Surface Pro 6 - Pen technology?

Question

Samsung e.g. uses their Spen Technology: The Display emits/induces an (electro/magnetic ?) field, the spen disturbs the field and so they can recognize pen movement.

How does Pen Technology work on Surface pro 6 (and Maybe pro 5)?

Does the Display also emit/induce an (elctro/magnetic ?) field in some way. Or does solely/only the pen itself emit a field?

Thanks. 

P.S. I know that Microsoft uses n-trig Technology and i found different Information about that. I want an official answer what emits what in current Surface pro pen technology. Thanks.

Answer 1

The best info I have seen was on a Reddit AMA where StevieB (from Surface) gave
a long explanation. I can't find the Reddit thread right now, but there is a
full quote at
https://www.surfaceproartist.com/blog/2014/5/27/microsoft-addresses-n-trig-concerns-in-reddit-response

• is there an issue you are trying to resolve?

Answer 2

Thanks for your Reply, this is important for me and I'm curious about the answer.

As I understand the article, active capacitive Solutions use the same System that is used for recognizing touching by fingers. But instead of absorbing engery from the Display (like a finger would do) the pen gives further Energy into that System. This allows the tablet to differentiate between finger and pen.

In Addition: To enable pen regonition even when the pen is some Millimeters above the screen, to use the same System, an electrostatic field is created (which interacts with the Electric energys on the Display). This interaction can be used to recognize where the pen is above the screen.

I think this effect is similar to rubbing a ballon and hold it near your hair. Your hair interacts with the electrostatic field. The pen said pen Technology uses electrostatic fields as well. Would be happy if someone could confirm that ballon example.

All in all: active capacitive pen Solutions don't use an electromagnetic field.

____

So that I understood. But i saw nowhere explicitly said, that the Surface pro 6 is an active capacitive solution?

Where can I find confirmation for that?

Answer 3

There is an article here that may help explain "all" of the technologies used: 

http://www.tabletpcreview.com/feature/active-pen-technology-explained-wacom-n-trig/

Answer 4

The best advice I can give is to use Twitter and tweet to @sbathiche and
@Surface - give them a link to this thread, and ask the question first.