Localizing an Electrostatic Stylus Within a Capacitive Touch Sensor
First Claim
1. A method for using an active stylus to enable determination of a two-dimensional position of the active stylus relative to a capacitive touch sensor, wherein the capacitive touch sensor has a two-dimensional matrix of conductors configured as a first array of conductors arranged in rows and a second array of conductors arranged in columns, and wherein the active stylus has an electrode and active components, the method comprising:
- receiving a first signal in the active stylus from at least one of the columns in the matrix;
measuring a signal strength of each first signal received from the columns;
using the measured signal strengths to calculate a first position of the active stylus along a first axis of the matrix of the capacitive touch sensor;
transmitting the calculated first position of the active stylus along the first axis of the matrix of the capacitive touch sensor;
transmitting a second signal from the electrode of the active stylus to at least one of the rows of the matrix to indicate a second position of the active stylus along a second axis of the matrix, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is configured to determine the second position along the second axis of the matrix based on the received second signal,wherein the electrode is located within the active stylus and is configured to electrostatically couple with the capacitive touch sensor, andwherein the electrode of the active stylus is configured to both receive and transmit signals.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus relate to capacitive touch sensors with a fine-pointed, active stylus. The active stylus is configured to receive a signal from the capacitive touch sensor for synchronizing a time base of the stylus with the capacitive touch sensor. The active stylus is configured to receive a signal from a matrix of the capacitive touch sensor to measure a first position along one axis, and transmit a signal from the single electrode of the stylus to the matrix to indicate a second position of the stylus along another axis of the matrix. The stylus can transmit the received signal to report the first position of the stylus.
129 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for using an active stylus to enable determination of a two-dimensional position of the active stylus relative to a capacitive touch sensor, wherein the capacitive touch sensor has a two-dimensional matrix of conductors configured as a first array of conductors arranged in rows and a second array of conductors arranged in columns, and wherein the active stylus has an electrode and active components, the method comprising:
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receiving a first signal in the active stylus from at least one of the columns in the matrix; measuring a signal strength of each first signal received from the columns; using the measured signal strengths to calculate a first position of the active stylus along a first axis of the matrix of the capacitive touch sensor; transmitting the calculated first position of the active stylus along the first axis of the matrix of the capacitive touch sensor; transmitting a second signal from the electrode of the active stylus to at least one of the rows of the matrix to indicate a second position of the active stylus along a second axis of the matrix, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is configured to determine the second position along the second axis of the matrix based on the received second signal, wherein the electrode is located within the active stylus and is configured to electrostatically couple with the capacitive touch sensor, and wherein the electrode of the active stylus is configured to both receive and transmit signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for using a capacitive touch sensor to enable determination of a two-dimensional position of an active stylus with respect to the capacitive touch sensor, where the capacitive touch sensor has a two-dimensional matrix of conductors configured as a first array of conductors arranged in rows and a second array of conductors arranged in columns, and where the active stylus has an electrode and active components, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first signal from at least one of the columns in the matrix to the active stylus for indicating a first position of the active stylus along a first axis of the matrix of the capacitive touch sensor; receiving a second signal from the electrode of the active stylus at one or more of the rows of the matrix to indicate a second position of the active stylus along a second axis of the matrix, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is configured to determine the second position along the second axis of the matrix based on the received second signal, and wherein the capacitive touch sensor is configured to electrostatically couple with the electrode located within the active stylus. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An active stylus configured to operate with a capacitive touch sensor, the active stylus comprising:
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an electrode configured to both receive and transmit signals, and configured to electrostatically couple with the capacitive touch sensor; a switch, coupled with the electrode, that is configured to multiplex a relatively large voltage and a relatively small current, wherein the switch is configured to transmit a voltage to the electrode in a transmission mode, and to receive a current from the electrode in a receiving mode; means for receiving current from the electrode through the switch, and for transmitting voltage that is coupled through the switch to the electrode; a microcontroller coupled to the receiver and the transmitter circuits and configured to determine at least one position of the active stylus with respect to locations on the capacitive touch sensor; and an internal power source to provide power to at least the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An active stylus configured to operate with a capacitive touch sensor, the active stylus comprising:
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an electrode configured to both receive and transmit signals, and configured to electrostatically couple with the capacitive touch sensor; a switch, coupled with the electrode, that is configured to multiplex a relatively large voltage and a relatively small current, wherein the switch is configured to transmit a voltage to the electrode in a transmission mode, and to receive a current from the electrode in a receiving mode; a receiver circuit for receiving current from the electrode through the switch; a transmitter circuit for transmitting voltage that is coupled through the switch to the electrode; a microcontroller coupled to the receiver and the transmitter circuits and configured to determine at least one position of the active stylus with respect to locations on the capacitive touch sensor; and an internal power source to provide power to at least the microcontroller.
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43. A capacitive touch sensor configured to enable determination of a two-dimensional position of an active stylus with respect to the capacitive touch sensor, where the active stylus has an electrode and active components, the capacitive touch sensor comprising:
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a two-dimensional matrix of conductors configured to include; a first array of conductors arranged in rows; a second array of conductors arranged in columns; transmitters coupled to the second array of conductors, the transmitters being configured to transmit a first signal from at least one of the columns in the matrix to the active stylus for indicating a first position of the active stylus along a first axis of the matrix of the capacitive touch sensor; and receivers coupled to the first array of conductors, the receivers being configured to receive a second signal from the electrode of the active stylus at one or more of the rows of the matrix to indicate a second position of the active stylus along a second axis of the matrix, wherein; the capacitive touch sensor is configured to determine the second position along the second axis of the matrix based on the received second signal, and the capacitive touch sensor is configured to electrostatically couple with the electrode located within the active stylus.
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44. A capacitive touch sensor configured to enable determination of a two-dimensional position of an active stylus with respect to the capacitive touch sensor, where the active stylus has an electrode and active components, the capacitive touch sensor comprising:
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a two-dimensional matrix of conductors configured to include; a first array of conductors arranged in rows; a second array of conductors arranged in columns; and means for transmitting a first signal from at least one of the columns in the matrix to the active stylus for indicating a first position of the active stylus along a first axis of the matrix of the capacitive touch sensor, and receiving a second signal from the electrode of the active stylus at one or more of the rows of the matrix to indicate a second position of the active stylus along a second axis of the matrix, wherein; the capacitive touch sensor is configured to determine the second position along the second axis of the matrix based on the received second signal, and the capacitive touch sensor is configured to electrostatically couple with the electrode located within the active stylus.
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Specification