Stylus and related human interface devices with dynamic power control circuits

A device, comprising:

• a body comprising an elongated housing with at least a first conductive tip formed at a distal end and at least one sense electrode on the body;
• a sense circuit disposed within the housing and configured to detect a human body in proximity to the sense electrode to generate a proximity result;
• and
• a controller configured to switch the device between a low power mode and an active mode in response to at least the proximity result;
• a signal generator circuit configured to drive the tip with a first position signal or a second position signal, the second position signal being driven in response to a force applied at the tip of the device;
• wherein
• the device consumes less power in the low power mode as compared to the active mode, and
• the first position signal has a greater magnitude than the second position signal.

A method, comprising:

• capacitance sensing a proximity of at least a portion of a human body with a sense electrode formed on a surface of an input device, the input device having an elongated, hollow body and at least one distal tip;
• selectively generating a position signal at the tip with circuits within the body;
• switching between a lower power mode and an active mode in response to the capacitance sensing of the sense electrode with circuits within the body;
• and
• switching from a generating a first position signal at the tip to generating a second position signal at the tip in response to sensing a force at the tip;
• wherein
• the device consumes less power in the low power mode as compared to the active mode, and
• the first position signal has a greater magnitude than the second position signal.