Abstract: A method performed by a device (e.g., touch controller) includes deriving a pen position, and transmitting a report indicating the derived pen position to a host computer. The report includes a first area storing position data indicating the derived position and a second area storing non-position data different from the position data. The method includes securing a buffer area for retaining a plurality of the reports in a memory, deriving the pen position at each determined scanning time, and generating a report including the position data indicating the derived position. The method includes storing the report in the buffer area and, in response to obtaining the non-position data, writing the non-position data in the second area of each of one or more of the reports stored in the buffer area. The method includes transmitting the plurality of the reports stored in the buffer area to the host computer.

Abstract: A position indicator that electrostatically interacts with a sensor includes: a casing having a pen shape; a conductive core body including a pen tip that protrudes from an opening on one end in the axial direction of the casing; a conductor surrounding the core body; a signal transmitting circuit which, in operation, generates a signal that electrostatically interacts with the sensor, and supplies the generated signal to the core body; and a control circuit which, in operation, produces different electrostatic interactions with the sensor by performing a first control operation that sets the conductor in a state of being grounded while the signal is sent out from the pen tip of the core body to the sensor, and performing a second control operation that sets the conductor in a state different from the state of being grounded.

Abstract: A sensor controller is provided for use in a position detector for detecting a position of a position indicator on a touch surface. The sensor controller includes a microprocessor for outputting a value of a symbol to be sent to the position indicator. The sensor controller includes a transmitter coupled to the microprocessor for generating a transmission signal including a chip string CN1 produced by cyclically shifting a code string PNa having autocorrelation characteristics by a shift quantity based on the value of the symbol to be sent, and sending the generated transmission signal to the position indicator via the touch surface. A higher bit rate can be obtained for a given chip rate compared with the prior art in which only 1 bit can be expressed by one code string.

Abstract: A single position indicator that can be used with a plurality of different types of position detection systems. The position indicator includes a communication circuit which, in operation, communicates with an outer device, a configuration circuit which, in operation, performs an initial setting process based on a signal from the outer device, a signal generation circuit which, in operation, generates a stylus position signal, and a control circuit. The control circuit, in operation, controls transmission of the stylus position signal based on an initial setting of at least one switch circuit that is set by the initial setting process performed by the configuration circuit, and controls reception of a signal received from the outer device via the communication circuit.

Abstract: A method performed by a device (e.g., touch controller) includes deriving a pen position, and transmitting a report indicating the derived pen position to a host computer. The report includes a first area storing position data indicating the derived position and a second area storing non-position data different from the position data. The method includes securing a buffer area for retaining a plurality of the reports in a memory, deriving the pen position at each determined scanning time, and generating a report including the position data indicating the derived position. The method includes storing the report in the buffer area and, in response to obtaining the non-position data, writing the non-position data in the second area of each of one or more of the reports stored in the buffer area. The method includes transmitting the plurality of the reports stored in the buffer area to the host computer.

Abstract: A sensor controller includes a transmitter configured to transmit an uplink signal including a first partial signal and a second partial signal. The transmitter is configured to transmit the first partial signal by direct spreading using a first spread code and transmit the second partial signal by direct spreading using a second spread code which is different from the first spread code and which has an identical chip time length to the first spread code. An active stylus includes a receiver configured to receive an uplink signal including a first partial signal and a second partial signal. The receiver is configured to synchronize with the uplink signal by detecting the first partial signal using a first spread code and thereafter detect the second partial signal using a second spread code, which is different from the first spread code and has an identical chip time length to the first spread code.

Abstract: A sensor controller is provided for use in a position detector for detecting a position of a position indicator on a touch surface. The sensor controller includes a microprocessor for outputting a value of a symbol to be sent to the position indicator. The sensor controller includes a transmitter coupled to the microprocessor for generating a transmission signal including a chip string CN1 produced by cyclically shifting a code string PNa having autocorrelation characteristics by a shift quantity based on the value of the symbol to be sent, and sending the generated transmission signal to the position indicator via the touch surface. A higher bit rate can be obtained for a given chip rate compared with the prior art in which only 1 bit can be expressed by one code string.

