Patent Description:
An electronic device may include a stylus pen that is capable of being inserted into the electronic device or being detached from the electronic device. The stylus pen may provide an environment where a user inputs handwriting on a display of the electronic device.

Because the stylus pen may interact with the electronic device based on an electromagnetic induction manner or a short-range wireless communication protocol, the stylus pen may provide various user experience (UX) environments to the user. Also, based on the short-range wireless communication protocol, the electronic device may interact with a plurality of stylus pens as well as a single stylus pen.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device, accessory device and method using the same. The accessory device is stowable in the electronic device, and includes at least a first sensor, a second sensor, a communication interface and a processor. The method includes receiving, through the communication interface, information from the electronic device corresponding to an application executed in the electronic device, in response to the received information, obtaining the first data through the first sensor when the received information is a first information and obtaining the second data through the second sensor when the information is a second information, and transmitting, to the electronic device, data based on at least one of the first data and the second data. <CIT> discloses a touch-sensitive display which indicates a low energy storage level of an active stylus by changing a visual characteristic of a digital ink line segment defined by the active stylus and rendered on the touch-sensitive display. <CIT> discloses a digital pen, a touch system and a method for providing information thereof. The touch system may include a display apparatus and a digital pen having a battery. The digital pen may be configured to sense a battery status of the battery, generate a signal indicating a location of the stylus with respect to the display apparatus. The signal may have a frequency corresponding to the battery status, and transmit the signal to the display apparatus. The display apparatus may be configured to receive the signal, analyze the signal, and acquire the location of the stylus and the battery status.

For a seamless wireless communication between an electronic device and a stylus pen, it is necessary to monitor a battery state of the stylus pen or a connected state of the wireless communication periodically. Also, for the user to identify a stylus pen connected with the electronic device based on the short-range wireless communication protocol from among a plurality of stylus pens, it is necessary to feed information about the stylus pen connected with the electronic device back to the user.

Because the stylus pen does not include a separate display in consideration of a mounting space and power consumption, there is a limitation in providing information about a battery state or a connected state of the wireless communication to the user.

Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide a device and a method for monitoring information about a stylus pen and displaying the monitored information.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device according to claim <NUM> is provided.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of an electronic device according to claim <NUM> is provided.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an electronic device may provide a user with information about a stylus pen, and thus preventing reduction in performance of a battery state or a wireless communication link status of a stylus pen.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the electronic device may display information about a stylus pen connected with the electronic device from among a plurality of stylus pens, and thus preventing a user from performing an abnormal operation by using a different stylus pen from the connected stylus pen.

Besides, a variety of effects directly or indirectly understood through this disclosure may be provided.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that that various changes and modifications, of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device <NUM> in a network environment <NUM> according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network <NUM> (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™ (BT), wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network <NUM> (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)).

According to an embodiment, the antenna module <NUM> may include an antenna including a radiating element composed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., printed circuit board (PCB)).

<FIG> is a perspective view of the electronic device <NUM> including a digital pen <NUM> according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> of an embodiment may include the configuration illustrated in <FIG>, and may include a structure in which the digital pen <NUM> (e.g., a stylus pen) may be inserted. The electronic device <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> and may include a hole <NUM> in one portion of the housing <NUM>, for example, a portion of a side surface 110C of the housing <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include a receiving space <NUM> connected with the hole <NUM>, and the digital pen <NUM> may be inserted into the receiving space <NUM>. According to various embodiments illustrated, the digital pen <NUM> may include a button 201a, which is capable of being pressed, at one end portion thereof such that the digital pen <NUM> is easily pulled out from the receiving space <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. When the button 201a is pressed, a repulsion mechanism (e.g., at least one spring) that is configured to link to the button 201a acts, and the digital pen <NUM> may be detached from the receiving space <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of the digital pen <NUM> according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the digital pen <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a resonant circuit <NUM>, a charging circuit <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a communication circuit <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, and/or a trigger circuit <NUM>. In some embodiments, in the digital pen <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, at least a part of the resonant circuit <NUM>, and/or at least a part of the communication circuit <NUM> may be implemented on a printed circuit board (PCB) or may be implemented in the form of a chip. The processor <NUM>, the resonant circuit <NUM>, and/or the communication circuit <NUM> may be electrically connected with the memory <NUM>, the charging circuit <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the antenna <NUM>, or the trigger circuit <NUM>. The digital pen <NUM> according to an embodiment may be implemented only with a resonant circuit and a button.

