# US 2020/0401243 A1 · Dynamic visual indications for input devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401243 A1 - Document ID: US20200401243A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/009,682 - Filed: 2020-09-01 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-17 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Christopher J. STRINGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401243A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - 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} - G06F 3/0442: {using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser} - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An input device for providing input to a computing device. The input device includes a body, a visual element, and a processing element in communication with the visual element. The processing element dynamically changes a graphic displayed by the visual element to correspond to presentation data corresponding to the input device as presented to the computing device. The dynamic changes in the graphic provide indication to a user regarding the current state of the input device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stylus for providing input to a computing device, the stylus comprising: a body configured to be gripped by a user; a tip; a force sensor operable to detect an amount of a force applied to the tip; a stylus display configured to display a first graphic, wherein the stylus display changes a color of the first graphic based on changes in the amount of the force applied to the tip; and a communication unit operable to instruct the computing device to display a second graphic on a computing device display of the computing device and in response to movement of the tip across a surface of the computing device display, the second graphic having the color of the first graphic. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stylus of claim 1, wherein when the force sensor senses an increase in the force applied to the tip, a size of the first graphic increases; and when the force sensor senses a decrease in the force applied to the tip, the size of the first graphic decreases. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stylus of claim 1, wherein the stylus display is positioned on an end of the body opposite the tip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stylus of claim 1, wherein the stylus display extends longitudinally along a length of the body, and a length of the first graphic is based on a parameter of the stylus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stylus of claim 4, wherein the parameter is a battery life of the stylus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stylus of claim 1, wherein the stylus display is positioned around a portion of the tip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The stylus of claim 1, wherein the stylus display is defines a portion of a tapered end of the stylus. ### Claim 8 A stylus for providing input to an electronic device having a screen, comprising: a body configured to be gripped by a user; a tip connected to a first end of the body; and a display connected to the body, the display providing a graphic having a dimension and a color, wherein: the dimension of the graphic corresponds to a dimension of an output for display on the screen; and the color of the graphic corresponds to a color of the output for display on the screen; and the display changes the dimension or the color of the output when the dimension or the color of the graphic changes on the display of the stylus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The stylus of claim 8, further comprising a force sensor, wherein: when the force sensor senses an increase in a force applied to the tip, a size of the first graphic increases; and when the force sensor senses a decrease in the force applied to the tip, the size of the first graphic decreases. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The stylus of claim 8, wherein the stylus display is positioned on an end of the body opposite the tip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The stylus of claim 8, wherein the stylus display extends longitudinally along a length of the body, and a length of the first graphic is based on a parameter of the stylus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The stylus of claim 11, wherein the parameter is a battery life of the stylus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The stylus of claim 8, wherein the stylus display is positioned around a portion of the tip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The stylus of claim 8, wherein the stylus display is defines a portion of a tapered end of the stylus. ### Claim 15 A stylus for providing input to a computing device, the stylus comprising: a body; a tip connected to an end of the body; a stylus display configured to display a first graphic having a first pattern and a color; and a communication unit operable to instruct the computing device to display a second graphic on a computing device display of the computing device and in response to movement of the tip across a surface of the computing device display, the second graphic having a second pattern that is graphically the same as the first pattern and the color of the first graphic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The stylus of claim 15, wherein the stylus comprises a force sensor operable to detect an amount of a force applied to the tip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The stylus of claim 16, wherein when the force sensor senses an increase in the force applied to the tip, a size of the first graphic increases; and when the force sensor senses a decrease in the force applied to the tip, the size of the first graphic decreases. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The stylus of claim 15, wherein the stylus display extends longitudinally along a length of the body, and a length of the first graphic is based on a parameter of the stylus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The stylus of claim 18, wherein the parameter is a battery life of the stylus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The stylus of claim 15, wherein the stylus display is positioned around a portion of the tip.