UNTETHERED ACTIVE PEN AND A METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A CAPACITIVE SENSING DEVICE USING THE UNTETHERED ACTIVE PEN

• US 20100315384A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: HARGREAVES, Kirk, REYNOLDS, Joseph Kurth
• Granted Patent: US 9,417,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/14 Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors

Abstract

A method for communicating with a capacitive sensing device using an untethered active pen. The method includes capacitively receiving a capacitive sensing signal at a capacitive receiving unit of the untethered active pen. The capacitive sensing signal is output from the capacitive sensing device. In addition, the method includes determining a first frequency and a first phase associated with the capacitive sensing signal. Moreover, the method includes transmitting at a second frequency and a second phase an amplified active pen signal at the capacitive sensing device from the untethered active pen. The amplified active pen signal has a second frequency and a second phase that correspond to the first frequency and the first phase.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a capacitive sensing device using an untethered active pen comprising:

capacitively receiving a capacitive sensing signal at a capacitive receiving unit of said untethered active pen, said capacitive sensing signal output from said capacitive sensing device;

determining a first frequency and a first phase associated with said capacitive sensing signal; and

transmitting at a second frequency and a second phase an amplified active pen signal at said capacitive sensing device from said untethered active pen, said amplified active pen signal having said second frequency and said second phase corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said determining said first frequency and said first phase associated with said capacitive sensing signal comprises:

suspending said determining said first frequency and said first phase while transmitting said amplified active pen signal from said untethered active pen.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said determining said first frequency and said first phase associated with said capacitive sensing signal comprises:

said determining said first frequency and said first phase concurrently with said transmitting of said amplified active pen signal from said untethered active pen at said second frequency and said second phase, said second frequency being a higher harmonic frequency of said first frequency.

4. The method recited in claim 3, said method further comprising:

filtering said capacitive sensing signal such that signal processing of said capacitive sensing signal is not substantially influenced by said transmitting of said amplified active pen signal at said second frequency.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said determining said first frequency and said first phase associated with said capacitive sensing signal comprises:

said determining said first frequency and said first phase concurrently with transmitting of said amplified active pen signal from said untethered active pen at said second frequency and second phase, said second frequency being a sub-harmonic frequency of said first frequency.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining whether said first frequency lies within a selected range of frequencies.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said amplified active pen signal at said second frequency, provided said first frequency lies within said selected range of frequencies.

8. The method recited in claim 1, said method further comprising:

activating said untethered active pen when a switch of said untethered activated pen engages said capacitive sensing device.

9. The method recited in claim 1, said method further comprising:

modulating said amplified active pen signal to simulate how one or more fingers of a user would interact with a capacitive sensing device.

10. The method recited in claim 1, said method further comprising:

determining a first signal strength associated with said capacitive sensing signal; and

transmitting said amplified active pen signal with an average power corresponding to said first signal strength.

11. An untethered active pen comprising:

a capacitive receiving unit configured to capacitively receive a capacitive sensing signal from a capacitive sensing device;

a signal processing unit configured to determine a first frequency and a first phase associated with said capacitive sensing signal and to generate an active pen signal corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase, said signal processing unit further configured to determine a second frequency and a second phase corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase;

an amplifier configured to amplify said active pen signal generated by said signal processing unit to produce an amplified active pen signal; and

a transmitter unit configured to transmit said amplified active pen signal at said capacitive sensing device from said untethered active pen, wherein said amplified active pen signal has said second frequency and said second phase corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase.

12. The untethered active pen of claim 11, further comprising:

a conductive tip coupled to said capacitive receiving unit, said conductive tip configured to capacitively couple said untethered active pen with said capacitive sensing device.

13. The untethered active pen of claim 11, wherein said conductive tip of said untethered active pen is configured to both receive said capacitive sensing signal and to transmit said amplified active pen signal.

14. The untethered active pen of claim 11, wherein said signal processing unit is configured to suspend said determining said first frequency and said first phase of said capacitive sensing signal from said capacitive sensing device while said untethered active pen transmits said amplified active pen signal.

15. The untethered active pen of claim 11, wherein said signal processing unit is configured to perform said determining said first frequency and said first phase of said capacitive sensing signal from said capacitive sensing device concurrently with transmitting of said amplified active pen signal.

16. The untethered active pen of claim 15, wherein said signal processing unit further comprises:

a higher harmonic frequency filter, said higher harmonic frequency filter configured to filter higher harmonic frequencies such that signal processing of said capacitive sensing signal, by said signal processing unit, is not substantially influenced by said transmitting of said amplified active pen signal.

17. The untethered active pen of claim 11, wherein said signal processing unit further comprises:

logic and control circuitry, said logic and control circuitry configured to enable a capacitive sensing signal frequency detector to determine whether said first frequency lies within a selected range of frequencies, and provided said first frequency lies within said selected range of frequencies, said logic and control circuitry configured to provide that said transmitter unit transmits at said second frequency corresponding to said first frequency and to enable said transmitter unit to transmit said amplified active pen signal.

18. The untethered active pen of claim 17, wherein said signal processing unit further comprises:

a pen switch, said pen switch coupled to said logic and control circuitry, said logic and control circuitry configured to activate said untethered active pen in response to a signal received from said pen switch when said untethered active pen couples with said capacitive sensing device.

19. The untethered active pen of claim 11, further comprising:

a power supply coupled to at least said capacitive receiving unit; and

a recharging unit coupled to said power supply, said recharging unit configured to receive power from a charging source provided said untethered active pen is placed in proximity with said charging source, said recharging unit further configured to recharge a power source within said power supply.

20. A method for communicating with a capacitive sensing device using an untethered active pen comprising:

transmitting a first signal from a sending device;

receiving said first signal from said sending device with a receiving unit of said untethered active pen;

determining, from said first signal, a first frequency and a first phase associated with a capacitive sensing signal for a capacitive sensing device; and

transmitting at a second frequency and a second phase an amplified active pen signal at said capacitive sensing device from said untethered active pen, said amplified active pen signal having said second frequency and said second phase corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase.

21. The method recited in claim 20, wherein said receiving comprises receiving a non-capacitive first signal from a sending device.

22. An untethered active pen comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a first signal from a sending device;

a signal processing unit configured to determine a first frequency and a first phase associated with a capacitive sensing signal for a capacitive sensing device from said first signal and to generate an active pen signal corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase, said signal processing unit further configured to determine a second frequency and a second phase corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase;

an amplifier configured to amplify said active pen signal generated by said signal processing unit to produce an amplified active pen signal; and

a transmitter unit configured to transmit said amplified active pen signal from said untethered active pen at said capacitive sensing device, wherein said amplified active pen signal has said second frequency and said second phase corresponding to said first frequency and said first phase.