Multi-function stylus with sensor controller

• US 10,642,376 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Trethewey, James, Case, Jr., Charlie, Martinez, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Application Number:
  US13/687,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20140146021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting an input value to a computing device are included herein. The method includes detecting sensor data in a stylus. The method also includes detecting a gesture event with the stylus. In addition, the method includes generating an input value based on the sensor data and the gesture event. Furthermore, the method includes sending the input value from the stylus to a computing device.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting an input value comprising:

detecting sensor data in a stylus;

detecting a gesture event with the stylus, wherein the gesture event is a movement pattern of the stylus;

generating the input value based on the gesture event and the sensor data, wherein the gesture event is altered based on the sensor data; and

sending the input value from the stylus to a computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input value comprises a keyboard input value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input value comprises a mouse input value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mouse input value comprises a virtual brush stroke.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the gesture event for the stylus comprises detecting a movement of the stylus that corresponds with an input operation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data comprises one of a tilt of the stylus, a cardinal direction of the stylus, and a speed of the stylus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the input value is based on a tilt of the stylus to correct for parallax.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the input value from the stylus to the computing device comprises touching the stylus to a display device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the input value from the stylus to the computing device comprises transmitting the input value to the computing device through a data exchange protocol.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stylus comprises a battery manager, wherein the battery manager detects a current charge level of a battery of the stylus and transmits the current charge level to the computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the battery is charged by storing the stylus in an adaptor that provides power to the battery through a power connector in the stylus.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the power connector in the stylus connects to the computing device that comprises the adaptor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the power connector in the stylus connects to the adaptor and the adaptor is externally connected to the computing device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the power connector in the stylus receives power from the computing device through a cable.

15. The method of claim 1 comprising generating a haptic indicator, wherein the haptic indicator is an audio or mechanical response to the gesture event.

16. A stylus for transmitting an input value comprising:

a sensor controller to;

detect sensor data from a sensor in the sensor controller;

detect a gesture event with the stylus, wherein the gesture event is a movement pattern of the stylus;

generate an input value based on the gesture event and the sensor data, wherein the gesture event is altered based on the sensor data; and

send the input value from the stylus to a computing device.

17. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the input value comprises a keyboard input value.

18. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the input value comprises a mouse input value.

19. The stylus of claim 18, wherein the mouse input value comprises a virtual brush stroke.

20. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the input value comprises a keyboard input value and a mouse input value.

21. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the sensor data comprises one of a tilt of the stylus, a cardinal direction of the stylus, and a speed of the stylus.

22. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the input value is based on a tilt of the stylus to correct for parallax.

23. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the sensor controller is to send the input value from the stylus to the computing device by touching the stylus to a display device.

24. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the sensor controller is to send the input value from the stylus to the computing device by transmitting the input value to the computing device through a data exchange protocol.

25. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the sensor controller is to detect a current charge level of a battery of the stylus and transmit the current charge level of the battery to the computing device.

26. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the sensor controller is to detect mating of the stylus with an adaptor that stores the stylus and to charge the battery within the stylus.

27. The stylus of claim 26, wherein a power connector in the stylus connects to the computing device that comprises the adaptor.

28. The stylus of claim 26, wherein a power connector in the stylus connects to the adaptor and the adaptor is externally connected to the computing device.

29. The stylus of claim 16, wherein the sensor controller is to generate a haptic indicator, wherein the haptic indicator is an audio or mechanical response to the gesture event.

30. At least one non-transitory machine readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, in response to being executed on a stylus, cause the stylus to:

detect sensor data in the stylus;

detect a gesture event with the stylus, wherein the gesture event is a movement pattern of the stylus;

generate an input value based on the sensor data and the gesture event, wherein the gesture event is altered based on the sensor data; and

send the input value from the stylus to a computing device.

31. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 30, wherein the input value comprises one of a keyboard input value and a mouse input value.

32. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 30, wherein the gesture event comprises one of a tilt of the stylus, a cardinal direction of the stylus, and a speed of the stylus.

33. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 30, wherein the input value is based on a tilt of the stylus to correct for parallax.

34. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the stylus to send the input value from the stylus to the computing device by touching the stylus to a display device.

35. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the stylus to send the input value from the stylus to the computing device by transmitting the input value to the computing device through a data exchange protocol.

36. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the stylus to detect a current charge level of a battery of the stylus and transmit the current charge level of the battery to the computing device.

37. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the stylus to detect mating of the stylus with an adaptor that stores the stylus and to perform charging of the battery within the stylus, wherein the adaptor that stores the stylus is a part of the computing device.