ..

The substrate holder 9 cannot be moved in the direction in which the writing pressure applied to the core 3 is applied by the case cap 21. Therefore, when the pen pressure detection module 8 is fitted to the substrate holder 9, the pen pressure detection module 8 is prevented from moving in the axial direction in the case 2 of the electronic pen 1. Therefore, the pen pressure detection unit 81 can reliably detect the pen pressure applied to the core body.

Then, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9 is provided with a gap between the fitting portion 92 and the inner wall of the hollow portion of the case 2 when stored in the case 2. A sealing member 93 for closing is provided. That is, FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the sealing member 93, and is composed of an elastic body, for example, a rubber ring-shaped member. As shown in FIG. 5A, the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9 is formed with a ring-shaped concave groove 92a on the peripheral side thereof, and the sealing member 93 is formed in the ring-shaped concave groove 92a. Is fixedly stored. In this embodiment, the sealing member 93 is formed with a protrusion 93a and a ring-shaped recess of the fitting portion 92 so that the sealing member 93 does not rotate in the circumferential direction of the fitting portion 92. A notch 92b (see FIG. 5A) for accommodating the protrusion 93a of the sealing member 93 is formed in a part of the groove.

By the sealing member 93, the space in which the hollow printed circuit board 10 is arranged in the case 2 is separated from the space on the opening 2a side where the core body 3 in which the pen pressure detection module 8 is present is projected. Therefore, the sealing member 93 corresponds to the second sealing member.

The electronic pen 1 of this embodiment uses a resonance circuit including a coil 51 wound around a ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5 and a capacitor in order to transmit the indicated position to the position detection device, and the resonance thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the capacitor 103 constituting the circuit is formed on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10. Further, on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10, a side switch 104 including a pressing switch that is turned on and off by being pressed is provided. Further, a capacitor 105 and other electronic components connected in series with the side switch 104 are provided on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10.

The series circuit of the side switch and the capacitor 105 is connected in parallel to the resonance circuit including the coil 51 and the capacitor 103, and the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit is changed according to the on / off of the side switch 104. Then, the position detection device 202 is notified whether the side switch 104 is turned on or remains off.

Then, as described above, the pen pressure detection unit 81 of the pen pressure detection module 8 of this embodiment uses a capacitance variable capacitor that exhibits a capacitance according to the pen pressure as the pressure sensitive unit 83. In the electronic pen 1, the capacitance variable capacitor of the pressure sensitive portion 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 of the pen pressure detection module 8 is connected to the resonance circuit, so that the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit corresponds to the pen pressure. To do.

The position detection device 202 corresponding to the electronic pen 1 has a function of detecting the writing pressure applied to the pen tip of the electronic pen 1 by detecting a change in the resonance frequency of the electromagnetic coupling signal from the electronic pen 1. .. The conductor patterns 101 and 102 described above are terminal portions for connecting the variable capacitance capacitor composed of the pressure sensitive portion 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 of the pen pressure detection module 8 to the resonance circuit.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C, the pen pressure transmission member 82 of the pen pressure detection module 8 has a tubular body portion 821 having a hollow portion 821a inside and a hollow portion 821a of the tubular body portion 821. A barrier 822 that closes the hollow space of the above is integrally formed and configured.

The barrier 822 is composed of a thin plate-like body in this example, but as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C, the thin plate-like body is formed with recesses 822a and 822b. By forming the recesses 822a and 822b into thin-walled portions, the recesses 822a and 822b are configured to be elastically transferable in the plate thickness direction. Then, in this embodiment, the barrier 822 is made of an elastic member, for example, an elastomer, and in combination with the thin portion of the recesses 822a and 822b, the barrier 822 can be more elastically transferred in the plate thickness direction. It is configured.

The tubular body portion 821 may be made of a non-elastic material such as a resin, or may be made of an elastomer like the barrier 822. When the tubular body portion 821 is made of a non-elastic material and the barrier 822 is made of an elastic elastomer, the pen pressure transmission member 82 may be manufactured by a two-color molding method.

The side of the hollow portion 821a of the tubular body portion 821 where the barrier 822 is not provided is an opening, and the protrusion 62 of the coil member holder 6 is press-fitted into the hollow portion 821a from this opening side. NS. In the case of this example, two ring-shaped protrusions 621 and 622 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are provided on the side peripheral surface of the protrusion 62 of the coil member holder 6. The coil member holder 6 is fitted to the pen pressure transmission member 82 without creating a gap between the ring-shaped protrusions 621 and 622 and the inner wall of the pen pressure transmission member 82. In this example, two ring-shaped protrusions 621 and 622 are formed in the protrusion 62, but one ring-shaped protrusion may be used.

Prior to press-fitting of the coil member holder 6, the pressing member 7 has a fitting concave hole 7a facing the opening side of the tubular body portion 821 in the hollow portion 821a of the pen pressure transmitting member 82, and the pressing member 7 The side opposite to the fitting concave hole 7a is housed so as to abut against the barrier 822 of the pen pressure transmission member 82. Since the outer diameter of the pressing member 7 is larger than the through hole 62a of the protrusion 62 of the coil member holder 6, when the coil member holder 6 is press-fitted into the hollow portion 821a of the pen pressure transmission member 82, the pressing member 7 is press-fitted. , The pen pressure transmission member 82 is housed in the hollow portion 821a without falling off from the hollow portion 821a.

Then, the core body 31 of the core 3 is inserted through the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5, the concave hole 61a of the fitting portion 61 of the coil member holder 6, and the through hole 62a of the protrusion 62. When pushed in, the end 31a of the core body 31 of the core 3 is press-fitted into the fitting recess 7a of the pressing member 7 of the hollow portion 821a of the pen pressure transmission member 82, as shown in FIG. 5 (A). Be fitted.

