# US 12,008,206 B2 · Position detection device, and position detection method based on electromagnetic inductive coupling and capacitive coupling

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- Number: US 12,008,206 B2
- Document ID: US12008206B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/194,453
- Filed: 2023-03-31
- Published: 2023-07-27
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2018-02-13
- Assignees: Wacom Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Wacom Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuji Katsurahira; Hideyuki Hara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008206B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/04166: {Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving (Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184)}
- G06F 3/046: by electromagnetic means
- G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus}
- G06F 3/04164: {Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads}
- G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes}
- G06F 3/0447: {Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells}
- G06F 2203/04104: Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
- G06F 2203/04106: Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A position detection device includes a position detection sensor and selection circuitry. The position detection sensor has first loop electrodes arranged in a first direction and second loop electrodes arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The selection circuitry is coupled to the first loop electrodes of the position detection sensor and, in operation, simultaneously selects two of the first loop electrodes, connects a first terminal of each of the two of the first loop electrodes to a first one of two first common terminals, and connects a second terminal of each of the two of first loop electrodes to a second one of the two first common terminals. The two of the first loop electrodes change sequentially over time from a first two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to a last two of the plurality of first loop electrodes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A position detection device comprising:
a position detection sensor having a plurality of first loop electrodes arranged in a first direction, and a plurality of second loop electrodes arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
wherein each of the first loop electrodes is elongated in the second direction, and
wherein each of the second loop electrodes is elongated in the first direction; and
first selection circuitry coupled to the plurality of first loop electrodes of the position detection sensor,
wherein the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects two of the plurality of first loop electrodes, connects a first terminal of each of the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to a first one of two first common terminals, and connects a second terminal of each of the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to a second one of the two first common terminals, without connecting the plurality of first loop electrodes other than the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the two first common terminals, and
wherein the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes change sequentially over time from a first two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to a last two of the plurality of first loop electrodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The position detection device according to claim 1 wherein:
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects a first one and a second one the plurality of first loop electrodes during an initial time period, and
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the second one and a third one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during a second time period that immediately follows the initial time period.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The position detection device according to claim 1 wherein:
the first selection circuitry includes a first selection switch and a second selection switch,
the first one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the first selection switch and the second one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the second selection switch,
the first selection switch, in operation, connects the first terminal of each of the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the first selection switch, and
the second selection switch, in operation, connects the second terminal of each of the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The position detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:
mode switch circuitry coupled to the two first common terminals,
wherein, in a first mode of operation, the two first common terminals are respectively coupled to two input terminals of a first amplifier, and
wherein, in a second mode of operation, the two first common terminals are coupled to an input terminals of a second amplifier that is different from the first amplifier.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The position detection device according to claim 4 wherein the first amplifier is a differential amplifier.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The position detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:
second selection circuitry coupled to the plurality of second loop electrodes of the position detection sensor,
wherein the second selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects two of the plurality of second loop electrodes, connects a first terminal of each of the two of the plurality of second loop electrodes to a first one of two second common terminals, and connects a second terminal of each of the two of the plurality of second loop electrodes to a second one of the two second common terminals, without connecting the plurality of second loop electrodes other than the two of the plurality of second loop electrodes to the two second common terminals, and
wherein the two of the plurality of second loop electrodes change sequentially over time from a first two of the plurality of second loop electrodes to a last two of the plurality of second loop electrodes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The position detection device according to claim 6 wherein:
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects a first one and a second one the plurality of first loop electrodes during an initial time period,
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the second one and a third one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during a second time period that immediately follows the initial time period,
the second selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects a first one and a second one the plurality of second loop electrodes during the initial time period, and
the second selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the second one and a third one of the plurality of second loop electrodes during the second time period that immediately follows the initial time period.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The position detection device according to claim 6 wherein:
the first selection circuitry includes a first selection switch and a second selection switch,
the first one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the first selection switch of the first selection circuitry and the second one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the second selection switch of the first selection circuitry,
the first selection switch of the first selection circuitry, in operation, connects the first terminal of each of the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the first selection switch of the first selection circuitry,
the second selection switch of the first selection circuitry, in operation, connects the second terminal of each of the two of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch of the first selection circuitry,
the second selection circuitry includes a first selection switch and a second selection switch,
the first one of the two second common terminals is a common terminal of the first selection switch of the second selection circuitry and the second one of the two second common terminals is a common terminal of the second selection switch of the second selection circuitry,
the first selection switch of the second selection circuitry, in operation, connects the first terminal of each of the two of the plurality of second loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch of the second selection circuitry, and
the second selection switch of the second selection circuitry, in operation, connects the second terminal of each of the two of the plurality of second loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch the second selection circuitry.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The position detection device according to claim 6, further comprising:
mode switch circuitry coupled to the two first common terminals and the two second common terminals,
wherein, in a first mode of operation, the two first common terminals are respectively coupled to two input terminals of a first amplifier, and the two second common terminals are respectively coupled to two input terminals of a second amplifier that is different from the first amplifier, and
wherein, in a second mode of operation, the two first common terminals are coupled to an input terminals of a third amplifier that is different from the first amplifier and the second amplifier, and the two second common terminals are connected to an output terminal of a fourth amplifier that is different from the first amplifier, the second amplifier, and the third amplifier.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The position detection device according to claim 9 wherein the first amplifier is a first differential amplifier and the second amplifier is a second differential amplifier.

