“On December 4, 2014, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a new stylus invention relating to an advanced signal detection and demodulation architecture,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“For a company that supposedly has no interest in a stylus it’s amazing that this year alone they’ve applied for ten new patents covering this type of device,” Purcher reports. “It’s evident that Apple has plans of introducing a next-gen smart pen at some point in the future. It’s just a matter of time.”
Purcher reports, “Apple’s invention relates to a stylus signal detection and demodulation architecture that can allow for the stylus, display, and touch to be synchronized with one another.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
iPen: Apple patent applications reveal advanced modular smart-pen – February 2, 2014
iPen? Apple secretly files three dynamic smart-pen patents in Europe – February 28, 2013
Apple patent application reveals advanced ‘active stylus’ for iOS devices – December 31, 2012
Apple patent application reveals more about their optical iPen and graphics program – May 24, 2012
Apple patent app details smart, heated ‘iPen’ stylus for iPad and iPhone – July 7, 2011
Apple patent application details new type of stylus for iPad – February 3, 2011
Another addition to the “wearables” genre, maybe?
Look out Cross, Sheaffer, Montblanc… You’re next!
That or just as likely: There is a precision when using a pen that isn’t possible with our human fingers. We also find it easier to draw and design with a pen than dragging our fingers across stuff all the time. There is a place for pens for a variety of uses.
My guess is this may well be introduced with the larger iPad Pro next year as a business accessory.
My thought entirely, a large iPad has to have something more to it to make that real estate worth while and desirable, it has to be more work/creative orientated I think. This might be part of the answer.
Smarty!
Exactly what the pen will be designed to do is still a bit sketchy.
Since speaking about patents on this thread, has anyone heard of Florian Muller lately, you know, the guy who sold his soul to samdung?
He’s in Korea advising sum dic hed Sr. on how to screw apple in the future.
Nice!
What about Idiot Stick Michael Blair? Bag O Hot Air. I would LOVE the opportunity to grill these ANAList on a panel. I wouldgrill them with the tough questions. 1st First question….. Please justify to me and explain in detail shipped SamAss numbers verses iPhone’s sold numbers. 2nd Second question…. how can one justify the “MASSIVE” marketshare for Android which generates abysmal profit margins? What about Apple Pay versus Gaggle Wallet? The list goes on…. Sigh.
Please tell me this was written by an 8 year old.
Indeed, BD, your post was written by an 8 year old. You are welcome for the help.
Zing! Nice “I know you are but what am I” type comment. Maybe you can also put up a comment with 30 grammatical errors and cleverly tweak names to include the word “ass”, “anal”, and such. America!
Deeno, please be patient with Melvin, he is the poster child for the “Jerry’s Kids Get Online!” program, an honor he earned from placing third in the Special Olympics Debate Team competition. We are all very proud of him.
Florian’s FOSS Patents blog is still as busy as ever. But his focus at the moment is Google and the plethora of patent/copyright lawsuits going on.
It’s so sad that Florian went turncoat just at the point where Samsung’s diabolical deceit turned on them. He’s riding the Titanic. Clearly, he’s staying out of Apple warm waters.
I’d love to see apple deliver a smart pen and it be a killer. One that would step on both Samsung & Microsoft’s.
I wonder if it’s being developed for the IBM partnership. Enterprise users may benefit more from this input device than consumers. Just a thought .
Ipad pro !
The only way to make the ipad pro effective in graphics and cad and detailed precision work .
Yes!
As a ‘Security Now’ podcast fanatic, I point out that Steve Gibson of GRC.com was the first person to design a ‘smart pen’, or ancestor thereof, for Apple way back in the Apple ][ days.
Wonder if he has a hand in this latest iteration?
19 patents in one year for the same product is a lot, even for Apple.
Not sure what to think about that, but would welcome the best pen for artists, photographers, et al.
That still won’t stop Samsung.
I wonder why they don’t make their own copy machines.
10 patents, sorry. 🙂
The company that owns Leapster as I recall failed horribly with their introduction of the smart pen however it was a great tool but the overall interface was too clunky for people human people to adapt.
My recommendation is to call the new Apple pen “the Newton” and it will work with the iPad to mimic the Original newtons primary functionality
I’d dearly love a fine-point stylus for scribbling notes, doing fine retouching on photos, etc.
Or are they? ……. Perhaps they just want to see Samsung dance?
Microsoft’s stylus will have a kickstand.
This is how you control your coming Apple TV-system: by pointing to the screen with a pen.
“I finally cracked it.”
Typical Apple. They say that they have no interest in a “stylus”, but then they go and create one that will be way better than any stylus on the market.
I need a smartpen that can help me with my penmanship. It’s gone down the tube since getting a computer. I’m sure I’m not the only one.