Therefore, when a writing pressure is applied to the core body 3, the writing pressure is transmitted to the pressing member 7, the pressing member 7 presses the barrier 822 of the writing pressure transmitting member 82, and the barrier 822 is applied. It elastically shifts in the axial direction according to the writing pressure.

As described above, when the coil member 5 is fitted to the pen pressure transmission member 82 via the coil member holder 6, the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5 and the coil member holder 6 are fitted. A hollow space is created in which the concave hole 61a of the joint portion 61 and the through hole 62a of the protrusion 62 communicate with each other to insert the core body main body portion 31 of the core body 3. This hollow space is closed by the barrier 822 of the pen pressure transmission member 82. That is, in this example, the core body insertion member is formed by fitting and connecting the coil member 5, the coil member holder 6, and the pen pressure transmission member 82.

The tubular body portion 821 of the pen pressure transmitting member 82 also has an engaging projection 841b and an engaging projection 823a that engage with the engaging protrusion 841b and the engaging protrusion 841c of the holding portion 841 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting portion 81. An engaging protrusion 841d and an engaging protrusion 823b that engages with the engaging protrusion 841e are formed. An engaging claw portion 841bt and an engaging claw portion 841ct that engage with the engaging protrusion 823a are formed at the tips of the engaging protrusion 841b and the engaging claw portion 841c of the holding portion 841 of the holder 84, and are also engaged. At the tip of the abutting portion 841d and the engaging claw portion 841e, an engaging claw portion 841dt and an engaging claw portion 841et that engage with the engaging protrusion 823b are formed.

Then, in a state where the pressure sensitive portion 83 is housed in the holding portion 841 of the holder 84, when the pen pressure transmitting member 82 is coupled to the holder 84 in the axial direction, both of them are connected as shown in FIG. Combined, this causes the pressure sensitive portion 83 to be held by the holding portion 841 of the holder 84. At this time, the engaging protrusion 841b of the holding portion 841 of the holder 84, the engaging claw portion 841bt at the tip of the engaging protrusion 841c, and the engaging protrusion 841ct engage with the engaging protrusion 823a of the pen pressure transmission member 82. At the same time, the engaging protrusion 841d, the engaging claw portion 841dt at the tip of the engaging protrusion 841e, and the engaging protrusion 841et engage with the engaging protrusion 823b, and the pen pressure transmission member with respect to the holding portion 841 of the holder 84. 82 engages. As a result, the pen pressure transmission member 82 is locked to the holder 84, and the two are connected to each other.

In this way, when the pressure transmitting member 82 is engaged with and coupled to the holder 84, as shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 841 of the holder 84 of the pressure detecting unit 81 feels as described above. The conductor layer 834 (first electrode) on one end surface of the dielectric 831 of the pressing portion 83 is electrically connected to the one end portion 844a of the terminal member 844, and the conductive elastic body 833 (second electrode) is connected. The protruding portion 833b of the electrode) is electrically connected to one end portion 843a of the terminal member 843.

Then, in a state where the pressure transmitting member 82 is engaged with and coupled to the holder 84, as shown in FIG. 5A, the barrier 822 of the pressure transmitting member 82 is a conductive elastic body of the pressure sensitive portion 83. It becomes possible to press 833. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5C, the tip 823at on the barrier 822 side of the engagement protrusion 823a of the pen pressure transmission member 82 and the tip 823bt on the barrier 822 side of the engagement protrusion 823b are axial centers. In the direction, it is formed diagonally so as to slightly protrude from the surface of the barrier 822. Therefore, due to the presence of the tip 823at on the barrier 822 side of the engagement protrusion 823a of the pen pressure transmission member 82 and the tip 823bt on the barrier 822 side of the engagement protrusion 823b, when the pen pressure is not applied, FIG. ), The barrier 822 is made to face the conductive elastic body 833 of the pressure sensitive portion 83 with a small space.

Then, as described above, when a writing pressure is applied to the core body 3, the barrier 822 of the writing pressure transmitting member 82 is pressed by the pressing member 7 according to the applied writing pressure, and the barrier 822 applies the pressure. It elastically shifts in the axial direction according to the applied writing pressure, and the elastic shift of the barrier 822 presses the conductive elastic body 833 of the pressure sensitive portion 83. Therefore, the conductive elastic body 833 and the dielectric 831 separated by the spacer 832 come into contact with each other, and the contact area thereof changes according to the writing pressure. A capacitance corresponding to the contact area between the conductive elastic body 833 and the dielectric 831 is obtained between the first electrode and the second electrode of the pressure sensitive portion 83. That is, the writing pressure can be detected from the capacitance of the capacitance variable capacitor as the pressure sensitive unit 83.

As described above, the coil member 5 is fitted and coupled to the pen pressure transmission member 82 of the pen pressure detection module 8 via the coil member holder 6, and the pen pressure detection unit 81 of the pen pressure detection module 8 is connected. The connection portion 842 of the holder 84 is coupled to the printed circuit board 10 via the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9. As a result, the coil member 5 composed of the ferrite core 52 around which the coil 51 is wound, the pen pressure detection module 8, and the substrate holder 9 on which the printed circuit board 10 is held are coupled to each other to form one module ( It is composed of pen module parts).

Then, after the pen pressure detection module 8 and the substrate holder 9 in which the printed circuit board 10 is housed are fitted and coupled, as shown in FIG. 7, one end and the other end of the coil 51 of the coil member 5 are formed. The portions 51a and 51b are connected to the terminal member 843 and the terminal member 844, for example, by soldering at a portion of the connecting portion 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detecting portion 81 where the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9 is fitted. Has been done. The portion painted in black in FIG. 7 indicates the soldered portion.

