Future Apple Pencils could include more tactile feedback features as hinted by a newly filed patent (number 10220253162) by Apple for “touch-based input for stylus.”
About the patent filing
A variety of handheld input devices exist for detecting input from a user during use. For example, a stylus can be utilized to provide input by contacting a touch panel of an electronic device. The touch panel may include a touch sensitive surface that, in response to detecting a touch event, generates a signal that can be processed and utilized by other components of the electronic device.
A display component of the electronic device may display textual and/or graphical display elements representing selectable virtual buttons or icons, and the touch sensitive surface may allow a user to navigate the content displayed on the display screen.
Typically, a user can move one or more input devices, such as a stylus, across the touch panel in a pattern that the device translates into an input command. However, Apple wants to expand the functionality of the Apple Pencil.
How? An improved Apple Pencil could receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into an input device in a low profile form.
Tactile input can be received at the user’s natural grip location. What’s more, the stylus can effectively distinguish between tactile inputs from a user and disregard sustained tactile inputs that are provided while the user simply holds the stylus at the user’s natural grip location.
Summary of the patent filing
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form.
“Tactile input can be received at the user’s natural grip location. Furthermore, the stylus can effectively distinguish between tactile inputs from a user and disregard sustained tactile inputs that are provided while the user simply holds the stylus at the user’s natural grip location.”
