IP Library Granted Patent US 8,947,379
Granted Patent B2
US 8,947,379 · App. 13/363,140 · Granted Feb 3, 2015

Inductive charging for active stylus

Inventors: Vemund Kval Bakken (Menlo Park, CA); Trond Jarle Pedersen (Trondheim, NO); Esat Yilmaz (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F3/03545
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,947,379
App. No.
13/363,140
Granted
Feb 3, 2015
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 stylus also includes inductive-charging components in or on the stylus for charging or powering the stylus with electromagnetic radiation from inductive-charging components in or on the device. The inductive-charging components in or on the stylus may also charge or power the device by transmitting electromagnetic radiation to the inductive-charging components in or on the device.

Claims (40)

1. A stylus comprising:

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; and

a first inductive-charging component in or on the stylus for:

charging or powering the stylus with electromagnetic radiation from a second inductive-charging component in or on the device, the second inductive-charging component comprising at least one or more drive or sense lines of the touch sensor of the device; or

charging or powering the device with electromagnetic radiation from the first inductive-charging component to the second inductive-charging component.

2. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the first inductive-charging component or the second inductive charging component comprises conductive material arranged in one or more turns or loops in or on the stylus or the device, respectively.

3. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein charging or powering the stylus or the device occurs when the stylus is physically connected to or placed in or on the device.

4. The stylus of claim 3 , wherein the physical connection is accomplished at least in part by magnetic forces.

5. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein charging or powering the stylus or the device occurs when the stylus is in proximity to the touch sensor of the device.

6. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the drive or sense lines in the touch sensor of the device are disposed on a substrate, and the second inductive-charging component is disposed at least in part on the substrate.

7. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the second inductive-charging component comprises a sparse inductive grid.

8. A device comprising:

a touch sensor;

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for controlling the touch sensor and processing signals transmitted wirelessly by a stylus to the device through the touch sensor; and

a first inductive-charging component comprising at least one or more drive or sense lines of the touch sensor of the device for:

charging or powering the device with electromagnetic radiation from a second inductive-charging component in or on the stylus; or

charging or powering the stylus with electromagnetic radiation from the first inductive-charging component to the second inductive-charging component.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first inductive-charging component or the second inductive charging component comprises conductive material arranged in one or more turns or loops in or on the device or the stylus, respectively.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein charging or powering the device or the stylus occurs when the stylus is physically connected to or placed in or on the device.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the physical connection is accomplished at least in part by magnetic forces.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein charging or powering the device or the stylus occurs when the stylus is in proximity to the touch sensor of the device.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the drive or sense lines in the touch sensor of the device are disposed on a substrate, and the first inductive-charging component is disposed at least in part on the substrate.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first inductive-charging component comprises a sparse inductive grid.

15. A system comprising:

a device comprising:

a touch sensor;

one or more first computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying first logic for controlling the touch sensor and processing signals transmitted wirelessly by a stylus to the device through the touch sensor; and

a first inductive-charging component comprising at least one or more drive or sense lines of the touch sensor of the device for:

charging or powering the device with electromagnetic radiation from a second inductive-charging component in or on the stylus; or

charging or powering the stylus with electromagnetic radiation from the first inductive-charging component to the second inductive-charging component; and

the stylus, comprising:

one or more electrodes and one or more second computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying second logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to the device through the touch sensor of the device; and

the second inductive-charging component, for:

charging or powering the stylus with electromagnetic radiation from the first inductive-charging component; or

charging or powering the device with electromagnetic radiation from the second inductive-charging components to the first inductive-charging component.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first inductive-charging component or the second inductive charging component comprises conductive material arranged in one or more turns or loops in or on the device or the stylus, respectively.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein charging or powering the stylus or the device occurs when the stylus is physically connected to or placed in or on the device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the physical connection is accomplished at least in part by magnetic forces.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the drive or sense lines in the touch sensor of the device are disposed on a substrate, and the first inductive-charging component is disposed at least in part on the substrate.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first inductive-charging component comprises a sparse inductive grid.

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 Jan 31, 2012
From: BAKKEN, VEMUND KVAL; PEDERSEN, TROND JARLE; YILMAZ, ESAT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027628/0310 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61553114 · Oct 28, 2011
Related Publication 20130106723A1 · May 2, 2013