JP6867535B2 - Dual controllers and dual styli and how they are performed - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method performed by a stylus, a method performed by a dual stylus and a dual controller, and a dual stylus.

In recent years, as an input device, an electronic device having a stylus for transmitting a signal by using electrostatic coupling has been attracting attention. This type of electronic device is further equipped with a touch sensor and a sensor controller, which receives a signal from the stylus received through the touch sensor and detects the position and pressure of the stylus based on the received signal. Configured to do.

In recent years, various types of electronic devices such as those described above have appeared. Specific examples thereof are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4.

Patent Document 1 discloses a so-called active electrostatic type electronic device capable of detecting the existence and position of a stylus by using an electrode prepared in a touch panel for finger detection. The sensor controller according to this example does not have a signal transmission function, and the signal is transmitted from the stylus to the sensor controller in only one direction.

Patent Document 2 also discloses an active electrostatic type electronic device. The sensor controller according to this example has a signal transmission function, and signals are transmitted in both directions between the stylus and the sensor controller.

Patent Document 3 discloses another example in which a signal is transmitted from the stylus to the sensor controller in only one direction, and Patent Document 4 discloses a signal is transmitted in both directions between the stylus and the sensor controller. Other examples are disclosed.

As described above, there are various types of electronic devices equipped with a stylus, but it is common that there is no compatibility between the types. As a result, conventionally, for example, when a user tries to use an electronic device corresponding to only the first method and an electronic device corresponding to only the second method side by side and alternately, the stylus is changed every time the electronic device is moved. It was inconvenient because I had to do it.

International Publication No. 2015/11159 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-63249 U.S. Pat. No. 8,536,471 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012-0105362

In view of the above situation, the applicant is considering the introduction of a stylus and a sensor controller that support a plurality of methods. Hereinafter, the stylus and the sensor controller corresponding to the plurality of methods will be referred to as dual stylus and dual controller, respectively. For example, in the above example, by using the dual stylus corresponding to both the first method and the second method, it is not necessary to change the stylus every time the electronic device is moved.

However, as the applicant proceeded with the examination, it was found that the dual stylus and the dual controller have the following problems. The details will be described below.

First, there is a problem that it may take a long time from the contact of the dual stylus with the touch surface until the operation mode of the dual stylus is determined. When the sensor controller has a function of transmitting a signal from the touch surface, the dual stylus can know the type of the sensor controller before touching the touch surface by receiving this signal.

However, both the signal reception of the dual stylus and the signal transmission of the sensor controller must be intermittent, so touch when the signal from the sensor controller has not been received yet, such as when the user's operation is quick. It may lead to contact with the surface. In such a case, for a while after touching the touch surface (until the timing of signal reception of the dual stylus and the timing of signal transmission of the sensor controller match), input by the dual stylus cannot be performed. As a result, the user feels uncomfortable.

Secondly, when the dual stylus and the dual controller are used in combination, there is a problem that the operation does not always operate in the optimum operation mode. The multiple schemes supported by the dual stylus and dual controller are not actually prepared as completely parallel, but are prioritized. That is, assuming that there are dual styli and dual controllers corresponding to the first method and the second method, for example, the first method is set to have a higher priority than the second method. In this case, when communicating between the dual stylus and the dual controller, both of which correspond to the first method, the communication should be performed by the first method.

However, if, for example, both the dual stylus and the dual controller intermittently transmit and receive signals in the first method and the second method, the other party is a device corresponding to the second method depending on the timing. Both sides may recognize it. In such a case, the communication by the second method is started, and the communication by the first method is not performed.

Further, for example, when the first method having a high priority supports two-way communication and the second method having a low priority supports one-way communication from the stylus to the sensor controller, it is quick when a touch operation is performed. In order to realize drawing, it is conceivable to operate the dual stylus by the second method at the same time as detecting the pen pressure. Then, as described above, the communication by the first method is not performed.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is a method performed by the stylus, a method performed by the dual stylus and the dual controller, and a method performed by the dual stylus and the dual controller, which can solve the problems related to the dual stylus and the dual controller as described above. It is to provide a dual stylus.

The method performed by the dual stylus according to the present invention is configured to be capable of transmitting both a signal according to the first method and a signal according to the second method, and is configured to be capable of receiving at least a signal according to the first method. In addition, it is a method executed by a dual stylus having a pen pressure detection function applied to the pen tip, and the contact with the touch surface by the dual stylus is detected based on the pen pressure detected by the detection function. In response to the detection of contact with the touch surface by the dual stylus, the step of starting the signal reception operation according to the first method and the reception operation receive the signal according to the first method. If this is the case, the dual stylus operation mode is set to the first operation mode for transmitting and receiving signals according to the first method.

The method executed by the dual stylus and the dual controller according to the present invention is configured to be capable of transmitting both the signal according to the first method and the signal according to the second method, and at least receives the signal according to the first method. The dual stylus configured to be possible, the signal according to the first method and the signal according to the second method can be received, and at least the signal according to the first method can be transmitted. A method executed by the dual controller, wherein the dual stylus transmits a first signal including functional information indicating that the dual stylus corresponds to the first method by the second method. In response to the step and the dual controller receiving the first signal, the dual controller transmits a second signal including an instruction to switch to the first operation mode for transmitting and receiving the signal according to the first method. The dual stylus includes a step and a step of switching its own operation mode to the first operation mode in response to receiving the second signal.

The dual stylus according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to be capable of transmitting both the signal according to the first method and the signal according to the second method, and is configured to be able to receive at least the signal according to the first method. , The dual stylus having a pen pressure detection function applied to the pen tip, and the contact with the touch surface by the dual stylus is detected based on the pen pressure detected by the detection function. When the signal reception operation according to the first method is activated for a predetermined time and the signal according to the first method is received within the predetermined time, the self-operation mode is set to transmit / receive the signal according to the first method. It is a dual stylus set to the first operation mode to be performed.

The dual stylus according to the other aspect of the present invention is configured to be capable of transmitting both the signal according to the first method and the signal according to the second method, and is configured to be able to receive at least the signal according to the first method. After transmitting the first signal, which is a dual stylus and includes functional information indicating that the self corresponds to the first method, by the second method and transmitting the first signal. In response to receiving a second signal from the sensor controller indicating an instruction to switch to the first operation mode for transmitting and receiving signals by the first method, the self-operation mode is changed to the first operation mode. It is a dual stylus to switch.

The dual stylus according to still another aspect of the present invention is configured to be capable of transmitting both the signal according to the first method and the signal according to the second method, and at least the signal according to the first method can be detected. The dual stylus is operated in the indicator and the first operation mode for transmitting the signal according to the first method, or in the second operation mode for transmitting the signal according to the second method. A dual stylus that determines whether to operate and controls the indicator to display differently depending on whether the determined operation mode is the first operation mode or the second operation mode. Is.

According to the method performed by the stylus according to the present invention, the stylus can start the signal receiving operation according to the first method immediately after the contact with the touch surface. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from the contact with the touch surface until the stylus is set to the first operation mode.

