Pen and sensor controller

Abstract

To allow for setting data on a pen by a command in an uplink signal while maintaining the periodicity of regular data.SOLUTION: A pen communicates with a sensor controller which transmits an uplink signal in each frame cycle. The pen acquires an identifier indicative of the type of data that the sensor controller is to transmit a value to the pen in a subsequent frame from a first uplink signal which is the uplink signal received in the first frame, and then acquires a value of the data corresponding to the identifier from a second uplink signal which is the uplink signal received in a second frame which is the frame subsequent to the first frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication method, and more particularly, to a communication method for bidirectional communication executed between an active pen and a sensor controller.

Background Art

[0002] A position detection system including a sensor controller and a pen, and configured to be capable of bidirectional communication therebetween is known. Hereinafter, a signal transmitted from the sensor controller to the pen is referred to as an "uplink signal", and a signal transmitted from the pen to the sensor controller is referred to as a "downlink signal".

[0003] The uplink signal is a signal including a command indicating an instruction from the sensor controller to the pen. The pen that has received the uplink signal performs an operation according to the command included therein. On the other hand, the downlink signal is a signal including a position signal for causing the sensor controller to detect a position and a data signal modulated by data transmitted from the pen to the sensor controller. The data transmitted by the data signal includes data periodically transmitted for drawing (such as pen pressure values; hereinafter referred to as "normal data") and data transmitted as a response to a command (hereinafter referred to as "response data").

[0004] The uplink signal also serves to notify the pen of the timing that serves as a reference for the transmission / reception schedule of the uplink signal and the downlink signal (that is, the transmission timing of the downlink signal and the reception timing of the next uplink signal), and the sensor controller is configured to transmit the uplink signal periodically. The pen determines the transmission / reception schedule of the uplink signal and the downlink signal based on the reception timing of the uplink signal, and executes the transmission of the downlink signal and the reception of the next uplink signal according to the determined transmission / reception schedule.

[0005] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose examples of position detection systems. In these examples, the size of the uplink signal is made variable according to the size of the command to be transmitted. By doing so, the sensor controller can transmit commands of various sizes to the pen.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] By the way, the applicant is considering enabling data such as drawing color (BrushColor) to be set in the pen by a command in the uplink signal. Specifically, it is being considered to arrange a command including the type and value of the setting data in the uplink signal and set the data in the pen by this command.

[0008] However, since a command including the type and value of the setting data has a large size, if it is arranged in the uplink signal, the size of the uplink signal will become large. Then, the time allocated for transmitting the downlink signal will decrease, which affects the periodicity of normal data, so improvement was necessary.

[0009] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a communication method capable of setting data in a pen by a command in an uplink signal while maintaining the periodicity of normal data.

[0010] In recent years, the number of bits of the pen pressure value has increased (for example, 12 bits), making it difficult to arrange both response data and normal data in a single downlink signal. As a result, normal data is missing when transmitting response data, so improvement was needed.

[0011] Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a communication method capable of transmitting response data from the pen to the sensor controller while maintaining the periodicity of normal data.

[0012] In addition, the applicant is considering arranging output units such as a haptics element, a light-emitting element, and an acoustic element inside the pen, and controlling the output units according to the pen pressure value being detected by the pen, thereby providing a more realistic writing feel. The control of the output unit includes vibration control of the haptics element, light emission control of the light-emitting element, and sounding control of the acoustic element.

[0013] However, if the output unit is controlled according to the pen pressure value being detected by the pen, the control of the output unit will also be executed even when the pen tip is pressed against a surface other than the touch surface such as a wall. Then, the haptics element will vibrate, the light-emitting element will emit light, or the acoustic element will sound at unnecessary times, so improvement was needed.

[0014] Therefore, yet another object of the present invention is to provide a communication method capable of executing the control of the output unit arranged inside the pen at an appropriate timing.

[0015] In this regard, if the output unit of the pen is controlled by the sensor controller, it becomes possible to control the output unit only when the sensor controller detects the pen. Therefore, it is considered that the control of the output unit arranged in the pen can be executed at an appropriate timing. Further, for example, if information about the pen (hereinafter referred to as "recognition information") that can be recognized by the sensor controller, such as the moving speed of the pen, is transmitted to the pen by an uplink signal, it is considered that more advanced control of the output unit, such as vibrating the pen with an amount of vibration corresponding to the moving speed of the pen, becomes possible.

[0016] However, since the recognition information has a large data size, it is difficult to transmit the recognition information frequently. Then, after transmitting the recognition information, the control of the output unit will continue regardless of the status of the pen until the next recognition information is transmitted. For example, even after the pen has left the touch surface, the control of the output unit continues with the control amount corresponding to the last transmitted recognition information until the next recognition information is transmitted by the sensor controller that has recognized this. This means that it cannot be said that the control of the output unit arranged in the pen is being executed appropriately, so improvement was necessary.

[0017] Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a communication method capable of appropriately executing the control of the output unit arranged in the pen based on the recognition information.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0018] The communication method according to the first aspect of the present invention is a communication method for communication between a pen and a sensor controller that transmits an uplink signal to the pen for each frame period, wherein the sensor controller, in a first frame, transmits a first uplink signal that is the uplink signal including an identifier for identifying a type of data for which a value is to be transmitted to the pen in subsequent frames; and the sensor controller, in a second frame that is a frame subsequent to the first frame, transmits a second uplink signal that is the uplink signal including a value of data corresponding to the identifier. The communication method includes these steps.

[0019] The communication method according to the second aspect of the present invention further includes, in the communication method according to the first aspect of the present invention, a step of the pen transmitting a downlink signal including response data indicating that data of a type indicated by the identifier can be set as a response to the first uplink signal. The downlink signal includes a shortened pen pressure value composed of a predetermined number of upper bits of a pen pressure value.

[0020] The communication method according to the third aspect of the present invention is a communication method for communication between a pen including an output unit and a sensor controller that transmits an uplink signal to the pen, wherein the sensor controller, when detecting that the pen is in contact, transmits a first uplink signal that is the uplink signal including control information for controlling the output unit; and the pen controls the output unit in response to receiving the first uplink signal. The communication method includes these steps.

[0021] The communication method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the communication method according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the sensor controller is configured to transmit the uplink signal to the pen for each frame period, and the sensor controller includes: a step of obtaining recognition information indicating a recognition result of the pen; and a step of transmitting, in a first frame, a second uplink signal which is an uplink signal including a value of the latest recognition information. In each of one or more second frames which are frames subsequent to the first frame, the sensor controller transmits the first uplink signal.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the data type and the data value are transmitted in separate frames, it is possible to set data in the pen by a command in the uplink signal while maintaining the periodicity of normal data.

