POSITION INDICATOR

• US 20150247743A1
• Filed: 05/15/2015
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Horie, Toshihiko, Takiguchi, Hidetaka
• Granted Patent: US 10,101,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2046 by a movable ferromagnetic element, e.g. a core
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/142 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0073 using a semiconductive diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 5/14 due to longitudinal movement of electrodes

Abstract

A position indicator includes a capacitor having a capacitance that changes in correspondence to a force applied to one end part of a housing. The capacitor is configured by a pressure detecting chip that includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode with a predetermined distance defined therebetween to have capacitance Cv formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The capacitance Cv changes when the force applied to the one end part of the housing is transmitted to the first electrode to thereby change a relationship (e.g., the distance) between the two electrodes. A pressure transmitting member having predetermined elasticity is disposed on the first electrode such that the force applied to the one end part of the housing is transmitted to the first electrode of the semiconductor element via the pressure transmitting member.

Claims

1. A position indicator comprising:

a pen-shaped housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

an elongated magnetic core, around which a coil is wound, that extends from the distal end of the housing to serve as a nib of the position indicator.

2. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic core has a varying diameter and a first diameter of a first portion of the magnetic core that is extended out from the housing is smaller than a second diameter of a second portion of the magnetic core, which is inside the housing and around which the coil is wound.

3. The position indicator according to claim 2, wherein the first diameter is about 1 mm and the second diameter is about 3 mm.

4. The position indicator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic core has a third portion, which interposes the second portion between the third portion and the first portion, the third portion having the same first diameter as the first portion.

5. The position indicator according to claim 2, wherein an interface between the first portion and the second portion of the magnetic core is formed as a step part.

6. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic core is made of a ferrite material.

7. The position indicator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a preference adjusting member structured to be capped over the nib of the position indicator.

8. The position indicator according to claim 7, wherein the preference adjusting member is replaceably capped over the nib of the position indicator.

9. The position indicator according to claim 8, further comprising:

two or more preference adjusting members that are replaceable and that differ from each other in one or more of diameters, shapes, modulus of elasticity and materials.

10. An elongated pen core to be inserted in a position indicator having a pen-shaped housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the pen core comprising:

an elongated magnetic core dimensioned to extend from the distal end of the housing, when inserted therethrough, to serve as a nib of the position indicator; and

a coil wound around the magnetic core.

11. The pen core according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic core has a varying diameter and a first diameter of a first portion of the magnetic core that is extended out from the housing is smaller than a second diameter of a second portion of the magnetic core, which is inside the housing and around which the coil is wound.

12. The pen core according to claim 11, wherein the first diameter is about 1 mm and the second diameter is about 3 mm.

13. The pen core according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic core has a third portion, which interposes the second portion between the third portion and the first portion, the third portion having the same first diameter as the first portion.

14. The pen core according to claim 11, wherein an interface between the first portion and the second portion of the magnetic core is formed as a step part.

15. The pen core according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic core is made of a ferrite material.

16. The pen core according to claim 10, further comprising:

a preference adjusting member structured to be capped over a tip of the magnetic core serving as the nib of the position indicator.

17. The pen core according to claim 16, wherein the preference adjusting member is replaceably capped over the tip of the magnetic core.

18. The pen core according to claim 17, further comprising:

two or more preference adjusting members that are replaceable and that differ from each other in one or more of diameters, shapes, modulus of elasticity and materials.