ACTIVE STYLUS COMMUNICATION WITH A DIGITIZER

• US 20160195941A1
• Filed: 01/04/2016
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: GUR, Arie, ZYSKIND, Amir, GELLER, Ilan
• Granted Patent: US 10,739,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling

Abstract

A method includes detecting presence of a handheld device in proximity of a touch enabled device and negotiating communication capabilities between the handheld device and a digitizer system of the touch enabled device. At least one of the handheld device and the digitizer system is configured to match a defined communication capability of the other of the at least one of the handheld device and digitizer system. Input from the handheld device is tracked via an electrostatic communication channel between the handheld device and the digitizer system based on the defined communication configuration.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting presence of a handheld device in proximity of a touch enabled device;

negotiating communication capabilities between the handheld device and a digitizer system of the touch enabled device;

configuring at least one of the handheld device and the digitizer system to match a defined communication capability of the other of the at least one of the handheld device and digitizer system; and

tracking input from the handheld device via an electrostatic communication channel between the handheld device and the digitizer system based on the defined communication configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating communication capabilities is performed via a communication channel other than the electrostatic communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating communication capabilities is repeated periodically while communication via the electrostatic communication channel is sustained.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating communication capabilities is repeated after a lapse in communication via the electrostatic communication channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting presence of a handheld device in proximity of the touch enabled device is based on input detect by the digitizer system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication capability includes at least one of frequency for transmission, frame timing, symbol size, symbol timing, signal modulation, baud rate and coding.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication capability includes communicating support of reception of data related to information sensed or stored in the handheld device.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising defining a first communication configuration between a first handheld device and the digitizer system and defining a second communication configuration between a second handheld device and the digitizer system.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising defining a first communication configuration between the handheld device and a first digitizer sensor and defining a second communication configuration between the handheld device and a second digitizer sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld device transmits identification information to the touch enabled computing device and wherein the computing device determines the communication capabilities of the handheld device based on the identification information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating communication capabilities is performed over a plurality of transmission cycles between the handheld device and the digitizer system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the input from the handheld device is tracked via the electrostatic communication channel using a first basic communication configuration prior to the configuring.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein information encoded in the input is decoded based on the defined configuration.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring includes selecting information to be provided to the touch enabled computing device by the handheld device.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising:

storing the defined communication configuration is association with an identification code; and

configuring the at least one of the handheld device and the digitizer system based on detecting the identification information.

16. A system comprising:

a touch enabled computing device configured to detect a signal from a handheld device via an electrostatic communication channel provided by a digitizer sensor integrated on the computing device;

the handheld device comprising;

a circuit configured to generate the signal; and

a conductive electrode from which the signal is transmitted; and

wherein the handheld device and the computing device are configured to negotiate communication capabilities for the electrostatic communication channel and wherein at least one of the handheld device and the digitizer system is configured to match a defined communication capability of the other of the at least one of the handheld device and digitizer system based on the negotiating.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the conductive electrode is a conductive tip.

18. The system of claim 16, comprising a second communication channel between the touch enabled computing device and the handheld device that is other than electrostatic communication channel, wherein negotiating communication capabilities occurs via the second communication channel.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein negotiating communication capabilities is repeated periodically while communication via the electrostatic communication channel is sustained.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein negotiating communication capabilities is repeated after a lapse in communication via the electrostatic communication channel.

21. A device comprising:

a conductive tip from which signals are transmitted or received; and

a circuit in communication with the conductive tip, the circuit configured to;

generate and process signals; and

negotiate communication capabilities for an electrostatic communication channel to match a defined communication capability of another device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the circuit is further configured to negotiate communication capabilities repeatedly based on a specified period while communication via the electrostatic communication channel is sustained.