Abstract: A device having at least two 3-dimensional gesture sensors that employ differing gesture-sensing modalities as compared to one another further includes a control circuit that operably couples to both of these 3-dimensional gesture sensors and employs both to detect three-dimensional gestures. By one approach the control circuit employs both sensors in a temporally-overlapping manner to reliably and accurately detect the 3D gesture. As another illustrative example, the control circuit may employ different sensors during different portions of a given 3D gesture to detect those corresponding portions of the 3D gesture.

Abstract: A handheld device and method of operation for determining motion of the handheld device relative to a stylus is presented, in which the stylus is used to provide a frame of reference for the handheld device rather than as a user input device. Stylus orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of a stylus, and handheld device orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of the handheld device, are used to determine motion of the handheld device relative to the stylus. The handheld device has orientation and/or motion sensors, a communication module operable to receive stylus orientation data, and a processor operable to determine the motion or orientation of the handheld device relative to the stylus and execute an application dependent thereon.

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.

Abstract: A stylus comprises a barrel having a scribing nib disposed at one end thereof. The barrel supports at least one user interface. A control circuit operably couples to this control surface and to a wireless transmitter and is configured to selectively switch between transmitting stylus-modality signals via the wireless transmitter in response to the user interface and transmitting non-stylus-modality signals via the wireless transmitter in response to the user interface. The control circuit can automatically switch between using the user interface to enrich and functionally expand usability of the stylus as a pen-styled scribing tool on the one hand and as a remote-control device to control functionality of an unrelated application on the other hand. By one approach, the control circuit switches between these states as a function, at least in part, of proximity of the stylus to the scribing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method pertaining to detecting user input, such as a signature, with respect to a stylus and the transmission of information regarding that input. The detected input can comprise, for example, characteristics of the input and transmit them to a secondary device to verify the input matches a stored template.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a force sensing stylus that includes a shaft. The shaft has a tip-end, which protrudes from the stylus body, and an interior-end that is located within the body. The shaft is supported in the body at the tip-end by a compliant element. A multi-axis force sensor, in contact with the interior-end of the shaft, senses lateral and longitudinal components of a force applied to the tip-end of the shaft, or a combination thereof. The sensed force components may be transmitted to an electronic device and used to control an application executed on the device.

Abstract: A stylus has a stylus barrel and a stylus nib that can move with respect to the stylus barrel. A first pressure sensor is configured to sense air pressure that corresponds to force being supplied to the stylus nib and a second pressure sensor serves to sense ambient air pressure. A control circuit operably couples to both pressure sensors and determines a gauge pressure value as corresponds to force being applied to the stylus nib. By one approach a temperature sensor can also operably couple to the control circuit and provide temperature information that the control circuit can utilize when determining the aforementioned gauge pressure value.

Abstract: Stylus-entered writing is converted into corresponding text and a control circuit then adjusts graphic embellishment of at least a first portion of that text as a function, at least in part, of detected user dynamics as regards user control of the stylus at a time that corresponds to the stylus-entered writing that corresponds to that first portion of the text. By one approach this adjustment reflects a comparison between those detected user dynamics and previously-stored user dynamics profile information. So configured, the resultant recognized text can, via the aforementioned graphic embellishment, convey emotional expression of the writer at the time of writing that text.

Abstract: A stylus is used to modify the appearance of objects rendered on a touch-sensitive display. One of a plurality of objects on the display is selected by making contacting the object with the stylus. The stylus tilt and stylus contact pressure are determined. The appearance of the selected object is modified in response to the stylus tilt of the stylus and the stylus contact pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method pertaining to the display of a stylus path that includes both a validated portion and a predicted portion. Upon determining an error between subsequent stylus movement and that predicted portion, these teachings provide for morphing a display of the predicted portion to accord with the subsequent stylus movement over time rather than abruptly switching the display to an immediately fully-corrected representation.

Abstract: A control circuit stores profiles of stylus-input user preferences and pre-associates individual ones of those profiles with corresponding different applications. Upon opening one of those applications the control circuit then automatically uses the corresponding pre-associated stylus-input user preferences. So configured, a user's specific preferences regarding how the control circuit will render electronic ink on a display in response to stylus-based input are automatically utilized on an application-by-application basis without requiring the user to access and change global settings for stylus input.