Further, according to the method executed by the dual stylus and the dual controller according to the present invention, even if the operation mode of the dual stylus is the second operation mode for transmitting (receiving) signals by the second method. , The operation mode of the dual stylus can be switched to the first operation mode by the instruction of the dual controller which grasps that the dual stylus corresponds to the first method. Therefore, it is possible to start communication by the first method between the dual stylus and the dual controller.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the position detection system 1 by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the sensor controller 31 by embodiment of this invention. It is a mode transition diagram of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the signal transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the 1st Embodiment of this invention perform the operation by the background technique of this invention. It is a figure which shows the signal transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the 1st Embodiment of this invention perform the operation by the background technique of this invention. It is a figure which shows the signal transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention perform the operation by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the signal transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention perform the operation by this embodiment. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the stylus 2 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the stylus 2 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the stylus 2 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a mode transition diagram of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the signal transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention perform the operation by the background technique of this invention. It is a figure which shows the signal which is transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention perform the operation by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the signal which is transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention perform the operation by this embodiment. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the stylus 2 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the stylus 2 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the stylus 2 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow diagram which shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the position detection system 1 includes a stylus 2 and an electronic device 3. Among them, the electronic device 3 is, for example, a tablet-type computer, and has a sensor 30 constituting a touch surface 3t, a sensor controller 31, and a system controller 32 for controlling each part of the sensor controller 31 including these.

The stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 are dual stylus and dual controller corresponding to the method A (first method) and the method B (second method), which are not compatible with each other, respectively. Both methods A and B support bidirectional communication between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31. Priorities are given to the methods A and B, and a higher priority than the method B is set in the method A.

Dashed arrow arrows C1 to C5 in FIG. 1 indicate a typical cycle in which the user operates the stylus 2. Further, in the sensing range SR shown in FIG. 1, the sensor controller 31 receives the uplink signal US transmitted by the sensor controller 31 by the stylus 2 or the downlink signal DS transmitted by the stylus 2. Therefore, one of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 indicates a range in which the other can be detected.

When drawing a line on the touch surface 3t using the stylus 2, the user moves (downs) the stylus 2 from outside the sensing range SR into the sensing range SR (C1, C2), and desires it on the touch surface 3t. After moving to draw the trajectory of (C3), the stylus is moved (up) from the inside of the sensing range SR to the outside of the sensing range SR (C4, C5), and the series of cycles is repeated. In the present specification, the stylus 2 entering the sensing range SR during the down operation is referred to as a first pen-down PD1, and the stylus 2 in contact with the touch surface 3t is referred to as a second pen-down PD2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stylus 2 has a core body 20, an electrode 21, a pen pressure detecting unit 22, a switch 23, a signal processing unit 24, a power supply 25, and an indicator 26.

The core body 20 is a rod-shaped member arranged so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the pen axial direction of the stylus 2, and constitutes the pen tip of the stylus 2. A conductive material is applied to the surface of the tip of the core 20 to form the electrode 21. The rear end portion of the core body 20 is brought into contact with the pen pressure detecting portion 22. The writing pressure detecting unit 22 is a brush corresponding to the pressure applied to the tip of the core body 20 (the writing pressure applied to the core body 20) when the pen tip of the stylus 2 is pressed against the touch surface 3t or the like of the sensor controller 31. It detects the pressure level, and in a specific example, it is composed of a variable capacitance module whose capacitance changes according to the writing pressure.

The electrode 21 is a conductor provided in the vicinity of the core body 20, and is electrically connected to the signal processing unit 24 by wiring. When the stylus 2 transmits the downlink signal DS to the sensor controller 31, the downlink signal DS is supplied from the signal processing unit 24 to the electrode 21, and the content of the downlink signal DS is adjusted accordingly. The charge is guided to the electrode 21. As a result, the capacitance in the sensor 30, which will be described later, changes, and the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS by detecting this change. Further, when the uplink signal US transmitted by the sensor controller 31 arrives at the electrode 21, a charge corresponding to the incoming uplink signal US is induced in the electrode 21. The signal processing unit 24 receives the uplink signal US by detecting the electric charge thus induced in the electrode 21.

The switch 23 is, for example, a side switch provided on the side surface of the housing of the stylus 2 and functions as an input unit configured to accept an operation by the user. Specifically, it is configured to output switch information indicating its own pressing state to the signal processing unit 24 according to the operation state (pressed state) by the user. The switch information is information indicating one of two states, for example, on and off.

The signal processing unit 24 has a function of receiving the uplink signal US transmitted by the sensor controller 31 by the method A or the method B via the electrode 21, and generates a downlink signal DS by the method A or the method B to generate the downlink signal DS, and the sensor controller 31 It has a function of transmitting through the electrode 21 and a function of detecting the second pen-down PD2 (contact with the touch surface 3t) based on the pen pressure level detected by the pen pressure detecting unit 22. Which of the methods A and B is used by the signal processing unit 24 is determined according to the operation mode of the stylus 2, and this point will be described later.

As will be described later, the uplink signal US may include various commands, and in that case, the signal processing unit 24 acquires a command by demodulating and decoding the received uplink signal US, and according to the acquired command. The downlink signal DS is generated. Specifically, a downlink signal DS including various information such as a pen pressure level detected by the pen pressure detection unit 22 and switch information output from the switch 23 is generated based on an instruction by a command.

Further, the signal processing unit 24 holds the unique ID of the stylus 2 in a memory (not shown). The unique ID is information that is commonly used in all of the plurality of methods (in this case, methods A and B) supported by the stylus 2, and is information indicating the plurality of methods supported by the stylus 2. Includes. The signal processing unit 24 voluntarily receives an instruction from the command included in the uplink signal US, or voluntarily at a timing corresponding to some trigger including reception of the uplink signal US and the second pen-down PD2. Includes functional information in the downlink signal DS that includes all or part of this unique ID (at least including sufficient information for the sensor controller 31 to know that the stylus 2 corresponds to method A). Configured to send.

The power supply 25 is for supplying operating power (DC voltage) to the signal processing unit 24, and is composed of, for example, a cylindrical AAAA battery.

The indicator 26 is a display means for notifying the user of various information about the stylus 2, and is composed of, for example, a light emitting diode. The indicator 26 will be described in detail in the third embodiment described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the sensor controller 31. The figure also shows the configuration of the sensor 30. As shown in the figure, the sensor 30 has a configuration in which a plurality of linear electrodes 30X and a plurality of linear electrodes 30Y are arranged in a matrix, and the stylus 2 and capacitance are arranged by these linear electrodes 30X and 30Y. Join. This sensor 30 is used not only for stylus 2 but also for finger detection. Further, the sensor controller 31 includes a transmission unit 60, a selection unit 40, a reception unit 50, a logic unit 70, and an MCU 80.

The transmission unit 60 is a circuit for generating and transmitting an uplink signal US by the method A or the method B, and is, for example, a pattern supply unit 61, a switch 62, a diffusion processing unit 63, a code string holding unit 64, and a transmission guard. It is configured to include part 65. The specific configuration of the transmission unit 60 described here is an example, and may differ depending on the method. Further, when the methods A and B require transmission units 60 having different configurations, each configuration may be provided in one transmission unit 60 and selectively operated. Which of the methods A and B is used by the transmission unit 60 is determined according to the operation mode of the sensor controller 31, and this point will be described later.

The pattern supply unit 61 holds the detection pattern c1, and according to the instruction of the control signal ctrl_t1 supplied from the logic unit 70, the signal (or signal) corresponding to the detection pattern c1 during a predetermined continuous transmission period (for example, 3 msec). It has a function to continuously and repeatedly output a bit string). Further, it also has a function of continuously outputting a predetermined delimiter pattern STP at least twice immediately after the end of this continuous transmission period or at the start of transmission of control information c2 described later. Although the pattern supply unit 61 is provided in the transmission unit 60 in FIG. 2, it may be provided in the MCU 80.

