KR20180064062A - Active stylus pen and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are an active stylus pen with reduced power consumption and a driving method for the same. The purpose of the present invention is to provide the active stylus pen having a function of reducing power consumption by controlling output of a signal for driving the active stylus pen by dividing use and disuse of the active stylus pen. The active stylus pen includes a pen body, a multi-frequency output unit, a stylus tip, a first contact electrode, a second contact electrode, and a controller. The multi-frequency output unit is installed in the pen body and outputs a finger frequency signal and a tip frequency signal. The stylus tip is installed at the longitudinal end of the pen body and receives the tip frequency signal. The first contact electrode is installed on a side of a part of the pen body and receives the finger frequency signal. The second contact electrode is installed on the side of the other part of the pen body by being spaced from the first contact electrode and receives the finger frequency signal from the first contact electrode by a finger. The controller determines that the active stylus pen is in an untouched state when it is checked that the finger frequency signal is not transmitted to the second contact electrode by the first contact electrode (i). The controller also requests output of the tip frequency signal to the multi-frequency output unit by determining that the active stylus pen is in the touch state when it is checked that the finger frequency signal is transmitted to the second contact electrode by the first contact electrode (ii).

Description

≪ Desc / Clms Page number 1 > ACTIVE STYLUS PEN AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF &

The present invention relates to an active stylus pen and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to an active stylus pen with reduced power consumption and a driving method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, flat panel displays (FPDs) are used for various types of electronic products including mobile phones, tablet PCs, notebooks, and the like. 2. Description of the Related Art Flat panel displays include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display (PDP), and an organic light emitting display (OLED). Recently, EPD: ELECTROPHORETIC DISPLAY) is also widely used.

The touch screen panel is a kind of input device that is installed in a display device and allows the user to directly touch the screen with a finger or a pen while viewing the display device to input information.

As a method of sensing a touch, there is a method of sensing a touch using a change in capacitance. When a human body or a conductive material touches a touch screen panel, the capacitance type senses a change in capacitance to determine the presence or absence of a touch and touch coordinates.

The electrostatic capacity method can also be applied to a method of determining the presence or absence of a touch by the pen. For example, in the case where a conductive material is present in the pen, the presence or absence of touch can be determined by using a change in capacitance between the pen and the touch screen panel.

When an active stylus pen that outputs a pen voltage is used so that the touch sensing portion can sense the pen as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013-0106720 and the like, The presence or absence of the touch can be judged by the finger and the active stylus pen.

Also, as described in Korean Patent Laid-open No. 10-2014-0022222, when an active stylus pen that outputs a pen signal wirelessly is used when a touch driving voltage is received from the touch screen panel, The display device receives the pen signal and determines the position where the active stylus pen is touched on the touch screen panel.

However, when the active stylus pen is not used, for example, when the writing operation is not performed, the power of the active stylus pen is forcibly turned off to reduce power consumption. If you do not turn off the power of the active stylus, the active pen continuously outputs the signal through the stylus tip for touch detection. The continuous output of such a signal consumes the power of the battery provided in the active stylus pen.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2016-0042236 (May 19, 2016)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an active stylus pen capable of distinguishing between an active stylus and an unused stylus, Thereby providing a stylus pen.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving the above-described active stylus pen.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an active stylus pen according to an embodiment includes a pen body, a multi-frequency output unit, a stylus tip, a first contact electrode, a second contact electrode, and a controller. The multi-frequency output unit is disposed in the pen body and outputs a finger frequency signal and a tip frequency signal. The stylus tip is disposed at an end of the pen body to receive the tip frequency signal. The first contact electrode is disposed on a side surface of the pen body to receive the finger frequency signal. The second contact electrode is spaced apart from the first contact electrode and disposed on another side surface of the pen body, and receives a finger frequency signal from the first contact electrode via a finger. Wherein the controller determines that the touch stylus of the active stylus pen is untouched if the finger frequency signal is not transmitted through the first contact electrode to the second contact electrode, If it is checked that the finger frequency signal is transmitted through the first contact electrode, it is determined that the active stylus pen is in a touch state and the output of the tip frequency signal is requested to the multi-frequency output unit.

In one embodiment, the finger frequency signal may be output at regular intervals.

In one embodiment, the controller may block the output of the tip frequency when the finger frequency signal is not transmitted during the output of the tip frequency signal.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of driving an active stylus pen according to an embodiment of the present invention generates a finger frequency signal. The finger frequency signal is then provided to a first contact electrode disposed on some side of the pen body. If it is determined that the finger frequency signal is not transmitted to the second contact electrode spaced from the first contact electrode, it is determined that the active stylus pen is in the untouched state. If it is checked that the finger frequency signal is transmitted through the first contact electrode to the second contact electrode, the tip frequency signal is generated by determining the touch state of the active stylus pen. Then, the tip frequency signal is output to the stylus tip disposed at the end portion of the pen body.

