A position reader having a display device and a tablet, and being provided with means for detecting an end of display period of the display screen to set a position read period for reading the position of a pen-down point on the tablet, means for masking (i.e., fixing) display drive signals of the display device, and means for directing the CPU to read a coordinate position of the pen-down point on the tablet; the pen-down point read period being provided outside the display period of the display screen. Noise caused by changes in levels of display drive signals can be prevented from occurring in the tablet, and therefore the coordinate of the pen-down point of a pen-down means on the tablet can be read with a good precision.