Active stylus with surface-modification materials
In one embodiment, a stylus has one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch-sensor of the device. The stylus also has an electronic circuit operable to provide an input that changes a property of one or more materials located on the body of the stylus or on the stylus tip.
1. A stylus comprising:
one or more electrodes and one or more first non-transitory computer-readable storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device;
a tip comprising one or more materials;
an electronic circuit operable to provide, in response to a signal, an input altering a property of the one or more materials, the property comprising one or more of:
a hardness of the one or more materials; and
a texture of the one or more materials.
2. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the property further comprises one or more of:
shape;
size;
brightness;
color;
viscosity;
temperature; and
opacity.
3. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the input comprises one or more of:
an electromagnetic field;
an electric current; and
a temperature.
4. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more materials comprise one or more of:
an electronic or ionic electroactive polymer;
a thermoelectric material;
a temperature-responsive material; and
a photomechanical material.
5. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the stylus comprises one or more of:
a button;
a slider; and
a textured surface.
6. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit provides the input based on one or more of:
a signal initiated by a user of the stylus; and
contents of one or more second non-transitory computer-readable storage media.
7. The stylus of claim 6 , wherein the contents of the one or more second non-transitory computer-readable storage media are determined by one or more of:
the user of the stylus;
software associated with the stylus or the device; and
preset prior to any user's initial use of the stylus.
8. One or more first computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying first logic operable when executed to:
determine whether to alter a property of one or more materials of a tip of a stylus, the tip comprising the one or more materials; and
initiate provision of a signal to an electronic circuit in a stylus, the electronic circuit operable to provide in response to the signal an input altering the property of the one or more materials, the property comprising one or more of:
a hardness of the one or more materials; and
a texture of the one or more materials,
the stylus comprising one or more electrodes, the first storage media, and one or more second computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying second logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device.
9. The media of claim 8 , wherein the property further comprises one or more of:
shape;
size;
brightness;
color;
viscosity;
temperature; and
opacity.
10. The media of claim 8 , wherein the input comprises one or more of:
an electromagnetic field;
an electric current; and
a temperature.
11. The media of claim 8 , wherein the one or more materials comprise one or more of:
an electronic or ionic electroactive polymer;
a thermoelectric material;
a temperature-responsive material;
and a photomechanical material.
12. The media of claim 8 , wherein a surface area of the stylus comprises one or more of:
a button;
a slider; and
a textured surface.
13. The media of claim 8 , wherein the first logic initiates provision of the input based on one or more of:
a signal generated by a user of the stylus; or
contents of one or more third non-transitory computer-readable storage media, the contents of the one or more third non-transitory computer-readable storage media determined by one or more of:
the user of the stylus;
software associated with the stylus or the device; and
preset prior to any user's initial use of the stylus.
14. A method comprising:
determining, by a stylus comprising a tip, the tip comprising one or more materials, whether to alter a property of the one or more materials; and
providing a signal to an electronic circuit in the stylus, the electronic circuit operable to provide in response to the signal an input altering a property of one or more materials, the property comprising one or more of:
a hardness of the one or more materials; and
a texture of the one or more materials,
the stylus comprising one or more electrodes and one or more first computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying first logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the property comprises one or more of:
shape;
size;
brightness;
color;
viscosity;
temperature; and
opacity.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the input comprises one or more of:
an electromagnetic field;
an electric current; and
a temperature.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more materials comprise one or more of:
an electronic or ionic electroactive polymer;
a thermoelectric material;
a temperature-responsive material;
and
a photomechanical material.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein a surface area of the stylus comprises one or more of:
a button;
a slider; and
a textured surface.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the input is provided based on one or more of:
a signal generated by a user of the stylus; and
contents of one or more second non-transitory computer-readable storage media.
20. The media of claim 8 , wherein the property of the one or more materials altered by the input is based at least in part on settings determined by a user of the stylus or by software associated with the stylus.