Digitizer using multiple stylus sensing techniques

• US 9,448,645 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Geaghan, Bernard O.
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAGALLA, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/736,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20150277594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• 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: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092

Abstract

A digitizer system utilizing two location measurement techniques that operate in cooperation to improve the operation of the digitizer. The first location measurement technique provides an X-Y coordinate stylus location. The second location measurement technique provides a Z coordinate stylus location.

Claims

1. A method of locating a stylus relative to a display having a matrix of addressable pixels, comprising:

determining a first location of the stylus relative to the display using a first stylus location measurement technique;

determining a second location of the stylus relative to the display using a second stylus location measurement technique that is disparate from the first stylus location measurement technique,

wherein the stylus includes electronic circuitry to enable at least one of the measurement techniques, and wherein the first stylus location measurement technique determines an X-Y coordinate position, and the second stylus location measurement technique determines a Z coordinate position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or the second location is determined based on a location measurement technique selected from the group consisting of:

resistive, mutual capacitive, matrix capacitive-to-ground, E-M, image sensing display, IR-based sensing, optical beam location, laser angle detection, acoustic ranging, surface acoustic wave, bending wave, and fixed patterns of indicia.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stylus includes a tip area for interacting with the display, and an optical sensor disposed within the stylus such to generate stylus signals indicative of indicia encountered by the stylus tip.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indicia encountered by the stylus tip comprises a plurality of pixels passing beneath the stylus tip.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first location is determined based on a location measurement technique selected from the group consisting of:

optical image sensing, and optical pulse code sensing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the pixels in the display has a display state, and wherein the first location is determined by computing coordinates based upon information concerning the state of the pixels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or the second stylus measurement technique is additionally utilized to wake the stylus from a sleep mode.

8. A digitizer system comprising:

a stylus;

a sensor; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the stylus and the digitizer, wherein the controller interacts with the stylus and the sensor to determine a first location of the stylus using a first stylus location measurement technique, and to determine a second location of the stylus using a second stylus location measurement technique that is disparate from the first stylus location measurement technique, wherein the stylus includes electronic circuitry to enable at least one of the measurement techniques, and wherein the first stylus location measurement technique determines an X-Y coordinate position, and the second stylus location measurement technique determines a Z coordinate position.

9. The digitizer system of claim 8, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the stylus via a radio link.

10. The digitizer system of claim 8, wherein the first or the second location is determined based on a location measurement technique selected from the group consisting of:

resistive, mutual capacitive, matrix capacitive-to-ground, E-M, image sensing display, IR-based sensing, optical beam location, laser angle detection, acoustic ranging, surface acoustic wave, bending wave, and fixed patterns of indicia.

11. The digitizer system of claim 8, additionally comprising:

a display having a plurality of electronically addressable pixels, and wherein the sensor is essentially transparent and disposed proximate to the display, and wherein the controller is additionally communicatively coupled to electronics that control the display.

12. The digitizer system of claim 11, wherein the stylus includes a tip area for interacting with the display, and an optical sensor disposed within the stylus to generate stylus signals indicative of indicia encountered by the stylus tip.

13. The digitizer system of claim 12, wherein indicia encountered by the stylus tip comprises a plurality of pixels passing beneath the stylus tip.

14. A digitizer system comprising:

a stylus;

a sensor; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the stylus and the sensor, wherein the controller interacts with the stylus and the sensor to determine a first location of the stylus using a first stylus location measurement technique, and to determine a second location of the stylus using a second stylus location measurement technique that is disparate from the first stylus location measurement technique, wherein the stylus includes electronic circuitry to enable at least one of the measurement techniques, and wherein the first location measurement indicates proximity to the display and the second location measurement provides X-Y coordinates of the stylus relative to the display.

15. The digitizer system of claim 14, wherein the first location measurement technique determines a Z coordinate.

16. The digitizer system of claim 14, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the stylus via a radio link.

17. The digitizer system of claim 14, wherein the first or the second location is determined based on a location measurement technique selected from the group consisting of:

resistive, mutual capacitive, matrix capacitive-to-ground, E-M, image sensing display, IR-based sensing, optical beam location, laser angle detection, acoustic ranging, surface acoustic wave, bending wave, and fixed patterns of indicia.

18. The digitizer system of claim 14, additionally comprising:

a display having a plurality of electronically addressable pixels, and wherein the sensor is essentially transparent and disposed proximate to the display, and wherein the controller is additionally communicatively coupled to electronics that control the display.

19. The digitizer system of claim 18, wherein they stylus includes a tip area for interacting with the display, and an optical sensor disposed within the stylus to generate stylus signals indicative of indicia encountered by the stylus tip.

20. The digitizer system of claim 19, wherein indicia encountered by the stylus tip comprises a plurality of pixels passing beneath the stylus tip.