Abstract: A method to be performed by a sensor controller that periodically transmits an uplink signal, and by a stylus that, upon receiving the uplink signal, determines a transmission and reception schedule for a downlink signal and the uplink signal on the basis of the reception timing of the uplink signal. The method includes executing, by the stylus, an uplink signal receiving operation for a first predetermined period of time according to the transmission and reception schedule. The method includes, responsive to the uplink signal not received through the receiving operation and expiration of the first predetermined period of time, continuing, by the stylus, the uplink signal receiving operation for a second predetermined period of time, instead of transmitting the downlink signal according to the transmission and reception schedule.

Abstract: A stylus includes a first transmission circuit, a second transmission circuit, and a control circuit which controls the first and second transmission circuits according to a first transmission mode in which the control circuit controls the first transmission circuit to transmit a first downlink signal from a tip electrode and controls the second transmission circuit to not transmit a second downlink signal from a tail electrode, a second transmission mode in which the control circuit controls the first transmission circuit to not transmit the first downlink signal from the tip electrode and controls the second transmission circuit to transmit the second downlink signal from the tail electrode, and a third transmission mode in which the control circuit controls the first transmission circuit to transmit the first downlink signal from the tip electrode and controls the second transmission circuit to transmit the second downlink signal from the tail electrode.

Abstract: A controller of an in-cell type liquid crystal display device is provided. The controller controls first and second electrodes that intersect each other, supplies a pixel driving voltage to the first electrodes during a pixel driving period, and detects a stylus position using the first and second electrodes during a stylus detection period different from the pixel driving period. The controller transmits, using the second electrodes, a command requesting a transmission of a downlink signal to the stylus. The controller detects, using the first and second electrodes, the downlink signal transmitted from the stylus in response to the command, and detects the stylus position based on the detected downlink signal.

Abstract: A position indicator includes a pen-shaped body; control circuitry housed in the pen-shaped body and configured to generate position detection signals and generate additional information about the position indicator; a first receiver; a second receiver different from the first receiver; a first transmitter provided near a distal end of the pen-shaped body and configured to transmit the position detection signals to a sensor of a position detection system; and a second transmitter, which is different from the first transmitter and configured to transmit wireless signals to the position detection system. The control circuitry, in response to a control signal from the position detection system received by the first receiver or the second receiver, controls transmission of the position detection signals and transmission of the additional information via a transmitter selected from the first transmitter and the second transmitter, to the position detection system.

Abstract: An active pen is provided that transmits, through coupling capacitance, a signal to a sensor electrode connected to a sensor controller. The active pen includes a pen tip electrode provided on a leading end in a pen axis direction of the active pen; a peripheral electrode provided behind in the pen axis direction as viewed from the pen tip electrode; and a signal processor that transmits a downlink signal from the pen tip electrode and that transmits a reverse-phase signal of the downlink signal from the peripheral electrode at the same time.

Abstract: A method to be performed by a sensor controller that periodically transmits an uplink signal, and by a stylus that, upon receiving the uplink signal, determines a transmission and reception schedule for a downlink signal and the uplink signal on the basis of the reception timing of the uplink signal. The method includes executing, by the stylus, an uplink signal receiving operation for a first predetermined period of time according to the transmission and reception schedule. The method includes, responsive to the uplink signal not received through the receiving operation and expiration of the first predetermined period of time, continuing, by the stylus, the uplink signal receiving operation for a second predetermined period of time, instead of transmitting the downlink signal according to the transmission and reception schedule.

