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: 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 of using an active stylus and a sensor controller is provided including generally four steps. The active stylus, in response to a trigger indicative of a pen lowering operation, sends refill body information indicating a type of a refill body that forms a pen tip of the active stylus. The sensor controller receives the refill body information and identifies the refill body type of the active stylus. The active stylus repeatedly sends a data signal including a pen pressure value applied to the refill body. The sensor controller derives a position of the active stylus based on the data signal using a position deriving method that corresponds to the refill body information.

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 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 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: A method implemented in a system for deriving a position of a pen on a sensor panel by transmitting and receiving signals via capacitive coupling between a pen tip electrode of the pen and the sensor panel, includes: transmitting a first signal indicating a reference time of one frame period via the sensor panel, from a sensor controller that performs a pen detecting operation only at one or more specific time periods in the one frame period; and transmitting a burst signal that does not include a data signal indicating an operating state of the pen, from the pen that has detected the first signal, at each of the one or more specific time periods in the frame period indicated by the first signal.

Abstract: A system includes a stylus and a sensor controller couplable to a sensor capable of detecting the stylus. The sensor controller is configured to continuously transmit, via the sensor, first uplink control signals (US_c1) during a continuous transmission period (TCP), which is longer than an interval (WPa) at which the stylus performs a reception operation Rx of an uplink signal from the sensor. The sensor controller is configured to, after the TCP, control a reception operation at the sensor of a downlink signal (DS) from the stylus during a reception period (RDS). The sensor controller is configured to, depending on a result of detection of the DS during the RDS, determine whether or not the stylus is detected by the sensor.

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: Apparatus and method are provided that are capable of controlling a display in response to reliable detection of a sliding movement operation of a pointer (e.g., a user's finger) that passes through an end of a display region. The apparatus and method utilize a position detection sensor, which is superposed on the display and configured to detect the pointer's position discretely and successively at a predetermined time interval. Based on a first position detected by the position detection sensor and a second position detected, at the predetermined time interval since the detection of the first position, by the position detection sensor, which together indicate a moving operation of the pointer, it is determined whether the moving operation of the pointer has crossed an end of the display region. If it is so determined, a passed end position of the display region is calculated based on the first and second positions.

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: An active pen that is used together with a sensor controller includes: an electrode provided at a pen tip, a memory that stores identification data, and a processor connected to the electrode and the memory. The processor returns, as a response to a first uplink signal transmitted from the sensor controller, a response signal including the identification data stored by the memory, and decides, based on whether data corresponding to the identification data is included in a second uplink signal received after the response signal is transmitted, whether the active pen is detected by the sensor controller.

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 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 includes: a first transmission step in which a sensor controller sends a first control signal US_c1 including a repetition, by twice or more times, of a known element (“repetitive element”) c1; a detection step in which a stylus performs a receiving operation over a reception period having a predetermined time length SRP, determines whether one or more repetitive elements c1 are included in a signal received in the reception period, and detects the sensor controller depending on the result of the determination; and a second transmission step in which the sensor controller sends a second control signal US_c2 including a plurality of bit values not shared with the stylus in advance. The method reduces the amount of electric power consumed by a stylus, which is configured to detect a sensor controller by receiving a signal sent by the sensor controller, before the stylus detects the sensor controller.

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: Apparatus and method are provided that are capable of controlling a display in response to reliable detection of a sliding movement operation of a pointer (e.g., a user's finger) that passes through an end of a display region. The apparatus and method utilize a position detection sensor, which is superposed on the display and configured to detect the pointer's position discretely and successively at a predetermined time interval. Based on a first position detected by the position detection sensor and a second position detected, at the predetermined time interval since the detection of the first position, by the position detection sensor, which together indicate a moving operation of the pointer, it is determined whether the moving operation of the pointer has crossed an end of the display region. If it is so determined, a passed end position of the display region is calculated based on the first and second positions.

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: 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.