Abstract: An adjustable effective electrode surface area stylus configured to operate with a capacitive touch sensitive device and coordinate detection method therefor is provided. The stylus comprises an electrode structure comprising a main electrode segment, a sub-electrode segment, a shielding, a switch, and a processing system. The main electrode segment has a main effective electrode surface area and the main electrode segment and sub-electrode segment together form an adjusted effective electrode surface area. The processing system drives the electrode structure to output one stimulation signal having one frequency and a flag and adjust between the output of a main projection of the main electrode surface area having a main central point and an adjusted projection of the adjusted electrode surface area having an adjusted central point. The main central point and adjusted central point projected from the electrode structure is used to calculate tilt and orientation of the stylus.

Abstract: Embodiments of a stylus having a capacitive slide sensor and grip sensors are disclosed, for use with electronic devices and particularly with touchscreen devices. The stylus is in signal communication with the electronic device, either wired or wirelessly, and the slide sensor allows a user to generate a sliding data value as well as a contact/no-contact datum; these can be used as scaled control values or as buttonpress control values to control features of applications running on the electronic device. The capacitive sensors are formed on a single flexible PCB wrapped inside the stylus barrel.

Abstract: Embodiments of a force sensing resistor (FSR) are disclosed. The FSR has one or more external conductive layers, applied to at least part of the contact surface of the FSR, so that when a conductive probe presses the FSR, initial zero-force contact with the FSR can be detected immediately. The external conductive layer or layers may be rigid sheet metal, flexible sheet metal, metallic-coated polymer, conductive polymer, conductive elastomer, or other conductive material. A lead or trace may be electrically coupled to the external conductive layer or layers to allow for ease of coupling to a circuit or circuit board.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed having methods for correcting a location of a touch sensed by a capacitive touch screen when using a stylus, especially an active electronic stylus. The various corrector methods correct touch locations such as manufacturer's built-in offset designed for fingertips, touchscreen drive/sense electrode banding, stylus angle offset, parallax, long linear stroke smoothing, and/or loop smoothing. The corrector methods used may depend on the stylus model and/or the tablet model detected. The corrector methods may configure themselves to conform to the stylus model and/or tablet model detected.

Abstract: Embodiments of a circuit and a stylus for interacting with a capacitive sensor are disclosed. The stylus includes a stylus body, a circuit disposed within the stylus body, a tip, and a power source. The circuit includes an input terminal, an amplifier, and an output terminal. The tip includes a sensing electrode and an emitting electrode, and the tip is disposed on a proximal end of the stylus body. The power source is electrically coupled to the circuit. The input terminal of the circuit is electrically coupled to the sensing electrode of the tip, and the output terminal of the circuit is electrically coupled to the emitting electrode of the tip. The circuit receives a signal through the sensing electrode, amplifies and inverts the signal, and outputs the signal through the emitting electrode. The amplifier of the circuit amplifies only a portion of the signal that exceeds a threshold voltage.

Abstract: Embodiments of amplifiers and electrodes for capacitive styluses are disclosed. The amplifiers detect an input signal from a capacitive touch sensor, such as a touchscreen or touchpad, amplify and invert the signal, and emit the amplified and inverted signal to cause the capacitive touch sensor to detect a touch. The electrode sets, or tips, pair a sensing electrode and an emitting electrode, shielded from each other to limit interference, in a fine-point non-deforming configuration that improves usability over existing stylus tips.

Abstract: Embodiments of a battery charger and methods for operating same are disclosed. The charger has a plurality of charging pins, and a device to be charged may be plugged into the charger in multiple orientations. The charger detects the device's orientation and sets the states of its charging pins appropriately to charge the device. Optionally, the charger may have additional pins, likewise settable according to a device's orientation, for supplying power and/or communications to the device during charging.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed having methods for correcting a location of a touch sensed by a capacitive touch screen when using a stylus, especially an active electronic stylus. The various corrector methods correct touch locations such as manufacturer's built-in offset designed for fingertips, touchscreen drive/sense electrode banding, stylus angle offset, parallax, long linear stroke smoothing, and/or loop smoothing. The corrector methods used may depend on the stylus model and/or the tablet model detected. The corrector methods may configure themselves to conform to the stylus model and/or tablet model detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for differentiating between stylus touches and non-stylus touches on a touchscreen device. A stylus emits a signal, received by the touchscreen device, and software selects a touch, the touch start event for which occurred near the time of the signal, and the size and location of which best fit filters, as being the touch made by the stylus. The software associates that touch with the stylus until the touch ends, or until the stylus emits a signal indicating that contact has ended. The signal may be mechanically generated audio, such as from the stylus contacting the screen, or electronic (audio, RF, IR), generated by the stylus upon detecting pressure or capacitive flux. The methods and systems allow software to perform palm rejection filtering, to track one stylus or multiple styluses, and to ignore touches triggered by dirt, rain, and other environmental causes.

Abstract: Embodiments of magnetic connectors are disclosed. Embodiments show the use of magnetic connectors for power and/or signal bus coupling to electronic devices from support bases, stands, or cables. In some embodiments, spherical contacts, such as ball bearings, are pressed into firm contact with an electronic device by the use of conductive springs, which in turn electrically couple the spherical contacts to the bus lines. Contact arrangements are shown which allow rotation of the electronic device against an embodiment of magnetic connector. Arrangements of multiple magnets having differing polarities are shown when alignment of an electronic device in a particular orientation is required.

Abstract: A stylus assembly for a capacitive touch screen provides input via conventional handwriting action. A stylus is attached at a contact end to a disc providing ample capacitive proximity with the touch screen. A layer of capacitive material is embedded within the disc, and may be formed with a distinct shape, layout, or outline to provide a uniquely recognizable capacitive signature. The stylus terminates at the contact end in a received portion, attached to the disc by a receiving portion formed thereon. Free rotation of the received portion within the receiving portion accepts positioning of the stylus body at any angle with no degradation of capacitive proximity, allowing natural handwriting action. The receiving portion can be formed with sufficient flexibility to allow disengagement and re-engagement thereof, enabling simple and low-cost replacement of the disc.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for differentiating between stylus touches and non-stylus touches on a touchscreen device. A stylus emits a signal, received by the touchscreen device, and software selects a touch, the touch start event for which occurred near the time of the signal, and the size and location of which best fit filters, as being the touch made by the stylus. The software associates that touch with the stylus until the touch ends, or until the stylus emits a signal indicating that contact has ended. The signal may be mechanically generated audio, such as from the stylus contacting the screen, or electronic (audio, RF, IR), generated by the stylus upon detecting pressure or capacitive flux. The methods and systems allow software to perform palm rejection filtering, to track one stylus or multiple styluses, and to ignore touches triggered by dirt, rain, and other environmental causes.

Abstract: A cover for a tablet PC with an integral keyboard provides two outer covering faces and a resilient mounting frame fixing a tablet PC therein, hinged on a keyboard component. By hinging partway along one outer covering face, the mounting frame can assume a wide variety of angles. The keyboard component has embedded within its underside a ferromagnetic member attracted by an embedded metal strip in the other covering face, fixing the keyboard and mounting frame at any desired angle. The resilient mounting frame has an ejection assembly opposite the hinging of the resilient mounting frame and keyboard component, allowing one-handed release of the tablet PC, and an embedded implant corresponding to and detectable by a configurable circuit board encased in the keyboard component.