Combination touch and transducer input system and method

• US 9,304,623 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: King-Smith, Oliver P., Smit, Bernardus H., Hadizad, Peyman
• Primary Examiner(s): PARDO, THUY N
• Application Number:
  US14/229,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 345/156, 345/157, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- 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 without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• 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 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A combination touch and transducer input system is provided, which facilitates user input into an electronic system with a finger and/or a transducer (e.g., a stylus). The system includes a transducer configured to generate an electric field, and a sensor including an array of electrodes and a controller. The transducer is configured to transmit digital data, such as pen pressure data and switch status data, to the sensor. The sensor controller operates both in a touch sensing mode and in a transducer sensing mode. During the touch sensing mode, the controller determines a position of a proximate object (e.g., a finger) by capacitively sensing the object with the array of electrodes. During the transducer sensing mode, the controller determines a position of the transducer based on a signal received by the array of electrodes from the transducer, and also receives and decodes the digital data encoded in the received signal.

Claims

1. A pen-shaped transducer configured to be detected by a sensor including an array of electrodes, the pen-shaped transducer comprising:

a pen-shaped body;

a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure applied to a tip of the pen-shaped body,

a transducer controller configured to generate a signal corresponding to a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor,

an antenna configured to transmit the signal corresponding to the pressure value to the sensor, and

a drive current source configured to drive the transducer controller;

wherein the transducer controller is further configured to format the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor in a data frame and encode the data frame pursuant to a defined encoding method, and to transmit the pressure value encoded by the defined encoding method via the antenna to the sensor;

wherein the transducer controller is further configured to enter into low-current draw mode when the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor remains under a defined threshold value for a defined period of time; and

wherein the transducer controller is further configured to;

(i) operate in the low-current draw mode and compare the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor to the defined threshold value in the low-current draw mode; and

(ii) upon determining that the detected pressure value equals to or exceeds the defined threshold value, switch from the low-current draw mode to awake mode, format the pressure value in the data frame and encode the data frame, and transmit the pressure value encoded by the defined encoding method with a start signal indicative of a start of the data frame via the antenna to the sensor.

2. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, wherein the transducer controller is further configured to:

(ii) upon determining that the detected pressure value equals to or exceeds the defined threshold value, start a timer to remain in the awake mode until the timer expires; and

(iii) re-start the timer each time upon determining that the detected pressure value equals to or exceeds the defined threshold value.

3. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 2, further comprising a side switch provided on an exterior surface of the pen-shaped body, wherein the transducer controller is further configured to generate a signal corresponding to a status of the side switch, and

wherein the transducer controller is further configured to (iv) re-start the timer upon detecting a change in the status of the side switch.

4. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, further comprising a timer configured to measure said defined period of time, at expiration of which the transducer controller enters into the low-current draw mode.

5. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, wherein the drive current source comprises a battery or a capacitor.

6. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 5, wherein the drive current source is configured to be charged with power transmitted from a powering antenna associated with the sensor.

7. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 5, wherein the drive current source is configured to be charged when the pen-shaped transducer is placed in a charging station.

8. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 5, further comprising a charging connector, wherein the drive current source is charged via said charging connector.

9. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, wherein the antenna is arranged to embody the tip of the pen-shaped transducer and configured to emit an electric field.

10. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to emit RF signals according to a defined wireless communication protocol.

11. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 10, wherein the defined wireless communication protocol is a Bluetooth®

protocol.

12. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, further comprising a side switch provided on an exterior surface of the pen-shaped body, wherein the transducer controller is further configured to generate a signal corresponding to a status of the side switch and the antenna is further configured to transmit the signal corresponding to the status of the side switch to the sensor.

13. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 12, wherein the transducer controller is further configured to exit the low-current draw mode and enter into awake mode when detecting a change in the status of the side switch.

14. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, which is associated with a unique ID, wherein the transducer controller is further configured to generate a signal corresponding to the unique ID and the antenna is further configured to transmit the signal corresponding to the unique ID to the sensor.

15. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, wherein the low-current draw mode is a sleep mode or a shut-down mode.

16. The pen-shaped transducer of claim 1, wherein the transducer controller is further configured to generate a start signal indicative of a start of the data frame, and to transmit the start signal and the encoded data frame via the antenna to the sensor.

17. A method of controlling operation of a pen-shaped transducer configured to be detected by a sensor including an array of electrodes, the method comprising:

sensing pressure applied to a tip of the pen-shaped transducer;

generating a signal corresponding to the sensed pressure;

formatting the sensed pressure in a data frame and encoding the data frame pursuant to a defined encoding method;

transmitting the sensed pressure encoded by the defined encoding method to the sensor; and

entering into low-current draw mode when the sensed pressure remains under a defined threshold value for a defined period of time, the steps of entering into the low-current draw mode further including;

(i) operating in the low-current draw mode and comparing the sensed pressure to the defined threshold value in the low-current draw mode; and

(ii) upon determining that the sensed pressure equals to or exceeds the defined threshold value, switching from the low-current draw mode to awake mode, formatting the sensed pressure in the data frame and encoding the data frame, and transmitting the sensed pressure encoded by the defined encoding method with a start signal indicative of a start of the data frame to the sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of entering into the low-current draw mode includes:

(ii) upon determining that the sensed pressure equals to or exceeds the defined threshold value, and starting a timer to remain in the awake mode until the timer expires; and

(iii) re-starting the timer each time upon determining that the sensed pressure equals to or exceeds the defined threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sensing a status of a side switch provided on an exterior surface of the pen-shaped transducer; and

re-starting the timer upon sensing a change in the status of the side switch.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a start signal indicative of a start of the data frame, and the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the start signal and the sensed pressure in the data frame to the sensor.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sensing a status of a side switch provided on an exterior surface of the pen-shaped transducer; and

transmitting a signal corresponding to the status of the side switch to the sensor.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

exiting the low-current draw mode to enter into awake mode when sensing a change in the status of the side switch.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting a signal corresponding to an ID of the pen-shaped transducer to the sensor.