Abstract: A stylus for use with a digitizer sensor includes a housing confined by a first and second end, a primary tip positioned at the first end of the housing and associated with a first transmitting element, the first transmitting element having a first diameter, a secondary tip positioned at the second end of the housing and associated with a second transmitting element, the second transmitting element having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, a transmitting unit for transmitting a first signal with a first amplitude via the first transmitting element and for transmitting a second signal with a second amplitude via the second transmitting element, wherein the first amplitude is at least twice the second amplitude and a powering unit for powering transmission of the first and second signal.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive stylus for operation with a digitizer sensor includes a housing, a writing tip that is movable in response to contact pressure applied on the writing tip, an extremity that is movable together with the writing tip, a switch and an elastomer element positioned around the extremity and in physical contact with at least one of the housing or an element that is fixed to the housing. The switch includes a first element that is fixedly positioned around the extremity and a second element that is fixed to the housing, wherein physical contact between the first element and the second element closes the switch. The writing tip is operable to move in response to the elastomer element compressing against the housing or an element that is fixed to the housing and the switch is operative to toggle at a pre-defined compressed state of the elastomer element.

Abstract: A method for detecting orientation of a stylus with respect to a digitizer sensing surface includes detecting a signal emitted by a stylus at a plurality of coordinates on a digitizer sensing surface, determining coordinate of a writing tip of the stylus, defining at least one feature characterizing an asymmetrical spread of the stylus signal on the digitizer sensing surface with respect to the writing tip coordinate, and characterizing an orientation of the stylus responsive to the characterization of the asymmetrical spread.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a tip configured to move with respect to the housing based on contact pressure applied the tip, and a circuit. The circuit detects pressure applied on the tip based on movement of the tip. The circuit includes a variable current source configured to drive a sensor, a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) configured to receive current from the sensor and an analog to digital converter configured to sample output from the TIA.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive stylus includes a stylus housing, a writing tip protruding from the housing and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor includes a piezoresistive element, a support element including a first end fixed to the writing tip and a second end that is opposite the first end and presses against the piezoresistive element and circuitry for detecting pressure applied on the piezoresistive element with the support element.

Abstract: A digitizer system includes a stylus comprising a plurality of transmitters for transmitting signals, wherein each of the plurality of transmitters are distanced from one another by a defined distance, a digitizer sensor operable for sensing signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitters, and circuitry associated with the digitizer sensor for tracking a projected location on the digitizer sensor of each of the plurality of transmitters based on the signals sensed, and for tracking a geometric relationship between the projected locations.

Abstract: A digitizer system includes a stylus comprising a plurality of transmitters for transmitting signals, wherein each of the plurality of transmitters are distanced from one another by a defined distance, a digitizer sensor operable for sensing signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitters, and circuitry associated with the digitizer sensor for tracking a projected location on the digitizer sensor of each of the plurality of transmitters based on the signals sensed, and for tracking a geometric relationship between the projected locations.

Abstract: A stylus for use with a digitizer sensor includes a housing confined by a first and second end, a primary tip positioned at the first end of the housing and associated with a first transmitting element, the first transmitting element having a first diameter, a secondary tip positioned at the second end of the housing and associated with a second transmitting element, the second transmitting element having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, a transmitting unit for transmitting a first signal with a first amplitude via the first transmitting element and for transmitting a second signal with a second amplitude via the second transmitting element, wherein the first amplitude is at least twice the second amplitude and a powering unit for powering transmission of the first and second signal.

Abstract: A pressures sensor for sensing pressure on a tip of a stylus includes a variable capacitor, a power supply, and a capacitance measuring unit. The variable capacitor includes a first electrode coated with solid dielectric layer, a second electrode formed at least in part with elastic material, and a support element that moves together with the tip of the stylus and presses against the second electrode in response to pressure applied on the tip. A portion of the dielectric layer is patterned with a conductive pad that is exposed and the second electrode contacts the conductive pad patterned on the dielectric layer. The power supply and the capacitance measuring unit establish electrical connection with the second electrode via the conductive pad.

Abstract: A method for capacitive based detection with a digitizer sensor including a plurality of conductive elements that are capacitively coupled is described. The method includes generating a drive signal including transient sections separated in time by flat sections, providing the drive signal generated to at least one conductive element of the digitizer sensor, and sampling outputs transferred to a second conductive element that is capacitively coupled to the at least one conductive element in response to providing the signal generated to the at least one conductive element. The sampling events of the sampling are timed to take place both in response to the transient sections of the drive signal and to the flat sections of the drive signal.

