U.S. patent number 10,949,035 [Application Number 16/227,783] was granted by the patent office on 2021-03-16 for method carried out by stylus, method carried out by dual stylus and dual controller, and dual stylus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wacom Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Wacom Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hideyuki Hara, Sadao Yamamoto.
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United States Patent |
10,949,035 |
Hara , et al. |
March 16, 2021 |
Method carried out by stylus, method carried out by dual stylus and
dual controller, and dual stylus
Abstract
A method is carried out by a stylus, wherein the stylus is a
dual stylus configured to be capable of transmitting signals
pursuant to both a first system and a second system and receiving
at least a signal pursuant to the first system. The dual stylus has
a detection function of detecting a writing pressure applied to a
stylus (pen) tip. The method includes detecting contact between the
stylus and a touch surface based on the writing pressure detected
by the detection function, activating a signal reception operation
pursuant to the first system for a predetermined time period, and,
responsive to reception of a signal pursuant to the first system in
the predetermined time period, setting an operation mode of the
stylus to a first operation mode, in which signals are transmitted
and received pursuant to the first system.
Inventors: |
Hara; Hideyuki (Tokyo,
JP), Yamamoto; Sadao (Tokyo, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wacom Co., Ltd. |
Saitama |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
Wacom Co., Ltd. (Saitama,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
1000005424917 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/227,783 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20190121455 A1 |
Apr 25, 2019 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/JP2016/069705 |
Jul 1, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0441 (20190501); G06F 3/0442 (20190501); G06F
3/03 (20130101); G06F 3/04162 (20190501); G06F
3/0383 (20130101); G06F 3/03545 (20130101); G06F
3/0446 (20190501) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/0354 (20130101); G06F 3/038 (20130101); G06F
3/044 (20060101); G06F 3/03 (20060101); G06F
3/041 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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4-353918 |
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Dec 1992 |
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JP |
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2011-138180 |
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Jul 2011 |
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JP |
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2014-63249 |
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Apr 2014 |
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JP |
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5913759 |
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Apr 2016 |
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JP |
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2015/111159 |
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Jul 2015 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report, dated Aug. 16, 2016, for International
Application No. PCT/JP2016/069705, 5 pages (with English
translation). cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Siddiqui; Md Saiful A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seed IP Law Group LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method carried out by a stylus, the stylus being a dual stylus
capable of transmitting a signal pursuant to a first system and a
signal pursuant to a second system and capable of receiving at
least a signal pursuant to the first system, the dual stylus being
capable of detecting a writing pressure applied to a stylus tip,
the method comprising: detecting, by the stylus, contact between
the stylus and a touch surface based on the writing pressure
detected by the stylus; activating, by the stylus, a signal
reception operation of the stylus pursuant to the first system for
a predetermined time period, in response to detection of the
contact between the stylus and the touch surface; in response to
the stylus receiving a signal, from an external device including
the touch surface, pursuant to the first system in the
predetermined time period, setting an operation mode of the stylus
to a first operation mode, in which signals are transmitted and
received by the stylus pursuant to the first system; and in
response to the operation mode of the stylus being not settled,
repeatedly performing a signal reception operation of the stylus
pursuant to the first system and a signal reception operation of
the stylus pursuant to the second system, setting the operation
mode of the stylus to the first operation mode in response to
receiving a signal transmitted from the external device pursuant to
the first system, and setting the operation mode of the dual stylus
to a second operation mode in response to receiving a signal
transmitted from the external device pursuant to the second system,
wherein the second system supports bidirectional communication
between the stylus and the external device.
2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: before the
activating step, repeatedly performing, by the stylus, the signal
reception operation of the stylus pursuant to the first system for
the predetermined time period, interspersed between break periods
during which the signal reception operation of the stylus is not
carried out.
3. A method carried out by a dual stylus and a dual controller,
wherein the dual stylus is capable of transmitting a signal
pursuant to a first system and a signal pursuant to a second system
to the dual controller and capable of receiving at least a signal
pursuant to the first system from the dual controller, and the dual
controller is capable of receiving a signal pursuant to the first
system and a signal pursuant to the second system from the dual
stylus and capable of transmitting at least a signal pursuant to
the first system to the dual stylus, the method comprising:
transmitting, from the dual stylus to the dual controller, a first
signal pursuant to the second system, wherein the first signal
includes function information indicating that the dual stylus is
compatible with the first system; transmitting, from the dual
controller to the dual stylus in response to the first signal, a
second signal instructing the dual stylus to switch to a first
operation mode; and switching, by the dual stylus in response to
the second signal, an operation mode of the dual stylus to the
first operation mode, in which signals are transmitted and received
by the dual stylus pursuant to the first system, wherein the second
system supports bidirectional communication between the dual stylus
and the dual controller, and the dual stylus, in response to the
operation mode of the dual stylus being not settled, repeatedly
performs a signal reception operation of the dual stylus pursuant
to the first system and a signal reception operation of the dual
stylus pursuant to the second system, sets the operation mode of
the dual stylus to the first operation mode in response to
receiving a signal transmitted from the dual controller pursuant to
the first system, and sets the operation mode of the dual stylus to
a second operation mode in response to receiving a signal
transmitted from the dual controller pursuant to the second
system.
4. The method according to claim 3, comprising: switching, by the
dual controller in connection with transmitting the second signal
to the dual stylus, an operation mode of the dual controller to the
first operation mode.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the function
information includes a part or all of a unique identification (ID)
of the dual stylus, and the unique identification is information
used in common in both the first system and the second system.
6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the dual controller
transmits to the dual stylus the second signal pursuant to the
second system.
7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second signal
includes a command that instructs the dual stylus to switch to the
first operation mode.
8. The method according to claim 3, wherein after transmitting the
second signal to the dual stylus, the dual controller switches an
operation mode of the dual controller to the first operation mode
at a timing at which the dual stylus transitions to the first
operation mode.
9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the dual stylus is
capable of detecting a writing pressure applied to a stylus tip,
and the method includes: detecting, by the dual stylus, contact
between the dual stylus and a touch surface of the dual controller
based on the writing pressure detected by the dual stylus;
activating, by the dual stylus in response to detection of the
contact between the dual stylus and the touch surface, a signal
reception operation of the dual stylus pursuant to the first
system; and setting, by the dual stylus in response to receiving a
signal transmitted from the dual controller pursuant to the first
system in the signal reception operation, the operation mode of the
dual stylus to the first operation mode.
10. The method according to claim 9, comprising: setting, by the
dual stylus, the operation mode of the dual stylus to the second
operation mode, in which signals are transmitted and received by
the dual stylus pursuant to the second system, in response to not
receiving a signal transmitted from the dual controller pursuant to
the first system in the signal reception operation.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the dual controller
transmits to the dual stylus the second signal pursuant to the
first system.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the dual controller
stands by while signal transmission from the dual stylus to the
dual controller pursuant to the second system continues, and in
response to the signal transmission from the dual stylus to the
dual controller pursuant to the second system being interrupted,
the dual controller commences signal transmission to the dual
stylus pursuant to the first system.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein in response to the
signal transmission from the dual stylus to the dual controller
pursuant to the second system being interrupted, the dual
controller transmits to the dual stylus the second signal pursuant
to the first system.
14. A dual stylus capable of transmitting a signal pursuant to a
first system and a signal pursuant to a second system and capable
of receiving at least a signal pursuant to the first system, the
dual stylus comprising: a detector configured to detect a writing
pressure applied to a stylus tip; and a controller, which is
coupled to the detector and which, in operation, activates a signal
reception operation of the dual stylus pursuant to the first system
for a predetermined time period in response to detection of contact
between the dual stylus and a touch surface based on the writing
pressure detected by the detector, in response to the dual stylus
receiving a signal, from an external device including the touch
surface, pursuant to the first system in the predetermined time
period, sets an operation mode of the dual stylus to a first
operation mode, in which signals are transmitted and received by
the dual stylus pursuant to the first system, and in response to
the operation mode of the dual stylus being not settled, repeatedly
performs a signal reception operation of the dual stylus pursuant
to the first system and a signal reception operation of the dual
stylus pursuant to the second system, sets the operation mode of
the dual stylus to the first operation mode in response to
receiving a signal transmitted from the external device pursuant to
the first system, and sets the operation mode of the dual stylus to
a second operation mode in response to receiving a signal
transmitted from the external device pursuant to the second system,
wherein the second system supports bidirectional communication
between the dual stylus and the external device.
15. A dual stylus capable of transmitting a signal pursuant to a
first system and a signal pursuant to a second system to an
external touch sensor controller and capable of receiving at least
a signal pursuant to the first system from the external touch
sensor controller, the dual stylus comprising: a controller, which,
in operation, transmits a first signal pursuant to the second
system to the external touch sensor controller, wherein the first
signal includes function information indicating that the dual
stylus is compatible with the first system, after transmitting the
first signal and in response to a second signal transmitted from
the external touch sensor controller instructing the dual stylus to
switch to a first operation mode, switches an operation mode of the
dual stylus to the first operation mode in which the dual stylus
transmits and receives signals pursuant to the first system, and in
response to the operation mode of the dual stylus being not
settled, repeatedly performs a signal reception operation of the
dual stylus pursuant to the first system and a signal reception
operation of the dual stylus pursuant to the second system, sets
the operation mode of the dual stylus to the first operation mode
in response to receiving a signal transmitted from the external
touch sensor controller pursuant to the first system, and sets the
operation mode of the dual stylus to a second operation mode in
response to receiving a signal transmitted from the external touch
sensor controller pursuant to the second system, wherein the second
system supports bidirectional communication between the dual stylus
and the external touch sensor controller.
