Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Vadim Mishalov

Ahia Peretz

Arie Yehuda Gur

Uri Ron

On Haran

Amir Zyskind

Shoham Dekel

Ori Laslo

Adam Benjamin Meshi

Ron Kaplan

Felix Chazanovich

Nadav Linenberg

Ilan Geller

Assaf Bar-Ness

Ahia Perez

Eran Chencinski

Amit Schwitzer

Shai Rogel

Roy Gan Maiberger

Examples are disclosed relating to providing haptic output to a stylus. In one example, rotational position data indicating a rotational position of the stylus about a longitudinal axis of the body of the stylus is received. Travel direction data indicating a direction of travel of a tip of the stylus relative to a touch-sensitive screen of a computing device is also received. Using at least the rotational position data and the travel direction data, one or more characteristics of a drive signal are determined. The drive signal is then transmitted to a haptic feedback mechanism within the body of the stylus to generate haptic output at the body.

Stylus haptic output

A method is presented for providing haptic feedback through a touch-sensitive input device configured to provide input to a touch-sensitive computing device. The method comprises determining a haptic perception factor based on a set of computing device inputs received from sensors of the touch-sensitive computing device, the computing device inputs including at least a posture of the touch-sensitive computing device. A haptic response profile is determined based on the haptic perception factor. Haptic devices of the touch-sensitive input device are actuated based on the determined haptic response profile. Responsive to determining a change in the haptic perception factor based on a change in the posture of the touch-sensitive computing device the haptic response profile is then adjusted based on the changed haptic perception factor. The haptic devices of the touch-sensitive input device are then actuated based on the adjusted haptic response profile.

Adjusting haptic feedback through touch-sensitive input devices

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 for providing haptic feedback. Haptic feedback may be provided to a user through a touch-sensitive input device configured to provide input to a touch-sensitive computing device. The method includes determining a haptic perception factor based at least in part on one or more of a set of input device inputs received from sensors of the touch-sensitive input device and a set of computing device inputs received from sensors of the touch-sensitive computing device. A haptic response profile is determined based at least in part on the haptic perception factor. Haptic devices of the touch-sensitive input device are then actuated based at least in part on the determined haptic response profile.

Providing haptic feedback through touch-sensitive input devices

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

An apparatus includes a housing, a tip that moves with respect to the housing based on applied contact force and a pressure sensor that detects the force applied on the tip. The pressure sensor includes a first element integrated or fixed to the tip and a second element that is stationary with respect to the housing and positioned to face the first element. The first element is formed from a rigid material that is conductive. The second element is conductive and has elastic properties. In addition, one of the first element or the second element is coated with a non-conductive layer. The first element moves toward the second element based on force applied on the tip and deforms the second element based on the force. The sensor additionally includes a circuit to detect capacitance between the first element and the second element.

Pressure sensitive stylus

Methods and devices for communicating or interacting by a pen or a stylus with a digitizer are disclosed. An example method describes determining whether the device is to transmit a first information to the digitizer via the electrode or receive a second information from the digitizer via the electrode. An example device for use with the method includes a transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit, and an electrode. The method further includes isolating the electrode from the transmitter circuit in response to determining that the device is to receive the second information from the digitizer via the electrode.

Discrete high impedance implementation on push-pull outputs

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. A 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.

In various examples there is a capsule of a stylus for operation with a digitizer device. The capsule is sized and shaped to fit within a housing of the stylus and is a modular capsule which can be used in different styli. The capsule comprises a generally cylindrical housing tapered at a tip end and formed from plastics material. The capsule has a stylus tip comprising a tip antenna. The capsule has at least one antenna printed on an outer surface of the housing.

Stylus capsule

A method includes receiving by wireless transmission, a first signal transmitted by a digitizer system. The first signal is configured to define a detection period during which a second signal may be detected by the digitizer system. The method further includes detecting timing of the receiving, detecting a first delay in the receiving due to amplification associated with the receiving, defining timing to transmit the second signal based on the timing of the receiving and the first delay and transmitting the second signal at the timing defined. The second signal is transmitted with a handheld device by wireless transmission and the first delay is detected by the handheld device that is receiving the first signal and transmitting the second signal.

System and method to dynamical calibrate phase of a stylus signal

A circuit, includes a first node, a positive voltage generator electrically connected to the first node, a negative voltage generator electrically connected to the first node in parallel with the positive voltage generator, a second node, an electrical connector electrically connecting the first node to the second node, a first light emitting diode (LED) electrically intermediate the second node and ground, and a second LED electrically intermediate the second node and ground in parallel with the first LED. The first LED is configured to activate based on the negative voltage generator supplying a negative voltage to the second node via the first node. The second LED is configured to activate based on the positive voltage generator supplying a positive voltage to the second node via the first node.

Dual LED drive circuit

A stylus device includes circuitry that includes hardware and/or software for detecting force applied to a tip of the stylus device and communicating the detected force to a host device. The detected force may be represented by a signal generated as a function of capacitance. A force response circuit modifies a force dependent capacitive response by increasing the force dependent capacitive response in a low force range relative to a high force range. A signal is generated based on the modified force dependent capacitive response and communicated to a host device or other communications transceiver of the host device. The host device generates digital ink with a weight (e.g., thickness) dependent on the detected force.

Methods and devices are disclosed for increasing low-force accuracy at a device, such as a pen or a stylus which are used for communicating with a digitizer. An example method describes detecting an amount of force at the tip of the device and generating a voltage associated with the amount of force. The example method further includes logarithmically sampling the voltage to produce a digital value associated with the amount of force and determining whether the device is operating in an inking state based on the digital value. An example device may include a pressure sensor to detect an amount of force and generate a voltage associated with the amount of force, a sampling circuit to sample the voltage to produce a digital value, a memory and a processor in communication with the memory to determine whether the device is operating in an inking state based on the digital value.

Increasing low-force accuracy at a device

A handheld device for use with a digitizer sensor includes a writing tip, an integrated circuit configured to generate a signal, a first electrode separated from the writing tip along a longitudinal axis of the handheld device, and a relative angle detection element configured to provide information for determining an angle of the handheld device relative to the digitizer sensor. The first electrode is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and configured to transmit the signal to the digitizer sensor.

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Tel Aviv, Israel

Vadim Mishalov