### Claim 11

A position detection device comprising:
a position detection sensor having a plurality of first loop electrodes arranged in a first direction, and a plurality of second loop electrodes arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
wherein each of the first loop electrodes is elongated in the second direction, and
wherein each of the second loop electrodes is elongated in the first direction; and
first selection circuitry coupled to the plurality of first loop electrodes of the position detection sensor,
wherein the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects three of the plurality of first loop electrodes, connects a first terminal of each of the three of the plurality of first loop electrodes to a first one of two first common terminals, and connects a second terminal of each of the three of the plurality of second loop electrodes to a second one of the two first common terminals, without connecting the plurality of first loop electrodes other than the three of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the two first common terminals, and
wherein the three of the plurality of first loop electrodes change sequentially over time from a first three of the plurality of first loop electrodes to a last three of the plurality of first loop electrodes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The position detection device according to claim 11 wherein:
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects a first one, a second one, and a third one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during an initial time period,
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the second one, the third one, and a fourth one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during a second time period that immediately follows the initial time period, and
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the third one, a fourth one, and a fifth one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during a third time period that immediately follows the second time period.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The position detection device according to claim 11, wherein:
the first selection circuitry includes a first selection switch and a second selection switch,
the first one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the first selection switch and the second one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the second selection switch,
the first selection switch, in operation, connects the first terminal of each of the three of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the first selection switch, and
the second selection switch, in operation, connects the second terminal of each of the three of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The position detection device according to claim 11, further comprising:
mode switch circuitry coupled to the two first common terminals,
wherein, in a first mode of operation, the two first common terminals are respectively coupled to two input terminals of a first amplifier, and
wherein, in a second mode of operation, the two first common terminals are coupled to an input terminals of a second amplifier that is different from the first amplifier.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The position detection device according to claim 14 wherein the first amplifier is a differential amplifier.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The position detection device according to claim 11, further comprising:
second selection circuitry coupled to the plurality of second loop electrodes of the position detection sensor,
wherein the second selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects three of the plurality of second loop electrodes, connects a first terminal of each of the three of the plurality of second loop electrodes to two second common terminals, and connects a second terminal of each of the three of the plurality of second loop electrodes to a second one of the two second common terminals, without connecting the plurality of second loop electrodes other than the three of the plurality of second loop electrodes to the two second common terminals, and
wherein the three of the plurality of second loop electrodes change sequentially over time from a first three of the plurality of second loop electrodes to a last three of the plurality of second loop electrodes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The position detection device according to claim 16 wherein:
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects a first one, a second one, and a third one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during an initial time period,
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the second one, the third one, and a fourth one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during a second time period that immediately follows the initial time period,
the first selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the third one, a fourth one, and a fifth one of the plurality of first loop electrodes during a third time period that immediately follows the second time period,
the second selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects a first one, a second one, and a third one of the plurality of second loop electrodes during the initial time period,
the second selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the second one, the third one, and a fourth one of the plurality of second loop electrodes during the second time period that immediately follows the initial time period, and
the second selection circuitry, in operation, simultaneously selects the third one, a fourth one, and a fifth one of the plurality of second loop electrodes during the third time period that immediately follows the second time period.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The position detection device according to claim 16 wherein:
the first selection circuitry includes a first selection switch and a second selection switch,
the first one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the first selection switch of the first selection circuitry and the second one of the two first common terminals is a common terminal of the second selection switch of the first selection circuitry,
the first selection switch of the first selection circuitry, in operation, connects the first terminal of each of the three of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the first selection switch of the first selection circuitry,
the second selection switch of the first selection circuitry, in operation, connects the second terminal of each of the three of the plurality of first loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch of the first selection circuitry,
the second selection circuitry includes a first selection switch and a second selection switch,
the first one of the two second common terminals is a common terminal of the first selection switch of the second selection circuitry and the second one of the two second common terminals is a common terminal of the second selection switch of the second selection circuitry,
the first selection switch of the second selection circuitry, in operation, connects the first terminal of each of the three of the plurality of second loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch of the second selection circuitry, and
the second selection switch of the second selection circuitry, in operation, connects the second terminal of each of the three of the plurality of second loop electrodes to the common terminal of the second selection switch the second selection circuitry.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The position detection device according to claim 16, further comprising:
mode switch circuitry coupled to the two first common terminals and the two second common terminals,
wherein, in a first mode of operation, the two first common terminals are respectively coupled to two input terminals of a first amplifier, and the two second common terminals are respectively coupled to two input terminals of a second amplifier that is different from the first amplifier, and
wherein, in a second mode of operation, the two first common terminals are coupled to an input terminals of a third amplifier that is different from the first amplifier and the second amplifier, and the two second common terminals are connected to an output terminal of a fourth amplifier that is different from the first amplifier, the second amplifier, and the third amplifier.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The position detection device according to claim 19 wherein the first amplifier is a first differential amplifier and the second amplifier is a second differential amplifier.