IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,079,821
Granted Patent B2
US 11,079,821 · App. 16/716,086 · Granted Aug 3, 2021

Stylus communication with near-field coupling

Inventor: Izhar Bentov (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
G06F1/26G06F3/03545G06F3/0441G06F3/0442G06F3/0443G06F3/0445G06F3/0446G06F3/04162G06F2203/04101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,079,821
App. No.
16/716,086
Granted
Aug 3, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a device first data transmitted from a stylus by near-field communication. 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 (52)

1. A method comprising:

measuring, by an input device, a strength of a magnetic field of a near-field communication;

transmitting a first data indicating the strength of the magnetic field, which is measured by the input device, to a device;

determining, at the device, a hover distance of the input device 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 input device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting is performed via the near-field communication.

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

a location of the input device; and

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

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the input device comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

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

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

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

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

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

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

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

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

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

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

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

10. 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 an input device, the first data indicating a strength of a magnetic field of a near-field communication which is measured by the input device;

determine, at the device, a hover distance of the input device 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 input device.

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

a location of the input device; and

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

12. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 10 , wherein:

the device comprises a near-field communication transceiver; and

the input device comprises a near-field communication transceiver.

13. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 10 , wherein the device and the input device are each configured to act as a near-field communication initiator and a near-field communication target.

14. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 10 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

receive, at the device, second data transmitted from the input device by near-field communication,

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

15. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 10 , wherein operating the device based at least in part on the hover distance of the input device comprises adjusting a signal threshold in the device.

16. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 10 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

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

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

17. An input device comprising:

one or more electrodes configured to wirelessly transmit signals to and receive signals from a device; and

one or more processors configured to:

measure a strength of a magnetic field of a near-field communication;

transmit first data, via the one or more electrodes, to the device, the first data indicating the strength of the magnetic field, wherein the device is operable to determine a hover distance of the input device in reference to the device based at least in part on the first data; and

control operation of the input device based at least in part on the hover distance of the input device.

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

a location of the input device; and

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

19. The input device of claim 17 , comprising a near-field communication transceiver.

20. The input device of claim 17 , configured to act as a near-field communication initiator or a near-field communication target.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 15909755 · Mar 1, 2018
Continuation 13630990 · Sep 28, 2012
Related Publication 20200117255A1 · Apr 16, 2020