IP Library Granted Patent US 8,917,253
Granted Patent B2
US 8,917,253 · App. 13/600,800 · Granted Dec 23, 2014

Method and apparatus pertaining to the interlacing of finger-based and active-stylus-based input detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,917,253
App. No.
13/600,800
Granted
Dec 23, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control circuit controls detection of both finger-based input and active-stylus-based input as input via a display. In particular, during a single scan period, the control circuit interleaves use of the finger-detection resources with use of the active-stylus-detection resources.

Claims (17)

1. A method comprising:

by a control circuit that controls detection of finger-based input and active-stylus-based input as input via a display:

during a single scan period, interleaving use of finger-detection resources with use of active-stylus-detection resources by using a first portion of the finger-detection resources during a first time window and a second, different portion of the finger-detection resources during a second time window, wherein the first time window and the second time window are non-contiguous.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second time windows are separated in time, at least in part, by the use of the active-stylus-detection resources.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the finger-detection resources include a plurality of finger-detection transmitters, and wherein interleaving the use of finger-detection resources with the use of active-stylus-detection resources comprises using a first portion of the finger-detection transmitters during a first time window and a second, different portion of the finger-detection transmitters during a second time window, wherein the first time window and the second time window are non-contiguous.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first portion of the finger-detection transmitters and the second portion of the finger-detection transmitters have an equal number of finger-detection transmitters.

5. A method comprising:

by a control circuit that controls detection of finger-based input and active-stylus-based input as input via a display:

during a single scan period, interleaving use of finger-detection resources with use of active-stylus-detection resources by interleaving two separate, non-contiguous finger-detection time windows during which time window at least some of the finger-detection resources are used with two separate, non-contiguous active-stylus-detection time windows during which time window at least some of the active-stylus-detection resources are used.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a display having both finger-detection resources and active-stylus-detection resources;

a control circuit operably coupled to the display and configured to control detection of finger-based input and active-stylus-based input as input via the display by, during a single scan period, interleaving use of the finger-detection resources with use of the active-stylus-detection resources by using a first portion of the finger-detection resources during a first time window and a second, different portion of the finger-detection resources during a second time window, wherein the first time window and the second time window are non-contiguous.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first and second time windows are separated in time, at least in part, by the use of the active-stylus-detection resources.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the control circuit is configured to interleave the use of the finger-detection resources with the use of the active-stylus-detection resources by interleaving at least two separate, non-contiguous finger-detection time windows with at least two separate, non-contiguous active-stylus-detection time windows.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the finger-detection resources include a plurality of finger-detection transmitters, and wherein the control circuit is configured to interleave the use of the finger-detection resources with the use of the active-stylus-detection resources by using a first portion of the finger-detection transmitters during a first time window and a second, different portion of the finger-detection transmitters during a second time window, wherein the first time window and the second time window are non-contiguous.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first portion of the finger-detection transmitters and the second portion of the finger-detection transmitters have an equal number of finger-detection transmitters.

11. A non-transitory memory having instructions stored therein, which instructions, when executed by a control circuit that controls detection of finger-based input and active-stylus-based input as input via a display, cause the control circuit to, during a single scan period, interleave use of finger-detection resources with use of active-stylus-detection resources by using a first portion of the finger-detection resources during a first time window and a second, different portion of the finger-detection resources during a second time window, wherein the first time window and the second time window are non-contiguous.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 18, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 033775/0457 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2012
From: SINGH, AMIT PAL; PAREKH, PREMAL; ROBINSON, JAMES ALEXANDER
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028882/0289 →