Active Pen Uplink Fallback for Continuous Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active pens may fail to receive uplink signals due to noise interference, leading to interruptions in drawing by pen input, and conventional methods cause delays in updating contact state information.
Innovation Solution
The active pen includes a signal processing circuit that transmits position and data signals based on uplink reception timing and switches to wireless communication if the uplink is not received, and uses carrier signal modulation to determine contact state, ensuring continuous operation and reduced delays in contact state updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the active pen uses pen-tip communication to transmit data signals, then data transmission is achieved, but drawing stops when uplink signals are not received due to noise interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary communication channel between the active pen and sensor controller. When pen-tip communication fails due to noise interference preventing uplink signal reception, the wireless communication channel acts as a mediator to transmit data signals, ensuring drawing continuity without stopping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the communication parameter by switching from pen-tip communication to wireless communication when uplink signal reception fails. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to noisy environments and maintain data transmission capability, preventing drawing interruptions.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor controller determines contact state based on pen pressure value in data signal, then contact state detection is achieved, but delay occurs in updating contact state information due to intermittent data signal transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the active pen transmit position signals at regular intervals regardless of whether data signals are successfully transmitted. This ensures the sensor controller continuously receives position information and can immediately update contact state when the pen is held stationary, eliminating delays caused by intermittent data signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining continuous position signal transmission through wireless communication when pen-tip communication is interrupted. This continuous position signal transmission allows the sensor controller to continuously update contact state information without delays, even when data signal transmission fails.
Data Source
AI summary
To prevent drawing by pen input from stopping due to a failure in receiving an uplink signal, an active pen according to the present disclosure includes a processing circuit that transmits, at a second timing decided based on a first timing of a first uplink signal received from a sensor controller, a position signal and a data signal from a pen-tip electrode and receives a second uplink signal, and a wireless communication circuit that wirelessly communicates with the sensor controller. The processing circuit determines whether the second uplink signal has been received at the second timing, and in a case of determining that the second uplink signal has not been received, the processing circuit transmits at least part of the data signal via the wireless communication circuit while transmitting the position signal from the pen-tip electrode.