Low-Power and Low-Frequency Data Transmission for Stylus and Associated Signal Processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018046273-A1
Application number	US-201715791002-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2017
Priority date	Aug 18, 2014
Publication date	Feb 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a timer, a signal generator, a signal activator input, and a controller. The controller includes one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to initiate a coupling, in response to an actuation of the signal activator input, of a power source to the signal generator to thereby cause the signal generator to generate a signal. The logic is further operable to initiate a coupling, in response to the actuation of the signal activator input, of the power source to the timer to thereby activate the timer.

First claim

1 .- 9 . (canceled)

10 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 .- 14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 .- 24 . (canceled)

25 . An apparatus comprising:
a timer; a signal generator; a signal activator input; and a controller comprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:
initiate a coupling, in response to an actuation of the signal activator input, of a power source to the signal generator to thereby cause the signal generator to generate a signal; and
initiate a coupling, in response to the actuation of the signal activator input, of the power source to the timer to thereby activate the timer.

26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the logic is further operable to:
determine that a timing of the activated timer has reached a pre-determined threshold prior to an end of the actuation; and disable the signal generator from generating the signal based on the determination that the timing of the activated timer has reached the pre-determined threshold prior to the end of the actuation.

27 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the logic is further operable to:
determine that the signal activator input is not actuated; and disable the signal generator from generating the stylus signal based on the determination that the signal activator input is not actuated.

28 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the signal generator comprises an oscillator.

29 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the signal activator input comprises a mechanical element located on an exterior surface of the stylus, the mechanical element comprising one or more of:
a mechanical button; a mechanical switch; and a mechanical slider.

30 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the apparatus further comprises the power source.

31 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the signal activator input comprises one or more of:
a mechanical element located on an exterior surface of a stylus; and a touch sensitive surface located on the exterior surface of a stylus.

32 . A controller comprising:
one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:
initiate a coupling, in response to an actuation of a signal activator input of a stylus, of a power source to a signal generator of the stylus to thereby cause the signal generator to generate a stylus signal; and
initiate a coupling, in response to the actuation of the signal activator input, of the power source to a timer to thereby activate the timer.

33 . The controller of claim 32 , wherein the logic is further operable to:
determine that a timing of the activated timer has reached a pre-determined threshold prior to an end of the actuation; and disable the signal generator from generating the stylus signal based on the determination that the timing of the activated timer has reached the pre-determined threshold prior to the end of the actuation.

34 . The controller of claim 32 , wherein the logic is further operable to:
determine that the signal activator input is not actuated; and disable the signal generator from generating the stylus signal based on the determination that the signal activator input is not actuated.

35 . The controller of claim 32 , wherein the signal generator comprises an oscillator.

36 . The controller of claim 32 , wherein the signal activator input comprises a mechanical element located on an exterior surface of the stylus, the mechanical element comprising one or more of:
a mechanical button; a mechanical switch; and a mechanical slider.

37 . The controller of claim 32 , wherein the stylus comprises the power source.

38 . The controller of claim 32 , wherein the signal activator input comprises one or more of:
a mechanical element located on an exterior surface of the stylus; and a touch sensitive surface located on the exterior surface of the stylus.

39 . A method comprising:
initiating a coupling, in response to an actuation of a signal activator input of a stylus, of a power source to a signal generator of the stylus to thereby cause the signal generator to generate a stylus signal; and initiating a coupling, in response to the actuation of the signal activator input, of the power source to a timer to thereby activate the timer.

40 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising:
determining that a timing of the activated timer has reached a pre-determined threshold prior to an end of the actuation; and disabling the signal generator from generating the stylus signal based on the determination that the timing of the activated timer has reached the pre-determined threshold prior to the end of the actuation.

41 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising:
determining that the signal activator input is not actuated; and disabling the signal generator from generating the stylus signal based on the determination that the signal activator input is not actuated.

42 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the signal generator comprises an oscillator.

43 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the signal activator input comprises a mechanical element located on an exterior surface of the stylus, the mechanical element comprising one or more of:
a mechanical button; a mechanical switch; and a mechanical slider.

44 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the stylus comprises the power source.

Assignees

• Atmel Corp

Inventors

• Brunet Samuel
• Collins Richard
• Hristov Luben

Classifications

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F2203/04108

  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 title

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• G01R27/2605

  Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24) · CPC title