# US 10,503,287 B2 · Adjustable handheld stylus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,287 B2 - Document ID: US10503287B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/689,800 - Filed: 2017-08-29 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-29 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Paul X. Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503287B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/038: Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F 2203/0384: Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic stylus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment element comprises a motor having a stator connected to the first portion and a rotor connected to the second portion, and the stimulus is a torque to move the second portion circumferentially across the first portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic stylus of claim 1, wherein a region of the overlap extends longitudinally along a grip region of the electronic stylus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic stylus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing element between the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic stylus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment element is configured to repeatedly apply the stimulus such that the body changes the diameter to provide haptic feedback to a user. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic stylus of claim 6, further comprising: a support member within the body; and an expansion element radially between the support member and the body; wherein the adjustment element is configured to apply the stimulus by expanding the expansion element against the body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic stylus of claim 7, wherein the adjustment element comprises a pump configured to expand the expansion element by increasing an amount of a fluid within the expansion element such that the expansion element deforms the portion of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electronic stylus of claim 7, wherein the adjustment element comprises an electromagnet configured to expand the expansion element by applying a magnetic field to a ferrofluid or magnetorheological fluid and increasing an amount of the ferrofluid or magnetorheological fluid within the expansion element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The electronic stylus of claim 6, wherein the first cross-sectional shape includes a first curvature and the second cross-sectional shape includes a second curvature, different than the first curvature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The electronic stylus of claim 6, wherein the body extends across at least half of a total length of electronic stylus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The electronic stylus of claim 6, further comprising: multiple expansion elements within the body, wherein the adjustment element is configured to apply the stimulus by expanding each of the expansion elements to a different size and against the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic stylus of claim 12, wherein the adjustment element comprises a pump configured to expand each of the expansion elements such that the expansion elements deform the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The electronic stylus of claim 12, wherein each of the multiple expansion elements is cylindrical and extends longitudinally against the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The electronic stylus of claim 12, wherein the multiple expansion elements are distributed longitudinally and circumferentially within the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The electronic stylus of claim 6, wherein the body comprises a shape-memory material, and the adjustment element is configured to apply heat to the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The electronic stylus of claim 6, wherein the body comprises an electroactive material, and the adjustment element is configured to apply an electric field to the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The electronic stylus of claim 6, wherein the adjustment element is configured to repeatedly apply the stimulus such that the body changes between the first and second cross-sectional shapes to provide haptic feedback to a user. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic stylus of claim 19, further comprising: multiple expansion elements, wherein the adjustment element is configured to apply the stimulus by expanding each of the expansion elements to a different size and against the end portion.