Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensing semiconductor device is provided, which has pressure resistance against pressure applied by a pressing member and can detect the pressure surely and efficiently. The pressure sensing semiconductor device includes a pressure detecting part, which detects pressure as a change in capacitance, and a package that receives the pressure detecting part within. The pressure detecting part includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to oppose the first electrode, with a determined distance therebetween. Capacitance is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and changes according to a change in said distance caused by pressure transmitted to the first electrode by a pressing member. The package also includes a pressure transmitting member that transmits, to the first electrode of the pressure detecting part, the pressure applied by the pressing member.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an operation surface, a first sense unit for electrically detecting whether the operation surface is directly touched, a second sense unit for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches or contacts the operation surface based on an electromagnetic interaction, and an approach detector for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches a detection range from the operation surface based on an output from the second sense unit. The information processing apparatus further includes a display controller for disabling display processing based on a detection output from the first sense unit and for enabling display processing based on a detection output from the second sense unit if the approach detecting unit determines that the position pointing device is within of the detection range.

Abstract: A liquid crystal module (1) includes a transparent panel (2) having a frame (3) projecting substantially perpendicularly from one surface thereof. The module also includes a flat panel display unit having a liquid crystal cell (6), a liquid crystal back light (7), and a liquid crystal back light unit (8), for example. The module further includes a flat sensor (9), such as a thin digitizer (a coordinate position inputting sensor). The frame is configured such that the flat panel display unit and the flat sensor can be readily housed and secured within a housing portion inside the frame.

Abstract: A position detecting device is disclosed for use with a position indicator. The position detecting device includes a coil substrate, a magnetic path material, and a shield material. A coil for generating an alternating magnetic field for electromagnetic coupling with the position indicator is disposed on the coil substrate. The magnetic path material is composed of a material having such permeability as not to disturb direct current magnetic flux but to form a magnetic path for the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil, and having predetermined electrical resistance for suppressing flow of an eddy current in order to enhance the material's performance as a magnetic path. The shield material is a non-magnetic substance that does not disturb the direct current magnetic flux due to the direct current magnetic field and that has electrical conductivity for generating an eddy current based on the alternating magnetic field.

Abstract: In a position detection device which detects a position indicated by a position indicator, improvements are made such that signals can be received precisely and reliably even at the end portions of the detectable region. In a tablet 20 which detects the position of an input pen 10 by means of electromagnetic inductive action with the input pen 10, a shield plate is positioned below a sensor substrate having a plurality of coils, and a shield layer of a ferromagnetic material is provided to overlap with the shield plate.

Abstract: A position detector is disclosed, which includes a sensor substrate having a sensor coil for receiving an electromagnetic wave output from a position indicator, and a magnetic path plate that has an area equal to or larger than an area in which the sensor coil is arranged on the sensor substrate. The magnetic path plate is formed by stacking an amorphous layer and a non-amorphous layer, which is formed of metal with relative magnetic permeability lower than that of the amorphous layer. Such magnetic path plate is arranged on a side of the sensor substrate opposite to a side facing the position indicator.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an operation surface, a first sense unit for electrically detecting whether the operation surface is directly touched, a second sense unit for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches or contacts the operation surface based on an electromagnetic interaction, and an approach detector for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches a detection range from the operation surface based on an output from the second sense unit. The information processing apparatus further includes a display controller for disabling display processing based on a detection output from the first sense unit and for enabling display processing based on a detection output from the second sense unit if the approach detecting unit determines that the position pointing device is within of the detection range.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a casing, an operation surface disposed at a predetermined location of the casing and being operable from outside the casing, a first sense unit disposed under the operation surface to electrically detect contact on the operation surface, and a second sense unit disposed under the operation surface and the first sense unit to detect a position of an external position pointing device with respect to the operation surface based on electromagnetic interaction generated between said second sense unit and said external position pointing device, and an auxiliary conductor disposed between the first sense unit and the second sense unit, the auxiliary conductor including a flat surface portion and a slit portion extending from one end of said flat surface portion to an inside of the flat surface portion.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an operation surface, a first sense unit for electrically detecting whether the operation surface is directly touched, a second sense unit for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches or contacts the operation surface based on an electromagnetic interaction, an approach detector for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches a first detection range from the operation surface and whether the position pointing device approaches a second detection range based on an output from the second sense unit. The second detection range is closer to the operation surface than the first detection range. The information processing apparatus further includes a display controller for disabling display processing based on an output from the first sense unit if the approach detector determines that the position pointing device approaches the second detection range and for performing display processing based on an output from the second sense unit.

Abstract: A liquid crystal module (1) includes a transparent panel (2) having a frame (3) projecting substantially perpendicularly from one surface thereof. The module also includes a flat panel display unit having a liquid crystal cell (6), a liquid crystal back light (7), and a liquid crystal back light unit (8), for example. The module further includes a flat sensor (9), such as a thin digitizer (a coordinate position inputting sensor). The frame is configured such that the flat panel display unit and the flat sensor can be readily housed and secured within a housing portion inside the frame.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a casing, an operation surface disposed at a predetermined location of the casing and being operable from outside the casing, a first sense unit disposed under the operation surface to electrically detect contact on the operation surface, and a second sense unit disposed under the operation surface and the first sense unit to detect a position of an external position pointing device with respect to the operation surface based on electromagnetic interaction generated between said second sense unit and said external position pointing device, and an auxiliary conductor disposed between the first sense unit and the second sense unit, the auxiliary conductor including a flat surface portion and a slit portion extending from one end of said flat surface portion to an inside of the flat surface portion.

