CN112783342A

CN112783342A - Stylus for transmitting electrical signal with pressure information and operation method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN112783342A
Application number: CN202011133171.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张钦富; 叶尚泰
Original assignee: Egalax Empia Technology Inc
Current assignee: Egalax Empia Technology Inc
Priority date: 2019-11-04
Filing date: 2020-10-21
Publication date: 2021-05-11
Also published as: CN112783343A; CN112783344A; TWI809219B; TW202119176A; CN112783345A

Abstract

The invention discloses a touch control pen for transmitting an electric signal carrying pressure information, which comprises: a first element having an impedance that is responsive to a pressure, wherein the first element is configured to receive a first signal encoded with a first pseudorandom number; a second element having a fixed impedance, wherein the second element is configured to receive a second signal encoded with a second pseudorandom number; and a conductive nib section for: simultaneously receiving the first signal from the first element and the second signal from the second element; and transmitting an electrical signal comprising the first signal and the second signal, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

Description

Stylus for transmitting electrical signal with pressure information and operation method thereof

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communicator technology, and is especially one touch control pen for transmitting electric signal with pressure information and its operation method.

Background

Touch panels or touch screens are important man-machine interfaces in modern times, and in addition to detecting proximity or contact with a human body, touch panels are also used to detect proximity of a pen-shaped object or a pen tip of a touch pen, so as to facilitate a user to control a touch trajectory of the pen tip more accurately.

The pen may utilize the pen tip to actively send out electrical signals, referred to as an active stylus in the present invention. When the pen point is close to the touch panel, the electrodes on the touch panel are influenced by the electric signal and have electromagnetic response. By detecting the electromagnetic response corresponding to the electrical signal, it is detected that the stylus is close to the sensing electrode, and the relative position of the pen tip and the touch panel is known.

Accordingly, there is a need for an active stylus capable of actively and accurately sending out an electrical signal according to a pressure applied thereto.

From the above description it is clear that the prior art still has drawbacks. Attempts to solve the above problems have not been successful for a long time. Conventional products and methods do not provide adequate structures and methods. Therefore, a new technique for solving the above problems is needed in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stylus that can transmit an electrical signal that accurately represents the pressure applied to the stylus.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a stylus for transmitting an electrical signal carrying pressure information, comprising: a first element having an impedance that is responsive to a pressure, wherein the first element is configured to receive a first signal encoded with a first pseudorandom number; a second element having a fixed impedance, wherein the second element is configured to receive a second signal encoded with a second pseudorandom number; and a conductive nib section for: simultaneously receiving the first signal from the first element and the second signal from the second element; and transmitting an electrical signal comprising the first signal and the second signal, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, to provide the first pseudorandom number and the second pseudorandom number on the stylus, the stylus further comprises a controller for: generating the first signal according to the first pseudorandom code; generating the second signal according to the second pseudo-random number; transmitting the first signal to the first element; and transmitting the second signal to the second element.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the stylus further comprises: at least one on-pen sensor connected to the controller. The controller is further configured to: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a first data code according to the data code and the first pseudorandom code; and transmitting the first data code to the first device. The first element is further configured to: the first data code is received from the controller. The conductive nib section is further configured to: receiving the first data code from the first element; and transmitting the first data code.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the stylus further comprises: at least one on-pen sensor connected to the controller. The controller is further configured to: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a second data code according to the data code and the second pseudo random number; and transmitting the second data code to the second element. The second element is further for: the second data code is received from the controller. The conductive nib section is further configured to: receiving the second data code from the second element; and transmitting the second data code.

In one embodiment, to synchronize with a receiving process of the touch processing device of the touch panel, the controller is further configured to: receiving a synchronization signal from an electronic device; and performing the generating step and the transmitting step after receiving the synchronization signal.

In one embodiment, the controller is coupled to the conductive nib to receive the synchronization signal, the synchronization signal being emitted from an electrode of a touch panel of the electronic device, in order to synchronize with a receiving process of the touch processing device of the touch panel in proximity of the stylus.

In one embodiment, in order to avoid the collision of the pseudo random numbers when the plurality of touch pens are operated on the touch panel, the touch pen further comprises a human-machine interface for a user to input the pseudo random numbers, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a setting instruction from the human-machine interface, which designates a combination of the first pseudo random number and the second pseudo random number.

In one embodiment, to provide the pseudo-random number information to the user, the stylus includes one of the following devices coupled to the controller to indicate the combination of the first pseudo-random number and the second pseudo-random number: a visual effect indicator; and an audio indicator.

In one embodiment, for a wired connection between the touch processing device and a wired stylus, the stylus further comprises: a first signal circuit, coupled to the first element and a touch processing device, for propagating the first signal from the touch processing device to the first element; and a second signal circuit, coupled to the second element and the touch processing device, for propagating the second signal from the touch processing device to the second element.

In one embodiment, to provide the switch status to the touch processing device, the stylus further includes: a third switch for receiving the first signal; and a third element having a fixed impedance coupled to the third switch and the conductive nib, wherein the third switch is selectively opened or closed, and when the third switch is closed, the first signal propagates from the conductive nib through the third switch and the third element.

In one embodiment, to provide the switch status to the touch processing device, the stylus further includes: a fourth switch for receiving the second signal; and a fourth element having a fixed impedance coupled to the fourth switch and the conductive nib, wherein the fourth switch is selectively opened or closed, and when the fourth switch is closed, the second signal propagates from the conductive nib through the fourth switch and the fourth element.

One objective of the present invention is to provide a method for transmitting an electrical signal carrying pressure information from a stylus, comprising: receiving, by a first element having an impedance that is responsive to a pressure, a first signal encoded with a first pseudorandom number; receiving, by a second element having a fixed impedance, a second signal encoded with a second pseudorandom number; receiving, by a conductive nib, the first signal from the first element and the second signal from the second element simultaneously; and transmitting an electrical signal comprising the first signal and the second signal from the conductive tip segment, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, in order to provide the first pseudo random number and the second pseudo random number on the stylus, the method further comprises: generating the first signal according to the first pseudorandom code; generating the second signal according to the second pseudo-random number; transmitting the first signal to the first element; and transmitting the second signal to the second element.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a first data code according to the data code and the first pseudorandom code; transmitting the first data code to the first device; transmitting the first data code from the first element to the conductive tip section; and transmitting the first data code from the conductive pen tip segment.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a second data code according to the data code and the second pseudo random number; transmitting the second data code to the second device; transmitting the second data code from the second element to the conductive tip section; and transmitting the second data code by the conductive pen tip segment.

In one embodiment, to synchronize with a receiving process of a touch processing device of a touch panel, the method further comprises: receiving a synchronization signal from an electronic device; and performing the generating step and the transmitting step after receiving the synchronization signal.

In one embodiment, the synchronization signal is sent from an electrode of a touch panel of the electronic device in order to synchronize with a receiving process of the touch processing device of the touch panel in proximity of the stylus.

In one embodiment, to avoid the collision of the pseudo-random numbers when operating the plurality of touch pens on the touch panel, the method further comprises: receiving a setting instruction from the human-machine interface, wherein the setting instruction specifies the combination of the first virtual random number and the second virtual random number.

In one embodiment, in order to provide the pseudo random digital information to the user, the method further comprises one of the following steps: making the visual effect indicator of the touch control pen indicate the combination of the first virtual random number and the second virtual random number; and making the sound effect indicator of the touch control pen indicate the combination of the first virtual random number and the second virtual random number.

In one embodiment, for a wired connection between the touch processing device and the wired stylus, the method further comprises: receiving the first signal from the touch processing device by a first signal circuit; propagating the first signal from the first signal circuit to the first element; receiving the second signal from the touch processing device by a second signal circuit; and propagating the second signal from the second signal circuit to the second element.

In one embodiment, to provide the switch status to the touch processing apparatus, the method further includes: selectively receiving the first signal by a third element having a fixed impedance; and selectively transmitting the first signal from the third element to the conductive nib.

In one embodiment, to provide the switch status to the touch processing apparatus, the method further includes: selectively receiving the second signal by a fourth element having a fixed impedance; and selectively transmitting the second signal from the fourth element to the conductive nib.

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch processing apparatus for receiving an electrical signal carrying pressure information transmitted by a first stylus, comprising: a sensing circuit for receiving the electrical signal from some electrodes of the touch panel; and a processor, coupled to the sensing circuit, for: de-spreading the first preamble of the received signal according to the first pseudorandom code; despreading a second preamble of the received signal based on a second pseudorandom number; and calculating the pressure information according to a first signal strength ratio of a first portion and a second portion of the received signal, wherein the first portion comprises the first preamble and the second portion comprises the second preamble, and the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, in order to trigger the stylus to synchronously transmit electrical signals, the touch processing apparatus further comprises a driving circuit coupled to the electrodes of the touch panel, wherein the processor is further configured to: before the receiving step is executed, the driving circuit transmits a beacon signal through the electrodes of the touch panel.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: and decoding a first data code of the received signal according to the first pseudorandom number, wherein the first data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: and decoding a second data code of the received signal according to the second pseudorandom number, wherein the second data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, to correctly receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: decoding a first data code of the received signal according to the first pseudorandom code; decoding a second data code of the received signal according to the second pseudo random number; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, the first portion further comprises the first data code and the second portion comprises the second data code in order to receive smoother and more even pressure information over longer transmissions.

In one embodiment, to synchronize the transmissions of the stylus more quickly, the processor is further configured to: at least two second electrodes coupled to the touch panel are used as a synchronization channel, wherein the despreading step of the first preamble and the second preamble is performed on the received signal received by the synchronization channel to obtain first synchronization information and second synchronization information, respectively, wherein the second electrodes are parallel to each other.

In one embodiment, in order to utilize the synchronization information to correctly and quickly receive the status of the sensors on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: decoding the first data code of the receiving signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the first pseudorandom number and the first synchronization information; decoding the second data code of the receiving signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the second pseudorandom number and the second synchronous information; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code indicates a state of at least one sensor on the first stylus pen, wherein the plurality of first electrodes are parallel to each other and intersect with the plurality of second electrodes.

In one embodiment, to receive electrical signals from multiple styli simultaneously, the processor is further configured to: de-spreading the third preamble of the received signal according to the third pseudorandom number; despreading a fourth preamble of the received signal based on a fourth pseudorandom number; and calculating pressure information of a second stylus according to a second signal intensity ratio of a third portion and a fourth portion of the received signal, wherein the third portion includes the third preamble, the fourth portion includes the fourth preamble, and the first pseudorandom number, the second pseudorandom number, the third pseudorandom number, and the fourth pseudorandom number are orthogonal to each other.

In one embodiment, to provide a wired connection between a wired stylus and the touch processing device, the touch processing device further comprises a stylus interface, a first signal circuit and a second signal circuit coupled to the first stylus, wherein the processor is coupled to the stylus interface and is further configured to: generating the first preamble according to the first pseudorandom code; generating the second preamble according to the second pseudorandom code; and respectively transmitting the first preamble and the second preamble to the first signal circuit and the second signal circuit through the touch pen interface.

In one embodiment, to receive the switch state of the stylus, the processor is further configured to: calculating the on-off state of the first stylus according to the first signal strength ratio of the first part and the second part of the received signal.

In one embodiment, to connect to multiple wired styli simultaneously, the stylus interface is further coupled to a third signal circuit and a fourth signal circuit of the second stylus. The processor coupled to the stylus interface is further configured to: generating a third preamble based on the third pseudorandom number; generating a fourth preamble based on the fourth pseudorandom number; and transmitting the third preamble and the fourth preamble to the third signal circuit and the fourth signal circuit, respectively, through the stylus interface, wherein the first pseudorandom number, the second pseudorandom number, the third pseudorandom number, and the fourth pseudorandom number are orthogonal to each other.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a method for receiving an electrical signal carrying pressure information transmitted by a first stylus, comprising: receiving the electrical signal through some electrodes of the touch panel; de-spreading the first preamble of the received signal according to the first pseudorandom code; despreading a second preamble of the received signal based on a second pseudorandom number; and calculating the pressure information according to a first signal strength ratio of a first portion and a second portion of the received signal, wherein the first portion comprises the first preamble and the second portion comprises the second preamble, and the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, in order to trigger the stylus to synchronously transmit the electrical signal, the method further comprises: before the receiving step is executed, the driving circuit transmits a beacon signal through the electrodes of the touch panel.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: and decoding a first data code of the received signal according to the first pseudorandom number, wherein the first data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: and decoding a second data code of the received signal according to the second pseudorandom number, wherein the second data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, in order to correctly receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: decoding a first data code of the received signal according to the first pseudorandom code; decoding a second data code of the received signal according to the second pseudo random number; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, the first portion further comprises the first data code and the second portion further comprises the second data code in order to receive smoother and more even pressure information over longer transmissions.

In one embodiment, to more quickly synchronize the transmissions of the stylus, the method comprises: at least two second electrodes of the touch panel are coupled as a synchronization channel, wherein the despreading step of the first preamble and the second preamble is performed on the received signal received by the synchronization channel to obtain first synchronization information and second synchronization information, respectively, wherein the second electrodes are parallel to each other.

In one embodiment, in order to utilize the synchronization information to correctly and quickly receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: decoding the first data code of the receiving signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the first pseudorandom number and the first synchronization information; decoding the second data code of the receiving signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the second pseudorandom number and the second synchronous information; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code indicates a state of at least one sensor on the first stylus pen, wherein the plurality of first electrodes are parallel to each other and intersect with the plurality of second electrodes.

In one embodiment, in order to receive electrical signals from multiple touch pens simultaneously, the method further comprises: de-spreading the third preamble of the received signal according to the third pseudorandom number; despreading a fourth preamble of the received signal based on a fourth pseudorandom number; and calculating pressure information of a second stylus according to a second signal intensity ratio of a third portion and a fourth portion of the received signal, wherein the third portion includes the third preamble, the fourth portion includes the fourth preamble, and the first pseudorandom number, the second pseudorandom number, the third pseudorandom number, and the fourth pseudorandom number are orthogonal to each other.

In one embodiment, to provide a wired connection between a wired stylus and the touch processing device, the method further comprises: generating the first preamble according to the first pseudorandom code; generating the second preamble according to the second pseudorandom code; and transmitting the first preamble and the second preamble to the first signal circuit and the second signal circuit, respectively.

In one embodiment, to receive the switch status of the stylus, the method further comprises: calculating the on-off state of the first stylus according to the first signal strength ratio of the first part and the second part of the received signal.

In one embodiment, in order to connect a plurality of wired touch pens simultaneously, the method further comprises: generating a third preamble according to the third pseudorandom code for despreading; generating a fourth preamble according to the fourth pseudorandom code for despreading; and a third signal circuit and a fourth signal circuit for transmitting the third preamble and the fourth preamble to a second stylus, respectively, wherein the first pseudorandom number, the second pseudorandom number, the third pseudorandom number, and the fourth pseudorandom number are orthogonal to each other.

One objective of the present invention is to provide a touch system, which includes a touch panel; a first stylus; and a touch processing device for receiving the electric signal carrying the pressure information transmitted by the first stylus. The touch processing device comprises: a sensing circuit for receiving the electrical signal from some electrodes of the touch panel; and a processor, coupled to the sensing circuit, for: de-spreading the first preamble of the received signal according to the first pseudorandom code; despreading a second preamble of the received signal based on a second pseudorandom number; and calculating the pressure information according to a first signal strength ratio of a first portion and a second portion of the received signal, wherein the first portion comprises the first preamble and the second portion comprises the second preamble, and the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, the stylus includes: a first element having an impedance that is responsive to a pressure, wherein the first element is configured to receive a first signal encoded with a first pseudorandom number; a second element having a fixed impedance, wherein the second element is configured to receive a second signal encoded with a second pseudorandom number; and a conductive nib section for: simultaneously receiving the first signal from the first element and the second signal from the second element; and transmitting an electrical signal comprising the first signal and the second signal, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a stylus for transmitting an electrical signal carrying pressure information, comprising: a first element having an impedance that is responsive to a pressure, wherein the first element is configured to receive a first signal encoded with a pseudorandom number for a first period of time; a second element having a fixed impedance, wherein the second element is configured to receive a second signal encoded with the pseudorandom number for a second period of time; and a conductive nib section for: receiving the first signal from the first element during the first period; receiving the second signal from the second element during the second period; transmitting the electrical signal including the first signal for a first period of time; and transmitting the electrical signal including the second signal during a second time period, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, to provide the first pseudorandom number and the second pseudorandom number on the stylus, the stylus further comprises a controller for: generating the first signal according to the pseudo-random number; generating the second signal according to the pseudo-random number; transmitting the first signal to the first element; and transmitting the second signal to the second element.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the stylus further comprises: at least one on-pen sensor connected to the controller. The controller is further configured to: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a first data code according to the data code and the pseudorandom code; and transmitting the first data code to the first device. The first element is further configured to: the first data code is received from the controller during the first period. The conductive nib section is further configured to: receiving the first data code from the first element; and transmitting the first data code.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the stylus further comprises: at least one on-pen sensor connected to the controller. The controller is further configured to: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a second data code according to the data code and the second pseudo random number; and transmitting the second data code to the second element. The second element is further for: the second data code is received from the controller during the second time period. The conductive nib section is further configured to: receiving the second data code from the second element; and transmitting the second data code.

In one embodiment, in order to avoid the collision of the pseudo-random numbers when operating the plurality of touch pens on the touch panel, the touch pens further comprise a human-machine interface for a user to input the pseudo-random numbers, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a setting instruction from the human-machine interface, which designates the pseudo-random numbers.

In one embodiment, to provide the pseudo-random number information to the user, the stylus includes one of the following devices connected to the controller to indicate the pseudo-random number: a visual effect indicator; and an audio indicator.

In order to provide the switch status to the touch processing device, the touch pen further comprises: a third switch for receiving the first signal; and a third element having a fixed impedance coupled to the third switch and the conductive nib, wherein the third switch is selectively opened or closed, and when the third switch is closed, the first signal propagates from the conductive nib through the third switch and the third element.

In order to provide the switch status to the touch processing device, the touch pen further comprises: a fourth switch for receiving the second signal; and a fourth element having a fixed impedance coupled to the fourth switch and the conductive nib, wherein the fourth switch is selectively opened or closed, and when the fourth switch is closed, the second signal propagates from the conductive nib through the fourth switch and the fourth element.

One objective of the present invention is to provide a method for transmitting an electrical signal carrying pressure information from a stylus, comprising: receiving, by a first element having an impedance that is responsive to pressure, a first signal encoded in a pseudorandom number for a first period of time; receiving a second signal encoded with the pseudorandom number by a second element having a fixed impedance for a second period of time; receiving, by a conductive stylus segment, the first signal from the first element during the first period; receiving, by the conductive nib, the second signal from the second element at the second time period; transmitting, by the conductive tip segment, an electrical signal comprising the first signal during the first time period; and transmitting, by the conductive nib segment, an electrical signal comprising the second signal during the second time period.

In one embodiment, in order to provide the pseudo random number on the stylus, the method further comprises: generating the first signal according to the pseudo-random number; generating the second signal according to the pseudo-random number; transmitting the first signal to the first element; and transmitting the second signal to the second element.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a first data code according to the data code and the pseudorandom code; transmitting the first data code to the first device; transmitting the first data code from the first element to the conductive tip section; and transmitting the first data code from the conductive pen tip segment.

In one embodiment, to communicate the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen; generating a second data code according to the data code and the pseudo random number; transmitting the second data code to the second device; transmitting the second data code from the second element to the conductive tip section; and transmitting the second data code by the conductive pen tip segment.

In one embodiment, to avoid the collision of the pseudo-random numbers when operating the plurality of touch pens on the touch panel, the method further comprises: a setting instruction is received from the human-machine interface, which designates the pseudo-random number.

In one embodiment, in order to provide the pseudo random digital information to the user, the method further comprises one of the following steps: making the visual effect indicator of the touch control pen indicate the virtual random number; and making the sound effect indicator of the touch control pen indicate the virtual random number.

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch processing apparatus for receiving an electrical signal carrying pressure information transmitted by a first stylus, comprising: a sensing circuit for receiving the electrical signal from some electrodes of the touch panel; and a processor, coupled to the sensing circuit, for: despreading a first preamble of the received signal at a first time period based on the pseudorandom number; despreading a second preamble of the received signal at a second time period based on the pseudorandom code; and calculating the pressure information according to a first signal strength ratio of a first part and a second part of the received signal, wherein the first part comprises the first preamble and the second part comprises the second preamble.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: decoding a first data code of the received signal at the first time interval according to the pseudorandom number, wherein the first data code represents a state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: and decoding a second data code of the received signal in the second time period according to the pseudo-random number, wherein the second data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first touch pen.

In one embodiment, to correctly receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: decoding a first data code of the received signal at the first time interval according to the pseudo-random number; decoding a second data code of the received signal at the second time period according to the pseudo random number; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, in order to utilize the synchronization information to correctly and quickly receive the status of the sensors on the stylus, the processor is further configured to: decoding the first data code of the received signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the virtual random number and the first synchronization information; decoding the second data code of the receiving signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the virtual random number and the second synchronous information; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code indicates a state of at least one sensor on the first stylus pen, wherein the plurality of first electrodes are parallel to each other and intersect with the plurality of second electrodes.

In one embodiment, to receive electrical signals from multiple styli simultaneously, the processor is further configured to: de-spreading a third preamble of the received signal at a third time interval according to the second pseudorandom code; despreading a fourth preamble of the received signal at a fourth time period based on the second pseudorandom code; and calculating pressure information of a second stylus according to a second signal strength ratio of a third portion and a fourth portion of the received signal, wherein the third portion includes the third preamble and the fourth portion includes the fourth preamble, wherein the first pseudorandom code and the second pseudorandom code are orthogonal to each other, and wherein a portion of the third time period overlaps with a portion of the first time period or a portion of the second time period.

In one embodiment, to provide a wired connection between a wired stylus and the touch processing device, the touch processing device further comprises a stylus interface, a first signal circuit and a second signal circuit coupled to the first stylus, wherein the processor is coupled to the stylus interface and is further configured to: generating the first preamble according to the pseudorandom code; generating the second preamble according to the pseudorandom code; transmitting the first preamble to the first signal circuit through the stylus interface at the first time period; and transmitting the second preamble to the second signal circuit through the stylus interface at the second time interval.

In one embodiment, the stylus interface is further coupled to third and fourth signal circuits of the second stylus in order to receive electrical signals from the plurality of styli simultaneously. The processor is coupled to the stylus interface and is further configured to: generating a third preamble at a third time interval based on the second pseudorandom number; generating a fourth preamble at a fourth time period based on the second pseudorandom number; transmitting the third preamble to the third signal circuit through the stylus interface at the third time interval; transmitting the fourth preamble to the fourth signal circuit via the stylus interface during a fourth time period, wherein the first pseudorandom code and the second pseudorandom code are orthogonal to each other, and wherein a portion of a third time period overlaps with a portion of the first time period or the second time period.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a method for receiving an electrical signal carrying pressure information transmitted by a first stylus, comprising: receiving the electrical signal from some electrodes of the touch panel; despreading a first preamble of the received signal at a first time period based on the pseudorandom number; despreading a second preamble of the received signal at a second time period based on the pseudorandom code; and calculating the pressure information according to a first signal strength ratio of a first part and a second part of the received signal, wherein the first part comprises the first preamble and the second part comprises the second preamble.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: decoding a first data code of the received signal at the first time interval according to the pseudorandom number, wherein the first data code represents a state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, to receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: and decoding a second data code of the received signal in the second time period according to the pseudo-random number, wherein the second data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first touch pen.

In one embodiment, in order to correctly receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: decoding a first data code of the received signal at the first time interval according to the pseudo-random number; decoding a second data code of the received signal at the second time period according to the pseudo random number; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code represents the state of at least one sensor on the first stylus.

In one embodiment, to synchronize the transmissions of the stylus more quickly, the method further comprises: at least two second electrodes coupled to the touch panel are used as a synchronization channel, wherein the despreading step of the first preamble and the second preamble is performed on the received signal received by the synchronization channel to obtain first synchronization information and second synchronization information, respectively, wherein the second electrodes are parallel to each other.

In one embodiment, in order to utilize the synchronization information to correctly and quickly receive the status of the sensor on the stylus, the method further comprises: decoding the first data code of the received signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the virtual random number and the first synchronization information; decoding the second data code of the receiving signal received by at least one first electrode of the touch panel according to the virtual random number and the second synchronous information; and determining a data code when the first data code is the same as the second data code, wherein the data code indicates a state of at least one sensor on the first stylus pen, wherein the plurality of first electrodes are parallel to each other and intersect with the plurality of second electrodes.

In one embodiment, to receive electrical signals from multiple styli simultaneously, the method comprises: de-spreading a third preamble of the received signal at a third time interval according to the second pseudorandom code; despreading a fourth preamble of the received signal at a fourth time period based on the second pseudorandom code; and calculating pressure information of a second stylus according to a second signal strength ratio of a third portion and a fourth portion of the received signal, wherein the third portion includes the third preamble and the fourth portion includes the fourth preamble, wherein the first pseudorandom code and the second pseudorandom code are orthogonal to each other, and wherein a portion of the third time period overlaps with a portion of the first time period or a portion of the second time period.

In one embodiment, to provide a wired connection between a wired stylus and the touch processing device, the method further comprises: generating the first preamble according to the pseudorandom code; generating the second preamble according to the pseudorandom code; transmitting the first preamble to the first signal circuit of the first stylus at the first period; and transmitting the second preamble to the second signal circuit of the first stylus at the second time interval.

In one embodiment, in order to receive electrical signals from multiple touch pens simultaneously, the method further comprises: generating a third preamble at a third time interval based on the second pseudorandom number; generating a fourth preamble at a fourth time period based on the second pseudorandom number; a third signal circuit for transmitting the third preamble to a second stylus at the third time interval; transmitting the fourth preamble to a fourth signal circuit of the second stylus during a fourth time period, wherein the first pseudorandom code and the second pseudorandom code are orthogonal to each other, and wherein a portion of a third time period overlaps with a portion of the first time period or the second time period.

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch system, comprising: a touch panel; a first stylus; and a touch processing device. The touch processing device is used for receiving an electric signal carrying pressure information transmitted by the first touch pen, and comprises: a sensing circuit for receiving the electrical signal from some electrodes of the touch panel; and a processor, coupled to the sensing circuit, for: despreading a first preamble of the received signal at a first time period based on a pseudorandom code; despreading a second preamble of the received signal at a second time period based on the pseudorandom code; and calculating the pressure information according to a first signal strength ratio of a first part and a second part of the received signal, wherein the first part comprises the first preamble and the second part comprises the second preamble.

In one embodiment, the first stylus includes: a first element having an impedance responsive to pressure, wherein the first element is configured to receive a first signal encoded with the pseudorandom number during the first time period; a second element having a fixed impedance, wherein the second element is configured to receive a second signal encoded with the pseudorandom number during the second time period; and a conductive nib section for: receiving the first signal from the first element during the first period; receiving the second signal from the second element during the second period; transmitting the electrical signal including the first signal for a first period of time; and transmitting the electrical signal including the second signal during a second time period, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

Through the embodiment, the electric signal which can accurately represent the pressure applied to the touch pen can be transmitted.

The above description is only a summary of the present technology. The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth the present invention.