16. A dual stylus capable of transmitting a signal pursuant to a
first system and a signal pursuant to a second system to an
external touch sensor controller and capable of receiving at least
a signal pursuant to the first system from the external touch
sensor controller, the dual stylus comprising: an indicator; and a
controller, which is coupled to the indicator and which, in
operation, determines an operation mode of the dual stylus to be
one of a first operation mode, in which signal transmission
operation of the dual stylus is performed pursuant to the first
system, and a second operation mode, in which signal transmission
operation of the dual stylus is performed pursuant to the second
system, controls the indicator to perform indication differently
between when the determined operation mode is the first operation
mode and when the determined operation mode is the second operation
mode, and in response to the operation mode of the dual stylus
being not settled, repeatedly performs a signal reception operation
of the dual stylus pursuant to the first system and a signal
reception operation of the dual stylus pursuant to the second
system, sets the operation mode of the dual stylus to the first
operation mode in response to receiving a signal transmitted from
the external touch sensor controller pursuant to the first system,
and sets the operation mode of the dual stylus to the second
operation mode in response to receiving a signal transmitted from
the external touch sensor controller pursuant to the second system,
wherein the second system supports bidirectional communication
between the dual stylus and the external touch sensor
controller.
17. The dual stylus according to claim 16, wherein the controller,
in response to receiving a signal transmitted from the external
touch sensor controller pursuant to the first system, controls the
indicator to perform indication pursuant to the first operation
mode.
18. The dual stylus according to claim 16, wherein the controller,
prior to determining the operation mode of the dual stylus to be
one of the first operation mode and the second operation mode,
controls the indicator to perform indication differently from both
when the dual stylus is in the first operation mode and from when
the dual stylus is in the second operation mode.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a method carried out by a stylus,
a method carried out by a dual stylus and a dual controller, and a
dual stylus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electronic equipment including a stylus that
transmits a signal by using capacitive coupling has been attracting
attention as an input device. This kind of electronic equipment
further includes a touch sensor and a sensor controller, and the
sensor controller is configured to receive a signal from the stylus
received through the touch sensor and carry out position detection
and writing pressure detection of the stylus based on the received
signal.
Regarding the above-described electronic equipment, electronic
equipment of various systems have come into existence in recent
years. Concrete examples thereof are disclosed in PCT Patent
Publication No. WO2015/111159, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2014-63249, U.S. Pat. No. 8,536,471, and U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2012-0105362 (hereinafter, Patent Documents 1 to 4,
respectively).
In Patent Document 1, electronic equipment of a so-called active
capacitive system is disclosed, in which detection of the existence
and position of a stylus is enabled by using electrodes prepared in
a touch panel in order to carry out finger detection. A sensor
controller according to this example does not have a signal
transmission function, and transmission of signals is carried out
only in one direction from the stylus to the sensor controller.
Electronic equipment of the active capacitive system is disclosed
also in Patent Document 2. A sensor controller according to this
example has a signal transmission function, and transmission of
signals is carried out bi-directionally between a stylus and the
sensor controller.
Another example in which transmission of signals is carried out
only in one direction from a stylus to a sensor controller is
disclosed in Patent Document 3, and another example in which
transmission of signals is carried out bi-directionally between a
stylus and a sensor controller is disclosed in Patent Document
4.
As above, electronic equipment of various kinds of systems exist as
electronic equipment including a stylus. However, generally,
compatibility does not exist among the respective systems. As a
result, in the past, for example when a user lays electronic
equipment compatible with only a first system and electronic
equipment compatible with only a second system side by side and
attempts to use them alternately, the user would need to change
(switch) the styluses every time the electronic equipment are
switched, which has been inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-described situation, applicant has been
researching on introduction of a stylus and a sensor controller
compatible with plural systems. Hereinafter, the stylus and the
sensor controller compatible with plural systems will be referred
to as a dual stylus and a dual controller, respectively. For
example, in the above-described example, the need to change the
styluses every time the electronic equipment are switched is
eliminated by using the dual stylus compatible with both the first
system and the second system.
During the research, applicant has discovered that the dual stylus
and the dual controller may encounter the following problems. A
detailed description will be made below.
First, there is a problem that a long time is often necessary from
contact between the dual stylus and a touch surface to decision of
the operation mode of the dual stylus. If the sensor controller has
a function of transmitting a signal from the touch surface, the
dual stylus can determine the type of the sensor controller by
receiving the signal before coming in contact with the touch
surface.
However, signal reception by the dual stylus and signal
transmission by the sensor controller both need to be intermittent.
Thus, when operation of the user is quick, or the like, the dual
stylus often comes in contact with the touch surface in the state
in which the stylus has not yet received the signal from the sensor
controller. In such a case, input by the dual stylus cannot be made
for a while after the contact with the touch surface (until the
timing of signal reception by the dual stylus and the timing of
signal transmission by the sensor controller next coincide with
each other), resulting in causing user inconvenience.
Second, there is a problem that the dual stylus and the dual
controller do not necessarily operate in the optimum operation mode
when they are used in combination. The plural systems with which
the dual stylus and the dual controller are compatible are not
prepared as completely-parallel systems but they are actually
assigned the order of priority. Specifically, suppose that a dual
stylus and a dual controller compatible with a first system and a
second system exist and a higher order of priority is set for the
first system than the second system. In this case, in the case of
carrying out communication between the dual stylus and the dual
controller, which are both compatible with the first system, the
communication should be carried out pursuant to the first system
having a higher priority.
However, for example if both the dual stylus and the dual
controller each carry out transmission and reception of signals
pursuant to the first system and the second system intermittently,
they may recognize that their operation counterpart is equipment
compatible with the second system, depending on the timing. In such
a case, communication pursuant to the second system is started and
communication pursuant to the first system is not carried out.
Furthermore, for example if the first system with the higher order
of priority is compatible with bidirectional communication and the
second system with the lower order of priority is compatible with
unidirectional communication from the stylus to the sensor
controller, it is conceivable that the dual stylus is operated
pursuant to the second system upon detection of the writing
pressure in order to rapidly implement rendering when touch
operation is carried out. In this case, communication pursuant to
the first system is not carried out.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides a method carried out by
a stylus, a method carried out by a dual stylus and a dual
controller, and a dual stylus that can solve the above-described
problems relating to the dual stylus and the dual controller.
A method carried out by a dual stylus according to the present
disclosure is a method carried out by a dual stylus that is
configured to be capable of transmitting both a signal pursuant to
a first system and a signal pursuant to a second system and is
configured to be capable of receiving at least a signal pursuant to
the first system. The dual stylus has a detection function of
detecting a writing pressure applied to a pen tip. The method
includes detecting contact between the dual stylus and a touch
surface based on the writing pressure detected by the detection
function, starting reception operation of the signal pursuant to
the first system in response to detection of contact between the
dual stylus and the touch surface, and, if a signal pursuant to the
first system is received in the reception operation, setting an
operation mode of the dual stylus to a first operation mode, in
which signals are transmitted and received pursuant to the first
system.
A method carried out by a dual stylus and a dual controller
according to the present disclosure is a method carried out by a
dual stylus that is configured to be capable of transmitting both a
signal pursuant to a first system and a signal pursuant to a second
system and is configured to be capable of receiving at least a
signal pursuant to the first system, and a dual controller that is
configured to be capable of receiving both a signal pursuant to the
first system and a signal pursuant to the second system and is
configured to be capable of transmitting at least a signal pursuant
to the first system. The method includes transmitting, by the dual
stylus, a first signal pursuant to the second system, wherein the
first signal includes function information indicating that the dual
stylus is compatible with the first system. The method includes
transmitting, by the dual controller, a second signal including an
instruction to switch to a first operation mode, in which signals
are transmitted and received pursuant to the first system, in
response to reception of the first signal from the dual stylus. The
method includes switching, by the dual stylus, an operation mode of
the dual stylus to the first operation mode in response to
reception of the second signal from the dual controller.
A dual stylus according to one aspect of the present disclosure is
a dual stylus that is configured to be capable of transmitting both
a signal pursuant to a first system and a signal pursuant to a
second system and is configured to be capable of receiving at least
a signal pursuant to the first system. The dual stylus includes a
detector having a detection function of detecting a writing
pressure applied to a pen tip and a controller that activates a
signal reception operation pursuant to the first system for a
predetermined time period in response to detection of contact
between the dual stylus and a touch surface based on the writing
pressure detected by the detection function. The controller, when a
signal is received pursuant to the first system in the
predetermined time period, sets an operation mode of the dual
stylus to a first operation mode, in which signals are transmitted
and received pursuant to the first system.
A dual stylus according to another aspect of the present disclosure
is a dual stylus that is configured to be capable of transmitting
both a signal pursuant to a first system and a signal pursuant to a
second system and is configured to be capable of receiving at least
a signal pursuant to the first system. The dual stylus includes a
controller that transmits a first signal pursuant to the second
system, wherein the first signal includes function information
indicating that the dual stylus is compatible with the first
system. The controller, after transmitting the first signal, in
response to reception of a second signal from a sensor controller,
wherein the second signal is indicative of an instruction to switch
to a first operation mode, switches an operation mode of the dual
stylus to the first operation mode, in which signals are
transmitted and received pursuant to the first system.
A dual stylus according to another aspect of the present disclosure
is a dual stylus that is configured to be capable of transmitting
both a signal pursuant to a first system and a signal pursuant to a
second system and is configured to be capable of receiving at least
a signal pursuant to the first system. The dual stylus includes an
indicator, and a controller that determines whether operation is to
be carried out in a first operation mode, in which the signal
pursuant to the first system is transmitted, or operation is to be
carried out in a second operation mode, in which the signal
pursuant to the second system is transmitted, and controls the
indicator to carry out indication differently between when the
determined operation mode is the first operation mode and when the
determined operation mode is the second operation mode.
According to the methods carried out by the stylus in accordance
with the present disclosure, the stylus can start the reception
operation of the signal pursuant to the first system immediately
after contact with the touch surface. Therefore, it becomes
possible to shorten the time from the contact with the touch
surface to setting the stylus to the first operation mode.
Furthermore, according to the methods carried out by the dual
stylus and the dual controller in accordance with the present
disclosure, even when the operation mode of the dual stylus is the
second operation mode in which transmission (and reception) of the
signal pursuant to the second system is carried out, the operation
mode of the dual stylus can be switched to the first operation mode
by an instruction from the dual controller that has ascertained
that the dual stylus is compatible with the first system.