Abstract: A particular application is pre-associated with the detection of a predetermined stylus action that occurs while a given electronic device is in a standby mode of operation. Upon then detecting that predetermined stylus action these teachings provide for responsively opening that particular application. By one approach this opening of the particular application occurs in conjunction with switching the electronic device from the standby mode of operation to the active mode of operation. The pre-association can be based, at least in part, upon an automatic association based upon identifying the most-used application for the electronic device. As another example, the pre-association can be based, at least in part, upon a specific user-based selection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a host electronic device, a stylus and a method for determining the location of a stylus with respect to a host electronic device. A magnetic field generator of the stylus is energized and a first magnetic field is sensed at two or more magnetometers of the host electronic device. The location of the stylus with respect to the host electronic device is determined dependent upon the first magnetic field. A second magnetic field may be sensed, while the magnetic field generator is either deactivated or energized with an opposite polarity, to correct for the presence of a background magnetic field. The magnetometers may be directional magnetometers and may be arranged in an array.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an electronic device, a stylus having a color sensor, and methods for calibrating the stylus relative to a screen of the electronic device. A color image is displayed on the screen of the electronic device, the color image comprising pixels each having one or more color components. A first screen location is determined at which the color components of a pixel match one or more color components sensed by the stylus. A second screen location is determined in response to a sensed location of the stylus and dependent upon one or more calibration parameters. The calibration parameters are adjusted dependent upon the first and second screen locations.

Abstract: Magnetic coupling between a stylus and a host electronic device is provided using an array of magnetic field generators that produce a magnetic field in proximity to a drawing surface of the host electronic device. The magnetic field produces a force on a magnetic tip of the stylus. The magnetic field may be controlled dependent upon the location, motion, tilt angle and/or contact force of the stylus and may also be controlled dependent upon images rendered on a display screen that is combined with the drawing surface. The magnetic field may also cause motion in a movable magnet of the stylus. The energy associated with the motion may be harvested to provide power to the stylus.

Abstract: An active stylus having a control circuit configured to wake up the stylus from a sleep mode to an active mode in response to pressure applied to a tip of the stylus. The stylus includes a force sensor electrically coupled to a power source, an operational amplifier, and a voltage level comparator, the voltage level comparator configured to output a digital wake up interrupt signal when pressure is applied to the tip when the control circuit is in the sleep mode. The operational amplifier is configured to provide an analog signal representative of varying pressure on the tip. This signal is processed by the control circuit such that the stylus goes into the sleep mode after a specified period of time following cessation of variations in the analog signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method pertaining to detecting a user's gesture(s) with respect to a stylus and the wireless transmission of information regarding that gesture. The detected gesture can comprise, for example, movement of a user's finger along the stylus and/or displacement of a user's finger from contact with the stylus.

Abstract: A device system is provided, comprising: a stylus comprising a first antenna; a receptacle for the stylus; a second antenna; and, at least one antenna tuning circuit enabled to: perform RF (radio-frequency) matching with the first antenna when the stylus is present in the receptacle to at least one of transmit and receive data via the first antenna; and, perform RF matching with the second antenna when the stylus is not present in the receptacle to at least one of transmit and receive the data via the second antenna.

Abstract: A stylus is configured for interactive use with a scribing surface. The stylus comprises a stylus housing and a first control circuit support by the stylus housing. The first control circuit is configured to simultaneously effect, as a primary operating state as regards tracking movement of a stylus, at least two different location modalities wherein each of the location modalities imparts location-determination information. The aforementioned two different location modalities can both be selected from a group consisting of capacitively-based non-passive approaches, acoustically-based non-passive approaches, magnetically-based non-passive approaches, light-emitting-based non-passive approaches, camera-based non-passive approaches, and radio-frequency-based non-passive approaches.

Abstract: Powered by a battery module, an active pen may transmit a signal that is intended for detection by a touch screen. The active pen may comprise an elongated clip member connected to an elongated body member, the free end of the clip member having a ground contact, and the body member having control and charging contacts opposite the ground contact. The free end may be biased such that the ground contact is normally in contact with the control and charging contacts, thereby maintaining the active pen in a signal-transmitting state until separation of the contacts. An electronic device may charge the battery module, optionally responsive to authorization thereof. The electronic device may comprise a partition member to separate the free end of the clip member from the body member, the partition member having contacts corresponding to those of the active pen for enabling charging of the battery module.