Position detector and position indicator

Abstract

A position indicator is provided, which includes a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator. The position indicator further includes a storage configured to store the pressure as one type of digital data and to store at least one other type of digital data. The position indicator also includes a receiver configured to receive a command signal transmitted from a position sensor, and a control circuit configured to select one or more types of digital data in the storage based on the command signal. The position indicator includes a transmitter configured to transmit the selected one or more types of digital data to the position sensor.

1 . A method of transmitting indicator information from a position indicator to a position detector including a sensor, comprising:
 detecting a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator and storing the pressure as one type of digital data in the position indicator;   storing at least one other type of digital data in the position indicator;   selecting one or more types of digital data based on a command signal received from the sensor of the position detector; and   transmitting the selected one or more types of digital data from the position indicator to the sensor of the position detector.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is identification (ID) information of the position indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is position information of a slider switch provided on the position indicator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is rotational angle information of the position indicator, wherein the rotational angle information is defined about an axis that extends normal to a surface of the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a positional signal from the position indicator to the sensor of the position detector, wherein the positional signal indicates a position of the tip of the position indicator relative to a surface of the sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 alternating between the transmitting of the selected one or more types of digital data and the transmitting of the positional signal.   
     
     
         7 . A method of transmitting indicator information from a position indicator to a position detector including a sensor, comprising:
 detecting a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator and storing the pressure as one type of digital data in the position indicator;   storing at least one other type of digital data in the position indicator;   selecting one or more types of digital data based on a command signal received from the sensor of the position detector;   transmitting the selected one or more types of digital data from the position indicator to the sensor of the position detector; and   when not detecting the command signal for a defined period of time, the position indicator entering a standby state in which the position indicator ceases transmission of the selected one or more types of digital data and waits to receive the command signal.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is identification (ID) information of the position indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is position information of a slider switch provided on the position indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is rotational angle information of the position indicator, wherein the rotational angle information is defined about an axis that extends normal to a surface of the sensor. 
     
     
         11 . A position indicator, comprising:
 a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator;   a storage configured to store the pressure as one type of digital data and to store at least one other type of digital data;   a receiver configured to receive a command signal transmitted from a position sensor;   a control circuit configured to select one or more types of digital data in the storage based on the command signal; and   a transmitter configured to transmit the selected one or more types of digital data to the position sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The position indicator of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is identification (ID) information of the position indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The position indicator of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is position information of a slider switch provided on the position indicator. 
     
     
         14 . The position indicator of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one other type of digital data is rotational angle information of the position indicator, wherein the rotational angle information is defined about an axis that extends normal to a surface of the position sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The position indicator of  claim 11 , wherein the transmitter, in operation,
 transmits a positional signal to the position sensor, wherein the positional signal indicates a position of the tip of the position indicator relative to a surface of the position sensor, and   alternates between the transmission of the selected one or more types of digital data and the transmission of the positional signal.   
     
     
         16 . The position indicator of  claim 15 , wherein the control circuit, when not detecting the command signal for a defined period of time, enters a standby state in which to cease transmission of the selected one or more types of digital data and to wait to receive the command signal. 
     
     
         17 . A position detector, comprising:
 a sensor surface configured to transmit a command signal to a position indicator and to receive one or more types of digital data from the position indicator, wherein the one or more types of digital data indicate one or more non-positional characteristics of the position indicator including a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator and are selected by the position indicator based on the command signal;   wherein the sensor surface is further configured to receive a positional signal from the position indicator; and   a sensor controller configured to detect the one or more types of digital data received by the sensor surface and to detect a position of the tip of the position indicator relative to the sensor surface based on the positional signal received by the sensor surface;   wherein the sensor controller is further configured to control transmission of the command signal, via the sensor surface, to the position indicator based on a signal level of the positional signal received, via the sensor surface, from the position indicator.   
     
     
         18 . The position sensor of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more types of digital data include identification (ID) information of the position indicator. 
     
     
         19 . The position sensor of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more types of digital data include position information of a slider switch provided on the position indicator. 
     
     
         20 . The position sensor of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more types of digital data include rotational angle information of the position indicator, wherein the rotational angle information is defined about an axis that extends normal to the sensor surface.