Abstract: A position pointer is provided for indicating a position on a sensor of a position detection device. The position pointer includes an elongate pointer body having a distal end and a proximal end; a first electrode disposed near the distal end; and a second electrode different from the first electrode and disposed near the distal end, wherein both the first and second electrodes are capacitively coupleable with the sensor of the position detection device. The position pointer includes a detection circuit configured to intermittently detect signals transmitted from the position detection device; a signal circuit configured to generate a position signal to be transmitted to the position detection device; and a transmission circuit configured to control transmission of the position signal. The transmission circuit, based on a detection result of the detection circuit, controls transmission of the position signal via the first electrode.

Abstract: An electronic pen configured to transmit signals to a sensor of a position detecting device includes a core body; a signal transmitter which transmits a signal for position detection and a signal including information about the electronic pen to the sensor of the position detecting device; and a protector which sets at least a tip of the core body between a protected state and an unprotected state. In response to at least the tip of the core body being in the unprotected state, the signal for position detection and the signal including the information are transmitted from the signal transmitter to the sensor of the position detecting device. In response to at least the tip of the core body being in the protected state, the signal for position detection is transmitted from the signal transmitter and the signal including the information is not transmitted from the signal transmitter.

Abstract: A tablet computer is provided, which includes a sensor section operable to detect positional input by a human operator and output a positional input signal; a display, laid over the sensor section, operable to receive and display a video signal; and a processor, coupled to a memory storing programs for running an operating system (OS) and executing software loaded to the memory, the processor being operable to receive and process the positional input signal from the sensor section and to output a video signal of the OS and the software to the display. The tablet computer further includes a sensor signal filter capable of selectively communicating the positional input signal from the sensor section to the processor, to a separate external processor, or to neither the processor nor the separate external processor; and a display switch capable of coupling the display to the processor or to the separate external processor.

Abstract: A stylus includes in a tubular casing a core body, a pressure detector that detects a pressure applied to the core body, a coupling fitted over the core body, the coupling transmitting the pressure to the pressure detector, and a core pressing controller that controls the coupling to press the core body axially in the tubular casing. The coupling includes a push bearer that bears a push from the core pressing controller, a presser having an axial end fitted in the pressure detector, a fitting region fitted over a portion of the core body remote from a pen tip end of the tubular casing, a receptacle in which another end of the presser remote from an axial end thereof is axially movably housed, and an elastic member disposed in the receptacle, the elastic member biasing the other end of the presser resiliently toward an axial pen tip end of the receptacle.

Abstract: A computing device (e.g., a host computer in communication with a tablet input device) receives pen data corresponding to first and second positions of a pen device. The computing device compares the first and second positions to obtain an angle and an offset distance between the positions. The computing device selects a scrolling direction (either vertical or horizontal) based on the angle, with the selection being biased towards vertical scrolling. The computing device determines a number of scrolling events based on the offset distance, which may include comparing the offset distance with a preselected minimum distance. The computing device sends the scrolling events to an application executing on the computing device. The scrolling events cause the application to render scrolling in the selected scrolling direction. The pen data may include an indication of pen-down status and/or pen button activation to help determine whether to activate or terminate scrolling.

Abstract: A method implemented in a device including a position input sensor is provided, for generating ink data including stroke objects that are vector data configured to reproduce paths formed by operating a pointer. The method includes generally three step. The first step receives pen event data representative of a user's hand-drawn motion on a sensor surface. The second step generates a stroke object based on the pen event data, generates a metadata object that describes the stroke object based on the pen event data and context information received from an application supporting the pen event data, and generates a drawing style object that defines how to draw the stroke object based on the pen event data and the context information. The third step outputs the stroke object, the metadata object, and the drawing style object in association with each other in a recording format or in a transmission format.

Abstract: An elongated stylus is configured to be capacitively coupled with a sensor array providing a plurality of electrodes to indicate a position on the sensor array. The stylus includes a housing having an end in an elongated direction of the housing, a conductive tip disposed at least partially extended from the end of the housing, an electrode disposed around the conductive tip and configured to at least partially expose the conductive tip, and a signal transmit drive circuit configured to provide a signal. Control is performed to form an electrical connection between the electrode and a ground and an electrical connection between the electrode and the signal transmit drive circuit when the elongated stylus is activated for capacitive coupling with the sensor array.