Drawings

The present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a touch system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4A is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4B is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a value sensed by a stylus tip of an initiator or an active stylus by a touch device according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 7A is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7B is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7C is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7D is a schematic diagram of the inside of the communicator 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a pen-tip sensing value of an initiator by a touch device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9A is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 9B is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 9C is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 9D is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 9E is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 9F is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of noise propagation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a first capacitor 221 according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a reduced representation of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 14;

fig. 16A is a schematic structural diagram of a first capacitor and a second capacitor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16B is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 16A;

17A and 17B are schematic structural diagrams of a first capacitor and a second capacitor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

fig. 19A is an exploded view of the force sensing capacitor of the transmitter 110 and the center cross section of the structure thereof;

FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 19A after assembly;

FIG. 19C is another schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 19A after assembly;

fig. 19D is an exploded view of the force sensing capacitor of the communicator 110 and the center cross section of the structure thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 19E is an exploded view of the force sensing capacitor of the communicator 110 and the center section of the structure thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the interface of the compressible conductor 1974 and the insulating film 1973 of FIG. 19A;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are schematic diagrams illustrating a simple switch according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 24A and 24B are schematic structural diagrams of a simple switch according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of the present invention providing an inference of pen tip position;

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of calculating a tilt angle according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a stylus whose interface reflects the tilt angle and/or pressure;

FIG. 28 is another embodiment of a pen touch at the display interface reflecting the aforementioned tilt angle and/or pressure;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a system for detecting beacon signals according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 30 is a waveform diagram of a spread spectrum technique;

FIG. 31 is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

fig. 32 is a flow chart illustrating a method of resolving a spread spectrum signal according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of an active stylus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 34 is a block diagram of a touch processing device 130 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 35 is a flow chart of an implementation of the controller of FIG. 33 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36A is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embedded processor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 36B is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embedded processor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 37A is a schematic flow chart of the method implemented by the controller of FIG. 33 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37B is a flowchart implemented by the controller shown in FIG. 33 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 38A is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embedded processor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 38B is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embedded processor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 39A is a block diagram of a touch system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 39B is a block diagram illustrating a variation of a touch system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 39C is a block diagram illustrating a variation of a touch system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 40 is a block diagram of a touch processing device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 41A is a flowchart illustrating an operating method for a wired stylus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 41B is a flowchart illustrating an operating method for a wired stylus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 41C is a flowchart illustrating an operating method for a wired stylus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 42 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for a touch processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 43 is a flowchart illustrating a process applied to a touch processing device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[ notation ] to show

100: touch control system

110: signal transmitter

111: first touch control pen

112: second touch control pen

120: touch panel

121: a first electrode

122: second electrode

130: touch control processing device

140: main unit

211: first signal source

212: second signal source

221: first element

222: second element

230: section of nib

321: first capacitor

322: second capacitor

441: eraser capacitor

442: pen holder capacitor

513: third signal source

523: ring-shaped capacitor

550: ring electrode

551: annular electrode lead

610-660: step (ii) of

714: single signal source

760: control unit

770: transmitter wireless communication unit

771: transmitter wired communication unit

780: host wireless communication unit

781: host wired communication unit

810-860: step (ii) of

1110: a first metal plate

1110A: first metal plate A

1110B: first metal plate B

1120: second metal plate

1120A: second metal plate A

1120B: second metal plate B

1130: third metal plate

1130A: third metal plate A

1130B: third metal plate B

1140: lifting elements or ramp devices

1150: supporting element

1970: movable element

1971: front end movable element

1972: rear end movable element

1973: insulating film

1974: compressible conductor

1975: conductor substrate

1976: base lead

1977: movable element wire

1978: elastic element

1979: compressible insulating material

1980: shell body

1990: printed circuit board

2110: pressure sensor

2120: control unit

2210: pressure sensor

2220: control unit

2610-2650: step (ii) of

2900: lighthouse signal detecting system

2910: receiving electrode

2920: detecting module

2921: analog front end

2922: comparator with a comparator circuit

2930: demodulator

3200: method for resolving spread spectrum signal

3210 to 3250: step (ii) of

3310: controller

3311: signal

3312: signal

3320: frequency signal module

3330: battery with a battery cell

3410: connecting network

3420: driving circuit

3430: sensing circuit

3440: embedded processor

3450: host interface

3510-3560: step (ii) of

3610-3680: step (ii) of

3710-3765: step (ii) of

3815-3880: step (ii) of

3900: touch control system

3910: wired touch control pen

3911: first signal circuit

3912: second signal circuit

3913: third circuit

3920: third switch

3930: third component

3940: the fourth switch

3950: fourth element

4010: touch control pen interface

4040: embedded processor

4110-4140: step (ii) of

4210-4290: step (ii) of

4310-4360: step (ii) of

Sw 1: switch with a switch body

Sw 2: switch with a switch body

Sw 3: switch with a switch body

Sw 4: switch with a switch body

Sw 5: switch with a switch body

Sw 6: switch with a switch body

SWB: switch with a switch body

SWE: switch with a switch body

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to some examples. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments other than the disclosed embodiments, and is defined by the appended claims. In order to provide a clear description and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present disclosure, the various portions of the drawings are not drawn to relative sizes, some sizes or other relative scale may be exaggerated, and irrelevant details are not fully drawn for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The touch system 100 includes at least a transmitter 110, a touch panel 120, a touch processing device 130 and a host 140. In the embodiment, the sender 110 is exemplified by an active stylus pen capable of actively sending out an electrical signal, and the actual implementation is not limited thereto. The touch system 100 may comprise a plurality of transmitters 110. The touch panel 120 is formed on a substrate, and the touch panel 120 may be a touch screen, but the invention is not limited to the form of the touch panel 120.

In one embodiment, the touch area of the touch panel 120 includes a plurality of first electrodes 121 and a plurality of second electrodes 122, and the overlapping portions of the first electrodes and the second electrodes form a plurality of capacitive coupling sensing points. The first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122 are respectively connected to the touch processing device 130. In the mutual capacitance detection mode, the first electrode 121 can be referred to as a first conductive strip or a driving electrode, and the second electrode 122 can be referred to as a second conductive strip or a sensing electrode. The touch processing device 130 can provide a driving voltage (voltage of a driving signal) to the first electrodes 121 and measure a signal change of the second electrodes 122 to determine that an external conductive object is close to or in contact with (i.e., close to) the touch panel 120. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the touch processing device 130 can detect the proximity event and the proximity object by using a mutual capacitance or a self capacitance, and the details thereof are not further described herein. In addition to the mutual capacitance or self capacitance detection, the touch processing device 130 can also detect the electrical signal transmitted by the transmitter 110, so as to detect the relative position between the transmitter 110 and the touch panel 120. In one embodiment, the signal changes of the first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 are measured respectively to detect the signal of the transmitter 110, thereby detecting the relative position of the transmitter 110 and the touch panel 120. Since the frequency of the signal of the transmitter 110 is different from the frequency of the driving signal of the mutual capacitor or the self-capacitor, and the signals are not resonant waves, the touch processing device 130 can distinguish the signal of the transmitter 110 from the signal of the mutual capacitor or the self-capacitor. In another embodiment, the touch panel 120 can be a surface capacitance touch panel, and has an electrode at each of four corners or four sides, and the touch processing device 130 measures the signal variation of the four electrodes to detect the relative position between the transmitter 110 and the touch panel 120.

Also included in fig. 1 is a host 140, which may be a central processor, or a host processor within an embedded system, or other form of computer. In one embodiment, the touch system 100 can be a tablet computer, and the host 140 can be a central processing unit executing a tablet computer operation program. For example, the tablet computer executes an Android operating system (Android), and the host 140 is an ARM processor executing the Android operating system. The invention is not limited to the information transmitted between the host 140 and the touch processing device 130, as long as the transmitted information is related to the proximity event occurred on the touch panel 120.

Because of the need to actively emit an electrical signal, the communicator 110 or active stylus requires power to supply the energy required to emit the electrical signal. In one embodiment, the power source of the transmitter 110 may be a battery, particularly a rechargeable battery. In another embodiment, the Electrical energy source of the pen may be a Capacitor, particularly an Ultra-Capacitor (Super-Capacitor) such as an Electric Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC), a virtual Capacitor (Pseudocapacitor), and a hybrid Capacitor (hybrid Capacitor). The charging time of the supercapacitor is on the order of seconds, while in the present embodiment, the discharging time of the supercapacitor is on the order of hours. In other words, the active pen can be used for a long time only by charging for a short time.

In one embodiment, the touch panel 120 periodically sends out beacon signals (beacon signals). When the transmitter 110 or the stylus tip approaches the touch panel 120, the transmitter 110 may sense the beacon signal through the stylus tip, and then start to transmit an electrical signal for a period of time for the detection of the touch panel 120. Therefore, the transmitter 110 may stop sending the electrical signal when the beacon signal is not detected, thereby prolonging the service life of the power supply of the transmitter 110.

The lighthouse signal can be emitted by a plurality of first electrodes 121 and/or second electrodes 122. In one embodiment, when the first electrode 121 is used to emit the driving signal for mutual capacitance touch detection, the frequency of the driving signal is different from that of the beacon signal, and the driving signal is not a resonant wave of the other party. Therefore, the lighthouse signal can be sent out simultaneously during the period of sending out the driving signal, namely, the mutual capacitance touch detection and the electric signal detection are carried out simultaneously. In another embodiment, the driving signal and the beacon signal may be sent out in turn, that is, the mutual capacitance touch detection and the detection of the electrical signal are performed in a time-sharing manner, and the frequencies of the driving signal and the beacon signal may be the same or different.

In one embodiment, in order to enable the transmitter 110 to detect the beacon signal even at a position far away from the touch panel 120, the touch processing device 130 can transmit the driving signals to all the first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122 on the touch panel 120 at the same time, so that the sum of the signal intensities transmitted by the touch panel 120 is the maximum.

Please refer to fig. 2, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communicator 110 includes a first signal source 211, a second signal source 212, a first element 221 having a first impedance Z1, a second element 222 having a second impedance Z2, and a tip segment 230. The first signal from the first signal source 211 is transmitted to the touch panel 120 through the first element 221 and the pen tip 230. Similarly, a second signal from the second signal source 212 is transmitted to the touch panel 120 via the second element 222 and the nib 230.

In one embodiment, the first signal is a signal having a first frequency f1, and the second signal is a signal having a second frequency f 2. The first frequency f1 and the second frequency f2 may be square wave signals, sinusoidal wave signals, or Pulse Width Modulation (Pulse Width Modulation) signals. In one embodiment, the first frequency f1 is different from the frequency of the beacon signal and the frequency of the driving signal, and is different from the resonant frequency of the beacon signal and the frequency of the driving signal. The second frequency f2 is different from the first frequency f1, the frequency of the beacon signal and the frequency of the driving signal, and is different from the first frequency f1, the resonant frequency of the beacon signal and the frequency of the driving signal.

The signals of the two frequencies are mixed after each passing through the first element 221 having a first impedance Z1 and the second element 222 having a second impedance Z2, and fed into the stylus pen tip segment 230. The first element 221 and the second element 222 may be impedances caused by resistive elements, inductive elements, capacitive elements (e.g., solid state capacitors), or any combination thereof. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the second impedance Z2 may be fixed and the first impedance Z1 may be variable, corresponding to the amount of change in a particular sensor.

In another embodiment, the first impedance Z1 and the second impedance Z2 are both variable, and the ratio of the first impedance Z1 to the second impedance Z2 corresponds to the amount of change of a sensor. In one embodiment, the sensor may be a retractable elastic tip, and the first impedance Z1 may vary according to the stroke or force of the elastic tip. In some examples, the first impedance Z1 corresponds linearly to a change in a physical quantity of the sensor. In another example, however, the first impedance Z1 is non-linearly varied with respect to the physical quantity of the sensor.

The first element 221 and the second element 222 may be different electronic elements. For example, first element 221 is a resistor and second element 222 is a capacitor, or vice versa. Also for example, first element 221 is a resistor and second element 222 is an inductor, or vice versa. For another example, first element 221 is an inductor and second element 222 is a capacitor, or vice versa. At least one of the first impedance Z1 and the second impedance Z2 is variable, such as a resistance variable resistor, a capacitance variable capacitor, or an inductance variable inductor. When one of the first impedance Z1 and the second impedance Z2 is not variable, it can be set by using conventional electronic devices, such as a general resistor device with a fixed resistance value, a capacitor device with a fixed capacitance value, or an inductor device with a fixed inductance value.

In one embodiment, the first element 221 may be a Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) whose resistance varies predictably in response to applied force, and the second element 222 may be a fixed resistor. In another embodiment, the first element 221 may be a variable resistor. Therefore, under the same other conditions, the ratio of the intensity M1 of the signal portion at the first frequency f1 to the intensity M2 of the signal portion at the second frequency f2 in the electrical signal emitted from the pen tip 230 is inversely proportional to the ratio of the first impedance Z1 to the second impedance Z2. In other words, M1/M2 ═ k (Z2/Z1).

Therefore, when the transmitter 110 floats above the touch panel 120, the pen tip 230 has not been displaced or stressed, and therefore, the ratio of the intensity M1 of the signal portion with the first frequency f1 to the intensity M2 of the signal portion with the second frequency f2 in the electrical signal detected by the touch panel 120 is a fixed value or a predetermined value. Or in another embodiment, the ratio of (M1-M2)/(M1+ M2) or (M2-M1)/(M1+ M2) is also a fixed value or a preset value. In addition, the pressure value can also be expressed by the ratio of M1/(M1+ M2) or M2/(M1+ M2). In addition to the above four ratios, one of ordinary skill in the art can also substitute any ratio involving the intensities M1 and M2. In other words, when the ratio is detected to be the fixed value, it can be determined that the sensor does not detect any variation of the physical quantity. In one embodiment, the communicator 110 does not touch the touch panel 120.

When the transmitter 110 contacts the touch panel 120, the pen tip 230 is forced to have a displacement stroke. The first impedance Z1 of the first element 221 changes according to the stroke or force degree of the pen tip 230, so that the ratio of the intensity M1 of the signal portion with the first frequency f1 to the intensity M2 of the signal portion with the second frequency f2 in the electrical signal changes, which is different from the above-mentioned fixed value or preset value. The touch panel 120 can generate a corresponding sensing value according to the ratio by using the relationship. The fixed value or the preset value is not limited to a single value, and can be within an error tolerance range.

It is noted that the ratio does not necessarily have a linear relationship with the sensed value. Furthermore, the sensed value does not necessarily have a linear relationship with the displacement stroke of the sensor or the force applied by the sensor. The sensed value is only one value sensed by the touch panel 120, and the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the touch panel 120 can use a lookup table or a plurality of calculation formulas to correspond to the sensing value from the ratio.

Please refer to fig. 3, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the embodiment of fig. 2, the communicator 110 includes a first signal source 211, a second signal source 212, a first capacitor 321 having a first capacitance value C1, a second capacitor 322 having a second capacitance value C2, and a stylus segment 230.

The two

signal sources

211 and 212 may be a pulse width modulation first signal source (PWM1) and a pulse width modulation second signal source (PWM2), respectively. The frequencies of these two signal sources may be the same or different. The transmitter 110 comprises a second capacitor 322 with a fixed capacitance value C2 and a first capacitor 321 with a variable capacitance value C1, which are connected to the signal sources PWM 2212 and PWM 1211, respectively. Since capacitance value C1 varies with the amount of pressure to which nib 230 is subjected, the embodiment shown in fig. 3 may include a capacitive Force sensor or Force Sensing Capacitor (FSC). In one embodiment, the capacitive force sensor may be implemented using a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) or other material. The structure of the force sensing capacitor will be explained later in this application.

The ratio of the intensities of the two signal sources is inversely proportional to the ratio of the impedances of the two

capacitors

321 and 322. When the tip segment 230 of the stylus pen does not contact an object, or the force sensor does not detect a force, the impedance value of the first capacitor 321 is unchanged. The impedance ratio of the two

capacitors

321 and 322 is also constant. When the transmitter 110 is floating above the touch panel/screen 120 and the emitted electrical signal can be detected, the intensity ratio of the two signal sources is fixed.

However, when the tip segment 230 of the transmitter 110 contacts an object or the force sensor detects a force, the impedance of the first capacitor 321 changes. The impedance ratio of the two

capacitors

321 and 322 is changed accordingly. When the transmitter 110 touches the surface of the touch panel/screen 120 and the electrical signal transmitted by the touch panel/screen is detected, the intensity ratio of the two signal sources is changed according to the force applied by the force sensor.

Please refer to fig. 4A, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. Similar to the embodiment of fig. 3, the communicator 110 includes a first signal source 211, a second signal source 212, a first capacitor 321 having a first capacitance value C1, a second capacitor 322 having a second capacitance value C2, and a stylus segment 230. The communicator 110 may include a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of conditions. In one embodiment, tip section 230 includes a pressure sensor for detecting a force applied to the tip of the stylus and reflecting the force on an electrical signal generated by the tip. In another embodiment, the communicator 110 may include a plurality of buttons, such as an Eraser (Eraser) button and a Barrel (Barrel) button. In other embodiments, the communicator 110 may further comprise a switch for sensing whether the pen tip touches the touch screen or other objects. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the communicator 110 may include more buttons or other sensors, and is not limited to the above examples.

In the embodiment of fig. 4A, the first capacitor 321 is connected in parallel with two other Eraser capacitors 441 and a pen-holder capacitor 442, which are respectively connected to the Eraser (erase) button and the pen-holder (Barrel) button, i.e., the switches SWE and SWB. When the button or switch is pressed, the

capacitors

441 and 442 are connected in parallel with the first capacitor 321, so that the capacitance value on the PWM1 signal path changes, which results in the impedance ratio on the PWM1 and PWM2 signal paths changing, and the intensity ratio of the two signals changes accordingly.

Since the capacitance C1 and the impedance of the first capacitor 321 change, the ratio of the parallel impedance to the impedance of the second capacitor 322 falls within a range after the eraser capacitor 441 and the pen capacitor 442 are connected in parallel. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, it is assumed that the signal strength ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within a first range over the variable range of the first capacitor 321. After the first capacitor 321 is connected in parallel with the pen-holder capacitor 442, i.e., after the pen-holder button is pressed, the signal ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within the second range. After the first capacitor 321 is connected in parallel with the eraser capacitor 441, i.e., after the eraser button is pressed, the signal ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within the third range. After the first capacitor 321 is connected in parallel with the pen capacitor 442 and the eraser capacitor 441, i.e., after the pen button and the eraser button are pressed simultaneously, the signal ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within the fourth range. The capacitance and impedance of the pen-holder capacitor 442 and the eraser capacitor 441 may be adjusted such that the first range, the second range, the third range, and/or the fourth range are not overlapped. Since the possible ranges are not overlapped, it can be known which button is pressed from which range the signal strength ratio falls. Then, from the ratio of the signal intensity, the stress degree of the thrust sensor is determined.

Please refer to fig. 4B, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. Compared to the embodiment of fig. 4A, in the embodiment of fig. 4B, the second capacitor 322 is connected in parallel with two other Eraser capacitors 441 and the pen-holder capacitor 442, which are respectively connected to the Eraser (Eraser) button and the pen-holder (Barrel) button, i.e., the switches SWE and SWB. When the button or switch is pressed, the pen capacitor 442 and the eraser capacitor 441 are connected in parallel with the second capacitor 322, which causes the impedance ratio of the PWM1 and PWM2 signal paths to change, and the intensity ratio of the two signals changes accordingly.

Since the capacitance C1 and the impedance of the first capacitor 321 change, when the second capacitor 322 is connected in parallel with the eraser capacitor 441 and the pen holder capacitor 442, the ratio of the impedance of the first capacitor 321 and the pen holder capacitor 442 is within a range. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, it is assumed that the signal strength ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within a first range over the variable range of the first capacitor 321. After the second capacitor 322 is connected in parallel with the barrel capacitor 442, i.e., after the barrel button is pressed, the signal ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within a fifth range. After the second capacitor 322 is connected in parallel with the eraser capacitor 441, i.e., after the eraser button is pressed, the signal ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within the sixth range. After the second capacitor 322 is connected in parallel with the pen capacitor 442 and the eraser capacitor 441, i.e., after the pen button and the eraser button are pressed simultaneously, the signal ratio of PWM1/PWM2 falls within the seventh range.

With the spirit of the embodiment shown in fig. 4A, the capacitance and the impedance of the pen-holder capacitor 442 and the eraser capacitor 441 can be adjusted so that the first range, the fifth range, the sixth range, and the seventh range are not overlapped. Since none of these ranges overlap, it is possible to determine which button is pressed based on which range the signal strength falls within. Therefore, the stress degree of the force sensor can be calculated according to the signal intensity proportion.

Please refer to fig. 5, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of fig. 5 can be a modification of the embodiments of fig. 2, 3, 4A and 4B, and the modification of the embodiment of fig. 5 can be applied to the embodiments of the above-mentioned figures.

Compared to the embodiment of fig. 2, the embodiment of fig. 5 has a ring electrode 550 and a ring electrode lead 551. The ring electrode wire 551 of fig. 5 may be connected to the third signal source 513 through a ring capacitor (ring capacitor)523 having a fixed capacitance Cr. The ring electrode 550 surrounds the tip section 230, is electrically coupled to the ring electrode lead 551, and is connected to the printed circuit board at the rear end. Although referred to herein as a ring electrode 550, in some embodiments, the ring electrode 550 may comprise a plurality of electrodes. The number of the ring electrodes 550 is not limited in the present application, and for convenience, it is referred to as the ring electrodes 550. The ring electrode 550 is electrically isolated from the pen tip and is not electrically coupled thereto.

In fig. 5, six switches Sw1 to Sw6 are included. Assuming that the stylus tip segment 230 is to be made to radiate the first signal source 211, Sw1 may be short circuited and Sw2 may be open circuited. Conversely, Sw1 may be opened. Or the Sw1 and Sw2 are short-circuited at the same time. Likewise, assuming that the stylus tip segment 230 is to be made to radiate the second signal source 212, Sw3 may be short circuited and Sw4 may be open circuited. Conversely, Sw3 may be opened. Or the Sw3 and Sw4 are short-circuited at the same time. Assuming that the ring electrode 550 is to be made to radiate the third signal source 513, Sw5 may be short circuited and Sw6 may be open circuited. Conversely, Sw5 may be opened. Or the Sw5 and Sw6 are short-circuited at the same time.

The first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212 may include signals with different frequencies, or may include signals with a plurality of different frequency groups. Similarly, the third signal source 513 in fig. 5 may include signals with different frequencies from the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212, or may include signals with different frequency groups from the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212. Similarly, the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212 may include Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals. The frequencies of the two

signal sources

211 and 212 may be the same or different. Similarly, the third signal source 513 of fig. 5 may also comprise a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal. The frequencies of these three signal sources may be the same or different.

Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a method for determining a pen tip sensing value of an initiator or an active stylus by a touch device according to an embodiment of the invention. The method can be executed by the touch processing device 130 in the embodiment of fig. 1. The touch processing device 130 is connected to the first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122 on the touch panel 120 for detecting an electrical signal emitted from the tip segment 230 of the transmitter 110. The touch processing device 130 can determine the relative position between the transmitter 110 and the touch panel 120 according to the signal strength received by the first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122. In addition, the method shown in fig. 6 can be used to determine the force sensing value of the communicator 110. In one embodiment, the force sensing value is a pressure value experienced by the nib 230.

The embodiment of fig. 6 may correspond to the embodiments of fig. 2 to fig. 5, and the first two

steps

610 and 620 are to calculate the signal strengths M1 and M2 corresponding to the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212, respectively. The two

steps

610 and 620 may be performed sequentially or simultaneously. When the electrical signal from the first signal source 211 has the first frequency f1 and the electrical signal from the second signal source 212 has the second frequency f2, the signal strength M1 corresponds to the strength of the signal at the first frequency f1, and the signal strength M2 corresponds to the strength of the signal at the second frequency f 2. When the electrical signal from the first signal source 211 has the first frequency group F1 and the electrical signal from the second signal source 212 has the second frequency group F2, the signal strength M1 corresponds to the total strength of the frequency signals in the first frequency group F1, and the signal strength M2 corresponds to the total strength of the frequency signals in the second frequency group F2. As described above, the frequency may be a frequency of pulse width modulation.

Then, in step 630, a ratio value is calculated based on M1 and M2. Five examples of such ratio values are given above, such as M1/M2, (M1-M2)/(M1+ M2), (M2-M1)/(M1+ M2), M1/(M1+ M2), or M2/(M1+ M2). In addition to the five ratios described above, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any ratio involving the intensities M1 and M2 may be substituted. Then, step 640 is performed to determine whether the ratio is a predetermined value or falls within a predetermined range. If the determination result is true, step 650 is executed to determine that the communicator 110 is floating and not touching the touch panel 120. Otherwise, step 660 is executed to calculate the sensing value of the nib segment 230 according to the proportional value. The sensed value may or may not be related to the force level and/or stroke. The step of calculating the sensing value may use a table lookup method, a linear interpolation method, a quadratic curve method, and how the relationship between the proportional value and the sensing value corresponds.

While the embodiment of fig. 6 is suitable for use in the embodiments of fig. 4A and 4B, additional steps may be performed at step 660. For example, when applied to the embodiment of fig. 4A, it can be determined that the ratio calculated in step 630 falls within the first range, the second range, the third range, or the fourth range. Accordingly, it is possible to deduce whether the pen button and/or the eraser button is pressed in addition to the sensed value of the nib 230. Similarly, when used in the embodiment of FIG. 4B, it can be determined that the calculated ratio value of step 630 is within the first range, the fifth range, the sixth range, or the seventh range described above. Accordingly, it is possible to deduce whether the pen button and/or the eraser button is pressed in addition to the sensed value of the nib 230.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller or the circuit in the communicator 110 does not need to determine the degree of the force applied to the pen tip segment 230, and simply changes one or both of the first impedance Z1 of the first element 221 and the second impedance Z2 of the second element 222 by the force applied to the pen tip segment 230, so that the signal strength of the first frequency F1 or the first frequency group F1 and the signal strength of the second frequency F2 and the second frequency group F2 that are transmitted are changed. In contrast, when the electrical signal is received through the touch panel 120, the degree of stress applied to the stylus tip segment 230 can be determined according to the ratio of the intensity M1 of the signal portion of the first frequency F1 or the first frequency group F1 to the intensity M2 of the signal portion of the second frequency F2 and the second frequency group F2 in the demodulated electrical signal.

Please refer to fig. 7A, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the embodiment of fig. 2-5, the embodiment of fig. 7A also includes a first element 221 having a first impedance Z1, a second element 222 having a second impedance Z2, and a tip segment 230. The first element 221 and the second element 222 may be electronic elements formed by resistive elements, inductive elements, capacitive elements (such as solid capacitors), or any combination thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, the second impedance Z2 may be fixed and the first impedance Z1 may be variable, and may correspond to the amount of change in a sensor, such as the force applied to the nib 230. The first element 221 and the second element 222 of the embodiment of fig. 7A can be combined with the embodiments of fig. 2 to 5, and are not described in detail herein.

The difference between the embodiment of fig. 7A and the previous embodiment is that a single signal source 714 is further included for feeding electrical signals to the first element 221 and the second element 222. The control unit 760 is further included for measuring a first current value I1 and a second current value I2 outputted after the electrical signals pass through the first element 221 and the second element 222, respectively. The control unit 760 may also calculate a proportional value accordingly. The ratio value may be I1/(I1+ I2), I2/(I1+ I2), I1/I2, I2/I1, (I1-I2)/(I1+ I2), or (I2-I1)/(I1+ I2), etc. Other kinds of ratio values calculated by using the current values I1 and I2 can be inferred by those skilled in the art.