According to an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may include a customized hardware module or a generic processor configured to execute software (e.g., an application program). The processor <NUM> may include a hardware component (function) or a software component (program) including at least one of the following included in the digital pen <NUM>: various sensors, a data measurement module, an input/output interface, a module to manage a state or an environment of the digital pen <NUM>, or a communication module. The processor <NUM> may include one of hardware, software, or firmware or a combination of two or more thereof. According to an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may receive a proximity signal corresponding to an electromagnetic signal that is generated from a digitizer (e.g., at least a part of the display device <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM> through the resonant circuit <NUM>. When the proximity signal is identified, the processor <NUM> may control the resonant circuit <NUM> such that an electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) input signal is transmitted to the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the memory <NUM> may store information about an operation of the digital pen <NUM>. For example, the information may include information for a communication with the electronic device <NUM> and frequency information about an input operation of the digital pen <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the resonant circuit <NUM> may include at least one of a coil, an inductor, or a capacitor. The resonant circuit <NUM> may be used for the digital pen <NUM> to generate a signal including a resonant frequency. For example, to generate a signal, the digital pen <NUM> may use at least one of an electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) manner, an active electrostatic (AES) manner, or an electrically coupled resonance (ECR) manner. In the case where the digital pen <NUM> transmits a signal in the EMR manner, the digital pen <NUM> may generate a signal including a resonant frequency, based on an electromagnetic field generated from an inductive panel of the electronic device <NUM>. In the case where the digital pen <NUM> transmits a signal in the AES manner, the digital pen <NUM> may generate a signal by using the capacity coupling with the electronic device <NUM>. In the case where the digital pen <NUM> transmits a signal in the ECR manner, the digital pen <NUM> may generate a signal including a resonant frequency, based on an electric field generated from a capacitive device of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the resonant circuit <NUM> may be used to change the intensity of electromagnetic field or a frequency depending on a manipulating state of the user. For example, the resonant circuit <NUM> may provide a frequency for recognizing a hovering input, a drawing input, a button input, or an erasing input.

According to an embodiment, when the charging circuit <NUM> is connected with the resonant circuit <NUM> based on a switching circuit, the charging circuit <NUM> may rectify a resonance signal generated from the resonant circuit <NUM> to a direct current signal so as to be supplied to the battery <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the digital pen <NUM> may determine whether the digital pen <NUM> is inserted into the electronic device <NUM>, by using a voltage level of the direct current signal detected from the charging circuit <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the battery <NUM> may store energy necessary for an operation of the digital pen <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> may include a lithium-ion battery or a capacitor and may be rechargeable or exchangeable. According to an embodiment, the battery <NUM> may be charged by using a power (e.g., a direct current signal (or a direct current power)) provided from the charging circuit <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the communication circuit <NUM> may be configured to perform a wireless communication function between the digital pen <NUM> and the communication module <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the communication circuit <NUM> may transmit state information and input information of the digital pen <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM> by using a short-range communication manner. For example, the communication circuit <NUM> may transmit direction information (e.g., motion sensor data) of the digital pen <NUM> obtained through the trigger circuit <NUM>, voice information input through a microphone, or level information of the battery <NUM>. For example, the short-range communication manner may include at least one of Bluetooth low energy (BLE) or wireless LAN.

According to an embodiment, the antenna <NUM> may be used to transmit a signal or a power to the outside (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) or to receive a signal or a power from the outside. According to an embodiment, the digital pen <NUM> may include a plurality of antennas <NUM> and may select at least one antenna <NUM> appropriate for a communication manner from among the plurality of antennas <NUM>. The communication circuit <NUM> may exchange a signal or a power with an external electronic device through the at least one antenna <NUM> thus selected.

According to an embodiment, the trigger circuit <NUM> may include at least one button or sensor circuit. According to an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may identify an input manner (e.g., touching or a pressing) or a kind (e.g., an EMR button or a BLE button) of a button of the digital pen <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the sensor circuit may generate an electrical signal or a data value that corresponds to an internal operation state of the digital pen <NUM> or corresponds to an external environment state. For example, the sensor circuit may include at least one of a motion sensor, a battery level detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, or a biometric sensor. According to an embodiment, the trigger circuit <NUM> may transmit a trigger signal to the electronic device <NUM> by using an input signal of a button or a signal through a sensor.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the digital pen <NUM> according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the digital pen <NUM> may include a pen housing <NUM> forming the exterior of the digital pen <NUM> and an inner assembly in the pen housing <NUM>. In an embodiment illustrated, the inner assembly may include all the parts mounted within a pen and may be inserted into the pen housing <NUM> by only one assembly operation.