[0023] According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if it is difficult to arrange the pen pressure value in the downlink signal, instead, a shortened pen pressure value can be arranged. Thus, it is possible to transmit response data from the pen to the sensor controller while maintaining the periodicity of normal data.

[0024] According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the output unit is controlled according to the first uplink signal including control information, it is possible to execute the control of the output unit arranged in the pen at an appropriate timing.

[0025] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to switch the on / off of the control of the output unit based on the latest recognition information without transmitting the recognition information for each frame. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately execute the control of the output unit arranged in the pen based on the recognition information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the position detection system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the position detection system 1 includes an active pen 2 and an electronic device 3 which is a position detection device for detecting the active pen 2.

[0029] The electronic device 3 is a computer having a touch surface 3a such as a tablet computer or a digitizer. Inside the electronic device 3, there are provided a sensor 30 disposed directly below the touch surface 3a, a sensor controller 31 connected to the sensor 30, a display 32 disposed so as to overlap the sensor 30, and a host processor 33 that controls each part of the electronic device 3 including these components.

[0030] The host processor 33 is a central processing unit of the electronic device 3, and is configured to read various programs from a memory (not shown) and execute them. The programs thus executed include various applications including an operating system and a drawing application of the electronic device 3. Among these, the drawing application is a program for generating digital ink based on the position and data supplied from the sensor controller 31, storing it in the memory in the electronic device 3, rendering the generated digital ink, and generating a video signal indicating the result and supplying it to the display 32. The display 32 is a device that displays the video signal supplied from the host processor 33, and is constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display.

[0031] The sensor controller 31 is an integrated circuit having a function of deriving the position of the active pen 2 in the touch surface 3a, acquiring data from the active pen 2, and supplying the derived position and the acquired data to the host processor 33 each time by communicating bidirectionally with the active pen 2 via the sensor 30. The sensor controller 31 is also configured to be able to derive the position of each active pen 2 and acquire data from each active pen 2 by communicating bidirectionally with each of a plurality of active pens 2 via the sensor 30.

[0032] The communication between the sensor controller 31 and the active pen 2 is realized, for example, by an active electrostatic method or an electromagnetic induction method. When the active electrostatic method is used, the sensor 30 includes a plurality of x-side linear electrodes each extending in the y direction and arranged at equal intervals in the x direction, and a plurality of y-side linear electrodes each extending in the x direction and arranged at equal intervals in the y direction. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic induction method is used, the sensor 30 includes a plurality of x-side loop coils each extending in the y direction and a plurality of y-side loop coils each extending in the x direction. Hereinafter, the signal transmitted from the sensor controller 31 to the active pen 2 is referred to as an uplink signal US, and the signal transmitted from the active pen 2 to the sensor controller 31 is referred to as a downlink signal DS.

[0033] The sensor controller 31 is configured to transmit the uplink signal US every predetermined frame period and receive the downlink signal DS during the interval of the uplink signal US. The uplink signal US has a role of notifying the active pen 2 of the timing that serves as a reference for the transmission and reception schedule of the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS (that is, the transmission timing of the downlink signal DS and the reception timing of the next uplink signal US). The active pen 2 determines the transmission and reception schedule of the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS based on the reception timing of the uplink signal US, and executes the transmission of the downlink signal DS and the reception of the next uplink signal US according to the determined transmission and reception schedule. The transmission timing and the transmission duration of the downlink signal DS within the interval of the uplink signal US are predefined by the communication protocol.

[0034] When communication between the sensor controller 31 and the active pen 2 is performed by an active electrostatic method, the electronic device 3 may be configured as a so-called "in-cell type" position detection device. In this case, one of the plurality of x-side linear electrodes and the plurality of y-side linear electrodes constituting the sensor 30 also serves as a common electrode of the display 32 (an electrode for supplying a ground potential commonly to each pixel). Therefore, the sensor controller 31 cannot transmit the uplink signal US or receive the downlink signal DS using the sensor 30 at the timing of driving the pixels in the display 32. Thus, the sensor controller 31 acquires the timing of driving the pixels in the display 32 from the host processor 33, transmits the uplink signal US with a fixed period determined by the driving period of the pixels as the frame period, sets a plurality of time slots corresponding to the driving intervals of the pixels as the transmission intervals of the uplink signal US, and is configured to receive the downlink signal DS from the active pen 2 using the time within each time slot.

[0035] Briefly explaining the configurations of the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS, first, the uplink signal US is a signal modulated by a command indicating an instruction to the active pen 2, and is constituted by a pulse wave (rectangular wave) obtained by spreading each transmission bit by a predetermined chip sequence (spreading code). On the other hand, the downlink signal DS is a signal including a position signal for causing the sensor controller 31 to detect the position of the active pen 2 and a data signal modulated by data transmitted to the sensor controller 31. The data transmitted by the data signal includes normal data periodically transmitted for drawing, such as pen pressure values, and response data transmitted as a response to a command. However, the transmission of the position signal is not essential, and the sensor controller 31 can also detect the position of the active pen 2 from the data signal.

[0036] The active pen 2 includes a core body 20, a pen tip electrode 21, a pressure sensor 22, a side switch 23, a battery 24, an integrated circuit 25, and an output unit 26. The core body 20 is a member that constitutes the pen shaft of the active pen 2. The tip of the core body 20 forms the pen tip of the active pen 2, and the end abuts against the pressure sensor 22. The pen tip electrode 21 is a conductor provided at the pen tip and is electrically connected to the integrated circuit 25.

[0037] The pressure sensor 22 is a sensor that detects the pressure applied to the tip of the core body 20. The pressure detected by the pressure sensor 22 is supplied to the integrated circuit 25 as, for example, a 12-bit pen pressure value. When no pressure is applied to the tip of the core body 20, the pen pressure value supplied from the pressure sensor 22 to the integrated circuit 25 becomes 0. In the following description, the state where the pen pressure value is 0 is referred to as "hovering". On the other hand, when pressure is applied to the tip of the core body 20, the pen pressure value supplied from the pressure sensor 22 to the integrated circuit 25 becomes a value greater than 0. In the following description, the state where the pen pressure value is greater than 0 is referred to as "contacting".

[0038] The side switch 23 is a push-button type switch provided on the surface of the active pen 2 and is configured to be operable for on / off operation by the user. The operation state (on / off state) of the side switch 23 is supplied to the integrated circuit 25 as, for example, 2-bit switch information. Although only one side switch 23 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of side switches 23 may be provided.

