Coordinate input device used for inputting characters and drawings into a personal computer/word processor

A coordinate input device, comprising:

• a panel having a coordinate input area;
• indicating means for indicating a point on said panel;
• coordinate sensing means for sensing coordinates of the point indicated by said indicating means;
• switch means, disposed in said indicating means and which is switched, when provided with an operational power supply, depending on whether or not said indicating means is pressed against said panel;
• switch condition sensing means for providing said switch means with said operational power supply, and for sensing whether said switch means is in an `ON` state or in an `OFF` state;
• and
• switch control means, connected to said coordinate sensing means and said switch condition sensing means, for controlling a coordinate sensing period during which said coordinate sensing means senses the coordinates, and for controlling said switch condition sensing means so that said switch condition sensing means senses whether said switch means is in the `ON` state or in the `OFF` state, by providing the operational power supply to said switch means only during the switch sensing period that is irrelevant to the accuracy in sensing by said coordinate sensing means.