Near field communications (NFC)-based active stylus

• US 9,785,261 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Konanur, Anand S., Dixit, Anchit, Mittal, Rohit, Kumar, Shwetank, Karacaoglu, Ulun, Yang, Songnan
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSON, JASON C
• Application Number:
  US14/576,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20160179223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 345179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Described herein are architectures, platforms and methods for NFC-based operations in a stylus device.

Claims

1. A stylus device comprising:

a coil antenna configured to detect presence of a magnetic field from another device, wherein the magnetic field facilitates;

switching ON, power charging, and establishing of a near field communication (NFC) link with the other device;

a NFC module configured to process a signal received through the established NFC link, wherein the received signal includes a particular frequency channel that is utilized to receive a displayed data during a touch-communication with the other device, the NFC module directs the coil antenna to operate at the particular frequency channel for touch-communications, wherein the touch communication operates in parallel with NFC communications between the stylus device and the other device;

a processor coupled to the NFC module, configured to run a plurality of applications to control an operation of the stylus device; and

a user interface coupled to the processor, configured to select the operation that correspond to the plurality of applications.

2. The stylus device as recited in claim 1, wherein the coil antenna is a stylus antenna.

3. The stylus device as recited in claim 1, wherein the NFC modules utilizes the established NFC link to send an information or data through the coil antenna, the information or data comprises at least one of a user-fingerprint, the user identification or authorization, or a stylus-status information.

4. The stylus device as recited in claim 3, further comprising a sensor configured to perform a function based on the selected operation, the function includes scanning and reading of the user-fingerprint, wherein the user-fingerprint is compared with stored fingerprints to determine the user identification or authorization.

5. The stylus device as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is a switch or a sensor.

6. The stylus device as recited in claim 1, wherein the operation comprises transmitting of a signal request to receive a copy of the touch-screen data shown at a screen of the other device.

7. The stylus device as recited in claim 1, wherein the coil antenna is disposed at a front-end, back-end, or along outer body-surface of the stylus device.

8. The stylus device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a storage that stores the plurality of applications.

9. The stylus device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a NFC tag configured to include a unique identification that is transmitted through the coil antenna to identify the stylus device.

10. The stylus device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a power storage that comprises a full-wave rectifier and a storing capacitor to receive and store the charging power.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a switch coupled to the processor, configured to facilitate selection of operations that correspond to the plurality of applications.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a sensor configured to perform a function based on the selected operation, the function comprises scanning and reading of the user-fingerprint, detecting a hand-jitter, or to act as an accelerometer.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a NFC tag that comprises a unique identification configured to be transmitted through the coil antenna to identify the apparatus.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a coil antenna configured to facilitate a near field communications (NFC) link with another device;

a power storage configured to receive a charging current through the NFC link;

a NFC module configured to process a signal that is received through the NFC link, wherein the received signal includes a particular frequency channel that is utilized to receive a displayed data during a touch-communication with the other device, the NFC module directs the coil antenna to operate at the particular frequency channel for touch communications, wherein the touch communication operates in parallel with NFC communications between the apparatus and the other device; and

a processor coupled to the NFC module, the processor configured to run a plurality of applications to control an operation of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the coil antenna is a stylus antenna.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the NFC module is configured to utilize the established NFC link to send an information or data through the coil antenna, the information or data includes a user-fingerprint, the user identification or authorization, or a stylus- status information.

17. A method of near field communications (NFC)-based operation in a stylus device, the method comprising:

detecting presence of a magnetic field that establishes a NFC link with another device;

determining a user identification or authorization;

receiving of a particular operating frequency channel through the NFC link, wherein the particular operating frequency channel is utilized to receive a displayed data during a touch-communication with the other device;

operating at the particular frequency channel for touch-communications; and

operating the touch-communication in parallel with NFC communications between the stylus device and the other device.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the detected magnetic field induces a current that charges the stylus device.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the particular operating frequency channel is selected based on security purposes and to avoid channel interferences.

20. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising running one or more applications for the communicating of the information or data through the NFC link.

21. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising transmitting of an NFC tag to identify the stylus device.

22. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising transmitting of a signal request to receive a copy of the touch-screen data shown at a screen of the other device.