Untethered stylus employing multiple reference frequency communication

• US 8,159,474 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Hauck, Karl P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suteerawongsa, Jarurat
• Application Number:
  US13/233,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 345174-179, 178 1901- 1907
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

An untethered stylus is configured to cooperate with a location sensing device that generates a drive signal. The stylus includes transceiver circuitry disposed in a housing, which is configured to receive the drive signal and transmit a stylus signal for reception by the location sensor. Energy circuitry is disposed in the housing and energized by the drive signal. A reference frequency generator, disposed in the housing and coupled to the transceiver circuitry and energy circuitry, is configured to generate a number of reference frequencies based on a source frequency of the drive signal, the reference frequencies indicative of a number of stylus states and synchronized to the source frequency of the drive signal. The transceiver circuitry is configured to mix the reference frequencies with the stylus signal.

Claims

1. An untethered stylus configured to cooperate with a location sensor, the location sensor configured to generate a drive signal, the stylus comprising:

a housing;

transceiver circuitry disposed in the housing, the transceiver circuitry configured to receive the drive signal and transmit a stylus signal for reception by the location sensor;

energy circuitry disposed in the housing and energized by the drive signal; and

a reference frequency generator disposed in the housing and coupled to the transceiver circuitry and energy circuitry, the reference frequency generator configured to generate a plurality of reference frequencies based on a source frequency of the drive signal, the plurality of reference frequencies indicative of a plurality of stylus states and synchronized to the source frequency of the drive signal, wherein the transceiver circuitry is configured to mix all of the plurality of reference frequencies with the stylus signal at a same point in time,

and wherein the reference frequency generator comprises at least one of an even harmonic generator circuit, an odd harmonic generator circuit, a full wave rectifier, and a square wave generator.

2. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the reference frequency generator comprises one or both of an even harmonic generator circuit and an odd harmonic generator circuit.

3. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the reference frequency generator comprises a full wave rectifier.

4. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the reference frequency generator comprises a square wave generator.

5. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the reference frequency generator comprises both a full wave rectifier and a square wave generator.

6. A method implemented in an untethered stylus for use with a location sensor, comprising:

receiving a drive signal by the stylus transmitted from the location sensor;

energizing the stylus in response to receiving the drive signal;

generating at the stylus a plurality of reference frequencies based on a source frequency of the drive signal, the plurality of reference frequencies indicative of a plurality of stylus states and synchronized to the source frequency of the drive signal; and

mixing all of the plurality of reference frequencies with the stylus signal at a same point in time for reception by the location sensor,

and wherein the reference frequency generator comprises at least one of an even harmonic generator circuit, an odd harmonic generator circuit, a full wave rectifier, and a square wave generator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein generating the plurality of reference frequencies comprises generating one or both of an even harmonic of the source frequency of the drive signal and generating an odd harmonic of the source frequency of the drive signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein generating the plurality of reference frequencies comprises full wave rectifying the drive signal.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein generating the plurality of reference frequencies comprises generating a square wave using the drive signal.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein generating the plurality of reference frequencies comprises both full wave rectifying the drive signal and generating a square wave using the drive signal.