Method and system for determining stylus tilt in relation to a touch-sensing device

A stylus configured to communicate with a touch-sensing device, the stylus comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal from a tip of the stylus;
• a plurality of receivers arranged adjacent to but away from the tip of the stylus to surround an axis of the stylus;
• and
• a processor, which is coupled to the transmitter to control transmission of the signal therefrom, and which is coupled to the plurality of receivers to control reception of signals at the plurality of receivers, respectively,
• wherein the plurality of receivers, in operation,
• receives signals that are sequentially emitted from first electrodes of the touch-sensing device, wherein the first electrodes are oriented along a first axis and are arrayed along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis of the touch-sensing device;
• and
• wherein the processor, in operation,
• determines a tilt direction and a tilt magnitude of the stylus along the second axis based on comparison of different signal strengths of the signals received at the plurality of receivers, wherein the different signal strengths include a first signal strength detected at a first receiver of the plurality of receivers and a second signal strength detected at a second receiver of the plurality of receivers,
• wherein when the first signal strength is greater than the second signal strength the tilt direction is determined to extend from the second receiver towards the first receiver, and wherein a larger difference between the first signal strength and the second signal strength is determined to indicate a greater tilt magnitude.

A touch sensing system, comprising:

• a touch-sensing device including first electrodes oriented along a first axis and arrayed along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis of the touch-sensing device;
• and
• a stylus including:
• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal from a tip of the stylus;
• a plurality of receivers arranged adjacent to but away from the tip of the stylus to surround an axis of the stylus;
• and
• a processor, which is coupled to the transmitter to control transmission of the signal therefrom, and which is coupled to the plurality of receivers to control reception of signals at the plurality of receivers, respectively,
• wherein the plurality of receivers of the stylus, in operation,
• receives signals that are sequentially emitted from the first electrodes of the touch-sensing device;
• and
• wherein the processor of the stylus, in operation,
• determines a tilt direction and a tilt magnitude of the stylus along the second axis based on comparison of different signal strengths of the signals received at the plurality of receivers, wherein the different signal strengths include a first signal strength detected at a first receiver of the plurality of receivers and a second signal strength detected at a second receiver of the plurality of receivers,
• wherein when the first signal strength is greater than the second signal strength the tilt direction is determined to extend from the second receiver towards the first receiver, and wherein a larger difference between the first signal strength and the second signal strength is determined to indicate a greater tilt magnitude.