Stylus Position System Using Composite Signal Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch-sensing devices face challenges in efficiently communicating stylus position and status information, often requiring additional hardware and being prone to noise interference, especially when both stylus and finger sensing occur simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A stylus generates a composite signal with a first frequency for position determination and a second frequency for status information, such as battery status, orientation, and force, which is transmitted over the same components used for position detection, reducing the need for additional transceiver hardware and improving communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate transceiver hardware is used for position and status information transmission, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines position information and status information into a single composite signal transmitted through the same electrode array and transceiver hardware. The stylus generates multiple signals at different frequencies (e.g., 100Hz for position, 200Hz for status) that are multiplexed together, allowing both data types to share the same communication channel without requiring separate hardware components.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode array and transceiver system are designed to handle multiple functions simultaneously - detecting both stylus position and status information through a single communication path. The system can process different frequency components of the composite signal to extract various types of information, making the hardware multi-functional rather than requiring dedicated components for each function.
2Loss of information
If additional transceiver hardware is added for status information, then information transmission completeness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges position and status information transmission into a single composite signal that uses the existing electrode array and transceiver infrastructure. By multiplexing different types of information onto the same hardware channel through frequency division, the system avoids the need for additional transceiver components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining complete information transmission.
3Reliability
If separate communication channels are used for position and status, then signal interference is reduced, but data throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic signal transmission at different frequencies within the same communication channel. The position signal and status signal are transmitted periodically at distinct frequencies (e.g., 100Hz and 200Hz), allowing the receiver to distinguish and process both signals simultaneously through frequency-based separation, thereby maintaining high data throughput without significant interference.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using separate spatial channels for position and status information, the patent transitions to the frequency dimension to differentiate between signal types. By encoding different information types at different frequencies within the same time-spatial channel, the system effectively adds a frequency dimension to the communication, allowing multiple data streams to coexist without requiring separate physical paths.
4Device complexity
If composite signal transmission is used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal processing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of the transmitted signals to encode different types of information. By assigning specific frequency ranges to position data and status data, the system enables the receiver to separate and process different information types through frequency-based filtering and demodulation, making the composite signal manageable despite its multi-component nature.
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
This approach enhances data throughput, reduces noise interference, and allows for simultaneous stylus and finger sensing without compromising positional accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
generating, by a stylus, a composite signal. The composite signal includes a first signal having a first frequency, the first signal being used by a touch-sensing device to determine a position of the stylus relative to the touch-sensing device, and a second signal having a second frequency
Implementation Method 2
In capacitive touch-sensing devices, when an object touches or is brought in proximity to an electrode array of a touch-sensing device, a change in capacitance may occur within the electrode array at the location of the touch or proximity
Data Source
AI summary
A system of one embodiment includes a touch-sensing device and a stylus. The touch sensing device includes an electrode array, which includes a plurality of electrode line pairs, and a controller. Each electrode line pair includes a first and second electrode line to send a first and second signal, respectively. The stylus includes a sensor to measure the first and second signals, a signal processor to determine position information, and a transmitter to send position information to the touch-sensing device.A method of another embodiment includes sending, by a first electrode line, a first signal having a first frequency. A second electrode line sends a second signal having a second frequency. A stylus receives the first and second signals. The stylus sends a response signal to the touch-sensing device based on the first and second signals. A position of the stylus is determined based on the first and second signals.