[0039] The integrated circuit 25 is an integrated circuit that operates on the power supplied by the battery 24 and has the role of executing various processes including receiving the uplink signal US, generating and transmitting the downlink signal DS. Specifically, it receives the uplink signal US by detecting the change in the potential of the pen tip electrode 21, generates the downlink signal DS based on the received uplink signal US, and transmits the downlink signal DS by changing the potential of the pen tip electrode 21 based on the generated downlink signal DS. Other processes that the integrated circuit 25 performs based on the uplink signal US include a process of determining the above-described transmission and reception schedule with the reception timing of the uplink signal US as the reference time.

[0040] The integrated circuit 25 is configured to be able to set various data from the sensor controller 31. This data includes, for example, the attribute BrushColor. The attribute BrushColor is an attribute that determines the drawing color when the drawing application renders the digital ink, and is transmitted from the active pen 2 to the sensor controller 31 in response to a request from the sensor controller 31 (specifically, the command GetVersion or the command GetData described later) during the pairing described later.

[0041] The output unit 26 is a device for giving sensory feedback to the user of the active pen 2, and is composed of, for example, a haptics element such as an actuator, a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, or an acoustic element such as a speaker. The integrated circuit 25 also performs a process of giving sensory feedback to the user by controlling the output unit 26 according to the recognition information and control information received from the sensor controller 31. Details of this point will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the transmission and reception schedule of the uplink signal US and the downlink signal DS. As shown in the figure, first, the sensor controller 31 is configured to transmit the uplink signal US at a constant frame period F. The time length TL of each uplink signal US is a constant value. Further, the sensor controller 31 is configured to perform the reception operation of the downlink signal DS (denoted as "R" in the figure) during the transmission interval of the uplink signal US.

[0043] The active pen 2 repeatedly performs the reception operation of the uplink signal US continuously or intermittently until the uplink signal US is received. As a result, when the uplink signal US is received, the active pen 2 starts communication with the sensor controller 31 by performing pairing with the sensor controller 31. Although the details of the pairing will be described later, through the pairing, a local identifier for the sensor controller 31 to identify each active pen 2 during communication is assigned to the active pen 2.

[0044] The active pen 2 that has established pairing with the sensor controller 31 is configured to transmit a downlink signal DS during the transmission interval of the uplink signal US. The specific transmission timing of the downlink signal DS is predetermined for each local identifier in the communication protocol. FIG. 2 shows an example determined in the communication protocol to start transmitting the first downlink signal DS (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "downlink signal DS1") after the elapse of time D from the start of the transmission interval of the uplink signal US, and to start transmitting the second downlink signal DS (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "downlink signal DS2") after the further elapse of time Intv from that point. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable that the specific values of time D and time Intv are determined such that the elapsed time from the start of transmission of the downlink signal DS2 to the start of transmission of the downlink signal DS1 transmitted thereafter is equal to time Intv. By doing so, the sensor controller 31 can detect the position of the active pen 2 at a constant period and receive the data transmitted by the active pen 2.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the uplink signal US. First, referring to the upper diagram, the uplink signal US is configured to include a local identifier LID, a command COM, a local identifier NLID, and an error detection code CS in this order. Among these, the local identifiers LID and NLID are the local identifiers described above. Also, the command COM is data indicating an instruction from the sensor controller 31 to the active pen 2. The local identifier LID in the uplink signal US has the role of indicating the destination of the command COM, and only the active pen 2 that stores the local identifier LID performs processing corresponding to the command COM (such as generating a downlink signal DS corresponding to the command COM). The error detection code CS is a code used by the active pen 2 that has received the uplink signal US to detect bit errors occurring in the communication path.

[0046] Here, the pairing between the sensor controller 31 and the active pen 2 will be described in detail. First, the sensor controller 31 in a state where it is not paired with any active pen 2 sets a local identifier for assignment to the first paired active pen 2 in the local identifier NLID in the uplink signal US. The active pen 2 that receives this uplink signal US extracts the local identifier NLID contained therein and stores it as its own local identifier LID, thereby establishing pairing with the sensor controller 31. Subsequently, the active pen 2 transmits a downlink signal DS at the timing assigned to the stored local identifier.

[0047] On the other hand, the sensor controller 31 determines whether it has received a downlink signal DS at the timing assigned to the local identifier set in the local identifier NLID. If it has received it, the sensor controller 31 stores the local identifier NLID as a paired local identifier, thereby establishing pairing with the active pen 2. The subsequent sensor controller 31 starts two-way communication with the active pen 2 for which pairing has been established and sets a new local identifier in the local identifier NLID in the uplink signal US. When a new active pen 2 that stores this local identifier NLID appears, pairing will be executed again in the same procedure as above. Also, when establishing pairing, the sensor controller 31 transmits the command GetVersion or the command GetData described below to the active pen 2, thereby obtaining various information such as its version and the above-described attribute BrushColor from the active pen 2 and performing a process of reporting it to the host processor 33.

[0048] Figure 3 also shows four types of commands COM, namely GetVersion, SetDataType, SetDataValue, and GetData. Note that only these four types of commands COM are shown here, but in reality, there are more types of commands COM. In the following description, for example, the uplink signal US including the command GetVersion may be simply referred to as the "command GetVersion", that is, the uplink signal US may be represented by the name of the command COM.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, each command COM is composed of a header HD1, data COMType, and control information MOV. Among them, the header HD1 is 2-bit data indicating that this signal is a command COM. Also, the data COMType is data indicating the type of the command COM. The active pen 2 first detects that the received uplink signal US contains a command COM by referring to the header HD1, and then obtains the type of the command COM by referring to the data COMType. The control information MOV is 1-bit data for controlling the output unit 26 of the active pen 2 from the sensor controller 31. The control information MOV will be described in detail later with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

[0050] Regarding the roles and configurations for each type of command COM, first, the command GetVersion is a command for obtaining the version of the active pen 2 (for example, the version of the firmware loaded into the integrated circuit 25) or the global ID pre-assigned to the active pen 2, and is composed of a 2-bit data Type indicating the type of data to be obtained. The command SetDataType is a command for notifying the active pen 2 of the type of data whose value is to be transmitted in subsequent frames, and is composed of a 4-bit identifier SetDataType. The command SetDataValue is a command for actually transmitting the value of the data notified by the command SetDataType, and is composed of the value SetDataValue of the data corresponding to the identifier SetDataType. The number of bits of the value SetDataValue of the data is at most 8 bits. The command GetData is a command for retrieving any data from the active pen 2, and is composed of a 4-bit data GetDataType indicating the type of data to be retrieved.