Then, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9 is provided with one and the other end portions 51a and 51b of the coil 51, the terminal member 843, and the terminal member 844. A notch 92a and a notch 92b are formed so that the connecting portion (soldered portion) of the above does not interfere with the fitting with the pen pressure detection module 8.

Further, in this embodiment, the pen pressure transmission member 82 of the pen pressure detection module 8 is formed with a concave groove 824a and a concave groove 824b in the axial direction, and the peripheral side surface of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detection unit 81. Also, a concave groove 845a and a concave groove 845b in the axial direction are formed so as to be connected to the concave groove 824a and the concave groove 824b of the pen pressure transmission member 82. As shown in FIG. 7, one and the other end portions 51a and 51b of the coil 51 of the coil member 5 pass through the concave groove 824a, the concave groove 824b, the concave groove 845a, and the concave groove 845b, and the pen pressure detection unit. It is soldered and connected to the terminal member 843 and the terminal member 844 of the connection portion 842 of the holder 84 of the 81.

As a result, one and the other end portions 51a and 51b of the coil 51 of the coil member 5 are prevented from protruding in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction in the pen module component. Further, in this example, as shown in FIG. 5B, one and the other end portions 51a and 51b of the coil bite from the pen module component on the outer peripheral portion of the fitting portion 61 of the coil member holder 6. A step portion 61b and a step portion 61c are formed so as not to come out.

In the terminal member 843 and the terminal member 844, one and the other ends 51a and 51b of the coil 51 are not simply soldered, but a V-shaped metal terminal is located at the position of the terminal member 843 and the terminal member 844. Etc. may be formed, and one and the other end portions 51a and 51b of the coil 51 may be engaged with the V-shaped metal terminal. Even in that case, soldering may be performed in order to make a more reliable electrical connection.

By electrically connecting one and the other end portions 51a and 51b of the coil 51 to the terminal member 843 and the terminal member 844 in this way, the terminal member 843 and the terminal member 844 are connected to the capacitor 103 of the printed substrate 10. Therefore, the resonance circuit is configured, and the capacitance variable capacitor composed of the pressure sensitive unit 83 is connected in parallel with the resonance circuit. This eliminates the need to extend one and the other end portions 51a and 51b of the coil 51 to the printed circuit board 10 and solder them on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10.

As described above, after the pen pressure detection module 8 and the substrate holder 9 on which the printed circuit board 10 is held are coupled to each other, the terminal member 843 and the terminal member 844 of the connection portion 842 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 , The connection portion of the printed circuit board 10 with the conductor pattern 101 and the conductor pattern 102 on the substrate surface 10a is soldered as necessary. After that, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 9A, the side switch 104 can be pressed on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10 housed in the substrate storage portion 91 of the substrate holder 9. Therefore, except for the portion of the side switch 104, it is covered with the resin mold member 110.

The case of the electronic pen 1 is a pen module component in which the coil member 5, the pen pressure detection module 8, and the substrate holder 9 on which the printed circuit board 10 is held are coupled to each other to form one module. It is stored in the hollow part of 2. When the pen module component is stored in the hollow portion of the case 2, the pressing operator 22 for pressing the side switch 104 is attached.

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a portion in which the substrate holder 9 is housed in the case 2. Further, FIG. 9B is a view of the mounting member 23 of the side switch 104 as viewed from the surface side facing the printed circuit board 10. Further, FIG. 9C is a view of the pressing operator 22 for the side switch 104 as viewed from the surface side facing the printed circuit board 10.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the case 2 is formed with a through hole 2b for disposing the pressing operator 22. The pressing operator 22 is made of, for example, resin, and is formed in a shape that exactly fits into the through hole 2b of the case 2, as shown in FIG. 9C. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9C, columnar protrusions 221 and 222 that engage with the mounting member 23 are formed on the surface of the pressing operator 22 facing the printed circuit board 10. ..

The mounting member 23 is made of an elastic material, in this example, a resin, and the mounting member 23 is provided with through holes 231 and 232 with which the protrusions 221 and 222 of the pressing operator 22 are engaged. A protrusion 233 for pressing the side switch 104 is formed. The through holes 231 and 232 of the mounting member 23 are circular portions 231a and 232a having the same diameter as the protrusions 221 and 222 of the pressing actuator 22, and linear holes having a width shorter than the diameters of the protrusions 221 and 222. It includes 231b and 232b.

At the root positions of the columnar protrusions 221 and 222 of the pressing operator 22, the pressing operator 22 engages with the linear holes 231b and 232b of the through holes 231 and 232 of the mounting member 23, and the pressing operator 22 is attached to the mounting member. Notches 221a and 222a (see the dotted line in FIG. 9C) are formed so as not to come off from 23. The linear holes 231b and 232b of the through holes 231 and 232 of the mounting member 23 are the mounting members according to the notches 221a and 222b at the bases of the columnar protrusions 221 and 222 of the pressing actuator 22. It is formed slightly thinner than the other parts of 23.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 2, a concave hole 91b for locking the mounting member 23 is provided at the end of the substrate holder 9 on the case cap 21 side. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a bending protrusion 234 that fits into the concave hole 91b is formed at the end portion of the mounting member 23 in the longitudinal direction.

Prior to storing the pen module parts in the case 2, as shown in FIG. 9A, the protrusion 233 of the mounting member 23 is in a state where the side switch 104 can be pressed, so that the board holder 9 can be pressed. The bent protrusion 234 of the mounting member 23 is fitted into the concave hole 91b, and the mounting member 23 is mounted on the printed circuit board 10 covered with the resin mold member 110 of the board holder 9.

