Today the U.S. Patent Office published a patent application of Apple's that relates to possible future advances to Apple Pencil. Apple notes that future versions of Apple Pencil could provide adjustment capabilities that changes a size, shape, stiffness, or other characteristics of the Pencil's tip to mimic characteristics of a particular writing or drawing tool.

Apple Pencil with Adjustable Features

A touch-based input device such as an Apple Pencil could be operated by a user to provide inputs to an iPad. Such interactions could simulate the experience of writing or drawing on a surface (e.g., paper, canvas, etc.) with a writing or drawing tool (e.g., pen, pencil, chalk, marker, or paintbrush). It could be desirable to closely replicate the experience of operating such tools so that the user has an experience that is familiar.

The size and/or shape of portions of the stylus (e.g., the tip) could be altered during use thereof to accommodate a user. For example, the size and/or shape of a tip of the stylus could be altered to mimic characteristics of a writing or drawing tool (e.g., pen, pencil, chalk, marker, or paintbrush). Such characteristics could include shape, stiffness, flexibility, friction, and the like. Other characteristics, such as multiple bristles, center of gravity, and rotational moment of inertia, could also be modified as desired.

Apple Pencil with Magnetorheological Fluid and/or Ferrofluid

Apple's patent FIG. 6 below is one new and unique concept. The tip #200 of this future Apple Pencil #100 could be extended.  An outer periphery of the tip could be defined by outer body #202 that could define an outermost shape and/or size of the tip. A fluid #210 could be provided between (e.g., radially between) core #204 and the outer body. The core could be substantially more rigid than outer body. For example, as the outer body is compressed (e.g., when a force is applied thereto), the core could provide a base toward which the outer body could move.

In some embodiments, the outer body and/or a fluid #210 could have one or more characteristics that provides certain responses when operated by a user. For example, the fluid could be a magnetorheological fluid and/or ferrofluid that is responsive to magnetic fields. An actuator (#152) could include a permanent magnet and/or an electromagnet to apply the magnetic field. As the actuator applies different magnitudes of magnetic field, the apparent viscosity of the fluid  could be altered accordingly. For example, the fluid could approach the characteristics of a viscoelastic solid in the presence of an applied magnetic field. As such, the stiffness of the Apple Pencil tip could correspondingly be altered.

As further shown in FIG. 6, the range of motion #208 provided by the outer body #202 could vary based on the configuration of the fluid. For example, by applying a magnetic field to the fluid, the range of motion of the outer body toward or away from core #204 could be reduced, in that the fluid could have a reduced tendency to be urged away from the region of compression when it has greater viscosity.

Apple Pencil Tips with added Pillows

Another unique feature being contemplated for a future Apple Pencil are pillows added to the tip. As shown in Apple's patent FIG. 20 below, the Tip #200 could also include pillows #228 that could be inflated to alter a size, shape, and/or stiffness thereof.

In some embodiments, the pillows could have one or more characteristics that provides certain responses when operated by a user. For example, the pillows could have a certain modulus of elasticity or other characteristics that determine the stiffness of the pillows when force is applied thereto.

The size, shape, and/or stiffness of the tip could be selected manually by a user or automatically based on programmed parameters. The size, shape, and/or stiffness of the tip could be altered to mimic characteristics of a particular writing or drawing tool (e.g., pen, pencil, chalk, marker, or paintbrush, etc.) and/or drawing surface (e.g., paper, canvas, whiteboard, etc.). Such adjustments can be made in response to a user input, a signal from external device, and/or one or more detected conditions.

Apple's patent covers many ideas that Apple is considering for future versions of Apple Pencil, too many for a single report. Artists and heavy users of Apple Pencil could review more ideas in Apple's patent application 20250110588.