Stylus for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017068340-A1
Application number	US-201615259822-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2015
Publication date	Mar 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A user input system including a stylus and an electronic device. A user may manipulate the stylus across an input surface of the electronic device and the movement may be detected using axially-aligned electric fields generated by the stylus. The stylus may also include a force-sensitive structure that can be used to estimate a force applied to the electronic device by the stylus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A stylus comprising:
a body; a force sensor disposed within the body; a tubular shield mechanically coupled to the force sensor; a signal line within the tubular shield; a first electric field generator electrically coupled to a signal line and coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body; and a second electric field generator separated from the first electric field generator.

2 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the second electric field generator is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis.

3 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein:
the body comprises a tip end; and the force sensor is disposed adjacent to the tip end.

4 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular shield is configured to translate along the longitudinal axis of the body.

5 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein:
the tubular shield comprises a tray section; the stylus further comprises a control board electrically coupled to the signal line; and the control board is mechanically coupled to the tray section.

6 . The stylus of claim 5 , wherein the control board is configured to apply an electrical signal to the first electric field generator via the signal line to cause the first electric field generator to generate an electric field.

7 . The stylus of claim 5 , wherein the tubular shield comprises:
a hollow section extending from the tray section; wherein the signal line is disposed within the hollow section.

8 . The stylus of claim 7 , wherein the hollow section of the tubular shield is formed from metal.

9 . The stylus of claim 7 , wherein the hollow section of the tubular shield comprises an electrically insulating portion.

10 . The stylus of claim 5 , wherein:
the tray section of the tubular shield is mechanically coupled to the force sensor; and the force sensor is mechanically coupled to the body of the stylus.

11 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor comprises:
a cantilevered leg mechanically coupled to the body; a base portion coupled to the cantilevered leg; and a strain sensor coupled to the cantilevered leg.

12 . The stylus of claim 11 , wherein the cantilevered leg is formed from metal.

13 . The stylus of claim 11 , wherein the tubular shield is mechanically coupled to the base portion.

14 . The stylus of claim 11 , wherein the strain sensor is electrically coupled to a control board disposed within a tray section of the tubular shield.

15 . The stylus of claim 1 , further comprising a second signal line within the tubular shield, isolated from the first signal line.

16 . The stylus of claim 15 , wherein:
the signal line is a first signal line; the second signal line is electrically coupled to the second electric field generator; and the second signal line is electrically isolated from the first signal line.

17 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the second electric field generator comprises an electrically-conductive ring.

18 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the second electric field generator comprises an electrically-conductive cylinder.

19 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the second electric field generator is configured to generate a substantially spherical electric field extending outwardly from a tip end of the body.

20 . The stylus of claim 19 , wherein the first electric field generator comprises:
a bulb oriented outwardly from the tip end; and a root connected to the bulb and oriented inwardly with respect to the body of the stylus.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Zimmerman Aidan N
• Wong Wingshan
• Armendariz Kevin
• Bohney Nathan
• Pasma Christopher
• Amini Mahmoud
• Baugh Brenton A
• Brooks Ryan P

Classifications

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• G06F3/0414

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F2203/04107

  Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title