The detection pattern c1 is a pattern of symbol values used by the stylus 2 to detect the presence of the sensor controller 31, and is known to the stylus 2 in advance (before the stylus 2 detects the sensor controller 31). There is. A symbol is a unit of information used for modulation in transmission processing (a unit of information expressed by a transmission signal), and is a unit of information obtained by demodulating one symbol which is a reception signal in reception processing. The symbol value is a value that is converted into a bit string (hereinafter referred to as "bit string compatible value") and a value that is not converted into a bit string by the stylus 2 that receives the symbol (hereinafter referred to as "bit string non-compatible value"). Can include. As shown in Table 1 described later, the symbol related to the former takes a value of the number of powers of 2 and can be associated with a bit string such as "0001". The bit length of each symbol represented by the bit string in this way is determined by the specifications of the diffusion processing unit 63. On the other hand, the symbol related to the latter takes one or more values (for example, two), and takes a value that cannot be associated with a bit string represented by "P", "M", etc. as shown in Table 1 described later. In the example shown in Table 1 described later, "P" and "M" are associated with a predetermined diffusion code string and its inversion code string, respectively.

The detection pattern c1 is represented by a pattern of non-bit string compatible values. Specifically, it is composed of repeating two bit string non-corresponding values "P" and "M" such as "PMPMPM ...".

The delimiter pattern STP is a symbol pattern for notifying the stylus 2 of the end of the continuous transmission period, and is composed of a symbol pattern that does not appear during the repetition of the detection pattern c1. As an example, when the detection pattern c1 is configured by repeating two bit string non-corresponding values "P" and "M" like "PMPMPM ..." as described above, the delimiter pattern STP is a bit string non-corresponding value. It can be configured by a pattern "PP" in which "P" is continuous twice. The configuration of the delimiter pattern STP and the detection pattern c1 may be reversed, the delimiter pattern may be configured by "PM", and the detection pattern c1 may be configured by "PP".

The switch 62 has a function of selecting one of the pattern supply unit 61 and the MCU 80 based on the control signal ctrl_t2 supplied from the logic unit 70, and supplying the selected output to the diffusion processing unit 63. When the switch 62 selects the pattern supply unit 61, the detection pattern c1 or the delimiter pattern STP is supplied to the diffusion processing unit 63. On the other hand, when the switch 62 selects the MCU 80, the control information c2 is supplied from the MCU 80 to the diffusion processing unit 63.

The control information c2 is information including a command indicating the content of instruction to the stylus 2, and is generated by the MCU 80. The control information c2 is different from the detection pattern c1 in that the control information c2 includes a symbol value (for example, 0 to 15) associated with the variable length bit string, and the value is not shared in advance with the stylus 2. .. Further, the control information c2 is a detection pattern c1 including the values “P” and “M” at the point indicated by the value “D” indicating the value of the number of powers (8 values) of 2 of the predetermined bit length described above. It's different.

The code sequence holding unit 64 has a function of generating and holding a diffusion code PN having an autocorrelation characteristic and having an 11-chip length based on the control signal ctrl_t3 supplied from the logic unit 70. The diffusion code PN held by the code string holding unit 64 is supplied to the diffusion processing unit 63.

The spreading processing unit 63 modulates the spreading code PN held by the code string holding unit 64 based on the value of the symbol supplied via the switch 62 (information expressed by the transmission signal by the processing of the spreading processing unit 63). By doing so, it has a function of obtaining a transmission chip sequence having a length of 12 chips. Hereinafter, this function will be described with reference to specific examples.

In the example described below, each of the detection pattern c1, the delimiter pattern STP, and the control information c2 has bit string corresponding values 0 to 15 (corresponding bit strings "0000" to "1111") and bit string non-corresponding values "P" and "M". It shall be composed of the combination of. Further, it is assumed that the diffusion code PN held by the code string holding unit 64 is "00010010111". In this case, the diffusion processing unit 63 converts the values of each symbol (0 to 15 and P and M) into a transmission chip sequence according to Table 1 below.

As shown in Table 1, in this example, the symbol value "P" is first converted into a transmission chip sequence in which "1" is added to the beginning of the diffusion code PN "00010010111". Further, each of the symbol values "0" to "7" is a transmission chip sequence in which the diffusion code PN "00010010111" is cyclically shifted by the shift amount shown in Table 1 and "1" is added to the beginning of the code string. Will be converted. The other symbol values "M" "8" to "15" are converted into transmission chip sequences obtained by inverting the transmission chip strings corresponding to the symbol values "P" "0" to "7", respectively.

The diffusion processing unit 63 is configured to acquire the transmission chip sequence by the above conversion processing and supply it to the transmission guard unit 65.

The transmission guard unit 65 switches between a transmission operation and a reception operation between the transmission period of the uplink signal US and the reception period for receiving the signal from the stylus 2 based on the control signal ctrl_t4 supplied from the logic unit 70. Therefore, it has a function to insert a guard period, which is a period during which both transmission and reception are not performed.

The selection unit 40 is a switch that switches between a transmission period for transmitting a signal from the sensor 30 and a reception period for receiving a signal by the sensor 30 based on the control of the logic unit 70. More specifically, the selection unit 40 includes switches 44x and 44y and conductor selection circuits 41x and 41y. Based on the control signal sTRx supplied from the logic unit 70, the switch 44x connects the output end of the transmission unit 60 to the input end of the conductor selection circuit 41x during the transmission period, and connects the output end of the conductor selection circuit 41x during the reception period. It operates so as to connect the output end to the input end of the receiving unit 50. Based on the control signal sTRy supplied from the logic unit 70, the switch 44y connects the output end of the transmission unit 60 to the input end of the conductor selection circuit 41y during the transmission period, and connects the output end of the conductor selection circuit 41y during the reception period. It operates so as to connect the output end to the input end of the receiving unit 50. The conductor selection circuit 41x operates to select one or more of the plurality of linear electrodes 30X based on the control signal selX supplied from the logic unit 70, and connect the selected one to the switch 44x. The conductor selection circuit 41y operates to select one or more of the plurality of linear electrodes 30Y based on the control signal selY supplied from the logic unit 70, and connect the selected one to the switch 44y. The plurality of linear electrodes 30X or the plurality of linear electrodes 30Y are selected by the conductor selection circuits 41x and 41y when, for example, the uplink signal US is transmitted from the entire surface of the touch surface 3t.

The receiving unit 50 is a circuit for receiving the downlink signal DS by the method A or the method B according to the control signal ctrl_r of the logic unit 70. Specifically, the amplifier circuit 51, the detection circuit 52, and the analog digital are used. (AD) Consists of including a converter 53. The specific configuration of the receiving unit 50 described here is also an example, and may differ depending on the method. Further, when the methods A and B require the receiving units 50 having different configurations, each configuration may be arranged in one receiving unit 50 and selectively operated. Which of the methods A and B is used by the receiving unit 50 is determined according to the operation mode of the sensor controller 31, and this point will be described later.

The amplifier circuit 51 amplifies and outputs the downlink signal DS supplied from the selection unit 40. The detection circuit 52 is a circuit that generates a voltage corresponding to the level of the output signal of the amplifier circuit 51. The AD converter 53 is a circuit that generates a digital signal by sampling the voltage output from the detection circuit 52 at predetermined time intervals. The digital signal output by the AD converter 53 is supplied to the MCU 80.

