IP Library Granted Patent US 9,874,920
Granted Patent B2
US 9,874,920 · App. 13/328,594 · Granted Jan 23, 2018

Power management system for active stylus

Inventor: Vemund Kval Bakken (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F1/32G06F3/03545
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,874,920
App. No.
13/328,594
Granted
Jan 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a stylus includes one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of the stylus further embodies logic for allocating between the stylus and the device electric energy available at the stylus or the device based on one or more first criteria.

Claims (43)

1. A stylus comprising: one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying first logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device; and

the computer-readable non-transitory storage media of the stylus further embodying second logic operable when executed to:

determine at least in part independently of a determination made by the device, based on one or more first criteria, whether to charge a power supply of the device with electric energy available at the stylus such that the electric energy is transferred from a power supply of the stylus to the power supply of the device, the one or more first criteria comprising:

a current power demand of the device; and

an amount of energy currently available in the power supply of the device;

not initiate, at least in part in response to determining that the current power demand of the device is greater than a power capable of being delivered by the power supply of the stylus, a transfer of the electric energy from the power supply of the stylus; and

initiate, at least in part in response to determining that the current power demand of the device is less than the power capable of being delivered by the power supply of the stylus, a transfer of at least a portion of the electric energy from the power supply of the stylus.

2. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first criteria further comprises:

an amount of electric energy available at the stylus;

a ratio of electric energy existing on the stylus or the device to an electric energy capable of being stored on the stylus or the device; or

input by a user of the stylus or the device.

3. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the media further embodies fourth logic for terminating, based on one or more third criteria, the charging of the power supply of the device with the electric energy available at the stylus.

4. The stylus of claim 3 , wherein the one or more third criteria comprise:

an amount of electric energy available at the stylus or the device;

a power demand of the stylus or the device;

a ratio of electric energy existing on the stylus or the device to electric energy capable of being stored on the stylus or the device; or

input by a user of the stylus or the device.

5. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the second logic is further operable when executed to instruct a power-management system of the device to charge the power supply of the device with the electric energy available at the stylus.

6. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the second logic is further operable when executed to instruct a power-management system of the stylus to charge the power supply of the device with the electric energy available at the stylus.

7. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor of the device is a capacitive touch sensor or an inductive touch sensor.

8. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the second logic is further operable when executed to determine whether to wirelessly charge a power supply of the device with electric energy available at the stylus.

9. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying: first logic that is operable when executed to:

determine at least in part independently of a determination made by the device, based on one or more first criteria, whether to charge a power supply of the device with electric energy available at the stylus such that the electric energy is transferred from a power supply of the stylus to the power supply of the device, the stylus comprising one or more electrodes and the computer-readable non-transitory storage media, the one or more first criteria comprising:

a current power demand of the device; and

an amount of energy currently available in the power supply of the device;

not initiate, at least in part in response to determining that the current power demand of the device is greater than a power capable of being delivered by the power supply of the stylus, a transfer of the electric energy from the power supply of the stylus; and

initiate, at least in part in response to determining that the current

initiate, at least in part in response to determining that the current power demand of the device is less than the power capable of being delivered by the power supply of the stylus, a transfer of at least a portion of the electric energy from the power supply of the stylus; and

second logic operable when executed to transmit signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device.

10. The media of claim 9 , wherein the one or more first criteria further comprises:

an amount of electric energy available at the stylus;

a ratio of electric energy existing on the stylus or the device to an electric energy capable of being stored on the stylus or the device; or

input by a user of the stylus or the device.

11. The media of claim 9 , wherein the media further embodies fourth logic that is operable when executed to terminate, based on one or more third criteria, the charging of the power supply of the device with the electric energy available at the stylus.

12. The media of claim 11 , wherein the one or more third criteria comprise:

an amount of electric energy available at the stylus or the device;

a power demand of the stylus or the device;

a ratio of electric energy existing on the stylus or the device to electric energy capable of being stored on the stylus or the device; or

input by a user of the stylus or the device.

13. The media of claim 9 , wherein the second logic is further operable when executed to instruct the power-management system of the device to charge the power supply of the device with the electric energy available at the stylus.

14. The media of claim 9 , wherein the second logic is further operable when executed to instruct the power-management system of the stylus to charge the power supply of the device with the electric energy available at the stylus.

15. The media of claim 9 , wherein the touch sensor of the device is a capacitive touch sensor or an inductive touch sensor.

16. The media of claim 9 , wherein the second logic is further operable when executed to determine whether to wirelessly charge a power supply of the device with electric energy available at the stylus.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2018
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: WACOM CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 047640/0227 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Sep 27, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047158/0958 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Sep 27, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047159/0792 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038376/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031912/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2011
From: BAKKEN, VEMUND KVAL
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027404/0908 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61553114 · Oct 28, 2011
Related Publication 20130106763A1 · May 2, 2013