Active Stylus DSSS Signal Reception via Coupling Capacitor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing active stylus touch systems face challenges in receiving direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signals due to impedance limitations in touch screen sensors, which restrict spectrum spreading and are not suitable for systems with strict size and power consumption requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a coupling capacitor between the active stylus and touch screen to receive and parse DSSS signals, utilizing a pre-amplifier circuit, hysteresis comparing circuit, and digital demodulating circuit to restore and demodulate the signals, allowing for efficient information interaction with reduced hardware resources and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If DSSS signal is transmitted through high-frequency antenna in radio frequency environment, then signal transmission can be achieved, but impedance of screen sensor limits spectrum spreading and makes it inapplicable to active stylus touch system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to active stylus touch system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coupling capacitor as an intermediary component between the touch screen sensor and the active stylus. This capacitor enables capacitive coupling for DSSS signal transmission, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between the screen sensor and stylus receiver without requiring direct electrical contact or high-frequency antenna implementation, thus resolving the impedance limitation issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional radio frequency antenna-based electromagnetic transmission system with a capacitive coupling system. By substituting the mechanical/electromagnetic antenna structure with an electrical capacitive coupling mechanism, the system achieves DSSS signal transmission suitable for the constraints of active stylus touch systems while maintaining signal integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional high-frequency antenna mode is used for DSSS signal transmission, then signal can be transmitted, but circuit size and power consumption requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmissionVSAvoidcircuit size and power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the high-frequency antenna component from the transmission system. By removing this bulky and power-intensive component and replacing it with a capacitive coupling mechanism integrated into the existing touch screen sensor, the system achieves signal transmission with significantly reduced circuit size and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling capacitor serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the signal transmission medium for DSSS, maintains electrical isolation between screen and stylus, and integrates seamlessly with the existing touch screen sensor circuitry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby minimizing overall circuit complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If coupling capacitor is used to receive DSSS signal, then signal reception is enabled in active stylus, but signal parsing requires pre-amplifier, hysteresis comparing, and digital demodulating circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal reception capabilityVSAvoidsignal parsing circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the signal parsing process into three distinct functional stages implemented by separate circuit modules: pre-amplification (signal strengthening), hysteresis comparing (signal threshold detection and restoration), and digital demodulation (information extraction). This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated signal reception system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-amplifier circuit performs preliminary signal amplification before the signal reaches the hysteresis comparing and demodulation stages. By strengthening the weak capacitive coupled signal in advance, the subsequent circuits can operate more effectively with adequate signal levels, ensuring reliable signal parsing while maintaining manageable circuit complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 enables effective DSSS signal transmission and reception in active stylus touch systems, meeting strict requirements on circuit size and power consumption, and is well-suited for interactive systems with a simple circuit structure and low resource usage.

Implementation Method 1

receive, through a coupling capacitor formed between the active stylus and the touch screen, the DSSS signal sent by the touch screen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3764203B1Signal transmission method and system, active stylus, touch screen, and readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2022.11.16 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP3764203B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3764203B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3764203B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and a system for transmitting a signal, an active stylus, a touch screen and a readable storage medium. The method for transmitting a signal comprises: receiving a DSSS signal sent by the touch screen through a coupling capacitor formed between the active stylus and the touch screen (201), where the DSSS signal is a spread-spectrum coded signal to be transmitted; and parsing the received DSSS signal to obtain the signal to be transmitted (202), which requires a small quantity of hardware resources and low power consumption, and can be well applied to an active stylus touch system.