Stylus for electronic devices
First Claim
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1. A stylus for providing user input to an input surface of an electronic device, the stylus comprising:
- a body;
a tip assembly configured to contact the input surface, the tip assembly comprising;
a first electric field generator configured to produce a first electric field that indicates a point of contact between the tip assembly and the input surface; and
a second electric field generator, offset from the first electric field generator and aligned with a central axis of the body, the second electric field generator configured to produce a second electric field that indicates an angle of the body relative to the input surface;
wherein the first electric field generator and the second electric field generator are configured to move relative to the body when the tip assembly applies a force to an input surface; and
a translatable structure disposed within the body and supporting the tip assembly, the translatable structure comprising a force sensor configured to detect the force applied by the tip assembly to the input surface.
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Abstract
A user input system including a stylus and an electronic device. A user may manipulate the stylus across an input surface of the electronic device and the movement may be detected using axially-aligned electric fields generated by the stylus. The stylus may also include a force-sensitive structure that can be used to estimate a force applied to the electronic device by the stylus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A stylus for providing user input to an input surface of an electronic device, the stylus comprising:
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a body; a tip assembly configured to contact the input surface, the tip assembly comprising; a first electric field generator configured to produce a first electric field that indicates a point of contact between the tip assembly and the input surface; and a second electric field generator, offset from the first electric field generator and aligned with a central axis of the body, the second electric field generator configured to produce a second electric field that indicates an angle of the body relative to the input surface; wherein the first electric field generator and the second electric field generator are configured to move relative to the body when the tip assembly applies a force to an input surface; and a translatable structure disposed within the body and supporting the tip assembly, the translatable structure comprising a force sensor configured to detect the force applied by the tip assembly to the input surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A stylus comprising:
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a barrel defining an opening; a nib positioned adjacent the opening; a tip-field generator within the nib and configured to produce a first electric field; a ring-field generator positioned within the barrel and configured to produce a second electric field that is offset from the first electric field, wherein the nib, the tip-field generator, and the ring-field generator are moveable relative to the barrel and in response to a force applied to the nib; and a force-sensitive structure disposed within the barrel and coupled to the nib, the force-sensitive structure configured to produce a signal based on the force applied to the nib. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An input device for an electronic device, the input device comprising:
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a body; a nosepiece movably coupled to the body and configured to shift with respect to the body in response to an applied force; a force sensor positioned within the body and configured to detect the shift of the nosepiece with respect to the body; a first electric field generator positioned within the nosepiece and configured to produce a first electric field; and a second electric field generator positioned in the body and configured to produce a second electric field; wherein the first electric field generator comprises a pogo pin configured to electrically couple to a shielded signal line that extends through the second electric field generator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification