Stylus testing system

• US 9,310,900 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Arun Sathya Narayana, Incze, Bela
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Subedi, Deeprose
• Application Number:
  US14/486,715
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/182
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/00 Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring error detection, correction or monitoring in information storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer G11B20/18; monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing G11B27/36; in static stores G11C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2221 to test input/output devices or peripheral units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing a stylus are described. A processing device determines that a stylus is disposed in a holder above a touch panel that generates position data for each point of contact between the stylus and the touch panel. In response to such determination, the processing device performs one or more tests of the stylus. The processing device may cause the holder to move the across the surface of the touch panel, receive position data, and compare the position data to reference data to determine operation of the stylus.

Claims

1. A system for automated testing of a stylus, the system comprising:

a holder to receive the stylus;

a detector to detect that the stylus is disposed in the holder;

an actuator to move the holder;

a touch panel to generate position data for a plurality of points of contact between the stylus and a surface of the touch panel; and

a processing device coupled to the detector, the touch panel and the actuator, the processing device to;

receive a detector signal from the detector indicating that the stylus is disposed in the holder;

in response to receiving the detector signal, send a first actuator signal to the actuator to move the holder and the stylus across the surface of the touch panel along a linear path;

receive position data from the touch panel for the plurality of points of contact between the stylus and the touch panel along the linear path; and

determine that the position data corresponds to the linear path created by the actuator; and

a mass fixture including one or more masses that are attachable to at least one of the holder or the stylus, wherein the processing device is further to;

send a second actuator signal to the actuator to position the stylus beneath the mass fixture;

send a mass fixture signal to the mass fixture to place the one or more masses onto the stylus; and

receive pressure data from the touch panel indicative of a pressure applied by the stylus to the touch panel responsive to the one or more masses.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further to determine, using the pressure data, whether the pressure applied by the stylus is within a threshold amount of an expected pressure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further to:

receive, from the touch panel, mode data generated by the stylus indicative of a sleep mode or a wake mode of the stylus; and

determine that the mode data indicates that the stylus is functioning properly.

4. A method comprising:

determining, by a processing device, that a stylus is disposed in a holder, wherein the stylus is positioned above a touch panel that generates position data for a plurality of points of contact between the stylus and the touch panel;

causing, by the processing device, the holder to move the stylus across a surface of the touch;

receiving, by the processing device, the position data for the plurality of points of contact between the stylus and the touch panel;

comparing, by the processing device, the position data to reference data to determine operation of the stylus;

wherein determining that the stylus is disposed in the holder includes determining that the stylus is disposed in a conductive holder with an active tip in contact with the touch panel;

sending a first signal to an actuator to move the stylus beneath a mass fixture;

sending a second signal to the mass fixture to place one or more masses onto the stylus; and

receiving, from the touch panel, pressure data generated by the stylus from the touch panel indicative of a pressure applied by the stylus to the touch panel with the one or more masses on the stylus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining that the stylus is disposed in the holder comprises determining that the stylus is disposed in a non-conductive holder with a passive tip of the stylus in contact with the touch panel, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the processing device, first position data for a first point of contact between the passive tip and the touch panel; and

comparing the first position data to reference position data for the first point of contact.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining that the stylus is disposed in the holder comprises determining that the stylus is disposed in a non-conductive holder and wherein the touch panel transmits mode data generated by the stylus, the method further comprising determining that the stylus is not in a wake mode.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein determining that the stylus is disposed in the holder comprises determining that the stylus is disposed in a conductive holder and wherein the touch panel transmits mode data generated by the stylus, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the touch panel, mode data generated by the stylus; and

determining that the mode data indicates that the stylus is in a wake mode based on the mode data received from the touch panel.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein determining that the stylus is disposed in the holder comprises determining that the stylus is disposed in a conductive holder with an active tip of the stylus in contact with the touch panel, the method further comprising:

moving the stylus along a path from a first location on the touch panel to a second location on the touch panel, the active tip being in contact with the touch panel at a first point, a second point, and a third point along the path;

receiving, from the touch panel, first position data corresponding to the first point, second position data corresponding to the second point, and third position data corresponding to the third point; and

determining that the first position data, the second position data, and the third position data matches reference data for the first point, the second point, and the third point respectively.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that the first point, the second point, and the third point lie along a straight line.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising comparing the pressure data to reference pressure data to determine operation of the stylus.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises:

sending the second signal to the mass fixture to place a first mass onto the stylus;

receiving, from the touch panel, first pressure data indicative of a first pressure applied by the stylus to the touch panel with the first mass on the stylus;

sending a third signal to the mass fixture to place a second mass onto the stylus;

receiving, from the touch panel, second pressure data indicative of a second pressure applied by the stylus to the touch panel with the second mass on the stylus; and

determining whether the first pressure and second pressure are within threshold amounts of an expected first pressure and expected second pressure.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instruction encoded thereon which, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

reading, by the processing device, a script; and

executing, by the processing device, the script to perform one or more tests of a stylus, wherein performing the one or more tests comprises;

determining that the stylus is disposed in a holder above a touch panel that generates position data for a plurality of points of contact between the stylus and the touch panel;

sending a signal to one or more actuators to move the stylus across a surface of the touch panel;

receiving, from the touch panel, at least one of data generated by the touch panel or data generated by the stylus;

comparing the at least one of the data generated by the touch panel or the data generated by the stylus to reference data to determine operation of the stylus;

wherein determining that the stylus is disposed in the holder includes determining that the stylus is disposed in a conductive holder with an active tip in contact with the touch panel;

sending a first signal to an actuator to move the stylus beneath a mass fixture;

sending a second signal to the mass fixture to place one or more masses onto the stylus; and

receiving, from the touch panel, pressure data generated by the stylus from the touch panel indicative of a pressure applied by the stylus to the touch panel with the one or more masses on the stylus.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more tests is performed automatically without user input or interaction.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the script indicates which of the one or more tests are to be performed, an action to be taken if the one or more tests is failed, or a delay to be taken between a plurality of the one more tests.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the script indicates criteria for passing or failing the one or more tests.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining that the stylus is disposed in the holder comprises receiving a signal from a detector.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein receiving the data generated by the touch panel comprises receiving the position data generated by the touch panel indicative of a location on the touch panel for respective points of contact between the stylus and the touch panel.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein performing the one or more tests comprises comparing the pressure data to reference pressure data to determine operation of the stylus.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the script defines two or more tests that are performed sequentially without user input or interaction between the two or more tests.