[0051] Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the configurations of the respective portions of the data signals described above for the downlink signals DS1 and DS2 shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows the case where the bit length of the data signal is 16 bits, and Figure 5 shows the case where the bit length of the data signal is 12 bits.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the configurations of the downlink signals DS1 and DS2 are different between during contact and during hover. However, in either case, they are each configured to include any one of four types of data signals: Normal, DataType, Ack, and DataValue. Among these, the data signal Normal is a signal that includes normal data and is transmitted when there is no need to transmit other types of data signals. On the other hand, the data signals DataType, Ack, and DataValue are signals that include response data transmitted as a response to the command COM received by the uplink signal US. The data signals DataType, Ack, and DataValue include normal data, except for some exceptions described later.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each type of data signal is configured to include a 2-bit header HD2 and a 2-bit or 4-bit error detection code CS. Among these, the error detection code CS is a code used by the sensor controller 31 that has received the data signal to detect bit errors occurring in the communication path.

[0054] The header HD2 is data that takes any one of the values "00", "01", or "10" when the active pen 2 is in contact, and takes the value "11" when it is in hover. The sensor controller 31 first obtains the contact state of the active pen 2 (specifically, either in contact or in hover) by referring to this header HD2.

[0055] When in contact, the header HD2 also serves to indicate the depressed state of the side switch 23 shown in FIG. 1 or the unpaired state of the active pen 2. Taking the case where the active pen 2 has two side switches 23 as an example, specifically, in one example, the state where neither of the two side switches 23 is depressed can be assigned to "00", the state where the first side switch 23 is depressed can be assigned to "01", and the state where the second side switch 23 is depressed can be assigned to "10". In another example, the state where neither of the two side switches 23 is depressed can be assigned to "00" of the downlink signals DS1, DS2, the state where the first side switch 23 is depressed can be assigned to "01" of the downlink signal DS1, the state where the second side switch 23 is depressed can be assigned to "01" of the downlink signal DS2, and the state where the active pen 2 is unpaired can be assigned to "10" of the downlink signals DS1, DS2. The sensor controller 31 that detects that the active pen 2 is in contact by referring to the header HD2 acquires each of the above states by further referring to the header HD2.

[0056] Hereinafter, the configuration of various types of data signals will be described in detail. First, referring to FIG. 4, the case where the data signal is 16 bits and the active pen 2 is in contact will be described. In this case, the data signal Normal includes the entire 12-bit pen pressure value PRE supplied from the pressure sensor 22 to the integrated circuit 25 for both the downlink signals DS1 and DS2. Thereby, the sensor controller 31 can acquire the pen pressure value PRE from the active pen 2 at the period of the time Intv shown in FIG. 2.

[0057] The data signal DataType is a signal transmitted as a response to the command SetDataType shown in FIG. 3. Both the downlink signals DS1 and DS2 are composed of a shortened pen pressure value CPRE1 consisting of the upper 8 bits of the pen pressure value PRE and a data TypeInfo equal to the identifier SetDataType included in the command SetDataType. The sensor controller 31 that receives the data signal DataType is configured to restore the 12-bit pen pressure value PRE by padding the shortened pen pressure value CPRE1 with four "0"s. Further, the sensor controller 31 compares the 10th to 13th bits of either one of the two data signals received within the frame in which the command SetDataType was transmitted with the transmitted identifier SetDataType, and is configured to determine that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command SetDataType when they match.

[0058] Here, even when the active pen 2 has not correctly received the command SetDataType and transmits the data signal Normal, it is possible that the 10th to 13th bits of either one of the two data signals transmitted within the same frame as the command SetDataType accidentally match the identifier SetDataType. However, since this is a coincidence that rarely occurs, the position detection system 1 allows this match as one of the errors. This also applies to other types of data signals to be described later.

[0059] The data signal Ack is a signal transmitted as a response to the command SetDataValue shown in FIG. 3. Both the downlink signals DS1 and DS2 are composed of a shortened pen pressure value CPRE1 and a response Ack that is the hash value of the data value SetDataValue included in the command SetDataValue. The point that the sensor controller 31 that receives the data signal Ack restores the pen pressure value PRE from the shortened pen pressure value CPRE1 is the same as in the case of the data signal DataType.

[0060] The hash function for deriving the above hash value is shared in advance between the active pen 2 and the sensor controller 31. The active pen 2 is configured to generate a response Ack by deriving the hash value of the value SetDataValue of the data received by this hash function. The sensor controller 31 also derives the hash value of the value SetDataValue of the data using this hash function. The sensor controller 31 that transmitted the command SetDataValue compares the hash value of the value SetDataValue of the data derived by itself with the 10th to 13th bits of either one of the two data signals received within the frame in which the command SetDataValue was transmitted, and is configured to determine that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command SetDataValue when these match.

[0061] The data signal DataValue is a signal transmitted as a response to the command GetData shown in FIG. 3, and is composed of a shortened pen pressure value CPRE2 consisting of the upper 4 bits of the pen pressure value PRE and at least a part of the data Data requested to be transmitted by the command GetVersion or the command GetData, in the downlink signals DS1 and DS2. The sensor controller 31 that has received the data signal DataValue restores the 12-bit pen pressure value PRE by padding the shortened pen pressure value CPRE2 with eight "0"s.

[0062] The maximum number of bits of the data Data that can be transmitted within one frame is 16 bits. The lower 8 bits are arranged in the data signal DataValue transmitted by the downlink signal DS1, and the upper 8 bits are arranged in the data signal DataValue transmitted by the downlink signal DS2, respectively. The sensor controller 31 is configured to obtain the data Data transmitted by the active pen 2 by extracting the 6th to 13th bits from each of the two data signals received within the frame in which the command GetVersion or the command GetData was transmitted.

[0063] Next, continue to refer to FIG. 4 and describe the case where the data signal is 16 bits and the active pen 2 is hovering. The data signal transmitted during hovering is different from the data signal transmitted during contact in that it does not include at least directly either the pen pressure value or the abbreviated pen pressure value. However, the fact that the pen pressure value is 0 is indirectly notified to the sensor controller 31 by setting the header HD2 to "11".

[0064] Also, the data signals Normal, DataType, and Ack during hovering are each configured such that the even-numbered bits and the odd-numbered bits have the same value. This is a configuration to enable the sensor controller 31 to receive the data signal normally even during hovering when the distance between the sensor 30 and the pen tip electrode 21 is longer compared to during contact. By adopting this configuration, the number of bits that can be substantially transmitted by the data signals Normal, DataType, and Ack is halved to 8 bits. The error detection code CS in the data signals Normal, DataType, and Ack during hovering is composed of 4-bit data, thereby realizing a substantially 2-bit error detection code CS. On the other hand, the data signal DataValue during hovering is substantially composed of a 16-bit signal, similar to the data signal DataValue during contact.