Therefore, it becomes possible to start communication pursuant to
the first system between the dual stylus and the dual
controller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting the configuration of a position
detecting system according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting the configuration of a sensor
controller according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a mode transition diagram of a stylus and the sensor
controller according to a first embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus and the sensor controller according to the first
embodiment of the present disclosure when the stylus and the sensor
controller carry out operation according to a background art of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus and the sensor controller according to the first
embodiment of the present disclosure when the stylus and the sensor
controller carry out operation according to the background art of
the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus and the sensor controller according to the first
embodiment of the present disclosure when the stylus and the sensor
controller carry out operation according to the present
embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus and the sensor controller according to the first
embodiment of the present disclosure when the stylus and the sensor
controller carry out operation according to the present
embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a processing flowchart depicting operation of the stylus
according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
stylus according to the first embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 10 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
stylus according to the first embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 11 is a processing flowchart depicting operation of the sensor
controller according to the first embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 12 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
sensor controller according to the first embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 13 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
sensor controller according to the first embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 14 is a mode transition diagram of the stylus and the sensor
controller according to a second embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 15 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus and the sensor controller according to the
second embodiment of the present disclosure when the stylus and the
sensor controller carry out operation according to the background
art of the present disclosure;
FIG. 16 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus and the sensor controller according to the
second embodiment of the present disclosure when the stylus and the
sensor controller carry out operation according to the present
embodiment;
FIG. 17 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus and the sensor controller according to the
second embodiment of the present disclosure when the stylus and the
sensor controller carry out operation according to the present
embodiment;
FIG. 18 is a processing flowchart depicting operation of the stylus
according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 19 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
stylus according to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 20 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
stylus according to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 21 is a processing flowchart depicting operation of the sensor
controller according to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 22 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
sensor controller according to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 23 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
sensor controller according to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
FIG. 24 is a processing flowchart depicting the operation of the
sensor controller according to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail
below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting the configuration of a position
detecting system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present
disclosure. As depicted in this diagram, the position detecting
system 1 includes a stylus 2 and electronic equipment 3. The
electronic equipment 3 is a tablet-type computer for example, and
has a sensor 30 forming a touch surface 3t, a sensor controller 31,
and a system controller 32 that controls the respective elements of
the sensor controller 31.
The stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 are a dual stylus and a
dual controller, respectively, compatible with system A (first
system) and system B (second system) that do not have compatibility
with each other. Systems A and B are both compatible with
bidirectional communication between the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31. Systems A and B are given the order of priority and
a higher order of priority is set for system A than system B.
Dashed arrows C1 to C5 in FIG. 1 represent a typical cycle of
operation of the stylus 2 by a user. Furthermore, a sensing range
SR depicted in FIG. 1 represents a range in which either one of the
stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 can detect the other through
reception, by the stylus 2, of an uplink signal US transmitted by
the sensor controller 31 or reception, by the sensor controller 31,
of a downlink signal DS transmitted by the stylus 2.
When drawing a line on the touch surface 3t by using the stylus 2,
a user repeats a series of cycle in which the stylus 2 is moved
(down) from outside of the sensing range SR to inside of the
sensing range SR (C1, C2) and is moved to draw a desired trace on
the touch surface 3t (C3) and thereafter is moved (up) from inside
of the sensing range SR to outside of the sensing range SR (C4,
C5). In the present specification, the entry of the stylus 2 into
the sensing range SR in down-operation will be referred to as first
pen-down PD1 and a contact with the touch surface 3t by the stylus
2 will be referred to as second pen-down PD2.
As depicted in FIG. 1, the stylus 2 has a core body 20, an
electrode 21, a writing pressure detector 22, a switch 23, a signal
processor (processing circuit) 24, a power supply 25, and an
indicator 26.
The core body 20 is an elongated member disposed in such a manner
that the longitudinal direction thereof corresponds with the pen
axis direction of the stylus 2, and forms the pen tip of the stylus
2. An electrically-conductive material is applied on the surface of
the tip part of the core body 20 and forms the electrode 21. The
rear (proximal) end part of the core body 20 is made to abut
against the writing pressure detector 22. The writing pressure
detector 22 detects the writing pressure level according to the
pressure applied to the tip of the core body 20 (writing pressure
applied to the core body 20) when the pen tip of the stylus 2 is
pressed against the touch surface 3t of the sensor controller 31 or
the like. In a concrete example, the writing pressure detector 22
is formed of a variable-capacitance module whose capacitance
changes according to the writing pressure.
The electrode 21 is an electrical conductor disposed near the core
body 20 and is electrically connected to the signal processor 24 by
wiring. When the stylus 2 transmits the downlink signal DS toward
the sensor controller 31, the downlink signal DS is supplied from
the signal processor 24 to the electrode 21 and, in response to
this, a charge according to the contents of the downlink signal DS
is induced in the electrode 21. This causes change in the
capacitance in the sensor 30 to be described later and the sensor
controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS by detecting this
change. Furthermore, when the uplink signal US transmitted by the
sensor controller 31 reaches the electrode 21, a charge according
to the uplink signal US that has reached is induced in the
electrode 21. The signal processor 24 receives the uplink signal US
by detecting the charge thus induced in the electrode 21.
The switch 23 is a side switch disposed on the side surface of the
casing of the stylus 2 for example, and functions as an input unit
configured to be capable of accepting operation by the user.
Specifically, the switch 23 is configured to, according to the
state of operation by the user (pressed-down state), output switch
information indicating its own pressed-down state to the signal
processor 24. The switch information is information that indicates
either one of two states of on-state and off-state, for
example.
The signal processor 24 has a function of receiving the uplink
signal US transmitted by the sensor controller 31 pursuant to
system A or system B through the electrode 21, a function of
generating the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A or system B
and transmitting the downlink signal DS toward the sensor
controller 31 through the electrode 21, and a function of detecting
the second pen-down PD2 (contact with the touch surface 3t) based
on the writing pressure level detected by the writing pressure
detector 22. Which of systems A and B is used by the signal
processor 24 is decided according to the operation mode of the
stylus 2. This point will be described later.
As described later, the uplink signal US often includes various
kinds of command, and the signal processor 24 in this case acquires
the command by demodulating and decoding the received uplink signal
US and generates the downlink signal DS in accordance with the
acquired command. Specifically, based on an instruction by the
command, the signal processor 24 generates the downlink signal DS
including various kinds of information, such as the writing
pressure level detected by the writing pressure detector 22 and the
switch information output from the switch 23.
Furthermore, the signal processor 24 holds a unique identification
(ID) of the stylus 2 in a memory, which is not depicted in the
diagram. The unique ID is information used in common in the plural
systems with which the stylus 2 is compatible (in this case,
systems A and B), and includes information indicating the plural
systems with which the stylus 2 is compatible. The signal processor
24 is configured to cause function information including all or
part of this unique ID (including at least information sufficient
for the sensor controller 31 to determine that the stylus 2 is
compatible with system A) to be included in the downlink signal DS
and transmit the downlink signal DS when being instructed by a
command included in the uplink signal US or voluntarily at a timing
according to any trigger including reception of the uplink signal
US or the second pen-down PD2.
The power supply 25 is a unit configured to supply operating power
(direct current voltage) to the signal processor 24 and is formed
of an AAAA battery with a circular cylindrical shape, for
example.
The indicator 26 is configured to inform (notify) a user of various
kinds of information relating to the stylus 2, and is formed of a
light emitting diode for example. The indicator 26 will be
described in detail in a third embodiment to be described
later.
FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting the configuration of the sensor
controller 31. The configuration of the sensor 30 is also depicted
in this diagram. As depicted in this diagram, the sensor 30 has a
configuration in which plural linear electrodes 30X and plural
linear electrodes 30Y are disposed in a matrix manner and is
capacitively coupled to the stylus 2 based on these linear
electrodes 30X and 30Y. The sensor 30 is used for detection of not
only the stylus 2 but also a finger. Furthermore, the sensor
controller 31 includes a transmitter 60, a selecting circuit 40, a
receiver 50, a logic unit 70, and a micro-controller unit (MCU)
80.
The transmitter 60 is a circuit configured to generate and transmit
the uplink signal US pursuant to system A or system B and includes
a pattern supply circuit 61, a switch 62, a spreading processor 63,
a code string holding circuit 64, and a transmission guard circuit
65 for example. The concrete configuration of the transmitter 60
described here is exemplification and is different in some cases
depending on the system. Furthermore, if systems A and B need the
transmitters 60 with configurations different from each other, the
respective configurations may be disposed together in one
transmitter 60 and be selectively operated. Which of systems A and
B is used by the transmitter 60 is decided according to the
operation mode of the sensor controller 31. This point will be
described later.
The pattern supply circuit 61 holds a detection pattern c1 and has
a function of repeatedly outputting a signal (or bit string)
corresponding to the detection pattern c1 consecutively during a
predetermined consecutive transmission period (for example 3
milliseconds) in accordance with an instruction of a control signal
ctrl_t1 supplied from the logic unit 70. Furthermore, the pattern
supply circuit 61 also has a function of outputting a predetermined
delimiter pattern STP at least twice consecutively immediately
after the end of this consecutive transmission period or at the
time of transmission start of control information c2 to be
described later. The pattern supply circuit 61 may be disposed in
the MCU 80 although being disposed in the transmitter 60 in FIG.
2.
The detection pattern c1 is a pattern of the values of symbols used
for detection of the existence of the sensor controller 31 by the
stylus 2 and is made known to the stylus 2 in advance (before the
stylus 2 detects the sensor controller 31). The symbol is the unit
of information used for modulation in transmission processing (unit
of information expressed by a transmission signal) and is the unit
of information obtained by demodulating one symbol that is a
received signal in reception processing. The values of the symbol
can include a value converted to a bit string (hereinafter,
referred to as "bit string corresponding value") and a value that
is not converted to a bit string by the stylus 2 that has received
the symbol (hereinafter, referred to as "bit string
non-corresponding value"). As depicted in Table 1 to be described
later, the symbols relating to the former take a power-of-two
number of values and can be associated with bit strings of "0001"
and so forth. The bit length of each symbol represented by a bit
string in this manner is decided depending on the specifications of
the spreading processor 63. On the other hand, the symbols relating
to the latter take one or more (for example two) values and take
values that are represented as "P," "M," or the like, and are not
associated with a bit string as depicted in Table 1 to be described
later. In one example depicted in Table 1 to be described later,
"P" and "M" are associated with a predetermined spreading code
string and an inverted code string thereof, respectively.
