Stylus Communication with Near-Field Coupling

• US 20140092069A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bentov, Izhar
• Granted Patent: US 9,921,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• 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 3/0441 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

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a device first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication. The device determines a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data. The device is operated based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a device first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication;

determining at the device a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stylus is operable to harvest energy from the device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the device second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a status of the stylus; and

operating the device based at least in part on the status of the stylus.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the device second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a user input to the stylus; and

operating the device based at least in part on the user input to the stylus.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting third data from the device to the stylus by near-field communication.

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

receive at a device first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication;

determine at the device a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operate the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

9. The media of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

10. The media of claim 9, wherein the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

11. The media of claim 10, wherein the stylus is operable to harvest energy from the device.

12. The media of claim 8, further operable when executed to:

receive at the device second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a status of the stylus; and

operate the device based at least in part on the status of the stylus.

13. The media of claim 8, further operable when executed to:

receive at the device second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a user input to the stylus; and

operate the device based at least in part on the user input to the stylus.

14. The media of claim 8, further operable when executed to:

transmit third data from the device to the stylus by near-field communication.

15. A stylus comprising:

one or more electrodes disposed in a tip of the stylus, the stylus being operable to wirelessly transmit signals to and receive signals from a device; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to;

transmit to the device first data by near-field communication, the device operable to determine a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

receive from the device second data comprising the hover distance of the stylus;

operate the stylus based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

16. The stylus of claim 15, wherein the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

17. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

18. The stylus of claim 17, wherein the stylus is operable to harvest energy from the device.

19. The stylus of claim 15, the media further operable when executed to:

transmit to the device second data by near-field communication, the second data comprising a status of the stylus.

20. The stylus of claim 15, the media further operable when executed to:

transmit to the device second data by near-field communication, the second data comprising a user input to the stylus.