The logic unit 70 and the MCU 80 are control units that control transmission / reception operations of the transmission unit 60, the reception unit 50, and the like. Specifically, the MCU 80 is a microprocessor that has a ROM and a RAM inside and operates based on a predetermined program. On the other hand, the logic unit 70 is configured to output each of the above-mentioned control signals based on the control of the MCU 80. The MCU 80 also derives coordinate data x, y, etc. indicating the position of the stylus 2 based on the digital signal supplied from the AD converter 53, outputs the coordinate data x, y, etc. to the system controller 32, and supplies the data from the AD converter 53. When the digital signal to be output indicates some data, the data is acquired and output to the system controller 32.

FIG. 3 is a mode transition diagram of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment perform communication in the undetermined mode P, the operation mode A (first operation mode) for communicating in the method A, and the method B. It is configured to operate in any of the operation modes B (second operation mode). Of these, the unconfirmed mode P means a state in which the device as the communication partner has not yet been detected. In the undetermined mode P, which of the operation modes A and B should be operated is not determined, and as will be described later, the transmission and reception of signals by the methods A and B are alternately repeated. The undetermined mode P can also be called a dual mode in which the undetermined mode P operates alternately in a plurality of operation modes such as methods A and B, and the discovery mode is a mode in which any one of the sensor controllers 31 or the stylus 2 is detected. You can also call it. The stylus 2 may perform a process of switching the display of the indicator 26 according to the transition of these operation modes. This point will be described in the third embodiment described later.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, problems that occur when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 corresponding to the methods A and B operate according to the background technique of the present invention will be described. The operations of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, are also executed in the operation according to the present embodiment, except for the points described later.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 operate according to the background technology of the present invention. In the example of the figure, the first pen-down PD1 occurs at time t0, and the second pen-down PD2 occurs at time t1. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation modes of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 before the first pen-down PD1 occurs are, in principle, the undetermined mode P.

In the undetermined mode P, the stylus 2 alternately repeats the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A and the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method B, and the sensor controller 31 alternately transmits the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A. The operation, the operation of receiving the downlink signal DS by the method A, the operation of transmitting the uplink signal US by the method B, and the operation of receiving the downlink signal DS by the method B are repeated in this order. Here, the reception operation and the transmission operation of each signal are continuously executed for a predetermined time predetermined for each signal. This point is the same for the reception operation and the transmission operation of each signal described later. Further, for each method, the cycle of the uplink signal US transmission operation by the sensor controller 31 and the cycle of the uplink signal US reception operation by the stylus 2 are configured so that one of them is not a multiple of the other. This is to avoid the occurrence of a situation in which the stylus 2 cannot receive the uplink signal US transmitted by the sensor controller 31 indefinitely even though the uplink signal US has reached the stylus 2. Further, the duration of the reception operation (predetermined time) according to each method is at least the same as the duration of the reception operation of the uplink signal US executed by the stylus 2 from the time t1 in FIG. 6, which will be described later, at least the corresponding uplink signal US. It is preferable that the time is equal to or longer than the transmission cycle (transmission cycle by the sensor controller 31). Further, in order to save the power supply 25 (FIG. 1), the reception operation of the stylus 2 is preferably repeatedly executed with a pause period during which the reception operation is not executed, as shown in FIG.

The most preferable mode transition of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 due to the occurrence of the first pen-down PD1 and the second pen-down PD2 is between time t0 and time t1 (that is, before the second pen-down PD2 occurs). Both the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 are in the operation mode A. This is because the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS transmitted by the stylus 2 in which the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US according to the method A and thereby starts the operation in the operation mode A, thereby the sensor controller. 31 is also realized by performing a series of processes of starting the operation in the operation mode A between the time t0 and the time t1.

However, when the user operates the stylus 2 quickly and the time between time t0 and time t1 becomes short, the stylus 2 is uplinked for a while even after the time t1 as illustrated in FIG. A situation may occur in which the signal US cannot be received. In the example of FIG. 4, the stylus 2 finally receives the uplink signal US transmitted by the method A at the time t2 after the time t1, and as a result, the stylus 2 enters the operation mode A, and at the subsequent time t3, the stylus 2 enters the operation mode A. The sensor controller 31 that has received the downlink signal DS transmitted by the method A enters the operation mode A, and the communication between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the method A is started. That is, a delay of 1 minute in time t3-t1 has occurred from the occurrence of the second pen-down PD2 at time t1 to the start of communication between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the method A at time t3. There is. The occurrence of this delay is one of the problems in the background technology of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is also a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 operate according to the background technology of the present invention. The example in the figure is different from the example shown in FIG. 4 in that the timing of the reception operation of the stylus 2 (the timing relative to the transmission operation of the sensor controller 31).

As a result of the above difference, in the example of FIG. 5, the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US transmitted by the method B at time t2, and is in the operation mode B. In response to this, at time t3, the sensor controller 31 also enters the operation mode B, and the communication between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 is started by the method B. Since the method B has a lower priority than the method A, it is not preferable that the communication by the method B is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 corresponding to both the methods A and B at an early stage. It is desirable to switch to communication by method A. This is one of the other issues in the background technology of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 perform operations according to the present embodiment. In particular, the figure shows the operation of the stylus 2 for avoiding the above-mentioned delay.

As shown in FIG. 6, after detecting the second pen-down PD2 at time t1, the stylus 2 immediately starts the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A if its operation mode is still the undetermined mode P. To do. This reception operation is continued for at least a time equal to or longer than the transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31 (period SP1 shown) until the uplink signal US according to the method A is received. As a result, if the sensor controller 31 transmits the uplink signal US according to the method A, the stylus 2 reliably transmits the uplink signal US according to the method A unless it deviates from the sensing range SR (FIG. 1). You will be able to receive it. Moreover, since the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the method A is started immediately after the occurrence of the second pen-down PD2, the delay from the second pen-down PD2 to the start of the communication by the method A can be minimized. it can.

FIG. 7 is also a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment. In particular, the figure shows the operation of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 for switching to the communication by the method A having a high priority after the communication by the method B having a low priority has been started. Such a situation occurs even when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 operate according to the present embodiment, for example, when the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US according to the method B between the time t0 and the time t1. Can occur in.

As shown in FIG. 7, the stylus 2 that has started the operation in the operation mode B transmits a downlink signal DS (D1. The first signal) including the unique ID at an arbitrary time t4. The arbitrary time t4 may be a time corresponding to the uplink signal US from the sensor controller 31 or a command included therein, or a time corresponding to the time t2 when the stylus 2 starts operating in the operation mode B. May be. When the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS (D1), it acquires the unique ID contained therein by demodulation and decoding. Then, it is determined whether or not the stylus 2 also supports the method A based on the acquired unique ID, and if it is determined that the stylus 2 also supports the method A, a command indicating an instruction to switch to the operation mode A at time t5. The uplink signal US (D2, the second signal) including the above is transmitted. When the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US (D2) at time t6, the stylus 2 acquires the switching instruction included therein by demodulation and decoding. Then, according to the acquired switching instruction, the own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A at time t7.

The time required for the stylus 2 to shift to the operation mode A after the sensor controller 31 transmits the uplink signal US (D2) can be determined in advance as part of the specifications of the stylus 2. Therefore, since the sensor controller 31 can know in advance the time t7 at which the stylus 2 that has received the switching instruction shifts to the operation mode A, the sensor controller 31 performs a process of switching its own operation mode to the operation mode A according to the time t7. As a result, communication by the method A having a high priority is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.

