Active Stylus Electrode Layout for Gyroscope-Free Spin Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional active styluses lack the ability to detect spin without additional hardware like a gyroscope, which complicates operations and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A stylus design with transmission electrodes deployed at different sides of the pen axis, allowing for spin detection using two transmission electrodes, which are used to detect the spin of the stylus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an additional detecting device (e.g., gyroscope) is equipped in the active stylus to detect spin, then spin detection capability is improved, but device complexity and hardware cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespin detection capabilityVSAvoidstylus structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission electrodes originally designed for basic stylus detection are made to serve dual purposes: maintaining their original detection function while simultaneously enabling spin detection through strategic signal processing and comparison of signals from multiple electrodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines spin detection functionality with the existing transmission electrode system, merging what would traditionally be separate detection functions into a unified electrode arrangement that performs both basic position detection and spin detection without requiring additional dedicated hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If an additional detecting device (e.g., gyroscope) is equipped in the active stylus to detect spin, then spin detection capability is improved, but hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespin detection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission electrodes are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously, including basic stylus detection and spin detection, thereby eliminating the need for additional dedicated detection hardware and reducing overall manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The existing transmission electrode system serves itself by being configured to detect both position and spin information, allowing the stylus to utilize its own existing components for multiple detection purposes without requiring external or additional detecting devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If transmission electrodes are deployed at different sides of the pen axis for spin detection, then spin detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespin detection accuracyVSAvoidelectrode arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Transmission electrodes are positioned at different sides of the pen axis in an asymmetric arrangement, which enables the detection of spin by comparing signal differences between electrodes located at different angular positions relative to the pen axis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The detection function is segmented across multiple transmission electrodes positioned at different locations, with each electrode contributing to the overall spin detection capability through its unique positional relationship to the pen axis, allowing spin information to be derived from comparative signal analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260003445A1Stylus and stylus control circuit for spin detection

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP

AI summary

A stylus includes a plurality of transmission electrodes, which include a first transmission electrode and a second transmission electrode. The first transmission electrode is deployed at a first side of a pen axis of the stylus. The second transmission electrode is deployed at a second side of the pen axis of the stylus. The first side is different from the second side.