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 has a control circuit that receives first location-determination information from such a stylus as per a first location modality along with second location-determination information as per a second location modality, wherein the second location modality is different from the first location modality. This control circuit then uses the first location-determination information in combination with the second location-determination information to determine at least one of an angle of inclination of the stylus with respect to the aforementioned scribing surface and rotation of the stylus about a central longitudinal axis.

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 supports a control circuit. The control circuit is configured automatically compare data quality as corresponds to stylus location-determination information being provided by at least two different stylus-based candidate non-passive location modalities to thereby select a particular stylus-based non-passive location modality and to then use that particular stylus-based non-passive location modality when transmitting stylus location-determination information to a corresponding electronic device.

Abstract: A stylus, configured for interactive use with a surface such as but not limited to a display, includes a stylus housing that supports a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to selectively effect at least two different non-passive location modalities wherein each of the non-passive location modalities imparts location-determination information. The plurality of non-passive location modalities can be selectively used in combination with one another or in a singular fashion as desired.

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 testing system having a retainer configured to selectively retain a specimen and a carrier configured to selectively carry the retainer along an at least partially predefined space curve from a first point along the space curve to a second point along the space curve, wherein a gravitational potential energy of the retainer at the first point is greater than a gravitational potential energy of the retainer at the second point. The retainer is configured to release the specimen in response to the retainer moving to a location that provides the retainer a predetermined gravitational potential energy.

Abstract: A testing system having a retainer configured to selectively retain a specimen and a carrier configured to selectively carry the retainer along an at least partially predefined space curve from a first point along the space curve to a second point along the space curve, wherein a gravitational potential energy of the retainer at the first point is greater than a gravitational potential energy of the retainer at the second point. The retainer is configured to release the specimen in response to the retainer moving to a location that provides the retainer a predetermined gravitational potential energy.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods that enable a user in an emergency situation to capture an image (such as a picture image or a video image) and transmit the image to an emergency authority (such as a PSAP) and/or to another party. In some embodiments, these operations can be performed while the user equipment and/or a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) inserted into the user equipment are in a locked condition. Devices and systems are also disclosed for performing the methods, as well as a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, perform the methods.