Variable capacity condenser and pointer

Abstract

The present invention provides a variable capacity condenser having fewer components. A variable capacity condenser according to the present invention comprises a dielectric substance, two electrodes, and a flexible electrode. The dielectric substance has two end faces. The two electrodes are disposed on one end face of the dielectric substance. The flexible electrode faces the other end face of the dielectric substance. The flexible electrode is pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the other end face of the dielectric substance.

1. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
 a dielectric substance of an electric pointer device having two end faces;  
 two electrodes disposed on one end face of the dielectric substance; and  
 a flexible electrode facing the other end face of the dielectric substance and pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the other end face of the dielectric substance.  
 
     
     
       2. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible electrode comprises a mixture of rubber and conductive particles. 
     
     
       3. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the conductive particles are carbon particles. 
     
     
       4. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible electrode is a deposition film. 
     
     
       5. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member positioned between the flexible electrode and the pressing member. 
     
     
       6. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer positioned between the other end face of the dielectric substance and the flexible electrode. 
     
     
       7. A pointer comprising:
 a casing;  
 a circuit disposed within the casing, the circuit including a variable capacity condenser comprising: 
 a dielectric substance having two end faces;  
 two electrodes disposed on one end face of the dielectric substance; and  
 a flexible electrode facing the other end face of the dielectric substance; and  
 
 a pressing member to press the flexible electrode of the variable capacity condenser to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the other end face of the dielectric substance.  
 
     
     
       8. The pointer according to  claim 7 , wherein the flexible electrode of the variable capacity condenser comprises a mixture of rubber and conductive particles. 
     
     
       9. The pointer according to  claim 8 , wherein the conductive particles are carbon particles. 
     
     
       10. The pointer according to  claim 7 , wherein the flexible electrode of the variable capacity condenser is a deposition film. 
     
     
       11. The pointer according to  claim 7 , wherein the variable capacity condenser further comprises an elastic member positioned between the flexible electrode and the pressing member. 
     
     
       12. The pointer according to  claim 7 , wherein the variable capacity condenser further comprises a spacer positioned between the other end face of the dielectric substance and the flexible electrode. 
     
     
       13. The pointer according to  claim 7 , wherein the casing is pen-shaped and the pointer includes a core having a pen point protruding outside the casing to transmit pressure applied thereto to the variable capacity condenser. 
     
     
       14. The pointer according to  claim 13 , wherein the pressing member is a ferrite core made integral with the core and having a coil wound therearound. 
     
     
       15. The pointer according to  claim 13 , wherein the pressing member is the core slidable through a ferrite core having a coil wound therearound. 
     
     
       16. The pointer according to  claim 7 , further comprising a circuit substrate having front and back sides, each of the front and back sides including at least a portion of the circuit printed thereon, the at least a portion of the circuit printed on the front side including a conducting portion electrically connected to one of the two electrodes and the at least a portion of the circuit printed on the back side including a conducting portion electrically connected to the other of the two electrodes. 
     
     
       17. The pointer according to  claim 16 , the conducting portions are soldered to the two electrodes. 
     
     
       18. The pointer according to  claim 16 , wherein the conducting portions are provided around an end face of the circuit substrate abutting the one end face of the dielectric substance at a portion separating the two electrodes by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
       19. The pointer according to  claim 18 , wherein the circuit substrate has a thickness substantially equal to the predetermined distance of the portion of the dielectric substance separating the two electrodes. 
     
     
       20. A variable capacity condenser comprising: a dielectric region of an electric pointer including a dielectric substance, the dielectric region having two end portions; two electrodes disposed at one end portion of the dielectric region; and a flexible electrode facing the other end portion of the dielectric region and pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the other end portion of the dielectric region. 
     
     
       21. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 20 , further comprising a spacer positioned between the other end portion of the dielectric region and the flexible electrode. 
     
     
       22. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 20 , wherein the dielectric substance has a disc shape that defines the shape of the dielectric region. 
     
     
       23. A variable capacity condenser, comprising:
   a dielectric region of an electric pointer defined by at least one dielectric substance disposed therein, the dielectric region having a substantially cylindrical shape with a circumferential side portion and circular end faces disposed on opposite sides of the circumferential side portion;        two electrodes disposed at a first one of the circular end faces of the dielectric region; and        a flexible electrode facing a second one of the circular end faces of the dielectric region and pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the second circular end face of the dielectric region.     
     
     
       24. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 23 , wherein the two electrodes are disposed on the at least one dielectric substance. 
     
     
       25. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 23 , wherein the two electrodes are disposed at two semicircular halves of the first circular end face of the dielectric region. 
     
     
       26. A variable capacity condenser usable in an electric pointing device, the condenser comprising:
 a dielectric region of an electric pointer, the dielectric region having a disc shape defined by a dielectric substance disposed therein, the disc-shaped dielectric region having upper and lower end portions and a side portion connected between the upper and lower end portions;      two electrodes disposed at the upper end portion of the dielectric region; and        a flexible conductive member facing the lower end portion of the dielectric region; and        pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the lower end portion of the dielectric region.     
     
     
       27. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 26 , wherein the dielectric substance has a disc shape. 
     
     
       28. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   a dielectric region of an electric pointer having two end portions, the dielectric region including at least two different dielectrics;        two electrodes disposed at one end portion of the dielectric region; and        a flexible conductive member facing the other end portion of the dielectric region; and        pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and an the other end portion of the dielectric region.     
     
     
       29. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 28 , wherein the dielectric region has a disc shape with the two end portions disposed on opposite sides of a circumferential side portion. 
     
     
       30. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   a dielectric component of an electric pointer device having two end faces;        two electrodes disposed on one end face of the dielectric component; and        a flexible electrode facing the other end face of the dielectric component and pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the other end face of the dielectric component.     
     
     
       31. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 30 , wherein the dielectric component comprises at least two different dielectrics. 
     
     
       32. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   a generally circular dielectric component of an electric pointer device having upper and lower end portions;        a ring shaped spacer disposed beneath the lower end portion of the dielectric component;        first and second electrodes disposed on the upper end portion of the dielectric component; and        a circular flexible electrode disposed beneath the ring shaped spacer to face the lower end portion of the dielectric component, the flexible electrode being pressible to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the first and second electrodes.     
     
     
       33. A variable capacity condenser usable with an electric pointer, the condenser comprising:
   a first capacity condenser having a first dielectric portion, a first upper electrode disposed on the first dielectric portion, and a first lower electrode portion disposed beneath the first dielectric portion; and        a second capacity condenser disposed adjacent to the first capacity condenser and having a second dielectric portion, a second upper electrode disposed on the second dielectric portion, and a second lower electrode portion disposed beneath the second dielectric portion,        wherein the first and second lower electrode portions are movable with respect to the first and second upper electrode portions, respectively, to change capacities therebetween.     
     
     
       34. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 33 , wherein the first and second dielectric portions comprises a generally circular dielectric component. 
     
     
       35. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 33 , wherein the first and second dielectric portions comprise a dielectric disc. 
     
     
       36. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 33 , wherein the first and second dielectric portions comprise semicircular dielectric components. 
     
     
       37. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 36 , wherein the first and second upper electrodes comprise semicircular flat electrodes disposed on the corresponding semicircular dielectric components. 
     
     
       38. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   an integrated capacitor of an electric pointer, the integrated capacitor including at least two individual electrodes, a movable common electrode movable with respect to the individual electrodes, and dielectric disposed between the individual electrodes and the movable common electrode, the movable common electrode being movable by operation of the electric pointer such that a distance between the movable common electrode and the individual electrodes is varied.     
     
     
       39. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 38 , wherein the movable common electrode comprises a flexible conductive member spaced apart from the dielectric, and the individual electrodes are disposed on the dielectric and have shapes that correspond to different halves of the flexible electrode. 
     
