Method using active stylus and sensor controller, sensor controller, and active stylus

1. A method of using an active stylus and a sensor controller, the method comprising:

the active stylus, in response to a trigger indicative of a pen lowering operation, sending replaceable pen tip information which indicates a type of a replaceable pen tip that forms a pen tip of the active stylus, wherein the type indicates configuration of electrode(s) used by the active stylus for signal transmission;

the sensor controller receiving the replaceable pen tip information and identifying the replaceable pen tip type of the active stylus;

the active stylus repeatedly sending a data signal including a pen pressure value applied to the replaceable pen tip; and

the sensor controller selecting a position deriving method corresponding to the received replaceable pen tip information, from among a plurality of position deriving methods, and continuously using the selected position deriving method to derive a series of positions of the active stylus based on the data signal that is repeatedly sent, from when the replaceable pen tip information is received until when the active stylus is determined to have moved out of a sensing range of the sensor controller.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data signal does not include the replaceable pen tip information.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger is detection, by the active stylus, of an uplink signal sent from the sensor controller.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the active stylus sends the replaceable pen tip information in a response signal to the uplink signal.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger is that the pen pressure value has reached a threshold value.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the replaceable pen tip information is part of capability information which may change while the active stylus is located outside a sensing range of the sensor controller.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the active stylus sends the replaceable pen tip information by sending the capability information.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the active stylus sends the replaceable pen tip information by sending a hash value of data including the capability information.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the replaceable pen tip information is part of a unique identifier that identifies the active stylus, and the active stylus sends the replaceable pen tip information by sending the unique identifier.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the replaceable pen tip information includes information indicating whether any of the electrode(s) used by the active stylus for signal transmission is located inside or outside the replaceable pen tip.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the replaceable pen tip information includes information identifying a number and arrangement of the electrode(s) used by the active stylus for signal transmission.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the active stylus is configured such that the replaceable pen tip is attachable and detachable.

13. An active stylus, comprising:

a pen tip having an electrode;

transmitting circuitry coupled to the electrode and which, in operation, sends signals from the electrode to a sensor controller; and

a controller coupled to the transmitting circuitry and which, in response to a trigger indicative of a pen lowering operation, controls transmission of replaceable pen tip information, which indicates a type of a replaceable pen tip that forms the pen tip, wherein the type indicates configuration of the electrode, to the sensor controller via the transmitting circuitry, and controls repeated transmissions of data signals to the sensor controller via the transmitting circuitry after having sent the replaceable pen tip information,

wherein the replaceable pen tip information is for use by the sensor controller to select a position deriving method that corresponds to the replaceable pen tip information, from among a plurality of position driving methods, and to continuously use the selected position deriving method to derive a series of positions of the active stylus based on the data signals, from when the active stylus transmits the replaceable pen tip information until when the active stylus moves out of a sensing range of the sensor controller.

14. The active stylus according to claim 13 , comprising:

detection circuitry coupled to the controller and which, in operation, detects a pen pressure applied to the replaceable pen tip,

wherein the data signal does not include the replaceable pen tip information, but includes a pen pressure value applied to the replaceable pen tip.

15. The active stylus according to claim 14 , wherein the trigger is that the pen pressure value has reached a threshold value.

16. The active stylus according to claim 14 , wherein the replaceable pen tip information includes information that identifies a pen pressure curve that converts the pen pressure value included in the data signal into a pen pressure level usable by the sensor controller.

17. The active stylus according to claim 13 , comprising:

receiving circuitry coupled to the electrode and which, in operation, receives signals from the sensor controller via the electrode,

wherein the trigger is detection, by the receiving circuitry, of an uplink signal sent from the sensor controller.

18. The active stylus according to claim 13 , wherein

the replaceable pen tip information is part of capability information which may change while the active stylus is located outside a sensing range of the sensor controller, and

the replaceable pen tip information is sent as part of the capability information.

19. A sensor controller, comprising:

reception circuitry which, in operation, receives, from an active stylus, i) replaceable pen tip information which indicates a type of a replaceable pen tip forming a pen tip of the active stylus, wherein the type indicates configuration of electrode(s) used by the active stylus for signal transmission, and ii) a data signal including a pen pressure value applied to the replaceable pen tip; and

processing circuitry coupled to the reception circuitry and which, in operation,

obtains the replaceable pen tip information received from the active stylus via the reception circuitry,

selects a position deriving method that corresponds to the obtained replaceable pen tip information, from among a plurality of position deriving methods, wherein the selected position deriving method defines at least one position deriving parameter used to process signals transmitted from the electrode(s) of the active stylus, and

derives a series of positions of the active stylus based on the data signal that is repeatedly received, from when the replaceable pen tip information is received until when the active stylus is determined to have moved out of a sensing range of the sensor controller, by continuously using the determined position deriving method.

20. The sensor controller according to claim 19 , comprising:

transmission circuitry coupled to the processing circuitry and which, in operation, sends an uplink signal to the active stylus,

wherein the reception circuitry receives the replaceable pen tip information from the active stylus which has detected the uplink signal.

21. The sensor controller according to claim 19 , wherein the processing circuitry, in operation,

determines a pen pressure curve that corresponds to the obtained replaceable pen tip information, wherein the pen pressure curve converts the pen pressure value included in the data signal into a pressure level usable by the sensor controller, and

derives a pen pressure level from the pen pressure value included in the data signal using the determined pen pressure curve.