# US 9,436,298 B2 · Extendable mouth stylus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,298 B2 - Document ID: US9436298B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/180,988 - Filed: 2014-02-14 - Published: 2014-08-21 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-15 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs - Applicants: United States Government as Represented by The Department of Veterans Affairs - Inventors: Ursula Draper; Michael Kerrigan; Jeffrey Craighead; Jan Jasiewicz; Telina Caudill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436298B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - A61F 4/00: Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body - G06F 3/0393: {Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An extendable stylus operated with a mouth, the stylus having an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, a conductive tip that can interface with a touch screen device, the conductive tip located at a first end of the extending portion, a mouthpiece that engages the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is located at a second end of the extending portion opposite the first end and a control mechanism disposed at or near the second end of the extending portion, wherein the control mechanism is configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising: a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof; a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end; a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion; a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising: a first bite sensor disposed in a first portion of the mouthpiece and a second bite sensor disposed in a second portion of the mouthpiece, wherein the first bite sensor is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a first angular direction in response to sensing a pressure in the first portion of the mouthpiece and the second bite sensor is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a second angular direction in response to sensing a pressure in the second portion of the mouthpiece. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The extendable stylus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one guide rail connected to the motor at a first end of the guide rail and connected at a second end of the guide rail to a frame, wherein the frame is configured to allow the linear member to move linearly relative to the frame and is also configured to prevent rotation of the linear member relative to motor. ### Claim 3 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising: a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof; a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end; a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion; a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising: a tongue paddle connected to a first portion of the mouthpiece; wherein the tongue paddle is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a first angular direction when the tongue paddle is manipulated in a first direction; and wherein the tongue paddle is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a second angular direction when the tongue paddle is manipulated in a second direction different from the first direction. ### Claim 4 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising: a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof; a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end; a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion; a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising: a range finder configured to measure a distance between the stylus and the touch screen device; and a processor configured to control the motor and rotate the power screw relative to the nut based on the distance measured by the range finder. ### Claim 5 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising: a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof; a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end; a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion; a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising: an IR sensor incorporated into the mouthpiece and configured to measure infrared radiation; and a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the power screw relative to the nut when a change in IR radiation sensed by the IR sensor exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 6 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising: a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof; a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end; a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion; a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising: a wireless receiver incorporated into the stylus and configured to receive a wireless signal from a wireless control device; and a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the power screw relative to the nut based on the wireless signal received by the wireless receiver. ### Claim 7 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising: a stationary portion; a movable portion movable relative to the stationary portion; a locking mechanism configured to hold the movable portion in a fixed position relative to the stationary portion, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a fixed mouthpiece portion and an articulating mouthpiece portion hingedly connected to the fixed mouthpiece portion, wherein the control mechanism comprises a lever arm attached to the articulating mouthpiece portion, wherein the lever arm is mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and biased radially away from the lever arm by biasing force provided by a biasing member, and wherein the locking mechanism is released when the articulating mouthpiece portion is pressed toward the fixed mouthpiece portion with sufficient force to overcome the bias force provided by the biasing member, and a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion. ### Claim 8 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising: a first linear piece, having a first end and a second end, wherein the conductive tip is connected to a first end thereof; a second linear piece, having a first end and a second end, wherein the mouthpiece is connected to the first end thereof, and wherein the second end of one of the first linear piece and the second linear piece overlaps, and is configured to move linearly relative to, the other of the first linear piece and the second linear piece; a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to the first linear piece to move the first linear piece away from the mouthpiece; a tensioning member configured to apply a tensioning force to the first linear piece to move the first linear piece toward the mouthpiece; a spool, wherein the tensioning member is wrapped around the spool such that rotation of the spool in a first angular direction reduces a length of the tensioning member and rotation of the spool in a second angular direction increases the length of the tensioning member; a motor configured to rotate the spool in at least one of the first angular direction and the second angular direction, and a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The extendable stylus according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism comprises a first bite sensor disposed in a first portion of the mouthpiece and a second bite sensor disposed in a second portion of the mouthpiece; wherein the first bite sensor is configured to cause the motor to rotate in the first angular direction in response to sensing a pressure in the first portion of the mouthpiece; and wherein the second bite sensor is configured to cause the motor to rotate in the second angular direction in response to sensing a pressure in the second portion of the mouthpiece. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The extendable stylus according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism comprises a tongue paddle connected to a first portion of the mouthpiece; wherein the tongue paddle is configured to cause the motor to rotate in the first angular direction when the tongue paddle is manipulated in a first linear direction; and wherein the tongue paddle is configured to cause the motor to rotate in second angular direction when the tongue paddle is manipulated in a second linear direction different from the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The extendable stylus according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism comprises: a range finder configured to measure a distance between the stylus and the touch screen device; and a processor configured to control the motor and rotate the spool based on the distance measured by the range finder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The extendable stylus according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism comprises: an IR sensor incorporated into the mouthpiece and configured to measure infrared radiation; and a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the spool when a change in IP radiation sensed by the IR sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The extendable stylus according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism comprises: a wireless receiver incorporated into the stylus and configured to receive a wireless signal from a wireless control device; and a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the spool based on the wireless signal received by the wireless receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The extendable stylus according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism comprises: an airflow sensor configured to determine a direction of air flowing proximate to the mouthpiece; and a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the spool based on the determined direction of air flowing proximate to the mouthpiece. ### Claim 15 An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length; a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion and is electrically connected to the mouthpiece; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion. ### Claim 16 A system for allowing operation of a touch screen device using a mouth, the system comprising: an extendable stylus configured to be operated with the mouth, the extendable stylus comprising: an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length; a conductive tip configured to interface with the touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion; a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and a control mechanism disposed at or proximate to the second end of the extending portion, wherein the control mechanism is configured to control the length; a first sensor configured to sense a first mouth operation and be removably attached to the extendable stylus; a second sensor configured to sense a second mouth operation and be removably attached to the extendable stylus, wherein one of the first sensor and the second sensor is selected to be attached to the extendable stylus based on a physical capability of the user; and wherein the control mechanism is configured to control the length of the extending portion based on one of the first mouth operation and the second operation of the selected one of the first sensor and the second sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the extending portion of the extendable stylus comprises: a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof; a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end; a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion; wherein the power screw it rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion; wherein the mouthpiece is connected to power screw by the motor; and wherein the control mechanism comprises a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the power screw relative to the nut. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the extending portion of the extendable stylus comprises: a first linear piece, having a first end and a second end, wherein the conductive tip is connected to a first end thereof; a second linear piece, having a first end and a second end, wherein the mouthpiece is connected to the first end thereof, and wherein the second end of one of the first linear piece and the second linear piece overlaps, and is configured to move linearly relative to, the other of the first linear piece and the second linear piece; a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to the first linear piece to move the first linear piece away from the mouthpiece; a tensioning member configured to apply a tensioning force to the first linear piece to move the first linear piece toward the mouthpiece; a spool, wherein the tensioning member is wrapped around the spool such that rotation of the spool in a first angular direction reduces a length of the tensioning member and rotation of the spool in a second angular direction increases the length of the tensioning member; a motor configured to rotate the spool in at least one of the first angular direction and the second angular direction; and wherein the control mechanism comprises a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the power screw relative to the nut. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the conductive tip is electrically connected to the mouthpiece.