Are you still a Doubting Thomas when it comes to Apple's intentions of eventually introducing a stylus to the iPhone or future tablets? Well, perhaps you should rethink that position. It appears by this current patent that surfaced yesterday, that Apple is seriously thinking of reinventing the stylus by introducing us to an advanced Light Pen or even a Laser Light, states the patent. Just a few weeks back there was another very sophisticated touch screen patent that touched on future touchscreens for the iPhone and future MacBook Tablet. Today's patent is equally sophisticated. This patent introduces us to a futuristic light pen that has a cylindrical tubular tip that is both extendable and retractable when pressed against the touch display. It also discusses a light emitting diode that provides a beam of light that is channeled through an optical path. This capability, states the patent, is particular useful for pressure sensitive applications, such as Photoshop by Adobe. As noted in the illustration, the light pen appears to be tethered to the device in some way. The patent doesn't explain if the wire from the pen is retractable in some way or if it's simply a plug-in accessory. Time will tell. This patent report focuses on references to the light pen and not on the touch screen technology itself.
Introducing the Light Pen or Laser Pointer
This detailed patents states that "at low ambient lighting conditions and at dark lighting conditions, the integrated optical touch panel is not expected to operate well to the touch of the finger because there will be an insufficient (or none) difference between the signals from the surrounding area and the touched area. To alleviate the inability to effectively sense at the low and dark ambient lighting conditions a light pen or laser pointer may be used (e.g., light source), as previously described. The light source may be operably interconnected to the display such as by a wire or wireless communication link. With the light source operably interconnected to the display the intensity of the light source may be controlled, at least in part, by feedback from the photo-sensitive elements or otherwise the display, as illustrated in FIG. 15. When the display determines that sufficient ambient light exists, such as ambient light exceeding a threshold value, the light source is turned "off". In this manner, touching the light source against the display results in the same effect as touching a finger against the display, namely, impeding ambient light from striking the display. When the display determines that insufficient ambient light exists, such as ambient light failing to exceed a threshold value, the light source is turned "on". In this manner, touching or otherwise directing the light from the light source against the display results in a localized increase in the received light relative to the ambient light level. This permits the display to be operated in dark ambient lighting conditions or by feedback from the display. In addition, the intensity of the light from the light source may be varied, such as step-wise, linearly, non-linearly, or continuously, depending upon the ambient lighting conditions. Alternatively, the light source may include its own ambient light detector so that feedback from the display is unnecessary and likewise communication between the light source and the display may be unnecessary. Alternatively, the light pen may activate to emit light upon sufficient pressure with the display and thus be deactivated so as to not emit light when no or insufficient pressure exists. Signature Panel Attempting to record signatures may be problematic with many touch sensitive displays because the response time of the recording system is inadequate or otherwise the software has a slow sampling rate. However, the user normally prefers immediate feedback. Referring to FIG. 27 the display may include a signature portion that includes a memory maintaining material. The memory maintaining material may sense the writing of the signature, such as by pressure exerted thereon or light sensitive material. Alternatively the display may include a signature mode that captures the user's signature over several frames. The signature may be captured on a predetermined region of the display or otherwise any portion of the display. The system detects the decrease in ambient light over a series of frames as the signature is written. In this manner the "path" of the signature may be determined and thereafter used in any suitable manner. Advanced Light or Laser Pen for Writing or Drawing
In many cases the user desires the tactile response of pen pressure against the display. In this manner, the user has greater comfort with the pen and display for writing, drawing, or otherwise indicating a response. Referring to FIG. 28, the pen may include a movable optical path (e.g., a fiber optic bundle) with respect to the pen that extends and retracts based upon pressure exerted on the display. A light emitting diode provides a beam of light that is channeled through the optical path. As it may be observed, when the optical path is in a retracted state that more light passes through the optical path than when the optical path is in an extended state. In this manner, the light sensitive elements may detect the intensity of the transmitted light and determine the pressure that is being exerted against the display by the user. This capability is particular useful for pressure sensitive applications, such as Photoshop by Adobe.
Referring to FIG. 29 another pen pressure embodiment is illustrated. A cylindrical tubular tip portion is movable with respect to the pen that extends and retracts based upon pressed exerted on the display. Within the cylindrical tubular tip portion is a lens. The lens focuses the light emitted from a light emitting diode, which preferably is maintained stationary with respect to the pen and/or moves with respect to the cylindrical tubular tip portion. Alternatively, the light emitting diode may be connected to the tip portion of the pen. As it may be observed, when the cylindrical tubular tip portion is in a retracted state light may be more focused on the display (light sensitive elements) than when the cylindrical tubular tip portion is in an extended state. The lens may be modified so that it operates in a reversed manner. The focus of the beam may be detected in any suitable manner by the light sensitive elements (e.g., size and/or intensity) to determine the pressure that is being exerted against the display by the user.
Optical Light Guides & Beam Spots
Referring to FIG. 30 another pen pressure embodiment is illustrated. A cylindrical tubular tip portion or optical light guide is movable with respect to the pen that extends and retracts based upon pressure exerted on the display. As the cylindrical tubular tip portion moves with respect to the pen the resistance of a variable resistive element changes. The variable resistive element is interconnected to a light emitting diode which changes intensity based upon the change in the variable resistance. The intensity of light sensed by the light sensitive elements, or otherwise the change in intensity sensed by the light sensitive elements, may be used to determine the pressure that is being exerted against the display by the user.
Referring to FIG. 31 another pen pressure embodiment is illustrated. An optional lens focuses a beam from a light emitting diode. When the pen is farther from the display a larger spot size and/or intensity is sensed by the light sensitive elements with respect to when the pen is closer to the display. The intensity of the light and/or the size of the spot sensed by the light sensitive elements or otherwise the change in intensity and/or size may be used to determine the pressure that is being exerted against the display by the user.
Apple credits Adiel Abileah, Willem De Boer, Richard Tuenge and Larsson Terrance as the inventors of patent applications 20100013793, 20100013794 and 320100013796.
Also read this morning's other related patent report: Apple's iMac Touch Technology Surfaces in Patent.
Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application and/or grant should be read in its entirety for further details. For additional information on any patent reviewed here today, simply feed the individual patent number noted above into this search engine.
