Active stylus with fractional clock-cycle timing

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method performed by an active stylus includes wirelessly receiving a synchronization signal from a touch controller. The method also includes determining a synchronization parameter of the synchronization signal, the synchronization parameter including an integer part and a fractional part, the integer part representing a positive integer multiple of an active-stylus clock period and the fractional part representing a fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting information for reception by the touch controller, where the information includes a series of data portions, a successive data portion in the series being separated from a preceding data portion by a time interval. The time interval is based at least in part on the active-stylus clock period, the integer part of the synchronization parameter, and an updated fractional error value.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed by an active stylus, the method comprising:
 wirelessly receiving a synchronization signal from a touch controller; 
 determining a synchronization parameter of the synchronization signal, the synchronization parameter comprising an integer part and a fractional part, the integer part representing a positive integer multiple of an active-stylus clock period and the fractional part representing a fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period; and 
 wirelessly transmitting information for reception by the touch controller, wherein the information comprises a series of data portions, a successive data portion in the series being separated from a preceding data portion by a time interval, wherein the time interval is based at least in part on the active-stylus clock period, the integer part of the synchronization parameter, and an updated fractional error value, wherein the updated fractional error value equals a current fractional error value plus the fractional part of the synchronization parameter. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the touch controller is part of a personal computing device, the personal computing device comprising a touch sensor; and 
 the active stylus comprises one or more electrodes for wirelessly transmitting signals to or receiving signals from the personal computing device through the touch sensor. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the synchronization signal is a two-level digital signal having a duty cycle of approximately 50% and comprising rising and falling edges; and 
 a synchronization-signal period of the synchronization signal is approximately equal to a duration of one cycle of the synchronization signal, wherein the duration of one cycle of the synchronization signal equals a time between consecutive rising edges or consecutive falling edges. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the synchronization parameter corresponds to a duration of time approximately equal to one-half of the synchronization-signal period. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the synchronization signal has a synchronization-signal period between 1 and 10 microseconds; 
 the synchronization signal has a frequency between 100 kHz and 1 MHz; 
 the active-stylus clock period corresponds to a period of an active-stylus clock and is between 40 and 340 nanoseconds; and 
 the active-stylus clock has a clock frequency between 3 and 25 MHz. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the active-stylus clock period is approximately equal to a duration of one cycle of a clock of the active stylus; and 
 the fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period represents a duration of time greater than or equal to zero active-stylus clock periods and less than one active-stylus clock period. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the synchronization parameter comprises:
 counting a number of active-stylus clock cycles until a particular quantity of edges of the synchronization signal is accumulated; 
 dividing the number of counted active-stylus clock cycles by the particular quantity of edges to determine a decimal number, the decimal number comprising an integer part and a fractional part; and 
 assigning the integer part of the decimal number to the integer part of the synchronization parameter and the fractional part of the decimal number to the fractional part of the synchronization parameter. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the edges are rising edges, falling edges, or rising and falling edges. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the particular quantity of edges equals 2 n , wherein n is a positive integer; and 
 the dividing the number of counted clock cycles by the particular quantity of edges comprises applying a right shift by n digits to bits representing the number of counted clock cycles. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time interval equals the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period or the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period plus one active-stylus clock period. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting information for reception by the second computing device touch controller comprises:
 prior to transmitting each successive data portion, determining the time interval by which the successive data portion is separated from the preceding data portion, wherein determining the time interval comprises:
 determining the updated fractional error value; and 
 if the updated fractional error value is less than one, then setting the time interval to be the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period, else:
 setting the time interval to be the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period plus one active-stylus clock period; and 
 decrementing the updated fractional error value by one. 
 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a phase of the synchronization signal, wherein a first data portion of the series of data portions is transmitted at a time based on the determined phase. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 separating the active stylus and the touch controller by a distance of 100 millimeters or less; and 
 wirelessly propagating the synchronization signal and the information over the distance between the active stylus and the touch controller. 
 
     
     
       14. An active stylus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:
 wirelessly receive a synchronization signal from a touch controller; 
 determine a synchronization parameter of the synchronization signal, the synchronization parameter comprising an integer part and a fractional part, the integer part representing a positive integer multiple of an active-stylus clock period and the fractional part representing a fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period; and 
 wirelessly transmit information for reception by the touch controller, wherein the information comprises a series of data portions, a successive data portion in the series being separated from a preceding data portion by a time interval, wherein the time interval is based at least in part on the active-stylus clock period, the integer part of the synchronization parameter, and an updated fractional error value, wherein the updated fractional error value equals a current fractional error value plus the fractional part of the synchronization parameter. 
 
     
     
       15. The active stylus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the touch controller is part of a personal computing device, the personal computing device comprising a touch sensor; and 
 the active stylus further comprises one or more electrodes for wirelessly transmitting signals to or receiving signals from the personal computing device through the touch sensor. 
 
     
     
       16. The active stylus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the synchronization signal is a two-level digital signal having a duty cycle of approximately 50% and comprising rising and falling edges; and 
 a synchronization-signal period of the synchronization signal is approximately equal to a duration of one cycle of the synchronization signal, wherein the duration of one cycle of the synchronization signal equals a time between consecutive rising edges or consecutive falling edges. 
 