Abstract: An active stylus includes a signal processing section. The signal processing section during operation in a first mode, while supplying a downlink signal DS1, obtained by modulating a pulse train signal with a pen pressure level P, to an electrode, determines whether it is necessary to switch to a second mode. The signal processing section during operation in the second mode, while supplying a downlink signal DS2, obtained by modulating a sine wave signal with the pen pressure level P, to the electrode, determines whether it is necessary to switch to the first mode. The signal processing section switches to operation in the second mode when determining that such is necessary, and switches to operation in the first mode when determining that such is necessary. The active stylus may be used with two position detection devices, one supporting only the first method and the other supporting only the second method.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus of the electrostatic coupling type is provided, to detect not only a position of a pointer but also information other than the position information such as, for example, pointer pressure or side switch information. The pointer transmits two codes such that a pressure applied to a pen tip is associated with a time difference between the two codes. A position detector carries out a correlation matching operation between signals generated in reception conductors and correlation calculation codes corresponding to the two codes, to thereby detect a position on a sensor section pointed to by the pointer from a result of the correlation matching operation and based on at least one of the codes.

Abstract: A position indicator that can be used with a plurality of types of position detection systems. The position indicator includes a first transmitter, a second transmitter, an input circuit which, in operation, accepts an input from outside of the position indicator, a signal generation circuit which, in operation, generates a position detecting signal, a plurality of additional information generation circuits which, in operation, generate a plurality of types of additional information, and a controller. The controller controls, based on the input accepted by the input circuit, transmission of the position detecting signal through the first transmitter and controls, based on the input accepted by the input circuit, transmission of additional information generated by the plurality of additional information generation circuits from the first transmitter or the second transmitter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a device, first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication. The first data comprises a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus. The device determines a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data. The device is operated based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

Abstract: An input device includes: an operation input panel having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the operation input panel, in operation, receives external forces on the front surface and the back surface as operation inputs and is elastically displaced by the external forces; a sensor which, in operation, detects displacements of the operation surface caused by the external forces; and a signal transmission circuit which, in operation, transmits signals corresponding to the displacements detected by the sensor. The operation inputs received by the input device may cause visual, three-dimensional deformations to object images displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: A pen pressure detection device includes: a pressure sensor including electrodes that output electrical information corresponding to an applied pressure; and a holder configured to electrically connect the pressure sensor to a circuit board having a circuit that detects the applied pressure based on the electrical information output from the pressure sensor. The holder includes a first portion that retains the pressure sensor and a second portion that engages with the circuit board, and the holder has a surface on which wiring is formed, the wiring extending from the first portion to the second portion, and the electrodes of the pressure sensor being electrically connected to the circuit board via the wiring when the holder and the circuit board are engaged with each other. The pen pressure detection device can be easily assembled and maintain a connection to the circuit board when the applied pressure is high.

Abstract: A stylus brush for creating paintbrush-like digital effects using a digitizer. The stylus brush includes sensing filaments. The sensing filaments include a conductor extending the length of the filament, wherein the conductor transmits light or current along the length of the filament; a cladding or insulator juxtaposed against the conductor; and a means for changing a light or electrical property passing through the conductor when the filament bends along the length as compared to the light or electrical property of the filament in a nonbent condition, wherein the filament has a width not more than 1 mm and length not more than 10 cm.

Abstract: Handwriting verification methods and related computer systems, and handwriting-based user authentication methods and related computer systems are disclosed. A handwriting verification method comprises obtaining a handwriting test sample containing a plurality of available parameters, extracting geometric parameters, deriving geometric features comprising an x-position value and a y-position value for each of a plurality of feature points in the test sample, performing feature matching between geometric features of the test sample and a reference sample, determining a handwriting verification result based at least in part on the feature matching, and outputting the handwriting verification result. Techniques and tools for generating and preserving electronic handwriting data also are disclosed. Raw handwriting data is converted to a streamed format that preserves the original content of the raw handwriting data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device includes a stylus tip capable of communicating wirelessly with another device through a touch sensor of the other device. The stylus tip includes one or more surface areas, one or more substrates disposed along one or more of the surface areas of the stylus tip, and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or in the one or more substrates.

Abstract: A method is provided to interface an active stylus with a sensor controller, wherein the sensor controller is coupled to a sensor configured to receive input from the active stylus. In the method the sensor controller caches stylus capability information of the active stylus. The stylus capability information includes setting information for inking used by an application program executed to display input from the active stylus on the sensor. The active stylus generates a hash value of the stylus capability information and transmits the hash value to the sensor controller when the active stylus enters a sensing zone of the sensor controller.

Abstract: An electronic pen indicates a position to a position detection module by transmitting and receiving signals with the position detection module. A cylindrical casing, a core member, a writing-pressure detector, and a writing-pressure transmission member are accommodated in a interior portion of a cylindrical casing. A pressing member applies, based on a user operation, a displacement force to the core member from a first end, which is opposite to a second end serving a pen tip, to the second end serving as the pen tip. The writing-pressure transmission member includes a protrusion which, in operation, transmits a writing pressure, which has been exerted on the core member fitted in a fit-in portion included in the writing-pressure transmission member, to the writing-pressure detector. The pressing member is configured to apply a displacement force to the core member via the writing-pressure transmission member without applying an axial force to the writing-pressure detector.