Active Styluses for Interacting with a Mobile Device

• US 20130135220A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid M, Krahenbuhl, John Henry, Merrell, Thomas Y., Slaby, Jiri, Winkler, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

An active stylus or a method performed by an active stylus for interacting with a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has at least one sensor (e.g., a thermocouple junction), and wherein the stylus has at least one signal source (e.g., an analog heat source) that produces at least one signal (e.g., at least one analog temperature signal), wherein the at least one signal is configured to be detectable by the at least one sensor of the mobile device. The stylus also has at least one signal adjustment mechanism for changing the at least one signal and also has at least one transmitter (e.g., thermocouple junction) configured to transmit the at least one signal for receipt by the at least one sensor of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

producing at least one analog temperature signal by at least one heat source of an active stylus, wherein the active stylus has a end that comprises the heat source and a signal adjustment mechanism for increasing and decreasing temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal, and the at least one analog temperature signal is configured to be detectable by at least one thermocouple junction of a mobile device; and

transmitting the at least one analog temperature signal from the end of the stylus for receipt by the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receipt of the at least one analog temperature signal by the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device is part of a thermocouple junction network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the at least one analog temperature signal at the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device;

transforming the at least one analog temperature signal to a digital electric signal; and

inputting the digital electric signal as a parameter of executed processor readable instructions stored on a processor readable storage medium of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal adjustment mechanism for increasing and decreasing the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal has a power source that provides an amount of current to the at least one heat source, so that increasing the amount of current raises the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal and decreasing the amount of current lowers the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one heat source of the active stylus includes a thermocouple junction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting at least visual information from a touch screen of the mobile device due to the inputting of the digital electric signal as the parameter of the executed processor readable instructions stored on the processor readable storage medium of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, where in addition to the temperature of the at least one temperature signal the duration of the temperature signal is also a parameter of the temperature signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal adjustment mechanism for increasing and decreasing the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal includes a push button having at least two states for varying the at least one analog temperature signal by at least two different temperatures distinguishable to the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal adjustment mechanism for increasing and decreasing the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal includes a slider or a knob having at least two states for varying the at least one analog temperature signal by at least two different temperatures distinguishable to the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device.

10. An active stylus for interacting with a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has at least one thermocouple junction, and wherein the active stylus comprises:

at least one heat source that produces at least one analog temperature signal, wherein the at least one analog temperature signal is configured to be detectable by the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device;

a signal adjustment mechanism for increasing and decreasing temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal; and

an end comprising the at least one heat source, configured to transmit the at least one analog temperature signal for receipt by the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device.

11. The active stylus of claim 10, wherein the receipt of the at least one analog temperature signal by the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device is a part of a thermocouple junction network.

12. The active stylus of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device is configured to receive the at least one analog temperature signal; and

the at least one thermocouple junction of the mobile device transforms the at least one analog temperature signal into a digital electric signal that is input for executed processor readable instructions stored on a storage medium of the mobile device.

13. The active stylus of claim 10, wherein:

the signal adjustment mechanism for increasing and decreasing the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal has a power source that provides an amount of current to the at least one heat source; and

increasing the amount of current raises the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal and decreasing the amount of current lowers the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal.

14. The active stylus of claim 10, wherein the at least one heat source of the active stylus includes a thermocouple junction.

15. The active stylus of claim 10, wherein the mobile device further comprises a touch screen that outputs visual information due to the inputting of the digital electric signal as the parameter of the executed processor readable instructions stored on the processor readable storage medium of the mobile device.

16. The active stylus of claim 10, where in addition to the temperature of the at least one analog temperature signal the duration of the temperature signal is also a parameter of the temperature signal.

17. An active stylus for interacting with a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has at least one sensor, and wherein the stylus device comprises:

at least one analog signal source that produces at least one analog signal, wherein the at least one analog signal is configured to be detectable by the at least one sensor of the mobile device;

a signal adjustment mechanism for changing the at least one signal; and

a transmitter, configured to transmit the at least one signal for receipt by the at least one sensor of the mobile device.

18. The active stylus of claim 17:

wherein the least one sensor of the stylus includes a electromagnetic signal receiver; and

wherein the at least one signal source and the transmitter of the stylus includes an electromagnetic transmitter.

19. The active stylus of claim 17:

wherein the least one sensor of the stylus includes a mechanical signal receiver; and

wherein the at least one signal source and the transmitter of the active stylus includes a mechanical signal transmitter.

20. The active stylus of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one signal is an analog signal;

the at least one sensor of the mobile device is configured to receive the at least one analog signal; and

the at least one sensor of the mobile device transforms the at least one analog signal into a digital electric signal that is input for executed processor readable instructions stored on a storage medium of the mobile device.