IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,509,451
Granted Patent B2
US 10,509,451 · App. 15/909,755 · Granted Dec 17, 2019

Stylus communication with near-field coupling

Inventor: Izhar Bentov (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
G06F1/26G06F3/03545G06F3/044G06F2203/04101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,509,451
App. No.
15/909,755
Granted
Dec 17, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a device, first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication. The first data comprises a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus. The device determines a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data. The device is operated based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

Claims (54)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device, first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication, wherein the first data comprises a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus;

determining, at the device, a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data further comprises at least one of the following:

a location of the active stylus; and

the hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device and the stylus are each configured to act as a near-field communication initiator and a near-field communication target.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a power status of the stylus; and

operating the device based at least in part on the power status of the stylus.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus comprises adjusting a signal threshold in the device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a user input to the stylus; and

operating the device based at least in part on the user input to the stylus.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, at the device, a hover gesture of the stylus; and

authenticating the device based at least in part on the hover gesture.

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

receive, at a device, first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication, wherein the first data comprises a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus;

determine, at the device, a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operate the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

10. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9 , wherein the first data further comprises at least one of the following:

a location of the active stylus; and

the hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device.

11. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9 , wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

12. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9 , wherein the device and the stylus are each configured to act as a near-field communication initiator and a near-field communication target.

13. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

receive, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a power status of the stylus; and

operate the device based at least in part on the power status of the stylus.

14. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9 , wherein operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus comprises adjusting a signal threshold in the device.

15. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

receive, at the device, second data transmitted from the stylus by near-field communication, the second data comprising a user input to the stylus; and

operate the device based at least in part on the user input to the stylus.

16. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

determine, at the device, a hover gesture of the stylus; and

authenticate the device based at least in part on the hover gesture.

17. A stylus comprising:

one or more electrodes, the stylus being operable to wirelessly transmit signals to and receive signals from a device; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

transmit first data to a device by near-field communication, the first data comprising a strength of a magnetic field as measured by the stylus, the device operable to determine a hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

operate the stylus based at least in part on the hover distance of the stylus.

18. The stylus of claim 17 , wherein the first data further comprises at least one of the following:

a location of the active stylus; and

the hover distance of the stylus in reference to the device.

19. The stylus of claim 17 , wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the stylus comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

20. The stylus of claim 17 , wherein the device and the stylus are each configured to act as a near-field communication initiator and a near-field communication target.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2018
From: BENTOV, IZHAR
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 045082/0380 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13630990 · Sep 28, 2012
Related Publication 20180232025A1 · Aug 16, 2018