Stylus nibs for providing a pen-and-paper feel for use with a tablet-and-stylus computer

• US 6,771,254 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jesus, Vincent, An, Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lesperance, Jean
• Application Number:
  US09/795,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/179, 178/19.01, 178/19.02, 178/19.03, 178/19.04, 178/19.05, 154/45, 154/46
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A nib for a stylus for use with a tablet and stylus computer. The nib provides a desired amount of firmness and friction between the stylus and a writing surface of the tablet and stylus computer. A nib substrate material approximates a desired nib-and-writing-surface firmness and a desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface. A secondary material is optionally added to the nib substrate material to alter the amount of friction between the stylus nib and the writing surface.

Claims

1. A method for designing a nib for a stylus for use with a computer having a writing surface to provide a desired amount of firmness and friction between the stylus and the writing surface of the computer, the method comprising steps of:

selecting a desired firmness of a combination of the nib and the writing surface, wherein the selected desired firmness approximates an amount of firmness experienced while writing with an ink-dispensing pen on paper;

selecting a nib substrate material that approximates the selected desired firmness;

selecting a desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface, wherein the selected desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface approximates an amount of friction experienced while writing with an ink-dispensing pen on paper;

determining whether a secondary material should be added to the nib substrate material for producing the selected desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface; and

adding the secondary material to the nib substrate when the secondary material should be added to the nib substrate material for producing the selected desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is a tablet and stylus computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting an intended writing surface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of selecting the intended writing surface comprises a step of selecting a liquid crystal display as the intended writing surface.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of selecting the intended writing surface comprises a step of selecting a liquid crystal display overlay as the intended writing surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the secondary material to the nib substrate comprises a step of coating the nib substrate material with the secondary material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the secondary material to the nib substrate comprises a step of molding the secondary material over the nib substrate material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the secondary material to the nib substrate comprises a step of impregnating the nib substrate material with the secondary material.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the nib substrate material comprises a step of selecting a porous substrate material.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of adding the secondary material to the nib substrate comprises a step of impregnating the porous nib substrate material with Teflon.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of adding the secondary material to the nib substrate comprises a step of impregnating the porous nib substrate material with a dry lubricant.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the nib substrate material comprises a step of selecting a nylon fiber substrate material.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of adding the secondary material to the nib substrate comprises a step of impregnating the nylon fiber substrate material with Teflon.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the nib substrate material comprises a step of selecting a felt nib material made of Teflon and at least one other fiber selected from a group consisting of Nylon, cellulose acetate, and polyester.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the nib substrate material comprises a step of selecting a polyester substrate material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of adding the secondary material to the nib substrate comprises a step of surrounding the nib substrate material with a fiber wrap.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of surrounding the nib substrate material with a fiber wrap comprises a step of surrounding the nib substrate with a Teflon fiber wrap.

18. A nib for a stylus for use with a computer having a writing surface for providing a desired amount of firmness and friction between the stylus and the writing surface, the nib comprising:

a nib substrate material that approximates the desired nib-and-writing-surface firmness wherein the desired nib-and-writing-surface firmness approximates an amount of firmness experienced while writing with an ink-dispensing pen on paper; and

a secondary material added to the nib substrate material to produce the desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface, wherein the desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface approximates an amount of friction experienced while writing with an ink-dispensing pen on paper.

19. The nib of claim 18, wherein the computer is a tablet and stylus computer.

20. The nib of claim 18, wherein the writing surface comprises a liquid crystal display.

21. The nib of claim 18, wherein the writing surface comprises a liquid crystal display overlay.

22. The nib of claim 18, wherein the nib substrate material is coated with the secondary material.

23. The nib of claim 18, wherein the secondary material is molded over the nib substrate material.

24. The nib of claim 18, wherein the nib substrate material is impregnated with the secondary material.

25. The nib of claim 18, wherein the nib substrate material comprises a porous material.

26. The nib of claim 25, wherein the porous nib substrate material is impregnated with Teflon.

27. The nib of claim 25, wherein the porous nib substrate material is impregnated with a dry lubricant.

28. The nib of claim 18, wherein the nib substrate material comprises nylon fiber.

29. The nib of claim 28, wherein the nylon fiber material is impregnated with Teflon.

30. The nib of claim 18, wherein the nib substrate comprises a Teflon fiber and at least one other fiber selected from a group consisting of Nylon, cellulose acetate, and polyester.

31. The nib of claim 18, wherein the nib substrate material comprises polyester.

32. The nib of claim 31, wherein the secondary material comprises a fiber wrap surrounding the nib substrate material.

33. The nib of claim 32, wherein the fiber wrap comprises Teflon.

34. A nib for a stylus for use with a computer having a writing surface, the nib comprising:

substrate-material means for approximating a desired amount of firmness of a combination of the nib and the writing surface, wherein the desired firmness approximates an amount of firmness experienced while writing with an ink-dispensing pen on paper; and

secondary-material means for providing a desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface, wherein the desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface approximates an amount of friction experienced while writing with an ink-dispensing pen on paper.

35. The nib according to claim 34, wherein the computer is a tablet and stylus computer.