8 to 10 are processing flow diagrams showing the operation of the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to these figures.

As shown in FIG. 8, the stylus 2 first sets its own operation mode to the undetermined mode P (step S11). Then, the arrival of the reception start timing in the method A, the arrival of the reception start timing in the method B, and the occurrence of the second pen-down are detected (steps S12 and S14). When the reception start timing in the method A arrives and when the second pen-down occurs, the stylus 2 activates the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the method A (step S13). As described above, this reception operation when the second pen-down occurs takes at least a time longer than the transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31 (cycle SP1 shown in FIG. 6) until the uplink signal US by the method A is received. Will be continued. Further, when the reception start timing in the method B arrives, the stylus 2 activates the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the method B (step S15).

The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the uplink signal US has been received by the reception operation started in step S13 or step S15 (step S16), and the uplink signal US has been received by the reception operation started in step S13. When it is determined (that is, when the uplink signal US by the method A is received), its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A (step S17), and the uplink signal US is received by the reception operation started in step S15. If it is determined that this has been done (that is, when the uplink signal US according to the method B is received), its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode B (step S18).

FIG. 9 shows the operation of the stylus 2 after the operation in the operation mode A is started. As shown in the figure, the stylus 2 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S21 and S23). Then, when the transmission start timing arrives, the transmission operation of the downlink signal DS by the method A is activated (step S22), and when the reception start timing arrives, the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the method A is activated. (Step S24).

The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the uplink signal US has been received by the reception operation started in step S24 (step S25), and if it is determined that the uplink signal US has been received, returns to step S21 and repeats the process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the signal has not been received, the operation mode of the player is returned to the undetermined mode P (step S26), and the process is returned to step S12 of FIG. This process is executed to return the stylus 2 to the undetermined mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.

FIG. 10 shows the operation of the stylus 2 after the operation in the operation mode B is started. As shown in the figure, the stylus 2 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S31 and S33). Then, when the transmission start timing arrives, the transmission operation of the downlink signal DS by the method B is activated (step S32), and when the reception start timing arrives, the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the method B is activated. (Step S34).

The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the uplink signal US has been received by the reception operation started in step S34 (step S35), and if it determines that the uplink signal US has been received, an instruction to switch to the operation mode A is in the stylus 2. Is included or not (step S36). As a result, when it is determined that it is included, the operation mode of the player is switched to the operation mode A (step S37), and the process is shifted to the step S21 of FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not included, the process returns to step S31 and the process is repeated.

If it is determined that the stylus has not been received in step S35, the stylus 2 returns its operation mode to the undetermined mode P (step S38), and returns the process to step S12 of FIG. Similar to step S26 of FIG. 9, this process is executed to return the stylus 2 to the undetermined mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.

11 to 13 are processing flow charts showing the processing performed by the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to these figures.

As shown in FIG. 11, the sensor controller 31 first sets its own operation mode to the undetermined mode P (step S41). Then, each of the arrival of the reception start timing in the method A, the arrival of the transmission start timing in the method A, the arrival of the reception start timing in the method B, and the arrival of the transmission start timing in the method B is detected (step S42, S44, S46, S48). When the reception start timing in the method A arrives, the sensor controller 31 activates the downlink signal DS reception operation by the method A (step S43). Similarly, when the transmission start timing in the method A arrives, the sensor controller 31 activates the transmission operation of the uplink signal US by the method A (step S45), and when the reception start timing in the method B arrives. The downlink signal DS reception operation by the method B is started (step S47), and when the transmission start timing by the method B is reached, the uplink signal US transmission operation by the method B is started (step S49). ..

The sensor controller 31 also determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S43 or step S47 (step S50). Then, when it is determined that the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S43 (that is, when the downlink signal DS by the method A is received), its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A (that is, when the downlink signal DS is received). In step S51), when it is determined that the downlink signal DS is received by the reception operation started in step S47 (that is, when the downlink signal DS by the method B is received), its own operation mode is set to the operation mode B. Switching (step S52).

FIG. 12 shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 after starting the operation in the operation mode A. As shown in the figure, the sensor controller 31 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S61 and S63). Then, when the transmission start timing arrives, the transmission operation of the uplink signal US by the method A is activated (step S62), and when the reception start timing arrives, the reception operation of the downlink signal DS by the method A is activated. (Step S64).

The sensor controller 31 also determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S64 (step S65), and if it is determined that the downlink signal DS has been received, returns to step S61 and repeats the process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the signal has not been received, the operation mode of the player is returned to the undetermined mode P (step S66), and the process is returned to step S42 of FIG. This process is executed to return the sensor controller 31 to the undetermined mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.

FIG. 13 shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 after starting the operation in the operation mode B. As shown in the figure, the sensor controller 31 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S71 and S73). Then, when the transmission start timing arrives, the transmission operation of the uplink signal US by the method B is activated (step S72), and when the reception start timing arrives, the reception operation of the downlink signal DS by the method B is activated. (Step S74).

The sensor controller 31 also determines whether or not the instruction to switch to the operation mode A is included in the uplink signal US and transmitted (step S75), and if it is determined that the transmission is transmitted, the stylus 2 is set to the operation mode A. The own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A according to the timing of the transition (step S76). After that, the process proceeds to step S61 in FIG. 12 to continue the process.

When it is determined that the transmission is not performed in step S75, the sensor controller 31 then determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S74 (step S77). If it is determined that the sensor controller 31 has not been received here, the sensor controller 31 returns its operation mode to the undetermined mode P (step S78) and returns the process to step S42 of FIG. Similar to step S66 in FIG. 12, this process is executed to return the sensor controller 31 to the undetermined mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.

When it is determined that the signal has been received in step S77, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the received downlink signal DS includes functional information indicating that the stylus 2 corresponds to the method A (step S79). .. Specifically, the functional information is information indicating all or a part of the unique ID of the stylus 2 as described above. When it is determined that the downlink signal DS contains functional information indicating that the stylus 2 corresponds to the method A, the sensor controller 31 uses the operation mode A as one of the information transmitted by the uplink signal US. A command including an instruction to switch to is set (step S80). The command set in this way will be transmitted the next time step S72 is executed. Then, in the subsequent step S75, it is determined that the instruction for switching to the operation mode A is included in the uplink signal US and transmitted. As a result of these processes, both the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 shift to the operation mode A.

As described above, according to the method executed by the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment, the stylus 2 can activate the signal receiving operation by the method A immediately after the contact with the touch surface 3t. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from the contact with the touch surface 3t until the stylus 2 is set to the operation mode A.

Further, according to the method executed by the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment, even if the operation mode of the stylus 2 is the operation mode B for transmitting and receiving signals by the method B, the stylus 2 is the method. The operation mode of the stylus 2 can be switched to the operation mode A by the instruction of the sensor controller 31 which has grasped that it corresponds to A. Therefore, it is possible to start the communication by the method A between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the first embodiment correspond to the method C corresponding to the one-way communication from the stylus 2 to the sensor controller 31 instead of the method B. And the sensor controller 31, and other points are the same. Therefore, the differences will be described below. Note that the method A has a higher priority than the method C.

FIG. 14 is a mode transition diagram of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment perform communication in the undetermined mode P, the operation mode A (first operation mode) for communicating in the method A, and the method C. It is configured to operate in any of the operation modes C (second operation mode).

