STYLUS FOR USE WITH TOUCH SCREEN COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20130050154A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Inventors: Guy, Benjamin T., Hoehn, Richard, Shepard, Aaron S.
• Application Number:
  US13/538,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050154A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware

Abstract

A pen or stylus for use with a touch screen computer. The stylus has a conductive body and a conductive tip. A relay in the stylus is used to selectively electrically connect the conductive stylus body, which is coupled to the hand of the, user, to the conductive tip. A series of the pulses are produced by the stylus that are detected by software on the computer. The detected pulses can be used to differentiate between a finger touch and a stylus touch and to transfer data or commands from the stylus to the touch screen device.

Claims

1. A stylus for use with a touch screen device, said stylus comprising:

a conductive housing;

a conductive tip; and

a switch that connects said conductive housing to said conductive tip.

2. The stylus of claim 1 wherein said conductive housing further comprises a conductive plastic.

3. The stylus of claim 1 wherein said conductive tip further comprises a conductive rubber tip.

4. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising a microcontroller that controls said switch such that said conductive housing is alternatively connected to, and disconnected from, said conductive tip.

5. The stylus of claim 4 wherein said microcontroller operates said switch at a rate of 20 Hz.

6. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising a motion sensor that detects motion of said stylus.

7. An input device for interacting with a touch screen device having a touch screen;

said input device comprising;

a first conductive portion that contacts said touch screen;

a second conductive portion that contacts a user'"'"'s hand; and

a relay that operates to selectively connect and disconnect said first conductive portion and said second conductive portion.

8. The input device of claim 7 further comprising application software on said touch screen device that detects rapid changes in contact with said touch screen.

9. The input device of claim 7 wherein said first conductive portion further comprises a pen-shaped housing.

10. The input device of claim 7 wherein said second conductive portion further comprises a rubber conductive tip.

11. The input device of claim 7 further comprising a microcontroller.

12. The input device of claim 7 further comprising an accelerometer.

13. The input device of claim 7 further comprising a boost converter power supply.

14. A method of interacting with a device having a touch screen, said method comprising the steps of:

contacting said touch screen with a conductor; and

selectively electrically connecting said conductor to a finger of a person.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of using a microcontroller to control said electrical connecting of said conductor to said finger.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of detecting movement of said conductor and selectively connecting said conductor to said finger based upon said detected movement.