Pointer detection apparatus and pointer detection method

A pointer detection apparatus detects positions pointed to by pointers of different types using a pointer detection sensor. The sensor has first conductors disposed in a first direction and second conductors disposed in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second conductors are in an opposing relationship to each other and spaced apart from each other. A signal reception circuit detects a reception signal from the sensor, which indicates variations of capacitance between the first conductors and the second conductors. The signal reception circuit has a first mode of operation, in which a position at which a first pointer having conductivity is positioned close to the pointer detection sensor and another position at which the first pointer presses the pointer detection sensor are detected based on the reception signal, and a second mode of operation, in which a position at which a second pointer having no conductivity presses the pointer detection sensor is detected based on the reception signal.