Here, with reference to FIG. 15, problems that occur when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 corresponding to the methods A and C are operated according to the background technique of the present invention will be described. The operations of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 described with reference to FIG. 15 are also executed in the operations according to the present embodiment, except for the points described later.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 operate according to the background technology of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 4, as in the example of FIG. 4, the first pen-down PD1 is generated at time t0, and the second pen-down PD2 is generated at time t1. As shown in FIG. 15, the operation modes of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 before the first pen-down PD1 occurs are, in principle, both undetermined modes P.

In the undetermined mode P, the stylus 2 is configured to alternately repeat the operation of transmitting the downlink signal DS by the method C and the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A. However, in the example of FIG. 15, in order to reduce power consumption, the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A is omitted at a rate of once every two times. In the present invention, such an operation is also included in the operation of "alternately repeating the operation of transmitting the downlink signal DS by the method C and the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A". Further, the sensor controller 31 is configured to sequentially repeat the transmission operation of the uplink signal US by the method A, the reception operation of the downlink signal DS by the method A, and the reception operation of the downlink signal DS by the method C. Here, the cycle in which the stylus 2 transmits the downlink signal DS by the method C and the cycle in which the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS by the method C are configured so that one of them is not a multiple of the other. To. The same applies to the cycle in which the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US according to the method A and the cycle in which the sensor controller 31 transmits the uplink signal US according to the method A. This is to avoid the occurrence of a situation in which the signal transmitted by one device reaches the other device, but the other device cannot receive it indefinitely.

Also in the example of FIG. 15, the most preferable mode transition of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 due to the occurrence of the first pen-down PD1 and the second pen-down PD2 is between time t0 and time t1 (that is, the second pen-down PD2 Before the occurrence), both the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 are in the operation mode A. As in the case of FIG. 4, the sensor controller 31 transmits the downlink signal DS transmitted by the stylus 2 in which the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US according to the method A and thereby starts the operation in the operation mode A. Is received, and the sensor controller 31 also starts the operation in the operation mode A, which is realized by performing a series of processes between the time t0 and the time t1.

However, when the user operates the stylus 2 quickly and the time between time t0 and time t1 becomes short, or when the stylus 2 cannot detect the uplink signal US, the time is as illustrated in FIG. A situation may occur in which the stylus 2 remains unable to receive the uplink signal US even at t1. Therefore, according to the operation according to the background technique, the stylus 2 immediately switches its operation mode to the operation mode C when the time t1 elapses without shifting to the operation mode A. As a result, since the stylus 2 exclusively transmits the downlink signal DS by the method C, the sensor controller 31 will eventually shift to the operation mode C, and the communication between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 by the method C will be performed. It will be started (time t2). Since it is not preferable that the communication by the method C is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 corresponding to both the methods A and C, the communication by the method C is not started in the first place, or the communication by the method C is not started. Even if the communication by the method C is started, it is desired to switch to the communication by the method A at an early stage. These are the problems in the background technology of this embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 perform operations according to the present embodiment. In particular, the figure shows the operation of the stylus 2 for preventing the communication by the method C from being started even if the time t1 elapses without shifting to the operation mode A.

As shown in FIG. 16, after detecting the second pen-down PD2 at time t1, the stylus 2 immediately adopts the method without shifting to the operation mode C even if its operation mode is still the undetermined mode P. The operation of receiving the uplink signal US by A is activated. This reception operation is continued for at least a time equal to or longer than the transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31 (period SP2 shown) until the uplink signal US according to the method A is received. As a result, if the sensor controller 31 transmits the uplink signal US according to the method A, the stylus 2 reliably transmits the uplink signal US according to the method A unless it deviates from the sensing range SR (FIG. 1). You will be able to receive it. Therefore, the communication by the method C is not started, and the communication by the method A can be started.

FIG. 17 is also a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment. In particular, the figure shows the operation of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 for switching to the communication by the method A having a high priority after the communication by the method C having a low priority has been started. If the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment are used, the communication by the method C is not started as described with reference to FIG. 16, so basically the operation described here is necessary. However, it is possible that the stylus 2 fails to receive the uplink signal US for some reason, and as a result, communication by the method C is started (for example, in FIG. 18 described later). , When the stylus 2 fails to receive the uplink signal US according to the method A even though the sensor controller 31 transmits the uplink signal US in step S108, and determines its own operation mode as operation mode C in step S111. ) Therefore, the operation described here is required. Although it is assumed here that the stylus 2 is operating in the operation mode C, the operation described below is the same even when the stylus 2 is operating in the undetermined mode P.

As shown in FIG. 17, the stylus 2 operating in the operation mode C provides functional information (specifically, all or part of the unique ID) indicating that it corresponds to the methods A and C. The including downlink signal DS (D3, the first signal) is continuously transmitted.

When the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS (D3) at the time t1 after the time t0 when the first pen-down PD1 occurs, the operation mode of the sensor controller 31 changes to the operation mode C. At this time, the sensor controller 31 determines the method supported by the stylus 2 based on the unique ID included in the downlink signal DS (D3). Then, when it is determined that the stylus 2 corresponds to the method A, the sensor controller 31 temporarily switches its operation mode to the operation mode A every time the transmission of the downlink signal DS is interrupted, and the method A The uplink signal US (second signal) is transmitted by. The uplink signal US transmitted in this way has a role as an instruction for switching to the operation mode A.

The stylus 2 attempts to receive the uplink signal US by the method A at a timing at which the uplink signal US would be transmitted if the sensor controller 31 performs the above operation. Specifically, the uplink signal US may be received by the method A at the transmission interval of the downlink signal DS. However, if the reception operation is always performed at the transmission interval, the power supply 25 (FIG. 1) is consumed significantly. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, the downlink signal immediately after the second pen-down PD2 (time t2) is detected. It is preferable that the uplink signal US is received by the method A at the DS transmission interval (between time t3 and time t4). Of course, the uplink signal US may be received by the method A before the second pen-down PD2 is detected (including between the first pen-down PD1 and the second pen-down PD2), and the stylus may be operated by doing so. 2 makes it possible to detect the uplink signal US by the method A (the uplink signal US of the method A located after the time t1 in FIG. 17) before the arrival of the time t2.

When the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US according to the method A at time t4, the stylus 2 switches its operation mode to the operation mode A. On the other hand, the sensor controller 31 attempts to receive the downlink signal DS by the method A after transmitting the uplink signal US by the method A several times. In the example of FIG. 17, this trial is performed after the second transmission, but it may be executed after the first transmission or after the third and subsequent transmissions. Further, the reception of the downlink signal DS by the method A may be attempted a plurality of times. As a result of attempting to receive the downlink signal DS by the method A in this way, the sensor controller 31 that actually received the downlink signal DS by the method A at time t5 switches its operation mode to the operation mode A accordingly. After that, the operation is performed in the operation mode A. As a result, communication by the method A is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.

18 to 20 are processing flow diagrams showing the operation of the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to these figures.

As shown in FIG. 18, the stylus 2 first determines its own operation mode as the undetermined mode P (step S101). Then, the arrival of the reception start timing in the method A and the arrival of the transmission start timing in the method C are detected (steps S102 and S104). When the reception start timing in the method A arrives, the stylus 2 activates the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the method A (step S103). Further, when the transmission start timing in the method C arrives, the stylus 2 activates the transmission operation of the downlink signal DS by the method C (step S105).

