Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Applied Materials Israel Limited

Orbotech Limited

On Haran

Ahia Peretz

Amir Zyskind

Eliyahu Barel

Adam Benjamin Meshi

Ahia Perez

Arie Yehuda Gur

Vadim Mishalov

Uri Ron

Jonathan Westhues

Shiran Barnea

Felix Chazanovich

David William Voth

Gilad Pundak

Christopher Andrew Whitman

Nadav Linenberg

Ishai Schwarzband

Ilan Geller

Boris Goldberg

Lior Zagiel

Amir Moshe Sagiv

Ariel Kerner

Shmuel Mangan

Michael Orlovsky

Federico Zannier

Amil Winebrand

Eran Chencinski

Chaim Braude

Hila Malihi

Michael Ben-Yishay

Eli Barel

Benyamin Harzanu

Evgeny Rogachov

Eviatar George Zweigenberg

Adar Daniel Englert

Itamar Latnik

Boris Roikhel

Roy Gan Maiberger

An apparatus and method for adapting a conversion of a force or pressure sensed at a stylus into a converted output used for an inking process at a host device, wherein samples of the converted output are collected over a predetermined time period. Then, the collected samples are evaluated and at least one parameter of the conversion is controlled in response to a result of the evaluation. Thereby, a user-specific probability distribution of the sensed force or pressure can be matched to a desired probability distribution of the inking process.

Method and system for adaptive stylus force or pressure sensing

Touchpads, computing devices, and methods for estimating a plurality of forces exerted by a plurality of contacts on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises estimating a plurality of forces exerted by a plurality of contacts at a plurality of touch locations on a touchpad. For each contact, a plurality of assigned calibration weights are determined from a predetermined set of calibration weights. The plurality of assigned calibration weights and data from touchpad force sensors are used to determine a force exerted by the contact on the touchpad.

Touchpad force determinations

A computing device comprises a touchpad, a processor, and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to track a contact on a touchpad. A measured velocity and a measured force of the contact on the touchpad are determined. The measured velocity is normalized to a normalized velocity and the measured force of the contact is normalized to a normalized force. Based at least in part on the normalized velocity and the normalized force, a reported position of the contact on the touchpad is temporarily frozen.

Tracking touchpad contacts

Methods, systems and computer program products provide touch screen erasing. A touch device includes an eraser detector that configured to analyze one or more blobs comprising a plurality of detected signals caused by a conductive pattern in or on an eraser type of touch instrument in proximity to the touch device. Each detected signal may have an associated intensity and location on the touch device. A position detector is configured to detect a position of an eraser based on the locations of the plurality of detected signals. An orientation detector is configured to detect an orientation of the eraser based on the intensities of the plurality of detected signals. An eraser reporter is configured to report the position and orientation of the eraser to a content source (e.g., an application and/or operating system providing displayed content).

Method and system for touch screen erasing

Methods and computing devices for estimating a finger force exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises calculating a plurality of forces produced by a palm at a plurality of capacitive force sensors of the touchpad, where at least one of the sensors is saturated. After calculating the forces produced by the palm, the method determines that the touchpad is being contacted by the palm and a finger. The method uses the forces produced by the palm to determine the finger force exerted on the touchpad by the finger.

Touchpad finger force with palm

Methods and computing devices for estimating a force F exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises determining that the touchpad is not being touched. At least on condition of determining that the touchpad is not being touched, a no-touch capacitance value of the PCB is calculated. After calculating the no-touch capacitance value, the method includes determining that the touchpad is being touched. At least on condition that the touchpad is being touched, the no-touch capacitance value and a touch-based capacitance value are used to estimate the force F exerted on the touchpad.

Touchpad force calculation using no-touch capacitance

An apparatus and method for compensating the effect of a contact by a hand or other body part of a user with a touch screen while holding an input device on the strength of a capacitively coupled uplink signal provided to the input device by a host device, by detecting and/or discriminating the body touch and modifying at least one uplink channel parameter.

Uplink channel compensation for touchscreen devices

An apparatus and method for a voltage driver circuit where a path between a ground node and an output node includes an inductor and/or another storage element and an energy transfer circuit composed of at least two switching elements (e.g., transistors) and at least two valve elements (e.g. diodes). The energy transfer circuit operates to discharge a capacitive load (e.g. output capacitor) into the storage element and facilitate transition from low to high voltage while increasing efficiency. An additional path to ground may be included via another switching element to prevent crosstalk and hold the output at ground potential.

Driver circuit and method for driving a capacitive load

The described technology provides an apparatus for a computing device. The apparatus includes a touchpad configured to receive a force input, a printed circuit board (PCB) configured below the touchpad, the PCB being supported by a spring mechanism on a backet, and a plurality of sensing pads configured between the PCB and the backet such that an airgap exists between each of the plurality of sensing pads the backet, wherein each of the airgaps between the sensing pads and the backet has a height different than other airgaps.

Differential capacitive force sensing

An active stylus includes a stylus tip and a pressure sensor disposed proximate to the stylus tip. A stylus controller is configured to receive, from the pressure sensor, a current pressure value quantifying a pressure measured at the stylus tip. The stylus controller receives, from a separate display device, a proximity indicator that indicates a current estimated proximity of the stylus tip to a surface of a touch-sensitive display of the display device. Based at least on both of (1) the proximity indicator received from the separate display device, and (2) a comparison between the current pressure value and a touch input pressure threshold, the stylus controller sends a touch status indicator to the separate display device.

Touch status indication for active stylus

A method, computing system, and one or more computer-readable storage media for operating an active stylus equipped with a stylus capture detection routine. The method includes operating the stylus according to a first communication protocol to enable communication with a first display device. The method also includes detecting a beacon from a second display device operating according to a second communication protocol. The method also includes automatically switching the stylus to the second communication protocol in response to detecting the beacon. The method also includes detecting a stylus capture event indicating that switching the stylus to the second communication protocol was erroneous and is preventing the user from communicating with the first display device and, in response to detecting the stylus capture event, switching the stylus back to the first communication protocol.

Multi-protocol coexistence in an active stylus

A touch-sensitive device, including a capacitive touch-sensitive surface including an array of electrodes. The touch-sensitive device may further include processing circuitry configured to determine a detected position at which a stylus contacts or hovers above the capacitive touch-sensitive surface. The processing circuitry may determine, based at least in part on the detected position, a first and second electrode set of the electrodes included in the array. The detected position may be located proximate to one or more first row electrodes and/or one or more first column electrodes included in the first electrode set. The second electrode set may include a plurality of second row electrodes and a plurality of second column electrodes not included in the first electrode set. The touch-sensitive device may further include a driving circuit configured to transmit a first driving signal to the first electrode set and a second driving signal to the second electrode set.

Driving signals for capacitive touch-sensitive surface

Signals are transmitted from a plurality of regions of an electronic device. Location information is then received from an electronic pen in proximity to the electronic device. The location information is determined by the electronic pen and corresponds to a location of the electronic pen relative to the screen of the electronic device. The location information is determined using one or more of the transmitted signals received by the electronic pen. Aa display on the screen of the electronic device is controlled based at least in part on the received location information. A more efficient pen operating state is thereby provided that improves the user experience by more accurately and reliably determining the pen location in space.

Detection of pen location relative to an electronic device

Methods for uplink-based zero activation force are performed by systems and devices. A touch instrument interfaces with a touch device, and includes antennas that receive communication signals from the touch device. The touch instrument also includes a processing circuit that is electrically coupled to the antennas. The processing circuit determines an orientation of the touch instrument with respect to the touch device. A distance between the touch device and the touch instrument is then determined based on the orientation and a communication signal from the touch device received by the antennas, and an activation command is generated when the distance indicates a touch/contact. The activation command, transmitted to the touch device, causes the touch device to perform an inking operation. When the distance determined indicates a hover, and not touching/contact, a deactivation command is generated. Distance is also determined based on touch instrument orientation.

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Kfar Saba, Israel

On Haran