     
       40. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 38 , wherein the dielectric includes at least two different dielectrics. 
     
     
       41. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   a generally circular dielectric component of an electric pointer device having two end faces;        two electrodes disposed on one end face of the dielectric component; and        a flexible electrode facing the other end face of the dielectric component and pressible by a pressing member to vary a distance between at least a portion of the flexible electrode and the other end face of the dielectric component.     
     
     
       42. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   a dielectric region of an electric pointer, the dielectric region having two end portions;        a dielectric substance;        two electrodes at one of the end portions of the dielectric region, and        a conductive elastic material at the other end portion,        wherein, the conductive elastic material at one end portion is flexible by a control with which a distance is altered between at least one electrode at one end portion and the conductive elastic material at the other end portion of the dielectric region, and        wherein, the capacity of the variable capacity condenser changes in relation to changes in said distance.     
     
     
       43. The variable capacity condenser according  claim 42 , further comprising a spacer positioned between the other end portion of the dielectric region and the conductive elastic material. 
     
     
       44. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 42 , wherein the dielectric substance has a disc shape that defines the shape of the dielectric region. 
     
     
       45. A variable capacity condenser, comprising:
   a dielectric region of an electric pointer defined by at least one dielectric substance disposed therein, the dielectric region having a substantially cylindrical shape with a circumferential side portion and circular end faces disposed on opposite sides of the circumferential side portion;        two electrodes disposed at a first one of the circular end faces of the dielectric region; and        a third electrode facing a second one of the circular end faces of the dielectric region,        wherein, the third electrode is movable by a control with which a distance is altered between the third electrode and the second one of the circular end faces of the dielectric region, and        wherein, the capacity of the variable capacity condenser changes in relation to alterations in said distance.     
     
     
       46. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 45 , wherein the two electrodes are disposed on the at least one dielectric substance. 
     
     
       47. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 45 , wherein the two electrodes are disposed at two semicircular halves of the first circular end face of the dielectric region. 
     
     
       48. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 45 , wherein the third electrode is flexible. 
     
     
       49. A variable capacity condenser usable in an electric pointing device, the condenser comprising:
   a dielectric region of an electric pointer, the dielectric region having a disc shape defined by a dielectric substance disposed therein, the disc-shaped dielectric region having upper and lower end portions and a side portion connected between the upper and lower end portions;        two electrodes disposed at the upper end portion of the dielectric region; and        a third electrode facing the lower end portion of the dielectric region,        wherein, the third electrode is movable by a control with which a distance is altered between the third electrode and the second one of the circular end faces of the dielectric region, and        wherein, the capacity of the variable capacity condenser changes in relation to changes in said distance.     
     
     
       50. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 49 , wherein the dielectric substance has a disc shape. 
     
     
       51. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 49 , wherein the third electrode is flexible. 
     
     
       52. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   a dielectric component of an electric pointer device having two end faces;        two electrodes disposed on one end face of the dielectric component; and        a movable electrode facing the other end face of the dielectric component,      
       
         wherein, the movable electrode is actuated by a control to vary a distance between at least a portion of the movable electrode and the other end face of the dielectric component, and  
       
       
         wherein, the capacity of the variable capacity condenser changes in relation to changes in said distance. 
        
       
     
     
       53. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 52 , wherein the dielectric component comprises at least two different dielectrics. 
     
     
       54. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 52 , wherein the movable electrode is flexible. 
     
     
       55. A variable capacity condenser comprising:
   a generally circular dielectric component of an electric pointer device having upper and lower end portions;        a ring shaped spacer disposed beneath the lower end portion of the dielectric component;        first and second electrodes disposed on the upper end portion of the dielectric component; and        a circular movable electrode disposed beneath the ring shaped spacer to face the lower end portion of the dielectric component, the movable electrode being pressible to vary a distance between at least a portion of the movable electrode and the first and second electrodes.     
     
     
       56. The variable capacity condenser according to  claim 55 , wherein the movable electrode is flexible.