Abstract: A removable stylus tip for use with an active stylus. The tip is capable of exchanging electrical communications with the touchscreen of a computing device. The tip includes a conductive core to transmit signals between the stylus body and a cone-shaped end of the stylus core. The cone-shaped end is covered with a coating to protect the tip and the touchscreen device. The coating is a composite material configured to allow electrical signals to pass through the material as well as to provide mechanical protection to components of the tip and touchscreen.

Abstract: A stylus device is disclosed that enables a computing device to communicate to the stylus device using a capacitive link. In an aspect, the stylus device detects a change in an electric field generated by the computing device. A message including data is received from the computing device via the change in the electric field. The message may include an identifier corresponding to a data encoding scheme to be used for sending data to the computing device. Based on the identifier, the stylus device may configure itself to operate using the data encoding scheme.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a signal at a stylus. The stylus is operable to wirelessly transmit signals to and receive signals from a device. The stylus includes a plurality of electrodes disposed in a tip of the stylus. The method includes determining a characteristic of the signal, and based at least in part on the characteristics of the signal, a threshold for determining whether to process signals received wirelessly from the device is dynamically adjusted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a stylus a receive signal from a device. The stylus includes one or more computer-readable media embodying logic, and the device includes a touch sensor. The receive signal is received at the stylus through the touch sensor of the device and one or more electrodes of the stylus. The method includes filtering the receive signal for processing by the logic and processing, by the logic, the receive signal as filtered.

Abstract: A stylus device is disclosed that provides a low power and low latency methodology of detecting a touch down event. In an aspect, the stylus device monitors an output of a pressure sensor of the stylus device using an analog comparator, a low power consumption component. When the output of the pressure sensor is greater than a first threshold value, thus indicating physical contact between the tip of the stylus device and a surface, the stylus device determines the output of the pressure sensor using an analog-to-digital converter, a higher power consumption component, to obtain a more accurate measurement of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. When the output of the pressure sensor is less than a second threshold value, for example, indicative of non-use, the stylus device reverts back to monitoring the output of the pressure sensor using the analog comparator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a data-transmitting component and a data-receiving component. The data-transmitting component is operable to: select a set of first reference values and a set of second reference values respectively indicating a lower bound and an upper bound of a range of values; respectively represent the set of first reference values and the set of second reference values as a set of first pulses and a set of second pulses; represent a set of analog values as a set of third pulses, each third pulse having a third amplitude between the first amplitude of a corresponding first pulse and the second amplitude of a corresponding second pulse that is determined based on a percentage of the corresponding analog value within the range of values; and transmit the set of first pulses, the set of third pulses, and the set of second pulses to the data-receiving component.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing, by a stylus, data associated with a particular user of the stylus, the data associated with the particular user being stored in a memory of the stylus; and by the stylus, wirelessly transmitting the data to a device in response to the stylus contacting a touch sensor of the device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device includes a form factor of a stylus. The form factor includes a surface area. The device also includes one or more substrates disposed along one or more portions of the surface area; one or more touch sensors disposed on one or more of the substrates; and a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium coupled to one or more of the touch sensors and embodying logic configured to control one or more of the touch sensors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device includes a form factor of a stylus. The form factor includes a surface area. The device also includes one or more substrates disposed along one or more portions of the surface area; and one or more touch sensors disposed on one or more of the substrates. At least one of the touch sensors includes a distinct touch-sensitive area that includes a touch-sensitive button, a touch-sensitive wheel, or a touch-sensitive slider. The device also includes a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium coupled to one or more of the touch sensors and embodying logic configured to associate the distinct touch-sensitive area with a pre-determined function of the device.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a touch-sensitive area and a touch-sensor controller. The touch-sensor controller is operable to: scan two or more electrodes within the touch-sensitive area to determine a first location associated with an object within the touch-sensitive area, predict, based on the first location and one or more metrics, two or more next locations associated with the object, select, based on a first next location of the two or more next locations, a first region within the touch-sensitive area, select, based on a second next location of the two or more next locations, a second region within the touch-sensitive area, and scan two or more electrodes within the first region and two or more electrodes within the second region to determine a second location associated with the object. The second region is at least partially different from the first region.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stylus with one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device has one or more sensors for detecting movement of the stylus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors in or on a stylus, the stylus including one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for wirelessly transmitting signals to a device through a touch sensor of the device. The method includes generating a carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal to communicate the sensor data and wirelessly transmitting from the stylus to the device the carrier signal as modulated through the touch sensor of the device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a sense unit and a drive unit. The sense unit is operable to sense a first signal from drive lines of a touch sensor. The touch sensor comprises the drive lines and sense lines arranged relative to the drive lines such that intersections of the drive lines and the sense lines form one or more capacitive nodes. The drive unit is operable to transmit a second signal based on the first signal to the sense lines such that transmission of the second signal changes the perceived capacitance of the one or more capacitive nodes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a stylus a receive signal from a device. The stylus includes one or more computer-readable media embodying logic, and the device includes a touch sensor. The receive signal is received at the stylus through the touch sensor of the device and one or more electrodes of the stylus. The method includes filtering the receive signal for processing by the logic and processing, by the logic, the receive signal as filtered.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stylus has one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch-sensor of the device. The stylus also has an electronic circuit operable to provide an input that changes a property of one or more materials located on the body of the stylus or on the stylus tip.

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.

Abstract: A stylus device is disclosed that is capable of changing its output so that it can communicate and function with a multitude of touch controllers of a computing device. In an aspect, the stylus device receives a message including the configuration information from the computing device. The configuration information may include an encoding scheme corresponding to a format for encoding data to be sent to the computing device and an operating frequency. The stylus configures itself in the encoding scheme, and communicates with the computing device using the encoding scheme. For example, the stylus device may encode data using the encoding scheme and send the data at the operating frequency.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes detecting movement of a spring structure of a force sensor coupled to a center shaft of an active stylus; measuring a change of capacitance between electrodes of the force sensor; and determining an amount of force applied to the center shaft based on the change of capacitance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stylus has one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch-sensor of the device. The stylus also has an electronic circuit operable to provide an input that changes a property of one or more materials located on the body of the stylus or on the stylus tip.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stylus receives a signal, the stylus being able to wirelessly transmit signals to and receive signals from a device, and the stylus having a plurality of electrodes disposed in a tip of the stylus. The stylus compares a first value of the signal to a first threshold and determines whether to start a timing period based at least in part on this comparison. If the timing period is started, the stylus compares a second value of the signal to a second threshold and determines whether to stop the timing period based at least in part on this second comparison. If the timing period is stopped, the stylus determines whether the duration of the timing period is within a pre-determined range of timing period values. If so, the stylus processes the signal.