During the ISSCC 2016 (International Solid-State Circuits Conference), Sharp Corp. received an ISSCC 2015 Demonstration Session Certificate of Recognition for a touch-panel system and stylus accessory the company demonstrated at last year's conference.
In December 2012, Sharp developed a touch-panel system that employs a parallel drive method for detecting and processing multi-point input. This touch-panel system can recognize up to 50 touch points at once. In February 2015, Sharp developed an active stylus with built-in circuitry that links with this touch-panel system. This development enables the touch-panel to recognize individual styluses. Multiple styluses can be used at the same time to write text and draw lines of varying colors and thicknesses on the screen.
During ISSCC 2015, Sharp showed off the touch-panel system using multiple styluses and a 20-inch display. The company demonstrated the system's ability to handle simultaneous handwritten input of text as well as lines of varying colors and thicknesses. It also showed how one stylus could be used to select and erase portions of handwritten text and lines.
Sharp will promote the touch-panel system for use in a wide variety of applications, including in tablet devices, notebook PCs, and interactive whiteboards.