Abstract: An active stylus includes at least one electrode, and an integrated circuit coupled to the at least one electrode. The integrated circuit is configured to: operate in a first mode to unilaterally transmit signals to a sensor controller from one of the at least one electrode; attempt to detect an uplink signal from the sensor controller, using one of the at least one electrode, in a time period T1 during which the unilateral transmission of signals to the sensor controller is suspended; in response to not detecting the uplink signal, repeat operating in the first mode to unilaterally transmit signals to the sensor controller; and in response to detecting the uplink signal, stop operating in the first mode and transition to a second mode in which to transmit a downlink signal to the sensor controller, wherein the downlink signal is responsive to the uplink signal transmitted from the sensor controller.

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 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 includes a conductive core-side member, a power supply circuit, a signal transmission circuit, an input reception circuit, and a control circuit. The signal transmission circuit receives a power supply voltage from the power supply circuit, generates a first signal and a second signal each having a different waveform, and selectively supplies either the first signal or the second signal to the core-side member. The input reception circuit which receives a designation input designating either the first signal or the second signal to be supplied from the signal transmission circuit to the core-side member. The control circuit controls the signal transmission circuit to supply either the first signal or the second signal to the core-side member according to the designation input received by the input reception circuit.

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 replaceable pen tip information indicating a type of a replaceable pen tip that forms a pen tip of the active stylus. The sensor controller receives the replaceable pen tip information and identifies the replaceable pen tip type of the active stylus. The active stylus repeatedly sends a data signal including a pen pressure value applied to the replaceable pen tip. The sensor controller derives a position of the active stylus based on the data signal using a position deriving method that corresponds to the replaceable pen tip information.

Abstract: An active stylus includes at least one electrode, and an integrated circuit coupled to the at least one electrode. The integrated circuit is configured to: operate in a first mode to unilaterally transmit signals to a sensor controller from one of the at least one electrode; attempt to detect an uplink signal from the sensor controller, using one of the at least one electrode, in a time period T1 during which the unilateral transmission of signals to the sensor controller is suspended; in response to not detecting the uplink signal, repeat operating in the first mode to unilaterally transmit signals to the sensor controller; and in response to detecting the uplink signal, stop operating in the first mode and transition to a second mode in which to transmit a downlink signal to the sensor controller, wherein the downlink signal is responsive to the uplink signal transmitted from the sensor controller.

Abstract: An electronic pen includes a conductive core-side member, a power supply circuit, a signal transmission circuit which, in operation, receives a power supply voltage from the power supply circuit, generates a first signal and a second signal each having a different waveform, and selectively supplies either the first signal or the second signal to the core-side member, an input reception circuit which, in operation, receives a designation input designating either the first signal or the second signal to be supplied from the signal transmission circuit to the core-side member, and a control circuit which, in operation, controls the signal transmission circuit to supply either the first signal or the second signal to the core-side member according to the designation input received by the input reception circuit.

Abstract: A position indicator can visibly form handwriting, and can erase the handwriting and simultaneously erase corresponding electronic data. The position indicator includes a casing including a first indicating portion and a second indicating portion. The first indicating portion includes a core body capable of visually forming handwriting corresponding to a writing operation of the position indicator, and a first circuit element that enables a position indicated on a sensor surface to be detected by a sensor. The second indicating portion includes an erasing member that projects from the casing, which visually erases the handwriting formed by the core body, and a second circuit element that enables a position indicated on the sensor surface to be detected by the sensor. The second indicating portion includes a holder that holds the erasing member with respect to the casing, and the holder includes a member that contributes to an interaction with the sensor.

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 replaceable pen tip information indicating a type of a replaceable pen tip that forms a pen tip of the active stylus. The sensor controller receives the replaceable pen tip information and identifies the replaceable pen tip type of the active stylus. The active stylus repeatedly sends a data signal including a pen pressure value applied to the replaceable pen tip. The sensor controller derives a position of the active stylus based on the data signal using a position deriving method that corresponds to the replaceable pen tip information.

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: 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 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 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 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 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 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 pointer position detection method performed by a sensor controller connected to a sensor pattern includes: detecting a pen signal transmitted via a pen electrode provided at a distal end of an active pen, detecting a position of the active pen based on a level of the pen signal detected; detecting one or more candidate touch positions of a passive pointer that does not transmit a signal by detecting one or more changes of one or more capacitances of the sensor pattern, and outputting, as the position of the passive pointer, the one or more candidate touch positions remaining after excluding the position of the active pen from the one or more candidate touch positions.