In one embodiment, a signal may not be output at the stylus tip or a signal with a small amplitude may be output when the user is not in use.

According to the active stylus pen and the driving method thereof, power consumption can be reduced by separating the use time of the active stylus pen from that when not using the active stylus pen and controlling the output of the tip frequency signal output from the active stylus pen.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an active stylus pen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a block diagram for explaining a signal flow when the active stylus pen shown in FIG. 1 is not used.
FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a signal flow when the active stylus pen shown in FIG. 1 is used.
3 is a waveform diagram for explaining driving signals of the active stylus pen shown in FIG.
4 is a flowchart for explaining a driving method of the active stylus pen shown in FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is capable of various modifications and various forms, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing. In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of the structures are enlarged to illustrate the present invention in order to clarify the present invention.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In this application, the terms "comprises", "having", and the like are used to specify that a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a part or a combination thereof is described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Also, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the contextual meaning of the related art and are to be interpreted as either ideal or overly formal in the sense of the present application Do not.

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an active stylus pen 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an active stylus pen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a pen body 110, a multi-frequency output unit 120, a first buffer 130, a second buffer 140, a stylus tip 150 A first contact electrode 160, a second contact electrode 170, a receiver 180, a battery 185, and a controller 190.

The pen body 110 is made of a conductive material, wholly or partly, and has a rod shape. At the end of the pen body 110, a stylus tip 150 is connected in a protruding manner.

The multiple frequency output section 120 is disposed within the pen body 110 to provide a finger frequency signal to the first buffer 130 and a tip frequency signal to the second buffer 140. The finger frequency signal may be a pulse file. The tip frequency signal may be a sinusoidal file or a pulse file.

More specifically, the multi-frequency output unit 120 provides a tip frequency signal to the stylus tip 150 via the first buffer 130 and supplies the tip frequency signal to the first contact electrode 160 via the second buffer 140 Finger frequency signal. The tip frequency signal may be output under the control of the controller 190 after the finger frequency signal is output. The tip frequency signal is changed to a sensing signal and provided to an external lead-out circuit (not shown). The lead-out circuit may be mounted on a touch screen panel (not shown). The lead-out circuit calculates touch coordinates of the stylus tip 150 based on the sensing signal.

The first buffer 130 is connected between the multi-frequency output unit 120 and the stylus tip 150 and provides a tip frequency signal output from the multi-frequency output unit 120 to the stylus tip 150.

The second buffer 140 provides the first contact electrode 160 with a finger frequency signal that is connected between the multiple frequency output unit 120 and the pen body 110 and is output from the multiple frequency output unit 120.

The stylus tip 150 is disposed at the end of the pen body 110 to receive the tip frequency signal.

A first contact electrode 160 is disposed on some side of the pen body 110 to receive a finger frequency signal.

The second contact electrode 170 is spaced apart from the first contact electrode 160 and disposed on another side of the pen body 110 and receives a finger frequency signal from the first contact electrode 160 via the finger.

The receiver 180 is connected to the second contact electrode 170 and receives the finger frequency signal through the second contact electrode 170 and provides the finger frequency signal to the controller 190.

The battery 185 may include various electronic components such as a multi-frequency output unit 120, a first buffer 130, a second buffer 140, a stylus tip 150, A second contact electrode 170, a receiver 180, and a controller 190. The controller 190 may be a microprocessor.

The controller 190 is disposed in the pen body 110 and controls the multiple frequency output unit 120 by determining the frequency of the finger frequency signal and the frequency of the tip frequency signal. Specifically, if the controller 190 determines that the finger frequency signal is not transmitted through the first contact electrode 160 to the second contact electrode 170, the controller 190 determines that the active stylus pen is in the untouched state. If it is checked that the finger frequency signal is transmitted through the first contact electrode 160 to the second contact electrode 170, the controller 190 determines that the active stylus pen is in a touch state, And requests the frequency output unit 120.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a signal flow when the active stylus pen shown in FIG. 1 is not used, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a signal flow when the active stylus pen shown in FIG. 1 is used.

In the case where the active stylus pen is not used, as shown in FIG. 2A, the user's finger does not exist in the pen body 110. Accordingly, the floating state is maintained between the first contact electrode 160 and the second contact electrode 170.

The multi-frequency output unit 120 outputs the finger frequency signal to the first contact electrode 160 via the first buffer 130, but the finger frequency signal is not received at the receiver 180.

