Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for characterizing user inputs. A first input object may be detected in a sensing region of an input device. A resonance frequency of the first input object may be determined. A first characteristic may be assigned to the first input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the first input object. User inputs provided by the first input object may be processed based at least in part on the first input object characteristic.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for characterizing user inputs. A first input object may be detected in a sensing region of an input device. A resonance frequency of the first input object may be determined. A first characteristic may be assigned to the first input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the first input object. User inputs provided by the first input object may be processed based at least in part on the first input object characteristic.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a capacitor and detection circuitry operable in at least a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first mode, the detection circuitry is configured to measure a capacitance of the capacitor. When operating in the second mode, the detection circuitry is configured to monitor a piezoelectric response of the capacitor, where the piezoelectric response is determined based at least in part on the measured capacitance. In some aspects, the detection circuitry may detect a force exerted on the sensor apparatus based at least in part on the piezoelectric response of the capacitor. In some other aspects, the detection circuitry may process user inputs based at least in part on the piezoelectric response of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining various resistance measurements of a sensor electrode in an input device, where the resistance measurements correspond to electrical resistance values across the sensor electrode. The method further includes obtaining a capacitive response using various sensor electrodes in the input device, where the capacitive response corresponds to changes in capacitance in response to an input object being located in a sensing region. The method further includes determining an adjusted capacitive response using the resistance measurements and the capacitive response. The method further includes determining, using the adjusted capacitive response, object information regarding the input object in the sensing region.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining various resistance measurements of a sensor electrode in an input device, where the resistance measurements correspond to electrical resistance values across the sensor electrode. The method further includes obtaining a capacitive response using various sensor electrodes in the input device, where the capacitive response corresponds to changes in capacitance in response to an input object being located in a sensing region. The method further includes determining an adjusted capacitive response using the resistance measurements and the capacitive response. The method further includes determining, using the adjusted capacitive response, object information regarding the input object in the sensing region.

Abstract: A force sensor having a strain gauge array including force sensing electrodes arranged in a full-bridge configuration comprising at least two of a first resistor type and at least two of a second resistor type, wherein the at least two of the first resistor type form a first force sensing node and the at least two of the second resistor type form a second force sensing node, a processing system communicatively coupled to the force sensing electrodes, the processing system being configured to receive a first signal from the first force sensing node and a second signal from the second force sensing node, wherein the first signal includes a thermal response, and the second signal includes the thermal response and an applied force, and remove the thermal response by comparing the first and second signals to obtain the applied force.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for characterizing user inputs. A first input object may be detected in a sensing region of an input device. A resonance frequency of the first input object may be determined. A first characteristic may be assigned to the first input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the first input object. User inputs provided by the first input object may be processed based at least in part on the first input object characteristic.

Abstract: A processing system includes sensor circuitry and processing circuitry. The sensor circuitry is configured to be coupled to force sensor electrodes, and is configured to drive the force sensor electrodes to obtain capacitive measurements. The processing circuitry is operatively connected to the sensor circuitry and configured to aggregate the capacitive measurements into an aggregated measurement, and apply, to the aggregated measurement, a capacitive measurement to temperature mapping to obtain a current temperature of the force sensor electrodes.

Abstract: A resonating pen having multiple resonance frequencies includes a first circuit segment including an inductor for the resonance frequencies, a second circuit segment including transistors, where each of the transistors includes a transistor state, and a third circuit segment includes a controller. The controller is configured to alter the transistor state of the transistors to change the resonating pen to a resonance frequency. The resonating pen further includes a switch configured to control the controller.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a peripheral device that includes a single charging terminal configured to couple to an active electrode driven with an alternating current (AC) signal, a diode for rectifying the AC signal from the active electrode to obtain a rectified signal, and a charging circuitry for charging an energy storage device using the rectified signal and a connection between the peripheral device and free space.

Abstract: A processing system includes a sensor module coupled to sensor electrodes. The sensor module is configured to drive the sensor electrodes with first sensing signals and with second sensing signals at a second frequency. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to obtain, concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, first measurement values that are based on effects of the first sensing signals, and a resonance of a pen in a sensing region. Concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, second measurement values are obtained that are based on effects of the second sensing signals, and the resonance of the pen in the sensing region. The determination module determines a resonating state of the pen based on the first measurement values and the second measurement values, and reports the resonating state of the pen.

Abstract: A force sensor having a strain gauge array including force sensing electrodes arranged in a full-bridge configuration comprising at least two of a first resistor type and at least two of a second resistor type, wherein the at least two of the first resistor type form a first force sensing node and the at least two of the second resistor type form a second force sensing node, a processing system communicatively coupled to the force sensing electrodes, the processing system being configured to receive a first signal from the first force sensing node and a second signal from the second force sensing node, wherein the first signal includes a thermal response, and the second signal includes the thermal response and an applied force, and remove the thermal response by comparing the first and second signals to obtain the applied force.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device resistance to the effects of errors that may be caused by the motion of detected objects on such input devices, and in particular, to the effect of blurring and/or fragmenting. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of such errors by decoupling the image generating interval from the reporting interval. Specifically, the devices and methods enable the determination of the reporting rate independently of the period over which images of sensor values are generated. The devices and methods enable independent determination of the reporting rate by facilitating the setting of a second period, where images of sensor values are generated over a first period and the reporting interval is determined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period.

Abstract: A processing system includes sensor circuitry and processing circuitry. The sensor circuitry is configured to be coupled to force sensor electrodes, and is configured to drive the force sensor electrodes to obtain capacitive measurements. The processing circuitry is operatively connected to the sensor circuitry and configured to aggregate the capacitive measurements into an aggregated measurement, and apply, to the aggregated measurement, a capacitive measurement to temperature mapping to obtain a current temperature of the force sensor electrodes.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor devices. In one embodiment, a capacitive input device is provided that includes a processing system, a plurality of sensing electrodes configured to sense objects in a sensing region, a conductor, and a shield layer comprising at least one shield electrode, where the at least one shield electrode is disposed between the plurality of sensing electrodes and the conductor. The processing system is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first mode the processing system is configured to determine position information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes. When operating in a second mode the processing system is configured to electrically float the at least one shield electrode and to determine force information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a peripheral device that includes a single charging terminal configured to couple to an active electrode driven with an alternating current (AC) signal, a diode for rectifying the AC signal from the active electrode to obtain a rectified signal, and a charging circuitry for charging an energy storage device using the rectified signal and a connection between the peripheral device and free space.

Abstract: A processing system includes a sensor module coupled to sensor electrodes. The sensor module is configured to drive the sensor electrodes with first sensing signals and with second sensing signals at a second frequency. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to obtain, concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, first measurement values that are based on effects of the first sensing signals, and a resonance of a pen in a sensing region. Concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, second measurement values are obtained that are based on effects of the second sensing signals, and the resonance of the pen in the sensing region. The determination module determines a resonating state of the pen based on the first measurement values and the second measurement values, and reports the resonating state of the pen.

Abstract: A resonating pen having multiple resonance frequencies includes a first circuit segment including an inductor for the resonance frequencies, a second circuit segment including transistors, where each of the transistors includes a transistor state, and a third circuit segment includes a controller. The controller is configured to alter the transistor state of the transistors to change the resonating pen to a resonance frequency. The resonating pen further includes a switch configured to control the controller.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein thus provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. Specifically, the devices, systems and methods provide the ability to accurately determine user input using multiple different sensing regimes. The different sensing regimes can be used to facilitate accurate position determination of objects both at the surface and away from the surface. For example, the different sensing regimes can be used to determine position information for both ungloved and gloved fingers. In one embodiment the first sensing regime uses a first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a first duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing. The second sensing regime uses a second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a second duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing, where the second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing is greater than the first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device resistance to the effects of errors that may be caused by the motion of detected objects on such input devices, and in particular, to the effect of blurring and/or fragmenting. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of such errors by decoupling the image generating interval from the reporting interval. Specifically, the devices and methods enable the determination of the reporting rate independently of the period over which images of sensor values are generated. The devices and methods enable independent determination of the reporting rate by facilitating the setting of a second period, where images of sensor values are generated over a first period and the reporting interval is determined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period.