US20230393676A1 - Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement - Google Patents
Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20230393676A1 US20230393676A1 US18/454,023 US202318454023A US2023393676A1 US 20230393676 A1 US20230393676 A1 US 20230393676A1 US 202318454023 A US202318454023 A US 202318454023A US 2023393676 A1 US2023393676 A1 US 2023393676A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- electrode
- active stylus
- touch
- tip
- display device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 title description 42
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 title description 3
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 42
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 32
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 241001422033 Thestylus Species 0.000 description 30
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 29
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 22
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 21
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 18
- 239000006059 cover glass Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 10
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000000875 corresponding effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000012774 insulation material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920000089 Cyclic olefin copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229930040373 Paraformaldehyde Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 239000004433 Thermoplastic polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 2
- -1 polyoxymethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920006324 polyoxymethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920002803 thermoplastic polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 102100022103 Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2A Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 102100022102 Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2B Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 101001045846 Homo sapiens Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2A Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 101001045848 Homo sapiens Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2B Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 239000004820 Pressure-sensitive adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N acrylic acid group Chemical group C(C=C)(=O)O NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001940 conductive polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002596 correlated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011982 device technology Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
- G06F3/03545—Pens or stylus
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
- G06F3/03545—Pens or stylus
- G06F3/03546—Pens or stylus using a rotatable ball at the tip as position detecting member
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/038—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
- G06F3/0383—Signal control means within the pointing device
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/0416—Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
- G06F3/04162—Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
- G06F3/0441—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
- G06F3/0442—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
Definitions
- Signal emitting pens or styluses are known in the art for use with a digitizer system.
- the digitizer system detects at least one position of the stylus based on a signal emitted and the detected position provides input to a computing device associated with the digitizer system. The detected position may then be interpreted as user commands.
- the digitizer system is integrated with a display screen, e.g., to form a touch-sensitive display device. Positions of the stylus over the display screen are correlated with virtual information portrayed on the display screen.
- the signal emitted by the stylus may include additional information such as pressure applied on the writing tip and/or stylus identification. The information is decoded by the digitizer system.
- the touch-sensitive display device may detect a touch event each time the stylus touches or comes into close proximity with a touch sensor of the touch-sensitive display device.
- a touch event may be interpreted by the touch-sensitive display device as a user input at a particular two- or three-dimensional location relative to the touch-sensitive display device.
- Active styli typically include one or more electrodes. These electrodes can be driven with a particular excitation signal to influence electrical conditions on the touch sensor, and/or they can be configured to detect an excitation signal applied to display electrodes of the touch sensor.
- the disclosure in some embodiments relates to a stylus that can be used with a plurality of touch-enabled devices, e.g., a smart phone, a personal computer and a smart television and may include different versions or makes of a same type of device.
- a user may use the stylus to communicate with any one of the plurality of touch-enabled devices.
- the stylus may comprise a housing and a nib portion configured to be attached to the housing and to extend out from the housing, wherein the nib portion comprises an integrated conductive tip electrode and at least one integrated conductive ring electrode surrounding the tip electrode at least partially and electrically isolated from the tip electrode.
- the tip and ring electrode(s) of the stylus can thus both be fixed or integrated in a single part of a molded nib portion made of plastic or another insulator material.
- a uniform nib design can be achieved (e.g. constant and fixed gap(s) between the tip and ring electrodes without mechanical freedom).
- tip and ring height of the stylus may easily be controlled at design level. This allows to provide an identity (ID) to each nib type.
- different replaceable nib portions can be provided to allow for flexible sizes of the tip and ring electrodes, which are not limited by the size of the enclosure or housing of the nib portion. E.g., in some cases, a small ring and large tip electrode may be better depending on performance requirements.
- the tip tail of the stylus can be covered by the ring electrode, so that no extra tail signal is generated.
- the nib tail can be made wide and robust with connection elements (e.g. contact pins) for the ring and tip electrodes.
- a method comprises determining an electrode configuration of the nib portion of the stylus by measuring a predetermined parameter of the nib portion; and calibrating the stylus by adapting stylus settings to the determined electrode configuration of the attached nib portion.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a stylus with replaceable nib portion in a removed state and an inserted state
- FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a signal processing portion in a stylus with removable nib portion
- FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a calibration procedure after a nib replacement
- FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a pressure determination procedure
- FIGS. 5 ( a ) to 5 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of different views of a replaceable nib portion
- FIGS. 6 ( a ) to 6 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of different types of nib portions with different electrode sizes
- FIGS. 7 ( a ) to 7 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a vertical mode
- FIGS. 8 ( a ) to 8 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a tilted mode
- FIGS. 9 ( a ) to 9 ( c ) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of different display touch module structures with cover glass
- FIGS. 10 ( a ) to 10 ( c ) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of different display touch module structures without cover glass, and
- FIGS. 11 ( a ) to 11 ( d ) are schematic illustrations of respective signal distributions in the vertical mode for different display technologies.
- the present disclosure is directed to a new design of an active stylus having multiple electrodes in its tip and resulting handling procedures.
- the new design comprises the concept that both tip and ring electrodes of the stylus are fixedly integrated in a single part of a nib portion that may be made of a molded plastic or other insulator material.
- the active stylus may include one or more tip electrodes, as well as one or more ring electrode encircling the tip electrode(s).
- the ring electrode(s) may have any suitable size and shape and may have any position on the nib portion.
- “Ring electrode” as used herein refers to any electrically conducting structure that encircles a stylus body at least partly.
- Interactions between stylus electrodes of the active stylus and display electrodes of a touch-sensitive display device result in a touch-sensitive display device receiving spatial capacitance (e.g. expressed by signal distribution) or other measurements of the active stylus. From these measurements, the touch-sensitive display device may calculate at least one of various parameters, such as a tip position of the active stylus relative to the display, a tilt parameter of the active stylus relative to the display, and a pressure parameter indicating a pressure applied to the nib portion of the active stylus.
- various parameters such as a tip position of the active stylus relative to the display, a tilt parameter of the active stylus relative to the display, and a pressure parameter indicating a pressure applied to the nib portion of the active stylus.
- the combination of the signals obtained from tip and ring electrodes may be used to determine the tilt of the active stylus in order to create tilt-dependent writing effects or to detect a smearing effect caused by the tilt of the stylus.
- the combination of signals obtained from the tip and ring electrodes may be used to correct the calculation of the tip position of the active stylus on a display screen.
- the tilt parameter may include one or more angles specifying the orientation or attitude of the active stylus relative to a display screen of a touch-sensitive display device for which the active stylus is used as input device.
- the tilt parameter may specify at what angle the active stylus intersects a plane perpendicular to the display, and/or at what angle the active stylus is “pointing” relative to a coordinate system defined on the surface of the display (i.e., tilt direction in a “north-south-east-west” sense over the plane of the display).
- further measurements between the tip and ring electrodes or other measurements at the molded nib portion can be used at the active stylus to determine an inserted type of nib portion (e.g. based on a nib identity (ID)) in order to adapt specific stylus settings to specific parameters of the nib portion.
- ID nib identity
- FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an active stylus with a single-unit nib portion 10 in a removed state (left part) and an inserted state (right part).
- the nib portion 10 comprises a tip electrode 14 and a ring electrode 12 which are fixedly integrated in the single part of the nib portion 10 , e.g., based on a molded design of plastic or another non-conducting material (e.g. polyoxymethylene (POM) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or the like).
- POM polyoxymethylene
- TPU thermoplastic polyurethane
- the nib portion 10 may be replaceable e.g. by using releasable connecting elements for connecting the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 to electrical processing elements provided in a housing (enclosure) 20 of the stylus in order to exchange transmit and/or receive signals between the internal processing elements of the active stylus and the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 .
- the nib portion 10 may comprise a tail portion 16 for inserting the nib portion 10 into an opening provide at the front portion of the housing 20 of the active stylus.
- various (other) options for fixing the nib portion 10 at the housing 20 are available.
- a screwing connection may be achieved by providing respective threats at the tail portion 16 of the nib portion 10 and at the opening of the housing 20 .
- the nib portion 10 may be fixed by a releasable clipping function or by an adhesive or by a magnetic attaching or inserting option.
- the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 are made of a conducting material (e.g. metal, graphite, polycarbon, conductive polymer, etc.). In an example, at least one of the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 may be inserted during the molding process or printed on a molded part of the nib portion 10 after the molding process.
- a conducting material e.g. metal, graphite, polycarbon, conductive polymer, etc.
- the outer diameter of the ring electrode 12 may range between 1 mm and 15 mm, while the size of the tip electrode 14 should not exceed the outer diameter of the ring electrode 12 .
- the nib portion 10 Due to the molded design of the nib portion 10 , a constant and fixed gap can be kept between the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 . Furthermore, the height of the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 can be well controlled on the design level and during production. Moreover, the diameter of the ring electrode 12 can be made very flexible, as it is no longer limited by the size of the housing 20 of the active stylus. Also, the tail portion 16 of the nib portion 10 towards the housing 20 can be made narrow and may be covered by the ring electrode 12 , so that the generation of an extra tail can be prevented. In general, the nib portion 10 with the integrated tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 can be molded in any desirable shape as required by an intended implementation.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a signal processing portion in an example of an active stylus with removable single-unit (e.g. molded) nib portion 10 .
- the active stylus is usable with a touch-sensitive display device (not shown in FIG. 2 ) incorporating a touch sensor, wherein interactions between the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 of the single-unit nib portion 10 and the touch matrix result in control logic of the touch-sensitive display device receiving spatial capacitance measurements.
- the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 of the replaceable nib portion 10 are connected via respective releasable connecting elements 234 , 232 to respective transceivers (TRX 1 , TRX 2 ) 224 , 222 of the signal processing portion provided in the housing 20 of the active stylus.
