Electronic pen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017322643-A1
Application number	US-201715640057-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	Jan 29, 2015
Publication date	Nov 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various embodiments provide an electronic pen that ensures security of information, avoids of unnecessary transmission of information, and protects a core body. In one embodiment, the electronic pen includes a core body, a signal transmitter that transmits a signal to a sensor of a position detecting device, a protector that sets at least a tip of the core body to the state of being not exposed to an external environment, and a detector that detects whether or not at least the tip of the core body is in the state of being protected by the protector. A signal including information is allowed to be transmitted from the signal transmitter when at least the tip of the core body is not protected by the protector, and is precluded from being transmitted when at least the tip of the core body is protected by the protector.

First claim

1 . An electronic pen configured to transmit a signal to a sensor of a position detecting device, the electronic pen, comprising:
a core body; a signal transmitter which, in operation, transmits a signal for position detection and a signal including information about the electronic pen to the sensor of the position detecting device; a protector which, in operation, sets at least a tip of the core body to a protected state from an unprotected state, at least the tip of the core body being unexposed to an environment external to the electronic pen in the protected state, at least the tip of the core body being exposed to the environment in the unprotected state; and a detector which, in operation, detects whether at least the tip of the core body is in the protected state or the unprotected state, wherein the signal for position detection and the signal including the information are transmitted from the signal transmitter to the sensor of the position detecting device in response to the detector detecting that at least the tip of the core body is in the unprotected state, and the signal including the information is precluded from being transmitted from the signal transmitter in response to the detector detecting that at least the tip of the core body is in the protected state.

2 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control circuit which, in operation, carries out control to allow the signal for position detection and the signal including the information to be transmitted from the signal transmitter in response to the detector detecting that at least the tip of the core body is in the unprotected state, and to preclude the signal including the information from being transmitted from the signal transmitter in response to the detector detecting that at least the tip of the core body is in the protected state.

3 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , wherein the signal for position detection is transmitted from the signal transmitter and the signal including the information is precluded from being transmitted from the signal transmitter in response to the detector detecting that at least the tip of the core body is in the protected state.

4 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , wherein the detector includes a writing pressure detector that detects a writing pressure applied to the core body, and the detector detects that at least the tip of the core body is in the unprotected state in response to the writing pressure detector detecting the writing pressure is applied to the core body.

5 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic pen main body in which the core body, the signal transmitter, and the detector are disposed in a first chassis having a tubular shape; and a second chassis that houses the electronic pen main body and has a tubular shape, wherein the electronic pen main body is held by the second chassis by being fitted to a fitting part provided in the second chassis.

6 . The electronic pen according to claim 5 , wherein
the protector includes a knock mechanism that switches at least the tip of the core body between the protected state and the unprotected state, the entire core body is disposed in the electronic pen main body in a hollow part of the second chassis in the protected state, and at least the tip of the core body protrudes from the second chassis in to the environment in the unprotected state.

7 . The electronic pen according to claim 6 , wherein the detector includes a switch that is turned on and off in conjunction with operation of the knock mechanism.

8 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tubular chassis that holds at least the tip of the core body in a state in which at least the tip of the core body is protruded from one opening; and a cap that engages with the tubular chassis to cover the tubular chassis from a side on which the tip of the core body is protruded.

9 . The electronic pen according to claim 8 , wherein the detector detects whether or not the cap is in a state of being engaged with the chassis.

10 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first member that has a tubular shape and includes a protruding-retracting mechanism that protrudes and retracts the tip of the core body from one opening based on a rotation system; and a second member that is fitted to the first chassis in a state of being rotatable relative to the first chassis and implements protrusion and retraction of the tip of the core body by rotation relative to the first member.

11 . The electronic pen according to claim 10 , wherein the detector detects protrusion and retraction of the tip of the core body by detecting rotation of the second member relative to the first member.

12 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , wherein the information includes identification information of the electronic pen.

13 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a coil wound around a magnetic core positioned adjacent to the core body; a resonant circuit including a capacitor connected in parallel to the coil, wherein transmission and reception of a signal are carried out in the resonant circuit by electromagnetic induction coupling between the resonant circuit and the sensor.

14 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal generating circuit which, in operation, generates the signal for position detection and the signal including the information, a signal output by the signal generating circuit being controlled by the control circuit, wherein the core body has electrical conductivity, and the signal transmitter transmits a signal from the signal generating circuit to the sensor of the position detecting device through the core body by capacitive coupling.

15 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , wherein
the core body has electrical conductivity and a peripheral electrode is provided around the core body, a signal from the sensor of the position detecting device is received through one of the core body and the peripheral electrode by capacitive coupling, and a signal generated based on the signal from the sensor is transmitted from the other of the core body and the peripheral electrode to the sensor by capacitive coupling.

16 . The electronic pen according to claim 1 , wherein the signal transmitter includes a wireless communication circuit that transmits part or all of the information to the position detecting device through a wireless communication path.

17 . A method, comprising:
determining whether a core body within an electronic pen is in a protected state or an unprotected state, at least a tip of the core body being unexposed to an environment external to the electronic pen in the protected state, at least the tip of the core body being exposed to the environment in the unprotected state; transmitting, from the electronic pen, a signal for position detection and a signal including information about the electronic pen in response to determining that the core body is in the unprotected state; and stopping the signal including the information from being transmitted from the electronic pen in response to determining that the core body is in the protected state.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising;
determining whether pressure is being applied to the tip of the core body; and determining that the core body is in the protected state in response to determining that pressure is being applied to the tip of the core body;

Assignees

• Wacom Co Ltd

Inventors

• Eguchi Toru

Classifications

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F2203/0384

  Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title

• G06F3/046

  by electromagnetic means · CPC title

• G06F3/0383 Primary

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title