Next, the pen module component to which the mounting member 23 is attached is housed in the case 2 from the side opposite to the opening 2a on the pen tip side. Then, when the through holes 231 and 232 of the mounting member 23 attached to the pen module component are in a state of facing through the through hole 2b of the case 2, the pressing operator 22 is inserted into the through hole 2b of the case 2. It is inserted so that the protrusions 221 and 222 of the pressing operator 22 are inserted into and engaged with the circular portions 231a and 232a of the through holes 231 and 232 of the mounting member 23.

Then, the pen module component is further pushed into the case 2. Then, the protrusions 221 and 222 of the pressing actuator 22 inserted into the circular portions 231a and 232a of the through holes 231 and 232 of the mounting member 23 are formed with the linear holes 231b of the through holes 231 and 232 of the mounting member 23. And 232b, the pressing operator 22 engages with the mounting member 23 and cannot be disengaged. As described above, the pressing operator 22 is attached by engaging with the attachment member 23 when the pen module component is housed in the case 2.

In this case, as described above, the cap member 4 is arranged so as to cover the tapered portion 52b of the ferrite core 52 in the vicinity of the opening on the pen tip side of the hollow portion of the case 2 of the pen module component. As described above, the cap member 4 is made of elastic rubber, and is sealed so as to eliminate a gap between the tip end side of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5 and the inner wall surface of the hollow portion of the case 2. It becomes the first sealing member.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic pen 1 on the opening 2a side of the case 2 when the pen module parts are housed in the hollow portion inside the case 2. In this case, the pen module component is in a state of being pressed toward the opening 2a of the case 2 by the case cap 21 when the case cap 21 is fitted to the case 2. Therefore, the tapered portion 52b of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5 presses the cap member 4 toward the inner wall side of the case 2, thereby sealing so as to eliminate the gap with the inner wall of the case 2. In this example, since the cap member 4 has a skirt shape with a wide hem as described above, as shown in FIG. 8, the cap member 4 and the inner wall surface of the case 2 are in close contact with each other at two places. The dustproof effect and waterproof effect of sealing are improved.

Then, by sealing the case 2 on the opening 2a side by the cap member 4, the space of the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52 and the space of the hollow portion in which the pen module parts inside the case 2 are housed are separated. NS.

That is, as described above, in this example, the core body insertion member is formed by fitting and connecting the coil member 5, the coil member holder 6, and the pen pressure transmission member 82. The hollow space of the core body insertion member is composed of a through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5, a concave hole 61a and a through hole 62a of the coil member holder 6, and a hollow portion 821a of the pen pressure transmission member 82. It is blocked by the barrier 822 of the pressure transmission member 82.

In this case, in the fitting portion between the protrusion 62 of the coil member holder 6 and the pen pressure transmission member 82, the ring-shaped protrusions 621 and 622 of the coil member holder 6 are the coil member holder 6 and the pen pressure transmission member 82. Sealing is ensured by closely adhering to the inner wall of the hollow portion 821a without a gap. As a result, the hollow space of the core body insertion member is an independent space that is isolated from the others except for the opening side of the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52. Since there are no electrical parts and no electrical connection in the hollow space of the core insertion member, the hollow space of the core insertion member is waterproof and dustproof. It is not necessary to secure.

Then, on the tapered portion 52b side of the ferrite core 52, which is the end portion of the core body inserting member on the core body 3 side, as described in FIG. 8 above, the cap member 4 is connected to the inner wall of the case 2. By sealing, the hollow space of the core body insertion member and the space of the hollow portion in which the pen module parts inside the case 2 are housed are separated.

Therefore, even if dust or moisture invades the hollow space of the core body insertion member, dust or moisture does not invade the space of the hollow portion in which the pen module component inside the case 2 is housed. Therefore, it is not necessary to seal the space between the core body 3 and the hollow space of the core body insertion member, and even if the core body 3 is freely moved in the axial direction, the electronic pen 1 is waterproof and dustproof. Can be secured.

Then, when the pen module component is housed in the case 2, as shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 9 (A), the pen module component is provided in the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9 with the pen pressure detection module 8. The sealing member 93 is brought into close contact with the inner wall surface of the case 2, and the hollow portion of the case 2 is sealed so as to be separated from the fitting portion 92 on the pen tip side and the case cap 21 side.

As described above, on the pen tip side, the space of the hollow portion of the case 2 is sealed by the cap member 4 with respect to the external space. Therefore, the space on the pen tip side of the fitting portion 92 of the hollow portion in the case 2 is waterproof by the first sealing by the cap member 4 and the second sealing by the sealing member 93 of the fitting portion 92. And it will be a closed space where dust resistance is ensured.

Therefore, the space on the pen tip side of the fitting portion 92 of the hollow portion in the case 2 is prevented from invading moisture and dust from the external space on the pen tip side opening 2a side of the electronic pen 1. At the same time, the intrusion of moisture and the intrusion of dust through the through hole 2b of the portion where the pressing operator 22 of the side switch 104 is provided is prevented. As described above, the pressure-sensitive portion 83 is arranged in the space closer to the pen tip than the fitting portion 92 of the hollow portion in the case 2, and the connecting portion between the coil 51 and the pressure-sensitive portion 53 and the pressure-sensitive portion 53 are provided. A connection portion with the capacitor 103, the side switch 104, and the capacitor 105 of the printed circuit board 10 is arranged, and waterproofness and dustproofness can be ensured for these.

Since the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10 is covered with the resin mold member 110 on the case cap 21 side of the fitting portion 92 of the hollow portion in the case 2, the pressing operator 22 of the side switch 104 is used. Even if moisture or dust invades through the through hole 2b of the provided portion, the waterproof and dustproof properties of the electronic components on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10 are ensured.