- the transceivers 224 , 222 are adapted to receive respective signals via the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 from the touch-sensitive display device and to transmit respective signals via the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 to the touch-sensitive display device. These signals are processed (e.g. generated, coded, decoded, amplified, modulated, demodulated, etc.) by a controller 210 of the signal processing portion provided in the housing 20 of the active stylus.
- the controller 210 may also be connected to a conductive layer or casing 200 of the housing 20 of the active stylus in order to use the conductive layer or casing 200 as an additional sensing electrode or reference electrode of the active stylus.
- the nib portion 10 of active stylus may have any suitable number of electrodes, though active styli described herein will generally have a nib portion 10 with more than one electrode, e.g., the tip electrode 14 and at least one ring electrode 12 , configured to receive and/or transmit an electric signal (i.e. current or voltage) when proximate to an electrode of the touch sensor of touch-sensitive display device.
- active styli described herein will generally have a nib portion 10 with more than one electrode, e.g., the tip electrode 14 and at least one ring electrode 12 , configured to receive and/or transmit an electric signal (i.e. current or voltage) when proximate to an electrode of the touch sensor of touch-sensitive display device.
- respective analog-to-digital (A/D) converters may be operatively coupled between each of the transceivers 222 , 224 and the controller 210 and configured to digitize analog signals received from the transceivers 222 , 223 into digital data to facilitate subsequent processing at the controller 210 .
- the controller 210 may comprise a logic machine and a storage machine configured to hold instructions executable by the logic machine to perform various operations discussed herein.
- the controller 210 may be configured to receive signals from the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 and the optional sensing electrode of the conductive casing 200 of the housing 20 . Further, the controller 210 may be configured to process digitized signals from A/D converter to perform the various operations discussed herein.
- spatial capacitance measurements for each of the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 can be localized to particular two-dimensional locations relative to the touch-sensitive display device.
- a control logic of the touch-sensitive display device may use these spatial capacitance measurements to calculate a tip position, a tilt parameter and other parameters of the active stylus.
- the active stylus shown in FIG. 2 includes at least two integrated electrodes (i.e. the tip electrode 14 and the ring electrode 12 ) in the nib portion 10
- the control logic of the touch-sensitive display device will receive at least two spatial capacitance measurements corresponding to the at least two electrodes of the active stylus.
- a capacitance at a particular location relative to the touch matrix of the touch sensor of the touch-sensitive display device may be measured either when a display electrode detects a signal transmitted by a stylus electrode, or a stylus electrode detects a signal transmitted by a display electrode. Accordingly, localizing spatial capacitance measurements to two-dimensional positions may require only driving display electrodes, only driving stylus electrodes, or some combination of driving both display and stylus electrodes.
- Active styli as described herein may therefore be configured to operate in one or both of a receive mode and a drive mode. Further, an active stylus may operate in a hybrid mode, in which one or more stylus electrodes are driven while one or more other stylus electrodes receive.
- the active stylus reports spatial capacitance measurements (e.g., timing, value of a row counter etc.) to the control logic of the touch-sensitive display device over some type of wireless link (e.g., a radio transmitter of the transceivers 222 , 224 ).
- the control logic may receive the spatial capacitance measurements calculated by the active stylus via a communications interface of the touch-sensitive display device.
- spatial capacitance measurements may be transmitted electrostatically via excitation of stylus electrodes of the active stylus.
- calculation of spatial capacitance measurements may be “frequency-divided” rather than “time-divided.” Measuring spatial capacitance in this manner can allow for shorter touch-sensing time frames, and/or allow for more signal integration time during each touch-sensing time frame, potentially allowing for more accurate detection of touch input.
- the tilt parameter of the active stylus may be calculated by identifying which spatial capacitance measurements correspond to which stylus electrode.
- the control logic at the touch-sensitive display device may identify a distance between a spatial capacitance measurement received for the ring electrode 12 and a spatial capacitance measurement received for the tip electrode 14 . Based on this distance, the control logic may calculate a tilt parameter of the active stylus. Because the ring electrode 12 occupies a known position relative to the stylus tip, the control logic can make use of basic geometric relationships (e.g., trigonometric functions) in order to calculate the angle at which the active stylus intersects a plane parallel to the display.
- basic geometric relationships e.g., trigonometric functions
- the control logic may optionally calculate the direction the stylus is “pointed” relative to a coordinate system of the touch-sensitive display device by calculating an angle of a line connecting the detected tip position of the active stylus to the spatial capacitance measurement corresponding to the ring electrode 12 .
- a stylus nib kit (e.g. for varied friction feelings, display technologies, applications etc.) can be provided e.g. as a box with a variety of nib portions 10 with different electrode configurations by which the active stylus can be adapted to different user applications and/or various product types or technologies of the touch-sensitive display device (such as out-cell technology with cover glass, in-cell technology with or without cover glass, on-cell technology with or without cover glass, etc.), as explained later in more detail.
- the digitizer system with touch-sensitive display device can provide better experience and can be better adapted to user needs (e.g. by providing individual drawing or pointing algorithms, artistic drawing features, etc.).
- a tip front or nib ID can be provided in addition to a conventional stylus ID, so that the stylus can identify the used nib portion 10 and be adapted thereto.
- the touch-sensitive display device can detect a signal shape for the tip and ring electrodes based on a sensor arrangement provided on the touch screen, it needs to know the orientation (tilt) of the pen.
- the configuration of the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 of the currently used nib portion 10 is required. This can be derived at the display device if the nib ID is signalled by the stylus to the display device.
- the controller 210 of the active stylus comprises a nib ID determination function (N-ID) 212 for determining the nib ID of an inserted nib portion 10 .
- the nib ID determination function may be implemented as a software routine of the controller 210 or as a hardware function (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) connected to the controller 210 .
- ASIC application specific integrated circuit
- FPGA field programmable gate array
- the nib ID determination can be achieved by using a capacitance sensing functionality which may already be provided on the circuit board of the active stylus.
- the capacitance sensing functionality can be used by the nib ID determination function 212 to measure the capacitance between the tip electrode 14 and the ring electrode 12 .
- Size and configuration of the tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 are fixed by the molded design of the nib portion 10 . Therefore, each available nib portion 10 has a characteristic capacitance between its tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 (e.g. small tip and large ring, small tip and small ring, large tip and small ring, etc.), which can be detected based in the capacitance measurement(s).
- the stylus controller can use this/these measurement result(s) to derive the nib ID and provide the nib ID together with stylus ID to the display device. Moreover, the controller 210 of the stylus system can use this nib ID determination function 212 to detect when a user replaces the nib portion 10 of the stylus.
- Another option for determining the nib ID in the nib ID determination function 212 may be to measure an ohmic resistance between the tip electrode 14 and the ring electrode 12 and determine the nib ID based on change of the resistance e.g. in comparison with a reference value.
- Other electric parameters such as inductance, impedance, crosstalk between tip electrode and ring electrode, crosstalk between tip/ring electrode 14 , 12 and casing 200 or the like, may alternatively be used for determining the nib ID based on the electrode configuration of the nib portion 10 .
- a further option may be to determine the nib ID based on a mechanical shape or another mechanical property of the nib portion 10 or its tail portion 16 or by a magnetic field or a position of a magnetic part of the nib portion 10 .
- the controller 210 may initiate a calibration procedure by a calibration function (CAL) 216 .
- the calibration function 216 may be implemented as a software routine of the controller 210 or as a hardware function (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) connected to the controller 210 .
- ASIC application specific integrated circuit
- FPGA field programmable gate array
- FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a calibration procedure after a nib replacement.
- step S 310 the calibration function 216 initiates a measurement of the capacitance between the tip electrode 14 and the ring electrode 12 (or suitable electrical, physical or mechanical parameter) e.g. by the nib ID determination function 212 .
- step S 320 the nib ID is determined e.g. by the nib ID determination function 212 based on the measurement result(s) obtained in step S 310 .
- This determination may be based on an access to a look-up table or another other non-volatile memory provided in the active styled and accessible by the controller 210 .
- the look-up table or memory stores nib IDs in association with corresponding values or value ranges of the coupling capacity.
- step S 330 the active stylus is calibrated by adapting the settings (e.g. at least one of signal magnitude, frequency range, signal phase, pulse type, signal type per tip and ring, etc.). to the electrode configuration of the attached nib portion 10 . Thereby, the processing and signals used by the active stylus are modified for an optimized use of the attached nib portion 10 .
- the settings e.g. at least one of signal magnitude, frequency range, signal phase, pulse type, signal type per tip and ring, etc.
- the active stylus with the single-unit nib portion 10 may further provide a pressure sensing function (PS) 214 for sensing the pressure applied to the tip of the active stylus during a pointing or writing action.
- PS pressure sensing function
- the determined pressure can be used e.g. for modifying the width or intensity of the signal detected by the touch-sensitive display device.
- Pressure sensing can be based on a variation of the distance between an electrode of the attached nib portion 10 and the housing 20 .
- the coupling capacitance varies in dependence on the distance between an electrode of the attached nib portion 10 and the housing 20 . Even very small variations of the distance can influence the coupling capacitance to a measurable amount.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a pressure determination procedure applied in a pressure sensing function (PS) 214 of the controller 210 .
- the pressure sensing function 216 may be implemented as a software routine of the controller 210 or as a hardware function (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) connected to the controller 210 .
- ASIC application specific integrated circuit
- FPGA field programmable gate array
- step S 410 a coupling capacitance between the ring electrode 12 of the nib portion 10 and the conductive casing 200 of the housing 20 is measured.
