Dual Mode Sensor Controller for Mixed Stylus Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor controllers can only detect styluses that comply with a single communication method, leading to compatibility issues with styluses using different frequency, signal formats, or communication directions, and lack backward compatibility, making it difficult to utilize existing styluses with new electronic devices and causing signal transmission failures during hand-writing operations.
Innovation Solution
A dual mode controller and stylus system that can detect and switch between two communication modes, allowing the use of both first and second mode styluses with a dual mode controller, enabling bidirectional communication with sensor controllers supporting either mode, and ensuring timely detection and action based on the available communication methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor controller complies only with one communication method, then the communication system is simple and stable, but it cannot detect styluses that comply with different communication methods, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller is designed to support multiple communication methods (first communication method STD and second communication method PRP) simultaneously. It includes multiple reception units that can receive signals according to different communication methods, allowing the same controller to work with various types of styluses without requiring separate dedicated controllers for each communication standard.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the communication standards are unified to one standard, then compatibility is improved, but backward compatibility is lost and existing styluses cannot be utilized by latest electronic apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller performs preliminary detection to identify which communication method a stylus uses before actual communication begins. The controller detects the presence of a stylus and determines whether it complies with the first communication method STD or the second communication method PRP, then switches to the appropriate reception mode in advance, ensuring both new and legacy styluses can be used with latest electronic apparatus.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor controller searches for communication method after pen touch operation, then detection accuracy is improved, but signal transmission may be missed causing detection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller performs preliminary detection of the stylus and its communication method immediately when the stylus enters the sensing range, before the actual hand-writing operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that the controller is already in the correct reception mode when the stylus starts transmitting signals, preventing any signal loss or detection failures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple reception units are added to support different communication methods, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller merges multiple reception units into a single integrated controller structure. Instead of using separate independent controllers for each communication method, the invention combines the functionality of multiple reception units into one unified sensor controller that can switch between different communication methods, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining multi-method support.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the use of multiple styluses with different communication methods, reduces detection time, and ensures reliable signal transmission by determining the appropriate action mode for the sensor controller and stylus, improving compatibility and usability in mixed communication environments.
Implementation Method 1
The stylus and the sensor are capacitively coupled to each other, and the sensor controller varies an electric field between the stylus and the sensor capacitively coupled to each other thereby to perform communication with the stylus
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5A
AI summary
To make it possible to suitably use both a first stylus ready for a first communication method and a second stylus ready for a second communication method together with a sensor controller. A communication method according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a step by a sensor controller of executing a dual mode discovery (SD_DUAL) in which a first discovery (SD_STD) in which a search signal for detecting a first stylus is sent out and a second discovery (SD_PRP) in which a second stylus is detected are repeated alternately, a step by the sensor controller of determining, when the first stylus is detected, an own action mode to a first mode, and a step by the sensor controller of determining, when the second stylus is detected, the own action mode to a second mode.