In this embodiment, the coil member 5 is fitted to the pen pressure transmission member 82 of the pen pressure detection module 8 via the coil member holder 6, so that the center line in the axial direction of the pen pressure detection module 8 is formed. The position coincides with the position of the center line in the axial direction of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5. Then, the pen pressure detection module 8 is fitted to the fitting portion 92 of the substrate holder 9, and the pen pressure detection module 8 is coupled to the printed circuit board 10, so that the pen pressure detection module 8 can be transferred to the substrate holder 9. And it will be bonded to the printed circuit board 10 at a predetermined position. Further, when the pen module component is housed in the hollow portion of the case 2, the center line position in the axial direction of the pen pressure detection module 8 and the center line position in the axial direction of the ferrite core 52 are hollow in the case 2. The substrate holder 9 is coupled to the case cap 21 so as to coincide with the position of the center line in the axial direction of the portion.

Then, the core body 31 of the core 3 is inserted through the opening 2a of the case 2 (see FIG. 8), the opening 4a of the cap member 4, and the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52, and the pen pressure detection module. It is fitted to the pressing member 7 in the pen pressure transmitting member 82 of 8.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the first sealing and the second sealing for the waterproofness and dustproofness of the electronic pen 1 can be performed only by storing the pen module parts in the case 2. According to this embodiment, the hollow space of the core body insertion member composed of the coil member 5, the coil member holder 6, and the pen pressure transmission member 82 of the pen pressure detection module 8 is sealed to the outside. Since there is no core body 3, the core body 3 can move freely in the axial direction.

Then, according to the above-described embodiment, the pen pressure detection module 8 is simply fitted to the substrate holder 9 to which the printed circuit board 10 is locked, and the pen pressure detection module 8 has two terminal members 843 and the pen pressure detection module 8. The 844 is in contact with the conductor patterns 101 and 102 formed on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10 to be electrically connected. That is, in order to align the two terminal members 843 and 844 of the pen pressure detection module 8 with the conductor patterns 101 and 102 of the printed circuit board 10, the pen pressure detection module 8 is fitted into the substrate holder 9. It is done automatically just by fitting it into the joint portion 92.

[Circuit configuration for position detection and pen pressure detection of the electronic pen 1 in the position detection device 202]
Next, a circuit configuration example in the position detection device 202 that detects the indicated position and the writing pressure using the electronic pen 1 of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the position detection device 202 of this example.

The electronic pen 1 includes a coil 51, a capacitor 103, a capacitance variable capacitor 83C composed of a pressure sensitive portion 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 of the pen pressure detection module 8, and a series circuit of the side switch 104 and the capacitor 105. A resonance circuit 1R composed of a parallel circuit is provided. In this case, since the capacitance of the capacitance variable capacitor 83C composed of the pressure sensitive unit 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 changes according to the applied pen pressure, the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit 1R corresponds to the pen pressure. Change. Further, whether or not the capacitor 105 is connected to the resonance circuit 1R is controlled depending on whether the side switch 104 is on or off, and the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit 1R changes.

The position detection device 202 detects the position on the sensor indicated by the electronic pen 1 from the position on the sensor where the signal received by the electromagnetic coupling from the resonance circuit 1R of the electronic pen 1 is detected, and also detects the position on the sensor indicated by the electronic pen 1. The change in the resonance frequency is detected by detecting the phase change of the signal received by the electromagnetic coupling from the resonance circuit 1R, and the writing pressure applied to the core body 3 of the electronic pen 1 is detected.

In the position detection device 202, the X-axis direction loop coil group 241 and the Y-axis direction loop coil group 242 are laminated to form the position detection coil 240. Further, the position detection device 202 is provided with a selection circuit 243 to which the X-axis direction loop coil group 241 and the Y-axis direction loop coil group 242 are connected. The selection circuit 243 sequentially selects the loop coil of one of the two loop coil groups 241,242.

Further, the position detection device 202 includes an oscillator 251, a current driver 252, a switching connection circuit 253, a reception amplifier 254, a detector 255, a low-pass filter 256, a sample hold circuit 257, and an A / D conversion circuit. A 258, a synchronous detector 259, a low-pass filter 260, a sample hold circuit 261 and an A / D conversion circuit 262, and a processing control unit 263 are provided. The processing control unit 263 is composed of a microcomputer.

The oscillator 251 generates an AC signal having a frequency of f0. Then, the oscillator 251 supplies the generated AC signal to the current driver 252 and the synchronous detector 259. The current driver 252 converts the AC signal supplied from the oscillator 251 into a current and sends it to the switching connection circuit 253. The switching connection circuit 253 switches the connection destination (transmission side terminal T, reception side terminal R) to which the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 213 is connected under the control of the processing control unit 243. Of these connection destinations, the current driver 252 is connected to the transmission side terminal T, and the reception amplifier 254 is connected to the reception side terminal R, respectively.

The induced voltage generated in the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 243 is sent to the receiving amplifier 254 via the selection circuit 243 and the switching connection circuit 253. The receiving amplifier 254 amplifies the induced voltage supplied from the loop coil and sends it to the detector 255 and the synchronous detector 259.

The detector 255 detects the induced voltage generated in the loop coil, that is, the received signal, and sends it to the low-pass filter 256. The low-pass filter 256 has a cutoff frequency sufficiently lower than the frequency f0 described above, and converts the output signal of the detector 255 into a DC signal and sends it to the sample hold circuit 257. The sample hold circuit 257 holds the voltage value at a predetermined timing of the output signal of the low-pass filter 256, specifically, a predetermined timing during the reception period, and sends it to the A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion circuit 258. The A / D conversion circuit 258 converts the analog output of the sample hold circuit 257 into a digital signal and outputs it to the processing control unit 263.

