Active Stylus with Energy Harvesting

• US 20130106770A1
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• 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: Bakken, Vemund Kval, Pedersen, Trond Jarle, Yilmaz, Esat, Shahparnia, Shahrooz, Sundara-Rajan, Kishore, Lifsey, Walt T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,872,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

In one embodiment, a stylus includes one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly from the stylus to a device through a touch sensor of the device. The stylus has one or more sensors for kinetic, thermal, solar or electric energy harvesting from an environment of the stylus or from the stylus itself.

Claims

1. A stylus comprising:

one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly from the stylus to a device through a touch sensor of the device; and

one or more sensors harvesting kinetic, thermal, solar, or electric energy from the stylus or an environment of the stylus.

2. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy is harvested by one or more of:

a piezoelectric element;

a magnet inductively coupled to a conductor;

a fluid in a closed volume;

a variable capacitor;

or

a spring.

3. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy is harvested by a temperature difference between the stylus'"'"'s external environment and a user or the stylus'"'"'s internal environment.

4. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy is harvested by a temperature difference between a first conductor comprising at least a portion of the outer body of the stylus and a second conductor comprising another portion of the outer body of the stylus.

5. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy is harvested by a temperature difference between a first conductor comprising at least a portion of the outer body of the stylus and a second conductor located in the interior of the stylus.

6. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the electric energy is harvested by one or more antennas or induction coils.

7. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the electric energy is produced by a touch-sensitive device.

8. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the solar energy is harvested by a photovoltaic material on or near the surface of the stylus.

9. An method comprising:

harvesting, by one or more sensors on or in a stylus, kinetic, thermal, solar, or electric energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus, the stylus comprising one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly from the stylus to a device through a touch sensor of the device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the kinetic energy is harvested by:

a piezoelectric element;

a magnet inductively coupled to a conductor;

a fluid in a closed volume;

a variable capacitor;

or

a spring.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the thermal energy is harvested by a temperature difference between the stylus'"'"'s external environment and a user or the stylus'"'"'s internal environment.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the thermal energy is harvested by a temperature difference between a first conductor comprising at least a portion of the outer body of the stylus and a second conductor comprising another portion of the outer body of the stylus.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the thermal energy is harvested by a temperature difference between a first conductor comprising at least a portion of the outer body of the stylus and a second conductor located in the interior of the stylus.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the electric energy is harvested by one or more antennas or induction coils.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the electric energy is produced by a touch-sensitive device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the solar energy is harvested by a photovoltaic material on or near the surface of the stylus.

17. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

harvest, by one or more sensors on or in a stylus, kinetic, thermal, solar, or electric energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus, the stylus comprising one or more electrodes and the media further embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein the kinetic energy is harvested by:

a piezoelectric element;

a magnet inductively coupled to a conductor;

a fluid in a closed volume;

a variable capacitor;

or

a spring.

19. The media of claim 17, wherein the thermal energy is harvested by a temperature difference between the stylus'"'"'s external environment and a user or the stylus'"'"'s internal environment.

20. The media of claim 17, wherein the electric energy is harvested by one or more antennas or induction coils.