Position indicator and position indicating method

• US 9,964,395 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Yamada, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS RUSSO, RAUL J
• Application Number:
  US15/352,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20170191818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 324 7611- 7683, 324439, 324459, 324549, 324600, 324649, 324691, 324693, 324697
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/004 for measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/18 using change in resistance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/00 Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/645 electrical conductivity detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4162 investigating the composition of gases, by the influence exerted on ionic conductivity in a liquid conductometry in general G01N27/06; amperometric gas sensors G01N27/404
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A position indicator includes a resonant circuit configured to receive electromagnetic waves transmitted intermittently from a position detection device with a first duration and a second duration. The second duration is shorter than the first duration. The position indicator also includes a load resistance value control circuit configured to control a load resistance of the resonant circuit such that different values of the load resistance are set for the first duration and the second duration. A value of the load resistance set for the second duration is smaller than a value of the load resistance set for the first duration.

Claims

1. A position indicator comprising:

a resonant circuit which, in operation, receives electromagnetic waves transmitted intermittently from a position detection device with a first duration and a second duration, the second duration being shorter than the first duration; and

a load resistance value control circuit which, in operation, controls a load resistance of the resonant circuit such that different values of the load resistance are set for the first duration and the second duration, a value of the load resistance set for the second duration being smaller than a value of the load resistance set for the first duration,

wherein the load resistance value control circuit includes;

a first switch which, in operation, switches between a first state in which both ends of a coil of the resonant circuit are shorted, and a second state in which the ends of the coil of the resonant circuit are not shorted, and

a series circuit including a resistor and a second switch, wherein the second switch, in operation, switches between a first state in which the resistor and the second switch are connected in parallel with the resonant circuit, and a second state in which the resistor and the second switch are not connected in parallel with the resonant circuit, and

wherein the resonant circuit, in operation, transmits a signal when the first switch is switched between the first and second states while the second switch is switched to and remains in the first state.

2. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein

the load resistance value control circuit, in operation, controls the second switch to be in the second state for the first duration, and to be in the first state for the second duration.

3. The position indicator according to claim 2, wherein the load resistance value control circuit, in operation, controls the second switch to be in the first state or the second state at a timing corresponding to the first duration of the electromagnetic waves received from the position detection device.

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

an information generating circuit which, in operation, generates information to be transmitted to the position detection device,

wherein the load resistance value control circuit, in operation, controls one or more characteristics of the resonant circuit in accordance with the information generated by the information generating circuit at a timing corresponding to the second duration of the electromagnetic waves received from the position detection device, and transmits the information generated by the information generating circuit to the position detection device using the signal.

5. The position indicator according to claim 4, wherein the load resistance value control circuit, in operation, controls the first switch to turn be in the first state and the second state in accordance with the information generated by the information generating circuit, and transmits the information generated by the information generating circuit to the position detection device using the signal.

6. The position indicator according to claim 5, wherein the load resistance value control circuit, in operation, controls the first switch to be in and remain in the first state for a predetermined time to short the ends of the coil, at a predetermined timing after the information generated by the information generating circuit is received by the position detection device.

7. The position indicator according to claim 6, wherein at a transmission end of the first duration of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the position detection device, the load resistance value control circuit controls the first switch to be in and remain in the first state for the predetermined time to short the ends of the coil.

8. The position indicator according to claim 4, wherein the information generated by the information generating circuit is information regarding a pressure applied to a tip portion of the position indicator.

9. A position indicating method comprising:

receiving, by a resonant circuit, electromagnetic waves transmitted intermittently from a position detection device with a first duration and a second duration, the second duration being shorter than the first duration; and

controlling a load resistance of the resonant circuit, the controlling including setting different values of the load resistance for the first duration and the second duration, a value of the load resistance set for the second duration being smaller than a value of the load resistance set for the first duration,

wherein the load resistance value control circuit includes;

a first switch which, in operation, switches between a first state in which both ends of a coil of the resonant circuit are shorted, and a second state in which the ends of the coil of the resonant circuit are not shorted; and

a series circuit including a resistor and a second switch, wherein the second switch, in operation, switches between a first state in which the resistor and the second switch are connected in parallel with the resonant circuit, and a second state in which the resistor and the second switch are not connected in parallel with the resonant circuit, and

transmitting a signal from the resonant circuit, the controlling of the load resistance of the resonant circuit including switching the first switch between the first and second states to transmit the signal, and switching the second switch to the second state and keeping the second switch in the first state while the switching of the first switch is performed.

10. The position indicating method according to claim 9, wherein the controlling of the load resistance includes controlling the second switch to turn off for the first duration and to turn on for the second duration.

11. The position indicating method according to claim 10, wherein the controlling of the load resistance includes controlling the second switch to turn on or off at a timing corresponding to the first duration of the electromagnetic waves received from the position detection device.

12. The position indicating method according to claim 9, further comprising:

charging a charge storage circuit using the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the position detection device and received by the resonant circuit; and

operating a resonance characteristic control circuit using a stored voltage from the charge storage circuit as a power supply voltage, the controlling of the load resistance being performed by the resonance characteristic control circuit.