According to an embodiment, the pen housing <NUM> may be elongated between a first end portion 300a and a second end portion 300b and may include the receiving space <NUM> therein. The pen housing <NUM> may have the shape of an ellipse, the cross section of which includes a short axis and a long axis and may be formed in the shape of an elliptic cylinder on the whole. A receiving space of the digital pen <NUM> may have an elliptic cross section corresponding to the shape of the pen housing <NUM>. The pen housing <NUM> may include a synthetic resin (e.g., plastic) and/or a metallic material (e.g., aluminum). According to an embodiment, the second end portion 300b of the pen housing <NUM> may be formed of a synthetic resin material.

According to an embodiment, the inner assembly may have an elongated shape corresponding to the shape of the pen housing <NUM>. The inner assembly may be roughly divided into three components along a longitudinal direction. For example, the inner assembly may include an ejection member <NUM> disposed at a location corresponding to the first end portion 300a of the pen housing <NUM>, a coil part <NUM> disposed at a location corresponding to the second end portion 300b of the pen housing <NUM>, and a circuit board part <NUM> disposed at a location corresponding to a body of a housing.

According to an embodiment, the ejection member <NUM> may include a component for pulling out the digital pen <NUM> from the receiving space <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the ejection member <NUM> may include a shaft <NUM>, and an ejection body <NUM> and a button part <NUM> disposed around the shaft <NUM> and forming the overall exterior of the ejection member <NUM>. When the inner assembly is completely inserted into the pen housing <NUM>, the part of the ejection member <NUM>, which includes the shaft <NUM> and the ejection body <NUM>, may be surrounded by the first end portion 300a of the pen housing <NUM>, and the button part <NUM> (e.g., 201a of <FIG>) may be exposed to the outside of the first end portion 300a. A plurality of components (not illustrated), for example, cam members or elastic members may be disposed in the ejection body <NUM> to form a push-pull structure. In an embodiment, the button part <NUM> may be substantially engaged with the shaft <NUM> to reciprocate linearly with respect to the ejection body <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the button part <NUM> may include a button having a stopper structure that allows the user to pull out the digital pen <NUM> by using his/her nail. According to an embodiment, the digital pen <NUM> may include a sensor detecting a linear reciprocating motion of the shaft <NUM>, thus providing another input manner.

According to an embodiment, the coil part <NUM> may include a pen tip <NUM> exposed to the outside of the second end portion 300b when the inner assembly is inserted into the pen housing <NUM>, a packing ring <NUM>, a coil <NUM> having a plurality of turns, and/or a pen pressure sensing unit <NUM> for obtaining a change in pressure when the pen tip <NUM> is pressed. The packing ring <NUM> may include epoxy, rubber, urethane, or silicon. The packing ring <NUM> may be provided for the purpose of waterproofing and dustproofing and may protect the coil part <NUM> and the circuit board part <NUM> from moisture when the electronic device <NUM> and/or the digital pen <NUM> are infiltrated into water or from dust. According to an embodiment, the coil <NUM> may form a resonant frequency in a given frequency band (e.g., <NUM>), and may be combined with at least one element (e.g., a capacitor) to adjust the resonant frequency formed by the coil <NUM> within a given range.

According to an embodiment, the circuit board part <NUM> may include a printed circuit board <NUM>, a base <NUM> covering at least one surface of the printed circuit board <NUM>, and an antenna. According to an embodiment, a substrate seating part <NUM>, on which the printed circuit board <NUM> is disposed, may be formed on an upper surface of the base <NUM>, and the printed circuit board <NUM> may be fixed in the state of being seated on the substrate seating part <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board <NUM> may include an upper surface and a lower surface. A variable capacitor connected with the coil <NUM> or a switch <NUM> may be disposed on the upper surface, and a charging circuitry, a battery, or a communication circuitry may be disposed on the lower surface. The battery may include an electric double layered capacitor (EDLC). The charging circuitry is interposed between the coil <NUM> and the battery and may include a voltage detector circuitry and a rectifier.

