Active stylus with high voltage
View Patent ↗In certain embodiments, a stylus includes one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device. At least some of the signals are high-voltage signals generated by a relatively large potential difference compared to a voltage within a voltage range of approximately 1 to approximately 3 volts. The stylus includes a stylus tip, and one or more of the one or more electrodes are disposed at the stylus tip.
1. A stylus comprising:
one or more electrodes;
one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device, at least some of the signals comprising high-voltage signals associated with a high voltage comprising a relatively large potential difference compared to a voltage within a voltage range of approximately 1 to approximately 3 volts;
a component operable to convert the voltage of approximately 1 to 3 volts to the high voltage; and
a stylus tip, one or more of the one or more electrodes being disposed at the stylus tip;
wherein the high-voltage signals result from the one or more electrodes receiving the high voltage.
2. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the component is a transformer.
3. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the high voltage comprises a voltage within the voltage range of approximately 10 to approximately 20 volts.
4. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the high-voltage signals identify a location of the stylus relative to the touch sensor of the device.
5. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein, when the stylus is in contact with or in the proximity of the touch sensor of the device, the high-voltage signals are used to simulate or distinguish:
contact by an object other than the stylus with the device; or
a presence of the object near the touch sensor of the device.
6. The stylus of claim 5 , wherein the object is least a part of a human hand.
7. The stylus of claim 5 , wherein the high-voltage signals are based on a voltage used by at least a portion of the touch sensor of the device.
8. A stylus comprising:
one or more electrodes;
one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting electromagnetic signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device, at least some of the signals comprising high-voltage signals associated with a high voltage comprising a relatively large potential difference compared to a voltage within a voltage range of approximately 1 to approximately 3 volts, the high voltage based on a voltage difference between a drive line of the touch sensor and a sense line of the touch sensor; and
a stylus tip, one or more of the one or more electrodes being disposed at the stylus tip;
wherein the high-voltage signals result from the one or more electrodes receiving the high voltage.
9. The stylus of claim 8 , wherein the high voltage is produced by a transformer in the stylus.
10. The stylus of claim 8 , wherein the high voltage comprises a voltage within the voltage range of approximately 10 to approximately 20 volts.
11. The stylus of claim 8 , wherein, when the stylus is in contact with or in the proximity of the touch sensor of the device, the high-voltage signals are used to simulate or distinguish:
contact by an object other than the stylus with the device; or
a presence of the object near the touch sensor of the device.
12. The stylus of claim 11 , wherein the object is least a part of a human hand.
13. The stylus of claim 11 , wherein the high voltage has the same polarity as the voltage difference between the drive line of the touch sensor and the sense line of the touch sensor.
14. The stylus of claim 11 , wherein the high voltage has the opposite polarity as the voltage difference between the drive line of the touch sensor and the sense line of the touch sensor.
15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:
transmit electromagnetic signals from a stylus to a device through a touch sensor of the device, at least some of the electromagnetic signals comprising high-voltage signals associated with a high voltage comprising a relatively large potential difference compared to a voltage within a voltage range of approximately 1 to approximately 3 volts, the stylus comprising:
one or more electrodes for wirelessly transmitting the signals to the device;
a component operable to convert the voltage of approximately 1 to 3 volts to the high voltage; and
a stylus tip, one or more of the one or more electrodes being disposed at the stylus tip;
wherein the high-voltage signals result from the one or more electrodes receiving the high voltage.
16. The media of claim 15 , wherein the component is a transformer.
17. The media of claim 15 , wherein the high voltage is based on a voltage difference between a drive line of the touch sensor and a sense line of the touch sensor.
18. The media of claim 17 , wherein, when the stylus is in contact with or in the proximity of the touch sensor of the device, the high-voltage signals are used to simulate or distinguish:
contact by an object other than the stylus with the device; or
a presence of the object near the touch sensor of the device.
19. The media of claim 18 , wherein the high voltage has the same polarity as the voltage difference between the drive line of the touch sensor and the sense line of the touch sensor.
20. The media of claim 18 , wherein the high voltage has the opposite polarity as the voltage difference between the drive line of the touch sensor and the sense line of the touch sensor.