Electronic pen, and control device and method thereof

1. A control device for installation in an electronic pen provided with a pen stem and an associated force sensor, comprising

a comparator which is adapted to receive an analog measuring signal representative of a force of application of the electronic pen to a surface from the force sensor, to compare the analog measuring signal with a fixed reference signal and, based on the comparison, to issue a digital output signal,

a converter which is adapted to receive the analog measuring signal and to convert this into a sequence of digital force values; and

a processor which is electrically connected to the comparator and the converter and which is adapted to selectively activate the converter, based on the digital output signal from the comparator.

2. The control device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the processor, before activating the converter, is adapted to switch from a waiting state with low internal clock frequency to an active state with high internal clock frequency.

3. The control device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the processor, in its active state, is adapted to at least intermittently activate a position sensor for determination of the position of the pen on a base.

4. The control device as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the processor is adapted to associate each position with a force value included in said sequence.

5. The control device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said processor, at least in its waiting state, is adapted to generate said reference signal.

6. The control device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the processor is adapted to receive the digital output signal of the comparator on an interrupt port, at least during the waiting state.

7. The control device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the comparator and the converter are realised as a first and a second operation mode, respectively, of a programmable analog-to-digital converter.

8. A method of controlling an electronic pen based on an analog measuring signal from a force sensor associated with a pen stem of the pen, the analog measuring signal representative of a force of application of the electronic pen to a surface, comprising the steps of comparing the analog measuring signal with a fixed reference signal, and selectively, based on the comparison, initiating an analog-to-digital converter to convert the analog measuring signal to a sequence of digital force values.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the force sensor has non-linear force characteristics over an extensive force range, comprising the step of controlling, based on the size of the analog measuring signal, the conversion to one of at least two given conversion ranges which each correspond to a subrange of said force range.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the step of controlling the conversion comprises automatically shifting the analog-to-digital converter between at least two given voltage ranges which each correspond to a subrange of said force range when the analog measuring signal reaches given switch points.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the measuring signal is generated as a potential difference over the force sensor which is driven by a constant current generator, and wherein the step of controlling the conversion comprises automatically switching, once the analog measuring signal reaches given switch points, the constant current generator between at least two currents, which each result in analog measuring signals, that correspond to a given subrange of said force range, falling within the voltage range of the analog-to-digital converter.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said at least two given currents are selected so that the analog measuring signal in each switch point after switching of the constant current generator is different from any other switch point.