According to an embodiment, the antenna may include an antenna structure <NUM> that is exemplified as illustrated in <FIG> and/or an antenna that is embedded in the printed circuit board <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the switch <NUM> may be provided on the printed circuit board <NUM>. A side button <NUM> that is provided on the digital pen <NUM> may be used to press the switch <NUM> and may be exposed to the outside through a side opening <NUM> of the pen housing <NUM>. The side button <NUM> may be supported by a supporting member <NUM>. When there is no external force acting on the side button <NUM>, the supporting member <NUM> may provide restoring force such that the side button <NUM> is returned to or maintained at a specific location.

According to an embodiment, the circuit board part <NUM> may include a different packing ring such as an O-ring. For example, O-rings that are formed of an elastic material may be disposed at opposite ends of the base <NUM> to form a sealing structure between the base <NUM> and the pen housing <NUM>. In any embodiment, the supporting member <NUM> may be partially in close contact with an inner wall of the pen housing <NUM> around the side opening <NUM> to form a sealing structure. For example, as in the packing ring <NUM> of the coil part <NUM>, the circuit board part <NUM> may have a waterproof and dustproof structure.

According to an embodiment, the digital pen <NUM> may include a battery mounting part (not illustrated) provided on the upper surface of the base <NUM> such that a battery <NUM> is disposed in the battery mounting part <NUM>. The battery <NUM> that is able to be mounted on the battery mounting part <NUM> may include, for example, a cylinder-type battery.

According to an embodiment, the digital pen <NUM> may include a microphone (not illustrated). The microphone may be directly connected with the printed circuit board <NUM> or may be connected with a separate flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) (not illustrated) connected with the printed circuit board <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the microphone may be disposed parallel to the side button <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the digital pen <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) <NUM> indicating information about a digital pen according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may establish a wireless communication link <NUM> with the digital pen <NUM> (e.g., a stylus pen) based on the short-range wireless communication protocol. For example, the short-range wireless communication protocol may be based on the Bluetooth standard or the Bluetooth low energy (BLE) standard defined by the Bluetooth special interest group (SIG).

According to an embodiment, to feed back a status of the wireless communication link <NUM> or a battery state of the digital pen <NUM> to the user without stopping, the electronic device <NUM> may display a graphical user interface (GUI) <NUM> indicating information about the digital pen <NUM> through the display <NUM> (e.g., at least a part of the display <NUM>) in a state where the wireless communication link <NUM> is established. According to an embodiment, for example, the GUI <NUM> may include at least one of a first GUI <NUM> indicating a remaining quantity (or level) state of a battery (e.g., the battery <NUM> of <FIG>) of the digital pen <NUM> or a second GUI <NUM> indicating a connected state of the wireless communication link <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, although not illustrated in <FIG>, when there are a plurality of digital pens each having a history in which the connection with the electronic device <NUM> is made based on the short-range wireless communication protocol, the information about the digital pen <NUM> may include at least one of information indicating that there are a plurality of digital pens each having a history in which the connection with the electronic device <NUM> is made or color information of a digital pen (e.g., <NUM>) currently establishing the wireless communication link <NUM> with the electronic device <NUM> from among the plurality of digital pens.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> in a partial area of an indicator bar <NUM> located in one area (e.g., an upper end) of the display <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the indicator bar <NUM> may indicate states of the electronic device <NUM>, for example, at least one of a battery remaining quantity state, a cellular communication connection state, a wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection state, or a current time.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> in response to detecting that the digital pen <NUM> is detached from the electronic device <NUM>. How to detect that the digital pen <NUM> is detached from the electronic device <NUM> will be described with reference to an embodiment illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an operation flowchart <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> displaying a GUI (e.g., at least one of <NUM> or <NUM>) associated with a digital pen according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Operations that are illustrated in <FIG> or another operation flowchart may be performed by the electronic device <NUM> or a component of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the component of the electronic device <NUM> may include at least one of a hardware component (e.g., the processor <NUM>) or a software component (e.g., an application layer <NUM> or a middleware <NUM>) among the components illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM> of the flowchart <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may establish the wireless communication link <NUM> with the digital pen <NUM> inserted into an inner space (e.g., the receiving space <NUM> of <FIG>), through a wireless communication circuit (e.g., at least a part of the wireless communication module <NUM> of <FIG>). According to an embodiment, the wireless communication link <NUM> may be based on at least one of the Bluetooth standard or the BLE standard.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may receive a signal including information about a battery state of the digital pen <NUM> from the digital pen <NUM>, through the wireless communication circuit and the wireless communication link <NUM>. The information about the battery state may include, for example, a battery level (or percentage). According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may store the information about the battery state in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM> of <FIG>).

