Abstract: Stylus orientation detection is disclosed. In an example, the orientation of a stylus relative to a contacting surface, e.g., a touch panel, can be detected by detecting a capacitance at one or more locations on the stylus relative to the surface, and then using the capacitance(s) to determine the orientation of the stylus relative to the surface. In another example, the orientation of a stylus relative to a contacting surface, e.g., a touch panel, can be detected by first detecting the orientation of the stylus relative to a reference, detecting the orientation of the contacting surface relative to the reference, and then calculating the orientation of the stylus relative to the contacting surface using the two detected orientations.

Abstract: A pointing device having a puck that is confined to move in a field of motion on a surface and that provides pointing and clicking functions analogous to those of a conventional mouse is disclosed. The puck has first and second members that are spaced apart from one another by a resilient spacer when no force is applied between the members. The puck includes a tilt mechanism for allowing the first and second members to assume a tilted configuration with respect to one another in response to a force being applied between the first and second members. A position detector determines the position of the puck in the puck field of motion and a tilt position of the first member with respect to the second member. The determined tilt position is used to emulate two or more switches that are actuated by varying the tilt position.

Abstract: A stylus is disclosed. The stylus includes a shaft; a conductive tip at a distal end of the shaft; and control circuitry coupled to the conductive tip and configured to generate a modulated signal at the conductive tip to identify the stylus. The stylus can also include a switch coupled between the conductive tip and the shaft. The control circuitry can be further configured to control the switch to modulate a conductive path between the conductive tip and the shaft to generate the modulated signal.

Abstract: An intelligent stylus is disclosed. The stylus can provide a stylus condition in addition to a touch input. The stylus architecture can include multiple sensors to sense information indicative of the stylus condition, a microcontroller to determine the stylus condition based on the sensed information, and a transmitter to transmit the determined condition to a corresponding touch sensitive device so as to cause some action based on the condition.

Abstract: An active stylus is disclosed. The stylus includes an electrode at a tip of the stylus; and powered circuitry coupled to the electrode and configured for capacitively coupling the electrode with a capacitive touch sensor panel. The powered circuitry can further include drive circuitry configured to output a drive voltage at the electrode and/or sense circuitry configured to sense a voltage received at the electrode.

Abstract: Stylus orientation detection is disclosed. In an example, the orientation of a stylus relative to a contacting surface, e.g., a touch panel, can be detected by detecting a capacitance at one or more locations on the stylus relative to the surface, and then using the capacitance(s) to determine the orientation of the stylus relative to the surface. In another example, the orientation of a stylus relative to a contacting surface, e.g., a touch panel, can be detected by first detecting the orientation of the stylus relative to a reference, detecting the orientation of the contacting surface relative to the reference, and then calculating the orientation of the stylus relative to the contacting surface using the two detected orientations.

Abstract: Fabrication of a touch sensor panel using laser ablation is disclosed. The fabricated touch sensor panel can have its touch sensors formed from conductive layers disposed on a surface such as an undersurface of the panel's cover substrate. A fabrication method can include ablating a first conductive layer to define the first part of the touch sensors and then ablating a second conductive layer proximate to the first conductive layer to define the second part of the touch sensors. The touch sensor panel can be incorporated into a mobile telephone, a digital media player, or a personal computer.

Abstract: This relates to compensation for undesirable capacitance changes in a touch sensing device, where the capacitance changes are not indicative of a touch at the device. The touch sensing device can include a touch sensor panel having touch sensors for sensing a touch at the panel, a flexible circuit for transmitting the sensed touch signal from the panel, and a touch controller for receiving and processing the transmitted signal. To compensate for the capacitance changes, the touch sensing device can include one or more reference conductive traces decoupled from touch sensors of the device to measure non-touch capacitances in the device. The touch sensing device can then adjust a touch signal from the touch sensors using the non-touch capacitance measurements to substantially reduce or eliminate the non-touch capacitances from the signal.

Abstract: The present invention includes a pointing device having a first surface on which a puck field of motion is defined, a moveable puck, and a position detector. The moveable puck is confined to move on the first surface within the puck field of motion. The position detector periodically determines a position of the puck in the puck field of motion and an angle of rotation of the puck about an axis perpendicular to the first surface. In one embodiment, the puck includes a puck electrode on a second surface on the puck that is parallel to the first surface. The first surface includes first, second, and third electrodes that are parallel to the puck electrode, the puck electrode overlying a portion of each of the first, second, and third electrodes.

Abstract: A pointing device includes a moveable puck that is capable of moving over a surface in a puck field of motion. The surface includes a detent feature defined within the puck field of motion for engaging with a detent feature of the moveable puck.