- step S 420 a pressure value is determined based on the measurement result(s) obtained in step S 410 . This determination may be based on an access to a look-up table or another other non-volatile memory provided in the active styled and accessible by the controller 210 .
- the look-up table or memory stores pressure values in association with corresponding values or value ranges of the coupling capacity.
- FIGS. 5 ( a ) to 5 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of atop view, side view and bottom view, respectively, of a replaceable nib portion. It is noted that although internal structures of the nib portion are shown in FIG. 5 ( b ) , the illustration is not to be interpreted as a cross-sectional view. It is just a side view which also indicates hidden internal structures.
- the top view of FIG. 5 ( a ) shows an example of the connection elements 232 , 234 as circular pads (tip pad, ring pad) in circular recess portion into which corresponding cylindrical pins with respective connection portions provided at the housing 20 of the active stylus can be inserted. Furthermore, as can be gathered from the side view of FIG. 5 ( b ) , the circular pads of the connection elements 232 , 234 are electrically connected via a conductive path or wiring to the respective ring and tip electrodes 12 , 14 . Finally, the bottom view of FIG. 5 ( c ) shows the tip electrode 14 and the surrounding ring electrode 12 from below, both integrated in the molded structure of the nib portion.
- FIGS. 6 ( a ) to 6 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of different types of nib portions with different electrode sizes adapted for use with digitizer systems with different display device technologies.
- the nib design shown in FIG. 6 ( a ) comprises integrated tip and ring electrodes of a standard or normal shape and size. However, in some application cases, a smaller ring electrode 12 and a larger tip electrode 14 may be desirable depending on performance requirements.
- the design of the single-unit (molded) nib portion with integrated ring and tip electrodes 12 , 14 allows provision of different nib molding shapes with different tip and ring electrode sizes for individual performance requirements.
- the tip electrode 14 is shifted up and the ring electrode 12 is smaller in the longitudinal direction of the active stylus.
- the tip electrode 14 is shifted up further and the ring electrode 12 is smaller in both longitudinal and lateral directions of the active stylus.
- tip and ring electrodes 14 , 12 and also the nib portion may be provided depending on e.g. at least one of the desired applications and touch screen technologies.
- the digitizer system may determine a suited nib molding shape (and its corresponding nib ID) based on the stylus ID.
- the stylus ID may be a combination of a housing ID and the nib ID.
- the tail of the tip electrode 14 can be made narrow and also covered by the ring electrode 12 , so that no extra tail signal is generated.
- the tail of the nib portion with both ring and tip connector elements e.g. contact pins or pads or the like
- FIGS. 7 ( a ) to 7 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a vertical operation mode of the active stylus.
- FIGS. 7 ( a ) to 7 ( c ) present tip signal distributions (‘dress’ shapes) for different stylus nib designs in the vertical operation mode of the active stylus in a direction parallel to the touch screen surface plane of the touch-sensitive display device, as received by a sensor matrix.
- FIG. 7 ( a ) shows the signal distribution for a conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and without ring electrode.
- FIG. 7 ( b ) shows the signal distribution for a conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and with a ring electrode surrounding the tip tail at about half of its total length.
- FIG. 7 ( c ) shows the signal distribution for the proposed single-unit (molded) nib portion with integrated tip and ring electrodes.
- the signal distribution is wider for the conventional nib designs ( FIGS. 7 ( a ) and 7 ( b ) ) due to the fact that the tip tail of the tip electrode is exposed, while the proposed single-unit nib design with integrated tip and ring electrodes does not comprise any tip tail and therefore generates a narrow and very local signal distribution.
- the ability to control level, shape and/or size of the tip and ring electrodes in the proposed single-unit nib design enables to achieve narrower and more local tip signals for improved positioning of the active stylus in digitizer systems.
- FIGS. 8 ( a ) to 8 ( c ) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a tilted operation mode of the active stylus.
- FIGS. 8 ( a ) to 8 ( c ) present tip signal distributions (‘dress’ shapes) for different stylus nib designs in the tilted operation mode of the active stylus in a direction parallel to the touch screen surface plane of the touch-sensitive display device, as received by a sensor matrix.
- FIG. 8 ( a ) shows the signal distribution for the conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and without ring electrode.
- FIG. 8 ( b ) shows the signal distribution for the conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and with a ring electrode surrounding the tip tail at about half of its total length.
- FIG. 8 ( c ) shows the signal distribution for the proposed single-unit (molded) nib portion with integrated tip and ring electrodes.
- the signal distribution is wider and strongly smears towards the tilt direction for the conventional nib designs of FIGS. 8 ( a ) and 8 ( b ) , due to exposed tip tail.
- the proposed nib design of FIG. 8 ( c ) does not require any tip tail, the signal distribution is much narrow and very local with much less smear effect. Therefore, the ring electrode is no longer required for position correction and can solely be used for tilt-dependent drawing or positioning features such as wider drawing lines (like a pencil) and other options.
- the nip and/or electrode shape can be much better controlled.
- the ability to control level, shape and/or size of the tip and ring electrodes in the proposed single-unit nib design enables to achieve narrower and more local tip signals for improved positioning of the active stylus in digitizer systems.
- the touch-sensitive display device of the digitizer system may be configured to receive input from input devices in contact with the display device and input devices not in contact with the display device (e.g., input devices that hover proximate to a surface of the display). “Touch input” as used herein refers to both types of input.
- the display device may be configured to receive input from two or more sources simultaneously, in which case the display device may be referred to as a multi-touch display device.
- the display device may be operatively coupled to an image source, which may be, for example, a computing device external to, or housed within, the display device.
- the image source may receive input from display device, process the input, and in response generate appropriate graphical output for the display device.
- the display device may provide a natural paradigm for interacting with a computing device that can respond appropriately to touch input.
- FIGS. 9 ( a ) to 9 ( c ) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of different display touch module structures with cover glass.
- FIG. 9 ( a ) shows an optical stack of an out-cell structure of the touch-sensitive display device, which includes a plurality of components configured to enable the reception of a touch input and the generation and presentation of a graphical output.
- a touch module is added onto a display module.
- the optical stack of the out-cell structure may include a cover glass as an optically-clear touch sheet (with a thickness of e.g. 400 ⁇ m) having a top surface for receiving a touch input, a first optically-clear adhesive (OCA 1 ) (with a thickness of e.g. 50 ⁇ m) for bonding a bottom surface of the cover glass to a top surface of a touch sensor (bold dashed line).
- the touch sensor may be comprised of any suitable material(s), such as glass, plastic, or another material and may be arranged on top of a sensor film.
- “optically-clear adhesive” refers to a class of adhesives that transmit substantially all (e.g., about 99%) of incident visible light.
- the touch sensor may comprise a touch matrix of display electrodes that form capacitors whose capacitances may be evaluated in detecting touch input. More specifically, the electrodes may be formed in two separate layers: a receive electrode layer and a transmit electrode layer positioned below the receive electrode layer.
- receive and transmit electrode layers each may be formed on a respective dielectric substrate comprising materials including but not limited to glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or cyclic olefin polymer (COP) film.
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- COP cyclic olefin polymer
- the receive and transmit electrode layers may be bonded together by an optically-clear adhesive (not shown in FIG. 9 ( a ) ), which may be an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive film, for example.
- the touch sensor configuration may be integrally formed as a single layer with electrodes disposed on opposite surfaces of an integral layer. Further, the touch sensor may alternatively be configured such that the transmit electrode layer is provided above, and bonded, via the optically-clear adhesive, to receive an electrode layer positioned therebelow.
- the touch-sensitive display device may include a plurality of display electrodes whose capacitances may be evaluated in detecting a touch input, and these electrodes may be arranged or distributed in any suitable manner.
- the touch sensor may be bonded, e.g. at a bottom surface of the transmit electrode layer, to the lower display stack via a second optically-clear adhesive (OCA 2 ) with a thickness of e.g. 150 ⁇ m.
- the lower display stack may comprise a polarization layer (Pol) with a thickness of e.g. 100 ⁇ m followed by a color filter (CF) glass layer with a thickness of e.g. 200 ⁇ m, a thin-film transistor (TFT) glass layer with a thickness of e.g. 200 ⁇ m and a final backlight unit (BLU) as a light source for the touch-sensitive display device.
- CF color filter
- TFT thin-film transistor
- on-cell and in-cell touch technologies are provided to overcome the drawbacks of traditional out-cell touch technology with additional weight and thickness of the touch display panel and reduced light penetration rate.
- FIG. 9 ( b ) shows an optical stack of an on-cell structure of the touch-sensitive display device, where the touch sensor (bold dashed line) is located between the polarization layer and the color filter glass layer.
- the touch sensor is disposed on the color filter substrate to form a completed color filter substrate.
- the touch sensor may be disposed on a thin film which is bonded onto the upper one of the two substrate layers (i.e. the color filter and thin film transistor glass layers).
- the thickness of the first optically-clear adhesive (OCA 1 ) is 100 m.
- FIG. 9 ( c ) shows an optical stack of an in-cell structure of the touch-sensitive display device, where the touch sensor (bold dashed line) is located between the color filter glass layer and the thin-film transistor glass layer.
- the in-cell technology is to dispose the sensor within the LCD cell structure to be integrated within the display unit, so that the display unit is provided with the ability of the touch panel. Therefore, the touch display panel does not need to be bonded with an additional touch panel and the assembly procedure can be simplified.
- the thickness of the first optically-clear adhesive (OCA 1 ) is 100 ⁇ m here.
- the distance between the surface of the touch-sensitive display device and the touch sensor varies depending on the display technology.
- the distance is at least 450 m, while it is at least 600 ⁇ m in the on-cell structure and at least 800 ⁇ m in the in-cell structure, as indicated by the arrow to the right of the optical stacks.