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may detect that the digital pen <NUM> is detached from the inner space of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may detect the detachment of the digital pen <NUM> by using the electro-magnetic induction manner (e.g., at least one of EMR, AES, or ECR).

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the first GUI <NUM> indicating the battery state of the digital pen <NUM> through a display in response to detecting the detachment of the digital pen <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the second GUI <NUM> indicating a connected state of the wireless communication link <NUM> through the display. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may omit operation <NUM> and may display only the first GUI <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the first GUI <NUM> indicating a battery state in phases according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the first GUI <NUM> in phases depending on a battery level (or percentage) of the digital pen <NUM>. For example, a remaining quantity of a battery may be classified into a first state <NUM> indicating smaller than <NUM>%, a second state <NUM> indicating <NUM>% or more and smaller than <NUM>%, a third state <NUM> indicating <NUM>% or more and smaller than <NUM>%, a fourth state <NUM> indicating <NUM>% or more and smaller than <NUM>%, and a fifth state <NUM> indicating <NUM>% or more.

According to an embodiment, in the first state <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a first GUI <NUM>-<NUM> in which an area occupying <NUM>% of a GUI indicating the shape of the digital pen <NUM> is displayed to have a color and an area occupying <NUM>% is transparently displayed. In the second state <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a first GUI <NUM>-<NUM> in which an area occupying <NUM>% of the GUI indicating the shape of the digital pen <NUM> is displayed to have a color and an area occupying <NUM>% is transparently displayed. In the third state <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a first GUI <NUM>-<NUM> in which an area occupying <NUM>% of the GUI indicating the shape of the digital pen <NUM> is displayed to have a color and an area occupying <NUM>% is transparently displayed. In the fourth state <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a first GUI <NUM>-<NUM> in which an area occupying <NUM>% of the GUI indicating the shape of the digital pen <NUM> is displayed to have a color and an area occupying <NUM>% is transparently displayed. In the fifth state <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a first GUI <NUM>-<NUM> in which an area occupying <NUM>% of the GUI indicating the shape of the digital pen <NUM> is displayed to have a color.

According to an embodiment, the information about the battery state may indicate the first state <NUM> to the fifth state <NUM> by using bit information. For another example, the information about the battery state may indicate a total capacity (in units of milliampere hour (mAh)) of a battery of the digital pen <NUM> and a remaining quantity of the battery by using bit information.

<FIG> illustrates a GUI (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM>) displayed while the wireless communication link <NUM> with the digital pen <NUM> is established, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may measure a status of the wireless communication link <NUM> in a state where the wireless communication link <NUM> with the digital pen <NUM> is established (e.g., in a first state <NUM>). For example, the electronic device <NUM> may measure the status of the wireless communication link <NUM> by measuring the intensity (or the degree of interference) of a signal received from the digital pen <NUM>. According to an embodiment, during the first state <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the first GUI <NUM> indicating a battery state of the digital pen <NUM> and the second GUI <NUM> indicating the status of the wireless communication link <NUM> through the display <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may detect that the wireless communication link <NUM> is released, based on the measured status of the wireless communication link <NUM> or user settings. In a state where the wireless communication link <NUM> is released (e.g., in a second state <NUM>), the electronic device <NUM> may provide the effect that the second GUI <NUM> is disappearing. In other words, the electronic device <NUM> may not display the second GUI <NUM> and may display only the first GUI <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may attempt to re-establish the wireless communication link <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may display a screen indicating that the wireless communication link <NUM> is released, through the display <NUM> and may perform the re-establishment in response to a user input selecting the re-establishment of the wireless communication link <NUM>. For another example, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the re-establishment of the wireless communication link <NUM> automatically without a user input. In a state where the electronic device <NUM> re-establishes the wireless communication link <NUM> with the digital pen <NUM> (e.g., in a third state <NUM>), the electronic device <NUM> may provide the effect that the first GUI <NUM> is flickering.

<FIG> illustrates an operation flowchart <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> establishing the wireless communication link <NUM> with the digital pen <NUM>, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM> of the flowchart <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may measure a status of the wireless communication link <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may perform operation <NUM> between operation <NUM> and operation <NUM> of <FIG>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the wireless communication link <NUM> is released, based on a result of the measurement. For example, when the intensity of a signal received from the digital pen <NUM> is smaller than a specified threshold value, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that the wireless communication link <NUM> is released. When the wireless communication link <NUM> is not released, the electronic device <NUM> may repeatedly perform operation <NUM> and operation <NUM>.

