Adjustable handheld stylus
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorPaul X. Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An input device, such as a stylus, can include an adjustment element that changes a size and/or shape of the stylus. The size and/or shape of a grip region or end portion of the stylus can be altered to mimic characteristics of a writing or drawing tool or to better accommodate the size of a user's hand. The size and/or shape of the stylus can also be altered to limit rolling of the stylus on a surface or to accommodate coupling to another device, such as a charger. Haptic feedback can also be provided to a user by operation of the adjustment element.
Claims20
An electronic stylus comprising:
- a body defining an outer periphery of at least a portion of the electronic stylus and having a first portion and a second portion having an amount of an overlap along a region that extends longitudinally along a longitudinal length of the electronic stylus;
- an adjustment element configured to apply a stimulus to the body;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the adjustment element, the controller being configured to command the adjustment element to change a diameter of the outer periphery defined by the first portion and the second portion by changing the amount of the overlap between the first portion and the second portion with the stimulus.
An electronic stylus comprising:
- a body defining an outer periphery of at least a portion of the electronic stylus;
- an adjustment element configured to apply a stimulus to the body, the body defining a longitudinal length that extends across at least half of a total length of electronic stylus;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the adjustment element and configured to operate the adjustment element until, by the stimulus, the outer periphery changes from a first cross-sectional shape, extending uniformly across the longitudinal length of the body, to a second cross-sectional shape, different from the first cross-sectional shape and extending uniformly across the longitudinal length of the body.
An electronic stylus comprising:
- an end portion defining a longitudinal end of the electronic stylus;
- a sensor configured to detect contact between the end portion and a surface;
- an adjustment element configured to apply a stimulus;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the adjustment element and configured to command the adjustment element to change, by the stimulus, the longitudinal end from a first cross-sectional shape, having a first curvature, to a second cross-sectional shape, having a second curvature different from the first curvature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.