The detection pattern c1 is represented by a pattern of the bit
string non-corresponding value. Specifically, the detection pattern
c1 is formed of repetition of two bit string non-corresponding
values "P" and "M" as in "PMPMPM . . . ."
The delimiter pattern STP is a pattern of the symbols for notifying
the stylus 2 of the end of the above-described consecutive
transmission period and is formed of a pattern of the symbols that
does not appear in repetition of the detection pattern c1. To take
one example, if the detection pattern c1 is formed of repetition of
two bit string non-corresponding values "P" and "M" as in "PMPMPM .
. . " as described above, the delimiter pattern STP can be formed
of a pattern "PP" obtained by making the bit string
non-corresponding value "P" consecutive twice. The configurations
of the delimiter pattern STP and the detection pattern c1 may be
reversed, so that the delimiter pattern may be formed of "PM" and
the detection pattern c1 may be formed of "PP."
The switch 62 has a function of selecting either one of the pattern
supply circuit 61 and the MCU 80 based on a control signal ctrl_t2
supplied from the logic unit 70 and supplying output of the
selected one to the spreading processor 63. If the switch 62
selects the pattern supply circuit 61, the detection pattern c1 or
the delimiter pattern STP is supplied to the spreading processor
63. On the other hand, if the switch 62 selects the MCU 80, the
control information c2 is supplied from the MCU 80 to the spreading
processor 63.
The control information c2 is information including a command
indicating the contents of an instruction to the stylus 2 and is
generated by the MCU 80. The control information c2 includes the
value of the symbol (for example 0 to 15) associated with a bit
string with a variable length, and is different from the detection
pattern c1 in that the value is not shared with the stylus 2 in
advance. Furthermore, the control information c2 is different from
the detection pattern c1 including the values "P" and "M" in that
the control information c2 is represented by a value "D" that
represents a power-of-two number of values with the above-described
predetermined bit length (e.g., eight (=2.sup.3) values).
The code string holding circuit 64 has a function of generating and
holding a spreading code PN with an 11-chip length having
auto-correlation property based on a control signal ctrl_t3
supplied from the logic unit 70. The spreading code PN held by the
code string holding circuit 64 is supplied to the spreading
processor 63.
The spreading processor 63 has a function of obtaining a
transmission chip string with a 12-chip length by modulating the
spreading code PN held by the code string holding circuit 64 based
on the value of the symbol supplied through the switch 62
(information expressed by a transmission signal by processing of
the spreading processor 63). This function will be described below
by taking a concrete example.
Suppose that, in the example described below, each of the detection
pattern c1, the delimiter pattern STP, and the control information
c2 is formed of a combination of the bit string corresponding
values 0 to 15 (corresponding bit strings "0000" to "1111") and the
bit string non-corresponding values "P" and "M." Furthermore,
suppose that the spreading code PN held by the code string holding
circuit 64 is "00010010111." In this case, the spreading processor
63 converts the values of the respective symbols (0 to 15 and P and
M) to transmission chip strings in accordance with Table 1 depicted
below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Value of Corresponding Shift Transmission
symbol bit string Polarity amount chip string P Non- Non-inversion
0 100010010111 corresponding (Basis) 0 0000 Non-inversion +2
111000100101 1 0001 Non-inversion +3 111100010010 3 0011
Non-inversion +4 101110001001 2 0010 Non-inversion +5 110111000100
6 0110 Non-inversion +6 101011100010 7 0111 Non-inversion +7
100101110001 5 0101 Non-inversion +8 110010111000 4 0100
Non-inversion +9 (-2) 101001011100 M Non- Inversion 0 011101101000
corresponding (Basis) 8 1000 Inversion +2 000111011010 9 1001
Inversion +3 000011101101 11 1011 Inversion +4 010001110110 10 1010
Inversion +5 001000111011 14 1110 Inversion +6 010100011101 15 1111
Inversion +7 011010001110 13 1101 Inversion +8 001101000111 12 1100
Inversion +9 (-2) 010110100011
As depicted in Table 1, in this example, first the value "P" of the
symbol is converted to a transmission chip string obtained by
giving "1" to the beginning of the spreading code PN "00010010111."
Furthermore, each of the values "0" to "7" of the symbols is
converted to a transmission chip string obtained by giving "1" to
the beginning of a code string obtained through cyclic shift of the
spreading code PN "00010010111" by the shift amount depicted in
Table 1. The values "M" and "8" to "15" of the other symbols are
each converted to a transmission chip string obtained by inverting
the transmission chip string corresponding to a respective one of
the values "P" and "0" to "7" of the symbols.
The spreading processor 63 is configured to obtain the transmission
chip string by the above conversion processing and supply the
transmission chip string to the transmission guard circuit 65.
The transmission guard circuit 65 has a function of inserting a
guard period based on a control signal ctrl_t4 supplied from the
logic unit 70. The guard period is a period during which both
transmission and reception are suspended for switching between
transmission operation and reception operation between a
transmission period of the uplink signal US and a reception period
in which a signal from the stylus 2 is received.
The selecting circuit 40 is a switch that carries out switching
between a transmission period in which a signal is transmitted from
the sensor 30 and a reception period in which a signal is received
by the sensor 30 based on control by the logic unit 70.
Specifically, the selecting circuit 40 includes switches 44x and
44y and conductor selecting circuits 41x and 41y. The switch 44x
operates to connect the output terminal of the transmitter 60 to
the input terminal of the conductor selecting circuit 41x in the
transmission period and connect the output terminal of the
conductor selecting circuit 41x to the input terminal of the
receiver 50 in the reception period based on a control signal sTRx
supplied from the logic unit 70. The switch 44y operates to connect
the output terminal of the transmitter 60 to the input terminal of
the conductor selecting circuit 41y in the transmission period and
connect the output terminal of the conductor selecting circuit 41y
to the input terminal of the receiver 50 in the reception period
based on a control signal sTRy supplied from the logic unit 70. The
conductor selecting circuit 41x operates to select one or plural
electrodes in the plural linear electrodes 30X and connect the
selected electrodes to the switch 44x based on a control signal
selX supplied from the logic unit 70. The conductor selecting
circuit 41y operates to select one or plural electrodes in the
plural linear electrodes 30Y and connect the selected electrodes to
the switch 44y based on a control signal selY supplied from the
logic unit 70. It is, for example, when the uplink signal US is
transmitted from the whole surface of the touch surface 3t that the
plural linear electrodes 30X or the plural linear electrodes 30Y
are selected by the conductor selecting circuit 41x or 41y.
The receiver 50 is a circuit for receiving the downlink signal DS
pursuant to system A or system B in accordance with a control
signal ctrl_r of the logic unit 70. Specifically, the receiver 50
includes an amplification circuit 51, a detection circuit 52, and
an analog-digital (AD) converter 53. The concrete configuration of
the receiver 50 described here is also exemplification and is
different in some cases depending on the system. Furthermore, if
systems A and B need the receivers 50 with configurations different
from each other, the respective configurations may be disposed
together in one receiver 50 and be selectively operated. Which of
systems A and B is used by the receiver 50 is decided according to
the operation mode of the sensor controller 31. This point will be
described later.
The amplification circuit 51 amplifies and outputs the downlink
signal DS supplied from the selecting circuit 40. The detection
circuit 52 is a circuit that generates a voltage corresponding to
the level of the output signal of the amplification circuit 51. The
AD converter 53 is a circuit that generates a digital signal by
sampling the voltage output from the detection circuit 52 at a
predetermined time interval. The digital signal output by the AD
converter 53 is supplied to the MCU 80.
The logic unit 70 and the MCU 80 are controllers that control
transmission and reception operation of the transmitter 60, the
receiver 50, and so forth. Specifically, the MCU 80 is a
microprocessor that has read-only memory (ROM) and random access
memory (RAM) inside and operates based on a predetermined program.
Meanwhile, the logic unit 70 is configured to output the
above-described respective control signals based on control by the
MCU 80. Furthermore, the MCU 80 is configured to execute processing
of deriving coordinate data x and y and so forth indicating the
position of the stylus 2 based on the digital signal supplied from
the AD converter 53 and outputting the coordinate data x and y and
so forth to the system controller 32. The MCU 80 is configured to
execute processing of, if the digital signal supplied from the AD
converter 53 represents some kind of data, acquiring the data and
outputting the data to the system controller 32.
FIG. 3 is a mode transition diagram of the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 in the present embodiment. As depicted in this
diagram, the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the
present embodiment are configured to operate in any of unsettled
mode P, operation mode A (first operation mode) in which
communication pursuant to system A is carried out, and operation
mode B (second operation mode) in which communication pursuant to
system B is carried out. Among them, unsettled mode P means the
state in which a device as a communication counterpart has not yet
been detected. In unsettled mode P, which of operation modes A and
B operation should be carried out has not been decided and
transmission and reception of signals pursuant to systems A and B
are alternately repeated as described later. Unsettled mode P can
be referred to as a dual mode in which operation is alternately
carried out in plural operation modes of systems A and B and so
forth, and can also be referred to as a discovery mode as a mode in
which any sensor controller 31 or stylus 2 is being detected. The
stylus 2 may execute processing of switching indication of the
indicator 26 in response to the transition of these operation
modes. This point will be described in the third embodiment to be
described later.
Here, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a description will be
made about a problem caused when the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 compatible with systems A and B carry out operation
according to the background art of the present disclosure. The
operation of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 to be
described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is carried out also
in operation according to the present embodiment, except for a
point to be particularly described later.
FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 carry out the operation according to
the background art of the present disclosure. In the example of
this diagram, the first pen-down PD1 occurs at a clock time t0 and
the second pen-down PD2 occurs at a clock time t1. The operation
mode of each of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 at the
timing before the occurrence of the first pen-down PD1 is unsettled
mode P, as depicted in FIG. 4.