When the wireless communication link <NUM> is released, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may provide the effect that the second GUI <NUM> is disappearing. The electronic device <NUM> may display only the first GUI <NUM> on a partial area (e.g., the indicator bar <NUM>) of the display <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may attempt to re-establish the wireless communication link <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may provide the effect that the first GUI <NUM> is flickering, while the wireless communication link <NUM> is re-established. According to an embodiment, operation <NUM> and operation <NUM> may be performed substantially at the same time.

When the wireless communication link <NUM> is established, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the second GUI <NUM> indicating the connected state of the wireless communication link <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the second GUI <NUM> on a partial area (e.g., the indicator bar <NUM>) of the display <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an operation of displaying information about the digital pen <NUM> based on whether the digital pen <NUM> is detached, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may further include a conductive coil <NUM> and a control circuit <NUM> for the purpose of detecting the digital pen <NUM> inserted into the receiving space <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the conductive coil <NUM> may perform an antenna function of transmitting/receiving a signal that is based on the electromagnetic induction manner (e.g., EMR, AES, or ECR). The conductive coil <NUM> may be disposed within the housing <NUM> or within the receiving space <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the control circuit <NUM> may generate a signal that is based on the electromagnetic induction manner or may process (or analyze) a received signal. According to an embodiment, the control circuit <NUM> may be at least a part of the processor <NUM> (or an auxiliary processor <NUM>) of <FIG> or may be a separate module (or chip).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may detect whether the digital pen <NUM> is detached, through a signal <NUM> that is based on the electromagnetic induction manner. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may generate a signal of a specified frequency through the control circuit <NUM> and may transmit the generated signal through the conductive coil <NUM>. The signal that is transmitted to the digital pen <NUM> may be induced by a resonant circuit (e.g., the resonant circuit <NUM> of <FIG>) of the digital pen <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may receive the signal induced through the conductive coil <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the digital pen <NUM> is inserted into or detached from the receiving space <NUM>, by analyzing (or processing) the signal induced through the control circuit <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may establish the wireless communication link <NUM> with the digital pen <NUM> in a state where the digital pen <NUM> is inserted into the receiving space <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may establish the wireless communication link <NUM> based on the Bluetooth standard or the BLE standard.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> including at least one of the first GUI <NUM> or the second GUI <NUM>, based on whether the digital pen <NUM> is detached. For example, when the electronic device <NUM> detects that the digital pen <NUM> is detached (e.g., a first state <NUM>), the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> through the display <NUM>. For another example, when the electronic device <NUM> detects that the digital pen <NUM> is inserted (e.g., a second state <NUM>), the electronic device <NUM> may not display the GUI <NUM> on the display <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an operation of displaying information about a plurality of digital pens (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may establish a wireless communication link with a plurality of digital pens (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) based on the short-range wireless communication protocol (e.g., the Bluetooth standard or the BLE standard). According to an embodiment, the exterior (e.g., at least one of the housing <NUM>, the first end portion 300a, or the second end portion 300b) of each of the plurality of digital pens (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) may have a different color. For example, in the embodiment to be described below, a first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> may have the exterior of a blue color, and a second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> may have the exterior of a red color. However, kinds of colors are not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, in the case where the electronic device <NUM> has a history in which a wireless communication link with at least two or more digital pens (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) is established, the electronic device <NUM> may display a third GUI <NUM> indicating that there is a history in which the wireless communication link with the plurality of digital pens <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> is established, through the display <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the third GUI <NUM> on a partial area (e.g., a partial area of the indicator bar <NUM>) of the display <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, to reduce unnecessary power consumption, the electronic device <NUM> may establish a wireless communication link (e.g., a first wireless communication link <NUM>) with one digital pen (e.g., the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>) and may release a wireless communication link (e.g., a second wireless communication link <NUM>) with another digital pen (e.g., the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>). In this case, the electronic device <NUM> may store history information about the second wireless communication link <NUM> in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM> of <FIG>). The history information may include, for example, at least one of identification information of the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> or color information of the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a user interface (UI) selecting one digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> among the plurality of digital pens <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display an UI <NUM> indicating one digital pen (e.g., the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>), in which a wireless communication link (e.g., the first wireless communication link <NUM> of <FIG>) with the electronic device <NUM> is established, from among the plurality of digital pens <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the UI <NUM> on a first screen <NUM>. The first screen <NUM> may include, for example, one of a home screen or an execution screen of an application program being executed by the electronic device <NUM>. As another example, the first screen <NUM> may include a lock screen.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the UI <NUM> below a control window <NUM> such that the user quickly selects one digital pen among a plurality of digital pens. The control window <NUM> may be displayed depending on a swipe input that is received in a specified direction (e.g., a downward direction) from one area (e.g., an upper end) of the display <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the control window <NUM> may be referred to as a "quick panel". The UI <NUM> may be displayed together with the control window <NUM> in response to the user's swipe input calling the control window <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the UI <NUM> may include a first icon <NUM> indicating the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> and a second icon <NUM> indicating the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an embodiment, a color of the first icon <NUM> may be the same as a color (e.g., a blue color) of the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>, and a color of the second icon <NUM> may be the same as a color (e.g., a red color) of the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an embodiment, to indicate that the first wireless communication link <NUM> is established between the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the first icon <NUM> to be deep and may display the second icon <NUM> to be transparent. According to an embodiment, when a user input selecting the second icon <NUM> is received, the electronic device <NUM> may release the first wireless communication link <NUM> and may establish the second wireless communication link <NUM>.

