Position indicator and writing information processing apparatus

A writing information processing apparatus comprising:

• a sensor;
• a signal processing circuit connected to the sensor;
• and
• a position indicator including a pen-shaped casing, wherein:
• the position indicator, in operation, indicates a plurality of positions on a sensor surface of the sensor;
• the positions indicated by the position indicator are detected by a plurality of interactions between the position indicator and the sensor;
• the casing of the position indicator includes, in respective axial ends thereof, a first indicating portion, a second indicating portion, and an interaction circuit which, in operation, causes the plurality of interactions between the sensor and the position indicator;
• the first indicating portion includes:
• a core body that projects axially from the casing, the core body, in operation, visibly forming handwriting in response to a first writing operation of the position indicator, and
• a first circuit element of the interaction circuit which, in operation, enables a first position indicated on the sensor surface by the first indicating portion to be detected via a first interaction between the interaction circuit and the sensor;
• the second indicating portion includes:
• an erasing member that projects axially from the casing, the erasing member, in operation, visually erasing the handwriting that is visibly formed by the core body included the first indicating portion, and
• a second circuit element of the interaction circuit which, in operation, enables a second position indicated on the sensor surface by the second indicating portion to be detected via a second interaction between the interaction circuit and the sensor;
• the erasing member is held by a holder;
• the holder includes a member which, in operation, cooperates with the second circuit to cause the second interaction between the second circuit element and the sensor;
• the sensor surface includes a positioning portion that positions a recording medium on which the handwriting by the core body is visibly recorded;
• the signal processing circuit detects a first position indicating operation on the sensor surface by the first indicating portion or a second position indicating operation on the sensor surface by the second indicating portion based on the first or second interaction between the position indicator and the sensor;
• the writing information processing apparatus, in operation, performs a first writing information recording process that records first positional information corresponding to the first writing operation on the recording medium by the first indicating portion in response to a detection of the first position indicating operation on the sensor surface by the first indicating portion;
• and
• the writing information processing apparatus, in operation, performs a second writing information recording process that records second positional information corresponding to an operation of the second indicating portion in a manner distinguishable from writing information recorded by the first writing information recording process, in response to a detection of the second position indicating operation on the sensor surface by the second indicating portion,
• wherein the first positional information and the second positional information are distinguishable by identification information that is added to the second positional information.

A position indicator that indicates a plurality of positions on a sensor surface of a sensor, the position indicator comprising:

• a pen-shaped casing that includes, in a first axial end thereof, an indicating portion;
• and
• an interaction circuit which, in operation, causes a plurality of interactions between the sensor and the indicating portion, wherein:
• the indicating portion includes:
• an erasing member that projects axially from the casing, the erasing member, in operation, visually erasing handwriting that is visibly formed, and
• a circuit element of the interaction circuit which, in operation, enables a position indicated on the sensor surface by the indicating portion to be detected via an interaction between the interaction circuit and the sensor;
• the erasing member is held by a holder that is at least partially disposed inside the casing;
• and
• the holder includes a member which, in operation, cooperates with the circuit element to cause an interaction between the indicating portion and the sensor, wherein:
• the interaction between the indicating portion and the sensor is caused by an electromagnetic coupling based on the interaction circuit;
• the interaction circuit includes a resonant circuit made up of a capacitive element, and an inductive element wound on a magnetic material;
• the circuit element included in the indicating portion includes the magnetic material of the resonant circuit;
• and
• the holder that holds the erasing member causes the interaction with the sensor.

A position indicator that indicates a plurality of positions on a sensor surface of a sensor, the position indicator comprising:

• a pen-shaped casing that includes, in a first axial end thereof, an indicating portion;
• and
• an interaction circuit which, in operation, causes a plurality of interactions between the sensor and the indicating portion, wherein:
• the indicating portion includes:
• an erasing member that projects axially from the casing, the erasing member, in operation, visually erasing handwriting that was visibly formed, and
• a circuit element of the interaction circuit which, in operation, enables a position indicated on the sensor surface by the indicating portion to be detected via an interaction between the interaction circuit and the sensor;
• the erasing member is held by a holder that is at least partially disposed inside the casing;
• and
• the holder includes a member which, in operation, cooperates with the circuit element to cause an interaction between the indicating portion and the sensor, wherein:
• the interaction between the indicating portion and the sensor surface of the sensor is caused by a capacitive coupling based on the interaction circuit;
• the interaction circuit includes a signal oscillating circuit, which in operation, sends a signal to the circuit element including an electric conductor that is included in the indicating portion;
• and
• the holder that holds the erasing member is made up of an electrically conductive member and is part of the circuit element;
• and
• interaction of the erasing member with the sensor causes an erasing operation.