Multi-Electrode Active Stylus Tip

• US 20130106717A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sundara-Rajan, Kishore, Shahparnia, Shahrooz
• Granted Patent: US 10,082,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

In one embodiment, a device includes a stylus tip capable of communicating wirelessly with another device through a touch sensor of the other device. The stylus tip includes one or more surface areas, one or more substrates disposed along one or more of the surface areas of the stylus tip, and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or in the one or more substrates.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a stylus tip of a stylus operable to communicate wirelessly with another device through a touch sensor of the other device, the stylus tip comprising one or more surface areas;

one or more substrates disposed along one or more of the surface areas of the stylus tip; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed on or in one or more of the substrates.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a first one of the plurality of electrodes is disposed along a central vertical axis of the substrate, and wherein each of the other electrodes in the plurality of electrodes is disposed as a ring surrounding the first electrode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are disposed in a stack within the substrate, and wherein the stack comprises horizontal segments of the substrate, each segment corresponding to one of the plurality of electrodes.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each electrode comprises a vertical segment of the substrate, and wherein each electrode extends along at least a portion of the length of the substrate.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is segmented horizontally and vertically, and wherein each segment corresponds to an electrode.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to dynamically configure the electrodes.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising mechanical means operable to dynamically configure the electrodes.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising electrical or electronic means operable to dynamically configure the electrodes.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is operable to be dynamically configured as a drive electrode or a sense electrode.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the electrodes is operable to be dynamically configured as a ground electrode or a guard electrode.

11. A system comprising:

a device comprising a touch sensor; and

a stylus operable to communicate wirelessly with the device through the touch sensor of the device, the stylus comprising a stylus tip, the stylus tip comprising;

one or more surface areas;

one or more substrates disposed along one or more of the surface areas of the stylus tip; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed on or in one or more of the substrates.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a first one of the plurality of electrodes is disposed along a central vertical axis of the substrate, and wherein each of the other electrodes in the plurality of electrodes is disposed as a ring surrounding the first electrode.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrodes are disposed in a stack within the substrate, and wherein the stack comprises horizontal segments of the substrate, each segment corresponding to one of the plurality of electrodes.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein each electrode comprises a vertical segment of the substrate, and wherein each electrode extends along at least a portion of the length of the substrate.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the substrate is segmented horizontally and vertically, and wherein each segment corresponds to an electrode.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to dynamically configure the electrodes.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising mechanical means operable to dynamically configure the electrodes.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising electrical or electronic means operable to dynamically configure the electrodes.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is operable to be dynamically configured as a drive electrode or a sense electrode.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the electrodes is operable to be dynamically configured as a ground electrode or a guard electrode.