[0065] The data signal Normal during hovering is composed of substantially 1-bit data SW1, substantially 1-bit data SW2, and substantially 2-bit data BT, both of the downlink signals DS1 and DS2. The data SW1 and SW2 are data indicating the on / off states of the first and second side switches 23, respectively. The data BT is data indicating the remaining amount of the battery 24. The sensor controller 31 is configured to obtain the data SW1, SW2, and BT by demodulating the received data signal Normal. This is the same for the other data signals DataType, Ack, and DataValue described later.

[0066] When hovering, the data signal DataType in the downlink signal DS2 has the same configuration as the data signal Normal during hovering. On the other hand, the data signal DataType in the downlink signal DS1 transmitted during hovering is configured to include substantially 4-bit data TypeInfo instead of the data SW1, SW2, BT. The data TypeInfo is data equal to the identifier SetDataType included in the command SetDataType as described above. The sensor controller 31 compares the first to fourth bits of the data signal in the downlink signal DS1 received within the frame in which the command SetDataType was transmitted with the transmitted identifier SetDataType, and when they match, determines that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command SetDataType.

[0067] When hovering, the data signal Ack in the downlink signal DS2 also has the same configuration as the data signal Normal during hovering. On the other hand, the data signal Ack in the downlink signal DS1 transmitted during hovering is configured to include substantially 4-bit response Ack instead of the data SW1, SW2, BT. The response Ack is the hash value of the data value SetDataValue included in the command SetDataValue as described above. The sensor controller 31 compares the hash value of the data value SetDataValue derived by itself with the first to fourth bits of the data signal in the downlink signal DS1 received within the frame in which the command SetDataValue was transmitted, and when they match, determines that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command SetDataValue.

[0068] The data signal DataValue during hovering is configured to include at least a part of the data Data requested to be transmitted by the command GetVersion or the command GetData, for both the downlink signals DS1 and DS2. The number of bits of the data Data that can be transmitted within one frame is the same maximum of 16 bits as during contact. The lower 8 bits are arranged within the data signal DataValue transmitted by the downlink signal DS1, and the upper 8 bits are arranged within the data signal DataValue transmitted by the downlink signal DS2. The sensor controller 31 acquires the data Data transmitted by the active pen 2 by extracting the 6th to 13th bits from each of the two data signals received within the frame in which the command GetVersion or the command GetData was transmitted. Also, the data signal DataValue within the downlink signal DS2 is further configured to include the data SW1, SW2, and BT.

[0069] Next, referring to FIG. 5, the case where the data signal is 12 bits will be described focusing on the differences from the case where the data signal shown in FIG. 4 is 16 bits. First, the data signal Normal during contact is configured to include a part of the pen pressure value PRE, for both the downlink signals DS1 and DS2. Specifically, the lower 4 bits of the pen pressure value PRE are arranged within the data signal Normal transmitted by the downlink signal DS1, and the upper 8 bits of the pen pressure value PRE are arranged within the data signal Normal transmitted by the downlink signal DS2. The sensor controller 31 is configured to acquire the entire 12-bit pen pressure value PRE by combining these. Therefore, the period in which the sensor controller 31 acquires the pen pressure value PRE from the active pen 2 when the data signal is 12 bits is equal to the frame period F shown in FIG. 2, except for the case where the data signal DataValue described later is transmitted.

[0070] The data signal Data Type in the downlink signal DS1 transmitted during contact is configured to include the above-described data Type Info. The sensor controller 31 compares the 6th to 9th bits of the data signal in the downlink signal DS1 received within the frame in which the command Set Data Type was transmitted with the transmitted identifier Set Data Type, and determines that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command Set Data Type when they match.

[0071] On the other hand, the data signal Data Type in the downlink signal DS2 transmitted during contact is configured to include the above-described abbreviated pen pressure value CPRE1. The sensor controller 31 is configured to restore the pen pressure value PRE from the abbreviated pen pressure value CPRE1 in the same manner as when the data signal is 16 bits. Note that by arranging the lower 4 bits of the pen pressure value PRE in the data signal Data Type transmitted by the downlink signal DS1, even when transmitting the data signal Data Type, the entire pen pressure value PRE may be transmitted in one frame.

[0072] The data signal Ack in the downlink signal DS1 transmitted during contact is configured to include the above-described response Ack. The sensor controller 31 compares the hash value of the data value Set Data Value derived by itself with the 6th to 9th bits of the data signal in the downlink signal DS1 received within the frame in which the command Set Data Value was transmitted, and determines that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command Set Data Value when they match.

[0073] On the one hand, the data signal Ack in the downlink signal DS2 transmitted during contact is configured to include the shortened pen pressure value CPRE1 described above. The sensor controller 31 restores the pen pressure value PRE from this shortened pen pressure value CPRE1, and arranges the lower 4 bits of the pen pressure value PRE in the data signal Ack transmitted by the downlink signal DS1, so that the entire pen pressure value PRE can be transmitted in one frame. This is the same as in the case of the data signal DataType.

[0074] The data signal DataValue during contact is configured to include at least a part of the data Data described above in both the downlink signals DS1 and DS2. Specifically, the lower 8 bits of the data Data are arranged in the data signal DataValue transmitted by the downlink signal DS1, and the upper 8 bits of the data Data are arranged in the data signal DataValue transmitted by the downlink signal DS2. The sensor controller 31 obtains the data Data transmitted by the active pen 2 by taking out the 2nd to 9th bits from each of the two data signals received within the frame in which the command GetVersion or the command GetData is transmitted. In this case, the sensor controller 31 cannot obtain the pen pressure value or the shortened pen pressure value even once within one frame period F.

[0075] The point of configuring the data signals Normal, DataType, and Ack during hovering so that the even-numbered bits and the odd-numbered bits have the same value is the same as in the case where the data signal is 16 bits. The error detection code CS in the data signals Normal, DataType, and Ack during hovering is substantially composed of 1-bit data.

[0076] The data signal Normal during hovering is configured to include the data SW1, SW2, and BT described above in both the downlink signals DS1 and DS2.

[0077] When hovering, the data signal DataType in the downlink signal DS2 first has the same configuration as the data signal Normal when hovering. On the other hand, the data signal DataType in the downlink signal DS1 transmitted during hovering is configured to include substantially 4-bit data TypeInfo instead of the data SW1, SW2, BT. The specific content of the data TypeInfo is the same as in the case of contact. The sensor controller 31 compares the first to fourth bits of the data signal in the downlink signal DS1 received within the frame in which the command SetDataType was transmitted with the transmitted identifier SetDataType, and when they match, it is configured to determine that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command SetDataType.

