IP Library Granted Patent US 11,086,415
Granted Patent B1
US 11,086,415 · App. 16/751,365 · Granted Aug 10, 2021

Haptic pen for an information handling system

Inventors: Keith M. Alfano (Austin, TX); Michael S. Gatson (Austin, TX); Thomas Lanzoni (Cedar Park, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F3/03545G06F3/016G06F3/0346
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,086,415
App. No.
16/751,365
Granted
Aug 10, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method for emulating writing devices using a haptic pen is disclosed herein. The method may include receiving, by a first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen, a device configuration indicating a writing device to be emulated. The first microcontroller unit may cause transmitters of the haptic pen to transmit a beacon to a second microcontroller unit of a display. The first microcontroller unit may receive contextual inputs from the second microcontroller unit that indicate an orientation of the haptic pen in relation to the display. The first microcontroller unit may apply a respective weight to each of the contextual inputs based on the device configuration and may cause a haptic response based on the respective weights applied to each of the contextual inputs. The haptic response causes the haptic pen to emulate the writing device.

Claims (70)

1. A method for emulating a plurality of writing devices using a haptic pen for an information handling system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen, a device configuration indicating at least one writing device of the plurality of writing devices to be emulated;

causing, by the first microcontroller unit, one or more transmitters of the haptic pen to transmit a beacon to a second microcontroller unit of a display of the information handling system;

receiving, by the first microcontroller unit, one or more contextual inputs from the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs indicating an orientation of the haptic pen in relation to the display;

applying, by the first microcontroller unit, a respective weight to each of the one or more contextual inputs based on the device configuration; and

causing, by the first microcontroller unit, one or more haptic motors of the haptic pen to vibrate to cause a haptic response, the haptic response causing the haptic pen to emulate the at least one writing device of the plurality of writing devices, the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs to modify a frequency in which the one or more haptic motors vibrate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the haptic response based on the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs further comprises:

causing, by the second microcontroller unit, an inking layer of the display of the information handling system to display a digital representation of writing associated with the at least one writing device, the digital representation emulating a writing style of the at least one writing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the first microcontroller unit, a texture configuration indicating at least one textured item of a plurality of textured items to be emulated;

applying, by the first microcontroller unit, the respective weight to each of the one or more contextual inputs based on the texture configuration; and

causing, by the first microcontroller unit, the haptic response based on the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs, the haptic response causing the haptic pen to emulate the at least one textured item of the plurality of textured items.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs based on the beacon, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a tilt angle of the haptic pen in relation to a surface of the display; and

transmitting, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs to the first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs based on the beacon, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a barrel rotation of the haptic pen about an axis of the haptic pen; and

transmitting, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs to the first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs based on the beacon, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a velocity of the haptic pen; and

transmitting, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs to the first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs based on the beacon, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a position of the haptic pen in relation to a surface of the display; and

transmitting, by the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs to the first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the first microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs based on a pressure sensor of the haptic pen, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a pressure with which a user is using the haptic pen, the pressure sensor disposed proximate to a tip of the haptic pen.

9. A haptic pen for an information handling system, the haptic pen comprising:

one or more transmitters;

one or more haptic motors;

a first microcontroller unit configured to:

receive a device configuration indicating at least one writing device of a plurality of writing devices to be emulated;

cause the one or more transmitters of the haptic pen to transmit a beacon to a second microcontroller unit of a display of the information handling system;

receive one or more contextual inputs from the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs indicating an orientation of the haptic pen in relation to the display;

apply a respective weight to each of the one or more contextual inputs based on the device configuration; and

cause one or more haptic motors of the haptic pen to vibrate to cause a haptic response, the haptic response causing the haptic pen to emulate the at least one writing device of the plurality of writing devices, the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs to modify a frequency in which the one or more haptic motors vibrate.

10. The haptic pen of claim 9 , wherein the first microcontroller unit is further configured to:

receive a texture configuration indicating at least one textured item of a plurality of textured items to be emulated;

apply the respective weight to each of the one or more contextual inputs based on the texture configuration; and

cause the haptic response based on the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs, the haptic response causing the haptic pen to emulate the at least one textured item of the plurality of textured items.

11. The haptic pen of claim 9 , wherein the first microcontroller unit is further configured to:

determine the one or more contextual inputs based on a pressure sensor of the haptic pen, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a pressure with which a user is using the haptic pen, the pressure sensor disposed proximate to a tip of the haptic pen.

12. A computing system, comprising:

a haptic pen including;

one or more transmitters;

one or more haptic motors; and

a first microcontroller unit;

an information handling system including:

a display; and

a second microcontroller unit;

the first microcontroller unit configured to:

receive a device configuration indicating at least one writing device of a plurality of writing devices to be emulated;

cause the one or more transmitters of the haptic pen to transmit a beacon to the second microcontroller unit of the display of the information handling system;

receive one or more contextual inputs from the second microcontroller unit, the one or more contextual inputs indicating an orientation of the haptic pen in relation to the display;

apply a respective weight to each of the one or more contextual inputs based on the device configuration; and

cause the one or more haptic motors of the haptic pen to vibrate to cause a haptic response, the haptic response causing the haptic pen to emulate the at least one writing device of the plurality of writing devices, the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs to modify a frequency in which the one or more haptic motors vibrate.

13. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein to cause the haptic response based on the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs, the second microcontroller unit is further configured to:

cause an inking layer of the display of the information handling system to display a digital representation of writing associated with the at least one writing device, the digital representation emulating a writing style of the at least one writing device.

14. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the first microcontroller unit is further configured to:

receive a texture configuration indicating at least one textured item of a plurality of textured items to be emulated;

apply the respective weight to each of the one or more contextual inputs based on the texture configuration; and

cause the haptic response based on the respective weight applied to each of the one or more contextual inputs, the haptic response causing the haptic pen to emulate the at least one textured item of the plurality of textured items.

15. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the second microcontroller unit is further configured to:

determine the one or more contextual inputs based on the beacon, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a tilt angle of the haptic pen in relation to a surface of the display; and

transmit the one or more contextual inputs to the first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen.

16. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the second microcontroller unit is further configured to:

determine the one or more contextual inputs based on the beacon, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a barrel rotation of the haptic pen about an axis of the haptic pen; and

transmit the one or more contextual inputs to the first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen.

17. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the second microcontroller unit is further configured to:

determine the one or more contextual inputs based on the beacon, wherein the one or more contextual inputs include a velocity of the haptic pen; and

transmit the one or more contextual inputs to the first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053311/0169) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0742 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052216/0758) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0680 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AF REEL 052243 FRAME 0773 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0152 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0169 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 26, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052243/0773 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Mar 24, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052216/0758 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: ALFANO, KEITH M.; GATSON, MICHAEL S.; LANZONI, THOMAS
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051606/0471 →