On the other hand, the synchronous detector 259 synchronously detects the output signal of the receiving amplifier 254 with the AC signal from the oscillator 251 and sends a signal of a level corresponding to the phase difference between them to the low-pass filter 260. The low-pass filter 260 has a cutoff frequency sufficiently lower than the frequency f0, converts the output signal of the synchronous detector 259 into a DC signal, and sends it to the sample hold circuit 241. The sample hold circuit 261 holds the voltage value of the output signal of the low-pass filter 260 at a predetermined timing and sends it to the A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion circuit 262. The A / D conversion circuit 262 converts the analog output of the sample hold circuit 261 into a digital signal and outputs it to the processing control unit 263.

The processing control unit 263 controls each unit of the position detection device 202. That is, the processing control unit 263 controls the selection of the loop coil in the selection circuit 243, the switching of the switching connection circuit 253, and the timing of the sample hold circuits 257 and 261. The processing control unit 263 causes the X-axis direction loop coil group 241 and the Y-axis direction loop coil group 242 to transmit radio waves with a constant transmission duration based on the input signals from the A / D conversion circuits 258 and 262.

An induced voltage is generated in each of the loop coils of the X-axis direction loop coil group 241 and the Y-axis direction loop coil group 242 by the radio wave transmitted from the electronic pen 1. The processing control unit 263 calculates the coordinate values of the indicated positions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the electronic pen 1 based on the level of the voltage value of the induced voltage generated in each loop coil. Further, the processing control unit 263 detects the writing pressure based on the signal level according to the phase difference (frequency deviation) between the transmitted radio wave and the received radio wave. Further, the processing control unit 263 detects whether the side switch 104 is in the on state or the off state based on the signal level according to the phase difference (frequency difference) between the transmitted radio wave and the received radio wave. ..

[Other Embodiments]
The above is the case where the present invention is applied in the case of an electromagnetic induction type electronic pen. However, the present invention can also be applied to an active electrostatic pen, which is an example of a capacitive electronic pen. In the electronic pen of the example of the active electrostatic pen described below, the coil wound around the ferrite core is a part of the charging circuit for charging the power supply of the signal transmission circuit included in the active electrostatic pen.

FIG. 11 shows a circuit configuration example of the electronic pen 1B having the configuration of the active electrostatic pen of this example. In the electronic pen 1B having the structure of the active electrostatic pen, the core body 3B has a structure of an electrode core made of a conductor, for example, a hard resin mixed with a conductive metal or a conductive powder. In the following description, the core body 3B will be referred to as an electrode core 3B.

Although not shown, in the electronic pen 1B, the barrier 822 of the pen pressure transmission member 82 is made of a conductive member, and the pressing member 7 is also made of a conductive member. An insulating film for insulating the pen pressure transmitting member 82 is formed on the surface of the pressure sensitive portion 83 corresponding to the barrier 822 of the conductive elastic body 833. Then, the holder 84 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 is formed with a terminal member configured as a three-dimensional fine pattern, similarly to the terminal members 843 and 844, so as to be electrically connected to the barrier 822. The barrier 822 is configured to be electrically connected to the terminal member when the pressure transmitting member 82 and the pressure detecting unit 81 are engaged with each other.

A signal transmission circuit (IC) to be supplied to the electrode core 3B is provided on the substrate surface 10a of the printed circuit board 10, and a terminal member electrically connected to the barrier 822 is connected to the signal transmission circuit. The connection portion 842 of the holder 84 of the pen pressure detection portion 81 is formed so as to be electrically connected.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 11, the electronic circuit formed on the printed circuit board 10 generates the above-mentioned signal transmission circuit 301 and a drive voltage (power supply voltage) for driving the signal transmission circuit 301. It has a circuit configuration including an electric double layer capacitor 302 as an example of a power storage element, a rectifying diode 303, and a voltage conversion circuit 304. The signal transmission circuit 301 is composed of an oscillation circuit in this example.

The electrode core 3B is pressed through the through hole 52a of the ferrite core 52 of the coil member 5 to have conductivity in the pen pressure transmission member 82 of the pen pressure detection module 8 in the same manner as in the above embodiment. It is fitted to the member 7 and presses the conductive barrier 822 through the conductive pressing member 7. Then, the electrode core 3B is electrically connected to the signal transmission circuit 301 of the printed circuit board as described above.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the two terminal members 843 and 844 of the pen pressure detection module 8 are electrically connected to the signal transmission circuit 301 formed on the printed circuit board. The oscillation circuit constituting the signal transmission circuit 301 generates a signal whose frequency changes according to the capacity of the capacitance variable capacitor 83BC of the pressure sensitive unit 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81, and supplies the generated signal to the electrode core 3B. do. Further, the signal transmission circuit 301 generates a signal whose frequency changes according to the on / off of the side switch 104, and supplies the generated signal to the electrode core 3B.

When the electronic pen 1B of this example is attached to a charger (not shown), an induced electromotive force is generated in the coil 51 due to an alternating magnetic field generated by the charger, and the electric double layer capacitor 302 is charged via the diode 303. do. The voltage conversion circuit 304 converts the voltage stored in the electric double layer capacitor 302 into a constant voltage and supplies it as a power source for the signal transmission circuit 301.

When the electronic pen 1B as the electrostatic stylus pen of this example operates normally (when the charging operation is not performed), the coil 51 has a fixed potential (ground potential (GND) in this example), so that the electrode core 3B It acts as a shield electrode provided around the. The fixed potential of the coil 51 when the electrostatic stylus pen normally operates is not limited to the ground potential, but may be the positive potential of the power supply, or is intermediate between the positive potential of the power supply and the ground potential. It may be an electric potential.