The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the uplink signal US has been received by the reception operation started in step S103 (step S106), and if it determines that the uplink signal US has been received (that is, the uplink signal US according to the method A is received). If), the operation mode is switched to the operation mode A (step S110).

The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the second pen-down PD2 has occurred in parallel with the determination in step S106 (step S107), and if it determines that it has occurred, apart from the periodic reception operation in step S103, the stylus 2 also determines whether or not the second pen-down PD2 has occurred. The operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A is activated (step S108). As described above, this reception operation is continued for at least a time equal to or longer than the transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31 (cycle SP2 shown in FIG. 16) until the uplink signal US according to the method A is received. Then, it is determined whether or not the uplink signal US has been received by this reception operation (step S109), and if it is determined that the uplink signal US has been received, its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A (step S110), while receiving. If it is determined that the operation has not been performed, the operation mode of the user is switched to the operation mode C (step S111). If it is determined in step S107 that the second pen-down PD2 has not occurred, the process returns to step S102 to continue the process.

FIG. 19 shows the operation of the stylus 2 after the operation in the operation mode A is started. As shown in the figure, the stylus 2 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S121 and S123). Then, when the transmission start timing arrives, the transmission operation of the downlink signal DS by the method A is activated (step S122), and when the reception start timing arrives, the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the method A is activated. (Step S124).

The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the uplink signal US has been received by the reception operation started in step S124 (step S125), and if it is determined that the uplink signal US has been received, returns to step S121 and repeats the process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the signal has not been received, the operation mode of the player is returned to the undetermined mode P (step S126), and the process is returned to step S102 of FIG. This process is executed to return the stylus 2 to the undetermined mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.

FIG. 20 shows the operation of the stylus 2 after the operation in the operation mode C is started. As shown in the figure, the stylus 2 detects the arrival of the transmission start timing (step S131), and activates the downlink signal DS transmission operation by the method C when the transmission start timing arrives (step S132). ..

The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the second pen-down PD2 has occurred in parallel with the detection in step S131 (step S133), and if it determines that it has occurred, the sensor controller 31 transmits an uplink signal US. At the timing expected, the operation of receiving the uplink signal US by the method A is activated (step S134). This expected timing is, for example, the transmission interval of the downlink signal DS by the method C. Then, when the uplink signal US according to the method A is received, its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A (step S136), and the process is shifted to the step S121 of FIG. If the uplink signal US according to the method A is not received, the process returns to step S131 to continue the process in the operation mode C. Even if it is determined in step S133 that the second pen-down PD2 has not occurred, the process returns to step S131 to continue the process.

21 to 24 are processing flow charts showing the processing performed by the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to these figures.

As shown in FIG. 21, the sensor controller 31 first determines its own operation mode as the undetermined mode P (step S141). Then, the arrival of the reception start timing in the method A, the arrival of the transmission start timing in the method A, and the arrival of the reception start timing in the method C are detected (steps S142, S144, S146). When the reception start timing in the method A arrives, the sensor controller 31 activates the downlink signal DS reception operation by the method A (step S143). Similarly, when the transmission start timing in the method A arrives, the sensor controller 31 activates the transmission operation of the uplink signal US by the method A (step S145), and when the reception start timing in the method C arrives. The operation of receiving the downlink signal DS by the method C is activated (step S147).

The sensor controller 31 also determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S143 or step S147 (step S148), and the downlink signal DS is received by the reception operation started in step S143. When it is determined (that is, when the downlink signal DS by the method A is received), its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A (step S149). On the other hand, when it is determined that the downlink signal DS is received by the reception operation started in step S147 (that is, when the downlink signal DS by the method C is received), its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode C. After that (step S150), whether or not the downlink signal DS includes functional information (specifically, all or part of the unique ID) indicating that the stylus 2 corresponds to the method A. Judgment (step S151). When it is determined that the downlink signal DS does not include the functional information indicating that the stylus 2 corresponds to the method A, the sensor controller 31 shifts the process to step S171 in FIG. 23 and performs the normal operation by the method C. Start. On the other hand, when it is determined that the stylus is included, the process is shifted to step S181 of FIG. 24, and the process for shifting the stylus 2 to the operation mode A is executed.

FIG. 22 shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 after starting the operation in the operation mode A. As shown in the figure, the sensor controller 31 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S161 and S163). Then, when the transmission start timing arrives, the transmission operation of the uplink signal US by the method A is activated (step S162), and when the reception start timing arrives, the reception operation of the downlink signal DS by the method A is activated. (Step S164).

The sensor controller 31 also determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S164 (step S165), and if it is determined that the downlink signal DS has been received, returns to step S161 and repeats the process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the signal has not been received, the operation mode of the player is returned to the undetermined mode P (step S166), and the process is returned to step S142 of FIG. This process is executed to return the sensor controller 31 to the undetermined mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.

FIG. 23 shows the operation of the sensor controller 31 after starting the operation in the operation mode C. As shown in the figure, the sensor controller 31 detects the arrival of the reception start timing (step S171). Then, when the reception start timing arrives, the downlink signal DS reception operation by the method C is started (step S172).

The sensor controller 31 also determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S172 (step S173), and if it is determined that the downlink signal DS has been received, returns to step S171 and repeats the process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the signal has not been received, the operation mode of the player is returned to the undetermined mode P (step S174), and the process is returned to step S142 of FIG. Similar to step S166 of FIG. 22, this process is executed to return the sensor controller 31 to the undetermined mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.

FIG. 24 shows functional information indicating that the stylus 2 corresponds to the method A to the downlink signal DS transmitted by the stylus 2 by the method C in step S150 of FIG. 21 (specifically, the stylus 2 is the method A). The operation of the sensor controller 31 when the unique ID) indicating that the sensor controller 31 is included is shown. In this case, as described above, the sensor controller 31 performs an operation for shifting the stylus 2 to the operation mode A.

Specifically, the sensor controller 31 first detects the arrival of the reception start timing of the downlink signal DS by the method C (step S181). Then, when the reception start timing arrives, the downlink signal DS reception operation by the method C is activated (step S182).

The sensor controller 31 also determines whether or not the transmission of the downlink signal DS is interrupted (step S183). The sensor controller 31 makes this determination when the reception of the downlink signal DS is completed, and when there is a predetermined time or more before the reception start timing of the next downlink signal DS starts at that time, the sensor controller 31 makes this determination. It is determined that the transmission is interrupted.

If it is determined in step S183 that the transmission is not interrupted, the sensor controller 31 returns to step S181 and continues the process. On the other hand, when it is determined that the transmission is interrupted, its own operation mode is switched to the operation mode A (step S184), and the uplink signal transmission operation by the method A is started (step S185). Then, it is determined whether or not the number of transmissions by this transmission operation has reached a predetermined number of times (step S186).

When it is determined in step S186 that the predetermined number of times has been reached, the sensor controller 31 detects the arrival of the reception start timing of the downlink signal DS by the method A (step S187). This timing is the timing at which the stylus 2 that has received the uplink signal US according to the method A starts transmitting the downlink signal DS according to the method A. When the reception start timing arrives, the sensor controller 31 activates the downlink signal DS reception operation according to the method A (step S188).

Subsequently, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation started in step S188 (step S189), and if it determines that the downlink signal DS has been received, sets its own operation mode to operation mode A. After switching to (step S192), the process shifts to step S161 of FIG. As a result, communication by the method A is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.

