Stylus communication with near-field coupling

• US 10,509,451 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Bentov, Izhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Chun-Nan
• Application Number:
  US15/909,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20180232025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a device, first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication. The first data comprises a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus. The device determines a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data. The device is operated based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device, first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication, wherein the first data comprises a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus;

determining, at the device, a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data further comprises at least one of the following:

a location of the active stylus; and

the hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device and the stylus are each configured to act as a near-field communication initiator and a near-field communication target.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a power status of the stylus; and

operating the device based at least in part on the power status of the stylus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus comprises adjusting a signal threshold in the device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a user input to the stylus; and

operating the device based at least in part on the user input to the stylus.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the device, a hover gesture of the stylus; and

authenticating the device based at least in part on the hover gesture.

9. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

receive, at a device, first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication, wherein the first data comprises a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus;

determine, at the device, a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operate the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

10. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the first data further comprises at least one of the following:

a location of the active stylus; and

the hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device.

11. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

12. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the device and the stylus are each configured to act as a near-field communication initiator and a near-field communication target.

13. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

receive, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a power status of the stylus; and

operate the device based at least in part on the power status of the stylus.

14. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus comprises adjusting a signal threshold in the device.

15. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

receive, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a user input to the stylus; and

operate the device based at least in part on the user input to the stylus.

16. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

determine, at the device, a hover gesture of the stylus; and

authenticate the device based at least in part on the hover gesture.

17. A stylus comprising:

one or more electrodes, the stylus being operable to wirelessly transmit signals to and receive signals from a device; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to;

transmit first data to a device by near-field communication, the first data comprising a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus, the device operable to determine a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operate the stylus based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

18. The stylus of claim 17, wherein the first data further comprises at least one of the following:

a location of the active stylus; and

the hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device.

19. The stylus of claim 17, wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

20. The stylus of claim 17, wherein the device and the stylus are each configured to act as a near-field communication initiator and a near-field communication target.