     
     
       17. The active stylus of  claim 16 , wherein the synchronization parameter corresponds to a duration of time approximately equal to one-half of the synchronization-signal period. 
     
     
       18. The active stylus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the synchronization signal has a synchronization-signal period between 1 and 10 microseconds; 
 the synchronization signal has a frequency between 100 kHz and 1 MHz; 
 the active-stylus clock period corresponds to a period of an active-stylus clock and is between 40 and 340 nanoseconds; and 
 the active-stylus clock has a clock frequency between 3 and 25 MHz. 
 
     
     
       19. The active stylus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the active-stylus clock period is approximately equal to a duration of one cycle of a clock of the active stylus; and 
 the fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period represents a duration of time greater than or equal to zero active-stylus clock periods and less than one active-stylus clock period. 
 
     
     
       20. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 wirelessly receive a synchronization signal from a touch controller; 
 determine a synchronization parameter of the synchronization signal, the synchronization parameter comprising an integer part and a fractional part, the integer part representing a positive integer multiple of an active-stylus clock period and the fractional part representing a fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period; and 
 wirelessly transmit information for reception by the touch controller, wherein the information comprises a series of data portions, a successive data portion in the series being separated from a preceding data portion by a time interval, wherein the time interval is based at least in part on the active-stylus clock period, the integer part of the synchronization parameter, and an updated fractional error value, wherein the updated fractional error value equals a current fractional error value plus the fractional part of the synchronization parameter. 
 
     
     
       21. A method performed by an active stylus, the method comprising:
 determining a synchronization parameter for communication with a touch controller, the synchronization parameter indicative of a decimal number corresponding to an active-stylus clock count divided by a defined value and comprising an integer part and a fractional part, the integer part representing a positive integer multiple of an active-stylus clock period and the fractional part representing a fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period; and   wirelessly transmitting information for reception by the touch controller, wherein the information comprises a series of data portions, a successive data portion in the series being separated from a preceding data portion by a time interval, wherein the time interval is based at least in part on the active-stylus clock period, the integer part of the synchronization parameter, and an updated fractional error value, wherein the updated fractional error value equals a current fractional error value plus the fractional part of the synchronization parameter.    
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, wherein:
 the touch controller is part of a personal computing device, the personal computing device comprising a touch sensor; and   the active stylus comprises one or more electrodes for wirelessly transmitting signals to or receiving signals from the personal computing device through the touch sensor.    
     
     
       23. The method of claim 21, wherein:
 the active-stylus clock period is approximately equal to a duration of one cycle of a clock of the active stylus; and   the fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period represents a duration of time greater than or equal to zero active-stylus clock periods and less than one active-stylus clock period.    
     
     
       24. The method of claim 21, wherein the defined value corresponds to a defined number of edges of a signal used by the active stylus.  
     
     
       25. The method of claim 21, wherein the time interval equals the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period or the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period plus one active-stylus clock period.  
     
     
       26. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting information for reception by the touch controller comprises:
 prior to transmitting each successive data portion, determining the time interval by which the successive data portion is separated from the preceding data portion, wherein determining the time interval comprises:
 determining the updated fractional error value; and 
 if the updated fractional error value is less than one, then setting the time interval to be the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period, else:
 setting the time interval to be the positive integer multiple of the active-stylus clock period plus one active-stylus clock period; and 
 decrementing the updated fractional error value by one.  
 
   
     
     
       27. An active stylus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:
 determine a synchronization parameter for communication with a touch controller, the synchronization parameter indicative of a decimal number corresponding to an active-stylus clock count divided by a defined value and comprising an integer part and a fractional part, the integer part representing a positive integer multiple of an active-stylus clock period and the fractional part representing a fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period; and   wirelessly transmit information for reception by the touch controller, wherein the information comprises a series of data portions, a successive data portion in the series being separated from a preceding data portion by a time interval, wherein the time interval is based at least in part on the active-stylus clock period, the integer part of the synchronization parameter, and an updated fractional error value, wherein the updated fractional error value equals a current fractional error value plus the fractional part of the synchronization parameter.    
     
     
       28. The active stylus of claim 27, wherein:
 the touch controller is part of a personal computing device, the personal computing device comprising a touch sensor; and   the active stylus further comprises one or more electrodes for wirelessly transmitting signals to or receiving signals from the personal computing device through the touch sensor.    
     
     
       29. The active stylus of claim 27, wherein:
 the active-stylus clock period is approximately equal to a duration of one cycle of a clock of the active stylus; and   the fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period represents a duration of time greater than or equal to zero active-stylus clock periods and less than one active-stylus clock period.    
     
     
       30. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 determine a synchronization parameter for communication with a touch controller, the synchronization parameter indicative of a decimal number corresponding to an active-stylus clock count divided by a defined value and comprising an integer part and a fractional part, the integer part representing a positive integer multiple of an active-stylus clock period and the fractional part representing a fractional portion of the active-stylus clock period; and   wirelessly transmit information for reception by the touch controller, wherein the information comprises a series of data portions, a successive data portion in the series being separated from a preceding data portion by a time interval, wherein the time interval is based at least in part on the active-stylus clock period, the integer part of the synchronization parameter, and an updated fractional error value, wherein the updated fractional error value equals a current fractional error value plus the fractional part of the synchronization parameter.