- the on-cell and in-cell structures can work also without cover glass, while the polarization layer (polarizer) acts as interactive surface between the touch-sensitive display and the active stylus.
- polarization layer polarizer
- FIGS. 10 ( a ) to 10 ( c ) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of the different display touch module structures, where the on-cell and in-cell structures are without cover glass.
- the cover glass and the first optically-clear adhesive are removed in FIGS. 10 ( b ) and 10 ( c ) so that the distances of the on-cell and in-cell structures are reduced by 500 ⁇ m to 100 ⁇ m for the on-cell structure and 300 ⁇ m for the in-cell structure.
- FIGS. 10 ( b ) and 10 ( c ) are beneficial in that costs, thickness and weight can be reduced.
- the arrows in FIGS. 10 ( a ) to 10 ( c ) show the distance from the display surface to touch sensor.
- the signal distribution (dress shape) depends on the distance from the tip electrode to the touch sensor. A higher distance leads to an increased distribution on neighbor antennas of the touch sensor and thereby to an improved stylus accuracy, since the signals of neighboring antennas of the touch sensor are used to improve reception quality.
- the reduced distance must be compensated for on-cell and in-cell structures by the controller of conventional styli.
- FIGS. 11 ( a ) to 11 ( d ) are schematic illustrations of respective signal distributions in the vertical mode for different display technologies.
- the signal distribution of FIG. 11 ( a ) relates to a case where a conventional stylus with separate tip electrode with tip tail and separate ring electrode which surrounds the tip tail is used with an out-cell display technology
- FIG. 11 ( b ) relates to an on-cell or in-cell display technology with glass cover
- FIG. 11 ( c ) relates to an on-cell or in-cell display technology without glass cover and corresponding reduced distance.
- the signal distribution of FIG. 11 ( d ) relates to a case where the proposed stylus with single-unit nib portion and integrated tip and ring electrodes without tip tail is used with an on-cell or in-cell display technology without glass cover.
- the signal distribution is wider for the on-cell/in-cell display technology with cover glass and the signal level at the centre of the distribution is slightly lower, while the signal level at the centre of the distribution is much higher and the distribution is much narrower for the on-cell/in-cell display technology without cover glass (which is not good for stylus positioning).
- the single-unit nib portion of the proposed stylus can be adapted to the reduced distance of the on-cell/in-cell display technology without cover glass by using a nib portion with raised tip and ring electrodes (as shown for example in FIGS. 6 ( b ) and 6 ( c ) .
- the capability to control shape, level and size of the tip and ring electrodes in the nib portion enables to achieve the required tip signal distribution for improved positioning capabilities.
- the distance between tip and ring electrodes and the antenna of the touch sensor can be adjusted individually based on the used display technology to provide better signal distribution and better accuracy.
- a stylus comprising a housing and a nib portion configured to be attached to the housing and to extend out from the housing, wherein the nib portion comprises at a tip area an integrated conductive tip electrode and at least one integrated conductive ring electrode surrounding the tip electrode at least partially and electrically isolated from the tip electrode.
- the nib portion may comprise respective connecting elements for electrically connecting the integrated tip and ring electrodes to signal processing circuits arranged in the housing.
- the nib portion may be releasably attachable to the housing.
- the signal processing circuits may comprise a controller adapted to determine an electrode configuration of the nib portion by measuring a predetermined parameter of the nib portion.
- the electrode configuration of the nib portion may be identified by a nib identity (ID) stored in the stylus or in a touch-sensitive display device in association with a corresponding range or value of the predetermined parameter. If the nib ID is stored in the display device, the electrode configuration may be communicated from the display device to the stylus.
- ID nib identity
- the electrode configuration may be communicated from the display device to the stylus.
- the predetermined parameter may be selected from a capacitance between the tip and ring electrodes, a crosstalk between the tip and ring electrodes, and a resistance between the tip and ring electrodes.
- the controller may be adapted to determine a pressure applied to a tip of the nib portion by measuring a coupling between the ring electrode and a conductive casing of the housing.
- the controller may be adapted to transmit the nib identity to a touch-sensitive display device for which the stylus is used as input device.
- the controller may be adapted to calibrate the stylus by adapting stylus settings to the determined electrode configuration of the attached nib portion.
- the stylus may comprise a plurality of replaceable nib portions with different electrode configurations for different applications.
- the electrode configurations may differ in at least one of shape, size and location of the tip and ring electrodes within the nib portion.
- a nib portion with integrated tip and ring electrodes for use in a stylus of the above aspect and its embodiments.
- the nib portion may be made of a molded insulation material and the ring electrode may be printed on the molded insulation material.
- the tip and ring electrodes may be implemented as integrated parts of the nib portion, that are arranged deep inside the molded insulation material during the molding process or printed internally.
- a method comprising: determining an electrode configuration of a nib portion of a stylus by measuring a predetermined parameter of the nib portion; and calibrating the stylus by adapting stylus settings to the determined electrode configuration of the attached nib portion.
- a computer program embodied on computer-readable storage and comprising code configured so as when run on one or more processors to perform the method of any embodiment disclosed herein.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
Abstract
A stylus comprising a housing and a nib portion configured to be attached to the housing and to extend out from the housing, wherein the nib portion comprises at a tip area an integrated conductive tip electrode and at least one integrated conductive ring electrode surrounding the tip electrode at least partially and electrically isolated from the tip electrode.
Description
- This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/640,314, entitled “STYLUS NIB DESIGN AND ACCURACY IMPROVEMENT” filed on Mar. 3, 2022, which is a 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2020/049295, entitled “STYLUS NIB DESIGN AND ACCURACY IMPROVEMENT” filed on Sep. 4, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- Signal emitting pens or styluses (i.e. active styluses) are known in the art for use with a digitizer system. The digitizer system detects at least one position of the stylus based on a signal emitted and the detected position provides input to a computing device associated with the digitizer system. The detected position may then be interpreted as user commands. Often, the digitizer system is integrated with a display screen, e.g., to form a touch-sensitive display device. Positions of the stylus over the display screen are correlated with virtual information portrayed on the display screen. The signal emitted by the stylus may include additional information such as pressure applied on the writing tip and/or stylus identification. The information is decoded by the digitizer system.
- The touch-sensitive display device may detect a touch event each time the stylus touches or comes into close proximity with a touch sensor of the touch-sensitive display device. A touch event may be interpreted by the touch-sensitive display device as a user input at a particular two- or three-dimensional location relative to the touch-sensitive display device.
- Active styli typically include one or more electrodes. These electrodes can be driven with a particular excitation signal to influence electrical conditions on the touch sensor, and/or they can be configured to detect an excitation signal applied to display electrodes of the touch sensor.
- This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Nor is the claimed subject matter limited to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages noted herein.
- The disclosure in some embodiments relates to a stylus that can be used with a plurality of touch-enabled devices, e.g., a smart phone, a personal computer and a smart television and may include different versions or makes of a same type of device. In some example embodiments, a user may use the stylus to communicate with any one of the plurality of touch-enabled devices.
- According to an aspect of some embodiments, the stylus may comprise a housing and a nib portion configured to be attached to the housing and to extend out from the housing, wherein the nib portion comprises an integrated conductive tip electrode and at least one integrated conductive ring electrode surrounding the tip electrode at least partially and electrically isolated from the tip electrode.
- The tip and ring electrode(s) of the stylus can thus both be fixed or integrated in a single part of a molded nib portion made of plastic or another insulator material. This provides several advantages for better accuracy and/or positioning performance. A uniform nib design can be achieved (e.g. constant and fixed gap(s) between the tip and ring electrodes without mechanical freedom). Furthermore, tip and ring height of the stylus may easily be controlled at design level. This allows to provide an identity (ID) to each nib type. Moreover, different replaceable nib portions can be provided to allow for flexible sizes of the tip and ring electrodes, which are not limited by the size of the enclosure or housing of the nib portion. E.g., in some cases, a small ring and large tip electrode may be better depending on performance requirements. As a further advantage, the tip tail of the stylus can be covered by the ring electrode, so that no extra tail signal is generated. Also, the nib tail can be made wide and robust with connection elements (e.g. contact pins) for the ring and tip electrodes.
- According to another aspect, a method comprises determining an electrode configuration of the nib portion of the stylus by measuring a predetermined parameter of the nib portion; and calibrating the stylus by adapting stylus settings to the determined electrode configuration of the attached nib portion.
- Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in practice or testing of embodiments of the disclosure, example methods and/or materials are described below. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.
- To assist understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments of such may be put into effect, reference is made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a stylus with replaceable nib portion in a removed state and an inserted state, -
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a signal processing portion in a stylus with removable nib portion, -
FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a calibration procedure after a nib replacement, -
FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a pressure determination procedure, -
FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) are schematic illustrations of different views of a replaceable nib portion, -
FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) are schematic illustrations of different types of nib portions with different electrode sizes, -
FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a vertical mode, -
FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a tilted mode, -
FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of different display touch module structures with cover glass, -
FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of different display touch module structures without cover glass, and -
FIGS. 11(a) to 11(d) are schematic illustrations of respective signal distributions in the vertical mode for different display technologies. - The present disclosure is directed to a new design of an active stylus having multiple electrodes in its tip and resulting handling procedures. The new design comprises the concept that both tip and ring electrodes of the stylus are fixedly integrated in a single part of a nib portion that may be made of a molded plastic or other insulator material. In some implementations, the active stylus may include one or more tip electrodes, as well as one or more ring electrode encircling the tip electrode(s). In general, the ring electrode(s) may have any suitable size and shape and may have any position on the nib portion. “Ring electrode” as used herein refers to any electrically conducting structure that encircles a stylus body at least partly. Interactions between stylus electrodes of the active stylus and display electrodes of a touch-sensitive display device result in a touch-sensitive display device receiving spatial capacitance (e.g. expressed by signal distribution) or other measurements of the active stylus. From these measurements, the touch-sensitive display device may calculate at least one of various parameters, such as a tip position of the active stylus relative to the display, a tilt parameter of the active stylus relative to the display, and a pressure parameter indicating a pressure applied to the nib portion of the active stylus.
- In an example, the combination of the signals obtained from tip and ring electrodes may be used to determine the tilt of the active stylus in order to create tilt-dependent writing effects or to detect a smearing effect caused by the tilt of the stylus. Alternatively or additionally, the combination of signals obtained from the tip and ring electrodes may be used to correct the calculation of the tip position of the active stylus on a display screen.
- In an example, the tilt parameter may include one or more angles specifying the orientation or attitude of the active stylus relative to a display screen of a touch-sensitive display device for which the active stylus is used as input device. For example, the tilt parameter may specify at what angle the active stylus intersects a plane perpendicular to the display, and/or at what angle the active stylus is “pointing” relative to a coordinate system defined on the surface of the display (i.e., tilt direction in a “north-south-east-west” sense over the plane of the display).
- Additionally, further measurements between the tip and ring electrodes or other measurements at the molded nib portion can be used at the active stylus to determine an inserted type of nib portion (e.g. based on a nib identity (ID)) in order to adapt specific stylus settings to specific parameters of the nib portion.
- Conventional stylus designs suffer accuracy performance due to their mechanical design. E.g., the tip tail is long and exposed and the tip electrode has mechanical freedom with respect a mechanically separated ring electrode or pen body. Moreover, the tip portion of the pen can move and deform under pressure due to the narrow inserted tip tail.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an active stylus with a single-unit nib portion 10 in a removed state (left part) and an inserted state (right part). Thenib portion 10 comprises atip electrode 14 and aring electrode 12 which are fixedly integrated in the single part of thenib portion 10, e.g., based on a molded design of plastic or another non-conducting material (e.g. polyoxymethylene (POM) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or the like). - In an example indicated in the left part of
FIG. 1 , thenib portion 10 may be replaceable e.g. by using releasable connecting elements for connecting the tip andring electrodes ring electrodes - In an example, the
nib portion 10 may comprise atail portion 16 for inserting thenib portion 10 into an opening provide at the front portion of thehousing 20 of the active stylus. Apparently, various (other) options for fixing thenib portion 10 at thehousing 20 are available. E.g., a screwing connection may be achieved by providing respective threats at thetail portion 16 of thenib portion 10 and at the opening of thehousing 20. As another option, thenib portion 10 may be fixed by a releasable clipping function or by an adhesive or by a magnetic attaching or inserting option. - The tip and
ring electrodes ring electrodes nib portion 10 after the molding process. - In an example, the outer diameter of the
ring electrode 12 may range between 1 mm and 15 mm, while the size of thetip electrode 14 should not exceed the outer diameter of thering electrode 12. - Due to the molded design of the
nib portion 10, a constant and fixed gap can be kept between the tip andring electrodes ring electrodes ring electrode 12 can be made very flexible, as it is no longer limited by the size of thehousing 20 of the active stylus. Also, thetail portion 16 of thenib portion 10 towards thehousing 20 can be made narrow and may be covered by thering electrode 12, so that the generation of an extra tail can be prevented. In general, thenib portion 10 with the integrated tip andring electrodes -
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a signal processing portion in an example of an active stylus with removable single-unit (e.g. molded)nib portion 10. The active stylus is usable with a touch-sensitive display device (not shown inFIG. 2 ) incorporating a touch sensor, wherein interactions between the tip andring electrodes unit nib portion 10 and the touch matrix result in control logic of the touch-sensitive display device receiving spatial capacitance measurements. - As can be gathered from
FIG. 2 , the tip andring electrodes replaceable nib portion 10 are connected via respectivereleasable connecting elements housing 20 of the active stylus. Thetransceivers ring electrodes ring electrodes controller 210 of the signal processing portion provided in thehousing 20 of the active stylus. - In an example, the
controller 210 may also be connected to a conductive layer or casing 200 of thehousing 20 of the active stylus in order to use the conductive layer orcasing 200 as an additional sensing electrode or reference electrode of the active stylus. - It will be appreciated that the
nib portion 10 of active stylus may have any suitable number of electrodes, though active styli described herein will generally have anib portion 10 with more than one electrode, e.g., thetip electrode 14 and at least onering electrode 12, configured to receive and/or transmit an electric signal (i.e. current or voltage) when proximate to an electrode of the touch sensor of touch-sensitive display device. - In an example, respective analog-to-digital (A/D) converters (not shown in
FIG. 2 ) may be operatively coupled between each of thetransceivers controller 210 and configured to digitize analog signals received from thetransceivers 222, 223 into digital data to facilitate subsequent processing at thecontroller 210. - The
controller 210 may comprise a logic machine and a storage machine configured to hold instructions executable by the logic machine to perform various operations discussed herein. For example, thecontroller 210 may be configured to receive signals from the tip andring electrodes conductive casing 200 of thehousing 20. Further, thecontroller 210 may be configured to process digitized signals from A/D converter to perform the various operations discussed herein. - Via interactions between the tip and
ring electrodes ring electrodes FIG. 2 includes at least two integrated electrodes (i.e. thetip electrode 14 and the ring electrode 12) in thenib portion 10, the control logic of the touch-sensitive display device will receive at least two spatial capacitance measurements corresponding to the at least two electrodes of the active stylus. - As indicated above, a capacitance at a particular location relative to the touch matrix of the touch sensor of the touch-sensitive display device may be measured either when a display electrode detects a signal transmitted by a stylus electrode, or a stylus electrode detects a signal transmitted by a display electrode. Accordingly, localizing spatial capacitance measurements to two-dimensional positions may require only driving display electrodes, only driving stylus electrodes, or some combination of driving both display and stylus electrodes.
- Active styli as described herein may therefore be configured to operate in one or both of a receive mode and a drive mode. Further, an active stylus may operate in a hybrid mode, in which one or more stylus electrodes are driven while one or more other stylus electrodes receive.
- In some examples, the active stylus reports spatial capacitance measurements (e.g., timing, value of a row counter etc.) to the control logic of the touch-sensitive display device over some type of wireless link (e.g., a radio transmitter of the
transceivers 222, 224). Accordingly, the control logic may receive the spatial capacitance measurements calculated by the active stylus via a communications interface of the touch-sensitive display device. Instead of or in addition to a radio link, spatial capacitance measurements may be transmitted electrostatically via excitation of stylus electrodes of the active stylus. - In one example, calculation of spatial capacitance measurements may be “frequency-divided” rather than “time-divided.” Measuring spatial capacitance in this manner can allow for shorter touch-sensing time frames, and/or allow for more signal integration time during each touch-sensing time frame, potentially allowing for more accurate detection of touch input.
