Executing gestures with active stylus
In one embodiment, a stylus has one or more sensors that detect the movement of the stylus, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer. The stylus wirelessly transmits signals to a device based on the movement of the stylus.
1. A stylus comprising:
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; and
one or more sensors operable to detect a rotation of the stylus relative to at least one of the one or more electrodes, wherein one or more of the following is true:
the detected rotation authenticates at least in part a user of the stylus to the stylus or the device;
the detected rotation alters an amount of power received by one or more components in the stylus or the device;
and
the detected rotation accesses menus or commands specific to content displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the device.
2. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the detected rotation further results in a functionality associated with the stylus or the device, the functionality based on the rotation and one or more of:
an orientation of the stylus;
a location of the stylus;
a user associated with the stylus;
data stored on the stylus; or
a sequence of motions performed by the stylus.
3. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the detected rotation further results in a functionality associated with the stylus or the device, the functionality comprising one or more of:
adding content displayed on a touch screen of the device;
altering the characteristics of content displayed on the touch screen of the device;
deleting content displayed on the touch screen of the device; or
moving content displayed on the touch screen of the device.
4. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the detected rotation authenticates at least in part a user of the stylus to the stylus or the device.
5. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the detected rotation alters an amount of power received by one or more components in the stylus or the device.
6. The stylus of claim 1 , wherein the detected rotation transfers data between the stylus and the device.
7. The stylus of claim 1 , the detected rotation accesses menus or commands specific to content displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the device.
8. A method comprising:
detecting movement of a stylus by one or more sensors on or in the stylus, the stylus comprising 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; and
determining from the detected movement a motion of at least one of the electrodes and a motion of the stylus relative to the at least one of the electrodes, wherein one or more of the following is true:
the detected movement is at least part of an authentication of a user of the stylus to the stylus or the device;
the detected movement alters an amount of power received by one or more components in the stylus or the device;
and
the detected movement accesses menus or commands specific to content displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected movement further results in a functionality associated with the stylus or the device, the functionality based on the movement and one or more of:
an orientation of the stylus;
a location of the stylus;
a user associated with the stylus;
data stored on the stylus; or
a sequence of motions performed by the stylus.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected movement further results in a functionality associated with the stylus or the device, the functionality comprising one or more of:
adding content displayed on a touch screen of the device;
altering the characteristics of content displayed on the touch screen of the device;
deleting content displayed on the touch screen of the device; or
moving content displayed on the touch screen of the device.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected movement is at least part of an authentication of a user of the stylus to the stylus or the device.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected movement alters an amount of power received by one or more components in the stylus or the device.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the detected movement transfers data between the stylus and the device.
14. The method of claim 8 , the detected movement accesses menus or commands specific to content displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the device.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a touch sensor for receiving first signals from one or more electrodes of a stylus;
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
process the received first signals to determine a motion of at least one of the electrodes relative to the device;
process one or more received second signals identifying a motion of the stylus relative to the at least one electrode, the motion detected by one or more sensors on or in the stylus; and
determine a functionality associated with the stylus or the device based on the processed first signals and the processed second signals.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first signals comprise the second signals.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the stylus comprises a tip comprising the at least one electrode.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first signals are received when the tip is in contact with a touch-sensitive display of the device.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first signals are received when the tip is in proximity to but not in contact with a touch-sensitive display of the device.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the functionality comprises one or more of:
adding content displayed on a touch screen of the device;
altering the characteristics of content displayed on the touch screen of the device;
deleting content displayed on the touch screen of the device; or
moving content displayed on the touch screen of the device.