The calculated ratio can be used to estimate the force applied to the nib 230. The control unit 760 may transmit data derived from the first current value I1 and the second current value I2 through the communicator wireless communication unit 770. The host 140 can receive the above data from the host wireless communication unit 780 to know the stress condition of the pen tip 230.

Fig. 7B is a schematic diagram of the inside of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. This is different from the embodiment of fig. 7A in that the control unit 760 can transmit data calculated by deriving the first current value I1 and the second current value I2 through the communicator wired communication unit 771. The host 140 can receive the above data from the host wired communication unit 781 to know the stress condition of the nib 230.

Fig. 7C is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. This differs from the embodiment of fig. 7B in that the communicator 110 does not include the single signal source 714, but directly uses the electrical signal from the communicator wired communication unit 771 as a signal source. Since the communicator wired communication unit 771 is connected to the host wired communication unit 781, the electric signal may use the power of the host 140.

Fig. 7D is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The difference from the embodiment of fig. 7A is that the transmitter 110 does not include the single signal source 714, but directly uses the signal obtained from the first electrode 121 and/or the second electrode 122 on the touch panel 120 as the signal source when the stylus tip segment 230 is in close proximity to the touch panel 120.

It should be noted that, the embodiment of fig. 7A to 7D may be modified from the embodiment of fig. 3, the first element 221 may be the first capacitor 321, and the second element 222 may be the second capacitor 322. The embodiment of fig. 7A to 7D may be implemented by combining the embodiment of fig. 4A and 4B, and the first element 221 may be connected in parallel with the corresponding elements of other switches, or the second element 222 may be connected in parallel with the corresponding elements of other switches, so that the control unit 760 may know the states of those switches according to the range of the calculated ratio.

Please refer to fig. 8, which is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a pen tip sensing value of an initiator by a touch device according to an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of fig. 8 is a method for detecting a sensing value similar to the embodiment of fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram for calculating the signal intensities M1 and M2 corresponding to the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group), and then calculating the sensing values by using the ratio of the two. The embodiment of fig. 8 is suitable for the embodiment that only a single signal source is fed, and the sensing value is calculated by calculating the first current amount I1 and the second current amount I2 corresponding to the first element 221 and the second element 222, and then calculating the ratio of the two values.

The method may be performed by the control unit 760 in the embodiments of fig. 7A to 7D. The first two

steps

810 and 820 calculate a first current amount I1 and a second current amount I2 corresponding to the first device 221 and the second device 222, respectively. These two

steps

810 and 820 may be performed sequentially or simultaneously. Then, in step 830, a ratio value is calculated based on I1 and I2. Examples of such ratio values are given above, such as I1/(I1+ I2), I2/(I1+ I2), I1/I2, I2/I1, (I1-I2)/(I1+ I2), or (I2-I1)/(I1+ I2). Then, step 840 is performed to determine whether the ratio is a predetermined value or falls within a predetermined range. If the determination result is true, step 850 is executed to determine that the communicator 110 is floating and not touching the touch panel 120. Otherwise, step 860 is executed to calculate the sensing value of the nib segment 230 according to the proportional value. The sensed value may or may not be related to the force level and/or stroke. The step of calculating the sensing value may use a table lookup method, a linear interpolation method, a quadratic curve method, and how the relationship between the proportional value and the sensing value corresponds.

In some embodiments, when the first element 221 or the second element 222 is connected in parallel with the corresponding elements of the other switches, as in the embodiments of fig. 4A and 4B, additional steps may be performed at step 860. For example, when applied to the embodiment of fig. 4A, it can be determined that the calculated ratio value of step 830 falls within the first range, the second range, the third range, or the fourth range. Accordingly, it is possible to deduce whether the pen button and/or the eraser button is pressed in addition to the sensed value of the nib 230. Similarly, when used in the embodiment of FIG. 4B, it can be determined that the calculated ratio value of step 830 falls within the first range, the fifth range, the sixth range, or the seventh range described above. Accordingly, it is possible to deduce whether the pen button and/or the eraser button is pressed in addition to the sensed value of the nib 230.

Fig. 9A is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of fig. 9A may be applied to the communicator 110 of fig. 2-5. The horizontal axis of fig. 9A is the time axis, and the sequence is from left to right. As shown in fig. 9A, an optional noise detection period may be included before the beacon signal is emitted from the touch panel/screen 120. The noise detected during the noise detection may come from the touch panel/screen and the electronic system or background environment in which it is located. The touch panel/screen 120 and the touch processing device 130 can detect one or more frequencies included in the noise signal. The noise detection section will be described later.

In one embodiment, the touch panel/screen 120 emits beacon signals, and the transmitter 110 includes a demodulator for detecting beacon signals. Fig. 29 is a block diagram of a system for detecting beacon signals according to an embodiment of the invention. The detection lighthouse signal system 2900 includes a receiving electrode 2910, a detection module 2920, and a demodulator 2930. In one embodiment, the receiving electrode 2910 may be the ring electrode 550, the tip segment 230, or other electrodes. The receive electrode 2910 sends the received signal to a subsequent detection module 2910.

The detection module 2910 includes an analog front end 2911 and a comparator 2912. Those skilled in the art will appreciate what the analog front end does and will not be described in detail herein. In this embodiment, the analog front end 2911 may include a voltage value that outputs a signal representing the signal strength. The comparator 2912 is configured to compare the reference voltage Vref with a voltage signal indicating the strength of the received signal. When the voltage signal is higher than the reference voltage, it indicates that a strong signal is received, so that the comparator 2912 outputs an activation signal or an enable signal to the demodulator 2930. The demodulator 2930 can demodulate the received signal to determine whether the received signal includes the frequency of the beacon signal. When the voltage signal is lower than the reference voltage, the comparator 2912 may output a turn-off signal to the demodulator 2930, and the demodulator 2930 stops demodulating the received signal.

When the beacon signal is not received by the transmitter 110 for a period of time, it can switch to sleep mode, turning off the demodulator 2930 to save power consumption. However, since the power consumption of the detecting module 2920 is less, it is possible to continuously detect whether the received signal strength exceeds a predetermined value in the sleep mode. When a predetermined value is exceeded, a transition may be made from sleep mode to a less power-saving mode, activating the demodulator 2930 for demodulation. While the rest of the communicator 110 is still in the off state. Assuming that the demodulator 2930 determines that the received signal does not include a beacon signal, the demodulator 2930 may be turned off after a period of time, and a power-saving sleep mode may be entered from the power-saving mode. Otherwise, when the demodulator 2930 determines that the received signal includes a beacon signal, the demodulator 2930 may wake up other parts of the transmitter 110 to switch the transmitter 110 from the power-saving mode to the normal operation mode.

Returning now to the embodiment of fig. 9A, after a delay time of the length of L0 elapses, the transmitter 110 sends out electric signals for the T0 period and the T1 period, respectively. Between the two periods T0 and T1, a delay time of L1 length may be included. The two periods T0 and T1 may be equal in length or different in length. T0 and T1 may be collectively referred to as a signal frame (frame). The touch processing device 130 detects the electrical signal transmitted by the transmitter 110 during the two time periods T0 and T1. Then, after the delay time of the length of the optional L2, the touch processing device 130 performs an optional detection step of other modes, such as the capacitive detection mode mentioned above, for detecting the inactive pen or finger.

The lengths of the delay times L0, L1, and L2 are not limited in the present invention, and the three may be zero or any arbitrary lengths. The lengths of the three may or may not have any relationship. In one embodiment, of the periods shown in fig. 9A, only the T0 and T1 periods in the signal frame are necessary, and other periods or steps are optional.

Watch 1

Please refer to table i, which is a schematic diagram illustrating modulation of an electrical signal of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In table one, the transmitter 110 is in a floating state, i.e., the force sensor does not sense any pressure. Since the tip segment 230 of the transmitter 110 does not touch the touch panel/screen 120, for the sake of enhancing the signal, in the embodiment of table one, the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212 both generate the same frequency group Fx in the same time period. For example, in a state where the pen button is pressed, the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212 both transmit the frequency group F0 during a period T0, and the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212 both transmit the frequency group F1 during a period T1. When the touch processing device 130 detects the frequency group F0 in the time period T0 and detects the frequency group F1 in the time period T1, it is inferred that the pen button of the transmitter 110 in the floating state is pressed.

The frequency group Fx includes signals of at least one frequency, which are interchangeable with each other. For example, frequency group F0 may include frequencies F0 and F3, frequency group F1 may include frequencies F1 and F4, and frequency group F2 may include frequencies F2 and F5. Whether the F0 frequency or the F3 frequency is received, the touch processing device 130 is deemed to receive the frequency group F0.

In another embodiment, the communicator 110 in the floating state does not necessarily require both

signal sources

211 and 212 to transmit signals of the same frequency group. The present invention is not limited to the table one as the only embodiment. In addition, the communicator 110 may also comprise more buttons or sensors, and the invention is not limited to only two buttons.

Watch two

Please refer to table two, which is a schematic diagram illustrating modulation of an electrical signal of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Table two, the tip section 230 of the transmitter 110 is in contact, i.e., the force sensor senses pressure.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4A, the following is a case where the barrel button SWB is pressed. During the period T0, the signal sources of the first signal source 211 are grounded, and the second signal source 212 transmits the frequency group F0, so that the electrical signals of the communicator 110 have only the frequency group F0 transmitted by the second signal source 212 during the period T0. During the period T1, the signal sources of the second signal source 212 are grounded, and the first signal source 211 transmits out the frequency group F1. Also, since the impedance value of the first capacitor 321 changes during the contact, the force level of the pen tip segment 230 can be calculated according to the intensity ratio of the F0 signal to the F1 signal received during the time periods T0 and T1, respectively. In addition, since the touch processing device 130 detects the F0 signal during the time period T0, it can be inferred that the pen button is pressed when the F1 signal is detected during the time period T1.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4A, the following is a case where the barrel button SWB is pressed. During the period T0, the signal sources of the first signal source 211 are grounded, the second signal source 212 emits the frequency group F0, and the second capacitor 322 is connected in parallel with the pen-holder capacitor 442. Although the electrical signal of the communicator 110 has only the frequency group F0 transmitted from the second signal source 212 during the period T0, its signal strength is different from that in the case where the pen button SWB is not pressed. In the period T1, the signal sources of the second signal source 212 are grounded, the first signal source 211 sends out the frequency group F1, and since the impedance value of the first capacitor 321 changes during the contact, the force applied to the stylus pen can be calculated according to the intensity ratios of the F0 and F1 signals received in the periods T0 and T1, respectively. In addition, since the touch processing device 130 detects the F0 signal during the time period T0, it can be inferred that the pen button is pressed when the F1 signal is detected during the time period T1.

Watch III

Please refer to table three, which is a schematic diagram illustrating modulation of an electrical signal of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, it is known which buttons are pressed according to the frequency group.

Watch four

Please refer to table four, which is a schematic diagram illustrating modulation of an electrical signal of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the degree of force applied to the stylus tip can be calculated by knowing which buttons are pressed according to the frequency group and by relying on the ratio of the signal strength received during the time periods T0 and T1.

Fig. 9B is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. Which is another variation of the embodiment of figure 9A. The difference between fig. 9B and fig. 9A is that the noise detection step is performed after the period T1. Then, the detection of other modes is executed.

Fig. 9C is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The signal modulation of fig. 9C can be applied to the transmitter 110 shown in fig. 5, and another function of the ring electrode 550 is to enhance the signal strength of the active pen during floating, so as to facilitate the touch panel to detect the floating range of the active pen.

The signal of fig. 9C is modulated to be transmitted when the communicator 110 is in the floating state. In this state, the signal frame in which the transmitter 110 transmits the signal includes only a single R period. During the period R, the ring electrode 550 and the tip segment 230 may simultaneously emit electrical signals. In one embodiment, the electrical signals may be from the same signal source, have the same frequency and/or modulation. For example, the ring electrode and the tip all emit electrical signals from the third signal source 513. For example, the ring electrode 550 and the tip segment 230 may jointly and sequentially emit electrical signals from a first, a second, and a third signal source, respectively, to utilize the maximum power of each signal source. In the R period, the touch processing device 130 only needs to detect the electrical signal sent by the ring electrode 550 to know that the transmitter 110 is floating on a certain position of the touch panel 120. If the electrical signals from the ring electrode 550 and the tip section 230 are from the same signal source or have the same frequency group, the signal strength will be the greatest, so that the detection range of the stylus on the touch panel is maximized. In another embodiment, during the period R, the electrical signal may be sent only through the ring electrode 550.

Fig. 9D is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The signal modulation of fig. 9D may be applied to the transmitter 110 shown in fig. 5. In fig. 9C, a delay time or blank period L1 is included after the period R, and then the touch panel performs other types of detection. The embodiment of fig. 9D has a longer period of time for L1 compared to that of fig. 9C. In fig. 9D compared with the embodiment of fig. 9E, the length of the L1 period is equal to the sum of the L1 period, the T0 period, the L2 period, the T1 period, and the T3 period of fig. 9E. Therefore, if the touch processing device 130 in fig. 9D does not detect any electrical signal within the fixed length L1, it can be known that the communicator 110 is in the floating state.

Fig. 9E is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The signal modulation of fig. 9E may be applied to the transmitter 110 shown in fig. 5. The embodiment of fig. 9E can be said to add the signal frame of the embodiment of fig. 9A to the R period. In this embodiment, regardless of whether the nib 230 is pressed, the transmitter 110 sends the electrical signal from the nib uniformly in the time period T0 and the time period T1, thereby saving some logic circuits. However, in comparison with the embodiments of fig. 9C and 9D, the embodiment of fig. 9E wastes the power of the electrical signal emitted during the T0 and T1 periods. On the other hand, the touch processing device 130 may not need to detect in the time period R, and as long as the electrical signal sent by the pen tip segment 230 can be detected in the time periods T0 and T1, it can be known whether the pen tip segment 230 is under pressure, so as to know whether the communicator 110 is in a floating state.

Fig. 9F is a timing diagram illustrating signal modulation of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The signal modulation of fig. 9F may be applied to the transmitter 110 shown in fig. 5. In the embodiment of fig. 9E, the proportional relationship between the R period and the lengths of the T0 and T1 periods is not limited. In the embodiment of fig. 9F, the length ratio of the R period to the T0 and T1 periods is 1:2: 4. In this way, it is assumed that the touch processing device 130 can perform sampling N times in a unit time, where N is a positive integer. Therefore, the touch panel can perform N:2N:4N sampling in the R time period, the T0 time period and the T1 time period. The length ratio of the three time intervals is not limited in the present invention, for example, the time interval with the strongest power of the electrical signal can be made to last for the minimum unit time, and the time interval with the smallest power of the electrical signal can be made to last for the longest unit time. For example, the length ratio may be 1:3:2, or 1:2:3, etc., depending on the design. Although only two periods of modulation are illustrated for T0 and T1 in the above disclosure, the present invention is not limited to two periods of modulation, and can be applied to more periods of modulation.

In one embodiment, the communicator 110 may send out an electrical signal with a greater intensity when the nib is not in contact and an electrical signal with a lesser intensity when the nib is in contact. Accordingly, the touch processing device 130 has a greater probability of detecting the transmitter 110 floating above the touch panel 120. Furthermore, after the transmitter 110 touches the touch panel 120, the energy consumed by the transmitter 110 can be saved.

For example, in the embodiments of fig. 9C and 9D, when the pen tip segment 230 is not touched, the electrical signal emitted in the R period may be greater than the electrical signal emitted in the L1 period corresponding to the T0 period and the T1 period.

The signal modulation indicates that the transmitter 110 is in a floating state. In this state, the signal frame of the electric signal transmitted by the transmitter 110 contains only the R period. During the R period, ring electrode 550 sends out an electrical signal simultaneously with nib segment 230. In one embodiment, the electrical signals may be from the same source and have the same frequency and/or modulation. In one embodiment, ring electrode 550 and tip section 230 transmit signals from third signal source 513. In other embodiments, ring electrode 550 and tip section 230 may be derived from first signal source 211, second signal source 212, and third signal source 513. Therefore, the electrical signal emitted in the R period is the sum of the outputs of the three

signal sources

211, 212, and 513.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 9A, the first table indicates that the output powers of the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212 are utilized when the communicator 110 is in the floating state. Table two shows that the communicator 110 only utilizes the output power of the first signal source 211 or the second signal source 212 during the T0 period and the T1 period in the contact state. Therefore, the transmitter 110 can transmit an electric signal with a larger intensity when the pen tip is not in contact with the pen tip, and transmit an electric signal with a smaller intensity when the pen tip is in contact with the pen tip.

Similarly, table three shows the output power of the first signal source 211 and the second signal source 212 when the transmitter 110 is in the floating state. Table four shows that the communicator 110 only uses the output power of the first signal source 211 or the second signal source 212 during the T0 period and the T1 period in the contact state. Therefore, the transmitter 110 can transmit an electric signal with a larger intensity when the pen tip is not in contact with the pen tip, and transmit an electric signal with a smaller intensity when the pen tip is in contact with the pen tip.

For the reason why the steps and time periods for noise detection are added to the embodiments of fig. 9A to 9F, please refer to fig. 10, which is a schematic diagram of noise propagation according to an embodiment of the present invention. In fig. 10, the electronic system 100 with the touch panel/screen 120 sends noise of F0 frequency, and the F0 frequency is exactly one of the frequency group F0. Assume that frequency group F0 also contains another F3 frequency. When the user holds the electronic system 100, noise at the frequency of f0 will be transmitted to the touch panel/screen 120 by the user's finger. If the noise detection is not performed, the touch panel/screen 120 may mistakenly recognize the f0 frequency signal from the finger as the electrical signal sent by the transmitter 110 during the signal frame period. Therefore, if a noise signal of the f0 frequency is detected in advance, the signal source of the f0 frequency can be filtered out during the signal frame period.

Assuming that the transmitter 110 has the function of automatic frequency conversion, when the transmitter 110 detects that the touch panel/screen 120 generates a noise signal with F0 frequency, it automatically changes to another F3 frequency of the same frequency group F0. So that in the signal frame period, the touch processing device 130 detects the f3 frequency from the transmitter 110 and the f0 frequency from the finger, thereby causing confusion. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in fig. 9B, in case of confusion, a noise detection step is performed after the time period T1 or the signal frame. Since the transmitter 110 has stopped transmitting the signal of f3 frequency, the finger and electronic system 100 still continuously transmits the noise of f0 frequency. The touch processing device 130 can deduce that the signal with the frequency f3 is the signal actually coming from the transmitter 110 in the signals detected in the original frame period.

In the above description of fig. 2, the impedance change of the first element 221 is used to adjust the ratio of the signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies. Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a first capacitor 221 according to another embodiment of the invention. The impedance change of the first capacitor 221 is used to adjust the ratio of the signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies. A conventional capacitor element is formed by two conductive metal plates. The permittivity C is proportional to the dielectric constant and the area of the metal plates and inversely proportional to the distance between the metal plates.

In one of the main spirit of the above embodiments, the elastic pen tip 230 is mechanically transformed into a stroke perpendicular to the axial direction of the transmitter 110 or in an angle with the axial direction of the transmitter 110. By changing the stroke, the permittivity of the first capacitor 221 and its corresponding first impedance Z1 are changed, and the permittivity of the second capacitor 222 and its corresponding second impedance Z2 are fixed, thereby changing the ratio of the intensity M1 of the signal portion of the first frequency (group) to the intensity M2 of the signal portion of the second frequency (group) in the electrical signal.

In fig. 11, three metal plates are included which are not in contact with each other. First metal plate 1110 and second metal plate 1120 form first capacitor 221, and second metal plate 1120 and third metal plate 1130 form second capacitor 222. In one example, the first metal plate 1110 is formed on a circuit board or a printed circuit board having elasticity, and has an insulating varnish or another insulating plate on the surface thereof. The second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130 are formed on two layers of the same circuit board or printed circuit board, and have an insulating varnish or another insulating plate on the surface thereof. The second metal plate 1120 is coupled to the front nib section 230 via additional circuitry. The pen tip is fixed to the lifting element 1140 (e.g., a ramp device described below), and directly or indirectly lifts a portion or all of the first metal plate 1110 (or the elastic circuit board or the printed circuit board) according to the displacement of the pen tip section 230, or causes the deformation of the portion of the first metal plate 1110 (or the elastic circuit board or the printed circuit board) in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the transmitter 110, which is generally referred to as a displacement perpendicular to the axis of the touch pen in the following description.

First metal plate 1110 is supplied with electrical signals having a first frequency (group) and third metal plate 1130 is supplied with electrical signals having a second frequency (group). Therefore, the second metal plate 1120 induces electrical signals with a first frequency (group) and a second frequency (group) to be transmitted to the touch panel 120 through the front stylus tip segment 230. When the pen tip 230 is not under load, the first metal plate 1110 and the circuit board to which it belongs do not displace in a direction perpendicular to the axial center of the transmitter 110. However, after the pen tip 230 is stressed, the stress is converted from a direction parallel to the axis to a direction perpendicular to the axis by the bevel device 1140 behind the pen tip, so that the circuit board to which the first metal plate 1110 belongs is deformed and displaced, and the dielectric constant of the first capacitor 221 is changed. The permittivity C1 and the first impedance Z1 of the first capacitor 221 also change accordingly. After the force is applied to the nib 230, the circuit board to which the second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130 belong is displaced as a whole, so that the permittivity C2 and the impedance Z2 of the second capacitor 222 are still maintained.

Since the circuit board on which the first metal plate 1110 is disposed is deformed upward, the present embodiment may include at least one supporting element 1150 to provide a supporting force in an opposite direction, so as to help the circuit board on which the first metal plate 1110 is disposed to recover after the force applied to the pen tip 230 is removed. Before being undeformed, the supporting force provided by the supporting element 1150 may be zero.

In an example of the present embodiment, the permittivities of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 may be designed to be the same. In the case where the permittivity is the same, the dielectric constant, distance, and area of the two capacitances may be the same. Of course, the present invention does not limit that the permittivities of the two

capacitors

221 and 222 are the same, as long as the touch processing device 130 knows the impedance ratio corresponding to the two capacitors of the transmitter 110.

In this embodiment, an inexpensive circuit board or printed circuit board is used in place of the more expensive force sensing resistor. Moreover, when the permittivities of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 are the same, the dielectric constant changes when the external environment changes, thereby maintaining the predetermined ratio value. In addition, the communicator 110 itself does not need an active control element to adjust the ratio of the two impedances Z1 and Z2, and only needs to passively provide an electric signal, which can save many resources.

Referring to fig. 12, a simplified representation of the embodiment of fig. 11 is shown, omitting the circuit board, the support element 1150, and the connection circuit from the second metal plate 1120 to the nib 230. Reference is made to fig. 11 for an explanation of the embodiment shown in fig. 12.

Referring to fig. 13, which is a variation of the embodiment shown in fig. 12, the third metal plate 1130 can be moved to the back of the first metal plate 110 and is not electrically coupled to the first metal plate 1110. When the pen tip section 230 is stressed, only the first metal plate 1110 and the circuit board to which it belongs will be deformed. In an embodiment, the first metal plate 1110 and the third metal plate 1130 may be formed on the same circuit board.

Referring to fig. 14, which is a variation of the embodiment shown in fig. 13, the first metal plate 1110 and the third metal plate 1130 can be divided into two metal plates a and B, respectively, and a first frequency (group) and a second frequency (group) are fed in the same manner. When the pen tip section 230 is stressed, the first metal plate a 1110A and the first metal plate B1110B and the circuit board to which they belong may be deformed. The third metal plate a 1130A and the third metal plate B1130B and the circuit board to which they belong do not have displacement deformation. Compared to the embodiment shown in fig. 13, the amount of change is larger and more significant than the embodiment shown in fig. 13 because of the displacement deformation of the two

metal plates

1110A and 1110B.

Please refer to fig. 15, which shows a variation of the embodiment shown in fig. 14, wherein the second metal plate 1120 is also divided into two

metal plates

1120A and 1120B, but the second metal plate a 1120A and the second metal plate B1120B are commonly connected to the nib section 230 through a circuit. The first metal plate a 1110A and the second metal plate a 1120A form a first capacitor a 221A, and the second metal plate a 1120A and the third metal plate a 1130A form a second capacitor a 222A. The first metal plate B1110B and the second metal plate B1120B form a first capacitor B221B, and the second metal plate B1120B and the third metal plate B1130B form a second capacitor B222B. When the pen tip section 230 is stressed, the first metal plate a 1110A and the first metal plate B1110B and the circuit board to which they belong may be deformed. The third metal plate a 1130A and the third metal plate B1130B and the circuit board to which they belong do not have displacement deformation. Compared with the embodiment shown in fig. 13, the amount of change is larger and more obvious than that of the embodiment shown in fig. 13 because of the displacement deformation of the two metal plates.

Fig. 16A is a schematic structural diagram of a first capacitor and a second capacitor according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown in fig. 16A, the first metal plate 1110, the second metal plate 1120, and the third metal plate 1130 are included from top to bottom. The first metal plate 1110 and the third metal plate 1130 are fixed and feed signals of a first frequency (group) and a second frequency (group), respectively. The second metal plate 1120 senses signals of the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group) of the upper and lower metal plates, and outputs an electrical signal having a mixture of the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group).

A first capacitor 221 is formed between the first metal plate 1110 and the second metal plate 1120, and a second capacitor 222 is formed between the second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130. When the second metal plate 1120 is not deformed, the impedance values of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 are fixed under the same environment, so that the intensities M1 and M2 corresponding to the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group) in the electrical signal are analyzed, and a ratio value is calculated according to the two intensity values. When the ratio is a predetermined value or falls within a predetermined range, it can be known that the second metal plate 1120 is not deformed.

When the second metal plate 1120 deforms, the impedance and capacitance values of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 change. Therefore, a ratio is calculated according to the two intensity values, and the deformation or stress of the second metal plate 1120 can be deduced back according to the change of the ratio. Here, the steps of the embodiment shown in fig. 6 may be nested.

Please refer to fig. 16B, which is a variation of the embodiment shown in fig. 16A. The second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130 are fixed and feed signals of the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group), respectively. The first metal plate 1110 senses the signals of the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group) of the second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130 therebelow, and outputs an electrical signal with the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group) mixed.

A first capacitor 221 is formed between the first metal plate 1110 and the second metal plate 1120, and a second capacitor 222 is formed between the first metal plate 1110 and the third metal plate 1130. When the first metal plate 1110 is not deformed, the impedance values of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 are fixed under the same environment, so that the intensities M1 and M2 corresponding to the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group) in the electrical signal are analyzed, and a ratio value is calculated according to the two intensity values. When the ratio is a predetermined value or falls within a predetermined range, it can be known that the first metal plate 1110 is not deformed.

When the first metal plate 1110 deforms, the impedance and permittivity of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 change. Therefore, a ratio is calculated according to the two intensity values, and the deformation or stress condition of the first metal plate 1110 can be deduced back according to the change of the ratio. Here, the steps of the embodiment shown in fig. 6 may be nested. The impedance values may change with temperature and humidity, and the impedance values of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 of the present invention change with temperature and humidity, so that the influence of the proportional value of temperature and humidity can be reduced or avoided when calculating the proportional value.

Fig. 17A and 17B are schematic structural diagrams of a first capacitor and a second capacitor according to the present invention. In the embodiments of fig. 16A and 16B, the first frequency (group) and the second frequency (group) are fed in respectively, and in the embodiments of fig. 17A and 17B, only the driving signals with the same frequency need to be fed in. In other words, the driving signal fed may be the single signal source 714 in fig. 7A and 7B, the electric signal obtained from the wired communication unit 771 of the transmitter in fig. 7C as a signal source, or the signal obtained from the first electrode 121 and/or the second electrode 122 on the touch panel 120 when the stylus pen 230 is close to the touch panel 120 in fig. 7D as a signal source, which is applicable to the embodiments in fig. 7A to 7D.

