A patent recently revealed that Apple is working on an "advanced stylus" with 3D features, grip sensors, pressure sensors, and others. It was said that the stylus could be included in the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is also speculated to include split-screen features. The iPad Pro is estimated to be released within October-November this year.
The advanced stylus would also be compatible on devices such as the new 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus.
Apple's 'advanced stylus' concept
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently published one of Apple's patents on their slew of devices, and this time it's something to do with the company's iPad products. The patent, named as "Expanded Function Touch Sensor Implement", revealed that Apple is planning to develop a certain "implement" or tool that has "expanded functionality". This implement would be mainly compatible to touch sensor devices, i.e., touch screens, trackpads, and/or "any other device that interprets one or more touches as input." Further, the implement could be used on devices with "multiple touch sensitive areas." Other examples are iPads (especially on the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro), Force Touch trackpads (such as the ones in the new 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro and in the upcoming iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus), and other touch screen devices.
Apple specified the type of implement that the company could further enhance. It mentioned a stylus as an implement "configured for use with a capacitive touch screen or track pad may include a tip that may affect the capacitance of one or more areas of the touch screen or track pad." The touch of this enhanced stylus would be detected and used as input, similar to the press and tap of a human finger used as an input on Force Touch sensors found in the new 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro.
Features of the 'advanced stylus'
Further, Apple's advanced stylus can send signals or input to touch sensor devices and then be interpreted even without the stylus contacting the touch sensor devices. It was also said that the enhanced stylus could "include the angle at which the stylus is touching the display, or the distance of the stylus from the device, potentially allowing for 3D input." It is not confirmed if this would be included in the upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro or in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
Additionally, Apple's advanced stylus can send signals which could be interpreted as positional information, color information, vibrancy information, hue information, brush stroke and/or other art information, tone information, line type information, selection information, and other touch-related information.
Further, the advanced stylus will have grip sensors, meaning it can detect the amount of force which a user grips it. It can also be used as a pressure sensor, strain gauge, and other features to provide a range of inputs.
12.9-inch iPad Pro
Recently, Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro is rumored to have split-screen features that can support ½, 1/3, and 2/3 viewing depending on the type of apps. By this, users can put two different apps side-by-side or dual views of a single application.
As for its release date, speculations point within October-November.
Join the Conversation