In unsettled mode P, the stylus 2 alternately repeats reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A and
reception operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system B,
and the sensor controller 31 sequentially repeats transmission
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A, reception
operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A,
transmission operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system
B, and reception operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant to
system B. Here, the reception operation and the transmission
operation of the respective signals are carried out continuously
for a predetermined time defined for each in advance. This point is
the same also regarding reception operation and transmission
operation of the respective signals to be described later.
Furthermore, regarding each system, the cycle of the transmission
operation of the uplink signal US by the sensor controller 31 and
the cycle of the reception operation of the uplink signal US by the
stylus 2 are configured in such a manner that either one cycle is
not a multiple of the other. The purpose thereof is to avoid the
occurrence of a situation in which the stylus 2 cannot receive the
uplink signal US transmitted by the sensor controller 31
indefinitely, despite that the uplink signal US reaches the stylus
2. Furthermore, it is preferable that the continuation time of the
reception operation by each system (above-described predetermined
time) be set to at least a time equal to or longer than the
transmission cycle of the corresponding uplink signal US (cycle of
transmission by the sensor controller 31), as with the continuation
time of reception operation of the uplink signal US carried out by
the stylus 2 from the clock time t1 in FIG. 6 to be described
later. Moreover, it is preferable for the reception operation of
the stylus 2 to be repeatedly carried out with the intermediary of
a break period, during which reception operation is not carried out
to avoid wasting the power supply 25 (FIG. 1), also as depicted in
FIG. 4.
The most preferable mode transition of the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 in response to the occurrence of the first pen-down
PD1 and the second pen-down PD2 is that the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 both enter operation mode A between the clock time t0
and the clock time t1 (that is, before the occurrence of the second
pen-down PD2). This is implemented through execution, between the
clock time t0 and the clock time t1, of a series of processing in
which the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US pursuant to system
A and the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS
transmitted by the stylus 2 that has started operation in operation
mode A due to the reception of the uplink signal US and, thereby,
the sensor controller 31 also starts operation in operation mode
A.
However, in the case in which a user quickly operates the stylus 2
and the interval between the clock time t0 and the clock time t1 is
short, or the like, the situation may arise in which the stylus 2
cannot receive the uplink signal US for a while even after passing
through the clock time t1, as exemplified in FIG. 4. In the example
of FIG. 4, the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US transmitted
pursuant to system A finally at a clock time t2 after the clock
time t1, and the stylus 2 enters operation mode A as a result.
Then, at a subsequent clock time t3, the sensor controller 31 that
has received the downlink signal DS transmitted pursuant to system
A enters operation mode A, and communication between the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 pursuant to system A is started. That
is, delay corresponding to the time t3-t1 occurs from the
occurrence of the second pen-down PD2 at the clock time t1 to the
start of the communication between the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 pursuant to system A at the clock time t3. The
occurrence of this delay is one of problems in the background art
of the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is also a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 carry out the operation according to
the background art of the present disclosure. The example of this
diagram is different from the example depicted in FIG. 4 in terms
of the timing of reception operation of the stylus 2 (relative
timing with respect to transmission operation of the sensor
controller 31).
As a result of the above-described difference, the stylus 2
receives the uplink signal US transmitted pursuant to system B and
enters operation mode B at the clock time t2 in the example of FIG.
5. In response to this, the sensor controller 31 also enters
operation mode B at the clock time t3, so that communication
between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 pursuant to
system B is started. Because the order of priority of system B is
low compared with system A, it is not preferable that the
communication pursuant to system B be started as above between the
stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 compatible with both systems
A and B, and it is desired to quickly carry out switching to
communication pursuant to system A. This is another of the problems
in the background art of the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 carry out operation according to the
present embodiment. In this diagram, particularly operation of the
stylus 2 for avoiding the above-described delay is depicted.
As depicted in FIG. 6, after detecting the second pen-down PD2 at
the clock time t1, the stylus 2 immediately starts reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A if its own
operation mode is still unsettled mode P. This reception operation
is continued for at least a time equal to or longer than the
transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31 (cycle SP1 depicted
in the diagram) until the uplink signal US pursuant to system A is
received. Due to this, if the sensor controller 31 transmits the
uplink signal US pursuant to system A, the stylus 2 can surely
receive the uplink signal US pursuant to system A unless the stylus
2 leaves the sensing range SR (FIG. 1). In addition, because the
reception operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A is
started immediately after the occurrence of the second pen-down
PD2, the delay from the second pen-down PD2 to the start of
communication pursuant to system A can also be minimized.
FIG. 7 is also a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the
present embodiment. Particularly this diagram depicts operation of
the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 for switching to
communication pursuant to system A with the higher order of
priority after communication pursuant to system B with the lower
order of priority is started. Even when the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 carry out the operation according to the present
embodiment, such a situation possibly occurs, for example, if the
stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US pursuant to system B between
the clock time t0 and the clock time t1.
As depicted in FIG. 7, the stylus 2 that has started operation in
operation mode B transmits the downlink signal DS (D1, first
signal) including the unique ID at an arbitrary clock time t4. As
this arbitrary clock time t4, a clock time according to the uplink
signal US from the sensor controller 31 or a command included
therein may be employed, or a clock time according to the clock
time t2, when the stylus 2 has started the operation in operation
mode B, may be employed. When receiving the downlink signal DS
(D1), the sensor controller 31 acquires the unique ID included
therein by demodulation and decoding. Then, the sensor controller
31 determines whether or not the stylus 2 is compatible with also
system A based on the acquired unique ID. If determining that the
stylus 2 is compatible, the sensor controller 31 transmits the
uplink signal US (D2, second signal) including a command that
represents an instruction for switching to operation mode A at a
clock time t5. When receiving the uplink signal US (D2) at a clock
time t6, the stylus 2 acquires the switching instruction included
therein by demodulation and decoding. Then, in response to the
acquired switching instruction, the sensor controller 31 switches
its own operation mode to operation mode A at a clock time t7.
The required time from the transmission of the uplink signal US
(D2) by the sensor controller 31 to the transition of the stylus 2
to operation mode A can be decided in advance as part of the
specifications of the stylus 2. Therefore, the sensor controller 31
may know, in advance, the clock time t7, at which the stylus 2 that
has received the switching instruction makes the transition to
operation mode A and, thus, may execute processing of switching its
own operation mode to operation mode A at the clock time t7.
Thereby, communication pursuant to system A with the higher order
of priority is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31.
FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 are processing flowcharts depicting the operation
of the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment. With reference
to these diagrams, the operation of the stylus 2 according to the
present embodiment will be described in more detail below.
As depicted in FIG. 8, first the stylus 2 sets its own operation
mode to unsettled mode P (step S11). Then, the stylus 2 detects
each of the arrival of the start timing of reception pursuant to
system A, the arrival of the start timing of reception pursuant to
system B, and the occurrence of the second pen-down (steps S12 and
S14). If the start timing of reception pursuant to system A has
arrived or if the second pen-down has occurred, the stylus 2
activates reception operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to
system A (step S13). This reception operation when the second
pen-down has occurred is continued for at least a time equal to or
longer than the transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31
(cycle SP1 depicted in FIG. 6) until the uplink signal US pursuant
to system A is received as described above. Furthermore, if the
start timing of reception pursuant to system B has arrived, the
stylus 2 activates reception operation of the uplink signal US
pursuant to system B (step S15).
Moreover, the stylus 2 determines whether or not the uplink signal
US has been received by the reception operation started in the step
S13 or the step S15 (step S16). If determining that the uplink
signal US has been received by the reception operation started in
the step S13 (that is, if the uplink signal US pursuant to system A
has been received), the stylus 2 switches its own operation mode to
operation mode A (step S17). If determining that the uplink signal
US has been received by the reception operation started in the step
S15 (that is, if the uplink signal US pursuant to system B has been
received), the stylus 2 switches its own operation mode to
operation mode B (step S18).
FIG. 9 depicts operation of the stylus 2 after operation in
operation mode A is started. As depicted in this diagram, the
stylus 2 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start
timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S21 and
S23). Then, the stylus 2 activates transmission operation of the
downlink signal DS pursuant to system A (step S22) if the
transmission start timing has arrived, and activates reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A (step S24)
if the reception start timing has arrived.
Furthermore, the stylus 2 determines whether or not the uplink
signal US has been received by the reception operation started in
the step S24 (step S25). If determining that the uplink signal US
has been received, the stylus 2 returns to the step S21 and repeats
the processing. On the other hand, if determining that the uplink
signal US has not been received, the stylus 2 returns its own
operation mode to unsettled mode P (step S26) and returns the
processing to the step S12 in FIG. 8. This processing is executed
in order to return the stylus 2 to unsettled mode P when the stylus
2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.
FIG. 10 depicts operation of the stylus 2 after operation in
operation mode B is started. As depicted in this diagram, the
stylus 2 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start
timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S31 and
S33). Then, the stylus 2 activates transmission operation of the
downlink signal DS pursuant to system B (step S32) if the
transmission start timing has arrived, and activates reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system B (step S34)
if the reception start timing has arrived.
Furthermore, the stylus 2 determines whether or not the uplink
signal US has been received by the reception operation started in
the step S34 (step S35). If determining that the uplink signal US
has been received, the stylus 2 determines whether or not an
instruction for switching to operation mode A is included therein
(step S36). If determining that the switching instruction is
included as a result, the stylus 2 switches its own operation mode
to operation mode A (step S37) and moves the processing to the step
S21 in FIG. 9. On the other hand, if determining that the switching
instruction is not included, the stylus 2 returns to the step S31
and repeats the processing.
If determining that the uplink signal US has not been received in
the step S35, the stylus 2 returns its own operation mode to
unsettled mode P (step S38) and returns the processing to the step
S12 in FIG. 8. This processing is executed in order to return the
stylus 2 to unsettled mode P when the stylus 2 is separated from
the touch surface 3t, similarly to the step S26 in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 to FIG. 13 are processing flowcharts depicting processing
executed by the sensor controller 31 according to the present
embodiment. With reference to these diagrams, the operation of the
sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment will be
described in more detail below.