The three-layered metal plate of fig. 17A is the same as the three-layered metal plate of fig. 16A, and the driving signal having a certain frequency is fed to the deformable second metal plate 1120. The first metal plate 1110 will have the induced first current value I1 output by the capacitive effect with the second metal plate 1120. Similarly, the third metal plate 1130 has the induced second current value I2 output by the capacitance effect with the second metal plate 1120.

A first capacitor 221 is formed between the first metal plate 1110 and the second metal plate 1120, and a second capacitor 222 is formed between the second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130. When the second metal plate 1120 is not deformed, the impedance values of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 are fixed, so the current amounts I1 and I2 are analyzed, and a proportional value is calculated according to the two current values. When the ratio is a predetermined value or falls within a predetermined range, it can be known that the second metal plate 1120 is not deformed.

When the second metal plate 1120 deforms, the impedance and permittivity of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 change. Therefore, a proportional value is calculated according to the two current values I1 and I2, and the deformation or stress of the second metal plate 1120 can be deduced back according to the change of the proportional value. Accordingly, the method embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may be used in series.

Please refer to fig. 17B, which is a variation of the embodiment shown in fig. 17A. Wherein the second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130 are fixed. The driving signal having a certain frequency is fed into the deformable first metal plate 1110. The second metal plate 1120 outputs the induced first current value I1 by a capacitive effect with the first metal plate 1110. Similarly, the third metal plate 1130 outputs the induced second current value I2 by the capacitive effect with the first metal plate 1110.

A first capacitor 221 is formed between the first metal plate 1110 and the second metal plate 1120, and a second capacitor 222 is formed between the first metal plate 1110 and the third metal plate 1130. When the first metal plate 1110 is not deformed, the impedance values of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 are fixed, so that the current amounts I1 and I2 are analyzed, and a proportional value is calculated according to the two current values. When the ratio is a predetermined value or falls within a predetermined range, it can be known that the first metal plate 1110 is not deformed.

When the first metal plate 1110 deforms, the impedance and permittivity of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 change. Therefore, a proportional value is calculated according to the two current values I1 and I2, and the deformation or stress of the first metal plate 1110 can be deduced back according to the change of the proportional value. Accordingly, the method embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may be used in series.

Please refer to fig. 18, which is a variation of the embodiment shown in fig. 11. The embodiment shown in fig. 11 requires signals fed at two frequencies. However, in the embodiment shown in fig. 18, as in the embodiments of fig. 17A and 17B, only a driving signal with a certain frequency needs to be fed to the second metal plate 1120, or a signal needs to be fed, and it is not necessary to know how many frequency components the fed signal has.

A first capacitor 221 is formed between the first metal plate 1110 and the second metal plate 1120, and a second capacitor 222 is formed between the second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130. Since the distance and dielectric constant between the second metal plate 1120 and the third metal plate 1130 are not changed, the capacitance and impedance of the second capacitor 222 are fixed. When the first metal plate 1110 is not deformed, the impedance values of the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222 are fixed, so that the current amounts I1 and I2 are analyzed, and a proportional value is calculated according to the two current values. When the ratio is a predetermined value or falls within a predetermined range, it can be known that the first metal plate 1110 is not deformed. However, the permittivity and impedance of the first capacitor 221 may change due to the deformation of the first metal plate. Therefore, when the first metal plate 1110 is deformed by an external force, the first current value I1 is changed. Therefore, the ratio of the current values I1 and I2 is also changed, so as to recover the deformation or stress of the first metal plate 1110. Accordingly, the method embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may be used in series.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller or circuit in the communicator 110 may feed a driving signal with a certain frequency to the second metal plate 1120, calculate the current amounts I1 and I2 corresponding to the first capacitor 221 and the second capacitor 222, and then calculate the sensing value by using the ratio of the two values, thereby determining the degree of the force applied to the pen tip. In other words, with the first impedance Z1 and the second impedance Z2, the present invention provides a pressure sensing capacitor (FSC) that can be used to replace the conventional pressure sensing device, such as the pressure sensing resistor FSR, to provide pressure determination. The pressure sensing capacitor provided by the invention has the characteristics of low cost and difficult influence of temperature and humidity. In the above figures, the use of flexible printed circuit boards as force sensing capacitors is disclosed. It is a feature of the present invention that other forms of force sensing capacitance are provided.

Please refer to fig. 19A, which is an exploded schematic diagram of a force-sensing capacitor of the transmitter 110 and a central cross section of the structure thereof. Note that the proportions of fig. 19A to 19E have been changed to highlight certain portions. Furthermore, some of the fixing elements are omitted in order to simplify the description. In fig. 19A, where the leftmost element is a long-tipped nib or nib segment 230, the nib portion may be a conductive body. For convenience, tip section 230 is referred to as the front end of the communicator 110 or active pen, and when in contact with the front end movable element 1971, tip section 230 is electrically coupled to the front end movable element 1971. The front movable element 1971 is coupled to the rear movable element 1972 by a male fastener in the middle. In one embodiment, the male and female fastening elements may comprise threads. The front movable element 1971 and the rear movable element 1972 may be conductors or conductive elements, such as metal pieces.

Fig. 19A includes a housing 1980, which may annularly include the front and rear

movable elements

1971 and 1972, described above, and fig. 19A shows only a portion of the housing 1980 for simplicity. The portion of the housing 1980 adjacent the nib section 230 tapers to a smaller diameter neck, and a shoulder may be included between the neck and the larger diameter portion of the housing 1980 as a bearing portion. In fig. 19A, at least one elastic member 1978 is sandwiched between the force-bearing portion and the front movable member 1971 for urging the housing 1980 and the front movable member 1971, respectively, along the long axis of the pen. The resilient element 1978 may be a spring, a leaf spring, or other type of resilient element. In one embodiment, unlike fig. 19A, the resilient element 1978 may surround the movable element 1970 and the neck of the housing 1980.

In another embodiment, the resilient element 1978 may exert a force on the housing 1980 and the rear movable element 1972, respectively, along the long axis of the pen. Since the front and rear

movable elements

1971 and 1972 can be coupled to form the movable element 1970 by the fastener, the movable element 1970 can be pushed toward the tip section 230 and the tip section 230 can be pushed toward the front end by applying a force to the front movable element 1971 or the rear movable element 1972.

When tip section 230 is forced to the right or rear in the drawing, movable element 1970 is pressed against the elastic force of elastic element 1978 until a part of movable element 1970 contacts a force-bearing part of housing 1980. Thus, the present invention provides a design that allows the movable element 1970 to move within the neck of the housing 1980 for a stroke along the long axis of the pen. Likewise, since the movable element 1970 abuts the tip segment 230, the tip segment 230 may also move along the long axis of the pen for the same stroke. The length of the stroke may vary from design to design, and may be, for example, 1mm or 0.5 mm. The length of the stroke is not limited by the present invention.

At the rear end of the rear movable element 1972, there is an insulating film 1973. At the back end of the insulating film 1973, a compressible conductor 1974 is also included. In one embodiment, the compressible conductor 1974 may be a conductive rubber or a spring element doped conductor. The movable element 1970, the insulating film 1973, and the compressible conductor 1974 form a capacitor, or a force sensing capacitor, due to the insulating film 1973 sandwiched between the movable element 1970 and the compressible conductor 1974. The force sensing capacitor provided herein may be the first capacitor 221 of fig. 2-5. In short, the force sensing capacitor provided herein may be applied to the various embodiments described above.

The compressible conductor 1974 is secured to a conductor base 1975, and the conductor base 1975 may be secured to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 1980 by fasteners or fasteners. When the movable element 1970 moves to the rear or right, the rear movable element 1972 compresses the compressible conductor 1974 due to the stationary position of the conductor base 1975, causing the capacitance value of the force sensing capacitor to change.

Due to pen shape constraints, the remaining circuitry and battery modules may be located at the rear end of the conductor substrate 1975. In fig. 19A, these elements may be represented by a printed circuit board 1990. As a first end of the force sensing capacitor, the above-mentioned movable element 1970 is connected to the printed circuit board 1990 by a movable element wire 1977. And as a second terminal of the force sensing capacitor, the conductor base 1975 is connected to the printed circuit board 1990 by a base lead 1976.

The base lead 1976 may also be another resilient element. In some embodiments, unlike fig. 19A, the base lead 1976 can surround the conductor base 1975. In another embodiment, the conductor base 1975 is not electrically conductive, and a base lead 1976 is electrically coupled to the compressible conductor 1974 through the conductor base 1975.

In one embodiment, the insulating film 1973 may be formed by immersing the right end face of the rear movable element 1972 in an insulating liquid. After the insulating liquid is air-dried, an insulating film 1973 is naturally formed at the right end plane of the rear movable element 1972.

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the contact surface between the compressible conductor 1974 and the insulating film 1973 of fig. 19A. Fig. 20 contains four embodiments of the contact surface of the compressible conductor 1974 with the insulating film 1973. (a) The embodiment of (a) is a contact surface with a central protrusion, the embodiment of (b) is a contact surface with a single inclined surface, the embodiment of (c) is a contact surface with a central cone, and the embodiment of (d) is a contact surface with a plurality of protrusions. The applicant believes that the invention is not limited to the shape of the contact surface.

Although the surface of the movable element 1970 on which the insulating film 1973 is formed is a flat surface, the present invention is not limited thereto. The surface may be a central protrusion, a single bevel, a central cone, or a contact surface with multiple protrusions, as shown in fig. 20. In other words, in some embodiments, the surfaces of both the compressible conductor 1974 and the insulating film 1973 are not planar.

Please refer to fig. 19B, which is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in fig. 19A after combination. After combination, the front movable element 1971 and the rear movable element 1972 have been combined into a single movable element 1970. The movable element 1970 is connected to the force-bearing portion of the housing 1980 by an elastic element 1978, and the elastic tension of the elastic element 1978 causes the movable element 1970 to be urged against the nib section 230 in the forward direction as a whole until the rear movable element 1972 is urged against the force-bearing portion of the housing 1980. A movable stroke d is left between the movable element 1970 and the housing 1980. At this point, the compressible conductor 1974 deforms without being compressed, assuming that the capacitance of the force-sensing capacitor is a first capacitance.

Please refer to fig. 19C, which is another cross-sectional view of the structure shown in fig. 19A after combination. In contrast to fig. 19B, the nib section 230 moves toward the rear end due to the pressure applied to the rear end. The movable element 1970, effected by the movement of the nib 230, overcomes the elastic tension of the elastic element 1978 and moves the full stroke d towards the rear end until the front movable element 1971 abuts against the force-bearing part of the housing 1980. At this time, the compressible conductor 1974 is deformed by the compression of the movable element 1970 and the insulating film 1973, and the capacitance value of the force-sensitive capacitor is a second capacitance value different from the first capacitance value.

Between the ends of the travel shown in fig. 19B and 19C, the movable element 1970 can have an infinite number of positions, or the compressible conductor 1974 can have an infinite number of degrees of compression, or the area of the contact surface between the compressible conductor 1974 and the insulating film 1973 can have an infinite number of changes in size, and a position, or degree of compression, or change in size of area can cause the capacitance of the force-sensitive capacitor to change.

Fig. 19D is an exploded view of a center section of a force-sensing capacitor and a structure of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. It differs from fig. 19B in that the position of the compressible conductor 1974 and the insulating film 1973 are interchanged. In any case, when the movable element 1970 moves toward the rear end, the compressible conductor 1974 is compressed by the insulating film 1973 and the conductor base 1975 to be deformed. Therefore, the capacitance value of the force sensing capacitor can be changed.

Fig. 19E is an exploded view of the force sensing capacitor and the center cross section of the structure of the transmitter 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 19E differs from fig. 19B in that the right end of the rear movable element 1972 is no longer a layer of insulating film 1973, but a piece of compressible dielectric material 1979. Such as insulating rubber, plastic, foam, etc. The conductor substrate 1975 is replaced by an incompressible conductor, such as a metal block or graphite. The capacitance of the force sensing capacitor changes as the thickness of the compressible dielectric 1979 decreases when subjected to the pressure of the movable element 1970, which results in a decrease in the distance between the movable element 1970 and the conductor. The conductor of fig. 19E is more expensive to manufacture than the compressible conductor 1974 of fig. 19A.

In a variation of the embodiment of fig. 19E, the contact surface of the conductor with the compressible dielectric material 1979 may be made in various shapes as shown in fig. 20. In another variation, the contact surface of the compressible dielectric material 1979 with the conductor may be formed into various shapes as shown in fig. 20.

Similar to fig. 19D, the position of the compressible insulating material 1979 and the conductor can also be interchanged. The compressible dielectric material 1979 may interface with a conductor base 1975 and the conductor may be attached to the rear end of the movable element 1970. When the movable element 1970 moves towards the rear end, the conductor causes the compressible dielectric material 1979 to deform, causing the capacitance value of the force-induced capacitor to change.

Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram of a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the pressure sensor 2110 has two input terminals a, b and an output terminal c, which are electrically connected to the control unit 2120. The control unit 2120 inputs a first frequency (group) F1 and a second frequency (group) F2 to the pressure sensor 2110 through input terminals a and b, respectively, and receives an output signal of the pressure sensor 2110 through an output terminal c. The control unit 2120 may implement the method shown in fig. 6.

When the external pressure drives the capacitor C1 to generate a change in capacitance value, the control unit 2120 can also analyze the pressure change corresponding to the change in capacitance value, so that the pressure sensor 2110 of the present embodiment can be widely applied to various pressure measuring devices, such as a load sensor. In an application, the pressure sensor 2110 may also be used in another touch pen, and after the control unit 2120 analyzes the received pressure change of the touch pen tip, the control unit 2120 drives the signal transmitting unit with the predetermined frequency f0 to transmit the pressure change to the touch panel.

It is mentioned before that the transmitter 110 can transmit the electrical signal for a period of time after receiving the beacon signal transmitted by the touch panel 120, so that the touch processing device 130 can detect the state of the transmitter 110 and its sensor. When the beacon signal is not received for a first time, the transmitter 110 may enter a power saving mode, detect whether there is a beacon signal at an interval of a detection period, and detect the beacon signal again and continuously until the beacon signal is received, wherein the detection period is greater than a transmission period of the beacon signal.

In addition, when the beacon signal is not received for a second period of time, the communicator 110 may enter a sleep mode, and power off a majority of the circuits or controllers of the communicator 110 until the communicator is awakened. In one embodiment of the present invention, in the sleep mode, the communicator 110 turns off the related circuits for receiving the beacon signal and transmitting the electric signal. The wake-up in the sleep mode may be achieved by setting a button or switch in the communicator 110 and manually activating the button or switch by the user. In another embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment of fig. 23A and 23B or the embodiment of fig. 24A and 24B may be used for waking up. After the pen tip segment 230 contacts the object, the potential of the first port can be changed from low to high, so that the transmitter 110 transmits the electrical signal.

In the present application, one of the functions of the ring electrode 550 is added to receive the lighthouse signal, and is not limited to receiving the lighthouse signal only through the stylus tip segment 230. Since the area and volume of the ring electrode 550 are larger than the tip of the stylus tip section 230, the beacon signal can be received at a position far from the touch panel 120. Or the touch panel 120 may transmit a beacon signal with a weaker signal strength to reduce power consumption of the touch panel 120. If the beacon signal is not received within a period of time, the active pen can enter a deeper sleep level to save more power consumption. In a deeper sleep state, the user can return the communicator 110 to a normal operation state by pointing the stylus tip 230. The embodiment of fig. 23A and 23B, or the embodiment of fig. 24A and 24B may be used to wake up the communicator 110. After the pen tip segment 230 contacts the object, the potential of the first port can be changed from low to high, so that the transmitter 110 transmits the electrical signal.

When multiple transmitters 110 are to be operated on one touch panel 120, the touch panel 120 may send out different beacon signals, so that the corresponding transmitter 110 sends out an active signal within a period of time after receiving the beacon signals. The transmitter 110 may also adjust the frequencies or modulation modes of the first signal source 211, the second signal source 212, and the third signal source 513 according to different beacon signals, so as to facilitate the touch processing device 130 to detect and know which signal of the transmitter 110 is. Similarly, the different lighthouse signals may be modulated at different frequencies or different modulation schemes.

Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram of a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the control unit 2220 may also feed a driving signal with a certain frequency into the input end C of the pressure sensor 2210, and receive the current amounts I1 and I2 output from the output ends a, b to the control unit 2220 corresponding to the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2, and then the control unit 20 calculates the sensing value by using the proportional value of the two values, so as to determine the pressure change. The control unit 2220 may implement the method shown in fig. 8. In one application, the driving signal with the predetermined frequency may be inputted from the outside to the input terminal c of the pressure sensor 2220.

Fig. 23A and 23B are schematic structural diagrams of a simple switch according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown in fig. 23A, there are three layers of circuit boards in total. As in the previous figures, there is a mechanical bevel to the right. Before the mechanical bevel is not pushed to the left, the circuit on the upper circuit board is connected to the circuit on the lower circuit board through the middle circuit board conductive circuit. The first contact p1 of the upper circuit board is connected to a voltage source (e.g., Vdd) and the first port (GPIO1), respectively, and when the first contact p1 is not displaced in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the stylus pen, the first contact p2 of the middle circuit board is electrically contacted with the first contact p 1. The intermediate circuit board further has a third contact p3, and the second contact p2 is electrically connected to the third contact p 3. The fourth contact p4 of the lower circuit board is connected to ground potential (e.g. ground) and can be connected to the second port (GPIO 2). In addition, the fourth contact p4 is electrically contacted with the third contact p 3. The voltage source is connected with the first port GPIO1 to raise the resistance, and when the circuit of the upper circuit board and the circuit of the middle circuit board are short-circuited (the first contact p1 is electrically contacted with the second contact p 2), and the circuit of the middle circuit board and the circuit of the lower circuit board are short-circuited (the third contact p3 is electrically contacted with the fourth contact p 4), the potential of the first port GPIO1 is low potential or ground potential.

Referring to fig. 23B, after receiving the pressure, the mechanical inclined surface is pushed to the left, so as to deform the contact end between the upper circuit board and the lower circuit board. After the deformation, the circuits of the upper circuit board and the middle circuit board are open (the first contact p1 is not in electrical contact with the second contact p 2), or the circuits of the middle circuit board and the lower circuit board are open (the third contact p3 is not in electrical contact with the fourth contact p 4), and the potential of the first port GPIO1 is the potential of the voltage source Vdd.

When the voltage level of the first port GPIO1 changes from low to high, the communicator 110 in the sleep mode may be awakened. As mentioned above, the supporting element can be attached to the outside of the upper circuit board and the lower circuit board, so that the upper circuit board and the lower circuit board can be restored to their original states after the force of the mechanical slope is removed, and the potential of the first port is changed from high to low. The first port and the second port may be pins of a processor in the communicator 110.

Please refer to fig. 24A and 24B, which are schematic structural diagrams of a simple switch according to an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of fig. 23A and 23B has two breaks, and whether any one break is open, the potential of the first port can be changed from low to high. The embodiment of fig. 24A and 24B, with only one break, has the circuit connected from the intermediate circuit board to ground potential. When the circuit of the upper circuit board and the circuit of the middle circuit board are short-circuited, the potential of the first port GPIO1 is a low potential or a ground potential. When the circuit of the upper circuit board and the circuit of the middle circuit board are open, the potential of the first port GPIO1 is the potential of the voltage source. In fig. 24A and 24B, the second contact p2 is electrically connected to the second port GPIO 2.

Referring to FIG. 25, the present invention provides a schematic diagram of a pen tip position estimation. Two transmitters 110 are shown, each including a ring electrode 550 and a tip section 230. The left transmitter 110 is perpendicular to the touch panel 120, and the included angle is close to or equal to 90 degrees, and the included angle between the right transmitter 110 and the touch panel 120 is smaller than 90 degrees. And the surface transparent layer of the touch panel 120 has a thickness. Typically, the surface transparent layer is typically tempered glass, and the display layer is located below the transparent layer.

Since the transmitter 110 transmits the electrical signal from the ring-shaped electrode 550 and/or the pen tip 230 during the period R, the touch processing device 130 can calculate the center of gravity R _ cg of the signal, which corresponds to the center position of the projection of the ring-shaped electrode 550 and the pen tip 230 on the touch panel 120. Then, during the time periods T0 and T1, the communicator 110 sends out the electric signal only through the nib segment 230. The touch processing device 130 can calculate the center of gravity Tip _ cg of the signal, corresponding to the center position of the pen Tip 230 projected on the touch panel 120.

As with the left-hand communicator 110 of fig. 25, when it is perpendicular to the touch panel 120, R _ cg is equal to or very close to Tip _ cg. Therefore, it can be inferred that the Tip of the pen touches the transparent surface of the touch panel 120, and Tip _ surface is equal to R _ cg and Tip _ cg. It is also possible to infer the point where the pen Tip projects on the display layer of the touch panel 120, where Tip _ display is equal to R _ cg, Tip _ cg, and Tip _ surface.

As shown in the right-hand side of fig. 25, the transmitter 110 is inclined from the touch panel 120, so that R _ cg is not equal to Tip _ cg. It is conceivable that the farther the distance between the two is, the larger the inclination angle is. According to different designs of the transmitter 110, the touch processing device 130 may look up a table or calculate the tilt angle according to the two gravity center positions R _ cg and Tip _ cg, or calculate the Tip _ surface and Tip _ display of the Tip segment 230 contacting the surface transparent layer and the display layer of the touch panel 120.

Please refer to fig. 26, which is a diagram illustrating a calculation of a tilt angle according to an embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is applicable to the communicator 110 shown in fig. 5, which has the ring-shaped electrode 550. The present embodiment is suitable for the signal modulation modes shown in fig. 9E and 9F, and the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 1 executes the method shown in the present embodiment, and may also refer to the embodiment of fig. 25.

In step 2610, a first center position R _ cg of the ring electrode 550 and/or the nib 230 on the touch panel 120 is calculated. In step 2620, a second center position Tip _ cg of the stylus Tip segment 230 on the touch panel 120 is calculated. The present invention does not limit the order in which these two

steps

2610 and 2620 are performed. Next, in optional step 2630, a tilt angle is calculated based on the first center position R _ cg and the second center position Tip _ cg. In optional step 2640, a surface position Tip _ surface of the Tip segment 230 on the surface layer of the touch panel 120 is calculated according to the first center position R _ cg and the second center position Tip _ cg. In optional step 2650, a display position Tip _ display of the stylus segment 230 on the display layer of the touch panel 120 is calculated according to the first center position R _ cg and the second center position Tip _ cg. The present invention does not limit that steps 2630 through 2650 must be performed, but at least one of them needs to be performed. The present invention also does not limit the order in which steps 2630 through 2650 are performed.

Please refer to fig. 27, which illustrates an embodiment of the pen-touch of the interface responding to the aforesaid tilt angle and/or pressure. FIG. 27 contains five sets of horizontal row embodiments (a) through (e), each set containing three tilt angles (inclination), the leftmost vertical row representing the case where the active pen has no tilt angle, the second tilt angle of the right example being greater than the first tilt angle of the middle example, with the tilt angles all pointing to the right. Here, the stroke is usually displayed in a coloring range of the screen in drawing software.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the tilt angle and the point Tip _ surface and Tip _ display of the Tip segment 230 contacting the transparent surface layer and the display layer of the touch panel 120 are not necessarily calculated by using the ring electrodes shown in fig. 25 and 26. In one embodiment, other sensors may be provided on the pen to measure tilt. For example, after the tilt angle is measured by an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) made of a micro-electro-mechanical system, a gyroscope (gyroscope), an accelerometer (accelerometer), etc., various data derived from the tilt angle and/or the tilt angle are transmitted to a computer system belonging to the touch panel through various wired or wireless transmission methods, so as to facilitate the computer system to implement the embodiments shown in fig. 10. The wired or Wireless transmission method may be an industry standard or a custom standard, such as bluetooth Wireless communication protocol or Wireless USB.

It is assumed here in fig. 27 that the active pens of the various embodiments all contact the touch panel with the same pressure. In one embodiment, the intersection point of each horizontal line and the straight line represents the point Tip _ surface at which the Tip segment actually contacts the transparent surface layer of the touch panel. In another embodiment, the intersection of each horizontal line with the straight line represents the center of gravity Tip _ cg of the nib signal. Of course, in other embodiments, the point Tip _ display projected on the display layer of the touch panel by the pen Tip may be represented. For convenience, the pen Tip can be referred to as Tip representative point Tip, and the Tip representative point can be Tip _ display, Tip _ surface, or Tip _ cg.

In the embodiment (a), when the inclination angle is increased, the shape of the brush may be changed from a circular shape to an elliptical shape. In other words, the distance between the bifocal points of the ellipse is related to the tilt angle. The larger the tilt angle, the larger the distance between the bifocal points of the ellipse. And the center point of the ellipse is the representative point Tip of the pen point.

The embodiment (b) is different from the embodiment (a) in that the intersection point of the central extension line of the elliptic bifocal point and the elliptic line is the representative point Tip of the pen Tip described above. The embodiment (c) is different from the embodiment (a) in that one of the two foci of the ellipse is the Tip representative point Tip described above. The embodiments (d) and (e) are different from the embodiment (a) in that the shape of the brush is changed from an elliptical shape to a tear-drop shape. The tear drop type Tip of example (d) is the Tip representative point Tip described above. The point Tip of the teardrop type in example (e) is the representative point Tip of the pen Tip described above.

Although two different shapes from the illustrated shapes are shown in fig. 27, the present application does not limit the shapes of the brush strokes and the types of the dots shown. In addition, in one embodiment, the pressure on the tip controls the shape, such as the pressure associated with the radius of a circle or the distance between the two foci of an ellipse. In summary, the human-machine interface may transform the displayed content according to the tip pressure value and/or the inclination angle of the active pen.

In addition to altering the shape of the strokes, the tip pressure values and/or tilt angle values described above may also represent different commands. For example, in the three-dimensional design software, the color temperature of the light source, the intensity of the light source, or the illumination width of the light source can be adjusted by the tilt angle. Or after the pen point selects a certain object, the direction of the object can be adjusted by the direction of the inclination angle, and the rotating direction of the object can be adjusted according to the angle of the inclination angle.

It is noted that the present invention does not limit the relationship of the tilt angle to its associated value to be linear. In some embodiments, the relationship between the tilt angle and its associated value may be non-linear, may be compared using a look-up table, or may be compared using a quadratic function.

Please refer to fig. 28, which illustrates another embodiment of the pen-touch on the display interface for reflecting the tilt angle and/or the pressure. Fig. 28 includes two embodiments (a) and (b), each of which includes two strokes (strokes) on the left and right. The left pen touch has a zero inclination angle and comprises five circles C1-C5 from small to large, and the size of the circle is determined according to the pressure value of the pen point. The right pen touch has a certain fixed inclination angle and comprises five ellipses E1-E5 from small to large, wherein the sizes of the ellipses are also determined according to the pressure value of the pen point and are the same as the pressure values of C1-C5. In addition, the axial directions of the ellipses E1 to E5 are all inclined by 30 degrees according to the directions of the inclination angles, and the direction of the inclination angle (inclination direction) is different from the direction of the center of the stroke (stroke direction). In this figure, the two enclose an angle of 15 degrees.

