In recent days, quite a lot of news about the new Apple’s patents. One of the latest applications filed by cupertinos, describes a “smart” stylus iPen. It should be noted that this is not the first such patent to Apple and you can be sure, not the last. At the moment the Corporation has several dozen patents that can be used to create brand stylus pen with advanced functionality.
Patent obtained today, describes a system of tactile feedback, which changes the topology of the surface directly under the stylus, simulating, for example, the texture in the photograph of the object. To determine what is displayed on the screen surface to the front end of the electronic pen mounted camera.
Engineers intend to use a physical phenomenon called electrovibration. It is he that creates the illusion of variations in surface texture. Weak electrical signal, which can quietly be applied to any point on the body of the user, creates an oscillating electric field around the finger, through which the person can feel the texture of objects represented on the screen of the mobile device.
A special algorithm establishes the correspondence of the friction force between the screen and the stylus with the contours of the surface of the virtual 3D image presented on the touchscreen. Such dynamics allows the system on the fly to adapt to different sensations.
The patent has been filed for consideration in 2014. Apparently, Apple has become important to turn the stylus into something more than “just a stick”, as said by Steve jobs. In addition, if you believe the rumors, which strongly indicate the imminent release of the iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display, smart stylus pen for such a device would be very handy. So in this case, the path from the patent to the finished device can be quite small.