- The tilt parameter of the active stylus may be calculated by identifying which spatial capacitance measurements correspond to which stylus electrode. The control logic at the touch-sensitive display device may identify a distance between a spatial capacitance measurement received for the
ring electrode 12 and a spatial capacitance measurement received for thetip electrode 14. Based on this distance, the control logic may calculate a tilt parameter of the active stylus. Because thering electrode 12 occupies a known position relative to the stylus tip, the control logic can make use of basic geometric relationships (e.g., trigonometric functions) in order to calculate the angle at which the active stylus intersects a plane parallel to the display. The control logic may optionally calculate the direction the stylus is “pointed” relative to a coordinate system of the touch-sensitive display device by calculating an angle of a line connecting the detected tip position of the active stylus to the spatial capacitance measurement corresponding to thering electrode 12. - In an example, a stylus nib kit (e.g. for varied friction feelings, display technologies, applications etc.) can be provided e.g. as a box with a variety of
nib portions 10 with different electrode configurations by which the active stylus can be adapted to different user applications and/or various product types or technologies of the touch-sensitive display device (such as out-cell technology with cover glass, in-cell technology with or without cover glass, on-cell technology with or without cover glass, etc.), as explained later in more detail. Based on thereplaceable nib portion 10, the digitizer system with touch-sensitive display device can provide better experience and can be better adapted to user needs (e.g. by providing individual drawing or pointing algorithms, artistic drawing features, etc.). - Moreover, in an example, a tip front or nib ID can be provided in addition to a conventional stylus ID, so that the stylus can identify the used
nib portion 10 and be adapted thereto. Although the touch-sensitive display device can detect a signal shape for the tip and ring electrodes based on a sensor arrangement provided on the touch screen, it needs to know the orientation (tilt) of the pen. However, to determine the orientation of the stylus, the configuration of the tip andring electrodes nib portion 10 is required. This can be derived at the display device if the nib ID is signalled by the stylus to the display device. - In an example, the
controller 210 of the active stylus comprises a nib ID determination function (N-ID) 212 for determining the nib ID of an insertednib portion 10. The nib ID determination function may be implemented as a software routine of thecontroller 210 or as a hardware function (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) connected to thecontroller 210. - In an example, the nib ID determination can be achieved by using a capacitance sensing functionality which may already be provided on the circuit board of the active stylus. The capacitance sensing functionality can be used by the nib
ID determination function 212 to measure the capacitance between thetip electrode 14 and thering electrode 12. Size and configuration of the tip andring electrodes nib portion 10. Therefore, eachavailable nib portion 10 has a characteristic capacitance between its tip andring electrodes 14, 12 (e.g. small tip and large ring, small tip and small ring, large tip and small ring, etc.), which can be detected based in the capacitance measurement(s). The stylus controller can use this/these measurement result(s) to derive the nib ID and provide the nib ID together with stylus ID to the display device. Moreover, thecontroller 210 of the stylus system can use this nibID determination function 212 to detect when a user replaces thenib portion 10 of the stylus. - Another option for determining the nib ID in the nib
ID determination function 212 may be to measure an ohmic resistance between thetip electrode 14 and thering electrode 12 and determine the nib ID based on change of the resistance e.g. in comparison with a reference value. Other electric parameters, such as inductance, impedance, crosstalk between tip electrode and ring electrode, crosstalk between tip/ring electrode casing 200 or the like, may alternatively be used for determining the nib ID based on the electrode configuration of thenib portion 10. - A further option may be to determine the nib ID based on a mechanical shape or another mechanical property of the
nib portion 10 or itstail portion 16 or by a magnetic field or a position of a magnetic part of thenib portion 10. - In an example, if the
nib portion 10 has been replaced by a user or as initial procedure prior to first use of the active stylus, thecontroller 210 may initiate a calibration procedure by a calibration function (CAL) 216. Thecalibration function 216 may be implemented as a software routine of thecontroller 210 or as a hardware function (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) connected to thecontroller 210. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a calibration procedure after a nib replacement. - In step S310, the
calibration function 216 initiates a measurement of the capacitance between thetip electrode 14 and the ring electrode 12 (or suitable electrical, physical or mechanical parameter) e.g. by the nibID determination function 212. Then, in step S320, the nib ID is determined e.g. by the nibID determination function 212 based on the measurement result(s) obtained in step S310. This determination may be based on an access to a look-up table or another other non-volatile memory provided in the active styled and accessible by thecontroller 210. The look-up table or memory stores nib IDs in association with corresponding values or value ranges of the coupling capacity. Finally, in step S330, the active stylus is calibrated by adapting the settings (e.g. at least one of signal magnitude, frequency range, signal phase, pulse type, signal type per tip and ring, etc.). to the electrode configuration of the attachednib portion 10. Thereby, the processing and signals used by the active stylus are modified for an optimized use of the attachednib portion 10. - In an example, the active stylus with the single-
unit nib portion 10 may further provide a pressure sensing function (PS) 214 for sensing the pressure applied to the tip of the active stylus during a pointing or writing action. The determined pressure can be used e.g. for modifying the width or intensity of the signal detected by the touch-sensitive display device. Pressure sensing can be based on a variation of the distance between an electrode of the attachednib portion 10 and thehousing 20. The coupling capacitance varies in dependence on the distance between an electrode of the attachednib portion 10 and thehousing 20. Even very small variations of the distance can influence the coupling capacitance to a measurable amount. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a pressure determination procedure applied in a pressure sensing function (PS) 214 of thecontroller 210. Thepressure sensing function 216 may be implemented as a software routine of thecontroller 210 or as a hardware function (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) connected to thecontroller 210. - In step S410, a coupling capacitance between the
ring electrode 12 of thenib portion 10 and theconductive casing 200 of thehousing 20 is measured. Then, in step S420, a pressure value is determined based on the measurement result(s) obtained in step S410. This determination may be based on an access to a look-up table or another other non-volatile memory provided in the active styled and accessible by thecontroller 210. The look-up table or memory stores pressure values in association with corresponding values or value ranges of the coupling capacity. -
FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) are schematic illustrations of atop view, side view and bottom view, respectively, of a replaceable nib portion. It is noted that although internal structures of the nib portion are shown inFIG. 5(b) , the illustration is not to be interpreted as a cross-sectional view. It is just a side view which also indicates hidden internal structures. - The top view of
FIG. 5(a) shows an example of theconnection elements housing 20 of the active stylus can be inserted. Furthermore, as can be gathered from the side view ofFIG. 5(b) , the circular pads of theconnection elements tip electrodes FIG. 5(c) shows thetip electrode 14 and the surroundingring electrode 12 from below, both integrated in the molded structure of the nib portion. -
FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) are schematic illustrations of different types of nib portions with different electrode sizes adapted for use with digitizer systems with different display device technologies. - The nib design shown in
FIG. 6(a) comprises integrated tip and ring electrodes of a standard or normal shape and size. However, in some application cases, asmaller ring electrode 12 and alarger tip electrode 14 may be desirable depending on performance requirements. The design of the single-unit (molded) nib portion with integrated ring andtip electrodes FIG. 6(b) , thetip electrode 14 is shifted up and thering electrode 12 is smaller in the longitudinal direction of the active stylus. In the alternative nib design ofFIG. 6(c) , thetip electrode 14 is shifted up further and thering electrode 12 is smaller in both longitudinal and lateral directions of the active stylus. - Of course, other modifications of the shapes of the tip and
ring electrodes - Note that the above electrode and/or nib modifications lead to a change in specific measurable parameters (coupling capacitance, crosstalk, resistance, impedance, etc.) based on which the nib design and its related nib ID can be determined, as explained above.
- In an example, the digitizer system may determine a suited nib molding shape (and its corresponding nib ID) based on the stylus ID. As an example, the stylus ID may be a combination of a housing ID and the nib ID.
- Use of the proposed stylus with replaceable single-unit nib portions with different nib designs allows easy control of size, shape and/or height of the tip and
ring electrodes - Moreover, the tail of the
tip electrode 14 can be made narrow and also covered by thering electrode 12, so that no extra tail signal is generated. The tail of the nib portion with both ring and tip connector elements (e.g. contact pins or pads or the like) can be made wide and robust so that it cannot deform. -
FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a vertical operation mode of the active stylus. - More specifically, the diagrams in the lower part of
FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) present tip signal distributions (‘dress’ shapes) for different stylus nib designs in the vertical operation mode of the active stylus in a direction parallel to the touch screen surface plane of the touch-sensitive display device, as received by a sensor matrix.FIG. 7(a) shows the signal distribution for a conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and without ring electrode. Furthermore,FIG. 7(b) shows the signal distribution for a conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and with a ring electrode surrounding the tip tail at about half of its total length. Finally,FIG. 7(c) shows the signal distribution for the proposed single-unit (molded) nib portion with integrated tip and ring electrodes. - As can be gathered from
FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) , the signal distribution is wider for the conventional nib designs (FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) ) due to the fact that the tip tail of the tip electrode is exposed, while the proposed single-unit nib design with integrated tip and ring electrodes does not comprise any tip tail and therefore generates a narrow and very local signal distribution. - Thus, the ability to control level, shape and/or size of the tip and ring electrodes in the proposed single-unit nib design enables to achieve narrower and more local tip signals for improved positioning of the active stylus in digitizer systems.
-
FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) are schematic illustrations of different stylus designs and their signal distributions in a tilted operation mode of the active stylus. - More specifically, the diagrams in the lower part of
FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) present tip signal distributions (‘dress’ shapes) for different stylus nib designs in the tilted operation mode of the active stylus in a direction parallel to the touch screen surface plane of the touch-sensitive display device, as received by a sensor matrix.FIG. 8(a) shows the signal distribution for the conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and without ring electrode. Furthermore,FIG. 8(b) shows the signal distribution for the conventional nib design comprising a tip electrode with long and narrow tip tail and with a ring electrode surrounding the tip tail at about half of its total length. Finally,FIG. 8(c) shows the signal distribution for the proposed single-unit (molded) nib portion with integrated tip and ring electrodes. - As can be gathered from
FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) , the signal distribution is wider and strongly smears towards the tilt direction for the conventional nib designs ofFIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) , due to exposed tip tail. However, as the proposed nib design ofFIG. 8(c) does not require any tip tail, the signal distribution is much narrow and very local with much less smear effect. Therefore, the ring electrode is no longer required for position correction and can solely be used for tilt-dependent drawing or positioning features such as wider drawing lines (like a pencil) and other options. Moreover, for artist users which use much higher tilt levels, the nip and/or electrode shape can be much better controlled. - Again, the ability to control level, shape and/or size of the tip and ring electrodes in the proposed single-unit nib design enables to achieve narrower and more local tip signals for improved positioning of the active stylus in digitizer systems.
- In the following, the display technology of digitizer system is explained in more detail.
- In some examples, the touch-sensitive display device of the digitizer system may be configured to receive input from input devices in contact with the display device and input devices not in contact with the display device (e.g., input devices that hover proximate to a surface of the display). “Touch input” as used herein refers to both types of input. In some examples, the display device may be configured to receive input from two or more sources simultaneously, in which case the display device may be referred to as a multi-touch display device.
- The display device may be operatively coupled to an image source, which may be, for example, a computing device external to, or housed within, the display device. The image source may receive input from display device, process the input, and in response generate appropriate graphical output for the display device. In this way, the display device may provide a natural paradigm for interacting with a computing device that can respond appropriately to touch input.
-
FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of different display touch module structures with cover glass. -
FIG. 9(a) shows an optical stack of an out-cell structure of the touch-sensitive display device, which includes a plurality of components configured to enable the reception of a touch input and the generation and presentation of a graphical output. In the out-cell structure, a touch module is added onto a display module. - The optical stack of the out-cell structure may include a cover glass as an optically-clear touch sheet (with a thickness of e.g. 400 μm) having a top surface for receiving a touch input, a first optically-clear adhesive (OCA1) (with a thickness of e.g. 50 μm) for bonding a bottom surface of the cover glass to a top surface of a touch sensor (bold dashed line). The touch sensor may be comprised of any suitable material(s), such as glass, plastic, or another material and may be arranged on top of a sensor film. As used herein, “optically-clear adhesive” refers to a class of adhesives that transmit substantially all (e.g., about 99%) of incident visible light.