The embodiment (a) of fig. 28 corresponds to the embodiment (a) of fig. 27, that is, the center point of the ellipse corresponds to the Tip representative point Tip described above. Similarly, the embodiment (b) of fig. 28 corresponds to the embodiment (b) of fig. 27, and the intersection point of the central extension line of the elliptical bifocal point and the elliptical line is the representative point Tip of the pen Tip. It can be seen from the two embodiments of fig. 28 that the overall shape of the brush may be different due to the different inclination angles under the same pressure variation. Therefore, the pressure value and the inclination angle can be used for representing the pen touch of some soft elastic pen points, such as a brush pen (brush pen) or a goose pen (quick pen).

In one aspect, the present invention provides a transmitter. The sender comprises: the first element is used for receiving signals with a first frequency group, wherein a first impedance value of the first element changes according to stress; a second element for receiving signals having a second group of frequencies, the second element having a second impedance value; and the pen point section is used for receiving the input of the first element and the second element and sending out an electric signal, wherein the pen point section is used for receiving the stress.

In one embodiment, the second impedance value does not change according to the force. In another embodiment, the second impedance value is also changed according to the force.

In an embodiment, the communicator may further include a third element connected in series with a third switch, wherein the first element is connected in parallel with the third switch and the third element. The above-mentioned communicator may further comprise a fourth element connected in series with a fourth switch, wherein the first element is connected in parallel with the fourth switch and the fourth element.

In another embodiment, the above-mentioned communicator may further comprise a third element connected in series with a third switch, wherein the second element is connected in parallel with the third switch and the third element. The above-mentioned communicator may further comprise a fourth element connected in series with a fourth switch, wherein the second element is connected in parallel with the fourth switch and the fourth element.

In an embodiment, the first frequency group includes one or more first frequencies, and the second frequency group includes one or more second frequencies, and the first frequencies are different from the second frequencies.

In one embodiment, the first impedance value is equal to the second impedance value when the force is zero. In one embodiment, when the force is zero, the nib section does not contact any object.

In one embodiment, the ratio of the first signal strength M1 of the first frequency group to the second signal strength M2 of the second frequency group in the electrical signal is related to the force. Wherein the ratio value may be one of: M1/M2, M2/M1, M1/(M1+ M2), M2/(M1+ M2), (M1-M2)/(M1+ M2), or (M2-M1)/(M1+ M2).

In one embodiment, the force is zero when the ratio value is equal to or falls within the first range of values. When the proportional value is equal to or falls within a second range value, the third switch is closed, and the first element and the third element are connected in parallel. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a third range value, the fourth switch is closed, and the first element and the fourth element are connected in parallel. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a fourth range value, the third switch and the fourth switch are closed, and the first element, the third element and the fourth switch are connected in parallel. In another embodiment, the third switch is closed when the ratio value equals or falls within a fifth range of values, the second element and the third element being in parallel. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a sixth range value, the fourth switch is closed, and the second element and the fourth element are connected in parallel. When the ratio is equal to or falls within a seventh range, the third switch and the fourth switch are closed, and the second element is connected in parallel with the third element and the fourth element.

In one embodiment, the first element is a force sensing capacitor and the second element is a capacitor.

In one embodiment, the communicator may further comprise a ring electrode surrounding the tip section, the ring electrode not being electrically coupled to the tip section. In one embodiment, the ring electrode may comprise one or more separate electrodes.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission method for controlling a transmitter, the transmitter including a first element, a second element, and a nib for receiving inputs from the first element and the second element, the transmission method including: changing the first impedance value of the first element according to the stress received by the pen point section; providing signals of a first frequency group to the first element; providing signals of a second frequency group to the second element; and causing the nib section to emit an electrical signal.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for determining a stress received by a transmitter, comprising: receiving the electric signal sent by the sender; calculating a first signal strength M1 of a first group of frequencies in the electrical signal; calculating a second signal strength M2 of a second group of frequencies in the electrical signal; and calculating the stress according to the ratio of the first signal strength M1 to the second signal strength M2.

In an embodiment, the step of calculating the force may include one of the following steps: a table lookup method, a linear interpolation method, or a quadratic curve method.

In an embodiment, determining the state of the third switch according to the ratio value is further included. In another embodiment, the method further comprises determining a state of the fourth switch according to the ratio.

In another aspect, a touch processing device for determining a stress received by a transmitter includes: the touch panel comprises an interface, a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes form a plurality of sensing points; at least one demodulator for calculating a first signal strength M1 of a first frequency group and a second signal strength M2 of a second frequency group of the electrical signals received by one of the sensing points; and a calculating unit, for calculating the force according to the ratio of the first signal strength M1 to the second signal strength M2.

In an embodiment, the calculating unit further determines the state of the third switch according to the proportional value. In another embodiment, the calculating unit further determines the state of the fourth switch according to the proportional value.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a touch system for determining a stress received by a transmitter, including: the touch control device comprises a transmitter, a touch control panel and a touch control processing device, wherein the transmitter further comprises a first element for receiving signals with a first frequency group, and a first impedance value of the first element changes according to stress; a second element for receiving signals having a second group of frequencies, wherein the second element has a second impedance value; and a nib section for receiving input of the first element and the second element and emitting an electrical signal, wherein the nib section is used for receiving the force, the touch panel includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes form a plurality of sensing points, the touch processing apparatus further includes: the interface is used for connecting the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes on the touch panel, and the at least one demodulator is used for calculating a first signal intensity M1 of a first frequency group and a second signal intensity M2 of a second frequency group in an electric signal received by one of the plurality of sensing points; and a calculating unit, for calculating the force according to the ratio of the first signal strength M1 to the second signal strength M2.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter comprising: the first element is used for receiving a signal source, wherein a first impedance value of the first element changes according to stress; a second element for receiving the signal source, wherein the second element has a second impedance value; a nib section for receiving the force; the control unit is used for respectively calculating a first current value I1 and a second current value I2 returned by the first element and the second element, and calculating the stress according to the proportional value of the first current value I1 and the second current value I2; and the communication unit is used for transmitting the stress value.

In one embodiment, the communication unit further comprises a wireless communication unit for transmitting the stress value. In another embodiment, the communication unit further comprises a wired communication unit for transmitting the stress value.

In one embodiment, the signal source is the wired communication unit. In one embodiment, the signal source is a signal received by the nib.

In one embodiment, the ratio of the first current value I1 to the second current value I2 is related to the force. Wherein the ratio value may be one of: I1/I2, I2/I1, I1(I1+ I2), I2/(I1+ I2), (I1-I2)/(I1+ I2), or (I2-I1)/(I1+ I2).

In one embodiment, the first impedance value is equal to the second impedance value when the force is zero.

In an embodiment, the communicator may further include a third element connected in series with a third switch, wherein the first element is connected in parallel with the third switch and the third element. The above-mentioned communicator may further comprise a fourth element connected in series with a fourth switch, wherein the first element is connected in parallel with the fourth switch and the fourth element. In one embodiment, the force is zero when the ratio value is equal to or falls within the first range of values. When the proportional value is equal to or falls within a second range value, the third switch is closed, and the first element and the third element are connected in parallel. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a third range value, the fourth switch is closed, and the first element and the fourth element are connected in parallel. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a fourth range value, the third switch and the fourth switch are closed, and the first element, the third element and the fourth switch are connected in parallel.

In another embodiment, the above-mentioned communicator may further comprise a third element connected in series with a third switch, wherein the second element is connected in parallel with the third switch and the third element. The above-mentioned communicator may further comprise a fourth element connected in series with a fourth switch, wherein the second element is connected in parallel with the fourth switch and the fourth element. When the proportional value is equal to or falls within a fifth range value, the third switch is closed, and the second element and the third element are connected in parallel. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a sixth range value, the fourth switch is closed, and the second element and the fourth element are connected in parallel. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a seventh range value, the third switch and the fourth switch are closed, and the second element is connected in parallel with the third element and the fourth switch.

In one embodiment, the control unit further determines the state of the third switch according to the proportional value. In another embodiment, the control unit further determines the state of the fourth switch according to the ratio.

In an embodiment, the communication unit is further configured to communicate the state of the third switch. In another embodiment, the communication unit is further configured to communicate the state of the fourth switch.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission method for controlling a transmitter, the transmitter including a first element, a second element, and a tip segment, the transmission method including: changing the first impedance value of the first element according to the stress received by the pen point section; providing a signal source to the first element and the second element; calculating a first current value I1 and a second current value I2 returned by the first element and the second element respectively; calculating the stress according to the ratio of the first current value I1 to the second current value I2; and transmitting the stress value.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a touch system for determining a stress received by a transmitter, including: a transmitter; and a host, wherein the communicator further comprises: the first element is used for receiving a signal source, wherein a first impedance value of the first element changes according to stress; a second element for receiving the signal source, wherein the second element has a second impedance value; a nib section for receiving the force; the control unit is used for respectively calculating a first current value I1 and a second current value I2 returned by the first element and the second element, and calculating the stress according to the proportional value of the first current value I1 and the second current value I2; and the communication unit is used for transmitting the stress value to the host, and the host also comprises a host communication unit for receiving the stress value.

In one embodiment, the touch system further includes a touch panel and a touch processing device, wherein the touch processing device is connected to the touch panel, and is configured to detect a relative position between the transmitter and the touch panel and transmit the relative position to the host.

In an embodiment, the control unit further determines a state of the third switch according to the ratio. In another embodiment, the control unit further determines the state of the fourth switch according to the proportional value. In an embodiment, the communication unit is configured to transmit the state of the third switch. In another embodiment, the communication unit is further configured to communicate the state of the fourth switch. In one embodiment, the host communication unit is configured to receive a state of the third switch. In another embodiment, the host communication unit is configured to receive a status of the fourth switch.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: a first input for receiving signals having a first group of frequencies; a second input for receiving signals having a second group of frequencies; and an output end for sending out an electrical signal, wherein the proportional value of the first signal strength M1 of the first frequency group and the second signal strength M2 of the second frequency group in the electrical signal is related to the force.

In one embodiment, the ratio may be one of the following: M1/M2, M2/M1, M1(M1+ M2), M2/(M1+ M2), (M1-M2)/(M1+ M2), or (M2-M1)/(M1+ M2).

In one embodiment, the force sensor further comprises a third switch. In one embodiment, the force is zero when the ratio value is equal to or falls within the first range of values. When the proportional value is equal to or falls within the second range value, the third switch is closed.

In another embodiment, the force sensor further comprises a fourth switch. When the proportional value is equal to or falls within the third range value, the fourth switch is closed. When the ratio value is equal to or falls within a fourth range value, the third switch and the fourth switch are closed.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: an input for receiving a signal source; a first output terminal for outputting a signal having a first current value I1; and a second output terminal for outputting a signal having a second current value I2, wherein the proportional value of the first current value I1 and the second current value I2 is related to the force.

In one embodiment, the ratio may be one of the following: I1/I2, I2/I1, I1(I1+ I2), I2/(I1+ I2), (I1-I2)/(I1+ I2), or (I2-I1)/(I1+ I2).

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: a first circuit board including a first metal plate for receiving signals of a first frequency group; a second circuit board, parallel to the first circuit board, including a second metal plate and a third metal plate, which are not in contact with each other, the third metal plate being configured to receive signals of a second frequency group, the second metal plate being configured to output electrical signals, wherein the second metal plate is located between the first metal plate and the third metal plate; and the inclined plane mechanism is used for bending the first circuit board to the upper part of the first circuit board.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: a first circuit board including a first metal plate for outputting a signal having a first current value; a second circuit board, parallel to the first circuit board, including a second metal plate and a third metal plate, which are not in contact with each other, the third metal plate being used for outputting a signal having a second current value, the second metal plate being used for inputting a signal source, wherein the second metal plate is located between the first metal plate and the third metal plate; and the inclined plane mechanism is used for bending the first circuit board to the upper part of the first circuit board.

In one embodiment, a portion of the first metal plate is located where the first circuit board is bent.

In one embodiment, the force sensor further comprises a support member for supporting the first circuit board.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate, the second metal plate and the third metal plate are parallel to each other. In another embodiment, the distance between the first metal plate and the second metal plate is equal to the distance between the second metal plate and the third metal plate.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate form a first capacitor, and the second metal plate and the third metal plate form a second capacitor. In another embodiment, the impedance values of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are the same under the condition that the first circuit board is not bent.

In one embodiment, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are both printed circuit boards.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: the first circuit board comprises a first metal plate and a third metal plate which are not in contact with each other and are respectively used for receiving the signals of the first frequency group and the signals of the second frequency group; a second circuit board parallel to the first circuit board and including a second metal plate for outputting an electrical signal; and the inclined plane mechanism is used for bending the first circuit board to the upper part of the first circuit board.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: the first circuit board comprises a first metal plate and a third metal plate which are not in contact with each other and are respectively used for outputting signals with a first current value and a second current value; the second circuit board is parallel to the first circuit board and comprises a second metal plate for inputting a signal source; and the inclined plane mechanism is used for bending the first circuit board to the upper part of the first circuit board.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate are parallel to each other, and the second metal plate and the third metal plate are parallel to each other. In another embodiment, the distance between the first metal plate and the second metal plate is equal to the distance between the second metal plate and the third metal plate.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: the first circuit board comprises a first metal plate and a third metal plate which are not in contact with each other and are respectively used for receiving the signals of the first frequency group and the signals of the second frequency group; a second circuit board parallel to the first circuit board and including a second metal plate for outputting an electrical signal; a third circuit board, parallel to the second circuit board, including a fourth metal plate and a fifth metal plate which are not in contact with each other, for receiving the signals of the first frequency group and the signals of the second frequency group respectively; and the inclined plane mechanism is used for bending the first circuit board to the upper part of the first circuit board and bending the third circuit board to the lower part of the third circuit board.

In one embodiment, the force sensor further comprises a first support element for supporting the first circuit board. In another embodiment, the force sensor further comprises a second support element for supporting the third circuit board.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate are parallel to each other, the second metal plate and the third metal plate are parallel to each other, the fourth metal plate and the second metal plate are parallel to each other, and the second metal plate and the fifth metal plate are parallel to each other. In another embodiment, the distance between the first metal plate and the second metal plate is equal to the distance between the second metal plate and the third metal plate, and the distance between the fourth metal plate and the second metal plate is equal to the distance between the second metal plate and the fifth metal plate.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate is located above the fourth metal plate. In another embodiment, the third metal plate is positioned above the fifth metal plate.

In one embodiment, the area of the first metal plate is equal to the area of the fourth metal plate. In another embodiment, the area of the third metal plate is equal to the area of the fifth metal plate.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate form a first capacitor, the second metal plate and the third metal plate form a second capacitor, the fourth metal plate and the second metal plate form a third capacitor, and the second metal plate and the fifth metal plate form a fourth capacitor. In another embodiment, the impedance values of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are the same under the condition that the first circuit board is not bent. In another embodiment, the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor have the same impedance value when the third circuit board is not bent. In a further embodiment, the first capacitor and the third capacitor have the same impedance value, and the second capacitor and the fourth capacitor have the same impedance value.

In one embodiment, the first circuit board, the second circuit board, and the third circuit board are all printed circuit boards.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: a first circuit board including a first metal plate for receiving signals of a first frequency group; the second circuit board is parallel to the first circuit board and comprises a second metal plate, a third metal plate, a fourth metal plate and a fifth metal plate which are not in contact with each other and are arranged in parallel in sequence, wherein the third metal plate and the fourth metal plate are used for receiving signals of a second frequency group, and the second metal plate and the fifth metal plate are electrically coupled with each other and are used for outputting electric signals; a third circuit board including a sixth metal plate for receiving the signals of the first frequency group, wherein the second circuit board is sandwiched between the first circuit board and the third circuit board; and the inclined plane mechanism is used for bending the first circuit board to the upper part of the first circuit board and bending the third circuit board to the lower part of the third circuit board.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate are parallel to each other, the second metal plate and the third metal plate are parallel to each other, the fourth metal plate and the fifth metal plate are parallel to each other, and the fifth metal plate and the sixth metal plate are parallel to each other. In another embodiment, the distance between the first metal plate and the second metal plate is equal to the distance between the second metal plate and the third metal plate, and the distance between the fourth metal plate and the fifth metal plate is equal to the distance between the fifth metal plate and the sixth metal plate.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate is located above the sixth metal plate.

In one embodiment, the area of the first metal plate is equal to the area of the sixth metal plate. In another embodiment, the area of the second metal plate is equal to the area of the fifth metal plate. In a further embodiment, the area of the third metal plate is equal to the area of the fourth metal plate.

In an embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate form a first capacitor, the second metal plate and the third metal plate form a second capacitor, the fourth metal plate and the fifth metal plate form a third capacitor, and the fifth metal plate and the sixth metal plate form a fourth capacitor. In another embodiment, the impedance values of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are the same under the condition that the first circuit board is not bent. In another embodiment, the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor have the same impedance value when the third circuit board is not bent. In a further embodiment, the impedance values of the first capacitor and the fourth capacitor are the same, and the impedance values of the second capacitor and the third capacitor are the same.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: the first metal plate, the second metal plate and the third metal plate are arranged in parallel in sequence without contacting each other, wherein the first metal plate is used for receiving signals of a first frequency group, the third metal plate is used for receiving signals of a second frequency group, the second metal plate is used for outputting electric signals, and one end of the second metal plate can be stressed to bend.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: the signal processing device comprises a first metal plate, a second metal plate and a third metal plate which are not in contact with each other and are arranged in parallel in sequence, wherein the first metal plate is used for outputting a signal with a first current value, the third metal plate is used for outputting a signal with a second current value, the second metal plate is used for inputting a signal source, and one end of the second metal plate can be stressed to bend.

In one embodiment, the distance between the first metal plate and the second metal plate is equal to the distance between the second metal plate and the third metal plate.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate form a first capacitor, and the second metal plate and the third metal plate form a second capacitor. In another embodiment, the impedance values of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are the same under the condition that the second metal plate is not bent.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: the device comprises a first metal plate, a second metal plate and a third metal plate which are not in contact with each other and are sequentially arranged in parallel, wherein the first metal plate is used for outputting an electric signal, the second metal plate is used for receiving a signal of a first frequency group, the third metal plate is used for receiving a signal of a second frequency group, and one end of the first metal plate can be stressed to bend.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a force sensor, including: the signal processing device comprises a first metal plate, a second metal plate and a third metal plate which are not in contact with each other and are arranged in parallel in sequence, wherein the first metal plate is used for inputting a signal source, the second metal plate is used for outputting a signal with a first current value, the third metal plate is used for outputting a signal with a second current value, and one end of the first metal plate can be stressed to bend.

In one embodiment, the first metal plate and the second metal plate form a first capacitor, and the second metal plate and the third metal plate form a second capacitor. In another embodiment, the impedance values of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are the same under the condition that the first metal plate is not bent.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter comprising: a movable element for moving along the axial direction of the transmitter for a stroke; an insulating substance for a rear end of the movable element; and a conductor located at the rear end of the insulating material for forming a force sensing capacitance with the movable element and the insulating material.

In one embodiment, the communicator further comprises a tip section at the front end of the movable element. In one embodiment, the stylus tip section is a conductor electrically coupled to the movable element. In another embodiment, the nib segment is configured to emit an electrical signal, the signal strength of a frequency group of the electrical signal being related to the impedance value of the force-sensing capacitor.

In one embodiment, the transmitter further comprises an elastic element and a housing, wherein the elastic element is used for providing elastic force between the movable element and the housing, so that the movable element moves to the front end of the stroke when being subjected to the elastic force.

In one embodiment, the insulating material is an insulating film, and the conductor includes a compressible conductor and a conductor base. In another embodiment, the insulating substance is a compressible insulating material.

In one embodiment, the contact surface of the insulating material and the conductor comprises one of the following: a single bevel, a plurality of raised surfaces, a conical bevel, and a single raised surface. In another embodiment, the contact surface of the conductor and the insulating material comprises one of the following: a single bevel, a plurality of raised surfaces, a conical bevel, and a single raised surface.

In one embodiment, the insulating substance and the conductor are located within the interior chamber of the housing. In another embodiment, the inner chamber is cylindrical.

In one embodiment, the movable element comprises a front movable element and a rear movable element, wherein the front movable element is in contact with and electrically coupled to the tip section.

In one embodiment, the communicator further comprises a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is electrically coupled to the conductor through a substrate wire, and the circuit board is electrically coupled to the movable element through a movable element wire. In another embodiment, the movable element is wire bonded to the resilient element.

In one embodiment, the flexible element does not surround the movable element. In another embodiment, the substrate wire does not surround the conductor.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a circuit switch, which includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, and a third circuit board, which are parallel to each other and sequentially arranged; and the first end of the first circuit board and the first end of the third circuit board respectively abut against the two inclined planes of the double-inclined-plane device, the first end of the second circuit board is not contacted with the double-inclined-plane device, the first end of the second circuit board comprises a circuit, and the second point and the third point above and below the circuit are respectively short-circuited and electrically coupled with the first point of the first circuit board and the fourth point of the third circuit board.

In an embodiment, when the dual-slope device moves toward the second circuit board, the first circuit board and the third circuit board are pressed by the dual-slope device to bend upward and downward respectively, so that the first point and the second point are open-circuited and not electrically coupled, and the third point and the fourth point are open-circuited and not electrically coupled.

In one embodiment, the first point is connected in parallel to a first port and a high potential, the fourth point is connected to a low potential, the first port is at a low potential when the first point and the second point are short-circuited and the third point and the fourth point are short-circuited, and the first port is at a high potential when the first point and the second point are open-circuited or the third point and the fourth point are open-circuited.

In one embodiment, the dual ramp device is connected to the tip section of the communicator.

In one embodiment, the circuit is located at the first end edge of the second circuit board.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a circuit switch, which includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, and a third circuit board, which are parallel to each other and sequentially arranged; and a double-inclined-plane device, wherein the first end of the first circuit board and the first end of the third circuit board respectively abut against the two inclined planes of the double-inclined-plane device, the first end of the second circuit board is not contacted with the double-inclined-plane device, the first end of the second circuit board comprises a circuit, and a second point on the circuit is short-circuited and electrically coupled with the first point of the first circuit board.

In an embodiment, when the dual-slope device moves towards the second circuit board, the first circuit board and the third circuit board are respectively bent upwards and downwards under the pressure of the dual-slope device, so that the first point and the second point are open-circuited and are not electrically coupled.

In one embodiment, the first point is connected in parallel to a first port and a high potential, the second point is connected to a low potential, the first port is at a low potential when the first point and the second point are short-circuited, and the first port is at a high potential when the first point and the second point are open-circuited.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a touch pen, including: the pen comprises a control unit, a pen point section and a circuit switch, wherein the circuit switch comprises a first circuit board, a second circuit board and a third circuit board which are parallel to each other and are sequentially arranged; and a double-bevel device connected to the pen point section, wherein the first end of the first circuit board and the first end of the third circuit board respectively abut against two bevels of the double-bevel device, the first end of the second circuit board is not in contact with the double-bevel device, the first end of the second circuit board comprises a circuit, the second point and the third point above and below the circuit are respectively short-circuited and electrically coupled with the first point of the first circuit board and the fourth point of the third circuit board, the first point is connected in parallel to the first port of the control unit and a high potential, the fourth point is connected to a low potential, and the first port is a low potential.

In an embodiment, when the dual-slope device moves toward the second circuit board, the first circuit board and the third circuit board are pressed by the dual-slope device to bend upward and downward respectively, so that the first point and the second point are open-circuited and not electrically coupled, the third point and the fourth point are open-circuited and not electrically coupled, and the first port is at a high potential.

In one embodiment, the control unit is awakened when the first port changes from a low potential to a high potential.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a touch pen, including: the pen comprises a control unit, a pen point section and a circuit switch, wherein the circuit switch comprises a first circuit board, a second circuit board and a third circuit board which are parallel to each other and are sequentially arranged; and a double-bevel device connected to the stylus segment, wherein the first end of the first circuit board and the first end of the third circuit board respectively abut against two bevels of the double-bevel device, the first end of the second circuit board is not in contact with the double-bevel device, the first end of the second circuit board comprises a circuit, the second point of the circuit is short-circuited and electrically coupled with the first point of the first circuit board, the first point is connected in parallel to the first port of the control unit and a high potential, the second point is connected to a low potential, and the first port is a low potential.

In an embodiment, when the dual-slope device moves toward the second circuit board, the first circuit board and the third circuit board are respectively bent upward and downward under the pressure of the dual-slope device, so that the first point and the second point are open-circuited and are not electrically coupled, and the first port is at a high potential.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission method for controlling a transmitter, comprising: emitting a first period electrical signal during a first period of time; and sending out a second period electrical signal in a second period, wherein the first period electrical signal and the second period electrical signal comprise different signal frequency groups.

In one aspect, the invention provides a transmitter for transmitting an electrical signal during a first time period; and sending out a second period electrical signal in a second period, wherein the first period electrical signal and the second period electrical signal comprise different signal frequency groups.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a touch system, including: the touch control device comprises an emitter, a touch control panel and a touch control processing device connected with the touch control panel, and is used for detecting the emitter according to a first time interval electric signal and a second time interval electric signal, wherein the emitter is used for emitting the first time interval electric signal in a first time interval; and sending out the second time interval electric signal in a second time interval, wherein the first time interval electric signal and the second time interval electric signal comprise different signal frequency groups.

In an embodiment, the signal frequency group includes signals of one or more frequencies.

In one embodiment, the first time period is after the beacon signal is detected by the transmitter. In another embodiment, there is a first delay time between the detection period of the beacon signal and the first period.

In one embodiment, there is a second delay time between the first time period and the second time period.

In one embodiment, the second period of time is followed by a third delay time.

In one embodiment, an interference signal is detected before the beacon signal is detected by the transmitter. In another embodiment, the interference signal includes a signal having a frequency in synchronization with the first time period electrical signal and the second time period electrical signal.

Referring to the first table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section of the transmitter does not contact an object, the first signal source and the second signal source of the transmitter simultaneously transmit the same signal frequency group.

Referring to the first table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section is not in contact with an object and the first switch of the communicator is open, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit a same first signal frequency group, and when the pen tip section is not in contact with an object and the first switch is short-circuited, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit a same second signal frequency group in the first time period, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the first table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section is not in contact with an object and the second switch of the transmitter is open, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit the same first signal frequency group, and when the pen tip section is not in contact with an object and the second switch is short-circuited, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit the same third signal frequency group in the second time period, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the third signal frequency group.

Referring to the second table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section contacts an object, the first signal source and the second signal source of the communicator respectively emit different signal frequency groups in the second time period and the first time period.

Referring to the second table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip contacts an object and the first switch of the transmitter is open, the second signal source is enabled to send out a first signal frequency group in the first time period, and when the pen tip contacts an object and the first switch is short, the second signal source is enabled to send out a second signal frequency group in the first time period, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the second table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip contacts an object and the second switch of the transmitter is open, the first signal source is enabled to send out a third signal frequency group in the second time period, and when the pen tip contacts an object and the second switch is short-circuited, the first signal source is enabled to send out the second signal frequency group in the second time period, wherein the third signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

In one embodiment, the ratio of the first signal strength M1 to the second signal strength M2 emitted by the first signal source and the second signal source in the second time interval and the first time interval respectively corresponds to the stress of the transmitter.

In one embodiment, the signaling method further comprises causing the ring electrode to emit a zero-period electrical signal during a zero-period, wherein the zero-period is after the beacon signal is detected by the transmitter. In another embodiment, there is a zero-th delay time between the detection period of the beacon signal and the zero-th period.

In one embodiment, the ring electrode does not emit an electrical signal during the first time period and the second time period.

