POSITION-DETECTING APPARATUS AND POSITION-INDICATING DEVICE

• US 20080099254A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: KATSURAHIRA, Yuji
• Application Number:
  US11/924,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A position-detecting apparatus includes a tablet for transmitting an electromagnetic wave and a position-indicating device for generating a transmission signal based on the electromagnetic wave received from the tablet. The position-detecting apparatus detects a position on the tablet indicated by the position-indicating device. The position-detecting device includes: a resonance circuit having a coil and a capacitor, a power supply extraction unit, an information reply unit, and a voltage conversion unit configured to generate a second power supply having a predetermined voltage level which is lower than a first power supply extracted by the power supply extraction unit.

Claims

1. A position-detecting apparatus, comprising:

a tablet for transmitting an electromagnetic wave; and

a position-indicating device for receiving the electromagnetic wave from the tablet and for generating a transmission signal for indicating a position on the tablet, the position-indicating including

a resonance circuit having a coil and a capacitor;

a power supply extraction unit including a rectifying device and a charging capacitor configured to extract a first power supply from a voltage introduced on the coil, the charging capacitor being charged when a voltage generated in the resonance circuit is higher than a voltage retained in the charging capacitor;

an information reply unit configured to transmit information as a reply from the position-indicating device to the tablet; and

a voltage conversion unit configured to generate a second power supply having a predetermined voltage level which is lower than the first power supply extracted by the power supply extraction unit,

wherein the information reply unit transmits the information as a reply from the position-indicating device by controlling the resonance circuit based on a control signal generated by a transistor circuit operated by the second power supply.

2. The position-detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position-indicating device further includes an operation information detecting unit for detecting at least pen pressure and/or switch operation, and the operation information detecting unit is operated by the second power supply.

3. A position-indicating device for indicating a position on a tablet by generating a transmission signal to the tablet upon receiving an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the tablet, the position-indicating device comprising:

a resonance circuit having a coil and a capacitor;

a power supply extraction unit including a rectifying device and a charging device configured to extract a first power supply from an induction voltage introduced into the coil, the charging capacitor being charged when a voltage generated in the resonance circuit is higher than a voltage retained in the charging capacitor;

an information reply unit configured to transmit predetermined information as a reply to the tablet; and

a voltage conversion unit configured to generate a second power supply having a predetermined voltage level which is lower than the first power supply extracted by the power supply extraction unit,

wherein the information reply unit transmits the information as a reply from the position-indicating device by controlling the resonance circuit based on a control signal generated by a transistor circuit operated by the second power supply.

4. The position-indicating device according to claim 3, further comprising:

an operation information detecting unit including configured to detect at least pen pressure and/or switch operation, the operation information detecting unit being operated by the second power supply.

5. A position indicating device for communication with a digitizer tablet device, the position indicating device comprising:

a resonant circuit for receiving a transmission signal from the tablet;

a power extraction unit for extracting a voltage of the received transmission signal;

a power supply unit in communication with said power extraction unit for powering electronic components of the position-indicating device; and

a voltage regulation unit for regulating transfer of power between said power extraction unit and said power supply unit based on minimum power consumption specifications of the electronic components of the position-indicating device.

6. The position-indicating device according to claim 5, wherein said power extraction circuit comprises:

a rectifying component for receiving an alternating power signal from said resonant circuit and rectifying the power signal; and

a power extraction capacitor receiving the rectified signal and for charging up to the extracted voltage.

7. The position indicating device according to claim 5, wherein said voltage regulation unit comprises a voltage conversion unit for converting the extracted voltage to a minimum driving voltage for driving the electronic components of the position-indicating device.

8. The position indicating device according to claim 7, wherein said voltage conversion unit comprises:

a voltage detector for detecting a voltage at said power supply unit;

a switch in communication with said voltage detector, said switch being turned ON when the voltage at said power supply unit is below the minimum driving voltage so that current flows between said power extraction unit and said power supply unit, and said switch being turned OFF when the voltage at said power supply unit is greater than or equal to the minimum driving voltage so that no current flows between said power extraction unit and said power supply unit.

9. The position indicating device according to claim 8, wherein said switch comprises a MOSFET having a gate terminal connected to said voltage detector, a source terminal connected to said power extraction unit, and a drain terminal connected to said power supply unit.

10. The position indicating device according to claim 5, wherein:

said power extraction unit comprises a power extraction capacitor for retaining the extracted voltage; and

said power supply unit comprises a power supply capacitor for retaining the power supply voltage, said power supply capacitor being charged by said power extraction capacitor based on operation of said voltage regulation unit.

11. The position indicating device according to claim 5, wherein the electronic components of the position indicating device are CMOS components, and said power supply unit is maintained at a voltage of about 0.9V.

12. The position-indicating device according to claim 5, wherein the extracted voltage of said power extraction unit is used to charge said power supply unit and to generate a response signal in the resonant circuit for transmission to the tablet, in response to the received transmission signal.

13. The position indicating device according to claim 5, further comprising:

an information reply unit for transmitting information about a current operational state of the position-indicating device to the tablet, in response to an information request command received from the tablet.

14. The position indicating device according to claim 13, wherein the position indicating device comprises a stylus with a pen tip for contacting the tablet and at least one switch disposed on the stylus, and the information requested comprises at least one of pressure on the pen-tip of the stylus, switch information associated with said at least one switch, or unique ID information associated with the position-indicating device.

15. The position-indicating device according to claim 5, wherein the position-indicating device comprises a wireless electromagnetic stylus that is powered by the transmission signal of the tablet.

16. The position indicating device according to claim 5, wherein a voltage supplied by said power supply unit to the electronic components is maintained constant by the voltage regulation unit regardless of the voltage extracted by said power extraction unit.

17. The position indicating device according to claim 5, wherein said power extraction unit, said voltage regulation unit, and said power supply unit together constitute a power management unit for extracting power from the transmission signal, allocating a first amount of power for powering internal circuitry of the position-indicating device and a second amount of power for generating a response signal for transmission back to the tablet, said first amount of power being maintained constant regardless of transmission power of the transmission signal received from the tablet.

18. A position detecting apparatus, comprising:

a tablet having a position detection unit with a plurality of loop coils, said tablet transmitting a transmission signal; and

a position-indicating device, comprising;

a resonant circuit for interacting with said loop coils and receiving said transmission signal, and

a power management unit for extracting power from the transmission signal received at said resonant circuit, allocating a first amount of power for powering internal circuitry of said position-indicating device and a second amount of power for generating a response signal for transmission back to the tablet, said first amount of power being maintained constant regardless of transmission power of the transmission signal received from the tablet.

19. The position detecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said power management unit reduces a voltage extracted from the transmission signal and provides the reduced voltage to the internal circuitry of the position-indicating signal.

20. The position detecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the power management unit comprises:

a power extraction unit for extracting a voltage of the transmission signal;

a power supply unit in communication with said power extraction unit for powering the internal circuitry of the position-indicating device; and

a voltage regulation unit for regulating transfer of power between said power extraction unit and said power supply unit based on minimum power consumption specifications of the internal circuitry of the position-indicating device.

21. A method of operating a position-indicating device for wireless communication with a digitizer tablet, the method comprising:

receiving a transmission signal from the tablet onto a resonant circuit in the position-indicating device;

extracting a voltage of the transmission signal using a rectifying device and a first capacitor for storing the extracted voltage;

performing a power supply operation for powering internal circuitry of the position indicating device using a power supply voltage stored on a second capacitor in communication with the first capacitor; and

regulating transfer of power between the first capacitor and the second capacitor so that the power supply voltage stored by the second capacitor is maintained constant regardless of the extracted voltage stored on the first capacitor.