Therefore, since no signal is transmitted to the controller 190, the active stylus pen judges that it is in the currently untouched state.

If an active stylus pen is used, there is a finger of the user in the pen body 110, as shown in FIG. 2B. Accordingly, a conductive path is formed between the first contact electrode 160 and the second contact electrode 170 so that a finger frequency signal output from the first contact electrode 160 is transmitted to the second contact electrode 170.

The finger frequency signal transmitted to the second contact electrode 170 is transmitted to the receiver 180 and the receiver 180 provides the finger frequency signal to the controller 190.

Accordingly, since the finger frequency signal is transmitted to the controller 190, the active stylus pen judges that it is in the current touch state.

3 is a waveform diagram for explaining driving signals of the active stylus pen shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, a predetermined period of a finger frequency signal is output through the first contact electrode 160. The finger frequency signal may be continuously output with a certain period.

If the first contact electrode 160 and the second contact electrode 170 are not electrically connected by the fingers, the tip frequency signal output through the stylus tip remains inactive. That is, the tip frequency signal is not output through the stylus tip.

Meanwhile, when the first contact electrode 160 and the second contact electrode 170 are electrically connected by the finger, the tip frequency signal output through the stylus tip remains active. That is, the tip frequency signal has a certain level and is outputted through the stylus tip.

On the other hand, when the finger is separated from the active stylus pen, the second contact electrode 170 does not receive the finger frequency signal. Thereby, the tip frequency signal applied to the active stylus pen is switched to the inactive state. That is, the tip frequency signal is not outputted.

4 is a flowchart for explaining a driving method of the active stylus pen shown in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the multi-frequency output unit 120 generates a finger frequency signal (step S110).

Then, the multi-frequency output unit 120 provides a finger frequency signal to the first contact electrode 160 via the second buffer 140 (step S120).

The controller 190 then checks whether the finger frequency signal is received via the second contact electrode 170 via the receiver 180 (step S130).

If it is determined in step S130 that the finger frequency signal is not received via the second contact electrode 170 via the receiver 180, the controller 190 determines that the active stylus pen is in the untouched state, and then returns to step S110 (Step S140).

If it is checked in step S130 that the finger frequency signal is received via the receiver 180 via the second contact electrode 170, the controller 190 determines the touch state of the active stylus pen (step S150).

Following step S150, the multi-frequency output unit 120 generates a tip frequency signal (step S160).

Following step S160, the multi-frequency output unit 120 provides the tip frequency signal to the stylus tip 150 via the first buffer 130, and then feeds back the signal to the step S110 (step S170).

As described above, according to the present invention, the power consumption of the active stylus pen can be reduced by controlling whether the tip stylus pen is output when the active stylus pen is used and when it is not used .

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. You will understand.

110: pen body 120: multiple frequency output section
130: first buffer 140: second buffer
150: stylus tip 160: first contact electrode
170: second contact electrode 180: receiver
190: controller

Claims (5)

Pen body;
A multi-frequency output section disposed in the pen body for outputting a finger frequency signal and a tip frequency signal;
A stylus tip disposed at an end of the pen body for receiving the tip frequency signal and outputting the tip frequency signal to the outside;
A first contact electrode disposed on a side surface of the pen body to receive the finger frequency signal;
A second contact electrode spaced apart from the first contact electrode and disposed on another part of the side surface of the pen body and receiving a finger frequency signal from the first contact electrode via a finger; And
(i) if it is determined that the finger frequency signal is not transmitted to the second contact electrode, it is determined that the active stylus pen is in an untouched state, and (ii) if it is checked that the finger frequency signal is transmitted to the second contact electrode And a controller for determining the touch state of the active stylus pen and requesting the output of the tip frequency signal to the multi-frequency output unit. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, wherein the finger frequency signal is outputted at regular intervals. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, wherein, when the tip frequency signal is output, the controller interrupts output of the tip frequency when the finger frequency signal is not transmitted. Generating a finger frequency signal;
Providing the finger frequency signal to a first contact electrode disposed on some side of the pen body;
Touching the active stylus pen when it is determined that the finger frequency signal is not transmitted to the second contact electrode spaced apart from the first contact electrode;
Generating a tip frequency signal by determining the touch state of the active stylus pen when it is checked that the finger frequency signal is transmitted through the first contact electrode to the second contact electrode; And
And outputting the tip frequency signal to a stylus tip disposed at an end portion of the pen body. The driving method of an active stylus pen according to claim 4, wherein when the user does not use a signal, the signal is not outputted from the stylus tip or a signal having a small amplitude is outputted.

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