[0078] When hovering, the data signal Ack in the downlink signal DS2 first has the same configuration as the data signal Normal when hovering. On the other hand, the data signal Ack in the downlink signal DS1 transmitted during hovering is configured to include substantially 4-bit response Ack instead of the data SW1, SW2, BT. The specific content of the response Ack is the same as in the case of contact. The sensor controller 31 compares the hash value of the data value SetDataValue derived by itself with the first to fourth bits of the data signal in the downlink signal DS1 received within the frame in which the command SetDataValue was transmitted, and when they match, it is configured to determine that the active pen 2 has correctly received the command SetDataValue.

[0079] The data signal DataValue during hovering has the same configuration as the data signal DataValue during contact. Therefore, the sensor controller 31 obtains the data Data transmitted by the active pen 2 by extracting the 2nd to 9th bits from each of the two data signals received within the frame that transmitted the command GetVersion or the command GetData. Even during hovering, in the frame where the active pen 2 transmits the data signal DataValue, the data SW1, SW2, BT will never be transmitted.

[0080] Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the processes performed by the sensor controller 31 and the active pen 2 will be described in detail. In the following description, for example, the downlink signal DS including the data signal Normal may be represented by the name of the data signal, such as "data signal Normal".

[0081] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the process when the sensor controller 31 obtains data from the active pen 2. Here, the case of obtaining the value of the attribute BrushColor set in the active pen 2 will be described as an example, but the same applies to the case of obtaining other data.

[0082] First, a command GetVersion (the third uplink signal) is sent from the sensor controller 31 to the active pen 2 (step S1). Then, the active pen 2 generates and transmits a data signal DataValue including data Data indicating its own version (step S2). The sensor controller 31 that has received this data signal DataValue extracts the version of the active pen 2 from the received data signal DataValue (step S3). This extraction is performed by first referring to the header HD2 to determine whether the active pen 2 is in the contact state or the hover state, and extracting the data transmitted by the active pen 2 according to the format determined according to the state of the active pen 2. This is the same in the extraction of data from other data signals described later.

[0083] Although not shown in the figure, in step S3, the sensor controller 31 also extracts normal data such as the pen pressure value PRE, the reduced pen pressure values CPRE1 and CPRE2, and the data SW1, SW2, and BT. When the reduced pen pressure values CPRE1 and CPRE2 are extracted, a process of restoring the pen pressure value PRE by adding 0 is also performed. The sensor controller 31 is configured to report the extracted or restored data to the host processor 33 each time. These points are also the same in the extraction of data from other data signals described later.

[0084] Next, the sensor controller 31 determines whether the extracted version is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S4). The predetermined value here is determined according to the type of data to be acquired. Here, it is a value indicating a version incorporating a BrushColor available flag indicating whether the active pen 2 corresponds to the attribute BrushColor.

[0085] As a result of the determination in step S4, if the sensor controller 31 determines that the value is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it ends the process without acquiring data. On the other hand, if the sensor controller 31 determines that the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, in the next frame, it transmits a command GetData including data GetDataType indicating the BrushColor available flag (step S5). The active pen 2 that has received this command GetData generates and transmits a data signal DataValue including data Data indicating the value of the BrushColor available flag stored in itself (step S6).

[0086] The sensor controller 31 that has received the data signal DataValue transmitted in step S6 extracts the value of the BrushColor available flag from the received data signal DataValue (step S7). Then, based on the extracted value, it determines whether the active pen 2 corresponds to the attribute BrushColor (step S8). As a result of the determination, if the sensor controller 31 determines that it does not correspond to the attribute BrushColor, it ends the process without acquiring data. On the other hand, if the sensor controller 31 determines that it corresponds to the attribute BrushColor, in the next frame, it transmits a command GetData including data GetDataType indicating the attribute BrushColor (step S9).

[0087] Here, the sensor controller 31 may perform the processes of steps S1 to S8 in advance. And it may also start the process from step S9 only when it is known that the active pen 2 corresponds to the attribute BrushColor.

[0088] The active pen 2 that has received the command GetData transmitted in step S9 generates and transmits a data signal DataValue including data Data indicating the value of the attribute BrushColor stored in itself (step S10).

[0089] The sensor controller 31 that has received the data signal DataValue transmitted in step S10 extracts the value of the attribute BrushColor from the received data signal DataValue (step S11). Then, it determines whether the value of the attribute BrushColor has been successfully obtained (step S12). Examples of the case where this determination is negative include, for example, when the active pen 2 fails to receive the command GetData in step S9, or when it is necessary to transmit the data Data over two or more frames because the size of the data Data to be transmitted is large, such as the first frame.

[0090] The sensor controller 31 that has determined in step S12 that the acquisition was successful returns the obtained value of the attribute BrushColor to the main routine (step S14) and ends the process. On the other hand, the sensor controller 31 that has determined in step S12 that the acquisition has failed determines whether the number of attempts has reached a predetermined n times (step S13). If it determines that the number of attempts has not reached n times, it returns to step S9 and repeats the process. If it determines that the number of attempts has reached n times, it ends the process without acquiring the data.

[0091] FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the process when data is set from the sensor controller 31 to the active pen 2. Here, the case of setting the value of the attribute BrushColor to the active pen 2 will be described as an example, but the same applies to the case of setting other data.

[0092] The sensor controller 31 first executes the processes of steps S1 to S8 shown in FIG. 6. Then, when the active pen 2 corresponds to the attribute BrushColor, it executes the processes after step S20. It is also possible to perform the processes of steps S1 to S8 in advance, which is the same as in the case of FIG. 6.

[0093] In step S20, the sensor controller 31 transmits a command SetDataType (first uplink signal) including an identifier SetDataType indicating the attribute BrushColor. The active pen 2 that has received this command SetDataType determines whether it can set the attribute BrushColor for itself (step S21). If it cannot, while transmitting a data signal Normal (second downlink signal) (step S22), if it can, it transmits a data signal DataType (first downlink signal) including data TypeInfo indicating the attribute BrushColor (response data indicating that the attribute BrushColor can be set) (step S23).

[0094] The sensor controller 31 regards the data signal received within the same frame as the command SetDataType transmitted in step S20 as the data signal DataType, and extracts the data TypeInfo (step S24). Then, it determines whether the extracted data TypeInfo matches the transmitted identifier SetDataType (step S25). As a result, if they match, the process proceeds to step S27, while if they do not match, it determines whether the number of attempts has reached a predetermined n times (step S26). And if it is determined that the number of attempts has not reached, the process returns to step S20 to repeat the process, while if it is determined that the number of attempts has reached, the process ends without acquiring data.

