Abstract: A system and method are provided to enable the indication positions of respective indicators (e.g., fingers) to be detected (multiple-point detection) and also to enable detection of the users of the indicators (user detection). Signal generators for generating different signals for respective users are provided, and the signals from the signal generators are supplied to a sensor section through indicators. In a multi-touch and multi-user detecting device 1, a transmitting section 200 supplies determined signals to respective transmitting conductors 11Y. Respective receiving conductors 12X receive the signals from the transmitting conductors 11Y and also the signals from the signal generators of the users. Based on these signals, a user-and-position identifying circuit 33A and a position detecting circuit 34A in a receiving section 300A function to detect indication positions indicated by the respective indicators as well as the users using the indicators.

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 use with a position detection sensor, capable of achieving power saving. The position pointer includes: a first electrode configured to receive an AC signal from a position detection sensor; a transmission signal production circuit configured to produce a position signal, based on which the position detection sensor detects a position of the position pointer; a second electrode different from the first electrode and configured to transmit the position signal to the position detection sensor; a signal detection circuit configured to detect whether or not the AC signal from the position detection sensor is received through the first electrode; and a transmission controlling circuit configured to control transmission of the position signal through the second electrode to the position detection sensor in response to an output from the signal detection 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 position pointer is provided for use with a position detection sensor, capable of achieving power saving. The position pointer includes: a first electrode configured to receive an AC signal from a position detection sensor; a transmission signal production circuit configured to produce a position signal, based on which the position detection sensor detects a position of the position pointer; a second electrode different from the first electrode and configured to transmit the position signal to the position detection sensor; a signal detection circuit configured to detect whether or not the AC signal from the position detection sensor is received through the first electrode; and a transmission controlling circuit configured to control transmission of the position signal through the second electrode to the position detection sensor in response to an output from the signal detection circuit.

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: An electrostatic pen has a switch, control circuitry to control the switch and a pen point electrode. The switch has first, second and third terminals and a first diode having an anode coupled to the first terminal and a cathode coupled to the third terminal. The pen point electrode is coupled to the first terminal of the switch. The control circuitry, in operation, supplies respective potentials to the second terminal and the third terminal of the switch and switches between two or more states including a first state in which a potential of the second terminal is higher than a potential of the third terminal and a second state in which the potential of the second terminal is equal to or lower than the potential of the third terminal.

Abstract: A sensor signal processing circuit is connected to a sensor including first and second conductors arranged in different directions. The sensor signal processing circuit includes: a signal supply circuit configured to supply a first signal to the first conductor; a first signal detecting circuit connected to the second conductor; and a control circuit configured to perform control of detecting a proximity of an indicator to the sensor based on a change in a capacitance between the second conductor and a ground, and detecting a position indicated by the indicator based on a change in a capacitance at an intersection point of the first and second conductors by controlling the signal supply circuit and the first signal detecting circuit based on a comparison between a predetermined value and a detection result based on the change in the capacitance between the second conductor and the ground.

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 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: An electrostatic pen has a switch, control circuitry to control the switch and a pen point electrode. The switch has first, second and third terminals and a first diode having an anode coupled to the first terminal and a cathode coupled to the third terminal. The pen point electrode is coupled to the first terminal of the switch. The control circuitry, in operation, supplies respective potentials to the second terminal and the third terminal of the switch and switches between two or more states including a first state in which a potential of the second terminal is higher than a potential of the third terminal and a second state in which the potential of the second terminal is equal to or lower than the potential of the third terminal.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit is provided, which is suitable to be connected to a signal receiving conductor of a capacitive position detecting sensor, which has low power consumption and small circuit scale, and which allows setting of a small value as the capacitance value of a capacitor used for I-V conversion. After a receiving conductor is clamped to a predetermined potential by a clamp circuit, this receiving conductor clamped to the predetermined potential is connected to a capacitor circuit via a gate circuit. Thereby, a potential that changes corresponding to a position indicated by an indicator such as a finger is generated in the capacitor circuit, and a voltage signal generated in this capacitor circuit is converted to a digital signal to be output.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit is connected to one of a plurality of conductors of a position detection sensor having a self-capacitance and configured to generate a signal indicative of the self-capacitance for use in correcting a pointer position detection signal. The circuit includes a capacitor circuit and detects a change in capacitance between the conductor and a pointer (e.g., a finger) as a change in voltage in the capacitor circuit. The signal processing circuit further includes: a gate circuit which controls the connection between the capacitor circuit and the conductor; and a voltage supply control circuit which temporarily sets, to a defined voltage level, a first end of the gate circuit to which the conductor is connected and sets a defined potential difference between the first end and another (second) end of the gate circuit to which the capacitor circuit is connected.

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 indicator has a first electrode, an inverting amplifier and electrical isolation circuitry. The first electrode, in operation, receives an input signal from a capacitive touch panel and transmits a reference signal. The inverting amplifier has an input coupled to the first electrode, and, in operation, inverts and amplifies the input signal. The electrical isolation circuitry has an input coupled to an output of the inverting amplifier, and, in operation, generates the reference signal based on the inverted and amplified input signal.

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 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 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 use with a position detection sensor, capable of achieving power saving. The position pointer includes: a first electrode configured to receive an AC signal from a position detection sensor; a transmission signal production circuit configured to produce a position signal, based on which the position detection sensor detects a position of the position pointer; a second electrode different from the first electrode and configured to transmit the position signal to the position detection sensor; a signal detection circuit configured to detect whether or not the AC signal from the position detection sensor is received through the first electrode; and a transmission controlling circuit configured to control transmission of the position signal through the second electrode to the position detection sensor in response to an output from the signal detection circuit.

Abstract: A sensor signal processing circuit is connected to a sensor including first and second conductors arranged in different directions. The sensor signal processing circuit includes: a signal supply circuit configured to supply a first signal to the first conductor; a first signal detecting circuit connected to the second conductor; and a control circuit configured to perform control of detecting a proximity of an indicator to the sensor based on a change in a capacitance between the second conductor and a ground, and detecting a position indicated by the indicator based on a change in a capacitance at an intersection point of the first and second conductors by controlling the signal supply circuit and the first signal detecting circuit based on a comparison between a predetermined value and a detection result based on the change in the capacitance between the second conductor and the ground.