According to another embodiment, although not illustrated in <FIG>, the UI <NUM> may be displayed in a partial area of the control window <NUM>. In this case, the electronic device <NUM> may display both the first icon <NUM> and the second icon <NUM> and may display an icon (e.g., the first icon <NUM>) of a digital pen connected with the electronic device <NUM> in a partial area of the control window <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may present a digital pen connected with the electronic device <NUM> from among the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> and the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> on a setting screen <NUM>. For example, when the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> is connected with the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a text (e.g., "connected") on a first button <NUM> indicating the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an embodiment, when a user input selecting a second button <NUM> indicating the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> is received, the electronic device <NUM> may release the first wireless communication link <NUM> and may establish the second wireless communication link <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an operation of displaying information about one digital pen (e.g., the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>) selected from a plurality of digital pens (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a GUI <NUM> indicating a digital pen (e.g., the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>) connected with the electronic device <NUM> while a first screen <NUM> (e.g., the first screen <NUM> of <FIG>) is output. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> in a partial area (e.g., on one side) of the first screen <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, a color of the GUI <NUM> may be the same as a color of a digital pen connected with the electronic device <NUM>. For example, when the electronic device <NUM> establishes the first wireless communication link <NUM> with the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> having the same color as a color (e.g., a blue color) of the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may receive information about the color of the first digital pen <NUM> from the first digital pen <NUM>-<NUM> through the first wireless communication link <NUM>. For another example, when the electronic device <NUM> establishes the second wireless communication link <NUM> with the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> having the same color as a color (e.g., a red color) of the second digital pen <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> in a state (e.g., <NUM>) where a screen off memo function is activated. According to an embodiment, the screen off memo function may mean a state where some components (e.g., a digitizer or the control circuit <NUM> of <FIG>) of the electronic device <NUM>, which are necessary to receive an input of the digital pen <NUM>, are activated and some components of the display <NUM>, which are necessary to output a screen, are deactivated. When the screen off memo function is activated, a screen may not be output, or a black background screen may be output; however, the electronic device <NUM> may receive an input of the digital pen <NUM> through a digitizer.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> in a partial area of the display <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may display the GUI <NUM> on a partial area of the display <NUM>, which corresponds to a location (e.g., the lower left of the electronic device <NUM>) of a hole (e.g., the hole <NUM> of <FIG>) for inserting the digital pen <NUM>.

As described above, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) may include a housing (e.g., the housing <NUM> of <FIG>), a display (e.g., at least a part of the display device <NUM>) that is viewable through a portion of the housing, a wireless communication circuit (e.g., at least a part of the wireless communication module <NUM> of <FIG>) that is disposed within the housing, a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> of <FIG>) that is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected with the display and the wireless communication circuit, and a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM> of <FIG>) that is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected with the processor. The memory may store instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to establish a wireless communication link, which is based on a short-range wireless communication protocol, with a stylus pen inserted into an inner space of the housing, through the wireless communication circuit, to receive a signal including information about a battery state of the stylus pen from the stylus pen, through the wireless communication circuit and the short-range wireless communication protocol, to detect that the stylus pen is detached from the housing, and to display a first graphical user interface (GUI) (e.g., the first GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) indicating the battery state through the display, based at least on the information about the battery state.

According to an embodiment, the short-range wireless communication protocol may be based on a Bluetooth standard or a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) standard defined by a Bluetooth special interest group (SIG).