In one embodiment, the zero period electrical signal is different from the first period electrical signal and the second period electrical signal in a signal frequency group.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission method for controlling a transmitter, comprising: emitting a first period electrical signal during a first period of time; and sending out a second period electrical signal in a second period, wherein the first period electrical signal and the second period electrical signal comprise the same signal frequency group.

In one aspect, the invention provides a transmitter for transmitting an electrical signal during a first time period; and sending out a second period electrical signal in a second period, wherein the first period electrical signal and the second period electrical signal comprise the same signal frequency group.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a touch system, including: the touch control device comprises a transmitter, a touch control panel and a touch control processing device connected with the touch control panel, wherein the touch control processing device is used for detecting the transmitter according to a first time interval electric signal and a second time interval electric signal, and the transmitter is used for transmitting the first time interval electric signal in a first time interval; and sending out the second time interval electric signal in a second time interval, wherein the first time interval electric signal and the second time interval electric signal comprise the same signal frequency group.

In one embodiment, the second period of time is followed by a third delay time.

Referring to the third table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section of the transmitter does not contact an object, the first signal source and the second signal source of the transmitter simultaneously transmit the same signal frequency group.

Referring to the third table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section does not contact an object and the first switch of the transmitter is open, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit the same first signal frequency group, and when the pen tip section does not contact an object and the first switch is short-circuited, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit the same second signal frequency group, where the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the third table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section is not in contact with an object and the second switch of the transmitter is open, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit the same first signal frequency group, and when the pen tip section is not in contact with an object and the second switch is short, the first signal source and the second signal source simultaneously transmit the same third signal frequency group, where the first signal frequency group is different from the third signal frequency group.

Referring to the fourth table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip section contacts an object, the first signal source and the second signal source of the communicator respectively emit the same signal frequency group in the second time period and the first time period.

Referring to the fourth table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip contacts an object and the first switch of the transmitter is open, the second signal source is enabled to send out a first signal frequency group in the first time period, and when the pen tip contacts an object and the first switch is short, the second signal source is enabled to send out a second signal frequency group in the first time period, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the fourth table, in an embodiment, when the pen tip contacts an object and the second switch of the transmitter is open, the first signal source is enabled to send out a third signal frequency group in the second time period, and when the pen tip contacts an object and the second switch is short-circuited, the first signal source is enabled to send out the second signal frequency group in the second time period, where the third signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

In one embodiment, the zero period electrical signal has the same signal frequency group as the first period electrical signal and the second period electrical signal.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a detection method for detecting a transmitter, including: detecting a first-period electric signal sent by the sender in a first period; and detecting a second interval electrical signal sent by the sender in a second interval, wherein the first interval electrical signal and the second interval electrical signal comprise different signal frequency groups.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a touch processing device for detecting an emitter, which is used to connect a touch panel, the touch panel includes a plurality of sensing points formed by a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes and their overlapping positions, the touch processing device is used to detect a first time period electrical signal emitted by the emitter in a first time period; and detecting a second interval electrical signal sent by the sender in a second interval, wherein the first interval electrical signal and the second interval electrical signal comprise different signal frequency groups.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a touch system, including: the touch control processing device is connected with the touch control panel and is used for detecting the sender according to the first time interval electric signal and the second time interval electric signal, wherein the sender is used for sending the first time interval electric signal in a first time interval; and sending out a second period electrical signal in a second period, wherein the first period electrical signal and the second period electrical signal comprise different signal frequency groups.

In one embodiment, the first time period is after the touch panel sends a beacon signal. In another embodiment, there is a first delay time between the sending period of the beacon signal and the first period.

In one embodiment, the second period of time is followed by a third delay time. In one embodiment, the second period of time is followed by other detection steps.

In one embodiment, a jamming signal is detected before the beacon signal is sent out. In another embodiment, an interference signal is detected after the first period. In a further embodiment, an interference signal is detected after the second period. In another embodiment, the interference signal includes a signal having a frequency in synchronization with the first time period electrical signal and the second time period electrical signal.

Referring to table one, in one embodiment, when the transmitter simultaneously transmits a single signal frequency group, it is determined that the tip section of the transmitter does not contact the object.

Referring to the first table, in an embodiment, when the transmitter transmits the same first signal frequency group in the first time period, it is determined that the pen tip does not contact the object and the first switch of the transmitter is open, and when the transmitter simultaneously transmits the same second signal frequency group in the first time period, it is determined that the pen tip does not contact the object and the first switch is short, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the first table, in an embodiment, when the transmitter transmits the same first signal frequency group in the second time period, it is determined that the pen tip does not contact the object and the second switch of the transmitter is open, and when the transmitter simultaneously transmits the same third signal frequency group in the second time period, it is determined that the pen tip does not contact the object and the second switch is short, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the third signal frequency group.

Referring to the second table, in an embodiment, when the first time interval electrical signal and the second time interval electrical signal include different signal frequency groups, it is determined that the pen tip segment contacts the object.

Referring to the second table, in an embodiment, when the transmitter transmits a first signal frequency group in the first time period, it is determined that the pen tip contacts the object and the first switch of the transmitter is open, and when the transmitter transmits a second signal frequency group in the first time period, it is determined that the pen tip contacts the object and the first switch of the transmitter is short, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the second table, in an embodiment, when the transmitter transmits a third signal frequency group in the second time interval, it is determined that the pen tip contacts the object and the second switch of the transmitter is open, and when the transmitter transmits the second signal frequency group in the second time interval, it is determined that the pen tip contacts the object and the second switch is short, where the third signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises: calculating the ratio of the first signal intensity M1 to the second signal intensity M2 of the first time interval electrical signal and the second time interval electrical signal respectively; and calculating the stress of the sender according to the proportional value.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises detecting a zero period electrical signal from the transmitter during a zero period, wherein the zero period is after the beacon signal is transmitted. In another embodiment, there is a zero-th delay time between the sending period of the beacon signal and the zero-th period.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a detection method for detecting a transmitter, including: detecting a first-period electric signal sent by the sender in a first period; and detecting a second interval electrical signal sent by the sender in a second interval, wherein the first interval electrical signal and the second interval electrical signal comprise the same signal frequency group.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a touch processing device for detecting an emitter, which is used to connect a touch panel, the touch panel includes a plurality of sensing points formed by a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes and their overlapping positions, the touch processing device is used to detect a first time period electrical signal emitted by the emitter in a first time period; and detecting a second interval electrical signal sent by the sender in a second interval, wherein the first interval electrical signal and the second interval electrical signal comprise the same signal frequency group.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a touch system, including: the touch control device is used for detecting a first time interval electric signal sent by the sender in a first time interval; and detecting a second interval electrical signal sent by the sender in a second interval, wherein the first interval electrical signal and the second interval electrical signal comprise the same signal frequency group.

In one embodiment, a jamming signal is detected before the beacon signal is sent out. In another embodiment, an interference signal is detected after the first period. In another embodiment, an interference signal is detected after the second period of time. In another embodiment, the interference signal includes a signal having a frequency in synchronization with the first time period electrical signal and the second time period electrical signal.

Referring to the third table, in an embodiment, when the first time interval electrical signal and the second time interval electrical signal have the same single signal frequency group, it is determined that the pen tip of the sender does not contact the object.

Referring to the third table, in an embodiment, when the transmitter transmits a first signal frequency group, it is determined that the pen tip segment does not contact the object and the first switch of the transmitter is open, and when the transmitter transmits a second signal frequency group, it is determined that the pen tip segment does not contact the object and the first switch of the transmitter is short, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the third table, in an embodiment, when the transmitter transmits a first signal frequency group, it is determined that the pen tip segment does not contact the object and the second switch of the transmitter is open, and when the transmitter transmits a third signal frequency group, it is determined that the pen tip segment does not contact the object and the second switch of the transmitter is short, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the third signal frequency group.

Referring to the fourth table, in an embodiment, when the first time-interval electrical signal and the second time-interval electrical signal have the same single signal frequency group, and the ratio of the first signal intensity M1 of the first time-interval electrical signal to the second signal intensity M2 of the second time-interval electrical signal is not within the first range, it is determined that the tip segment of the transmitter contacts the object.

Referring to the fourth table, in an embodiment, when the communicator sends a first signal frequency group in the first time period and the ratio is not within the first range, it is determined that the pen tip contacts an object and the first switch of the communicator is open, and when the communicator sends a second signal frequency group in the first time period and the ratio is not within the first range, it is determined that the pen tip contacts an object and the first switch of the communicator is short, wherein the first signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

Referring to the fourth table, in an embodiment, when the communicator sends a third signal frequency group in the second time interval and the ratio is not within the first range, it is determined that the pen tip contacts the object and the second switch of the communicator is open, and when the communicator sends the second signal frequency group in the second time interval and the ratio is not within the first range, it is determined that the pen tip contacts the object and the second switch of the communicator is short, wherein the third signal frequency group is different from the second signal frequency group.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter comprising: a nib section; and the annular electrode surrounds the pen point section, and the pen point section is not electrically coupled with the annular electrode.

In one embodiment, the ring electrode comprises a plurality of unconnected electrodes.

In one embodiment, the ring electrode and the tip section emit electrical signals simultaneously during the zeroth interval. In another embodiment, during the first time period, the tip segment emits an electrical signal, but the ring electrode does not emit an electrical signal. In another embodiment, the first time period is after the zero time period.

In one embodiment, the electrical signals from the ring electrode and the tip section comprise the same set of signal frequencies. In another embodiment, the ring electrode and the tip section emit different signal frequency groups respectively.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting a position of an oscillator, wherein the oscillator includes a tip section and a ring electrode surrounding the tip section, and the tip section is not electrically coupled to the ring electrode, the method comprising: detecting electrical signals sent by the annular electrode and the pen point section at the same time in a zero time period; and detecting the electrical signal emitted by the pen point segment in the first time period.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a touch processing device for detecting a position of an emitter, wherein the emitter includes a tip section and a ring electrode surrounding the tip section, the tip section is not electrically coupled to the ring electrode, the touch processing device is connected to a touch panel, the touch panel includes a plurality of sensing points formed by a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes and overlapping positions thereof, and the touch processing device is configured to detect electrical signals simultaneously transmitted by the ring electrode and the tip section at a time zero; and detecting the electrical signal emitted by the pen point segment in the first time period.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a touch system, which includes an oscillator, a touch panel, and a touch processing device connected to the touch panel, wherein the oscillator includes a tip section and a ring electrode surrounding the tip section, the tip section is electrically decoupled from the ring electrode, the touch panel includes a plurality of sensing points formed by a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes and their overlapping portions, and the touch processing device is configured to detect electrical signals simultaneously transmitted by the ring electrode and the tip section at a time zero interval; and detecting the electrical signal emitted by the pen point segment in the first time period.

In one embodiment, the first time period is after the zero time period.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises calculating a first center of gravity position of the transmitter according to the electrical signal detected during the zeroth time period. In another embodiment, the method further comprises calculating a second center of gravity position of the transmitter according to the electrical signal detected in the first time period.

In one embodiment, the surface position of the touch panel contacted by the transmitter is calculated according to the first gravity center position and the second gravity center position, wherein the surface position is a position where the pen tip axis of the transmitter meets the surface layer of the touch panel.

In one embodiment, a display position of the transmitter contacting the touch panel is calculated according to the first center of gravity position and the second center of gravity position, wherein the display position is a position where the center of the pen tip of the transmitter intersects with the display layer of the touch panel.

In one embodiment, the tilt angle of the touch panel contacted by the communicator is calculated according to the first gravity center position and the second gravity center position.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for calculating a position of a surface of a touch panel contacted by a transmitter, the method comprising: receiving a first gravity center position of the transmitter, wherein the first gravity center position is calculated according to electric signals transmitted by a ring electrode and a pen point section of the transmitter; receiving a second center of gravity position of the transmitter, the second center of gravity position being calculated according to the electrical signal transmitted by the nib section; and calculating the surface position according to the first gravity center position and the second gravity center position, wherein the surface position is a position where the center of the nib section of the communicator intersects with the surface layer of the touch panel.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for calculating a display position of a touch panel touched by an initiator, the method comprising: receiving a first gravity center position of the transmitter, wherein the first gravity center position is calculated according to electric signals transmitted by a ring electrode and a pen point section of the transmitter; receiving a second center of gravity position of the transmitter, the second center of gravity position being calculated according to the electrical signal transmitted by the nib section; and calculating the display position according to the first gravity center position and the second gravity center position, wherein the display position is a position where the pen tip section axis of the sender meets the display layer of the touch panel.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for calculating a tilt angle of a touch panel touched by a transmitter, the method comprising: receiving a first gravity center position of the transmitter, wherein the first gravity center position is calculated according to electric signals transmitted by a ring electrode and a pen point section of the transmitter; receiving a second center of gravity position of the transmitter, the second center of gravity position being calculated according to the electrical signal transmitted by the nib section; and calculating the tilt angle according to the first and second barycentric positions.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises calculating the first center of gravity position during the zeroth time period. In another embodiment, calculating the second center of gravity position during the first period of time is also included. In one embodiment, the first time period is after the zero time period. In one embodiment, the ring electrode and the tip section emit different signal frequency groups respectively.

One feature of the present invention is to provide a display method, including: receiving a location of a sender; receiving a tilt angle of the communicator; and determining a display range according to the position and the inclination angle.

In one embodiment, the location comprises one of: a first center of gravity position; a second center of gravity position; a surface location; and a display position, wherein the first gravity center position is calculated according to an electric signal transmitted by the ring-shaped electrode of the transmitter and the nib section, the second gravity center position is calculated according to an electric signal transmitted by the nib section, the surface position is a position where the nib section axis of the transmitter intersects with a surface layer of the touch panel, and the display position is a position where the nib section axis of the transmitter intersects with a display layer of the touch panel. In one embodiment, the ring electrode and the tip section emit different signal frequency groups respectively.

In one embodiment, the display range includes an ellipse. In another embodiment, the location is at one of: the center of the ellipse; one of the foci of the ellipse; and one of the intersection points of the bifocal line of the ellipse and the ellipse. In one embodiment, the on-line direction of the bifocal point of the ellipse corresponds to the tilt angle direction.

In one embodiment, the display area includes a teardrop shape. In another embodiment, the location is at one of: the center of the teardrop shape; the apex of the teardrop shape; and the end points of the teardrop shape. In one embodiment, the tear drop shape direction corresponds to the direction of the tilt angle.

In one embodiment, the direction of the display range corresponds to the direction of the tilt angle. In another embodiment, the size of the display range corresponds to the size of the tilt angle. In a further embodiment, the color of the display range corresponds to one of the following: the magnitude of the angle of inclination; and the direction of the tilt angle.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises receiving a force applied to the transmitter, wherein the size of the display range corresponds to the size of the force.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission method of a transmitter, including: emitting a first electrical signal having a first signal strength when the force sensor of the communicator is not sensing a force; and emitting a second electrical signal having a second signal strength when the force sensor senses a force, wherein the first signal strength is greater than the second signal strength.

In one embodiment, the force sensor comprises a nib section of the communicator.

In one embodiment, the communicator further comprises a ring electrode, wherein the first electrical signal is emitted from the tip section and the ring electrode, and the second electrical signal is emitted from the tip section.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter comprising: a force sensor; and a control module to: when the force sensor does not sense the force, the communicator is enabled to send out a first electric signal with first signal strength; and when the force sensor senses a force, causing the communicator to transmit a second electrical signal having a second signal strength, wherein the first signal strength is greater than the second signal strength.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a wireless spread spectrum communication technique employed by third generation mobile communication services. In wireless communication technology, spread spectrum refers to the bandwidth (bandwidth) consumed by the carrier signal itself to exceed the bandwidth of the content carried by the carrier signal. The use of a carrier signal with a larger bandwidth is more tolerant of interfering noise signals experienced during transmission. One of the spread Spectrum techniques is a Direct Sequence Spreading Spectrum (DSSS) modulation technique. The DSSS modulation technique utilizes a sequence of bits called Pseudo Noise (PN) codes. The bit sequence code or pseudo random number includes a plurality of short-period pulse waves, each pulse wave has a period or chip, and the period of each chip is shorter than that of the data code. In other words, the bandwidth occupied by the pseudo random number is higher than that occupied by the data code. Modulating the data code with lower bandwidth into the pseudo random code with higher bandwidth means that the bandwidth of the modulated carrier signal will be consistent with the bandwidth of the pseudo random code.

In the modulation of the carrier signal, the data code is multiplied by a pseudo random number, which is usually a pseudo random number sequence (pseudo random sequence) usually comprising a combination of 1 and-1. The pseudo random number has the characteristic that when the pseudo random number is multiplied by the pseudo random number, i.e., 1x1 equals 1, -1x-1 equals 1, the pseudo random number is restored to its original value. This step is called de-spreading. In other words, when the receiving end also knows the pseudorandom number sequence, the content code included in the carrier signal can be known only by performing the despreading operation.

Please refer to fig. 30, which is a waveform diagram of the spread spectrum technique. In fig. 30, the uppermost waveform is a data code, the middle waveform is a pseudo random number code, that is, a so-called pseudo random number, and the lowermost waveform is a carrier signal waveform. It can be known that when the potential of the data code is high, the waveform of the carrier signal is exactly opposite to the waveform of the pseudo random number. When the potential of the data code is low, the waveform of the carrier signal is equivalent to the waveform of the pseudo-random number. In other words, when the receiving end compares the carrier signal with the pseudo random number and the waveform is opposite, it can be inferred that the potential of the data code is high. On the contrary, when the carrier signal is the same as the waveform of the pseudo random number, it can be inferred that the potential of the data code is low. Accordingly, the receiving end can push back the data code as long as the pseudo random number is known.

Please refer to fig. 31, which is a variation of the embodiment shown in fig. 1. The touch system 100 further includes a first stylus 111 and/or a second stylus 112. In one embodiment, the touch pens 111 and 112 are active touch pens.

In some embodiments, the

active stylus

111 or 112 may be enabled to encode the sensed values of the sensors on the stylus into the data codes described above. The sensed values of the sensor may include, but are not limited to, the following: the pen body is provided with a pen nib, a pressure value received by the pen nib, a sensing value of whether a button is pressed down, a posture sensing value of a gyroscope, an acceleration sensing value of an accelerometer, a sensing value of battery power, a pen body serial number value, wireless signal strength received by the pen body and the like. Then, the

active stylus

111 or 112 encodes the data code into a carrier signal after spreading according to a certain pseudo-random number. Then, the pen point sends out an electrical signal containing a carrier signal, so that after the touch processing device of the touch screen receives the electrical signal, at least the following information can be obtained: the position of the

active stylus

111 or 112 close to the touch screen, the virtual random number used by the

active stylus

111 or 112, and the content of the aforementioned data codes.

In the above process, the touch processing device 130 at the receiving end must align the received carrier signal with the pseudo random number synchronously to obtain the correct data code. However, when the

active stylus

111 or 112 sends an electrical signal, the touch processing device 130 is not necessarily able to synchronize immediately, and it is difficult to calculate the data code.

The receiving end may generally delay the multiplication operation of the received carrier signal or the local oscillator signal generated by the receiving end with the known pseudo random number for a certain period of time, and then perform the multiplication operation, where the delayed multiplication may be referred to as correlation operation. When the two signals are not synchronized, the calculated values of their associated operations will not exceed the threshold. Conversely, when the two signals are synchronized, the calculated value of their correlation operation will exceed the threshold. When the two signals are not synchronized, the receiving end can repeatedly adjust its delay time until the two signals are synchronized or aligned.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical signal or carrier signal emitted by the active stylus pen may include a signal frame, and the signal frame further includes a preamble and a data code segment following the preamble. The data code segment may be used to communicate the sensed state of a sensor on the stylus. For example, a sensed value such as whether a button on the stylus is pressed or not, or a pressure value sensed by the stylus tip segment may be transmitted.

In a variation of this embodiment, the active touch-

control pens

111 or 112 may transmit the complete signal frame at different time intervals to inform the sensors of the status. In another variation of this embodiment, different active touch pens may have different prefixes and/or pseudo-random numbers, so that the touch processing device 130 can identify and/or distinguish at least two active touch pens that are simultaneously proximate to the touch screen 120. For example, the first active stylus 111 emits a first preamble modulated by a first pseudorandom number, and the second active stylus 112 emits a second preamble modulated by a second pseudorandom number. Then, the touch processing device 130 demodulates or despreads the received signal according to the first pseudo random number and the second pseudo random number, respectively, and determines whether the first preamble and/or the second preamble are received.

When the touch processing device 130 knows that the electrical signal includes two prefixes, it can determine that the first active stylus 111 and the second active stylus 112 are close to the touch screen 120 according to the first pseudorandom number and the second pseudorandom number respectively corresponding thereto. Furthermore, since the touch processing device 130 knows the timing of the first pseudorandom number and the timing of the second pseudorandom number, the timing can be synchronized with the signal frames sent by the first active stylus 111 and the second active stylus 112, respectively, and then the data code segment after the signal frame is decoded.

In one embodiment of the present invention, for the purpose of fast synchronization, multiple or all of the second electrodes 122 are connected to the same line or the same channel (channel), which may be referred to as a synchronization line or a synchronization channel herein. The touch processing device 130 is responsible for measuring the synchronization line or the synchronization channel and synchronizing to the known preamble.

It can be understood by those skilled in the art that when the pseudo random number and the preamble to be transmitted are known to the touch processing device 130, the carrier signal can be synchronized or the phase shift between the carrier signal and the local oscillation signal can be found by using the conventional technique. When the phase difference between the two signals is confirmed, the first electrode 121 receiving the electrical signal can be used to decode the subsequent data code segment, so as to know the state of the sensor transmitted by the

active stylus

111 or 112.

In an embodiment of the invention, the decoding step may decode the subsequent data code segment only for one carrier signal received by the first electrode 121. The carrier signal of the first electrode 121 for decoding is the largest signal quantity of all the first electrodes 121 and/or the second electrodes 122.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the data code segment decoding step may be performed on the carrier signals received by the plurality of first electrodes 121, and the obtained data codes should be consistent. When there is inconsistency, most of the same data codes can be taken as the data codes.

In addition, the most relevant one of the carrier signals received by the first electrodes 121, which is adjusted by the obtained phase difference, should be the first electrode 121 with the smallest noise, which is usually the closest to the proximity position of the

active stylus

111 or 112. Accordingly, the positions of the

active stylus

111 or 112 and each first electrode 121 can be calculated according to the deviation value of the plurality of correlation values of the carrier signal received by each first electrode 121 after the phase difference adjustment. In other words, the coordinates of the active stylus 111 on the second axis can also be calculated.

Fig. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a method 3200 for calculating a spread spectrum signal according to an embodiment of the invention. The touch processing device 130 of fig. 31 can implement the process of fig. 32, whether implemented in software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. It is noted that the step numbers in fig. 32 do not affect the order in which the steps are executed unless there is a causal relationship between the steps. Other steps not relevant to the present invention may also be inserted between the steps.

Step 3210: at least two of the plurality of second electrodes are connected as a synchronization channel. The touch processing device 130 can use an analog switch or a digital adder to implement the step. In one variation, the synchronization channel connects all of the second electrodes.

Step 3220: the first pseudo-random number is used for resolving a first preamble of a first signal frame of a signal received by the synchronous channel so as to obtain first synchronous information.

Step 3230: decoding a first data code of the signal received by the at least one first electrode, the first data code being subsequent to the first preamble code, using the first synchronization information and the first pseudorandom number.

In a variation, the electrical signal for resolving the first data code is from the first electrode receiving the largest amount of electrical signal. In another variation, the electrical signals for resolving the first data code are from a plurality of the first electrodes. In a derivative variation, the method further comprises: calculating a plurality of deviation values of the signal correlation values of the plurality of first electrodes according to the first synchronization information; and calculating the position of the first active stylus on the second axis according to the deviation values.

Step 3240: and resolving a second preamble of a second signal frame of the signal received by the synchronization channel by using a second pseudo-random number to obtain second synchronization information.

Step 3250: and decoding a second data code following the second preamble in the signal received by the at least one first electrode according to the second synchronization information and the second pseudorandom number.

In a variation, the electrical signal for resolving the second data code is from the first electrode receiving the largest amount of electrical signal. In another variation, the electrical signals for resolving the second data code are from a plurality of the first electrodes. In a derivative variation, the method further comprises: calculating a plurality of deviation values of the signal correlation values of the plurality of first electrodes according to the second synchronization information; and calculating the position of the second active stylus on the second axis according to the deviation values.

One advantage of the present invention is that the touch processing device 130 can rapidly synchronize the electrical signal modulated by DSSS within a signal frame and calculate the data code segment emitted by the active stylus 111 and/or 112. Another advantage of the present invention is that when multiple active touch-

control pens

111 and 112 are operating simultaneously, the active touch-control pens can be enabled to send out signals at the same time. As long as the active touch pens use different pseudo-random numbers, even if they send out signals simultaneously, the touch processing device 130 can distinguish the signal frame and the data code sent out by them from the received signals.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for resolving a spread spectrum signal, which is suitable for a touch screen, the touch screen including a plurality of first electrodes parallel to a first axis and a plurality of second electrodes parallel to a second axis, the method comprising: connecting at least two of the plurality of second electrodes as a synchronization channel; resolving a first preamble of a first signal frame of a signal received by the synchronization channel by using a first pseudorandom code to obtain first synchronization information; and decoding a first data code following the first preamble in at least one signal received by the first electrode by using the first synchronization information and the first pseudorandom number.

In a specific embodiment, wherein the first signal frame is from a first active stylus proximate to the touch screen, the first data code comprises at least one of the following types of information: the pressure on the pen tip; a sensing value of whether the button is pressed; a posture sensing value of the gyroscope; an acceleration sensing value of the accelerometer; a sensed value of battery charge; the serial number of the pen body and the running water; and the intensity of the wireless signal received by the pen body.

In a particular embodiment, the synchronization channel connects all of the second electrodes.

In a specific embodiment, the electrical signal for resolving the first data code is from the first electrode receiving the largest amount of electrical signal.

In a specific embodiment, the electrical signals for resolving the first data codes are from a plurality of the first electrodes. The method of resolving a spread spectrum signal further comprises: calculating a plurality of deviation values of the signal correlation values of the plurality of first electrodes according to the first synchronization information; and calculating the position of the first active stylus on the second axis according to the deviation values.

In a particular embodiment, the method of resolving a spread spectrum signal further comprises: resolving a second preamble of a second signal frame of the signal received by the synchronization channel by using a second pseudo-random number to obtain second synchronization information; and decoding a second data code subsequent to the second preamble in the signal received by the at least one first electrode by using the second synchronization information and the second pseudorandom number, wherein the second signal frame is from a second active stylus proximate to the touch screen.

In a specific embodiment, the first signal frame and the second signal frame are at least partially simultaneously present in the signal received by the first electrode.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a touch system for resolving a spread spectrum signal, comprising: a touch screen comprising a plurality of first electrodes parallel to a first axis and a plurality of second electrodes parallel to a second axis; and a touch processing device connected to the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, the touch processing device being configured to: connecting at least two of the plurality of second electrodes as a synchronization channel; resolving a first preamble of a first signal frame of a signal received by the synchronization channel by using a first pseudorandom code to obtain first synchronization information; and decoding a first data code following the first preamble in at least one signal received by the first electrode by using the first synchronization information and the first pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a touch processing device for resolving a spread spectrum signal, for connecting a plurality of first electrodes parallel to a first axis and a plurality of second electrodes parallel to a second axis on a touch screen, the touch processing device being configured to: connecting at least two of the plurality of second electrodes as a synchronization channel; resolving a first preamble of a first signal frame of a signal received by the synchronization channel by using a first pseudorandom code to obtain first synchronization information; and decoding a first data code following the first preamble in at least one signal received by the first electrode by using the first synchronization information and the first pseudorandom number.

In a specific embodiment, the synchronization channel connects all of the second electrodes.

In a specific embodiment, the electrical signals for resolving the first data codes are from a plurality of the first electrodes. The touch processing device is further configured to: calculating a plurality of deviation values of the signal correlation values of the plurality of first electrodes according to the first synchronization information; and calculating the position of the first active stylus on the second axis according to the deviation values.

In a particular embodiment, the touch processing device is further configured to: resolving a second preamble of a second signal frame of the signal received by the synchronization channel by using a second pseudo-random number to obtain second synchronization information; and decoding a second data code subsequent to the second preamble in the signal received by the at least one first electrode by using the second synchronization information and the second pseudorandom number, wherein the second signal frame is from a second active stylus proximate to the touch screen.

Please refer to fig. 33, which is a block diagram illustrating an active stylus 111 according to an embodiment of the invention. The active stylus 111 may include a controller 3310, a frequency signal module 3320, a battery 3330, the first element 221 having a first impedance Z1, the second element 222 having a second impedance Z2, and a tip segment 230. The controller 3310 is used to generate two different pseudorandom code encoded

signals

3311 and 3312 simultaneously and transmit them to the first component 221 and the second component 222, respectively. The controller 3310 may include analog and digital circuits, a signal processor, a general purpose computing processor, and volatile or non-volatile memory for storing instructions and data required by the processor. The signal processor and/or processor may execute one or more instruction sets, such as the ARM instruction set, the Intel 8051 instruction set, and the like.

The battery 3330 may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable. The controller 3310 may include charging circuitry for the rechargeable battery 3330. The power stored in the battery 3330 is used to supply the controller 3310 and the operation of the frequency signal module 3320. The clock signal module 3320 may be any type of oscillator that outputs one or more clock signals to the controller 3310. The oscillator may be, for example, a quartz oscillator, a crystal oscillator (XO), a temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO), an oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO), or a voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO). The controller 3310 may include a frequency divider or a frequency multiplier to generate a frequency signal required for the data signal or the carrier signal. As shown in fig. 30, the data code is slower in frequency than the carrier signal. The frequency signal module 3320 is used to provide one or more frequency signals to the encoding process.

A plurality of pseudo-random numbers are stored within the controller 3310. The first pseudorandom number corresponds to signal 3311 and the second pseudorandom number corresponds to signal 3312. All available pseudorandom numbers are orthogonal to each other. Meaning that any two pseudorandom numbers are orthogonal.

In one embodiment, the mapping relationship between the signal 3311 and the pseudorandom number is configurable and stored in the controller 3310. For example, 10 pseudo-random numbers may be stored in some active stylus 111. Each active stylus 111 may be configured to use a set of two pseudo-random numbers. Therefore, the touch processing device 130 can distinguish five sets of pseudo random numbers simultaneously transmitted from the touch pens 111. The position of each stylus 111 may be determined based on electrical signals emitted by nib segment 230.

To provide an interface for setting mapping relationships, the stylus 111 may include a physical man-machine interface for input and output. In one example, the stylus 111 may include visual and/or audio indicators to display the set of pseudo-random numbers used by the controller 3310. The visual or audio indicators are connected to and controlled by the controller 3310.

The visual effect indicator may comprise a plurality of light bulbs, light emitting diodes, or equivalent devices, wherein each light is associated with each set of pseudo-random numbers. In other examples, the visual effect indicator may comprise a light emitting diode that flashes one or more times over a short period of time to display the mapped pseudo-random number combination. Alternatively, the visual effect indicator may display a different color to display the set of pseudorandom numbers.

Similarly, the audible indicator may include a buzzer for alerting the user by the number of beeps in a short period of time. Or a microphone may be used to output speech and/or sound to broadcast the set of pseudo-random numbers.

The input buttons, switches, or knobs of the stylus 111 may be used to set the set of pseudo-random numbers. The state of the button, the switch or the knob may be used to indicate which set of pseudo-random numbers is set.

In addition to a physical human machine interface, stylus 111 may include a communication unit to receive the settings from a remote machine to the controller 3310. The communication unit may conform to a wired or wireless industry standard interface such as bluetooth, USB, wireless USB, UWB, etc. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that similar communication units have found widespread use in modern consumer electronic systems, such as smart phones, mobile computers, and the like. For example, the communicator wireless communication unit 770 shown in fig. 7A to 7D may be applied thereto.

A remote machine may be used to connect to the communication unit to read and/or set the set of pseudo-random numbers. A configuration program may be executed on the remote machine to read or configure the set of pseudo random numbers to the connected stylus 111. In one embodiment, the remote machine may be connected to multiple styli 111 simultaneously to ensure that each connected stylus 111 uses a different set of pseudorandom numbers. Should the remote machine detect a conflict in the combination of pseudo random numbers used by the connected stylus 111, the remote machine may automatically assign a different set of pseudo random numbers to the conflicting stylus 111.

In some embodiments, the pseudo random number combination used by the stylus 111 is fixed or hard set before shipment. The stylus 111 may be painted with a particular color or may display visual indicia on the body of the stylus. The user may check the color or visual indication of his stylus 111. If they use different colored styli 111, the touch processing device 130 can identify each stylus 111.

The stylus 111 may include one or more human interfaces or sensors, such as buttons, knobs, altimeter sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers, electrical signal receivers, and the like. The controller 3310 may periodically collect the status of the human machine interfaces or sensors. Such status or other information (such as the unique identifier of the stylus 111) can be sent to the touch processing device 130 as a data code as shown in FIG. 30. The controller 3310 may modulate the data code and the first pseudorandom number to be transmitted. Those skilled in the art can recognize that cdma or direct sequence spread spectrum is widely used in third generation mobile communication technologies. The controller 3310 may include hardware circuitry and/or an embedded processor for modulation. Conventionally, a multiplier is required to generate a carrier signal based on the data code and the pseudorandom number. The

signals

3311 and 3312 received by the nib 230 may be the first pseudorandom number and the second pseudorandom number, respectively, if no data codes need to be transmitted.

The data code may be modulated according to the first pseudorandom number to generate the signal 3311. The data code may also be modulated according to the second pseudorandom number to generate the signal 3312. In other words, data segments may be transmitted via one or both of the

signals

3311 and 3312. The touch processing device 130 can perform de-spreading or decoding on the data code transmitted by the pen tip 230 according to one of the first and second pseudorandom numbers. Assuming that the data code decoded according to the first pseudorandom number coincides with the data code decoded according to the second pseudorandom number, the data code is authentic. Otherwise, the two different data codes should be discarded or disregarded.

The active stylus 111 may further comprise a receiver to synchronize the touch processing device 130. As described in the previous paragraphs, the touch processing device 130 can send out a beacon signal for synchronization through the electrodes of the touch panel 120. The nib section 230 may act as a receiving antenna for receiving beacon signals. The lighthouse signals shown in fig. 9A to 9F can be used in the present embodiment.

The controller 3310 may be coupled to the nib section 230 to receive the beacon signal. To properly receive and identify the lighthouse signal, the processor 3310 may include circuitry such as an integrator, a sampler, an amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, a summer, and any other circuitry to receive the lighthouse signal. The received signal may also be received by the processor to derive synchronization signals and/or information carried by the lighthouse signal among the interference. Upon receiving the beacon signal, the controller 3310 may transmit the

signals

3311 and 3312 over the stylus segment 230 after a predetermined turnaround period (turn around period) known to the touch processing apparatus 130. Or the lighthouse signal may contain a period parameter indicating the length of the turnaround period.

If multiple styli 111 are operating in the touch system 100, a beacon signal without any turnaround time period will cause all styli 111 to send out electrical signals simultaneously. However, since the electrical signals generated by the touch pens 111 are encoded by different pseudo-random numbers, the touch processing device can distinguish each touch pen 111.

In one embodiment, the beacon signal may further include an identifier corresponding to the stylus and a turnaround time period. If stylus 111 receives a lighthouse signal containing its identifier, the stylus may send the electrical signal through the nib segment 230 after a turnaround period specified in accordance with the lighthouse signal. To avoid or reduce interference in the touch system 100, the touch processing device 130 can send a beacon signal that includes multiple sets of stylus identifiers and their assigned turnaround time periods or time slots.

In another implementation, the touch processing device 130 can transmit a plurality of beacon signals 111. The lighthouse signals are modulated in different ways. For example, the modulation of the lighthouse signals may vary according to frequency, phase, amplitude, etc. Thus, each of the plurality of styli 111 may listen for its designated beacon signal.

In one embodiment, the touch system 100 can include different modulated beacon signals to different groups of the touch pens 111. Each modulated beacon signal may include a plurality of sets of stylus identifiers and their assigned turnaround time periods or time slots. The touch processing device 130 can control the update frequency of each modulated beacon signal. When the touch-sensitive pens 111 are stationary, beacon signals sent to the touch-sensitive pens 111 can be delayed or even skipped. When the touch-sensing pens 111 are active vigorously, the touch processing device 130 can send the beacon signal to the touch-sensing pen 111 more times than other touch-sensing pens 111, so as to obtain the position and data code of the touch-sensing pen more frequently and more accurately. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the touch processing device 130 can adjust the data update rate of each stylus 111 by controlling the transmission of the corresponding beacon signal.

Alternatively, the beacon signal may be sent by the host 140. For example, the touch processing device 130 can use a wireless communication unit equipped with the host 140 to transmit the beacon signal. The beacon signal may be broadcast or unicast (unicasted) to each stylus 111 as specified by the wireless communication protocol. For example, the bluetooth protocol defines a broadcast mechanism to deliver advertisement information. The beacon signal may be transmitted via a broadcast mechanism of the bluetooth protocol. Any stylus receiving the advertising message as a beacon signal may be synchronized thereby. Otherwise, the beacon signal can be unicast wirelessly from the host 140 to the stylus 111. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the synchronization between the stylus 111 and the touch processing device 130 can be achieved by synchronizing the beacon signals transmitted by the touch panel 120, or by a wired or wireless communication channel therebetween.

Although this can be achieved by a beacon signal, the touch processing device 130 can synchronize the electrical signal by itself. The controller 3310 can transmit a preamble via one or both of the first component 221 and the second component 222. The preamble may be encoded by one or both of the first and second pseudorandom codes. The electrical signal ultimately emitted by the nib 230 contains the preamble and/or data code. Once the touch processing device 130 receives the electrical signal through the touch panel 120, the received electrical signal is amplified, sampled, converted into digital form, and stored in a memory. Thus, the circuitry of the touch processing device 130 or a processor embedded therein can compare the stored signal with the corresponding preamble of the stylus 111. When the stored signal completely or partially matches the preamble, the touch processing device 130 can calculate the receiving timing of the stored preamble. Accordingly, the touch processing device 130 can calculate the next transmission timing of the stylus 111 according to the stored preamble. In some embodiments, the preamble matches may be as fast as the same transmitted data code can be decoded. Especially when the length of the preamble is sufficiently long. The preamble may be found using a sliding window technique for the stored signal in memory.

When the preamble is found, the touch processing device 130 can calculate the position of the stylus 111 touching or approaching the touch panel 120 according to the received signal. When two or more of the touch pens 111 use different sets of pseudo-random numbers, the preambles used by the touch pens 111 are all different and orthogonal. Even when the preambles are received simultaneously, the touch processing device 130 can find the position where the touch pens 111 are close to the touch panel 120.

Please refer to fig. 34, which is a block diagram illustrating a touch processing device 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. The touch processing device 130 may include an embedded processor 3440, which is used to connect and control the connection network 3410, the driving circuit 3420, the sensing circuit 3430, and the host interface 3450. The driving circuit 3420 can be connected to each of the first electrodes 121 and each of the second electrodes 122 through the connection network 3410 to send out a driving signal. The sensing circuit 3430 can be connected to each of the first electrodes 121 and each of the second electrodes 122 through the connection network 3410 to sense signals by using the electrodes. The embedded processor 3440 may communicate with the host 140 through the host interface 3450. The embedded processor 3440 may execute program modules stored in the non-volatile memory to detect the above proximity object or event.

The embedded processor 3440 may dynamically connect the network 3410. The driving circuit 3420 can be connected to one or more of the first electrodes 121 and/or each of the second electrodes 122. Similarly, the sensing circuit 3430 can be connected to one or more of the first electrodes 121 and/or each of the second electrodes 122. In one embodiment, the driving circuit 3420 and the sensing circuit 3430 are collectively referred to as an analog front end circuit, which may include any combination of amplifiers, filters, samplers, integrators, digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, adders, multipliers, variable resistors, and the like. In addition to the analog circuitry comprising the driving circuit 3420 and the sensing circuit 3430, the embedded processor 3440 may perform signal processing of the digital part. The host interface 3450 is used to connect the embedded processor 3440 and the host 140. Typically, the host interface 3450 may be compatible with industry standards such as USB, I2C, PCI-Express, SCSI, and the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the host interface 3450 is very common in modern electronic devices.

Please refer to fig. 35, which is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of the controller 3310 of fig. 33 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This flow can be applied to the stylus 111 shown in fig. 33. The order of execution of any two steps in FIG. 35 is not limited by the present invention unless specifically written to cause and effect.

Optional step 3510: the setting of the first virtual random number and the second virtual random number is received. This setup mechanism has been previously discussed.

Optional step 3520: a lighthouse signal is received. The touch processing device 130 can send a beacon signal to the stylus 111 through at least one of the first electrode 121 or the second electrode 122 of the touch panel 120. In other embodiments, the touch processing device 130 can request the communication unit of the host 140 to transmit the beacon signal to the corresponding communication unit of the stylus 111.

Optional step 3530: decoding the identifier and the turnaround period parameter. If optional step 3520 is performed and a beacon signal is received, the beacon signal may include an identifier and/or turnaround period parameters for a particular stylus or group of styli 111. Accordingly, the identifier and/or turnaround time parameter of the stylus 111 in the beacon signal is decoded.

Optional step 3540: a data code is generated based on a state of a sensor on the stylus. If the stylus 111 includes one or more sensors on the pen, such as buttons, switches, knobs, battery capacity, etc., in addition to the pressure sensor coupled to the first member 221, data codes may be generated that reflect the status of the sensors on the pen and/or other information, which may include an identifier and/or model number of the stylus 111, the manufacturer's name, etc.

Step 3550: transmitting a first preamble and/or data code encoded according to the first pseudorandom number to a first element having a variable impedance corresponding to pressure. The transmitted signal may be one or both of the first preamble, the data code. Since they are both encoded by the first pseudorandom number, in theory, the touch processing device 130 can detect the signal transmitted by the pen tip 230 via the electrode 121 and/or the electrode 122.

Step 3560: transmitting a second preamble and/or data code encoded according to the second pseudorandom code to a second element having a fixed impedance. The transmitted signal may be one or both of the second preamble, the data code. Since they are encoded by the second pseudorandom number, in theory, the touch processing device 130 can detect the signal transmitted by the pen tip 230 via the electrode 121 and/or the electrode 122.

Please refer to fig. 36A, which is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embedded processor 3440 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process can be applied to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 33 and 34. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 36A unless causality is written. Assuming that the touch system 100 uses the beacon signal as the synchronization signal, the process starts at step 3610.

Optional step 3610: transmitting a lighthouse signal. This step corresponds to step 3520 of fig. 35. The touch processing device 130 can transmit the beacon signal to the stylus 111 through at least one of the first electrode 121 or the second electrode 122 of the touch panel 120. In other embodiments, the touch processing device 130 can request the communication unit of the host 140 to send a beacon signal to the corresponding communication unit of the stylus 111. Optionally, the lighthouse signal may include one or more identifiers and/or turnaround time parameters for one or more specific styli 111 or a set of specific styli 111.

Optional step 3620: waiting for a turnaround period. When the transmitted beacon signal specifies the turnaround time period, the embedded processor 3440 or the touch processing device 130 may wait or sleep during this time period. In other embodiments, the embedded processor 3440 can perform other functions, such as capacitive sensing during the turnaround time period to detect external conductive objects near the touch panel 120.

Step 3630: an electrical signal is received through an electrode of the touch panel. The stylus 111 transmits an electrical signal to at least one of the

electrodes

121 and 122 of the touch panel 120 through the tip section 230. The electrical signal is received by the sensing circuit 3430 of the touch processing device 130 via the electrodes near the pen tip section 230.

Optional step 3640: the first preamble of the received electrical signal is despread in accordance with the first pseudorandom code. If the electrical signal generated by the stylus 111 includes the first preamble, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can despread the first preamble according to the first pseudorandom code. In some embodiments, the system 100 does not use the beacon signal to transmit the electrical signal at different times, i.e., step 3610 and step 3620 are omitted, the embedded processor 3440 may need to use a sliding window technique to obtain the first preamble in the received signal because the embedded processor 3440 has no knowledge of when the stylus 111 is transmitting the electrical signal.

Optional step 3650: and de-spreading the first data code of the received electric signal according to the first pseudorandom code. If the electrical signal transmitted by the stylus 111 includes the first data code, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can decode the first data code according to the first pseudo random number. Embodiments of the present application may include one or both of

steps

3640 and 3650.

Optional step 3660: and de-spreading the second preamble of the received electrical signal according to the second pseudorandom code. If the electrical signal sent by the stylus 111 includes the second preamble, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can despread the second preamble according to the second pseudorandom number. In some embodiments, the system 100 does not use the beacon signal to transmit the electrical signal at different times, i.e., step 3610 and step 3620 are omitted, the embedded processor 3440 may need to use a sliding window technique to obtain the first preamble in the received signal because the embedded processor 3440 has no knowledge of when the stylus 111 is transmitting the electrical signal.

Optional step 3670: and performing despreading on a second data code of the received electrical signal according to the second pseudorandom code. If the electrical signal transmitted by the stylus 111 includes the second data code, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can decode the second data code according to the second pseudo random number. Embodiments of the present application may include one or both of

steps

3660 and 3670.

To reduce design complexity, the controller 3310 may encode a data code corresponding to the sensor status on the pen in one of the

signals

3311 and 3312. Accordingly, only one of

steps

3650 and 3670, as well as

steps

3640 and 3660, need to be performed.

To increase transmission reliability, the controller 3310 may encode a data code on both

signals

3311 and 3312. Accordingly, steps 3650 and 3670 can be performed to obtain the first data code and the second data code. In one embodiment, the process may further include a comparing step for comparing the first data code with the second data code. When the two data codes do not coincide, the process may discard the two data codes, since it is obvious that an error is caused in the transmission process. However, to reduce the complexity of the design, the process may include performing only one of

steps

3650 and 3670, although stylus 111 encodes the data code on both

signals

3311 and 3312.

In the embodiment lacking the beacon signal, assuming that the timing of the stylus 111 transmitting the electrical signal is found in

step

3640 or 3650, step 3660 and/or step 3670 may be performed according to the found timing point. In other words, synchronization has already been established. Conversely, when a timing point of the electrical signal is found at

step

3660 or 3670, step 3640 and/or step 3650 may be performed according to the found timing point. In other words, to synchronize with the stylus 111, the embedded processor only needs to execute the sliding window algorithm once to obtain one of the first and second preambles and one of the first and second data codes. Otherwise, in an embodiment, steps 3640 to 3670 may be performed simultaneously or independently, although it may be desirable to perform the sliding window technique more than once.

Step 3680: the pressure is calculated based on a ratio of the signal strength of a first portion corresponding to the first pseudorandom number to a second portion corresponding to the second pseudorandom number. The first portion corresponding to the first pseudorandom number may be one or both of the first preamble and the first data code. Similarly, the second portion corresponding to the second pseudorandom code may be one or both of the second preamble and the second data code. Assuming that the electrical signal includes the first preamble and the second preamble, the step 3680 may calculate the pressure of the pressure sensor of the stylus pen according to the signal strength ratio of the first preamble and the second preamble. In an example where the electrical signal comprises the first data code and the second data code, the step 3680 may calculate the pressure of the pressure sensor of the stylus according to the signal intensity ratio of the first data code and the second data code. In a variation, assuming that the electrical signal includes all four signals, the step 3680 may calculate the pressure of the pressure sensor of the stylus according to the signal intensity ratio of the first portion and the second portion. Assuming that the signal strength of the first portion is M1 and the signal strength of the second portion is M2, the ratio of these two signal strengths can be M1/M2, M2/M1, (M1-M2)/(M1+ M2), (M2-M1)/(M1+ M2), M1/(M1+ M2), M2/(M1+ M2) and any other calculations involving these two parameters M1 and M2. In other words, when the calculated ratio is a constant or a preset value, it can be obtained that the pressure sensor of the stylus 111 does not sense any pressure. If the pressure sensor is used to sense the pressure applied to the nib 230 of the stylus 111, it means that the nib 230 of the stylus 111 does not contact any object including the touch panel 120.

When nib section 230 of stylus 111 contacts touch panel 120, nib section 230 is moved by pressure. Accordingly, the first impedance value Z1 of the first element 221 varies according to the pressure or moving stroke of the pen tip segment 230, so that the ratio of M1 to M2 is no longer the constant or predetermined value. The touch processing device 130 can sense the sensed pressure value according to the proportional value. The constant or preset value may not be a numerical value but a section having an error.

Using algorithms known in the art, the touch processing device 130 can calculate a position of the tip segment 230 of the stylus 111 contacting or approaching the touch panel according to the electrical signals received by at least one of the first electrodes 121 and at least one of the second electrodes 122. Thus, the touch processing device 130 can receive the position, pressure, status of sensors on the stylus 111, and/or other information. Thus, information received by the device 130 at touch can be forwarded to the operating system and applications executing on the host 140.

Fig. 36B is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embedded processor 3440 according to an embodiment of the invention. The process can be applied to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 33 and 34. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 36B unless causality is written. Assuming that the touch system 100 uses the beacon signal as the synchronization signal, the process starts at step 3610.

The difference between the flow charts shown in fig. 36A and 36B is that steps 3630 to 3670 are replaced by

steps

3210 and 3250 shown in fig. 32. One objective of the process 3200 is to utilize at least two second electrodes coupled as a synchronization channel to accelerate the acquisition of one or more stylus preambles. In other words, the touch processing device 130 does not use a beacon signal mechanism to synchronize the touch pen. Although the process shown in fig. 36B includes

optional steps

3610 and 3620, these two steps can be applied to touch system 100, which includes at least one stylus 111 listening to beacon signals and other styli 111 not synchronizing beacon signals. In other words, the touch processing device 130 can cooperate with a stylus having a beacon signal receiving function and a stylus not having the beacon signal receiving function. Although the touch processing device 130 requires more processing power and more memory space to store electrical signals, the interoperability of such touch systems is significantly increased.

By comparing the transmission timing of the electrical signal with the specified turnaround time period of the beacon signal, the touch processing device 130 can detect that one of the touch pens 111 does not have the synchronization capability of the beacon signal because the timing of sending the electrical signal does not conform to the specified turnaround time period.

If the touch system 100 includes one stylus 111 with the beacon signal synchronization capability and another stylus 111 without the beacon signal synchronization capability, the touch processing apparatus 130 can adjust the transmission timing of the beacon signal and/or the turnaround time period specified by the beacon signal so that the two styli 111 can transmit electrical signals simultaneously, so as to minimize the time period for receiving electrical signals from the styli 111 and maximize the time period for detecting external conductive objects such as fingers. In other embodiments, the touch processing device 130 may adjust the transmission timing of the beacon signal and/or the turnaround time period specified by the beacon signal, so that the two touch pens 111 can transmit the electrical signals in non-overlapping time periods, so as to minimize the interference between the two electrical signals. Furthermore, since the electrical signal sent by the stylus pen interferes with the reception of the beacon signal, the touch processing device 130 can adjust the sending timing of the beacon signal and/or the turnaround time period specified by the beacon signal to reduce or avoid the interference between the beacon signal and the electrical signal sent by the stylus pen.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 35, 36A and 36B, each stylus 111 is assigned two pseudo-random numbers. Therefore, the touch processing device 130 can identify all of the styli 111 that emit electrical signals at the same time. However, unlike the touch processing device 130, the computing resources and the internal space of the stylus 111 are limited. Therefore, it may be desirable to reduce the computational complexity of the controller 3310. Thus, the controller 3310 of the stylus 111 shown in FIG. 33 can transmit the

same signals

3311 and 3312 encoded with the same pseudo-random number at two different time intervals. As long as each stylus 111 within a touch system 100 is assigned a different pseudorandom number, the touch processing device 130 is able to identify all of the styli 111 that may be sending electrical signals at the same time. Considering the electrical signals emitted by the same stylus 111 in two different time periods, the touch processing device 130 may also calculate the pressure value according to the signal intensity ratio of the two time periods. Furthermore, the controller 3310 may collect the sensor of the stylus 111 twice to generate two data codes to transmit through the tip section 230. By reducing the number of pseudorandom numbers from two to one, the design complexity of the controller 3310 may be reduced.

Please refer to fig. 37A, which is a flowchart implemented by the controller 3310 of fig. 33 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This flow can also be applied to the stylus 111 shown in fig. 33. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two of the steps shown in FIG. 37A unless causality is written.

Steps

3510, 3530 and 3540 have been explained in the relevant paragraphs of the embodiment shown in FIG. 35.

Optional step 3710: the setting of the pseudo random number is accepted. This setting mechanism has already been described.

Step 3750: during a first time interval, a preamble and/or a data code encoded according to the pseudorandom code is transmitted to the first element, and the impedance value of the first element changes according to the pressure value. The transmission signal may be one or both of the preamble and the data code. Since they are encoded by the assigned pseudo-random number, the touch processing device 130 can detect and decode the electrical signals transmitted by the pen tip 230 and the electrodes 121 and/or 122 during the first time period.

Step 3760: transmitting the preamble and/or data code encoded according to the pseudo random number to a second device having a fixed impedance value during a second period. The transmission signal may be one or both of the preamble and the data code. Since they are encoded by the assigned pseudo-random number, the touch processing device 130 can detect and decode the electrical signals transmitted by the pen tip 230 and the electrodes 121 and/or 122 during the first time period.

In an embodiment, there may be a turnaround period between the first period and the second period. During this turnaround time period, the controller 3310 may switch the signal output from the first component 221 to the second component 222.

Please refer to fig. 37B, which is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of the controller 3310 of fig. 33 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This flow can also be applied to the stylus 111 shown in fig. 33. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two of the steps shown in FIG. 37B unless causality is written.

Optional step 3745: a first data code is generated based on the status of the sensor on the pen. When the stylus 111 includes one or more sensors, such as buttons, switches, knobs, battery capacity, etc., in addition to the pressure sensor coupled to the first member 221, data codes may be generated that reflect the status of the sensors on the stylus and/or other information, such as an identifier and/or model and brand name of the stylus 111.

Step 3755: during a first time period, a preamble and/or a first data code encoded according to the pseudorandom number is transmitted to a first component having a variable impedance responsive to pressure. The transmitted signal may include one or both of the preamble and the first data code. Since they are all encoded by the designated pseudo-random number, the touch processing device 130 can detect and decode the signal transmitted by the pen tip 230 via the electrodes 121 and/or 122 during a first period of time. After step 3755, flow may proceed to optional step 3746 to generate additional data codes.

Optional step 3746: a second data code is generated based on the status of the sensor on the pen.

Step 3765: during a second time interval, the preamble and/or the second data code encoded according to the pseudo random number is transmitted to a second element, which has a fixed impedance. The transmitted signal may include one or both of the preamble and the second data code. Since they are all encoded by the designated pseudo-random number, the touch processing device 130 can detect and decode the signal transmitted by the pen tip 230 via the electrodes 121 and/or 122 during the second period of time.

Although in the flowchart of fig. 37A, the flow performs step 3750 before step 3760. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the steps performed in

steps

3750 and 3760 may be reversed. In some embodiments, the process may proceed to step 3540 before proceeding to step 3760. The process then proceeds to step 3750 after step 3760 is performed. Similarly, in the flowchart of fig. 37A, the process may proceed to

steps

3745 and 3755 after step 3765 is performed. In short, the present invention does not require that the controller 3310 must first route out one of the

signals

3311, 3312.

Please refer to fig. 38A, which is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of an embedded processor 3440 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process is applicable to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 33 and 34, corresponding to the process of fig. 37A and 37B implemented by one or more touch pens. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two of the steps shown in fig. 38A unless causality is explained. The process begins at step 3610 when the system 100 uses a lighthouse signal as a synchronization signal.

Steps

3610 and 3620 have been described in the paragraph of the embodiment shown in FIG. 36A. The process may proceed to step 3830 after step 3620 is performed.

Step 3830: the electric signals are received through the electrodes of the touch panel in the first time period and the second time period. Step 3830 may be performed simultaneously with any one of steps 3850 to 3870 during the second period. The sensing circuit 3430 of the touch processing device 130 receives electrical signals via electrodes near the stylus tip segment 230. The electrical signals received during these two different periods are stored separately.

Optional step 3840: the electrical signal received during the first time period is despread in accordance with the pseudorandom code to obtain a first preamble. If the electrical signal transmitted by the stylus 111 includes the first preamble, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can despread the first preamble according to the pseudorandom code. In some embodiments, the system 100 does not use the beacon signal as a timing for transmitting the electrical signal synchronously, i.e., does not perform

steps

3610 and 3620, because the embedded processor 3440 does not know when the stylus 111 transmits the electrical signal, and may need to use the sliding window technique to obtain the preamble in the received electrical signal.

Optional step 3850: the electric signal received in the first time period is decoded according to the virtual random number to obtain a first data code. If the electrical signal transmitted by the stylus 111 includes the first data code, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can decode the first data code according to the pseudo random number. Embodiments of the present application may include one or both of

steps

3840 and 3850.

Optional step 3860: the electrical signal received during the second time period is despread in accordance with the pseudorandom code to obtain a second preamble. If the electrical signal transmitted by the stylus 111 includes the second preamble, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can decode and decode the second preamble according to the pseudo random number. Please note that since the first preamble and the second preamble are encoded by the same pseudo-random number, they should be the same regardless of the signal strength. In some embodiments, the system 100 does not use the beacon signal as a timing for transmitting the electrical signal synchronously, i.e., does not perform

steps

Optional step 3870: and decoding the electric signal received in the second time period according to the virtual random number to obtain a second data code. If the electrical signal transmitted by the stylus 111 includes the second data code, the embedded processor 3440 of the touch processing apparatus 130 can decode the second data code according to the pseudo random number. Embodiments of the present application may include one or both of

steps

3860 and 3870.

As with the embodiment shown in fig. 37B, the controller 3310 may generate two sets of data codes for two transmissions of two time periods. If the first data code is different from the second data code, the sensor on the pen changes state during the two generations. Obviously, the position of the stylus may also change during the two generations. Therefore, the touch processing device 130 can calculate the first position and the second position according to the electrical signals received in the first time period and the second time period, respectively. Alternatively, the touch processing device 130 may calculate a single position according to one of the electrical signals received in the first time period and the second time period.

Step 3880: the pressure is calculated based on a signal strength ratio of the first portion received over the first time period to the second portion received over the second time period. The first portion of the electrical signal received during the first time period may be one or both of a first preamble and a first data code. Similarly, the second portion of the electrical signal received during the second time period may be one or both of a second preamble and a second data code. When the electrical signal includes the first preamble and the second preamble, step 3880 may calculate the pressure according to a signal strength ratio of the first preamble and the second preamble. When the electrical signal includes the first data code and the second data code, step 3880 may calculate the pressure according to a signal strength ratio of the first data code and the second data code. In a variation, if the electrical signal contains all four codes, step 3880 may calculate the pressure based on a ratio of the signal strength of the first portion received during the first time period to the signal strength of the second portion received during the second time period. Assuming that the signal strength of the first portion is M1 and the signal strength of the second portion is M2, the ratio of these two signal strengths can be M1/M2, M2/M1, (M1-M2)/(M1+ M2), (M2-M1)/(M1+ M2), M1/(M1+ M2), M2/(M1+ M2) and any other calculations involving these two parameters M1 and M2. In other words, when the calculated ratio is a constant or a preset value, it can be obtained that the pressure sensor of the stylus 111 does not sense any pressure. If the pressure sensor is used to sense the pressure applied to the nib 230 of the stylus 111, it means that the nib 230 of the stylus 111 does not contact any object including the touch panel 120.

Fig. 38B is a flowchart illustrating an implementation of the embedded processor 3440 according to an embodiment of the invention. The process is applicable to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 33 and 34, corresponding to the process of fig. 37A and 37B implemented by one or more touch pens. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two of the steps shown in fig. 38B unless causality is explained. The process begins at step 3610 when the system 100 uses a lighthouse signal as a synchronization signal.

Steps

Optional step 3815: according to the pseudo-random code, a first preamble is despread for a first frame received in the synchronization channel during a first time period to obtain first synchronization information.

Optional step 3825: decoding a first data code following the first preamble for the electrical signal received by the at least one first electrode during the first time period based on the first synchronization information and the pseudorandom number.

Optional step 3835: according to the pseudo-random code, a second preamble is despread for a second signal frame received in the synchronization channel during a second time period to obtain second synchronization information.

Optional step 3845: decoding a second data code following the second preamble for the electrical signal received by the at least one first electrode during the second time period based on the second synchronization information and the pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, once the first synchronization information corresponding to the first time period is known, the second synchronization information may be calculated accordingly.

In one embodiment, it is noted that since the first preamble and the second preamble are encoded by the same pseudorandom number, they should be the same regardless of signal strength. In some embodiments, the system 100 does not use the beacon signal as a timing for transmitting the electrical signal synchronously, i.e., does not perform

steps

In real-world scenarios, it is not uncommon to lose the wireless stylus 111. In addition, the battery of the wireless stylus 111 also needs to be constantly charged. In some cases, it is desirable to have one or more wired styli physically connected to the touch system. Using the same pseudo-random number mechanism, the touch processing device can select the timing of sending signals to the wired stylus and receive the signals from the touch panel 120. This mechanism may eliminate a synchronization mechanism between the wireless stylus 111 and the touch processing device 130.

Please refer to fig. 39A, which is a block diagram illustrating a touch system 3900 according to an embodiment of the invention. The touch system 3900 can include the touch panel 120, the touch processing device 130, the host 140, and a wired stylus 3910. The wired stylus 3910 may include a first element 221 having a variable first impedance Z1, the first impedance Z1 of which is responsive to pressure applied to the first element 221, a second element 222 having a fixed second impedance Z2, the nib section 230 connected to the output of the first element 221 and the second element 222, and a housing or container for housing the first element 221, the second element 222, and the nib section 230. The connection cable is used to connect the stylus 3910 and the touch processing device 130. The connection cable may be a cable including stranded wires and a shield, which may include a first signal circuit 3911, a second signal circuit 3912, and a third circuit 3913. In one embodiment, the third wire 3913 can be electrically coupled to the housing, and the housing can be grounded when the user holds the stylus 3910 with his hand. In addition, the third wire 3913 can be electrically coupled to the ground potential terminal of the touch processing device 130.

Although only a single wired stylus 3910 is shown in fig. 39A, in some embodiments of the invention, multiple wired styli 3910 connected to the touch processing device 130 may be included. According to the provided mechanism, multiple wired styli 3910 may operate simultaneously. More importantly, a touch system according to embodiments of the present invention may include both wireless and wired touch pens. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that when each of the wireless and wired styli simultaneously transmits electrical signals encoded with a different set of pseudorandom numbers, the touch processing device 130 may use a synchronization mechanism to allow the wireless stylus 111 to transmit electrical signals at the same time that the touch processing device 130 transmits electrical signals via the wired stylus 3910.

The wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39A does not include a switch or button. However, a line-only stylus 3910 may include one or more on-pen sensors, such as switches or buttons for accepting user input. In one embodiment, each on-pen sensor may be connected to the touch processing device 130 through one or more circuits in a connection cable. Therefore, the touch processing device 130 can detect the state of the sensor on the pen through the connection cable. For example, the touch processing device 130 may detect whether an eraser button is pressed through one or more circuits connected to the eraser button. However, similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the wired stylus 3910 may further include a switch and a corresponding element connected in parallel to the first element or the second element. The touch processing device 130 can determine the on/off state of the stylus 3910 according to the signal strength ratio of the two pseudo-random numbers.

Fig. 39B is a block diagram illustrating a variation of a touch system 3900 according to an embodiment of the invention. The stylus 3910 may further include a third switch 3920 and a third element 3930 connected in parallel to the first element 221. The third element 3930 may be a resistor and/or a capacitor having a third impedance Z3. When the third switch 3920 is set to closed by the user of the stylus 3910, the signal driven by the signal circuit 3911 propagates through the first element 221 and the third element 3930 to the nib 230. Conversely, when the third switch 3920 is set to open by the user of the stylus 3910, the signal driven by the signal circuit 3911 propagates through the first element 221 to the nib 230. Signals driven by the signal circuit 3912 propagate through the second element 222 to the nib 230. After receiving the signals sent by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912 through the stylus tip segment 230, the touch processing device 130 can know the state of the third switch 3920 according to the intensity ratio of the signals sent by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912. Assuming that the ratio falls within the first interval, the touch processing device 130 determines that the third switch 3920 is in an open state. Assuming that the ratio falls within a second interval, the touch processing device 130 determines that the third switch 3920 is in a closed state. The third impedance value of the third element 3930 may be controlled such that the first section does not overlap the second section. Furthermore, the touch processing device 130 can calculate the pressure applied to the first element 221 according to the ratio of the first interval to the second interval.

Please refer back to fig. 4A. The active stylus 110 includes two switches SWE and SWB, an eraser capacitor 441 corresponding to the switch SWE, and a pen-holder capacitor 442 corresponding to the switch SWB. They are arranged in parallel to the first capacitor 321. Although the wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39B includes only a single third switch 3920 and a single corresponding third element 3930, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the wired stylus 3910 may have more than one set of third switches 3920 and their corresponding third elements 3930 in parallel with the first element 221.

Please refer to fig. 39C, which is a block diagram illustrating a variation of the touch system 3900 according to an embodiment of the invention. The stylus 3910 may further include a fourth switch 3940 and a fourth element 3950 connected in parallel to the second element 222. The fourth element 3950 may be a resistor and/or a capacitor having a fourth impedance Z4. When the fourth switch 3940 is set to closed by the user of the stylus 3910, the signal driven by the signal circuit 3912 propagates through the second element 222 and the fourth element 3950 to the nib 230. Conversely, when the fourth switch 3940 is opened by the user of the stylus 3910, the signal driven by the signal circuit 3912 propagates through the second element 222 to the nib 230. Signals driven by the signal circuit 3911 propagate through the first element 221 to the nib 230. After receiving the signals sent by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912 through the stylus tip segment 230, the touch processing apparatus 130 can know the state of the fourth switch 3940 according to the intensity ratio of the signals sent by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912. Assuming that the ratio falls within the third interval, the touch processing device 130 determines that the fourth switch 3940 is in an open state. Assuming that the ratio falls in the fourth interval, the touch processing device 130 determines that the fourth switch 3940 is in a closed state. The fourth impedance value of the fourth element 3950 may be controlled such that the third section does not overlap with the fourth section. Furthermore, the touch processing device 130 can calculate the pressure applied to the first element 221 according to the ratio value falling in the third interval or the fourth interval.

Please refer back to fig. 4B. The active stylus 110 includes two switches SWE and SWB, an eraser capacitor 441 corresponding to the switch SWE, and a pen-holder capacitor 442 corresponding to the switch SWB. They are arranged in parallel to the second capacitance 322. Although the wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39C only includes a single fourth switch 3940 and a single corresponding fourth element 3950, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the wired stylus 3910 may have more than one set of fourth switches and their corresponding fourth elements connected in parallel with the second element 222.

In one embodiment, the touch processing device 130 can send signals to the touch pen 3910 through the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912 at the same time, which are encoded according to the first pseudo random number and the second pseudo random number, respectively. Therefore, the touch processing device 130 can simultaneously receive signals driven by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912 from the touch panel 120. In another embodiment, the touch processing device 130 can send signals to the touch pen 3910 through the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912 in a time-sharing manner, which are encoded according to the same pseudo-random number. Accordingly, the touch processing device 130 can receive the signals driven by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912 from the touch panel 120 at two different time periods. In both embodiments, the touch processing device 130 can determine the state of the third switch 3920 or the fourth switch 3940 according to the ratio of the signal intensities driven by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912. Furthermore, the touch processing device 130 can determine the pressure acting on the first element 221 according to the ratio of the signal intensities driven by the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912.

Fig. 40 is a block diagram of a touch processing device 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 34, the touch processing device 130 further includes one or more stylus interfaces 4010 coupled to the connection network 3410. The stylus interface 4010 may be compatible with existing industry standards or proprietary standards, and includes three

circuits

3911, 3912 and 3913 corresponding to the stylus 3910. For a stylus 3910, there is a corresponding stylus interface 4010.

The touch processing device 130 may further include an embedded processor 4040 for generating signals encoded with one or more pseudo-random numbers corresponding to each of the touch pens 3910. These generated signals may be sent to the driving circuit 3420 for front-end analog processing. The connection network 3410 may receive settings of the embedded processor 4040 to selectively connect the driver circuit 3420 to at least one of the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912. Thus, a signal encoded by the pseudorandom number may be transmitted to the nib segment 230 of the corresponding stylus 3910, which is connected to the stylus interface 4010.

Furthermore, the connection network 3410 may also receive settings of the embedded processor 4040 to connect the sensing circuit 3430 with the electrodes of the touch panel 120. When the nib segment 230 of a respective stylus 3910 is placed on or near the touch panel, the electrical signals transmitted through the nib segment 230 will be received by the sensing circuit 3430 via the electrodes of the touch panel 120. After front-end analog processing and analog-to-digital conversion, the embedded processor 40404 receives signals from the sensing circuitry 3430. One of ordinary skill in the art can calculate the strength of the received signals corresponding to the

signal circuits

3911 and 3912, respectively. From this, the ratio of the signal intensities can be calculated. As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the embedded processor 4040 can determine three parameters based on the received signal and the ratio: pressure received by stylus 3910; the state of the switch of the stylus 3910; and the nib 230 of the stylus 3910 is proximate to the touch panel 120.

Fig. 41A is a schematic flow chart illustrating an operating method for a wired touch pen according to an embodiment of the invention. This process is particularly applicable to the wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39A. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 41A unless causality is described.

Step 4110: a first preamble encoded by a first pseudorandom number is received by a first element having an impedance that changes in response to pressure. As shown in fig. 39A, the first device 221 of the stylus 3910 receives the first preamble through the signal circuit 3911.

Step 4120: a second preamble encoded by a second pseudorandom number is received by a second element having a fixed impedance. As shown in fig. 39A, the second element 222 of the stylus 3910 receives the first preamble through the signal circuit 3912.

Steps

4110 and 4120 may be performed simultaneously or in a time-sharing manner.

Step 4130: transmitting the first preamble from the first element to the nib.

Step 4140: transmitting the second prefix from the second element to the nib. When

steps

4110 and 4120 are performed simultaneously, steps 4130 and 4140 are also performed simultaneously. Alternatively, all four steps 4110 to 4140 are performed simultaneously.

If the touch processing device 130 is connected to multiple touch pens 3910. A set of two pseudo-random numbers may be assigned to each stylus 3910. For example, one set of combinations including the first and second pseudorandom numbers may be assigned to the first wired stylus 3910, and another set of combinations including the third and fourth pseudorandom numbers may be assigned to the second wired stylus 3910. The flowchart shown in fig. 41A can be applied to the first and second wired styli 3910. In other words, two wired styli may be operated on one touch panel 120 at the same time.

Fig. 41B is a flowchart illustrating an operating method for a wired touch pen according to an embodiment of the invention. This process is particularly applicable to the wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39B. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 41B unless causality is described. Since the wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39B includes the third switch 3920 and the third device 3930, the flowchart further includes

steps

4122 and 4124.

Step 4122: the first preamble is selectively received by a third element, which is connected in parallel with the first element. The selectively receiving step is performed by the third switch 3920 of fig. 39B.

Step 4124: selectively transmitting the first preamble from the third element to the nib. This selectively receiving step is also performed by the third switch 3920 of fig. 39B.

Steps

4110, 4120, 4122 and 4124 may be performed simultaneously.

Fig. 41C is a flowchart illustrating an operating method for a wired touch pen according to an embodiment of the invention. This process is particularly applicable to the wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39C. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 41C unless causality is described. Since the wired stylus 3910 shown in fig. 39C includes the fourth switch 3940 and the fourth element 3950, the flowchart further includes

steps

4126 and 4128.

Step 4126: the second preamble is selectively received by a fourth element, the fourth element being in parallel with the second element. The selectively receiving step is performed by the fourth switch 3940 of fig. 39C.

Step 4128: selectively transmitting the second preamble from the fourth element to the nib section. The selectively receiving step is also performed by the fourth switch 3940 of fig. 39C.

Steps

4110, 4120, 4126 and 4128 may be performed simultaneously.

Fig. 42 is a flowchart illustrating a process applied to the touch processing device 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. The process can be applied to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 40, which is used to control a line stylus 3910 shown in fig. 41A to 41C. For example, the flowchart can be implemented by instructions executed by an embedded processor of the touch processing device 130. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 42 unless causality is described.

Steps

3630, 3640, 3660 and 3680 included in the flow have already been explained in the embodiments shown in fig. 36A and 36B.

Step 4210: a first preamble encoded according to the first pseudorandom number is transmitted to a first circuit of the stylus. For example, the first preamble is generated by the embedded processor 4040, processed by the driver 3420, and transmitted to the signal circuit 3911 through the stylus interface 4010.

Step 4220: transmitting a second preamble encoded according to a second pseudorandom number to a second circuit of the stylus. For example, the second preamble is generated by the embedded processor 4040, processed by the driver 3420, and transmitted to the signal circuit 3912 through the stylus interface 4010.

Steps

4210 and 4220 may be performed simultaneously.

Optional step 4290: and calculating the on-off state of the touch pen according to the signal intensity ratio of the first part to the second part of the electric signal.

Fig. 43 is a flowchart illustrating a process applied to the touch processing device 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. The process can be applied to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 40, which is used to control a line stylus 3910 shown in fig. 41A to 41C. For example, the flowchart can be implemented by instructions executed by an embedded processor of the touch processing device 130. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 43 unless causality is described. Step 3880 included in the flow has been explained in the embodiment shown in fig. 38A and 38B. In addition, optional step 4290 has also been explained in the embodiment shown in fig. 42.

Step 4310: a first preamble encoded according to a first pseudo-random number is transmitted to a first circuit of the stylus during a first time period.

Step 4320: and receiving an electric signal through an electrode of the touch panel in the first time period.

Step 4330: according to the first pseudo random code, the first preamble code included in the electrical signal received in the first time period is despread.

Step 4340: transmitting a second preamble encoded according to a second pseudorandom number to a second circuit of the stylus during a second time period.

Step 4350: and receiving an electric signal through the electrode of the touch panel in the second time period.

Step 4360: and according to the second pseudo-random code, performing despreading on the second preamble contained in the electric signal received in the first time period.

Fig. 44 is a flowchart illustrating a process applied to the touch processing device 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. The process can be applied to the touch processing device 130 shown in fig. 40, which is used to control a line stylus 3910 shown in fig. 41A to 41C. For example, the flowchart can be implemented by instructions executed by an embedded processor of the touch processing device 130. The present invention does not limit the order of execution of any two steps of FIG. 44 unless causality is described.

Steps

4320 and 4350 have already been explained in the embodiment shown in FIG. 43. Step 3880 included in the flow has been explained in the embodiment shown in fig. 38A and 38B. In addition, optional step 4290 has also been explained in the embodiment shown in fig. 42.

Step 4410: a first preamble encoded according to the pseudorandom number is transmitted to a first circuit of the stylus during a first time period.

Step 4430: according to the pseudo random code, the first preamble included in the electrical signal received in the first time period is despread.

Step 4440: and transmitting a second preamble encoded according to the pseudorandom number to a second circuit of the stylus during a second time period.

Step 4460: and according to the pseudo random code, performing despreading on the second preamble contained in the electric signal received in the second time period.

In one embodiment, to more quickly synchronize the transmissions of the stylus, the method comprises: at least two second electrodes coupled to the touch panel are used as a synchronization channel, wherein the despreading step of the first preamble and the second preamble is performed on the received signal received by the synchronization channel to obtain first synchronization information and second synchronization information, respectively, wherein the second electrodes are parallel to each other.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a stylus for transmitting an electrical signal carrying pressure information, comprising: a first element having an impedance responsive to pressure, wherein the first element is configured to receive a first signal encoded with a pseudorandom number for a first period of time; a second element having a fixed impedance, wherein the second element is configured to receive a second signal encoded with the pseudorandom number for a second period of time; and a conductive nib section for: receiving the first signal from the first element during the first period; receiving the second signal from the second element during the second period; transmitting the electrical signal including the first signal for a first period of time; and transmitting the electrical signal including the second signal during a second time period, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

In one embodiment, in order to receive electrical signals from multiple touch pens simultaneously, the method further comprises: de-spreading a third preamble of the received signal at a third time interval according to the second pseudorandom code; despreading a fourth preamble of the received signal at a fourth time period based on the second pseudorandom code; and calculating pressure information of a second stylus according to a second signal strength ratio of a third portion and a fourth portion of the received signal, wherein the third portion includes the third preamble and the fourth portion includes the fourth preamble, wherein the first pseudorandom code and the second pseudorandom code are orthogonal to each other, and wherein a portion of the third time period overlaps with a portion of the first time period or a portion of the second time period.

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch system, comprising: a touch panel; a first stylus; and a touch processing device. The touch processing device is used for receiving an electric signal carrying pressure information transmitted by the first touch pen, and comprises: a sensing circuit for receiving the electrical signal from some electrodes of the touch panel; and a processor, coupled to the sensing circuit, for: despreading a first preamble of the received signal at a first time period based on the pseudorandom number; despreading a second preamble of the received signal at a second time period based on the pseudorandom code; and calculating the pressure information according to a first signal strength ratio of a first part and a second part of the received signal, wherein the first part comprises the first preamble and the second part comprises the second preamble.

The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art may modify the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A stylus for transmitting an electrical signal carrying pressure information, comprising:

a first element having an impedance that is responsive to a pressure, wherein the first element is configured to receive a first signal encoded with a first pseudorandom number;

A second element having a fixed impedance, wherein the second element is configured to receive a second signal encoded with a second pseudorandom number; and

a conductive nib section for:

simultaneously receiving the first signal from the first element and the second signal from the second element; and

transmitting an electrical signal comprising the first signal and the second signal;

wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

2. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller to:

generating the first signal according to the first pseudorandom code;

generating the second signal according to the second pseudo-random number;

transmitting the first signal to the first element; and

transmitting the second signal to the second device.

3. The stylus of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one on-pen sensor connected to the controller;

wherein the controller is further configured to:

generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on the at least one pen;

generating a first data code according to the data code and the first pseudorandom code; and

transmitting the first data code to the first device,

Wherein the first element is further configured to: receiving the first data code from the controller,

wherein the conductive nib section is further configured to:

receiving the first data code from the first element; and

the first data code is transmitted.

4. The stylus of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one on-pen sensor connected to the controller;

wherein the controller is further configured to:

generating a second data code according to the data code and the second pseudo random number; and

transmitting the second data code to the second device,

wherein the second element is further to: receiving the second data code from the controller,

wherein the conductive nib section is further configured to:

receiving the first data code from the second element; and

the second data code is transmitted.

5. The stylus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receiving a synchronization signal from an electronic device; and

after receiving the synchronization signal, the generating step and the transmitting step are performed.

6. The stylus of claim 5, wherein the controller is coupled to the conductive nib to receive the synchronization signal, the synchronization signal being emitted by an electrode of a touch panel of the electronic device.

7. The stylus of claim 2, further comprising:

the man-machine interface is used for the user to input the virtual random number,

the controller is also used for receiving a setting instruction from the human-computer interface, and appointing the combination of the first virtual random number and the second virtual random number.

8. The stylus of claim 2, further comprising one of the following means connected to the controller for indicating the combination of the first pseudorandom number and the second pseudorandom number:

a visual effect indicator; and

a sound effect indicator.

9. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first signal circuit, coupled to the first element and a touch processing device, for propagating the first signal from the touch processing device to the first element; and

a second signal circuit, coupled to the second element and the touch processing device, for propagating the second signal from the touch processing device to the second element.

10. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third switch for receiving the first signal; and

a third element having a fixed impedance coupled to the third switch and the conductive nib, wherein the third switch is selectively opened or closed, and when the third switch is closed, the first signal propagates from the conductive nib through the third switch and the third element.

11. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth switch for receiving the second signal; and

a fourth element having a fixed impedance coupled to the fourth switch and the conductive nib, wherein the fourth switch is selectively opened or closed, and the second signal propagates from the conductive nib through the fourth switch and the fourth element when the fourth switch is closed.

12. A method for transmitting an electrical signal carrying pressure information from a stylus, comprising:

receiving, by a first element having an impedance that is responsive to a pressure, a first signal encoded with a first pseudorandom number;

receiving, by a second element having a fixed impedance, a second signal encoded with a second pseudorandom number;

receiving, by a conductive nib, the first signal from the first element and the second signal from the second element simultaneously; and

transmitting an electrical signal comprising the first signal and the second signal from the conductive tip segment, wherein the first pseudorandom number is orthogonal to the second pseudorandom number.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating the first signal according to the first pseudorandom code;

Generating the second signal according to the second pseudo-random number;

transmitting the first signal to the first element; and

transmitting the second signal to the second device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating a data code according to the state of the sensor on at least one pen;

generating a first data code according to the data code and the first pseudorandom code;

transmitting the first data code to the first device;

transmitting the first data code from the first element to the conductive tip section; and

the first data code is transmitted by the conductive pen tip segment.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating a second data code according to the data code and the second pseudo random number;

transmitting the second data code to the second device;

transmitting the second data code from the second element to the conductive tip section; and

the second data code is transmitted by the conductive pen tip segment.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a synchronization signal from an electronic device; and

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the synchronization signal is emitted from an electrode of a touch panel of the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

a setting instruction is received from a human-machine interface of the stylus pen, which designates a combination of the first pseudorandom number and the second pseudorandom number.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising at least one of:

making the visual effect indicator of the touch control pen indicate the combination of the first virtual random number and the second virtual random number; and

the sound indicator of the touch pen indicates the combination of the first pseudo random number and the second pseudo random number.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the first signal from the touch processing device by a first signal circuit;

propagating the first signal from the first signal circuit to the first element;

receiving the second signal from the touch processing device by a second signal circuit; and

propagating the second signal from the second signal circuit to the second element.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

Selectively receiving the first signal by a third element having a fixed impedance; and

selectively transmitting the first signal from the third element to the conductive nib.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

selectively receiving the second signal by a fourth element having a fixed impedance; and

selectively transmitting the second signal from the fourth element to the conductive nib.