System and method for communicating through a capacitive touch sensor

A method of communicating through a capacitive touch sensor, comprising the steps of:

• providing a device for communicating a plurality of distinct patterns through a conductive element;
• placing the conductive element in contact with a capacitive touch sensor to provide a parasitic capacitance effect on the capacitive touch sensor;
• and
• interpreting the parasitic capacitance effect on the capacitive touch sensor to determine whether the device is communicating a first pattern or a second pattern, wherein at least one of the first pattern and the second pattern is a dynamic repeating pattern characterized by the switching on and off of the conductive element to communicate time-based pattern, wherein the conductive element is a conductive tip of a stylus, the stylus further comprising a housing, a power source, a controller, a selector, and a switching mechanism, wherein the selector is incorporated into the housing and triggers the controller to conduct from the power source through the switching mechanism to the conductive tip, wherein the switching mechanism adapts the conductive tip to conduct the first pattern or the second pattern based on the condition of the selector.

A multi-touch stylus comprising:

• a conductive tip electrically coupled to a power source through a switching mechanism;
• a controller operatively coupled to the switching mechanism, wherein the controller directs the switching mechanism to switch on and off the electrical properties of the conductive tip between an off condition, a first pattern, and a second pattern, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are defined by a repeating series of on and off pulses of the electrical properties of the conductive tip;
• and
• a selector operatively coupled to the controller through which a user selects between the off condition, the first pattern, and the second pattern.