As depicted in FIG. 11, first the sensor controller 31 sets its own
operation mode to unsettled mode P (step S41). Then, the sensor
controller 31 detects each of the arrival of the start timing of
reception pursuant to system A, the arrival of the start timing of
transmission pursuant to system A, the arrival of the start timing
of reception pursuant to system B, and the arrival of the start
timing of transmission pursuant to system B (steps S42, S44, S46,
and S48). If the start timing of reception pursuant to system A has
arrived, the sensor controller 31 activates reception operation of
the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A (step S43). Similarly,
if the start timing of transmission pursuant to system A has
arrived, the sensor controller 31 activates transmission operation
of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A (step S45). If the
start timing of reception pursuant to system B has arrived, the
sensor controller 31 activates reception operation of the downlink
signal DS pursuant to system B (step S47). If the start timing of
transmission pursuant to system B has arrived, the sensor
controller 31 activates transmission operation of the uplink signal
US pursuant to system B (step S49).
Furthermore, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the
downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation
started in the step S43 or the step S47 (step S50). Then, if
determining that the downlink signal DS has been received by the
reception operation started in the step S43 (that is, if the
downlink signal DS pursuant to system A has been received), the
sensor controller 31 switches its own operation mode to operation
mode A (step S51). If determining that the downlink signal DS has
been received by the reception operation started in the step S47
(that is, if the downlink signal DS pursuant to system B has been
received), the sensor controller 31 switches its own operation mode
to operation mode B (step S52).
FIG. 12 depicts operation of the sensor controller 31 after
operation in operation mode A is started. As depicted in this
diagram, the sensor controller 31 detects each of the arrival of
the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception
start timing (steps S61 and S63). Then, the sensor controller 31
activates transmission operation of the uplink signal US pursuant
to system A (step S62) if the transmission start timing has
arrived, and activates reception operation of the downlink signal
DS pursuant to system A (step S64) if the reception start timing
has arrived.
Furthermore, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the
downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation
started in the step S64 (step S65). If determining that the
downlink signal DS has been received, the sensor controller 31
returns to the step S61 and repeats the processing. On the other
hand, if determining that the downlink signal DS has not been
received, the sensor controller 31 returns its own operation mode
to unsettled mode P (step S66) and returns the processing to the
step S42 in FIG. 11. This processing is executed in order to return
the sensor controller 31 to unsettled mode P when the stylus 2 is
separated from the touch surface 3t.
FIG. 13 depicts operation of the sensor controller 31 after
operation in operation mode B is started. As depicted in this
diagram, the sensor controller 31 detects each of the arrival of
the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception
start timing (steps S71 and S73). Then, the sensor controller 31
activates transmission operation of the uplink signal US pursuant
to system B (step S72) if the transmission start timing has
arrived, and activates reception operation of the downlink signal
DS pursuant to system B (step S74) if the reception start timing
has arrived.
Furthermore, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not an
instruction for switching to operation mode A has been included in
the uplink signal US and been transmitted (step S75). If
determining that the switching instruction has been transmitted,
the sensor controller 31 switches its own operation mode to
operation mode A at the timing at which the stylus 2 makes a
transition to operation mode A (step S76). Thereafter, the sensor
controller 31 moves to the step S61 in FIG. 12 and continues the
processing.
If determining that the switching instruction has not been
transmitted in the step S75, next the sensor controller 31
determines whether or not the downlink signal DS has been received
by the reception operation started in the step S74 (step S77). If
determining that the downlink signal DS has not been received here,
the sensor controller 31 returns its own operation mode to
unsettled mode P (step S78) and returns the processing to the step
S42 in FIG. 11. This processing is executed in order to return the
sensor controller 31 to unsettled mode P when the stylus 2 is
separated from the touch surface 3t, similarly to the step S66 in
FIG. 12.
If determining that the downlink signal DS has been received in the
step S77, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not
function information indicating that the stylus 2 is compatible
with system A is included in the received downlink signal DS (step
S79). Specifically, the function information is information that
represents all or part of the unique ID of the stylus 2, as
described above. If determining that the function information
indicating that the stylus 2 is compatible with system A is
included in the downlink signal DS, the sensor controller 31 sets a
command including an instruction for switching to operation mode A
as one of pieces of information transmitted by the uplink signal US
(step S80). The command thus set is transmitted when the step S72
is next carried out. Then, in the subsequent step S75, it is
determined that an instruction for switching to operation mode A
has been included in the uplink signal US and been transmitted. As
a result of such processing, both the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 make a transition to operation mode A.
As described above, according to the method carried out by the
stylus 2 in accordance with the present embodiment, the stylus 2
can activate reception operation of a signal pursuant to system A
immediately after contacting the touch surface 3t. Therefore, it
becomes possible to shorten the time from the contact with the
touch surface 3t to setting the stylus 2 to operation mode A.
Furthermore, according to the method carried out by the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 in accordance with the present
embodiment, even when the operation mode of the stylus 2 is
operation mode B, in which transmission and reception of a signal
pursuant to system B are carried out, the operation mode of the
stylus 2 can be switched to operation mode A by an instruction by
the sensor controller 31 that has ascertained that the stylus 2 is
compatible with system A. Therefore, it becomes possible to start
communication pursuant to system A between the stylus 2 and the
sensor controller 31.
Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described. The stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to
the present embodiment are different from the stylus 2 and the
sensor controller 31 according to the first embodiment in that they
are compatible, instead of system B, with system C compatible with
unidirectional communication from the stylus 2 to the sensor
controller 31. They are the same in the other points. Therefore,
the description will be made with focus on the different point in
the following. A higher order of priority is set for system A than
system C.
FIG. 14 is a mode transition diagram of the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31 in the present embodiment. As depicted in this
diagram, the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 according to the
present embodiment are configured to operate in any of unsettled
mode P, operation mode A (first operation mode) in which
communication pursuant to system A is carried out, and operation
mode C (second operation mode) in which communication pursuant to
system C is carried out.
Here, with reference to FIG. 15, a description will be made about a
problem caused when the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31
compatible with systems A and C carry out operation according to
the background art of the present disclosure. The operation of the
stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 to be described with
reference to FIG. 15 is carried out also in operation according to
the present embodiment, except for a point to be particularly
described later.
FIG. 15 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 carry out the operation according to
the background art of the present disclosure. Also in the example
of this diagram, similarly to the example of FIG. 4 and so forth,
the first pen-down PD1 occurs at the clock time t0 and the second
pen-down PD2 occurs at the clock time t1. The operation mode of
each of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 at the timing
before the occurrence of the first pen-down PD1 is unsettled mode
P, as depicted in FIG. 15.
In unsettled mode P, the stylus 2 is configured to alternately
repeat transmission operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant to
system C and reception operation of the uplink signal US pursuant
to system A. However, in the example of FIG. 15, the reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A is omitted
once every two times for reduction in the power consumption. In the
present disclosure, such operation is also included in the
operation of "alternately repeating transmission operation of the
downlink signal DS pursuant to system C and reception operation of
the uplink signal US pursuant to system A." Furthermore, the sensor
controller 31 is configured to sequentially repeat transmission
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A, reception
operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A, and
reception operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system C.
Here, the cycle at which the stylus 2 transmits the downlink signal
DS pursuant to system C and the cycle at which the sensor
controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS pursuant to system C
are configured in such a manner that either one cycle is not a
multiple of the other. This is the same also regarding the cycle at
which the stylus 2 receives the uplink signal US pursuant to system
A and the cycle at which the sensor controller 31 transmits the
uplink signal US pursuant to system A. The purpose of this is to
avoid the occurrence of a situation in which, although a signal
transmitted by one device reaches the other device, the other
device cannot receive the signal indefinitely.
Also in the example of FIG. 15, the most preferable mode transition
of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 in response to the
occurrence of the first pen-down PD1 and the second pen-down PD2 is
that the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 both enter operation
mode A between the clock time t0 and the clock time t1 (that is,
before the occurrence of the second pen-down PD2). This is
implemented through execution, between the clock time t0 and the
clock time t1, of a series of processing in which the stylus 2
receives the uplink signal US pursuant to system A and the sensor
controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS transmitted by the
stylus 2 that has started operation in operation mode A due to the
reception of the uplink signal US and, thereby, the sensor
controller 31 also starts operation in operation mode A, similarly
to the case of FIG. 4.
However, in the case in which a user quickly operates the stylus 2
and the interval between the clock time t0 and the clock time t1 is
short, or in the case in which the stylus 2 cannot detect the
uplink signal US, the situation may arise in which the stylus 2 is
still incapable of receiving the uplink signal US even when the
clock time t1 is reached, as exemplified in FIG. 15. Thus,
according to the operation according to the background art, if the
clock time t1 is reached without a transition to operation mode A,
the stylus 2 immediately switches its own operation mode to
operation mode C. Due to this, the stylus 2 exclusively carries out
transmission operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system
C. Thus, the sensor controller 31 also makes a transition to
operation mode C eventually and communication between the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 pursuant to system C is started (clock
time t2). It is not preferable that the communication pursuant to
system C be started in this manner between the stylus 2 and the
sensor controller 31 compatible with both systems A and C.
Therefore, it is desired to prevent the start of communication
pursuant to system C, or to quickly carry out switching to
communication pursuant to system A, even when the communication
pursuant to system C is started. They are problems in the
background art of the present embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram depicting signals transmitted and received
between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 when the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 carry out operation according to the
present embodiment. This diagram particularly depicts operation of
the stylus 2 for preventing the start of communication pursuant to
system C even when the clock time t1 is reached without a
transition to operation mode A.
As depicted in FIG. 16, even when the operation mode of the stylus
2 is still unsettled mode P after the stylus 2 detects the second
pen-down PD2 at the clock time t1, the stylus 2 does not make a
transition to operation mode C, but immediately activates reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A. This
reception operation is continued for at least a time equal to or
longer than the transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31
(cycle SP2 depicted in the diagram) until the uplink signal US
pursuant to system A is received. Due to this, if the sensor
controller 31 transmits the uplink signal US pursuant to system A,
the stylus 2 can surely receive the uplink signal US pursuant to
system A unless the stylus 2 leaves the sensing range SR (FIG. 1).
Therefore, communication pursuant to system C is not started and
communication pursuant to system A can be started.
FIG. 17 is also a diagram depicting signals transmitted and
received between the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31
according to the present embodiment. Particularly this diagram
depicts operation of the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31 for
switching to communication pursuant to system A with the higher
order of priority after communication pursuant to system C with the
lower order of priority is started. When the stylus 2 and the
sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment are used,
communication pursuant to system C is not started as described with
reference to FIG. 16. Thus, basically the case in which the
operation described here is necessary should not exist. However, it
is also possible that the stylus 2 will fail to receive the uplink
signal US for some reason and communication pursuant to system C
will be started as a result (for example in the case in which, as
in FIG. 18 to be described later, the stylus 2 fails to receive the
uplink signal US pursuant to system A in a step S108 although the
sensor controller 31 transmits it, and the stylus 2 decides its own
operation mode as operation mode C in a step S111, or the like).
Therefore, the operation described here may be necessary. Although
being based on the premise that the stylus 2 is operating in
operation mode C here, the operation described below is the same
also when the stylus 2 is operating in unsettled mode P.
As depicted in FIG. 17, the stylus 2 that is operating in operation
mode C continuously transmits the downlink signal DS (D3, first
signal) including function information (specifically, all or part
of the unique ID) indicating that the stylus 2 is compatible with
systems A and C.
When the sensor controller 31 receives the downlink signal DS (D3)
at the clock time t1 subsequent to the clock time t0 when the first
pen-down PD1 has occurred, the operation mode of the sensor
controller 31 changes to operation mode C. At this time, the sensor
controller 31 determines which system the stylus 2 is compatible
with, based on the unique ID included in the downlink signal DS
(D3). Then, if determining that the stylus 2 is compatible with
system A, from then on, the sensor controller 31 temporarily
switches its own operation mode to operation mode A and carries out
transmission of the uplink signal US (second signal) pursuant to
system A every time the transmission of the downlink signal DS is
interrupted. The uplink signal US thus transmitted has a role as an
instruction to switch to operation mode A.
The stylus 2 attempts reception of the uplink signal US pursuant to
system A at a timing when the sensor controller 31 will transmit
the uplink signal US if the sensor controller 31 carries out the
above-described operation. Specifically, the stylus 2 may carry out
reception operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A in
the transmission interval of the downlink signal DS. However, the
consumption of the power supply 25 (FIG. 1) becomes large if the
reception operation is invariably carried out in the transmission
interval. Therefore, it is preferable to carry out the reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A, for
example, in the transmission interval (between the clock time t3
and the clock time t4) of the downlink signal DS immediately after
detection of the second pen-down PD2 (clock time t2), as depicted
in FIG. 17. Of course, the reception operation of the uplink signal
US pursuant to system A may be carried out at the stage before
detection of the second pen-down PD2 (including the period between
the first pen-down PD1 and the second pen-down PD2). This allows
the stylus 2 to detect the uplink signal US pursuant to system A
before the arrival of the clock time t2 (uplink signal US pursuant
to system A located on the later side relative to the clock time t1
in FIG. 17).
When receiving the uplink signal US pursuant to system A at the
clock time t4, the stylus 2 switches its own operation mode to
operation mode A. Meanwhile, the sensor controller 31 attempts
reception of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A after
transmitting the uplink signal US pursuant to system A several
times. In the example of FIG. 17, this attempt is carried out after
the second round of transmission. However, this attempt may be
carried out after the first round of transmission or may be carried
out after the third or subsequent round of transmission.
Furthermore, the reception of the downlink signal DS pursuant to
system A may be attempted plural times. As a result of attempting
reception of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A in this
manner, the sensor controller 31 that has actually received the
downlink signal DS pursuant to system A at the clock time t5
switches its own operation mode to operation mode A in response to
this, and carries out operation in operation mode A from then on.
Thereby, communication pursuant to system A is started between the
stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.
FIG. 18 to FIG. 20 are processing flowcharts depicting the
operation of the stylus 2 according to the present embodiment. With
reference to these diagrams, the operation of the stylus 2
according to the present embodiment will be described in more
detail below.
As depicted in FIG. 18, first the stylus 2 decides its own
operation mode as unsettled mode P (step S101). Then, the stylus 2
detects each of the arrival of the start timing of reception
pursuant to system A and the arrival of the start timing of
transmission pursuant to system C (steps S102 and S104). If the
start timing of reception pursuant to system A has arrived, the
stylus 2 activates reception operation of the uplink signal US
pursuant to system A (step S103). Furthermore, if the start timing
of transmission pursuant to system C has arrived, the stylus 2
activates transmission operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant
to system C (step S105).
Moreover, the stylus 2 determines whether or not the uplink signal
US has been received by the reception operation started in the step
S103 (step S106). If determining that the uplink signal US has been
received (that is, if the uplink signal US pursuant to system A has
been received), the stylus 2 switches its own operation mode to
operation mode A (step S110).
The stylus 2 also determines whether or not the second pen-down PD2
has occurred concurrently with the determination in the step S106
(step S107). If determining that the second pen-down PD2 has
occurred, the stylus 2 activates reception operation of the uplink
signal US pursuant to system A separately from the periodic
reception operation in the step S103 (step S108). This reception
operation is continued for at least a time equal to or longer than
the transmission cycle of the sensor controller 31 (cycle SP2
depicted in FIG. 16) until the uplink signal US pursuant to system
A is received as described above. Then, the stylus 2 determines
whether or not the uplink signal US has been received by this
reception operation (step S109). If determining that the uplink
signal US has been received, the stylus 2 switches its own
operation mode to operation mode A (step S110). On the other hand,
if determining that the uplink signal US has not been received, the
stylus 2 switches its own operation mode to operation mode C (step
S111). If determining that the second pen-down PD2 has not occurred
in the step S107, the stylus 2 returns to the step S102 and
continues the processing.
FIG. 19 depicts operation of the stylus 2 after operation in
operation mode A is started. As depicted in this diagram, the
stylus 2 detects each of the arrival of the transmission start
timing and the arrival of the reception start timing (steps S121
and S123). Then, the stylus 2 activates transmission operation of
the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A (step S122) if the
transmission start timing has arrived, and activates reception
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A (step S124)
if the reception start timing has arrived.
Furthermore, the stylus 2 determines whether or not the uplink
signal US has been received by the reception operation started in
the step S124 (step S125). If determining that the uplink signal US
has been received, the stylus 2 returns to the step S121 and
repeats the processing. On the other hand, if determining that the
uplink signal US has not been received, the stylus 2 returns its
own operation mode to unsettled mode P (step S126) and returns the
processing to the step S102 in FIG. 18. This processing is executed
in order to return the stylus 2 to unsettled mode P when the stylus
2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.
FIG. 20 depicts operation of the stylus 2 after operation in
operation mode C is started. As depicted in this diagram, the
stylus 2 detects the arrival of the transmission start timing
(steps S131), and activates transmission operation of the downlink
signal DS pursuant to system C (step S132) if the transmission
start timing has arrived.
Furthermore, the stylus 2 also determines whether or not the second
pen-down PD2 has occurred concurrently with the determination in
the step S131 (step S133). If determining that the second pen-down
PD2 has occurred, the stylus 2 activates reception operation of the
uplink signal US pursuant to system A at the timing when
transmission of the uplink signal US by the sensor controller 31 is
expected (step S134). This timing when transmission is expected is
a transmission interval of the downlink signal DS pursuant to
system C, for example. Then, if the uplink signal US pursuant to
system A has been received, the stylus 2 switches its own operation
mode to operation mode A (step S136) and moves the processing to
the step S121 in FIG. 19. If the uplink signal US pursuant to
system A has not been received, the stylus 2 returns to the step
S131 and continues the processing in operation mode C. Also when
determining that the second pen-down PD2 has not occurred in the
step S133, the stylus 2 returns to the step S131 and continues the
processing.
FIG. 21 to FIG. 24 are processing flowcharts depicting processing
executed by the sensor controller 31 according to the present
embodiment. With reference to these diagrams, the operation of the
sensor controller 31 according to the present embodiment will be
described in more detail below.
As depicted in FIG. 21, first the sensor controller 31 decides its
own operation mode to unsettled mode P (step S141). Then, the
sensor controller 31 detects each of the arrival of the start
timing of reception pursuant to system A, the arrival of the start
timing of transmission pursuant to system A, and the arrival of the
start timing of reception pursuant to system C (steps S142, S144,
and S146). If the start timing of reception pursuant to system A
has arrived, the sensor controller 31 activates reception operation
of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A (step S143).
Similarly, if the start timing of transmission pursuant to system A
has arrived, the sensor controller 31 activates transmission
operation of the uplink signal US pursuant to system A (step S145).
If the start timing of reception pursuant to system C has arrived,
the sensor controller 31 activates reception operation of the
downlink signal DS pursuant to system C (step S147).
Furthermore, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the
downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation
started in the step S143 or the step S147 (step S148). If
determining that the downlink signal DS has been received by the
reception operation started in the step S143 (that is, if the
downlink signal DS pursuant to system A has been received), the
sensor controller 31 switches its own operation mode to operation
mode A (step S149). On the other hand, if determining that the
downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation
started in the step S147 (that is, if the downlink signal DS
pursuant to system C has been received), the sensor controller 31
switches its own operation mode to operation mode C (step S150) and
thereafter determines whether or not function information
(specifically, all or part of the unique ID) indicating that the
stylus 2 is compatible with system A is included in the downlink
signal DS (step S151). If determining that the function information
indicating that the stylus 2 is compatible with system A is not
included in the downlink signal DS, the sensor controller 31 moves
the processing to a step S171 in FIG. 23 and starts normal
operation pursuant to system C. On the other hand, if determining
that the function information is included, the sensor controller 31
moves the processing to a step S181 in FIG. 24 and executes
processing for causing the stylus 2 to make a transition to
operation mode A.
