Pen state detection circuit, method, and device, and parameter supply device

A pen state detection method carried out with use of a pen state detection circuit incorporated in electronic equipment, the electronic equipment having a touch sensor of a capacitive system made of planarly disposed multiple sensor electrodes, the pen state detection method comprising:

• acquiring, from the touch sensor, signal distribution indicating a change in capacitance associated with approach of a pen-side electrode included in an electronic pen;
• and
• estimating a state of the electronic pen according to an input-output model in which features relating to the acquired signal distribution are input and a state quantity of the electronic pen is output,
• wherein
• an input-output model is different depending on a change in an outer shape of the electronic pen or the electronic equipment is set, and
• an input-output model is different depending on whether or not the pen-side electrode is worn out or a degree of the wear.

A pen state detection device comprising:

• a pen state detection circuit incorporated in electronic equipment, the electronic equipment having a touch sensor of a capacitive system made of planarly disposed multiple sensor electrodes, the pen state detection circuit configured to perform acquiring, from the touch sensor, signal distribution indicating a change in capacitance associated with approach of a pen-side electrode included in an electronic pen, and estimating a state of the electronic pen according to an input-output model in which features relating to the acquired signal distribution are input and a state quantity of the electronic pen is output, wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on a change in an outer shape of the electronic pen or the electronic equipment, and wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on whether or not the pen-side electrode is worn out or a degree of the wear;
• an information acquiring section configured to acquire model selection information relating to the outer shape of the electronic pen or the electronic equipment;
• and
• a parameter setting section configured to set, in the pen state detection circuit, model parameters that allow identification of the input-output model corresponding to the model selection information acquired by the information acquiring section.

A parameter supply device configured to be capable of mutually communicating with a pen state detection device,

• the pen state detection device including:
• a pen state detection circuit incorporated in electronic equipment having a touch sensor of a capacitive system made of planarly disposed multiple sensor electrodes, the pen state detection circuit configured to perform acquiring, from the touch sensor, signal distribution indicating a change in capacitance associated with approach of a pen-side electrode included in an electronic pen, and estimating a state of the electronic pen according to an input-output model in which features relating to the acquired signal distribution are input and a state quantity of the electronic pen is output, wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on a change in an outer shape of the electronic pen or the electronic equipment, and wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on whether or not the pen-side electrode is worn out or a degree of the wear;
• an information acquiring section configured to acquire model selection information relating to the outer shape of the electronic pen or the electronic equipment;
• and
• a parameter setting section configured to set, in the pen state detection circuit, model parameters that allow identification of the input-output model selected according to the model selection information acquired by the information acquiring section;
• the parameter supply device comprising:
• a storage section configured to store the model parameters in association with the model selection information;
• and
• a control section that, when receiving the model selection information from the pen state detection device, carries out control of reading out the model parameters corresponding to the model selection information from the storage section and transmitting the model parameters to the pen state detection device.

A pen state detection circuit incorporated in electronic equipment, the electronic equipment having a touch sensor of a capacitive system made of planarly disposed multiple sensor electrodes, the pen state detection circuit configured to perform:

• acquiring, from the touch sensor, signal distribution indicating a change in capacitance associated with approach of a pen-side electrode included in an electronic pen;
• and
• estimating a state of the electronic pen according to an input-output model in which features relating to the acquired signal distribution are input and a state quantity of the electronic pen is output,
• wherein
• the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on a combination of two or more of a type of the electronic pen, a type of the electronic equipment, a type of the touch sensor, and a user, and
• the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on whether or not the pen-side electrode is worn out or a degree of the wear.

A pen state detection method carried out with use of a pen state detection circuit incorporated in electronic equipment, the electronic equipment having a touch sensor of a capacitive system made of planarly disposed multiple sensor electrodes, the pen state detection method comprising:

• acquiring, from the touch sensor, signal distribution indicating a change in capacitance associated with approach of a pen-side electrode included in an electronic pen;
• and
• estimating a state of the electronic pen according to an input-output model in which features relating to the acquired signal distribution are input and a state quantity of the electronic pen is output,
• wherein an input-output model is set differently depending on a combination of two or more of a type of the electronic pen, a type of the electronic equipment, a type of the touch sensor, and a user, and
• wherein an input-output model is set differently depending on whether or not the pen-side electrode is worn out or a degree of the wear.

A pen state detection device comprising:

• a pen state detection circuit incorporated in electronic equipment, the electronic equipment having a touch sensor of a capacitive system made of planarly disposed multiple sensor electrodes, the pen state detection circuit configured to perform acquiring, from the touch sensor, signal distribution indicating a change in capacitance associated with approach of a pen-side electrode included in an electronic pen, and estimating a state of the electronic pen according to an input-output model in which features relating to the acquired signal distribution are input and a state quantity of the electronic pen is output, wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on a combination of two or more of a type of the electronic pen, a type of the electronic equipment, a type of the touch sensor, and a user, and wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on whether or not the pen-side electrode is worn out or a degree of the wear;
• an information acquiring section configured to acquire model selection information relating to the combination of two or more of the type of the electronic pen, the type of the electronic equipment, the type of the touch sensor, and the user, and relating to the wear of the pen-side electrode;
• and
• a parameter setting section configured to set, in the pen state detection circuit, model parameters that allow identification of the input-output model corresponding to the model selection information acquired by the information acquiring section.

A parameter supply device configured to be capable of mutually communicating with a pen state detection device,

• the pen state detection device including:
• a pen state detection circuit incorporated in electronic equipment having a touch sensor of a capacitive system made of planarly disposed multiple sensor electrodes, the pen state detection circuit configured to perform acquiring, from the touch sensor, signal distribution indicating a change in capacitance associated with approach of a pen-side electrode included in an electronic pen, and estimating a state of the electronic pen according to an input-output model in which features relating to the acquired signal distribution are input and a state quantity of the electronic pen is output, wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on a combination of two or more of a type of the electronic pen, a type of the electronic equipment, a type of the touch sensor, and a user, and wherein the pen state detection circuit is configured to be capable of setting an input-output model that is different depending on whether or not the pen-side electrode is worn out or a degree of the wear,
• an information acquiring section configured to acquire model selection information relating to the combination of two or more of the type of the electronic pen, the type of the electronic equipment, the type of the touch sensor, and the user, and relating to the wear of the pen-side electrode, and
• a parameter setting section configured to set, in the pen state detection circuit, model parameters that allow identification of the input-output model corresponding to the model selection information acquired by the information acquiring section,
• the parameter supply device comprising:
• a storage section configured to store the model parameters in association with the model selection information;
• and
• a control section that, when receiving the model selection information from the pen state detection device, carries out control of reading out the model parameters corresponding to the model selection information from the storage section and transmitting the model parameters to the pen state detection device.