Pointer detection apparatus and pointer detection method

摘要

A pointer detection apparatus detects positions pointed to by pointers of different types using a pointer detection sensor. The sensor has first conductors disposed in a first direction and second conductors disposed in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second conductors are in an opposing relationship to each other and spaced apart from each other. A signal reception circuit detects a reception signal from the sensor, which indicates variations of capacitance between the first conductors and the second conductors. The signal reception circuit has a first mode of operation, in which a position at which a first pointer having conductivity is positioned close to the pointer detection sensor and another position at which the first pointer presses the pointer detection sensor are detected based on the reception signal, and a second mode of operation, in which a position at which a second pointer having no conductivity presses the pointer detection sensor is detected based on the reception signal.

主权项

1. A pointer detection apparatus, comprising:
a pointer detection sensor of the capacitance type having:
a plurality of first conductors disposed in a first direction; anda plurality of second conductors disposed in a second direction which crosses with the first direction, the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors disposed in an opposed relationship to each other and spaced apart from each other, wherein when one of the first conductors is deflected by pressing by a pointer, a variation in distance between the first conductor and one of the second conductors varies a capacitance formed between the first conductor and the second conductor; an alternating current signal supplying circuit configured to supply one or more alternating current signals to any of the plurality of conductors of one of the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors; a signal reception circuit configured to detect one or more reception signals corresponding to the one or more alternating current signals from any of the plurality of conductors of the other of the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors, the one or more reception signals indicating variations of capacitance formed between the first conductors and the second conductors; and a control circuit; wherein the pointer detection sensor including
one or more spacers disposed only in cross points between conductors of the plurality of first conductors and conductors of the plurality of second conductors, wherein the one or more spacers are interposed between conductors of the plurality of first conductors and conductors of the plurality of second conductors, and an amount of possible deflection of the first or second conductor toward the other in regions other than the cross points is greater than in the cross points; the signal reception circuit having
a first mode of operation in which a position at which a first pointer having conductivity is positioned close to the pointer detection sensor and another position at which the first pointer presses the pointer detection sensor are detected based on the one or more reception signals; anda second mode of operation in which a position at which a second pointer having no conductivity presses the pointer detection sensor is detected based on the one or more reception signals; and the control circuit controlling, in operation,
a gain of the one or more reception signals in the first mode and the second mode.