Abstract: A display includes a light-transmissive planar member with side edges and opposing surfaces. A plurality of light sensors are disposed along at least two of the side edges of this planar member. These light sensors are disposed to detect light moving through the light-transmissive planar member by internally reflecting off the aforementioned opposing surfaces. A control circuit detects a position of a light-emitting stylus with respect to the display by using the plurality of light sensors to detect light from the light-emitting stylus that moves through the light-transmissive planar member via the aforementioned internal reflections. By one approach the side edges the light-transmissive planar member are inclined at other than a perpendicular angle with respect to the aforementioned opposing surfaces.

Abstract: A dual mode apparatus for writing on paper, inputting information to a host electronic device, and/or controlling applications on a host electronic device. The apparatus is preferably constructed and arranged as a combination pen and active stylus that includes a pen refill cartridge and an active stylus module. The pen refill cartridge comprises a body configured for storing ink and a ball-point assembly for dispensing the ink on a writing surface or physical media. The active stylus module is configured to transmit signals to the ball-point assembly of the pen refill cartridge. The ball-point assembly may include an antenna, optical transducer or ultrasonic transducer. In one expedient, the signals may be radio signals characterizing a force applied to the ball-point assembly, the level of a battery or the level of ink in the pen refill cartridge.

Abstract: An electronic device, computer-readable medium and method provide for line smudging in electronic drawing. The electronic device has a touch sensitive display screen that is responsive to user touch and stylus input. A graphics module is operable to render a line on the touch sensitive display screen in response to motion of the stylus. If a trajectory of the touch input intersects with the line within a set time period after the line is rendered, the line is replaced by a representation of a smudged line. The electronic device may be controllable by instructions stored on a computer-readable medium.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch controller, sense electrodes operably coupled to the touch controller, a display controller operably coupled to the touch controller to communicate with the touch controller to detect touches, and drive electrodes operably coupled to the touch controller when the electronic device is operating in a reduced power condition and operably coupled to the display controller when the electronic device is operating in a normal power condition.

Abstract: A stylus has a writing tip and includes a plurality of infrared transmitters configured and disposed to emit a plurality of infrared beams via that writing tip. These infrared transmitters can be disposed substantially equidistant from one another about a central axis of the writing tip and emit infrared beams at an angle that is other than parallel to that central axis. A corresponding display can detect these various beams to determine corresponding stylus-gesture information. This stylus-gesture information can comprise, for example, determining an angle of inclination of the stylus. As another example this stylus-gesture information can comprise rotation (such as a direction of rotation or the mere state of rotation) about the stylus' longitudinal axis. This stylus-gesture information, in turn, can serve as parameters to further guide or influence any of a variety of applications.

Abstract: A stylus includes a stylus housing that contains a location-beacon transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a control circuit that operably couples to the preceding. By one approach the control circuit is configured to use the location-beacon transmitter to transmit signals as a function of at least one signal received via the wireless receiver. The aforementioned wireless receiver can comprise a Bluetooth™-compatible wireless transceiver that pairs with the corresponding display-based device. The signal received via this wireless receiver can comprise transmission-synchronization information that represents a video-display event for the display-based device such as refreshing the display of the display-based device. In such a case, the signal can comprise a vertical synchronization pulse as sourced by the display-based device. So configured, the stylus can time the transmission of its location-beacon signals to arrive at the display-based device just prior to when the latter refreshes its display.

Abstract: A method includes displaying a selectable feature on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting a touch at a location within a target area associated with the selectable feature, and adjusting the target area based on a contact area of the touch and a magnitude of at least one signal when the touch is detected.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for method and apparatus for controlling an application executed on an electronic device dependent upon the orientation of a stylus. The stylus includes a rotation rate sensor, such as a gyroscope. A signal, dependent on the rotation rate, is transmitted from the stylus and received by the electronic device. The stylus orientation may be determined from the rotation rate using an integration circuit to determine a rotation matrix that is applied to an initial orientation vector. The electronic device may use the stylus orientation to determine the handedness of a user, to control properties of a drawing application, or for other purposes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a stylus for enabling inputs to be made to a host electronic device. The stylus has multiple antennas that are displaced from each other and the tip of the stylus body. In operation, the antennas are excited to each radiate an electromagnetic field directed towards the tip of the stylus. The radiated electromagnetic fields may be sensed by the host electronic device to determine the position of the tip relative to a sensing surface.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive display includes first electrodes and second electrodes arranged and constructed to detect touches by mutual-capacitance touch sensing, and third electrodes and the second electrodes arranged and constructed to detect touches by self-capacitance touch sensing, wherein the first electrodes are different from the third electrodes.

Abstract: A method includes applying a first plurality of pulses to scanning electrodes during a first scan to detect touches on a touch-sensitive display, receiving an indication to scan in a reduced power condition, and when in the reduced power condition, applying a second plurality of pulses to scanning electrodes during a second scan to detect touches on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the second plurality of pulses comprises fewer pulses than the first plurality of pulses.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, displaying information on the touch-sensitive display utilizing touch data of the detected touch, filtering the touch data to produce filtered data, and updating the information displayed based on the filtered data.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display, determining a time of a display update of the touch-sensitive display, and adjusting a scanning rate of scanning electrodes of the touch-sensitive display based on the time of the display update.

Abstract: A communications device includes a housing and a wireless transceiver and processor carried by the housing and operative with each other. A Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit is carried by the housing and coupled to the processor. A touch screen display is connected to the processor. An NFC antenna is integrated with the touch screen display and coupled to the NFC circuit.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive display includes a display, a capacitive touch sensor disposed on the display, a cover spaced from the capacitive touch sensor, and a liquid disposed in a cavity between the capacitive touch sensor and the cover.

Abstract: A touch screen display includes a display, touch-sensitive overlay disposed on the display, a controller operably coupled to the capacitive touch-sensitive overlay, and a capacitive force sensor. The capacitive force sensor includes first and second electrodes separated by a dielectric. The first electrode is coupled the controller.