Abstract: Fabrication of a touch sensor panel using laser ablation is disclosed. The fabricated touch sensor panel can have its touch sensors formed on an under surface of its cover substrate. A fabrication method can include depositing a conductive layer onto a substrate, depositing a dielectric material onto the conductive layer, ablating the conductive layer to define different regions for the touch sensors, and depositing a conductive material on the dielectric material. Another fabrication method can include sputtering a conductive material onto a substrate at discrete locations on the substrate, printing a dielectric material on the conductive material at the discrete locations, depositing a conductive layer over the substrate, and selectively ablating the conductive layer at the discrete locations to define different regions for the touch sensors. The touch sensor panel can be incorporated into a mobile telephone, a digital media player, or a personal computer.

Abstract: A pointing device includes a position determining mechanism and a control mechanism that has a field of motion associated therewith. The control mechanism can be an object a user moves with his or her finger or it can be the user's finger that he or she moves over a surface. The pointing device is used to control a selection box shown on a display screen. The pointing device can operate in one or more different modes when emulating wheel-style navigation, rocker-style navigation, or both wheel and rocker-style navigation.

Abstract: A pointing device includes a sense electrode structure and a displaceable member. The sense electrode structure includes an arrangement of peripheral sense electrodes in a peripheral region surrounding a central sense electrode. The displaceable member is movable in an operational zone over the sense electrode structure. The displaceable member includes a target electrode facing the sense electrodes and overlapping at least a respective portion of the central sense electrode in each position of the displaceable member in the operational zone.

Abstract: An input device includes a positioning element and a spring member. The positioning element comprises a generally disc shaped member. The spring member is a generally annular shaped spring member that is generally planar and that defines a generally serpentine pattern. The spring member is positioned laterally outward relative to the positioning element and is configured to exert a biasing force radially inwardly toward the positioning element.

Abstract: A slide pad membrane is provided. The slide pad membrane comprises an annular ring having an inner edge, a center portion having an outer edge, and a plurality of concentric annular ripples including an outer annular ripple connected to the inner edge of the annular ring and an inner annular ripple connected to the outer edge of the center portion.

Abstract: A display device having a puck, a display screen, and a controller is disclosed. The puck moves in a puck field of motion on a surface, the field of motion being divided into a pointing region and a function region. The controller determines a position of the puck within the field of motion. The display screen has first and second display modes, the display screen displaying a two-dimensional scene in the first display mode and a sub-scene of the two-dimensional scene in the second display mode. A cursor that moves within the sub-scene in a manner controlled by the puck position in the pointing region is displayed in the second mode. The controller causes the display scene to change between modes when the puck moves between regions. The sub-scene position moves in response to the position of the puck in the function region in the first display mode.

Abstract: A pointing device having a moveable puck that moves in a predetermined field of motion by applying a lateral force thereto is disclosed. A first linear spring is attached to the puck, the first spring applying a first force to the puck at each location in the field of motion. A second linear spring is also attached to the puck, the second spring applying a second force to the puck at each location in the field of motion. The first and second springs return the puck to a predetermined location in the field of motion when the lateral force is not applied to the puck. The first linear spring is folded around a bending point and attached to a portion of the pointing device that is stationary with respect to the puck.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a mutual capacitance touchscreen or touchpad having combined finger navigation and stylus navigation and/or character entry capabilities. First and second pluralities of sense and drive electrodes are disposed in or on upper and lower substrates. The sense and drive electrodes form an array disposed substantially in two opposing planes that are configured to permit at least one location corresponding to a finger or stylus placed in proximity thereto to be detected thereby. The upper substrate is deflectable towards the lower substrate when the stylus is pressed downwardly thereagainst.

Abstract: A dual-positioning controller includes a two positioning controllers for controlling movement of an indicium, such as a cursor, on a display of an electronic device. A coarse controller controls coarse movement of the indicium relative to content displayed on the display. A fine controller controls fine movement of the indicium relative to the content on the display.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a mutual capacitance sensing system comprising at least one substrate comprising an electrode array mounting surface. A plurality of drive electrodes are disposed in a first plurality of rows or columns positioned upon the electrode array mounting surface, where the drive electrodes in each row or column are electrically connected to one another. A plurality of sense electrodes are disposed in a second plurality of rows or columns positioned upon the electrode array mounting surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of rows or columns, and the sense electrodes in each column are electrically connected to one another. The sense and drive electrodes form an array disposed substantially in a single plane that is configured to permit at least one location corresponding to at least one finger placed in proximity thereto to be detected thereby.