Positioning indicator and position indication method

• US 10,185,412 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Katsurahira, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Jansen, II, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/461,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20170185176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A position indicator is provided, which includes a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator. The position indicator further includes a storage configured to store the pressure as one type of digital data and to store at least one other type of digital data. The position indicator also includes a receiver configured to receive a command signal transmitted from a position sensor, and a control circuit configured to select one or more types of digital data in the storage based on the command signal. The position indicator includes a transmitter configured to transmit the selected one or more types of digital data to the position sensor.

Claims

1. A method of establishing bi-directional communication between a position indicator and a position detector including a tablet sensor, the position indicator having a power supply and configured to transmit a signal from a tip portion of an elongate body of the position indicator, the method comprising:

transmitting a first signal, which is generated based on the power supply, from the tip portion to indicate a first position of the position indicator relative to the tablet sensor;

receiving, at the position indicator, a command transmitted from the position detector; and

in response to the command, transmitting a second signal, which is generated based on the power supply, from the tip portion to indicate a second position of the position indicator relative to the tablet sensor different from the first position,

wherein the command includes a request indicating what type of information the position indicator is requested to transmit to the position detector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested information includes one or more of pressure information, ID information, slider switch status information, and rotational angle information of the position indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

transmitting the first signal from the tip portion according to a defined transmission period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is received during a reception period in which neither the first signal nor the second signal is transmitted.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

ceasing the transmitting of the first signal and the second signal when not detecting the command during the reception period.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

ceasing the transmitting of the first signal and the second signal when not detecting the command for a defined period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal are distinguishable from each other.

8. A pen-shaped position indicator for use with a position detector including a tablet sensor, comprising:

a power supply;

a signal generating oscillation circuit;

an elongate body having a tip end and a proximal end;

a first coil configuration provided at the tip end and configured to transmit a first signal generated by the signal generating oscillation circuit driven by the power supply, to indicate a first position of the position indicator relative to the tablet sensor;

a second coil configuration provided at the tip end and configured to control transmission of a second signal generated by the signal generating oscillation circuit driven by the power supply, to indicate a second position of the position indicator relative to the tablet sensor different from the first position; and

a control circuit configured to control the transmitting of the second signal based on control of the second coil configuration in response to a command received from the position detector,

wherein the command includes a request indicating what type of information the position indicator is requested to transmit to the position detector.

9. The position indicator of claim 8, wherein the requested information includes one or more of pressure information, ID information, slider switch status information, and rotational angle information of the position indicator.

10. The position indicator of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to control:

the transmitting of the first signal from the first coil configuration according to a defined transmission period.

11. The position indicator of claim 8, wherein the command is received during a reception period in which neither the first signal nor the second signal is transmitted.

12. The position indicator of claim 11, wherein the control circuit is configured to cease the transmitting of the first signal and second signal when not detecting the command during the reception period.

13. The position indicator of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to cease the transmitting of the first signal and the second signal when not detecting the command for a defined period of time.

14. The position indicator of claim 8, wherein the first signal and the second signal are distinguishable from each other.