Position pointer

• US 9,927,889 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Oda, Yasuo, Yagi, Masaki, Sugiyama, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Leiby, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US14/997,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A position pointer is provided for use with a position detection sensor, capable of achieving power saving. The position pointer includes: a first electrode configured to receive an AC signal from a position detection sensor; a transmission signal production circuit configured to produce a position signal, based on which the position detection sensor detects a position of the position pointer; a second electrode different from the first electrode and configured to transmit the position signal to the position detection sensor; a signal detection circuit configured to detect whether or not the AC signal from the position detection sensor is received through the first electrode; and a transmission controlling circuit configured to control transmission of the position signal through the second electrode to the position detection sensor in response to an output from the signal detection circuit.

Claims

1. A position pointer for use with a position detection sensor, comprising:

a transmission signal production circuit configured to produce a position signal;

an elongate pointer body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a central electrode disposed near the distal end of the elongate pointer body, wherein the central electrode includes a tip that extends beyond the distal end of the elongate pointer body;

a peripheral electrode disposed near the distal end of the elongate pointer body and surrounding the central electrode, wherein the peripheral electrode includes a distal limit that is positioned proximally than the tip of the central electrode;

wherein the central electrode and the peripheral electrode are configured to communicably couple with the position detection sensor, which in operation detects the position signal produced by the transmission signal production circuit; and

a tubular conductor provided radially between the central electrode and the peripheral electrode and physically distanced both from the central electrode and from the peripheral electrode, wherein the tubular conductor includes a distal limit that is positioned between the tip of the central electrode and the distal limit of the peripheral electrode along an axial direction of the elongate pointer body to electrically isolate the central electrode from the peripheral electrode.

2. The position pointer according to claim 1, wherein the central electrode is coupled to the transmission signal production circuit to transmit the position signal to the position detection sensor, and the peripheral electrode is coupled to a signal detection circuit to receive an alternating current (AC) signal from the position detection sensor.

3. The position pointer according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral electrode is coupled to the transmission signal production circuit to transmit the position signal to the position detection sensor, and the central electrode is coupled to a signal detection circuit to receive an alternative current (AC) signal from the position detection sensor.

4. The position pointer according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission controlling circuit configured to control transmission of the position signal to the position detection sensor.

5. The position pointer according to claim 4, wherein the transmission controlling circuit controls supply of power to drive the transmission signal production circuit.

6. The position pointer according to claim 1, further comprising a battery.

7. The position pointer according to claim 1, further comprising a power storage circuit configured to drive the position pointer with power supplied from outside.

8. The position pointer according to claim 7, wherein the power storage circuit includes a capacitor.

9. The position pointer according to claim 7, wherein the power storage circuit includes an electromagnetic coupling circuit configured to receive power from outside based on electromagnetic coupling.

10. The position pointer according to claim 1, wherein the transmission signal production circuit produces an enhanced position signal.

11. The position pointer according to claim 1, wherein the transmission signal production circuit includes a boosting transformer for boosting a signal supplied to a primary coil to generate a boosted signal in a secondary coil.

12. The position pointer according to claim 1, further comprising a manual switch configured to adjust detection sensitivity with which the position pointer can be detected by the position detection sensor.

13. The position pointer according to claim 1, further comprising a signal detection circuit configured to detect an alternating current (AC) signal from the position detection sensor.

14. The position pointer according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the central electrode is formed of conductive elastic material.

15. The position pointer according to claim 1, wherein the central electrode including the tip is formed of conductive elastic material.

16. A method of manufacturing a position pointer for use with a position detection sensor, comprising:

providing an elongate pointer body having a distal end and a proximal end;

arranging a central electrode near the distal end of the elongate pointer body such that a tip of the central electrode extends beyond the distal end of the elongate pointer body;

arranging a peripheral electrode near the distal end of the elongate pointer body such that the peripheral electrode surrounds the central electrode and that a distal limit of the peripheral electrode is positioned proximally than the tip of the central electrode; and

positioning a tubular conductor radially between the central electrode and the peripheral electrode and physically distanced both from the central electrode and from the peripheral electrode, such that a distal limit of the tubular conductor is positioned between the tip of the central electrode and the distal limit of the peripheral electrode along an axial direction of the elongate pointer body to electrically isolate the central electrode from the peripheral electrode.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising arranging a transmission signal production circuit in the elongate pointer body.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising arranging at least one of a battery and a power storage circuit to drive the position pointer in the elongate pointer body.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising forming the tip of the central electrode with conductive elastic material.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising forming the central electrode including the tip with conductive elastic material.