STYLUS FOR TOUCH SENSING DEVICES

• US 20110162894A1
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US12/683,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20110162894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/19.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

A stylus for entering data on a touch-screen computing device. The stylus includes a conductive tip that creates capacitive coupling between the stylus and the touch-screen of the computing device. The conductive tip may also be heated and include a passive or active heating element. Additionally, a dock for the stylus may be provided for the computing device to recharge the battery of the stylus and also provide storage for the stylus when not in use.

Claims

1. A stylus comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end;

a tip located at a first end of the body, wherein the tip capacitively couples a user to an input device touched by the tip.

2. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the tip is metal.

3. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the tip is an elastomer doped with metal particles.

4. The stylus of claim 3 further comprising a coating surrounding the tip, wherein the coating is plastic.

5. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising a heating element, wherein the heating element is electrically coupled to the tip.

6. The stylus of claim 5 further comprising:

a battery contained within the body, wherein the battery is electrically coupled to the heating element.

7. The stylus of claim 6 wherein the heating element is a resistor.

8. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising:

a grip portion on the exterior of the body; and

a lead connecting the grip portion to the tip;

wherein

the lead thereby grounds the tip to the grip portion.

9. The stylus of claim 8, wherein the lead grounds the tip to a user grasping the grip portion, thereby increasing the capacitance of the tip.

10. A method for entering data into a touch screen computing device, comprising:

activating a stylus, wherein the stylus comprises a tip and a body, the tip being disposed on a first end of the body;

electrically grounding the tip;

touching the stylus to the touch screen, thereby entering data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the operation of heating the tip.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the operation of heating the tip is performed by a passive heat sink supplying heat from a user to the tip.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the operation of heating the tip is performed by an active heating element supplying heat to the tip.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the operation of returning the stylus to a dock and recharging the stylus.

15. An apparatus for entering data into a computing device, comprising:

a body having a tip disposed at a first end of the body;

a touch sensor disposed along the length of the body;

a power source;

a heating element electrically connected to the tip;

wherein

the tip is a conductive element and the tip is electrically connected to the body;

the power source is electrically connected to the touch sensor, and the touch sensor activates the power source; and

the heating element is connected near the tip and the heating element is electrically connected to the touch sensor and the power source.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the tip is made of metal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the tip is an elastomer doped with metal particles.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the power source is a battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the heating element is a resistor.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tip is capacitively coupled to a user.