FIG. 22 depicts operation of the sensor controller 31 after
operation in operation mode A is started. As depicted in this
diagram, the sensor controller 31 detects each of the arrival of
the transmission start timing and the arrival of the reception
start timing (steps S161 and S163). Then, the sensor controller 31
activates transmission operation of the uplink signal US pursuant
to system A (step S162) if the transmission start timing has
arrived, and activates reception operation of the downlink signal
DS pursuant to system A (step S164) if the reception start timing
has arrived.
Furthermore, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the
downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation
started in the step S164 (step S165). If determining that the
downlink signal DS has been received, the sensor controller 31
returns to the step S161 and repeats the processing. On the other
hand, if determining that the downlink signal DS has not been
received, the sensor controller 31 returns its own operation mode
to unsettled mode P (step S166) and returns the processing to the
step S142 in FIG. 21. This processing is executed in order to
return the sensor controller 31 to unsettled mode P when the stylus
2 is separated from the touch surface 3t.
FIG. 23 depicts operation of the sensor controller 31 after
operation in operation mode C is started. As depicted in this
diagram, the sensor controller 31 detects the arrival of the
reception start timing (step S171). Then, if the reception start
timing has arrived, the sensor controller 31 activates reception
operation of the downlink signal DS pursuant to system C (step
S172).
Furthermore, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the
downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation
started in the step S172 (step S173). If determining that the
downlink signal DS has been received, the sensor controller 31
returns to the step S171 and repeats the processing. On the other
hand, if determining that the downlink signal DS has not been
received, the sensor controller 31 returns its own operation mode
to unsettled mode P (step S174) and returns the processing to the
step S142 in FIG. 21. This processing is executed in order to
return the sensor controller 31 to unsettled mode P when the stylus
2 is separated from the touch surface 3t, similarly to the step
S166 in FIG. 22.
FIG. 24 depicts operation of the sensor controller 31 when the
function information indicating that the stylus 2 is compatible
with system A (specifically, unique ID indicating that the stylus 2
is compatible with system A) is included in the downlink signal DS
transmitted by the stylus 2 pursuant to system C in the step S151
in FIG. 21. In this case, the sensor controller 31 carries out
operation for causing the stylus 2 to make a transition to
operation mode A as described above.
Specifically, first the sensor controller 31 detects the arrival of
the reception start timing of the downlink signal DS pursuant to
system C (step S181). Then, if the reception start timing has
arrived, the sensor controller 31 activates reception operation of
the downlink signal DS pursuant to system C (step S182).
Furthermore, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not
transmission of the downlink signal DS has been interrupted (step
S183). The sensor controller 31 carries out this determination when
reception of the downlink signal DS has ended, and determines that
the transmission has been interrupted if, at the timing, an
interval equal to or longer than a predetermined time exists until
the next reception start timing of the downlink signal DS
begins.
If determining that the transmission has not been interrupted in
the step S183, the sensor controller 31 returns to the step S181
and continues the processing. On the other hand, if determining
that the transmission has been interrupted, the sensor controller
31 switches its own operation mode to operation mode A (step S184)
and activates transmission operation of the uplink signal pursuant
to system A (step S185). Then, the sensor controller 31 determines
whether or not the number of times of transmission by this
transmission operation has reached a predetermined number of times
(step S186).
If determining that the predetermined number of times has been
reached in the step S186, the sensor controller 31 detects the
arrival of the reception start timing of the downlink signal DS
pursuant to system A (step S187). This timing is the timing when
the stylus 2 that has received the uplink signal US pursuant to
system A starts transmission of the downlink signal DS pursuant to
system A. If the reception start timing has arrived, the sensor
controller 31 activates reception operation of the downlink signal
DS pursuant to system A (step S188).
Subsequently, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not
the downlink signal DS has been received by the reception operation
started in the step S188 (step S189). If determining that the
downlink signal DS has been received, the sensor controller 31
switches its own operation mode to operation mode A (step S192) and
thereafter moves the processing to the step S161 in FIG. 22.
Thereby, communication pursuant to system A is started between the
stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.
If determining that the predetermined number of times has not been
reached in the step S186 or if determining that the downlink signal
DS has not been received in the step S189, the sensor controller 31
switches its own operation mode to operation mode C (step S190).
Then, the sensor controller 31 determines whether or not the number
of times the reception operation in the step S188 is attempted has
reached a predetermined number of times (step S191), and moves the
processing to the step S171 in FIG. 23 if determining that the
predetermined number of times has been reached. This is equivalent
to the case in which the downlink signal DS pursuant to system A is
not received indefinitely and thus the sensor controller 31
abandons communication pursuant to system A, and communication
pursuant to system C is started between the stylus 2 and the sensor
controller 31. On the other hand, if determining that the
predetermined number of times has not been reached in the step
S191, the sensor controller 31 returns to the step S181 and
continues the processing.
As described above, also with the method carried out by the stylus
2 according to the present embodiment, the stylus 2 can activate
reception operation of a signal pursuant to system A immediately
after contacting the touch surface 3t. Therefore, it becomes
possible to shorten the time from the contact with the touch
surface 3t to setting the stylus 2 to operation mode A.
Furthermore, according to the method carried out by the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 in accordance with the present
embodiment, even when the operation mode of the stylus 2 is
operation mode C, in which unidirectional transmission of a signal
pursuant to system C is carried out, the operation mode of the
stylus 2 can be switched to operation mode A by an instruction
(specifically, transmission of the uplink signal US pursuant to
system A) by the sensor controller 31 that has determined that the
stylus 2 is compatible with system A. Therefore, it becomes
possible to start communication pursuant to system A between the
stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31.
Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described. The stylus 2 according to the present embodiment is
different from the stylus 2 according to the first and second
embodiments in that the stylus 2 is allowed to control the contents
of indication by the indicator 26 according to its own operation
mode. The other points and the configuration of the sensor
controller 31 are the same as the first or second embodiment.
Therefore, the description will be made with focus on the different
point in the following.
The signal processor 24 of the stylus 2 according to the present
embodiment controls the indicator 26 to carry out indication
differently depending on the operation mode decided, as described
in the first and second embodiments. That is, the indicator 26 is
controlled to carry out indication differently between the case in
which operation is carried out in the first operation mode in which
a signal pursuant to the first system is transmitted, and the case
in which operation is carried out in the second operation mode in
which a signal pursuant to the second system is transmitted.
Furthermore, the indicator 26 is controlled to carry out indication
differently from both the first and second operation modes at the
stage before it is decided whether operation is to be carried out
in the first operation mode or operation is to be carried out in
the second operation mode, i.e. in the case of carrying out
operation in the above-described unsettled mode. According to this,
for example in the signal processor 24 in the case of receiving the
uplink signal US pursuant to the first system, its own operation
mode is set to be the first operation mode. This causes the signal
processor 24 to control the indicator 26 to carry out the
indication corresponding to the first operation mode.
If the operation mode of the stylus 2 is switched every time the
uplink signal US or the writing pressure is detected as described
in the first and second embodiments, it becomes difficult for the
user to understand which operation mode the stylus 2 is currently
operating in. For example, when the electronic equipment 3 and the
stylus 2 do not function despite that they are supposed to be in
the same operation mode, or the like, it is impossible to
understand what is happening. The stylus 2 according to the present
embodiment allows the user to know which operation mode the stylus
2 (and sensor controller 31) is currently operating in by checking
the indicator 26.
As concrete contents of indication by the indicator 26, various
contents are conceivable. For example, if the indicator 26 is a
light emitting diode that can emit light with plural colors, it is
conceivable that the contents of indication by the indicator 26 are
controlled in such a manner that the indicator 26 is lit up with
colors different for each operation mode as follows for example:
the indicator 26 is lit up with red in unsettled mode P and lit up
with blue in the first operation mode and lit up with green in the
second operation mode. Furthermore, if the indicator 26 is a light
emitting diode that can emit light with a single color, it is
conceivable that the contents of indication by the indicator 26 are
controlled by combining blinking on and off as follows for example.
Specifically, in unsettled mode P, the indicator 26 is repeatedly
turned on and off at a predetermined cycle. In the first operation
mode, the indicator 26 is turned on and off twice, at an interval
shorter than the above-described predetermined cycle at the timing
of switching to the first operation mode, and thereafter is kept
off. In the second operation mode, the indicator 26 is turned on
and off only once, at the timing of switching to the second
operation mode, and thereafter is kept off.
Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are
described above, the present disclosure is not limited to these
embodiments at all and it is obvious that the present disclosure
can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist
thereof.
For example, in the above-described embodiments, the stylus 2
receives the uplink signal US through the electrode 21 (FIG. 1).
However, the stylus 2 may receive the uplink signal US by a
separate wireless communication measure such as Bluetooth
(registered trademark) for example. Furthermore, it suffices for
the uplink signal US (signal pursuant to the first system) to be a
signal that can be detected by the stylus 2, which includes the
case in which the sensor controller 31 that carries out detection
of a finger touch using mutual capacitance between transmitting
electrode and receiving electrode uses a transmission signal
supplied to the transmitting electrode as the uplink signal US.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, if the signal that
should be received is not received after the start of operation in
a certain operation mode, the stylus 2 and the sensor controller 31
immediately return to unsettled mode P (step S26 in FIG. 9, step
S38 in FIG. 10, step S66 in FIG. 12, step S78 in FIG. 13, step S126
in FIG. 19, step S166 in FIG. 22, step S174 in FIG. 23). However,
instead of immediately returning to unsettled mode P, the stylus 2
and the sensor controller 31 may return to unsettled mode P if
failure in reception occurs a predetermined number of times, for
example.
In the above-described embodiments, switching between plural
systems in an optimizing manner is described. However, it is
obvious that the present disclosure can be applied also to the case
of switching from an operation mode in which equipment operates in
an old version as the second system to another operation mode in
which equipment operates in a newer version by using function
information.
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