Stylus with active color display/select for touch sensitive devices
First Claim
1. A stylus comprising:
- an elongated body portion including a stylus tip on an end of the elongated body portion, the stylus tip configured to interact with a touch sensitive surface of a touch sensitive device;
a communication circuit configured to communicate with the touch sensitive device, wherein the communication circuit is configured to at least one of transmit active color selection information to the touch sensitive device and receive active color selection information from the touch sensitive device using a communication link established using the communication circuit;
a color indication circuit configured to display an active color on the stylus, the active color being associated with a color input for the touch sensitive device in response to the stylus tip interacting with the touch sensitive surface of the device; and
a rotatable button mechanism on an end of the elongated body portion opposite the stylus tip and configured to twist relative to the elongated body portion to allow a user to select the active color from the stylus, the rotatable button mechanism further configured to depress in a direction along the elongated body portion to provide input to the touch sensitive device, wherein the color indication circuit is configured to display the active color from the rotatable button mechanism, such that the rotatable button mechanism provides 360 degrees of visibility of the active color;
wherein the active color can be switched between a primary color and a secondary color in response to manipulation of a stylus hardware control feature, and wherein the rotatable button mechanism is further configured to simultaneously display the primary and secondary colors.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Styluses with active color indicator functionality are disclosed. The styluses are intended for use with a touch sensitive device. The active color generally refers to the color currently in use by the touch sensitive device, such as in a virtual drawing or note taking application. Active colors can be selected using the touch sensitive device and/or the stylus itself. When the active color is selected using the touch sensitive device, the stylus receives the active color information and indicates the color on the stylus (e.g., via a correspondingly colored LED or LCD or a color rotation mechanism). When the active color is selected from the stylus itself, that color is indicated on the stylus and active color information is transmitted to the touch sensitive device. The active color can be displayed such that it is detectable regardless of stylus position (e.g., no blind spots).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A stylus comprising:
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an elongated body portion including a stylus tip on an end of the elongated body portion, the stylus tip configured to interact with a touch sensitive surface of a touch sensitive device; a communication circuit configured to communicate with the touch sensitive device, wherein the communication circuit is configured to at least one of transmit active color selection information to the touch sensitive device and receive active color selection information from the touch sensitive device using a communication link established using the communication circuit; a color indication circuit configured to display an active color on the stylus, the active color being associated with a color input for the touch sensitive device in response to the stylus tip interacting with the touch sensitive surface of the device; and a rotatable button mechanism on an end of the elongated body portion opposite the stylus tip and configured to twist relative to the elongated body portion to allow a user to select the active color from the stylus, the rotatable button mechanism further configured to depress in a direction along the elongated body portion to provide input to the touch sensitive device, wherein the color indication circuit is configured to display the active color from the rotatable button mechanism, such that the rotatable button mechanism provides 360 degrees of visibility of the active color; wherein the active color can be switched between a primary color and a secondary color in response to manipulation of a stylus hardware control feature, and wherein the rotatable button mechanism is further configured to simultaneously display the primary and secondary colors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A stylus comprising:
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a communication circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with a touch sensitive device, an application on the touch sensitive device allowing color input and having a primary and secondary color associated with the application, wherein the communication circuit is configured to at least one of transmit and receive information identifying the primary and secondary colors; a rotatable button mechanism on an end of an elongated body portion of the stylus opposite a stylus tip, the rotatable button mechanism configured to twist relative to the elongated body portion to allow a user to select at least one of the primary and secondary colors associated with the application from the stylus, the rotatable button mechanism further configured to depress in a direction along the elongated body portion to allow a user to switch between the primary and secondary colors; and a color indication circuit configured to simultaneously visually indicate the primary and secondary colors via the rotatable button mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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an electronic device having a display for displaying content to a user and a stylus detection surface for allowing user input; and a stylus having an elongated body portion including a stylus tip on an end of the elongated body portion, the stylus tip configured to interact with the electronic device via the stylus detection surface, the stylus including a rotatable button mechanism on an end of the elongated body portion opposite the stylus tip and configured to twist relative to the elongated body portion to allow a user to select a desired active color from the stylus, the rotatable button mechanism further configured to depress in a direction along the elongated body portion to provide input to the electronic device, and a color indication circuit configured to visually indicate the active color via the rotatable button mechanism such that the active color is visible at any stylus orientation, the active color being associated with a color displayable on the electronic device in response to the stylus tip interacting with the stylus detection surface, wherein the color indication circuit is further configured to simultaneously visually indicate, via the rotatable button mechanism, a secondary color with the active color, and wherein the active color and secondary color can be switched in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification