POSITION INPUT DEVICE AND COMPUTER SYSTEM

• US 20100321288A1
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masaki Matsubara, Yuji Katsurahira
• Original Assignee: Masaki Matsubara, Yuji Katsurahira
• Inventors: Katsurahira, Yuji, Matsubara, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,094,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• 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 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A position input device is provided in which signals are transmitted from a position indicator, and signals transmitted from the position indicator are received by a position detector device. According to certain embodiments, an electrical double-layer capacitor, a charging circuit which charges the electrical double-layer capacitor, and a power transmission unit which relays and supplies to the charging circuit power supplied from a power supply unit external to the position indicator, are provided in the position indicator. In other embodiments the position input device has a built-in power supply unit, transmitting units, and a control unit for switching the transmitting units between energized and de-energized states. Also provided are position input systems and computer systems including the position input device, and methods of operating the position input device and the systems.

Claims

1. A position input system, comprising:

a position indicator for transmitting signals;

and a position detector device for receiving signals transmitted from the position indicator,

wherein said position indicator comprises an electrical double-layer capacitor, a charging circuit which charges the electrical double-layer capacitor, and a power transmission unit which relays power supplied from a power supply unit external to the position indicator to said charging circuit.

2-45. -45. (canceled)

46. A position indicator for use with a position detecting device to detect a position indicated by the position indicator on the position detecting device, comprising:

a position indicator, comprising;

a capacitor,

a charging circuit for charging the capacitor by power supplied from an external power supply,

a voltage detection unit for detecting a voltage status of the position indicator, and

an information transmission unit for transmitting the voltage status.

47. The position indicator according to claim 46, further comprising a controller operably associated with the position indicator, and wherein the capacitor drives the controller.

48. The position indicator according to claim 47, further comprising a connection switch controlling the connection between the capacitor and the controller based upon the voltage status.

49. The position indicator according to claim 47, wherein the voltage status of the position indicator comprises a voltage status of the controller.

50. The position indicator according to claim 46, wherein the voltage status of the position indicator comprises a voltage status of the capacitor.

51. The position indicator according to claim 46, wherein the charging circuit comprises a coil for receiving power from a magnetic field generation unit of the external power supply.

52. The position indicator according to claim 51, wherein the information transmission unit transmits the voltage status by using the coil.

53. The position indicator according to claim 46, wherein the charging circuit is a resonance circuit comprising a coil and a capacitor.

54. The position indicator according to claim 46, wherein the information transmission unit electromagnetically transmits the voltage status to a position detecting device.

55. The position indicator according to claim 46, wherein the information transmission unit electrostatically transmits the voltage status to a position detecting device.

56. The position indicator according to claim 46, wherein the capacitor comprises an electrical double layer capacitor.

57. The position indicator according to claim 46, further comprising a voltage increase circuit for increasing a voltage level of the capacitor.

58. The position indicator according to claim 46, further comprising exposed terminals for charging the capacitor.

59. The position indicator according to claim 46, wherein the information transmission unit transmits charging request information.

60. The position indicator according to claim 46, further comprising a stylus pressure detecting unit for detecting stylus pressure information, and wherein the information transmission unit transmits the stylus pressure information.

61. A position input system for detecting a position indicated by a position indicator on a position detecting device, the system comprising:

a power supply;

a position indicator comprising

a capacitor,

a charging circuit for charging the capacitor by power supplied from the external power supply,

a voltage detection unit to detect a voltage status of the position indicator, and

an information transmission unit to transmit the voltage status; and

a position detecting device comprising;

an information reception unit to receive the voltage status from the information transmission unit.

62. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the position indicator comprises a controller, and the capacitor drives the controller.

63. The position input system according to claim 62, wherein the voltage status of the position indicator comprises a voltage status of the controller.

64. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the voltage status of the position indicator comprises a voltage status of the capacitor.

65. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein operation of the power supply unit is based at least in part on the voltage status received by the information reception unit.

66. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the power supply comprises a magnetic field generation unit.

67. The position input system according to claim 66, wherein the power supply charges the capacitor with a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit.

68. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the position detecting device generates a user notification based upon the voltage status received by the information reception unit.

69. The position input system according to claim 68, further comprising a display, and wherein the user notification is generated on the display.

70. The position input system according to claim 69, wherein the display and the position detecting device are integrated into a tablet-type computer.

71. The position input system according to claim 68, wherein the user notification comprises a charging request message.

72. The position input system according to claim 68, wherein the user notification comprises activating or flashing an LED.

73. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the power supply comprises a detection switch to be activated when the position indicator is placed in a charging position of the power supply.

74. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the power supply is integrated with the position detecting device.

75. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the power supply provides power to the charging circuit based at least in part on the voltage status.

76. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the position indicator is inserted into an opening of the position detecting device and the capacitor is charged by a magnetic field generated by the power supply.

77. The position input system according to claim 61, wherein the power supply comprises a stand for setting the position indicator.

78. A method of charging a position indicator comprising the steps of:

providing a position detector device;

providing a position indicator with a capacitor and a charging circuit;

providing a power supply external to the position indicator;

detecting a voltage status of the position indicator;

transmitting the voltage status to the position detector device.

charging the capacitor by supplying power from the power supply to the charging circuit.

79. The method according to claim 78, further comprising charging the capacitor based at least in part on the voltage status.

80. The method according to claim 78, further comprising generating a user notification based at least in part on the voltage status.

81. The method according to claim 78, further comprising providing as the power supply a magnetic field generation unit and providing a coil with the charging circuit.

82. The method according to claim 78, further comprising providing a controller and wherein the voltage status of the position indicator comprises a voltage status of the controller.

83. The method according to claim 78, wherein the voltage status of the position indicator comprises a voltage status of the capacitor.

84. A method for charging a position indicator comprising the steps of:

receiving a capacitor voltage status from a position indicator comprising a capacitor and a coil; and

charging the capacitor based at least in part on the capacitor voltage status by generating a magnetic field.