Abstract: A position detector is disclosed, which includes a sensor substrate having a sensor coil for receiving an electromagnetic wave output from a position indicator, and a magnetic path plate that has an area equal to or larger than an area in which the sensor coil is arranged on the sensor substrate. The magnetic path plate is formed by stacking an amorphous layer and a non-amorphous layer, which is formed of metal with relative magnetic permeability lower than that of the amorphous layer. Such magnetic path plate is arranged on a side of the sensor substrate opposite to a side facing the position indicator.

Abstract: A three-dimensional-information detecting system includes a switching portion that sequentially selects sensor coils of a three-dimensional-information detecting device. Electromagnetic coupling is used to perform signal transmission and reception between the sensor coils and input coils in input elements of a three-dimensional-information inputting device which are mutually perpendicularly provided. A signal received by a selected sensor coil is detected by a detecting portion. From the detected signal, three-dimensional information, such as the position and attitude of the three-dimensional-information inputting device, is calculated by a control unit.

Abstract: A position detection system includes a position pointer and a position detector. The “blind” area in which a position pointed to by a position pointer is undetectable is minimized. A transmission coil selector selects one of a plurality of transmission coils. A signal is generated by a transmission signal generator and supplied to a selected transmission coil. The selected transmission coil transmits the signal to the position pointer. A reception sensor coil selector selects a plurality of sensor coils. A position-indicating signal transmitted from the position pointer is received by each selected sensor coil, and a position pointed to by the position pointer is calculated from the received position-indicating signals. The position detection system loop coils are part of a resonant LC transmission circuit and are excited with a pulsed carrier signal to maximize the strength of the transmission signal, while dissipating relatively little power.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an operation surface, a first sense unit for electrically detecting whether the operation surface is directly touched, a second sense unit for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches or contacts the operation surface based on an electromagnetic interaction, an approach detector for detecting whether the position pointing device approaches a first detection range from the operation surface and whether the position pointing device approaches a second detection range based on an output from the second sense unit. The second detection range is closer to the operation surface than the first detection range. The information processing apparatus further includes a display controller for disabling display processing based on an output from the first sense unit if the approach detector determines that the position pointing device approaches the second detection range and for performing display processing based on an output from the second sense unit.

Abstract: A sensor for a coordinate input device includes an x-direction loop coil group including a plurality of loop coils arranged in an x direction, each loop coil having at least two linear sections perpendicular to the x direction, and a y-direction loop coil group including a plurality of loop coils arranged in a y direction, each loop coil having at least two linear sections perpendicular to the y direction. A terminal portion including a plurality of terminals is provided in the vicinity of an edge portion of the x-direction or y-direction loop coil group. Lines are disposed between the linear sections of the loop coils of the x-direction loop coil group or the y-direction loop coil group to provide connections between the terminals of the terminal portion and the corresponding loop coils of the x-direction loop coil group and the y-direction loop coil group.

Abstract: In a position detection device which detects a position indicated by a position indicator, improvements are made such that signals can be received precisely and reliably even at the end portions of the detectable region. In a tablet 20 which detects the position of an input pen 10 by means of electromagnetic inductive action with the input pen 10, a shield plate is positioned below a sensor substrate having a plurality of coils, and a shield layer of a ferromagnetic material is provided to overlap with the shield plate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional-information detecting system includes a switching portion that sequentially selects sensor coils of a three-dimensional-information detecting device. Electromagnetic coupling is used to perform signal transmission and reception between the sensor coils and input coils in input elements of a three-dimensional-information inputting device which are mutually perpendicularly provided. A signal received by a selected sensor coil is detected by a detecting portion. From the detected signal, three-dimensional information, such as the position and attitude of the three-dimensional-information inputting device, is calculated by a control unit.

Abstract: A three-dimensional information sensor device is disclosed in which sensor coils thereof are sequentially selected by a control section. Signals are communicated between indicating coils of a three-dimensional information indicating device and sensor coils by electromagnetic coupling. The signals received by each of the selected coils are detected by detecting means. The position and the direction of the indicating device in a three-dimensional apace are calculated by control means based on the detected signals.

Abstract: A sensor for a coordinate input device includes an x-direction loop coil group including a plurality of loop coils arranged in an x direction, each loop coil having at least two linear sections perpendicular to the x direction, and a y-direction loop coil group including a plurality of loop coils arranged in a y direction, each loop coil having at least two linear sections perpendicular to the y direction. A terminal portion including a plurality of terminals is provided in the vicinity of an edge portion of the x-direction or y-direction loop coil group. Lines are disposed between the linear sections of the loop coils of the x-direction loop coil group or the y-direction loop coil group to provide connections between the terminals of the terminal portion and the corresponding loop coils of the x-direction loop coil group and the y-direction loop coil group.