Stylus Wake-Up via Digitizer Signal Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional techniques for managing stylus power, such as motion detection and grip/touch sensors, are inefficient and prone to errors like false detections and battery drain, leading to user frustration due to excessive battery drain or unexpected power loss.

Innovation Solution

A stylus that receives and processes signals from a digitizer to control its state, using a detector circuit to compute peak voltage and relative proximity, toggling between states based on signal strength and proximity thresholds to optimize battery usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If motion detection is used to toggle power on and off, then battery life is extended, but false wake-ups occur due to unintentional movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidfalse wake-ups

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces motion detection (mechanical/physical sensing) with signal detection from the digitizer. The stylus detects electromagnetic signals transmitted by the digitizer to determine proximity and trigger wake-up, eliminating false wake-ups from unintentional movement while maintaining accurate activation when the stylus is actually used.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If grip/touch sensors or toggle switches are used, then power management is achieved, but detection errors occur such as missed detections and false detections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower managementVSAvoiddetection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the digitizer as an intermediary system that transmits signals to the stylus. This mediator enables reliable detection of stylus proximity and usage state without requiring direct sensing components (like grip sensors or switches) in the stylus, thereby eliminating detection errors while maintaining ease of power management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If traditional batteries are used to power the stylus, then power supply is provided, but design flexibility is limited due to battery size, capacity, or shape constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supplyVSAvoiddesign flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the stylus design universally adaptable by removing the constraint of traditional battery limitations. The signal-based power management system allows the stylus to be designed with various battery configurations (size, capacity, shape) or alternative power sources without affecting functionality, as the wake-up mechanism relies on digitizer signals rather than motion detection or physical switches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10101828B2Pen wake up on screen detect

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A stylus that receives a signal transmitted by a digitizer and processes the received signal to control a state of the stylus is described. In implementations, a detector circuit in the stylus detects a signal emitted from a transmitter of the digitizer and toggles a state of the stylus between multiple states supported by the stylus. In implementations, the state of the stylus toggles between the multiple states in dependence upon a peak voltage associated with the detected signal. The stylus can also or instead be implemented to toggle a state of the stylus between the multiple states in dependence upon a relative proximity of the stylus to a digitizer. Different battery usage and conservation modes can be implemented in dependence upon a state of the stylus.