IP Library Granted Patent US 11,099,687
Granted Patent B2
US 11,099,687 · App. 15/710,169 · Granted Aug 24, 2021

Temperature compensation and noise avoidance for resonator pen

Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden (Los Gatos, CA); Jeffrey Lukanc (San Jose, CA); Timothy J. Vehling (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
G06F3/0418G06F3/0383G06F3/03545G06F3/044G06F3/04166
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,099,687
App. No.
15/710,169
Granted
Aug 24, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for characterizing user inputs. A first input object may be detected in a sensing region of an input device. A resonance frequency of the first input object may be determined. A first characteristic may be assigned to the first input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the first input object. User inputs provided by the first input object may be processed based at least in part on the first input object characteristic.

Claims (61)

1. A method for characterizing user inputs, the method comprising:

detecting first user input provided by a first input object in a sensing region of an input device;

applying a predetermined input object characteristic to the detected first user input;

determining a resonance frequency of the first input object in response to detecting the first user input;

assigning a first characteristic to the first input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the first input object, the first characteristic being different than the predetermined input object characteristic; and

in response to assigning the first characteristic to the first input object, applying the first characteristic to the detected first user input and to subsequent user inputs provided by the first input object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the assigning comprises:

selecting the first characteristic from a plurality of characteristics, wherein each of the plurality of characteristics is associated with a respective resonant frequency.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of characteristics comprises a respective color for displaying corresponding user inputs in a visual interface of the input device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the first input object is a non-resonating input object.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a second input object in the sensing region, the second input object having a different resonance frequency than the first input object;

assigning a second characteristic to the second input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the second input object; and

displaying user inputs provided by each of the first and second input objects, concurrently, in a visual interface of the input device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a characteristic modifier for the first characteristic; and

applying the selected characteristic modifier to subsequent user inputs provided by the first input object.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that a frequency response at a frequency associated with the first characteristic is below a threshold; and

adjusting the frequency associated with the first characteristic so that the frequency response at the adjusted frequency is at or above the threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the frequency associated with the first characteristic comprises:

scanning a range of frequencies adjacent to the frequency associated with the first characteristic; and

selecting the adjusted frequency from the range of adjacent frequencies, the adjusted frequency having the largest frequency response among the scanned frequencies.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that a frequency response at a frequency associated with the first characteristic is negative; and

shifting the frequency associated with the first characteristic by a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction.

10. An input device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a touch-sensitive sensing region; and

a memory, storing one or more programs comprising instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the input device to:

detect first user input provided by a first input object in the touch-sensitive sensing region;

apply a predetermined input object characteristic to the detected first user input;

determine a resonance frequency of the first input object based on detecting the first user input;

assign a first characteristic to the first input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the first input object, the first characteristic being different than the predetermined input object characteristic; and

in response to assigning the first characteristic to the first input object, apply the first characteristic to the detected first user input and to subsequent user inputs provided by the first input object.

11. The input device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions to assign the first characteristic to the first input object further execute to:

select the first characteristic from a plurality of characteristics, wherein each of the plurality of characteristics is associated with a respective resonant frequency.

12. The input device of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of characteristics comprises a respective color for displaying corresponding user inputs in a visual interface of the input device.

13. The input device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further execute to:

detect a second input object in the touch-sensitive sensing region, the second input object having a different resonance frequency that the first input object;

assign a second characteristic to the second input object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the second input object; and

display user inputs provided by each of the first and second input objects, concurrently, in a visual interface of the input device.

14. The input device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further execute to:

receive a user selection of a characteristic modifier for the first characteristic; and

apply the selected characteristic modifier to subsequent user inputs provided by the first input object.

15. The input device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further execute to:

determine that a frequency response at a frequency associated with the first characteristic is below a threshold; and

adjust the frequency associated with the first characteristic so that the frequency response at the adjusted frequency is at or above the threshold.

16. The input device of claim 15 , wherein the instructions which execute to adjust the frequency associated with the first characteristic further cause the input device to:

scan a range of frequencies adjacent to the frequency associated with the first characteristic; and

selecting the adjusted frequency from the range of adjacent frequencies, the adjusted frequency having the largest frequency response among the scanned frequencies.

17. The input device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further execute to:

determine that a frequency response at a frequency associated with the first characteristic is negative; and

shifting the frequency associated with the first characteristic by a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of an input device, cause the input device to perform operations comprising:

detecting first user input provided by a first input object in a sensing region of the input device;

applying a predetermined input object characteristic to the detected first user input;

determining the resonance frequency of the first input object based on detecting the first user input;

assigning a first characteristic to the first object based at least in part on the resonance frequency of the first input object, the first characteristic being different than the predetermined input object characteristic; and

in response to assigning the first characteristic to the first input object, applying the first characteristic to the detected first user input and to subsequent user inputs provided by the first input object.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051316 FRAME: 0777. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 18, 2020
From: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 052186/0756 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2019
From: SYNAPTICS INCORPROATED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051316/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2017
From: VANDERMEIJDEN, TOM R.; LUKANC, JEFFREY; VEHLING, TIMOTHY J.
To: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 043641/0007 →