When it is determined in step S186 that the predetermined number of times has not been reached, or when it is determined that the sensor controller 31 has not been received in step S189, the sensor controller 31 switches its operation mode to operation mode C (step S190). Then, it is determined in step S188 whether or not the number of attempts for the reception operation has reached a predetermined number (step S191), and if it is determined that the number of attempts has been reached, the process is shifted to step S171 in FIG. This corresponds to the case where the sensor controller 31 abandons the communication by the method A because the downlink signal DS by the method A is not received forever, and the communication by the method C is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31. .. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S190 that the value has not been reached, the sensor controller 31 returns to step S181 and continues the process.

As described above, also by the method executed by the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment, the stylus 2 can activate the signal receiving operation by the method A immediately after the contact with the touch surface 3t. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from the contact with the touch surface 3t until the stylus 2 is set to the operation mode A.

Further, according to the method executed by the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment, even if the operation mode of the stylus 2 is the operation mode C in which the signal is transmitted in one direction by the method C, the stylus 2 is used. The operation mode of the stylus 2 can be switched to the operation mode A by the instruction of the sensor controller 31 (specifically, the transmission of the uplink signal US by the method A). Therefore, it is possible to start the communication by the method A between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The stylus 2 according to the present embodiment is different from the stylus 2 according to the first and second embodiments in that the display content of the indicator 26 can be controlled according to its own operation mode. Since other points and the configuration of the sensor controller 31 are the same as those in the first or second embodiment, the differences will be described below.

The signal processing unit 24 of the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment controls the indicator 26 so as to display differently depending on the operation mode determined as described in the first and second embodiments. That is, the indicator so as to display differently depending on whether the operation is performed in the first operation mode in which the signal by the first method is transmitted and the operation in the second operation mode in which the signal by the second method is transmitted. 26 is controlled. Further, in the stage before deciding whether to operate in the first operation mode or the second operation mode, that is, in the case of operating in the above-mentioned undetermined mode, the first and second operations are performed. The indicator 26 is controlled so as to display a display different from any of the operation modes of. According to this, for example, when the uplink signal US according to the first method is received, the signal processing unit 24 displays the display corresponding to the first operation mode by setting its own operation mode to the first operation mode. The indicator 26 will be controlled so as to perform the above.

If the operation mode of the stylus 2 is switched each time the uplink signal US or the pen pressure is detected as described in the first and second embodiments, the user grasps which operation mode is currently operating. It becomes difficult to do. For example, when the electronic device 3 and the stylus 2 do not operate even though they are in the same operation mode, it is not possible to grasp what is happening. According to the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment, the user can know which operation mode the stylus 2 (and the sensor controller 31) is currently operating by checking the indicator 26.

As the specific display content of the indicator 26, various things can be considered. For example, when the indicator 26 is a light emitting diode capable of emitting light in a plurality of colors, it lights in red in the undetermined mode P, lights in blue in the first operation mode, and lights in blue in the second operation mode. It is conceivable to control the display content of the indicator 26 so that it lights in a different color for each operation mode, such as lighting in green. If the indicator 26 is a light emitting diode capable of emitting light in a single color, it repeats on / off at a predetermined cycle in the undetermined mode P, and at the timing of switching to the first operation mode in the first operation mode. It turns on and off twice at intervals shorter than the above predetermined cycle, then turns off, and in the second operation mode, it turns on and off only once at the timing of switching to the second operation mode, and then turns off. It is conceivable to control the display content of the diode 26 by combining blinking and extinguishing.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention can be implemented in various embodiments without departing from the gist thereof. Of course.

For example, in the above embodiment, the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US through the electrode 21 (FIG. 1), but the uplink signal US is received by another wireless communication means such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). May be received. Further, the uplink signal US (signal by the first method) may be a signal that can be detected by the stylus 2, and the sensor controller 31 that executes finger touch detection using the mutual capacitance between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode may be used. A case where the transmission signal supplied to the transmission electrode is used as the uplink signal US is also included.

Further, in the above embodiment, the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 start operating in a certain operation mode, and then immediately return to the undetermined mode P when the signal to be received is not received (FIG. 9). Step S26, step S38 of FIG. 10, step S66 of FIG. 12, step S78 of FIG. 13, step S126 of FIG. 19, step S166 of FIG. 22, and step S174 of FIG. 23) may immediately return to the unconfirmed mode P. Instead, for example, the mode may be returned to the unconfirmed mode P when the signal is not received a predetermined number of times.

In the above embodiment, it has been described that a plurality of methods are switched to be optimized, but the present invention operates from an operation mode that operates in an old version as a second method to a newer version using functional information. Needless to say, it can also be applied when switching to another operation mode.

1 Position detection system 2 Stylus 3 Electronic equipment 3t Touch surface 20 Core body 21 Electrode 22 Pen pressure detection unit 23 Switch 24 Signal processing unit 25 Power supply 26 Indicator 30 Sensor 30X, 30Y Linear electrode 31 Sensor controller 32 System controller 40 Selection unit 41x , 41y Conductor selection circuit 44x, 44y Switch 50 Receiver 51 Amplifier circuit 52 Detection circuit 53 AD converter 60 Transmitter 61 Pattern supply 62 Switch 63 Diffusion processing unit 64 Code string holding unit 65 Transmission guard unit 70 Logic unit 80 MCU
DS downlink signal PD1 1st pen down PD2 2nd pen down SR sensing range US uplink signal

Claims (7)

A dual controller connected to a sensor constituting the touch surface and capable of receiving both a signal according to the first method and a signal according to the second method through the sensor.
A method executed by a dual stylus configured to be capable of transmitting both a signal according to the first method and a signal according to the second method via an electrode provided near the pen tip.
A step in which the dual controller transmits a switching instruction signal indicating a switching instruction to the first operation mode in which the signal is transmitted by the first method to the dual stylus.
A method comprising the step of switching its own operation mode to the first operation mode in response to the dual stylus receiving the switching instruction signal. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dual stylus is configured to receive the switching instruction signal by a wireless communication means that does not go through the electrodes. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wireless communication means is Bluetooth (registered trademark). The dual stylus switches its own operation mode to the first operation mode in response to receiving the switching instruction signal during operation in the second operation mode in which the signal is transmitted by the second method. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The dual controller further comprises a step of waiting until the transmission of the signal by the second method from the dual stylus is interrupted.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dual controller transmits the switching instruction signal after the transmission of the signal by the second method from the dual stylus is interrupted. It is connected to a sensor that constitutes the touch surface, and is configured to be able to transmit both a signal according to the first method and a signal according to the second method via an electrode provided near the pen tip via the sensor. A dual controller configured to be able to receive both the signal according to the first method and the signal according to the second method from the dual stylus.
By transmitting a switching instruction signal indicating a switching instruction to the first operation mode for transmitting the signal by the first method to the dual stylus, the operation mode of the dual stylus is changed to the first operation mode. Switch to,
Dual controller. A dual controller connected to a sensor constituting the touch surface and capable of receiving both a signal according to the first method and a signal according to the second method via the sensor is provided near the pen tip. A dual stylus configured to be capable of transmitting both a signal according to the first method and a signal according to the second method via electrodes.
In response to receiving a switching instruction signal indicating a switching instruction to the first operation mode for transmitting the signal by the first method from the dual controller, the own operation mode is switched to the first operation mode. ,
Dual stylus.

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