[0095] Here, when it is determined in step S25 that they do not match, it is preferable that the sensor controller 31 regards the data signal received within the same frame as the command SetDataType transmitted in step S20 as the data signal Normal, and extracts the normal data again. By doing so, the sensor controller 31 can receive the entire pen pressure value PRE transmitted by the active pen 2.

[0096] The sensor controller 31 that has advanced the process to step S27 transmits a command SetDataValue (second uplink signal) including a value SetDataValue indicating the value of the attribute BrushColor, using frames (second frames) subsequent to the frame (first frame) that transmitted the uplink signal US in step S20. The active pen 2 that has received this command SetDataValue sets the received value of the attribute BrushColor in its own memory (step S28), and then generates and transmits a data signal Ack including an acknowledgement Ack that is the hash value of the received value of the attribute BrushColor (step S29).

[0097] The sensor controller 31 that has received the data signal Ack transmitted in step S29 extracts the acknowledgement Ack from the received data signal Ack (step S30). Then, it determines whether or not the extracted acknowledgement Ack matches the hash value of the transmitted value SetDataValue (step S31). As a result, if they match, it returns the set value of the attribute BrushColor to the main routine (step S33) and ends the process. On the other hand, if they do not match, it determines whether or not the number of attempts has reached a predetermined n times (step S31). If it determines that the number of attempts has not reached n times, it returns to step S27 to repeat the process. If it determines that the number of attempts has reached n times, it ends the process without setting data.

[0098] FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the process for controlling the output unit 26 of the active pen 2 from the sensor controller 31. In the process shown in this figure, the same process as in FIG. 7 is performed to set recognition information in the active pen 2, but in order to avoid excessive complication of the drawing, the description of some processes is omitted in FIG. 8.

[0099] The sensor controller 31 that has started the process shown in FIG. 8 first acquires the recognition information of the active pen 2 (step S40). The recognition information is information of the pen that can be recognized by the sensor controller 31, and step S40 is performed every time the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS, regardless of whether or not the output unit 26 is controlled. Specific examples of the recognition information include, for example, the pen pressure value of the active pen 2 indicated by the pen pressure value or the reduced pen pressure value received from the active pen 2, the position of the active pen 2, or the movement speed of the active pen 2 calculated from the change in the position of the active pen 2. Further, when the sensor controller 31 can acquire the angle (such as the tilt angle) of the active pen 2, the angle of the active pen 2 may be used as the recognition information.

[0100] Next, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not it is necessary to control the output unit 26 based on the recognition information acquired in step S40 (step S41). Specifically, it may be determined that it is necessary when the recognition information (in this case, for example, the value of the header HD2 described above) indicates that the active pen 2 is in contact, and it may be determined that it is unnecessary in other cases. Further, it may be determined that it is necessary when it is shown that the active pen 2 is moving on the touch surface 3a while maintaining the contact state by a series of recognition information including the recognition information acquired in the past (that is, the active pen 2 is sliding on the touch surface 3a), and it may be determined that it is unnecessary in other cases.

[0101] The sensor controller 31 that has determined that it is unnecessary in step S41 sets 0 to the control information MOV shown in FIG. 3 (step S42), and then returns the process to step S40. By setting 0 to the control information MOV in step S42, the control information MOV in the uplink signal US transmitted thereafter becomes 0. On the other hand, the sensor controller 31 that has determined that it is necessary in step S41 next determines whether or not it is necessary to transmit the recognition information (step S43).

[0102] Regarding step S43 in detail, in order to control the output unit 26 based on the recognition information, it is necessary to supply the recognition information to the active pen 2. However, since the recognition information is information with a large data size, it cannot be transmitted frequently. Therefore, the sensor controller 31 transmits the recognition information at a low frequency, for example, every 10 frames. When the recognition information is not being transmitted, only the necessity of controlling the output unit 26 is transmitted to the active pen 2 using the control information MOV. By doing so, it becomes possible to switch the on / off state of the control of the output unit 26 based on the latest recognition information without transmitting the recognition information every frame.

[0103] Now, the sensor controller 31 that has determined that it is necessary to transmit the recognition information in step S43 sets the recognition information acquired in step S40 to the active pen 2 by the same process as the process shown in FIG. 7. Specifically, the sensor controller 31 first determines whether or not the command SetDataType has been transmitted after determining in step S43 that transmission is necessary (step S44). If it has not been transmitted, the command SetDataType including the identifier SetDataType indicating the recognition information is transmitted (step S45). The active pen 2 that has received this command SetDataType transmits a data signal DataType including data TypeInfo indicating the received identifier SetDataType (step S46) and executes output unit control processing (step S47).

[0104] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing output unit control processing performed by the active pen 2. As shown in the figure, the active pen 2 first obtains control information MOV from the received latest uplink signal US (step S60), and determines whether the value is 1 or 0 (step S61). If it is determined to be 1, control of the output unit 26 is started based on the recognition information stored in step S50 described later (step S62). Specifically, if the output unit 26 is, for example, a haptic element, vibration control is started; if it is a light-emitting element, light emission control is started; if it is an acoustic element, sounding control is started. On the other hand, the active pen 2 that determines 0 in step S61 stops the control if the output unit 26 is under control (step S63). As a result, while the sensor controller 31 sets the control information MOV to 1, the control of the output unit 26 is continuously performed.

[0105] Return to FIG. 8. The sensor controller 31 that has received the data signal DataType transmitted in step S46 returns to step S40 to continue the process. The sensor controller 31 that has determined that the command SetDataType has been transmitted in step S44 sets 1 in the control information MOV (step S48), and then transmits a command SetDataValue (second uplink signal) including a value SetDataValue indicating the value of the recognition information (step S49).

[0106] The active pen 2 that has received the command SetDataValue transmitted in step S49 extracts the recognition information from the received command SetDataValue and stores it in the memory (step S50). Subsequently, the active pen 2 generates and transmits a downlink signal DS including a response Ack that is the hash value of the value of the stored recognition information (step S51), and executes the output unit control processing described with reference to FIG. 9 again (step S52). At this time, since the control information MOV is 1, step S62 in FIG. 9 is executed, and the output unit 26 is in a controlled state.

[0107] When the sensor controller 31 determines in step S43 that it is unnecessary to transmit recognition information, it transmits any uplink signal US (the first uplink signal) that is required to be transmitted at that time (step S53). The active pen 2 that has received this uplink signal US executes the output unit control process described with reference to FIG. 9 again (step S54).

[0108] In one or more frames (the second frame) subsequent to the frame (the first frame) that transmitted the command SetDataValue in step S49, if the transmission in step S53 is executed in the frame before step S42 is executed, the control information MOV in the transmitted uplink signal US becomes 1. Therefore, in step S54, step S62 in FIG. 9 is executed, and the output unit 26 continues the state being controlled.

