Stylus with an adjustable dimension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10185409-B2
Application number	US-201615070091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

A stylus includes a cylindrical shaped housing and a shell. The shell is rotatably connected to the housing. A cross-sectional area of the housing has a first dimension along a first axis and a second dimension along a second axis, the first axis perpendicular to the second axis. The first dimension is smaller than the second dimension. A cross-sectional area including both the shell and the housing has a third dimension along the first axis that is substantially the same as the first dimension while the shell is in a first position and substantially the same as the second dimension while the shell is in a second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic stylus comprising:
a housing containing at least a power supply therein, the housing having a generally elongate shape associated with a first cross-sectional area, wherein the first cross-sectional area has a first dimension along a first axis and a second dimension along a second axis, the first axis perpendicular to the second axis, and wherein the first dimension is smaller than the second dimension; and
a shell rotatably connected to the housing, wherein a second cross-sectional area including both the shell and the housing has a third dimension along the first axis that is substantially the same as the first dimension while the shell is in a first position and substantially the same as the second dimension while the shell is in a second position.

2. The stylus according to claim 1 , wherein the shell is formed from a disk and at least one plate extending from the disk in a direction that is perpendicular to the disk.

3. The stylus of claim 2 , wherein the disk is mounted on a first end of the stylus, wherein the first end is distal to an end of the stylus that includes a writing tip.

4. The stylus of claim 2 , wherein the disk has a same shape as the first cross-sectional area.

5. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the first dimension is at least 30% smaller than the second dimension.

6. The stylus according to claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional area is bow-tie shaped.

7. The stylus according to claim 6 , wherein the shell is formed from a bow-tie-shaped disk and a pair of oppositely facing plates extending from the disk in a direction that is perpendicular to the disk.

8. The stylus according to claim 7 , wherein a distance between the pair of plates is substantially the same as the second dimension.

9. The stylus according to claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional area is substantially a semi-circle.

10. The stylus according to claim 9 , wherein the first cross-sectional area includes a protrusion near a center of the substantial semi-circle.

11. The stylus according to claim 9 , wherein the shell is formed from a substantially semi-circular disk and a plate extending from a rounded edge of the disk in a direction that is perpendicular to the disk.

12. The stylus according to claim 1 , wherein the stylus is configured for being stored in a dedicated compartment in touch-screen while in the first position.

13. The stylus according to claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the stylus while the stylus is in the second position is substantially 9.5-10 mm.

14. The stylus according to claim 1 , wherein the second cross-sectional area is symmetric.

15. The stylus according to claim 1 , comprising a locking mechanism to selectively lock the stylus in the first position.

16. An electronic stylus comprising:
a housing containing at least a power supply therein, the housing having a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional area; and
a shell pivotally connected to the housing, wherein the housing and the shell form a circular cross-sectional area while in a closed position and form a shape of two semi-circles positioned side by side while in an open position.

17. The stylus of claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a protrusion near a center of a flat part of the semi-circle of the housing and the shell has a corresponding concave portion near a center of a flat part of the semi-circle of the shell.

18. The stylus according to claim 16 , wherein the stylus is configured for being stored in a dedicated compartment in a touch-screen while in the open position.

19. The stylus according to claim 16 , wherein a diameter of the stylus while the stylus is in the closed position is at substantially 10 mm.

20. The stylus according to claim 16 , comprising a magnet or snap bumps for maintaining the closed position.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Barel Eliyahu

Classifications

• B43K7/005

  Pen barrels · CPC title

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• B43K5/005

  Pen barrels · CPC title

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• B43K23/00

  Holders or connectors for writing implements; Means for protecting the writing-points {(B43K27/003 takes precedence)} · CPC title