Active Stylus Inductive Charging via Touch Sensor Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch-sensitive systems, particularly capacitive touch screens, face challenges in accurately detecting the presence and location of active styluses due to interference and power management inefficiencies, which affect the reliability and efficiency of interactions with touch-sensitive devices.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an active stylus with inductive charging capabilities and advanced capacitive sensing technology, where the stylus communicates with touch-sensitive devices through capacitive nodes and utilizes power management systems for efficient energy transfer, enabling precise interaction and synchronization with touch sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If capacitive touch sensing is used to detect active stylus, then touch detection capability is improved, but interference and power management inefficiencies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection function by using separate drive electrodes and sense electrodes within the capacitive touch sensor array. Drive electrodes generate electric fields while sense electrodes detect changes, allowing independent optimization of each function and reducing interference between detection and power management operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that distinguishes between capacitive changes caused by stylus interaction versus those caused by power management operations. The controller analyzes temporal patterns and spatial characteristics of capacitance changes to differentiate legitimate touch input from interference, maintaining detection accuracy while managing power efficiently.
2Use of energy by moving object
If active stylus with inductive charging is integrated, then power management efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging function with the existing capacitive touch sensor infrastructure by using the same electrode structures for both touch detection and inductive charging. The drive electrodes that generate electric fields for touch sensing also serve as the inductive charging coils, eliminating the need for separate charging components in the stylus.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive touch sensor electrodes are designed to perform multiple functions: touch detection, stylus interaction detection, and inductive charging. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating components that could otherwise be separate, while the controller intelligently manages the different operational modes.
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 solution enhances the accuracy and reliability of touch-sensitive interactions by minimizing interference and optimizing power management, allowing for seamless communication and data transfer between the active stylus and touch-sensitive devices, thereby improving user experience and device functionality.
Implementation Method 1
inductive charging for active stylus
Implementation Method 2
When an object touches or comes within proximity of the surface of the capacitive touch screen, a change in capacitance may occur within the touch screen at the location of the touch or proximity
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a stylus includes one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device. The stylus also includes inductive-charging components in or on the stylus for charging or powering the stylus with electromagnetic radiation from inductive-charging components in or on the device. The inductive-charging components in or on the stylus may also charge or power the device by transmitting electromagnetic radiation to the inductive-charging components in or on the device.