[0109] As described above, according to the communication method of the present embodiment, since the command SetDataType for notifying the type of data and the command SetDataType for actually transmitting the value of the data are transmitted in separate frames, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the uplink signal US. Therefore, it becomes possible to set data in the active pen 2 by the command in the uplink signal US while maintaining the periodicity of normal data such as the pen pressure value.

[0110] Also, according to the communication method of the present embodiment, even if it is difficult to arrange the pen pressure value PRE in the downlink signal DS, instead, the shortened pen pressure value CPRE1 or the shortened pen pressure value CPRE2 can be arranged. Therefore, it becomes possible to transmit response data from the active pen 2 to the sensor controller 31 while maintaining the periodicity of normal data such as the pen pressure value.

[0111] Furthermore, according to the communication method of the present embodiment, since the output unit 26 is controlled in response to the uplink signal US including the control information MOV, the control of the output unit 26 arranged in the active pen 2 can be executed at an appropriate timing, that is, avoiding the timing when the pen tip is pressed against a surface other than the touch surface 3a such as a wall.

[0112] Also, according to the communication method of the present embodiment, it is possible to switch the on / off of the control of the output unit 26 based on the latest recognition information without transmitting the recognition information every frame. Therefore, it becomes possible to appropriately execute the control of the output unit 26 arranged in the active pen 2 based on the recognition information.

[0113] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.

[0114] For example, a part of the processing described as the processing performed by the sensor controller 31 in the above embodiment may be performed by the host processor 33.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0115] 1 Position detection system 2 Active pen 3 Electronic device 3a Touch surface 20 Core 21 Pen tip electrode 22 Pressure sensor 23 Side switch 24 Battery 25 Integrated circuit 26 Output unit 30 Sensor 31 Sensor controller 32 Display 33 Host processor Normal, DataType, Ack, DataValue data signals COM, GetVersion, SetDataType, SetDataValue, GetData commands CPRE1, CPRE2 Short pen pressure values CS Error detection code DS, DS1, DS2 Downlink signals F Frame period HD1, HD2 Headers LID, NLID Local identifiers MOV Control information PRE Pen pressure value US Uplink signal

Claims

1. A pen that communicates with a sensor controller that transmits an uplink signal every frame period, obtaining an identifier for identifying a type of data whose value is to be transmitted from the sensor controller to the pen in a next or subsequent frame from a first uplink signal, the first uplink signal being the uplink signal received in a first frame; an integrated circuit that sets in a memory a data value corresponding to the identifier from a second uplink signal that is the uplink signal received in a second frame that is a frame subsequent to the first frame; A pen having

2. the integrated circuit transmits, in response to the first uplink signal, a downlink signal including response data indicating that data of the type indicated by the identifier can be set; 2. The pen of claim 1.

3. The downlink signal includes an abbreviated writing pressure value consisting of a predetermined number of most significant bits of the writing pressure value.

3. A pen according to claim 2.

4. The integrated circuit comprises: determining whether data of a type indicated by the identifier in the first uplink signal can be set in the memory; When it is determined that the data type indicated by the identifier can be set, a first downlink signal including response data indicating that the data type indicated by the identifier can be set is transmitted in response to the first uplink signal; If it is determined that the setting is not possible, transmitting a second downlink signal not including the response data in response to the first uplink signal.

2. The pen of claim 1.

5. the first downlink signal includes an abbreviated writing pressure value consisting of a predetermined number of most significant bits of a writing pressure value; the second downlink signal includes the pen pressure value; 5. A pen according to claim 4.

6. the integrated circuit transmits a downlink signal including information indicating a version of the pen in response to a third uplink signal, the third uplink signal being the uplink signal including a command for acquiring a version of the pen, transmitted by the sensor controller in a frame prior to the first frame; The pen of claim 1 further comprising:

7. A sensor controller that transmits an uplink signal to a pen every frame period, Transmitting a first uplink signal in a first frame to the pen, the first uplink signal including an identifier for identifying a type of data whose value is to be transmitted in a next or subsequent frame; transmitting a second uplink signal, the uplink signal including a data value corresponding to the identifier, in a second frame that is a frame subsequent to the first frame; Sensor controller.

8. transmitting the second uplink signal when a downlink signal received from the pen in response to the first uplink signal includes response data indicating that data of the type indicated by the identifier can be set; The sensor controller according to claim 7.

9. the downlink signal includes an abbreviated writing pressure value consisting of a predetermined number of most significant bits of the writing pressure value; reporting to a host processor a pen pressure value recovered from the truncated pen pressure value received in the downlink signal transmitted by the pen in response to the first uplink signal; The sensor controller according to claim 8.

10. not transmitting the second uplink signal when a downlink signal received from the pen in response to the first uplink signal does not include response data indicating that the data type indicated by the identifier can be set; The sensor controller according to claim 7.

11. transmitting a third uplink signal in a frame prior to the first frame, the third uplink signal being the uplink signal including a command to obtain the pen version; The sensor controller according to claim 7.

12. not transmitting the first uplink signal when a version of the pen indicated by a downlink signal transmitted by the pen in response to the third uplink signal indicates that the pen cannot be set with data of the type indicated by the identifier; The sensor controller of claim 11.

13. A pen that communicates with a sensor controller that transmits an uplink signal, an output unit that gives sensory feedback to a user; an integrated circuit that controls the output unit in response to receiving a first uplink signal, the first uplink signal including control information for controlling the output unit; Including pen.

14. The output unit is a haptic element, a light-emitting element, or an acoustic element.

14. A pen according to claim 13.

15. A sensor controller that transmits an uplink signal to a pen that includes an output that provides sensory feedback to a user, transmitting a first uplink signal, the first uplink signal including control information for controlling the output unit, when it is detected that the pen is in contact; Sensor controller.

16. Detecting that the pen is sliding on a touch surface; transmitting the first uplink signal when it is detected that the pen is sliding on the touch surface, but not transmitting the first uplink signal when it is not detected that the pen is sliding on the touch surface. The sensor controller of claim 15.

17. configured to transmit the uplink signal to the pen every frame period; acquiring recognition information indicating a recognition result of the pen; transmitting a second uplink signal in a first frame, the second uplink signal being the uplink signal including a latest value of the identity information; transmitting the first uplink signal in each of one or more second frames which are frames subsequent to the first frame; The sensor controller of claim 15.

18. The recognition information is a writing pressure value of the pen, a moving speed of the pen, or an angle of the pen. The sensor controller of claim 17.

19. The output unit is a haptic element, a light-emitting element, or an acoustic element.

19. A sensor controller according to claim 17 or 18.

Images