Patent ID: 9737242
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: A61B,G06F

Claim:
1. A system, comprising: a computing device comprising a touch screen defining an interface; a housing comprising a substrate dimensioned and configured to cover at least a substantial portion of the touch screen when placed thereon, a plurality of apertures extending through the substrate, wherein the touch screen is exposed through each of the plurality of apertures; an object configured for insertion through any of the plurality of apertures to engage a portion of the touch screen, wherein each of the plurality of apertures being configured to receive the object therein and to maintain engagement between a distal end of the object and the touch screen; wherein at least one contact is disposed along an interior of each of the plurality of apertures, the at least one contact being configured to form an electrical connection with a corresponding contact comprising at least a portion of an exterior surface of the object; wherein an electrically conductive path extends from the substrate of the housing, the electrically conductive path being electrically connected with each contact disposed along the interior of each of the plurality of apertures to an electrical ground relative to the touch screen of the computing device to detect insertion of the object therein when the object contacts the touch screen; wherein the electrically conductive path is configured to establish an electrical ground potential relative to the touch screen; and wherein when the object is within one of the plurality of apertures, the electrically conductive path extends from a distal end of an object contacting the touch screen, through at least one contact of the one of the plurality of apertures and configured to provide for sufficient electrons to flow from the touch screen through the electrically conductive path to a port of the computing device to enable detection of the object contacting the touch screen in the absence of human contact with the object.