Active stylus with energy harvesting

• US 8,872,792 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• 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, Pedersen, Trond Jarle, Lifsey, Walt T., Bakken, Vemund Kval, Shahparnia, Shahrooz, Yilmaz, Esat
• Primary Examiner(s): Boddie, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONYEKABA, AMY
• Application Number:
  US13/402,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 2004, 320/101
• 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 for harvesting kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus, at least one of the sensors comprising

a fluid in a closed volume.

2. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises kinetic energy as a result of a shaking of the stylus.

3. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises kinetic energy as a result of a movement of the stylus during a time that the stylus is interacting with the touch sensor of the device.

4. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the stylus is affixed to the device;

and

the kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises kinetic energy as a result of a movement of the device.

5. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises kinetic energy of at least one of the sensors, the at least one of the sensors operable to receive kinetic energy from an acoustic wave.

6. A method comprising:

harvesting, by one or more sensors on or in a stylus, kinetic 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, the sensors comprising

a fluid in a closed volume.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises kinetic energy as a result of a shaking of the stylus.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises kinetic energy as a result of a movement of the stylus during a time that the stylus is interacting with the touch sensor of the device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the stylus is affixed to the device;

and

the kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises kinetic energy as a result of a movement of the device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein harvesting kinetic energy of the stylus or from an environment of the stylus comprises harvesting at least some the kinetic energy of an acoustic wave.

11. A stylus configured to:

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