The signal transmission circuit (oscillation circuit) 301 includes a signal whose frequency changes according to the capacity of the capacitance variable capacitor 83BC composed of the pressure sensitive portion 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81, and a frequency according to the on / off of the side switch 104. Generates a changing signal and supplies the generated signal to the electrode core 3B. The signal from the signal transmission circuit 301 is radiated from the electrode core 3B as an electric field based on the signal. The oscillation circuit constituting the signal transmission circuit 301 is composed of, for example, an LC oscillation circuit utilizing resonance by a coil and a capacitor. In the position detecting device for detecting the coordinate position of the electrostatic stylus pen of the example of the electronic pen 1B of this embodiment, the writing pressure applied to the electrode core 3B can be obtained from the frequency of this signal.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining a position detecting device 400 that receives a signal from an electronic pen 1B, which is a configuration of an electrostatic stylus pen, detects a position on a sensor, and detects a writing pressure. Is.

As shown in FIG. 12, the position detection device 400 of this embodiment includes a sensor 410 and a pen detection circuit 420 connected to the sensor 410. In this example, the sensor 410 is formed by laminating the first conductor group 411, the insulating layer (not shown), and the second conductor group 412 in order from the lower layer side, although the cross-sectional view is omitted in this example. be. In the first conductor group 411, for example, a plurality of first conductors 411Y ₁ , 411Y ₂ , ..., 411Y _m (m is an integer of 1 or more) extending in the lateral direction (X-axis direction) are separated from each other for a predetermined time. They are arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction.

Further, the second conductor group 412 _{extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the first conductors 411Y 1} , 411Y ₂ , ..., 411Y _m , in this example, in the orthogonal vertical direction (Y-axis direction). a plurality of second conductors 412X _1, 412X ₂ that, ..., (the n 1 or more integer) 412X _n in parallel to isolate between predetermined each other, in which arranged in the X-axis direction.

As described above, in the sensor 410 of the position detection device 400, the position indicated by the electronic pen 1B is detected by using the sensor pattern formed by crossing the first conductor group 411 and the second conductor group 412. I have.

In the following description, _{when it is not necessary to distinguish the first conductors 411Y 1} , 411Y ₂ , ..., 411Y _m , the conductors are referred to as the first conductors 411Y. Similarly, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the second conductors 412X ₁ , 412X ₂ , ..., 412X _n , the conductors are referred to as the second conductors 412X.

The pen detection circuit 420 includes a selection circuit 421 as an input / output interface with the sensor 410, an amplifier circuit 422, a bandpass filter 423, a detection circuit 424, a sample hold circuit 425, and AD (Analog to Digital) conversion. It consists of a circuit 426 and a control circuit 427.

The selection circuit 421 selects one conductor 411Y or 412X from the first conductor group 411 and the second conductor group 412 based on the control signal from the control circuit 427. The conductor selected by the selection circuit 421 is connected to the amplifier circuit 422, and the signal from the electronic pen 1B is detected by the selected conductor and amplified by the amplifier circuit 422. The output of the amplifier circuit 422 is supplied to the bandpass filter 423, and only the frequency component of the signal transmitted from the electronic pen 1B is extracted.

The output signal of the bandpass filter 423 is detected by the detection circuit 424. The output signal of the detection circuit 424 is supplied to the sample hold circuit 425, sample-held by the sampling signal from the control circuit 427 at a predetermined timing, and then converted into a digital value by the AD conversion circuit 426. The digital data from the AD conversion circuit 426 is read and processed by the control circuit 427.

The control circuit 427 operates so as to send a control signal to the sample hold circuit 425, the AD conversion circuit 426, and the selection circuit 421 by the program stored in the internal ROM. Then, the control circuit 427 calculates the position coordinates on the sensor 410 instructed by the electronic pen 1B from the digital data from the AD conversion circuit 426, and also calculates the pen pressure detected by the pen pressure detection module of the electronic pen 1B. Try to detect.

As an operation flow, the control circuit 427 supplies a selection signal to the selection circuit 421, selects each of the second conductors 412X, and reads the data output from the AD conversion circuit 426 as a signal level.

When a signal having a level equal to or higher than a predetermined value is detected from any of the second conductors 412X, the control circuit 427 may use the number of the second conductor 412X at which the highest signal level is detected and a plurality of peripherals thereof. The second conductor 412X of the above is stored. Similarly, the control circuit 427 controls the selection circuit 421 to detect the highest signal level of the first conductor 411Y, the first conductor 411Y, and a plurality of first conductors 411Y around the first conductor 411Y. Memorize the number of.

Then, the control circuit 427 detects the position on the sensor 410 instructed by the electronic pen 1B from the numbers of the second conductor 412X and the numbers of the first conductor 411Y stored as described above.

The control circuit 427 also detects the frequency of the signal from the AD conversion circuit 426, and detects the pen pressure value detected by the pen pressure detection unit 81 of the electronic pen 1B from the detected frequency. That is, as described above, the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit constituting the signal transmission circuit 301 of the electronic pen 1B corresponds to the capacitance of the capacitance variable capacitor 83BC composed of the pressure sensitive unit 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81. It is a frequency. The control circuit 427 includes, for example, information on a correspondence table between the oscillation frequency and the pen pressure value of the oscillation circuit constituting the signal transmission circuit 301 of the electronic pen 1B, and detects the pen pressure value from the information in the correspondence table. do.

In the above example, the electronic pen 1B converts the pen pressure detected by the pressure sensitive unit 83 of the pen pressure detection unit 81 into a frequency and supplies the pen pressure to the electrode core 3B. The attribute is not limited to the frequency, and the writing pressure may be made to correspond to the phase of the signal, the number of interruptions of the signal, and the like.

