Input device for touch sensitive devices

• US 9,310,923 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Krah, Christoph H., Shahparnia, Shahrooz, Hotelling, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tzeng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US13/560,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 3/0443 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A method for receiving data from an input device to a computing device through a touch interface. The method includes detecting an input device, synchronizing with the input device by receiving a position signal and activating an input device scan of the touch interface, receiving a data signal from the input device through at least one of a sense line or a drive line of the touch interface, and scanning the touch interface for a touch input by applying a stimulation signal to the at least one drive line and analyzing the at least one sense line.

Claims

1. A computing device configured to communicate with an input device comprising:

a processor;

a touch interface in communication with the processor and configured to detect an input signal corresponding to an object approaching or contacting a surface, the touch interface including a plurality of sense lines and a plurality of drive lines;

wherein

the touch interface performs a searching scan to search for the input device;

during a first scan the touch interface drives at least one of the plurality of drive lines and scans at least one of the plurality of sense lines, wherein the first scan is performed after the searching scan;

during a set of second scans the touch interface scans at least one of the plurality of sense lines and at least one of the plurality of drive lines, wherein the second scans are performed after the first scan; and

while receiving a data signal from the input device, the touch interface interleaves the first scan and the second scans.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the second scans further include a scan of the plurality of sense lines and the plurality of drive lines, wherein the plurality of drive lines are scanned separately from the sense lines.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the searching scan analyzes a spectrum of frequencies to detect the data signal from the input device.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the searching scan further detects a position of the input device if a data signal is received during the searching scan.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the touch interface further comprises

a transmission medium positioned between the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines;

and

a sensing circuit in communication with the plurality of sense lines and configured to detect a signal change on the plurality of sense lines.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the data signal of the input device corresponds to at least one sensor within the input device.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a force sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor.

8. A method for receiving data from an input device to a computing device through a touch interface comprising:

scanning the touch interface for a presence of an input device;

detecting the input device;

scanning the touch interface for a touch input during a first scan by applying a stimulation signal to at least one drive line and analyzing at least one sense line of the touch interface, wherein scanning the touch interface for the touch input is performed after scanning the touch interface for the presence of an input device;

synchronizing with the input device by receiving a position signal and activating a second scan of the touch interface; and

receiving a data signal from the input device during the second scan through the at least one sense line or the at least one drive line of the touch interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the input device is detected while the touch interface is applying the stimulation signal to at least one drive line, the method further comprising rescanning the touch interface by applying the stimulation signal to the at least one drive line and analyzing the at least one sense line.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the input device further includes detecting a plurality of frequencies of the data signal as the data signal is applied to one of the at least one drive line or one of the at least one sense line, and selecting a frequency from the plurality of frequencies, wherein the selected frequency is the cleanest frequency of the plurality of frequencies.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the input device further includes detecting a frequency of the data signal applied to one of the least one drive line or one of the least one sense line.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least four frequencies are scanned to detect the frequency of the data signal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one drive line includes a plurality of drive lines and the at least one sense line includes a plurality of sense lines.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein scanning the touch interface for a touch input further includes

applying the stimulation signal to a bank of drive lines;

and

analyzing each of the plurality of sense lines.

15. A method for transmitting data from an input device to a capacitive sensing grid of a computing device, comprising:

receiving a user input;

transitioning the input device from an idle state to an active state when the user input exceeds a predetermined threshold;

transmitting current data to the capacitive sensing grid through a tip of the input device; and

when a previous data transmission occurred a predetermined time period before transmitting current data to the capacitive sensing grid, extending a time period for the current data transmission.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmission data includes a position signal and a sensor signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the user input is a user force, and the predetermined threshold is a force level of a force exerted on the tip.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the input device is a stylus.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the tip is an electrode and is configured to stimulate at least one portion of the capacitive sensing grid.