Abstract: A stylus includes a first transmission circuit, a second transmission circuit, and a control circuit which controls the first and second transmission circuits according to a first transmission mode in which the control circuit controls the first transmission circuit to transmit a first downlink signal from a tip electrode and controls the second transmission circuit to not transmit a second downlink signal from a tail electrode, a second transmission mode in which the control circuit controls the first transmission circuit to not transmit the first downlink signal from the tip electrode and controls the second transmission circuit to transmit the second downlink signal from the tail electrode, and a third transmission mode in which the control circuit controls the first transmission circuit to transmit the first downlink signal from the tip electrode and controls the second transmission circuit to transmit the second downlink signal from the tail electrode.

Abstract: A sensor controller can be used with both a first stylus that operates in a first communication mode and a second stylus that operates in a second communication mode. The sensor controller performs a dual mode discovery process in which a first discovery process and a second discovery process are alternately performed. During the first discovery process, the sensor controller transmits a search signal for detecting the first stylus. During the second discovery process, the sensor controller performs processing to detect a signal transmitted by the second stylus. When a response to the search signal that is transmitted by the first stylus is detected, an operating mode of the sensor controller is determined to be the first mode. When the signal transmitted by second stylus is detected, the operating mode of the sensor controller is determined to be the second mode.

Abstract: A controller of an in-cell type liquid crystal display device is provided. The controller controls first and second electrodes that intersect each other, supplies a pixel driving voltage to the first electrodes during a pixel driving period, and detects a stylus position using the first and second electrodes during a stylus detection period different from the pixel driving period. The controller transmits, using the second electrodes, a command requesting a transmission of a downlink signal to the stylus. The controller detects, using the first and second electrodes, the downlink signal transmitted from the stylus in response to the command, and detects the stylus position based on the detected downlink signal.

Abstract: A sensor controller is provided which is capable of allocating time slots to multiple active pens in a timely manner according to functions of each active pen. The sensor controller, in operation, supplies a beacon signal, which serves as a reference time for a frame formed of a plurality of time slots; acquires, from a downlink signal returned from one of a first active pen including a pen tip electrode and a second active pen including a pen tip electrode and a peripheral electrode in response to the beacon signal, functional information indicating whether or not one of the active pens that has transmitted the downlink signal includes the peripheral electrode; and determines based on the acquired functional information whether to allocate one or more of the time slots to only the pen tip electrode or to each of the pen tip electrode and the peripheral electrode.

Abstract: A position indicator includes a pen-shaped body; control circuitry housed in the pen-shaped body and configured to generate position detection signals and generate additional information about the position indicator; a first receiver; a second receiver different from the first receiver; a first transmitter provided near a distal end of the pen-shaped body and configured to transmit the position detection signals to a sensor of a position detection system; and a second transmitter, which is different from the first transmitter and configured to transmit wireless signals to the position detection system. The control circuitry, in response to a control signal from the position detection system received by the first receiver or the second receiver, controls transmission of the position detection signals and transmission of the additional information via a transmitter selected from the first transmitter and the second transmitter, to the position detection system.

Abstract: Allocation of slots to different styluses is flexibly changed in units of the slot that is shorter than a frame. A stylus bi-directionally transmits and receives signals to and from a sensor controller connected to a sensor via capacitive coupling. The stylus includes a memory that temporarily stores a value of a local ID. The stylus includes a controller that determines whether or not a detected uplink signal includes the value of the local ID stored in the memory every time the uplink signal transmitted by the sensor controller is detected. The controller, in response to determining the detected uplink signal includes the value of the local ID stored in the memory, generates a downlink signal that is based on an operation state and transmits the downlink signal to the sensor controller.

Abstract: A position indicator that electrostatically interacts with a sensor includes: a casing having a pen shape; a conductive core body including a pen tip that protrudes from an opening on one end in the axial direction of the casing; a conductor surrounding the core body; a signal transmitting circuit which, in operation, generates a signal that electrostatically interacts with the sensor, and supplies the generated signal to the core body; and a control circuit which, in operation, produces different electrostatic interactions with the sensor by performing a first control operation that sets the conductor in a state of being grounded while the signal is sent out from the pen tip of the core body to the sensor, and performing a second control operation that sets the conductor in a state different from the state of being grounded.