# US 10,372,241 B2 · Position indicator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,241 B2 - Document ID: US10372241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/140,031 - Filed: 2018-09-24 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-08 - Assignees: Wacom Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Wacom Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shinya Aoki; Takenori Kaneda; Yasuhiro Baba - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372241B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F 3/0383: {Signal control means within the pointing device} - G06F 3/0442: {using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Various embodiments provide a position indicator including a retaining mechanism that can fix a core body securely and which can electrically transmit a signal from an internal circuit to the core body reliably. The position indicator includes a core body having conductivity, a conductive elastic member including a holding portion for holding and fixing the core body, a core body holder having conductivity and fitted with the conductive elastic member to retain the core body fitted in the conductive elastic member, a signal transmitter, and an electric connecting member for establishing an electric connection between the core body holder and the signal transmitter. The core body is detachably fitted into the conductive elastic member. A signal from the signal transmitter is transmitted from the core body through the electric connecting member, the core body holder, and the conductive elastic member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A position indicator, comprising: a conductive core body; a conductive elastic member having a through hole, through which the conductive core body penetrates; a conductive core body holder having a first recessed hole configured to house the conductive elastic member and a second recessed hole formed in a bottom portion of the first recessed hole, wherein the second recessed hole is configured to house a portion of the conductive core body which penetrates through and projects from the through hole; a signal transmitter; and an electric connecting member that electrically couples the conductive core body holder and the signal transmitter to each other, the signal transmitter being configured to transmit a signal to the conductive core body, through the electric connecting member, the conductive core body holder, and the conductive elastic member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1 wherein the conductive elastic member has a slit that extends from a distal end of the conductive elastic member along an axial direction of the position indicator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1 wherein an external wall of the conductive elastic member is provided with a projecting portion, the conductive core body holder is provided with an engaging portion to be engaged with the projecting portion when the conductive elastic member is fitted into the conductive core body holder, and the conductive elastic member is retained by the conductive core body holder when the projecting portion and the engaging portion are engaged with each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1 wherein an opposite side of the conductive core body holder from a side where the core body is fitted in the fitted conductive elastic member is coupled to a pen pressure detector, and the conductive core body holder is configured to transmit a pen pressure applied to the conductive core body retained via the conductive elastic member to the pen pressure detector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The position indicator according to claim 4 wherein the pen pressure detector includes a retaining portion having a core body holder retaining portion retaining and fixing the conductive core body holder, and the retaining portion is made of a nonconductive material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The position indicator according to claim 5 wherein the retaining portion includes a recessed hole into which the conductive core body holder is fitted in an axial direction of the position indicator, and the core body holder retaining portion includes a slit that extends from a distal end of the retaining portion along an axial direction of the retaining portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1 wherein the electric connecting member includes a conductive coil spring, and a conductor terminal member formed by a conductor electrically coupled to the signal transmitter, the electric connecting member is electrically coupled to the conductive core body holder when an end of the conductive coil spring is engaged with the conductive core body holder, and the electric connecting member is electrically coupled to the signal transmitter when another end of the conductive coil spring abuts against the conductor terminal member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The position indicator according to claim 7 wherein the coil spring biases the conductive core body holder to a side of the conductive core body in a direction of a central axis of the position indicator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The position indicator according to claim 8 wherein the conductive core body holder moves in the direction of the central axis of the position indicator when a pen pressure is applied to the conductive core body, and the conductive core body holder is returned to an original position by a biasing force of the coil spring when application of the pen pressure ceases. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1 wherein the conductive core body includes a tip end portion at least a part of which projects to an outside environment, and a shaft portion continuous with the tip end portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein the shaft portion is thinner than the tip end portion of the conductive core body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein the tip end portion and the shaft portion of the conductive core body are made of a metal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein the tip end portion of the conductive core body is made of a conductive resin, and the shaft portion of the conductive core body is made of a metal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein the tip end portion and the shaft portion of the conductive core body are made of a conductive resin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein the tip end portion of the conductive core body is made of a first conductive resin, and the shaft portion of the conductive core body is made of a second conductive resin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein the tip end portion and the shaft portion of the conductive core body are made of a conductive felt material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein a tail end portion of the shaft portion of the conductive core body is a sharp portion, the tail end portion being on an opposite side from the tip end portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein a tail end portion of the shaft portion of the conductive core body is threaded, the tail end portion being on an opposite side from the tip end portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein a conductive resin is welded to a tail end portion of the shaft portion of the conductive core body, the tail end portion being on an opposite side from the tip end portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The position indicator according to claim 10 wherein an air bubble structure having conductivity is embedded in the second recessed hole of the conductive core body holder, a part of the air bubble structure forms part of the conductive core body holder and another part of the air bubble structure forms part of the conductive elastic member which the conductive core body pieces through.