- The touch sensor may comprise a touch matrix of display electrodes that form capacitors whose capacitances may be evaluated in detecting touch input. More specifically, the electrodes may be formed in two separate layers: a receive electrode layer and a transmit electrode layer positioned below the receive electrode layer. For example, receive and transmit electrode layers each may be formed on a respective dielectric substrate comprising materials including but not limited to glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or cyclic olefin polymer (COP) film. The receive and transmit electrode layers may be bonded together by an optically-clear adhesive (not shown in
FIG. 9(a) ), which may be an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive film, for example. - The touch sensor configuration may be integrally formed as a single layer with electrodes disposed on opposite surfaces of an integral layer. Further, the touch sensor may alternatively be configured such that the transmit electrode layer is provided above, and bonded, via the optically-clear adhesive, to receive an electrode layer positioned therebelow. In general, the touch-sensitive display device may include a plurality of display electrodes whose capacitances may be evaluated in detecting a touch input, and these electrodes may be arranged or distributed in any suitable manner.
- The touch sensor may be bonded, e.g. at a bottom surface of the transmit electrode layer, to the lower display stack via a second optically-clear adhesive (OCA2) with a thickness of e.g. 150 μm. The lower display stack may comprise a polarization layer (Pol) with a thickness of e.g. 100 μm followed by a color filter (CF) glass layer with a thickness of e.g. 200 μm, a thin-film transistor (TFT) glass layer with a thickness of e.g. 200 μm and a final backlight unit (BLU) as a light source for the touch-sensitive display device.
- Furthermore, on-cell and in-cell touch technologies are provided to overcome the drawbacks of traditional out-cell touch technology with additional weight and thickness of the touch display panel and reduced light penetration rate.
-
FIG. 9(b) shows an optical stack of an on-cell structure of the touch-sensitive display device, where the touch sensor (bold dashed line) is located between the polarization layer and the color filter glass layer. Thus, the touch sensor is disposed on the color filter substrate to form a completed color filter substrate. The touch sensor may be disposed on a thin film which is bonded onto the upper one of the two substrate layers (i.e. the color filter and thin film transistor glass layers). Here, the thickness of the first optically-clear adhesive (OCA1) is 100 m. -
FIG. 9(c) shows an optical stack of an in-cell structure of the touch-sensitive display device, where the touch sensor (bold dashed line) is located between the color filter glass layer and the thin-film transistor glass layer. The in-cell technology is to dispose the sensor within the LCD cell structure to be integrated within the display unit, so that the display unit is provided with the ability of the touch panel. Therefore, the touch display panel does not need to be bonded with an additional touch panel and the assembly procedure can be simplified. Again, the thickness of the first optically-clear adhesive (OCA1) is 100 μm here. - As can be gathered from
FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) , the distance between the surface of the touch-sensitive display device and the touch sensor (e.g. touch antennas) varies depending on the display technology. In the out-cell structure, the distance is at least 450 m, while it is at least 600 μm in the on-cell structure and at least 800 μm in the in-cell structure, as indicated by the arrow to the right of the optical stacks. - However, it is to be noted that the on-cell and in-cell structures can work also without cover glass, while the polarization layer (polarizer) acts as interactive surface between the touch-sensitive display and the active stylus.
-
FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c) are schematic cross-sectional views of respective stack designs of the different display touch module structures, where the on-cell and in-cell structures are without cover glass. Thus, the cover glass and the first optically-clear adhesive are removed inFIGS. 10(b) and 10(c) so that the distances of the on-cell and in-cell structures are reduced by 500 μm to 100 μm for the on-cell structure and 300 μm for the in-cell structure. - The stack designs of
FIGS. 10(b) and 10(c) are beneficial in that costs, thickness and weight can be reduced. The arrows inFIGS. 10(a) to 10(c) show the distance from the display surface to touch sensor. However, the signal distribution (dress shape) depends on the distance from the tip electrode to the touch sensor. A higher distance leads to an increased distribution on neighbor antennas of the touch sensor and thereby to an improved stylus accuracy, since the signals of neighboring antennas of the touch sensor are used to improve reception quality. The reduced distance must be compensated for on-cell and in-cell structures by the controller of conventional styli. -
FIGS. 11(a) to 11(d) are schematic illustrations of respective signal distributions in the vertical mode for different display technologies. The signal distribution ofFIG. 11(a) relates to a case where a conventional stylus with separate tip electrode with tip tail and separate ring electrode which surrounds the tip tail is used with an out-cell display technology, whileFIG. 11(b) relates to an on-cell or in-cell display technology with glass cover andFIG. 11(c) relates to an on-cell or in-cell display technology without glass cover and corresponding reduced distance. Finally, the signal distribution ofFIG. 11(d) relates to a case where the proposed stylus with single-unit nib portion and integrated tip and ring electrodes without tip tail is used with an on-cell or in-cell display technology without glass cover. - As can be gathered from
FIGS. 11(a) to 11(c) , the signal distribution is wider for the on-cell/in-cell display technology with cover glass and the signal level at the centre of the distribution is slightly lower, while the signal level at the centre of the distribution is much higher and the distribution is much narrower for the on-cell/in-cell display technology without cover glass (which is not good for stylus positioning). - However, as can be gathered from
FIG. 11(d) , the single-unit nib portion of the proposed stylus can be adapted to the reduced distance of the on-cell/in-cell display technology without cover glass by using a nib portion with raised tip and ring electrodes (as shown for example inFIGS. 6(b) and 6(c) . The capability to control shape, level and size of the tip and ring electrodes in the nib portion enables to achieve the required tip signal distribution for improved positioning capabilities. - Due to the fact that different nib portions with different electrode configurations can be provided, the distance between tip and ring electrodes and the antenna of the touch sensor can be adjusted individually based on the used display technology to provide better signal distribution and better accuracy.
- It will be appreciated that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only.
- More generally, according to one aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a stylus comprising a housing and a nib portion configured to be attached to the housing and to extend out from the housing, wherein the nib portion comprises at a tip area an integrated conductive tip electrode and at least one integrated conductive ring electrode surrounding the tip electrode at least partially and electrically isolated from the tip electrode.
- In embodiments, the nib portion may comprise respective connecting elements for electrically connecting the integrated tip and ring electrodes to signal processing circuits arranged in the housing.
- In embodiments, the nib portion may be releasably attachable to the housing.
- In embodiments, the signal processing circuits may comprise a controller adapted to determine an electrode configuration of the nib portion by measuring a predetermined parameter of the nib portion.
- In embodiments, the electrode configuration of the nib portion may be identified by a nib identity (ID) stored in the stylus or in a touch-sensitive display device in association with a corresponding range or value of the predetermined parameter. If the nib ID is stored in the display device, the electrode configuration may be communicated from the display device to the stylus.
- In embodiments, the predetermined parameter may be selected from a capacitance between the tip and ring electrodes, a crosstalk between the tip and ring electrodes, and a resistance between the tip and ring electrodes.
- In embodiments, the controller may be adapted to determine a pressure applied to a tip of the nib portion by measuring a coupling between the ring electrode and a conductive casing of the housing.
- In embodiments, the controller may be adapted to transmit the nib identity to a touch-sensitive display device for which the stylus is used as input device.
- In embodiments, the controller may be adapted to calibrate the stylus by adapting stylus settings to the determined electrode configuration of the attached nib portion.
- In embodiments, the stylus may comprise a plurality of replaceable nib portions with different electrode configurations for different applications.
- In embodiments, the electrode configurations may differ in at least one of shape, size and location of the tip and ring electrodes within the nib portion.
- According to another aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a nib portion with integrated tip and ring electrodes for use in a stylus of the above aspect and its embodiments.
- In embodiments, the nib portion may be made of a molded insulation material and the ring electrode may be printed on the molded insulation material. In an example, the tip and ring electrodes may be implemented as integrated parts of the nib portion, that are arranged deep inside the molded insulation material during the molding process or printed internally.
- According to another aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a method comprising: determining an electrode configuration of a nib portion of a stylus by measuring a predetermined parameter of the nib portion; and calibrating the stylus by adapting stylus settings to the determined electrode configuration of the attached nib portion.
- According to another aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a computer program embodied on computer-readable storage and comprising code configured so as when run on one or more processors to perform the method of any embodiment disclosed herein.
- Other variants and applications of the disclosed techniques may become apparent to a person skilled in the art once given the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the above-described embodiments but only by the accompanying claims.
Claims (21)
1. (canceled)
2. A touch-sensitive display device comprising:
a touch sensor;
a display screen; and
control logic configured to receive spatial capacitance measurements of a conductive tip electrode and a conductive ring electrode of an active stylus, wherein the control logic is configured to calculate a tilt parameter of the active stylus relative to the display screen using the received spatial capacitance measurement of the conductive tip electrode and the received spatial capacitance measurement of the conductive ring electrode of the active stylus.
3. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the control logic is configured to use the calculated tilt parameter to at least one of create a tilt-dependent writing effect or detect a smearing effect.
4. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the control logic is configured to calculate the tilt parameter of the active stylus including:
identifying that a first spatial capacitance measurement of the received spatial capacitance measurements corresponds to the conductive tip electrode; and
identifying that a second spatial capacitance measurement of the received spatial capacitance measurements corresponds to the conductive ring electrode.
5. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the control logic is configured to calculate the tilt parameter of the active stylus including identifying a distance between a first spatial capacitance measurement from the conductive tip electrode and a second spatial capacitance measurement from the conductive ring electrode.
6. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the calculated tilt parameter comprises an angle of at least one of an orientation or an attitude of the active stylus relative to the display screen.
7. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the calculated tilt parameter comprises an angle at which the active stylus intersects at least one of a plane perpendicular to the display screen or a plane parallel to the display screen.
8. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the calculated tilt parameter comprises an angle the active stylus is pointing relative to a coordinate system defined on a surface of the display screen.
9. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the control logic is further configured to:
determine an electrode configuration of the conductive tip electrode and the conductive ring electrode of the active stylus; and
determine an orientation of the active stylus relative to the display screen using the calculated tilt parameter and the determined electrode configuration.
10. The touch-sensitive display device of claim 2 , wherein the control logic is further configured to determine an electrode configuration of the conductive tip electrode and the conductive ring electrode of the active stylus including identifying a nib identity associated with the active stylus.
11. A method comprising:
obtaining spatial capacitance measurements of a conductive tip electrode and a conductive ring electrode of an active stylus;
determining a tilt parameter of the active stylus relative to a display screen of a touch-sensitive display device using the spatial capacitance measurement of the conductive tip electrode and the spatial capacitance measurement of the conductive ring electrode; and
determining an orientation of the active stylus relative to the display screen using the determined tilt parameter.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising at least one of creating a tilt-dependent writing effect or detecting a smearing effect using the determined tilt parameter.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the tilt parameter of the active stylus comprises:
identifying that a first spatial capacitance measurement of the spatial capacitance measurements corresponds to the conductive tip electrode; and
identifying that a second spatial capacitance measurement of the spatial capacitance measurements corresponds to the conductive ring electrode.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the tilt parameter of the active stylus comprises identifying a distance between a first spatial capacitance measurement from the conductive tip electrode and a second spatial capacitance measurement from the conductive ring electrode.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the tilt parameter comprises determining an angle of at least one of an orientation or an attitude of the active stylus relative to the display screen.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the tilt parameter comprises calculating an angle at which the active stylus intersects at least one of a plane perpendicular to the display screen or a plane parallel to the display screen.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the tilt parameter comprises calculating at least one of an angle or a direction the active stylus is pointing relative to a coordinate system defined on a surface of the display screen.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining an electrode configuration of the conductive tip electrode and the conductive ring electrode of the active stylus, wherein determining the orientation of the active stylus relative to the display screen comprises determining the orientation using the determined electrode configuration.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining an electrode configuration of the conductive tip electrode and the conductive ring electrode of the active stylus including identifying a nib identity associated with the active stylus.
20. A method comprising:
determining an electrode configuration of a conductive tip electrode and a conductive ring electrode of an active stylus;
determining a tilt parameter of the active stylus relative to a display screen of a touch-sensitive display device; and
determining an orientation of the active stylus relative to the display screen using the determined electrode configuration and the determined tilt parameter.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein determining the tilt parameter comprises determining the tilt parameter using spatial capacitance measurement of the conductive tip electrode and the spatial capacitance measurement of the conductive ring electrode.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18/454,023 US20230393676A1 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2023-08-22 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP19195507.9 | 2019-09-05 | ||
EP19195507.9A EP3789855A1 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2019-09-05 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
PCT/US2020/049295 WO2021046281A1 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2020-09-04 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
US202217640314A | 2022-03-03 | 2022-03-03 | |
US18/454,023 US20230393676A1 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2023-08-22 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/640,314 Continuation US11775086B2 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2020-09-04 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
PCT/US2020/049295 Continuation WO2021046281A1 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2020-09-04 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20230393676A1 true US20230393676A1 (en) | 2023-12-07 |
Family
ID=67874276
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/640,314 Active US11775086B2 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2020-09-04 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
US18/454,023 Pending US20230393676A1 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2023-08-22 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/640,314 Active US11775086B2 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2020-09-04 | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US11775086B2 (en) |
EP (2) | EP3789855A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN114341782B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021046281A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2022044595A1 (en) * | 2020-08-25 | 2022-03-03 | 株式会社ワコム | Cover film for pen sensors, and pen sensor |
CN113238667B (en) * | 2021-04-23 | 2024-05-14 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Touch pen, touch pen system and control method of touch pen |
US11656726B1 (en) * | 2022-02-09 | 2023-05-23 | Novatek Microelectronics Corp. | Control circuit, electronic device, and control method for stylus pen interacting with touch panel |
Family Cites Families (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8536471B2 (en) | 2008-08-25 | 2013-09-17 | N-Trig Ltd. | Pressure sensitive stylus for a digitizer |
US8878823B1 (en) | 2011-07-27 | 2014-11-04 | Cypress Semiconductor Corporation | Dynamic shield electrode of a stylus |
US8878824B2 (en) | 2012-04-11 | 2014-11-04 | Blackberry Limited | Force-sensing stylus pointing device |
US8913042B2 (en) | 2012-07-24 | 2014-12-16 | Blackberry Limited | Force sensing stylus |
US9250721B2 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2016-02-02 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Wireless stylus device with interchangeable tips and eraser |
US9886104B2 (en) | 2013-02-17 | 2018-02-06 | Adonit Co., Ltd. | Stylus for capacitive touchscreen |
US9513721B2 (en) | 2013-09-12 | 2016-12-06 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Pressure sensitive stylus for a digitizer |
US9983696B2 (en) | 2014-09-30 | 2018-05-29 | Apple Inc. | Force-sensing stylus for use with electronic devices |
US9582085B2 (en) * | 2014-09-30 | 2017-02-28 | Apple Inc. | Electronic devices with molded insulator and via structures |
US9612671B1 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2017-04-04 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Stylus tip |
US10025401B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2018-07-17 | Apple Inc. | Active stylus ring electrode |
US10168804B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2019-01-01 | Apple Inc. | Stylus for electronic devices |
US10198089B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2019-02-05 | Apple Inc. | Active stylus precision tip |
TW201730708A (en) * | 2016-02-22 | 2017-09-01 | 翰碩電子股份有限公司 | Capacitive stylus with replaceable conductive nib |
US10048778B2 (en) | 2016-05-31 | 2018-08-14 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Force sensor apparatus |
US10296089B2 (en) | 2016-08-10 | 2019-05-21 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Haptic stylus |
CN206178720U (en) | 2016-09-29 | 2017-05-17 | 深圳市汇顶科技股份有限公司 | Touch -control writing pen |
TWI636383B (en) | 2016-10-17 | 2018-09-21 | 禾瑞亞科技股份有限公司 | Stylus and its tip structure |
US10310636B2 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2019-06-04 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Active stylus |
US10318022B2 (en) | 2017-01-30 | 2019-06-11 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Pressure sensitive stylus |
CN209311996U (en) * | 2019-01-02 | 2019-08-27 | 陈梅珍 | Touch control pen structure |
JP7346160B2 (en) * | 2019-08-23 | 2023-09-19 | 株式会社ワコム | Stylus and integrated circuits |
US11175755B1 (en) * | 2020-06-08 | 2021-11-16 | Wacom Co., Ltd. | Input system and input method |
-
2019
- 2019-09-05 EP EP19195507.9A patent/EP3789855A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2020
- 2020-09-04 US US17/640,314 patent/US11775086B2/en active Active
- 2020-09-04 CN CN202080062836.8A patent/CN114341782B/en active Active
- 2020-09-04 WO PCT/US2020/049295 patent/WO2021046281A1/en unknown
- 2020-09-04 EP EP20771959.2A patent/EP4025985A1/en active Pending
-
2023
- 2023-08-22 US US18/454,023 patent/US20230393676A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN114341782B (en) | 2024-04-05 |
US11775086B2 (en) | 2023-10-03 |
US20220334661A1 (en) | 2022-10-20 |
EP4025985A1 (en) | 2022-07-13 |
WO2021046281A1 (en) | 2021-03-11 |
EP3789855A1 (en) | 2021-03-10 |
CN114341782A (en) | 2022-04-12 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20230393676A1 (en) | Stylus nib design and accuracy improvement | |
US11182036B2 (en) | Position, tilt, and twist detection for stylus | |
US10452215B2 (en) | Mutual capacitive force sensor and touch display device with force sensing function and force sensing method thereof | |
US11023065B2 (en) | Touch sensor | |
US9557862B2 (en) | Bend sensor, bend sensing method and bend sensing system for flexible display panel | |
EP2443535B1 (en) | Detecting touch on a curved surface | |
EP2544081B1 (en) | Position detecting sensor, position detecting device, and position detecting method | |
KR102440965B1 (en) | Sylus pen, electriconic apparatus for receiving signal from the stylus pen and controlling method thereof | |
CN109643176B (en) | Stylus, touch sensing system, touch sensing controller and touch sensing method | |
US20200089343A1 (en) | Sensor for detecting pen signal transmitted from pen | |
US10078400B2 (en) | Touch sensor panel and method correcting palm input | |
KR20160064719A (en) | Pen input device, method for correction input coordinate thereof and electronic device for suppoting the same | |
US11204671B2 (en) | Pen, method for detecting pen, and touch system | |
KR20120004978A (en) | Detecting touch on a curved surface | |
CN108369468B (en) | Three-dimensional touch screen panel and pressure sensing layer thereof | |
US20140247238A1 (en) | System and method for dual mode stylus detection | |
US20170228061A1 (en) | Piecewise estimation for display noise compensation | |
US10261604B2 (en) | Active stylus velocity correction | |
US20190087062A1 (en) | Force transfer element for edge force sensing | |
KR20160123461A (en) | Touch panel and driving method for touch panel usinig the same | |
US20170115753A1 (en) | Method for detecting orientation of stylus | |
CN107544624B (en) | Intelligent wearable product | |
JP7025606B1 (en) | Cover film for pen sensors, pen sensors, and electronic devices | |
CN109324700A (en) | Capacitance pen capable of providing tilt angle and azimuth angle detection signals | |
KR102234249B1 (en) | Touch Screen Device And Compensation Method Of Edge Coordinate The Same |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC, WASHINGTON Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BAREL, ELIYAHU;REEL/FRAME:064670/0598 Effective date: 20190924 |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |