Method and device for replacing stylus tip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9244543-B1
Application number	US-201414313701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 24, 2014
Priority date	Jun 24, 2014
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring use of a tip of a stylus, determining an amount of wear of or life remaining in the tip, and notifying a user when to replace the tip are disclosed. The tip should be replaced to avoid an abrasive material of the tip from being exposed and contacting a touch screen or other surface of a computing device to avoid scratching or otherwise damaging the touch screen or other surface of the computing device. The computing device or the stylus device may perform one or more of the monitoring, determining, or prompting steps.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for determining, by a computing device, when a tip of a stylus should be replaced, the method comprising:
detecting contact between the tip of the stylus and a display of a computing device;
obtaining data corresponding to an amount of prior use of the tip;
monitoring at least one of a distance traveled by the tip while in contact with the display of the computing device, a pressure measurement at the tip while in contact with the screen of the computing device, and an amount of time the tip is in contact with the computing device;
calculating an amount of time remaining for a metal core of the tip to be exposed based at least in part on the data corresponding to the prior use and the at least one of the monitored distance traveled by the tip, the monitored pressure measurement at the tip, and the time the tip is in contact;
comparing the amount of time remaining to a threshold; and
notifying a user to change the tip when the amount of time remaining is less than the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the data corresponding to prior use of the tip further comprises:
identifying the tip of the stylus based at least in part on an identifier associated with the tip or stylus;
sending, to a remote device, a request for the data corresponding to the amount of prior use of the tip, the request including the identifier; and
receiving, from the remote device, the data corresponding to prior use of the tip.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending, to the remote device, data corresponding to the amount of time remaining.

4. A method, comprising:
monitoring an amount of use of a stylus tip by monitoring at least one of:
a distance traveled by the tip while in contact with a surface of a computing device,
a pressure measurement at the tip while in contact with the surface of the computing device, and
an amount of time the tip is in contact with the surface of the computing device;

comparing the amount of use to a threshold; and
providing an indication based at least in part on the comparing.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving data corresponding to prior use of the stylus tip, wherein the comparing further comprises comparing a total amount of use, including the amount of use and the prior use, to the threshold.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining an identifier of the tip or stylus prior to detecting contact between the tip and the surface of the computing device;
sending a request for the data corresponding to prior use, wherein the request includes the identifier.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein monitoring the distance comprises tracking a position of the tip relative to the surface of the computing device.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the threshold is based at least in part on an estimated amount of use before an abrasive material of the tip is exposed.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein monitoring the pressure comprises detecting, using a force sensor, pressure at the tip based at least in part on contact detected between the tip and the surface of the computing device.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the providing the indication includes providing a visual, audio, or a tactile indication.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the amount of use is determined based on the distance traveled by the tip and an estimated pressure value.

12. A device, comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor, the memory including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, configuring the processor to:
obtain data corresponding to an amount of use of a tip of a stylus by monitoring at least one of:
a distance traveled by the tip while in contact with a computing device,
a pressure measurement at the tip while in contact with the computing device, and
an amount of time the tip is in contact with the computing device;

compare the amount of use to a threshold; and
cause an indication based at least in part on the comparing.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive data corresponding to prior use of the stylus tip, and the comparing further comprises comparing a total amount of use including the amount of use and the prior use to the threshold.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
determine an identifier of the tip or stylus prior to detecting contact between the tip and the computing device; and
send a request for the data corresponding to prior use, wherein the request includes the identifier.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the threshold is based at least in part on an estimated amount of use before an abrasive material of the tip is exposed.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device is a stylus and further comprises a force sensor in communication with the at least one processor and adapted to detect the pressure measurement based at least in part on contact detected between the tip and the computing device.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the stylus further comprises at least one of a light emitting diode, a haptic generator, or a speaker, and wherein the indication includes activation of the light emitting diode, the haptic generator, or the speaker.

18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device is a computing device and the processor is further configured to determine the amount of use based on the distance traveled by the tip and an estimated pressure value.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the computing device further comprises a touch controller in communication with the processor and adapted to detect the distance traveled by the tip.

20. The device of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to send the data corresponding to the amount of use to a remote storage device.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Sundara-Rajan Kishore
• Brand Zachary Lawrence
• Blaszczak Piotr Pawel
• Yun Ann Yuhui
• Vanderet Timothy Michael
• Morales Miguel Angel

Classifications

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F3/0414

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title

• G06F3/038

  Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry · CPC title

• G06F3/04162

  for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware · CPC title