Apple wins 'iPen' patent for a smarter stylus
It's all about orientation: the technology would let a stylus mimic differences in line direction and size you see in real life when writing with the tip or side of a pencil.
Apple has won another patent related to a so-called "iPen" stylus that goes beyond simply drawing on a touch display.
The US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday awarded Apple a patent dubbed "Stylus orientation detection," which centers around the "orientation of a stylus relative to a contacting surface."
The patent, which was earlier discovered by Patently Apple, envisions a device that comes with an orientation sensor that can determine the direction and type of scribble on a screen. Based on that, the device produces a line design that would mimic such an orientation in real life. So, if a person draws straight-on, the pen's drawing will look different than if they were using the side of the pen's tip.
Apple has been working on iPen designs for years. In 2012, in fact, the company filed for a patent on the feedback users would feel when using the device. Yet, some people might find it ironic that Apple is thinking about a stylus. The company's co-founder Steve Jobs decried the use of the stylus for mobile devices, saying on several occasions that there was little value in such a device. Perhaps Apple has changed its tune on the topic.
The USPTO awarded Apple several other patents on Tuesday as well, including one that describes a solar-powered lid for a portable computer, such as Apple's MacBook. As always, there's no guarantee these patents will lead to actual products.