Abstract: An inexpensively-produced operating tool to which information about the direction of the operating tool or various kinds of identification information can be provided, and in which a switch can be provided. An operating tool (100), which is placed on the detection plane of a conductor detector capable of detecting a conductor by detecting a change in coupling coefficient of loop coil groups crossing each other, comprises a plurality of conductor pieces (102). The conductor piece has, for example, a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or a ring shape. At least a part of the plurality of conductor pieces may be arranged in a predetermined pattern such that the conductor detector can detect the direction of the operating tool.

Abstract: Provided is an object detecting device, which can detect the shape of or the distance from an object made of an electrically conductive or magnetic material, and which can detect the position indicated by an object made of an electrically-non-conductive/non-magnetic material, such as a finger. The object detecting device detects the shape of or the distance from an object to be measured, which is placed on a detection surface and made of an electrically conductive or magnetic material, by using an electromagnetic induction. The object detecting device includes a first loop wire group of a plurality of first loop wires (1) arranged in parallel on the same plane, a second loop wire group of a plurality of second loop wires (2) arranged in parallel on the same plane, and a spacer (3) for keeping the distance between them at a constant. The plurality of the second loop wires (2) are individually arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of the first loop wires (1).

Abstract: A pressure distribution sensor utilizing electromagnetic coupling in which alignment of electromagnetically coupled coils is facilitated, and a force in a slip direction can be detected. The pressure distribution sensor utilizing electromagnetic coupling has a detection surface comprises a plurality of first loop wires (1) arranged in parallel on the same plane, a plurality of second loop wires (2) arranged in parallel on the same plane in the direction perpendicular to the first loop wires (1), and a plurality of third loop wires (3) arranged in parallel on the same plane as the first loop wires. The third loop wires (3) are formed to be connectable to a drive section (10) in a separated manner from the first loop wires. The drive section (10) connected to the first loop wires drives the first loop wires, and a detecting section (20) connected to the second loop wires detects pressure from detection signals based on electromagnetic coupling at the electromagnetic coupling portions from the second loop wires.

Abstract: A pressure distribution detector is less influence by installation environment, that is, a pressure distribution detector that detection sensitivity or detection accuracy is less adversely affected even if the device is fitted not only to a flat surface but also a surface having an arbitrary shape such as a curved surface. The pressure distribution detector comprises a plurality of drive coils (1) provided on a substrate, a plurality of detection coils (2) electromagnetically coupled with the plurality of drive coils in pairs respectively, and a spacer (4) for keeping a constant distance between the plurality of drive coils and the plurality of detection coils, respectively. In order to vary the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the drive coil and the detection coil, a variable electromagnetic coupling (3) formed of a conductor or a magnetic body is provided movably adjacent to the drive coil and/or the detection coil.

Abstract: An optical digitizer which has a function to recognize kinds of pointing instruments, allowing an input by a finger or by a pen, is provided.