Method and apparatus pertaining to a stylus having a multi-level force-sensitive user interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696819-B2
Application number	US-201313929881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2013
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A stylus comprises a barrel having a scribing nib disposed at one end thereof. The barrel supports at least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface. A control circuit operably couples to this control surface and responds differently to each of at least two different levels of applied force as applied to that control surface. For example, the control circuit can respond to one level of applied force by causing the transmission of a first signal to influence in a first way the scribing interaction between the stylus and the scribing surface and can respond to a second, different level of applied force by causing the transmission of a second, different signal to influence in a second, different way the scribing interaction between the stylus and the scribing surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stylus configured for use with a scribing surface, the stylus comprising:
a barrel;
a scribing nib disposed at one end of the barrel, where the scribing nib is a multi-level force-sensitive scribing nib configured to discretely detect multiple different levels of applied force;
at least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface supported by the barrel, the multi-level force-sensitive user interface configured to discretely detect at least three different levels of applied force, wherein each of the at least three different levels of force are separate and distinct from any force being applied to the scribing surface and correspond to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface being depressed based on user contact therewith; and
a control circuit configured to
generate a first set of signals for each of the multiple different levels of applied force detected by the scribing nib, the first set of signals instructing a device to adjust at least a first characteristic of at least one object being displayed by the device,
generate a second set of signals for each of the at least three different levels of applied force detected by the least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface, the second set of signals instructing the device to adjust at least a second characteristic of the at least one object being displayed by the device, where the second characteristic is different than the first characteristic,
in response to generating the second set of signals, temporarily freeze transmitting signals in response to changes in applied force as applied to the multi-level force-sensitive scribing nib and as indicated by the first set of signal, and
while transmitting signals in response to changes in applied force as applied to the multi-level force-sensitive scribing nib is temporarily frozen, responding to changing levels of force currently being applied to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface as indicated by the second set of signals.

2. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to respond differently to each of the at least three different levels of applied force as applied to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface.

3. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising:
a wireless transmitter operably coupled to the control circuit and at least partially disposed within the barrel.

4. The stylus of claim 3 wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit, via the wireless transmitter, a first signal in response to detecting a first level of applied force via the multi-level force-sensitive user interface and transmitting a second signal that is different from the first signal in response to detecting a second level of applied force via the multi-level force-sensitive user interface, wherein the second level of applied force is different from the first level of applied force.

5. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the multi-level force-sensitive user interface comprises a button.

6. A method comprising:
by a stylus control circuit:
detecting at least two different levels of applied force as applied to a scribing nib in addition to any detection of an absence of applied force;
detecting at least three different levels of applied force as applied to at least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface, wherein each of the at least three different levels of applied force as applied to at least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface are separate and distinct from any force being applied to the scribing surface and correspond to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface being depressed based on user contact therewith;
generating a first set of signals for each of the at least two different levels of applied force as applied to the scribing nib, the first set of signals instructing a device to adjust at least a first characteristic of at least one object being displayed by the device;
generating a second set of signals for each of the at least three different levels of applied force as applied to the least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface, the second set of signals instructing the device to adjust at least a second characteristic of the at least one object being displayed by the device, where the second characteristic is different than the first characteristic;
in response to generating the second set of signals, temporarily freezing responding to changes in applied force as applied to the multi-level force-sensitive scribing nib and as indicated by the first set of signal, and
while response to changes in applied force as applied to the multi-level force-sensitive scribing nib is temporarily frozen, responding to changing levels of force currently being applied to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface as indicated by the second set of signals.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
responding differently to each of at the least three different levels of applied force as applied to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein responding differently comprises, at least in part, transmitting a first signal in response to detecting a first level of applied force via the multi-level force-sensitive user interface and transmitting a second signal that is different from the first signal in response to detecting a second level of applied force via the multi-level force-sensitive user interface, wherein the second level of applied force is different from the first level of applied force.

9. A method comprising:
by a stylus control circuit:
detecting at least two different levels of applied force as applied to a scribing nib in addition to any detection of an absence of applied force;
detecting at least three different levels of applied force as applied to at least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface, wherein each of the at least three different levels of applied force as applied to at least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface are separate and distinct from any force being applied to the scribing surface and correspond to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface being depressed based on user contact therewith;
generating a first set of signals for each of the at least two different levels of applied force as applied to the scribing nib, the first set of signals instructing a device to adjust at least a first characteristic of at least one object being displayed by the device;
generating a second set of signals for each of the at least three different levels of applied force as applied to the least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface, the second set of signals instructing the device to adjust at least a second characteristic of the at least one object being displayed by the device, where the second characteristic is different than the first characteristic;
in response to generating the first set of signals, responding to changing levels of force currently being applied to scribing nib as indicated by the first set of signals, wherein responding to the changing levels of force currently being applied to scribing nib adjusts the first characteristic of the at least one object being displayed; and
in response to generating the second set of signals and while the first characteristic of the at least one object is being adjusted, responding to changing levels of force currently being applied to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface as indicated by the second set of signals, wherein responding to the changing levels of force currently being applied to the multi-level force-sensitive user interface adjusts the second characteristic of the at least one object being displayed.

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Mercea Cornel
• Idzik Jacek S
• Stacey Ralph Allan

Classifications

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F2203/0384

  Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices · CPC title