Stylus sensitive device with stylus angle detection functionality

• US 9,448,643 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barnes & Noble College Booksellers LLC (Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Barnes & Noble College Booksellers LLC (Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, Kourtny M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, VINH TANG
• Application Number:
  US13/793,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-184, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for performing functions in electronic devices by changing the angle between a stylus and a stylus detection surface of an electronic device. The stylus and/or device can detect the stylus angle of inclination and any changes in stylus angle. Each uniquely identifiable angle change or combination of angle changes may be associated with a distinct device or stylus function. A greater angle change may result in an accelerated function or a different function entirely. The stylus angle gesture may perform functions on selected content or on one or more UI control features or icons on the device. In other cases, functions can be performed without reference to specific content or control features. The various functions assigned to stylus angle gestures may be performed on an application-specific level or a global device level. An animation can be displayed as the stylus gestures are executed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an electronic device having a display for displaying content to a user and a stylus detection surface for allowing user input; and

a user interface operable on the electronic device and comprising a stylus angle detection mode, wherein the stylus angle detection mode is configured to perform a first function in response to a first stylus angle of inclination, and to perform one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination;

wherein;

the first function performed at the first stylus angle of inclination is scrolling through pages of paginated content at a first rate;

the one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination includes a second function performed at a second stylus angle greater than the first stylus angle, the second function being scrolling through the pages of the paginated content at a second rate less than the first rate; and

the stylus angle is measured with respect to an axis perpendicular to the display of the electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a stylus.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the stylus further comprises at least one of a processor configured to direct stylus functionality and a memory configured to store at least one of data received from the electronic device, stylus configuration data, and data to be transmitted to the electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is further configured to at least one of calibrate and configure the stylus in real-time over a wireless communication link to the stylus.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is further configured to provide at least one of an audio and visual notification associated with a function.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the stylus detection surface comprises at least one set of antenna coils configured to interact with a resonant circuit within a stylus.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the stylus detection surface further comprises a second set of antenna coils configured to detect the stylus'"'"' angle of inclination over the stylus detection surface.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the function performed by the stylus angle detection mode is determined based on the location of a stylus over the stylus detection surface.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is an eReader device or a tablet computer or a smartphone.

10. A mobile computing device comprising the system of claim 1.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the scrolling rate increases as the stylus angle decreases.

12. A system, comprising:

an electronic device having a display for displaying content to a user and a stylus detection surface for allowing user input; and

a user interface operable on the electronic device and comprising a stylus angle detection mode, wherein the stylus angle detection mode is configured to perform a first function in response to a first stylus angle of inclination, and to perform one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination;

wherein;

the first function performed at the first stylus angle of inclination comprises at least one of zooming in or out of a page, adjusting font size, adjusting volume, adjusting screen brightness, and adjusting audio/video playback speed at a first rate;

the one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination includes a second function performed at a second stylus angle greater than the first stylus angle, the second function being a corresponding one of zooming in or out of a page, adjusting font size, adjusting volume, adjusting screen brightness, and adjusting audio/video playback speed at a second rate less than the first rate; and

the stylus angle is measured with respect to an axis perpendicular to the display of the electronic device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein adjusting the font size by the first function further comprises:

increasing font size of selected text from a first font size to a second font size greater than the first font size by inclining a stylus to a first side of the electronic device; and

decreasing the font size of the selected text to a third font size smaller than the first font size by inclining the stylus to a second side of the electronic device.

14. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a plurality of instructions encoded thereon that when executed by one or more processors facilitate operation of an electronic device according to the following process, the process comprising:

determine an angle of inclination between a stylus and a stylus detection surface of the electronic device;

perform a first function in response to a first stylus angle of inclination; and

perform one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination;

wherein;

the first function performed at the first stylus angle of inclination is scrolling through pages of paginated content at a first rate;

the one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination includes a second function performed at a second stylus angle greater than the first stylus angle, the second function being scrolling through the pages of the paginated content at a second rate less than the first rate; and

the stylus angle is measured with respect to an axis perpendicular to a display of the electronic device.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the process further includes providing at least one of an audio and visual notification associated with a function.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the angle of inclination between the stylus and the stylus detection surface is determined by determining the location of a resonant circuit within the stylus.

17. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a plurality of instructions encoded thereon that when executed by one or more processors facilitate operation of an electronic device according to the following process, the process comprising:

determine an angle of inclination between a stylus and a stylus detection surface of the electronic device;

perform a first function in response to a first stylus angle of inclination; and

perform one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination;

wherein;

the first function performed at the first stylus angle of inclination comprises at least one of zooming in or out of a page, adjusting font size, adjusting volume, adjusting screen brightness, and adjusting audio/video playback speed at a first rate;

the one or more subsequent functions in response to one or more subsequent stylus angles of inclination includes a second function performed at a second stylus angle greater than the first stylus angle, the second function being a corresponding one of zooming in or out of a page, adjusting font size, adjusting volume, adjusting screen brightness, and adjusting audio/video playback speed at a second rate less than the first rate; and

the stylus angle is measured with respect to an axis perpendicular to a display of the electronic device.