Abstract: A stylus for use with a digitizer sensor includes a housing confined by a first and second end, a primary tip positioned at the first end of the housing and associated with a first transmitting element, the first transmitting element having a first diameter, a secondary tip positioned at the second end of the housing and associated with a second transmitting element, the second transmitting element having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, a transmitting unit for transmitting a first signal with a first amplitude via the first transmitting element and for transmitting a second signal with a second amplitude via the second transmitting element, wherein the first amplitude is at least twice the second amplitude and a powering unit for powering transmission of the first and second signal.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive stylus, comprises a movable tip that recedes within a housing of the stylus in response to user applied contact pressure, wherein a displacement of the tip along an axis on which it recedes is a function of the applied contact pressure, and an optical sensor enclosed within the housing for optically sensing the displacement of the tip and for providing output in response to the sensing.

Abstract: A method for detecting orientation of a stylus with respect to a digitizer sensing surface includes detecting a signal emitted by a stylus at a plurality of coordinates on a digitizer sensing surface, determining coordinate of a writing tip of the stylus, defining at least one feature characterizing an asymmetrical spread of the stylus signal on the digitizer sensing surface with respect to the writing tip coordinate, and characterizing an orientation of the stylus responsive to the characterization of the asymmetrical spread.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive stylus including a writing tip that is movable in response to contact pressure applied on the writing tip, an extremity that is movable together with the writing tip, an elastomer element positioned between a surface of the extremity and a surface formed from a housing of the stylus and a displacement detector for detecting the displacement of the writing tip. At least one of the extremity, the surface formed from the housing, and the elastomer includes a surface with base portion and at least one protrusion extending out from the base portion. When operating the stylus, at least one protrusion contacts a facing surface over a first range of contact pressures and both the at least one protrusion and the base portion contacts the facing surface for pressures exceeding the first range of pressures.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive stylus for operation with a digitizer sensor includes a housing, a writing tip that is movable in response to contact pressure applied on the writing tip, an extremity that is movable together with the writing tip, a switch and an elastomer element positioned around the extremity and in physical contact with at least one of the housing or an element that is fixed to the housing. The switch includes a first element that is fixedly positioned around the extremity and a second element that is fixed to the housing, wherein physical contact between the first element and the second element closes the switch. The writing tip is operable to move in response to the elastomer element compressing against the housing or an element that is fixed to the housing and the switch is operative to toggle at a pre-defined compressed state of the elastomer element.

Abstract: A signal emitting stylus for operation with a digitizer system includes a resonant circuit including a first capacitor and an inductor, the circuit operative to alternate between receiving a wirelessly transmitted first signal and generating electrical field; a controller and a power source. The controller operates the resonant circuit in a receive mode for receiving the first signal, decodes the received first signal and switches operation of the resonant circuit to a transmit mode for generating the electrical field and coupling the electrical field to a digitizer system in response to detecting the first signal. The power source powers generation of the electrical field.

Abstract: A digitizer system includes a sensing surface, a digitizer sensor that senses fingertip or stylus interaction on the sensing surface, digitizer circuitry that operates the digitizer sensor during an active mode of the digitizer circuitry, wherein the digitizer circuitry operates in one of a sleep mode and an active mode and a wake up circuit that operates during the sleep mode of the digitizer circuitry and triggers a switch from the sleep mode to the active mode. A second sensor operated independently from the digitizer sensor, senses fingertip or stylus touch interaction on the sensing surface during the sleep mode of the digitizer circuitry and provides input to the wake up circuit for triggering the digitizer circuitry in response to sensing the fingertip or stylus touch interaction.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive capacitive sensor for a digitizer system includes an interaction surface over which a user interacts with the capacitive sensor, at least one sensing layer operable to sense interaction by mutual capacitive sensing, the at least one sensing layer extending across the interaction surface, and an additional layer comprising resilient properties and operable to be locally compressed responsive to pressure locally applied on the interaction surface during user interaction with the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A stylus for use with a digitizer sensor includes a housing confined by a first and second end, a primary tip positioned at the first end of the housing and associated with a first transmitting element, the first transmitting element having a first diameter, a secondary tip positioned at the second end of the housing and associated with a second transmitting element, the second transmitting element having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, a transmitting unit for transmitting a first signal with a first amplitude via the first transmitting element and for transmitting a second signal with a second amplitude via the second transmitting element, wherein the first amplitude is at least twice the second amplitude and a powering unit for powering transmission of the first and second signal.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive stylus, comprises a movable tip that recedes within a housing of the stylus in response to user applied contact pressure, wherein a displacement of the tip along an axis on which it recedes is a function of the applied contact pressure, and an optical sensor enclosed within the housing for optically sensing the displacement of the tip and for providing output in response to the sensing.