Stylus for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020089340-A1
Application number	US-201816231058-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Sep 18, 2018
Publication date	Mar 19, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

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. Wireless charging and magnetic coupling with a host device are also facilitated. The stylus can be provided with the above features in a small form factor that improves a user experience with the stylus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A stylus comprising:
a housing comprising a non-conductive material; a frame assembly within the housing and comprising a metallic material and having a charging window; and a wireless power receiver within the charging window and adjacent to the housing.

2 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly comprises a first frame and a second frame, wherein the first frame and the second frame are joined together to define the charging window.

3 . The stylus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a battery pack within the second frame and operatively connected to the wireless power receiver; and a processing unit circuit board set within the first frame.

4 . The stylus of claim 3 , further comprising an antenna assembly comprising:
an antenna extending outside of the second frame; a connector connected to the processing unit circuit board set; and a transmission line connecting the antenna to the connector and extending between the second frame and the battery pack.

5 . The stylus of claim 2 , wherein the stylus comprises:
a first stylus magnet within a first window of the first frame; and a second stylus magnet within a second window of the second frame, wherein when the first and second stylus magnets are aligned with host magnets of a host device, the wireless power receiver is aligned with a wireless power transmitter of the host device.

6 . The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a longitudinal portion forming a substantially flat exterior surface extending along a length of the stylus.

7 . A stylus comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal portion forming a substantially flat exterior surface extending along a length of the stylus; a wireless power receiver within the housing and adjacent to the longitudinal portion; and multiple stylus magnets for magnetically coupling to corresponding host magnets of a host device, the stylus magnets being within the housing and adjacent to the longitudinal portion, wherein when the stylus magnets are aligned with the host magnets the wireless power receiver is aligned with a wireless power transmitter of the host device.

8 . The stylus of claim 7 , wherein the housing defines a grip region of the stylus, the stylus further comprising:
a capacitive touch sensor comprising multiple sensing elements distributed circumferentially and longitudinally along an inner surface of the housing at the grip region, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is positioned radially between one of the stylus magnets and the housing.

9 . The stylus of claim 7 , further comprising a frame assembly comprises a first frame and a second frame, wherein the first frame and the second frame are joined together to define a charging window and to support the wireless power receiver within the charging window.

10 . The stylus of claim 9 , wherein the multiple stylus magnets comprise a first magnet within the first frame and a second magnet within the second frame.

11 . The stylus of claim 9 , further comprising:
a processing unit circuit board set; a tip moveable with respect to the housing; and a force sensor configured to indicate to the processing unit circuit board set when a force is applied to the tip.

12 . A stylus comprising:
a frame assembly having an outer surface and supporting a component that protrudes beyond the outer surface; an elastic insert positioned about the frame assembly and receiving a portion of the component within a recess thereof; a flexible touch sensor positioned about the elastic insert; and a housing positioned about the flexible touch sensor.

13 . The stylus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a processing unit circuit board set within the frame assembly, the elastic insert, the touch sensor, and the housing; a tip moveable with respect to the housing; and a force sensor configured to indicate to the processing unit circuit board set when a force is applied to the tip.

14 . The stylus of claim 13 , wherein the touch sensor comprises multiple sensing elements distributed circumferentially and longitudinally within the housing, wherein each of the sensing elements is configured to indicate to the processing unit circuit board set when a user is contacting a corresponding portion of the housing.

15 . The stylus of claim 12 , wherein the component is a lid covering an opening in the frame assembly.

16 . The stylus of claim 12 , wherein the component is a magnet within a window of the frame assembly.

17 . The stylus of claim 12 , wherein the elastic insert is positioned radially between the frame assembly and the flexible touch sensor and biases the flexible touch sensor radially outwardly against the housing.

18 . The stylus of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises inner and outer surfaces each having a curved portion and a flat portion extending along a longitudinal length of the housing.

19 . The stylus of claim 12 , wherein the elastic insert comprises a foam body.

20 . The stylus of claim 12 , wherein the elastic insert comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive bonding the touch sensor to the frame assembly.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ruscher Joel N
• Brooks Ryan P
• Tsao Henry N
• Wong Wing-Shan

Classifications

• G06F2200/1632

  Pen holder integrated in the computer · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title