Further, in the electronic pen 1B having the configuration of the active electrostatic pen in the above example, the coil 51 wound around the ferrite core is used as the charging coil, but the battery is used as the power source voltage of the signal transmission circuit 301. It may be configured to have a built-in (battery). In that case, the ferrite core around which the coil is wound becomes unnecessary. Then, in that case, instead of the coil member, a hollow cylindrical body constituting the shield electrode with respect to the electrode core 3B is provided, and the tubular body transmits the writing pressure via the hold member for the tubular body. It can be configured to be fitted with the member 82.

Further, in the electronic pen 1B having the active electrostatic pen configuration of the above example, the signal transmission circuit 301 is configured to have only an oscillation circuit, and the writing pressure is transmitted to the position detection device as a change in the oscillation frequency. However, even if the signal transmission circuit is composed of an oscillation circuit and a circuit that performs predetermined modulation on the oscillation signal, the pen pressure information is transmitted to the position detection device as, for example, the above-mentioned ASK signal. good.

[Other Embodiments or Modifications]
In the above-described embodiment, the case 2 is the outer housing of the electronic pen, but the above-mentioned case 2 is used as the case (housing) of the electronic pen cartridge to be housed in the outer housing of the electronic pen. May be good. In that case, the electronic pen cartridge is ensured to be waterproof and dustproof, and the sealing configuration for waterproofness and dustproofness of the outer housing of the electronic pen becomes unnecessary. Then, in the case of the configuration of the electronic pen cartridge, the electronic pen cartridge can be configured as a knock type replacement core, and in that case, the pen tip side of the case (housing) of the electronic pen cartridge The end on the opposite side is configured as a fitting portion that fits into the knock mechanism.

In the above-described embodiment, the capacitance variable capacitor composed of the pressure-sensitive portion of the pen pressure detection unit is not limited to the one having a mechanical configuration in which a plurality of parts are combined as in the above-mentioned example, for example. It is also possible to configure one component using a semiconductor element whose capacitance is variable according to the writing pressure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-161307.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the pressure-sensitive part of the pen pressure detection unit uses a capacitance variable capacitor that changes the capacitance according to the pen pressure, but as a changing element that changes the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit. Needless to say, the inductance value and the resistance value of the above may be variable.

1 ... Electronic pen, 2 ... Case (housing), 21 ... Case cap, 3 ... Core body, 4 ... Cap member, 5 ... Coil member, 51 ... Coil 51 ... Ferrite core, 6 ... Coil member holder, 7 ... Press Member, 8 ... Pen pressure detection module, 9 ... Substrate holder, 10 ... Printed circuit board, 81 ... Pen pressure detection unit, 82 ... Pen pressure transmission member, 83 ... Pressure sensitive part, 84 ... Holder, 822 ... Barrier, 93 ... Sealing Member, 110 ... Resin mold member

Claims (15)

A housing with a hollow space inside and
An opening formed on one side in the axial direction of the housing and
A core body provided on the outside of the housing so as to project outward from the opening,
A pen pressure detection unit that detects the pen pressure applied to the core body,
A core body insertion portion having a space portion into which the core body is inserted, and a core body insertion portion.
With
The space portion communicates with a first space outside the housing and is separated from a second space in which the pen pressure detecting portion is present in the hollow space of the housing. Electronic pen. The core insertion portion has a barrier and
The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the barrier separates the space portion of the core body insertion portion from the second space in which the pen pressure detecting portion is present. The claim is characterized in that the pen pressure is transmitted to the pen pressure detection unit by elastically displacing the barrier by moving the core body in response to the pen pressure applied to the core body. The electronic pen according to 1. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the barrier is an elastic member. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the pen pressure detecting portion is coupled to the core body inserting portion. The electronic pen according to claim 1, further comprising a first sealing member that separates the space portion of the core body insertion portion from the second space. The electronic pen according to claim 1, further comprising a first sealing member that separates the first space from the second space. A magnetic core that houses the core and
A first sealing member provided on the magnetic core located on the opening side of the housing, and
The electronic pen according to claim 1, further comprising. The magnetic core has a second opening for inserting the core.
The electronic pen according to claim 8, wherein the first sealing member is composed of a cap-shaped elastic member that can be covered without blocking the second opening of the magnetic core. Further having a pressing member fitted to the core body on the side opposite to the side protruding to the outside of the core body.
The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the core body presses the barrier through the pressing member in response to the applied writing pressure. A circuit board is disposed on the side of the pen pressure detection unit opposite to the core insertion portion, and the coupling portion and the housing are provided at the coupling portion between the circuit board and the pen pressure detection portion. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein a second sealing member for closing a gap between the inner wall and the body is provided. The circuit board is provided on the board holder, the board holder is provided with a fitting portion to be fitted with the pen pressure detecting portion, and the second sealing member is the board holder. The electronic pen according to claim 11, wherein the electronic pen is formed in a fitting portion with the pen pressure detecting portion. On the side of the pen pressure detection unit opposite to the core body insertion portion, a switch member pressed by a pressing member provided so as to be exposed to the outside through an opening provided in the housing is arranged. The circuit board is arranged
The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the coupling portion between the circuit board and the pen pressure detecting portion is provided with a sealing member that closes a gap between the coupling portion and the inner wall of the housing. Electronic pen. A circuit board is disposed on the side of the pen pressure detection unit opposite to the core body insertion portion, and the mounting surface of the electronic component of the circuit board is covered with a mold member. The electronic pen according to claim 1. A circuit board disposed on the opposite side of the pen pressure detection unit from the core body insertion portion,
A coupling portion that couples the circuit board and the pen pressure detecting portion,
A first sealing member that separates the space portion of the core body insertion portion from the second space, and
It further has a second sealing member that closes the gap between the joint and the inner wall of the housing.
The space between the first sealing member and the second sealing member is sealed.
The electronic pen according to claim 1.

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