# US 2017/0285772 A1 · Position indicator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0285772 A1 - Document ID: US20170285772A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/626,911 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-19 - Assignees: Wacom Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Wacom Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Sadao Yamamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285772A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0383: {Signal control means within the pointing device} - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F 3/04162: {for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware} - G06F 3/04166: {Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving (Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184)} - G06F 3/0441: {using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals} - G06F 3/0442: {using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 3/046: by electromagnetic means - G06F 2203/0384: Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A single position indicator that can be used with a plurality of different types of position detection systems. The position indicator includes a communication circuit which, in operation, communicates with an outer device, a configuration circuit which, in operation, performs an initial setting process based on a signal from the outer device, a signal generation circuit which, in operation, generates a stylus position signal, and a control circuit. The control circuit, in operation, controls transmission of the stylus position signal based on an initial setting of at least one switch circuit that is set by the initial setting process performed by the configuration circuit, and controls reception of a signal received from the outer device via the communication circuit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A position indicator, comprising: a communication circuit which, in operation, communicates with an outer device; a configuration circuit which, in operation, performs a setting process based on a signal from the outer device, an initial setting of at least one switch circuit being set by the setting process; a signal generation circuit which, in operation, generates a stylus position signal; and a control circuit which, in operation, controls transmission of the stylus position signal based on the initial setting set by the setting process performed by the configuration circuit, and controls reception of a signal received from the outer device via the communication circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the setting process performed by the configuration circuit sets a configuration type of the position indicator to one of a plurality of configuration types based on the signal from the outer device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The position indicator according to claim 2, wherein: the communication circuit includes a first transmission circuit, the position indicator further comprises: a plurality of additional information generation circuits, wherein each of the additional information generation circuits, in operation, generates additional information of one of a plurality of types, the additional information generation circuits including a second transmission circuit that is different from the first transmission circuit, and the control circuit, in operation, controls transmission of the stylus position signal via the second transmission circuit according to the configuration type set by the configuration circuit and controls sending of the additional information from the plurality of additional information generation circuits from the first transmission circuit or the second transmission based on the configuration type set by the configuration circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, wherein: the second transmission circuit includes a conductive member disposed at one end in an axial direction of an elongated cylindrical housing, and the control circuit performs control to transmit the stylus position signal via the conductive member of the second transmission circuit according to the configuration type set by the configuration circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The position indicator according to claim 4, wherein the conductive member is an electrode core projecting from an opening at the one end in the axial direction of the housing or an electrode disposed around the electrode core. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The position indicator according to claim 4, wherein: the outer device is a position detection system, and when a signal from the position detection system is not received by the communication circuit, the setting process performed by the configuration circuit sets the configuration type of the position indicator to a configuration type in which the stylus position signal is not transmitted from the second transmission circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The position indicator according to claim 4, wherein: the outer device is a position detection system, and the second transmission circuit, in operation, processes a signal received from the position detection system by a reception electrode and transmits a resulting signal to the position detection system via a transmission electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The position indicator according to claim 7, wherein the reception electrode and the transmission electrode of the second transmission section include a center electrode disposed at the one end in the axial direction of the elongated cylindrical housing along a central axis of the cylindrical housing and a peripheral electrode surrounding a periphery of the center electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, further comprising: a pressure detection circuit which, in operation, detects a pressure applied to a member disposed at one end in an axial direction of an elongated cylindrical housing, wherein the additional information includes information regarding the pressure detected by the pressure detection circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, further comprising: a storage device which, in operation, stores identification information, wherein the additional information includes the identification information stored in the storage device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, further comprising: a switch which, in operation, accepts an operation of a user, wherein the additional information includes information regarding a state of the switch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, wherein: the outer device is a position detection system, and transmission of a signal from the second transmission circuit to the position detection system is performed through capacitive coupling between the second transmission circuit and the position detection system, and transmission of a signal from the first transmission circuit included in the communication circuit to the position detection system is performed according to a wireless communication standard. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, wherein: the external device is a position detection system, and transmission of a signal from the second transmission circuit to the position detection system is performed through electromagnetic coupling between the second transmission circuit and the position detection system, and transmission of a signal from the first transmission circuit included in the communication circuit to the position detection system is performed according to a wireless communication standard. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, wherein the second transmission circuit includes a center electrode disposed at one end in an axial direction of an elongated cylindrical housing along a central axis of the cylindrical housing and a plurality of peripheral electrodes surrounding a periphery of the center electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The position indicator according to claim 3, wherein: the outer device is a position detection system, and the position indicator further comprises a storage device that stores setting information used in the setting process performed by the configuration circuit, the setting information relating to the configuration type and control of signals transmitted from the first transmission circuit and the second transmission circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the signal received from the outer device via the communication circuit includes a synchronizing signal that is a reference for a timing of transmission of the stylus position signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein: the signal generation circuit includes a plurality of origination circuits, and the control circuit determines, based on the setting process performed by the configuration circuit, which one of the plurality of origination circuits generates the stylus position signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein: the communication circuit includes a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, the first communication circuit, in operation, receives a signal based on which the setting process is performed, and the second communication circuit, in operation, receives a signal based on which transmission of at least the stylus position signal by the second communication circuit is controlled. ### Claim 19 A method, comprising: providing a position indicator that includes at least one switch circuit; receiving a signal at the position indicator, the signal being transmitted from an outer device; performing an initial setting process based on the signal transmitted from the outer device, an initial setting of the at least one switch circuit being set by the initial setting process; generating a stylus position signal; and controlling transmission of the stylus position signal based on the initial setting set by the initial setting process. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein: the initial setting process sets a configuration type of the position indicator to one of a plurality of configuration types based on the signal transmitted from the outer device, the position indicator includes a first transmission circuit and a plurality of additional information generation circuits, each of the additional information generation circuits, in operation, generating additional information of one of a plurality of types, the additional information generation circuits including a second transmission circuit that is different from the first transmission circuit, and the method further comprises controlling transmission of the stylus position signal via the second transmission circuit according to the configuration type set by the initial setting process and controlling sending of the additional information from the plurality of additional information generation circuits from the first transmission circuit or the second transmission based on the configuration type set by the initial setting process.