According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to control the first GUI, based at least on at least a portion of the information about the battery state, such the first GUI indicates the battery state for each level through the display.

According to an embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to measure a status of the wireless communication link thus established and to display a second GUI (e.g., the second GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) indicating the measured status of the wireless communication link through the display.

According to an embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to detect that the wireless communication link is released, to provide an effect that the second GUI is disappearing, through the display, to re-establish the wireless communication link, through the wireless communication circuit, to provide an effect that the first GUI is flickering, through the display, while the wireless communication link is re-established, and to provide the second GUI through the display when the wireless communication link is re-established.

According to an embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to detect that the stylus pen is inserted into an inner space of the housing, and to release a display of the first GUI and the second GUI through the display in response to detecting the insertion.

According to an embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to receive a signal including information about a color of the stylus pen from the stylus pen, through the wireless communication circuit and the short-range wireless communication protocol, and to display a third GUI (e.g., the third GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) having the color of the stylus pen through the display, based at least on the information about the color.

According to an embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to display the third GUI in a state where a screen of the display is turned off.

As described above, a method of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) may include establishing a wireless communication link, which is based on a short-range wireless communication protocol, with a stylus pen (e.g., the digital pen <NUM> of <FIG>) inserted into an inner space of the electronic device, receiving a signal including information about a battery state of the stylus pen from the stylus pen, through the short-range wireless communication protocol, detecting that the stylus pen is detached from a housing of the electronic device, and displaying a first GUI (e.g., the first GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) indicating the battery state, based at least on the information about the battery state.

According to an embodiment, the displaying of the first GUI may include controlling the first GUI, based at least on at least a portion of the information about the battery state, such the first GUI indicates the battery state for each level.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include measuring a status of the wireless communication link thus established, and displaying a second GUI (e.g., the second GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) indicating the measured status of the wireless communication link.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include detecting that the wireless communication link is released, providing an effect that the second GUI is disappearing, re-establishing the wireless communication link, providing an effect that the first GUI is flickering, while the wireless communication link is re-established, and displaying the second GUI when the wireless communication link is re-established.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include detecting that the stylus pen is inserted into the inner space of the electronic device, and releasing a display of the first GUI and the second GUI in response to detecting the insertion.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include receiving a signal including information about a color of the stylus pen from the stylus pen, through the short-range wireless communication protocol, and displaying a third GUI (e.g., the third GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) having the color of the stylus pen, based at least on the information about the color.

According to an embodiment, the displaying of the third GUI may include displaying the third GUI in a state where a screen of a display of the electronic device is turned off.

As described above, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) may include a housing (e.g., the housing <NUM> of <FIG>), a display (e.g., at least a part of the display device <NUM>) that is viewable through a portion of the housing, a wireless communication circuit (e.g., at least a part of the wireless communication module <NUM> of <FIG>) that is disposed within the housing, a stylus pen (e.g., the digital pen <NUM> of <FIG>) that is insertable into an inner space of the housing, a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> of <FIG>) that is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected with the display and the wireless communication circuit, and a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM> of <FIG>) that is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected with the processor. The memory may store instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to establish a wireless communication link, which is based on a short-range wireless communication protocol, with the stylus pen inserted into the inner space of the housing, through the wireless communication circuit, to detect that the stylus pen is detached from the housing, to receive a signal including information about a battery state of the stylus pen from the stylus pen, through the wireless communication circuit and the short-range wireless communication protocol, and to display a first graphical user interface (GUI) (e.g., the first GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) indicating the battery state through the display, based at least on the information about the battery state.

According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to measure a status of the wireless communication link thus established, and to display a second GUI (e.g., the second GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) indicating the measured status of the wireless communication link through the display.

According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to detect that the wireless communication link is released, to provide an effect that the second GUI is disappearing, through the display, to re-establish the wireless communication link, through the wireless communication circuit, to provide an effect that the first GUI is flickering, through the display, while the wireless communication link is re-established, and to provide the second GUI through the display, when the wireless communication link is re-established.

According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to detect that the stylus pen is inserted into an inner space of the housing, and to release a display of the first GUI and the second GUI through the display, in response to detecting the insertion.

According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to receive a signal including information about a color of the stylus pen from the stylus pen, through the wireless communication circuit and the short-range wireless communication protocol, and to display a third GUI (e.g., the third GUI <NUM> of <FIG>) having the color of the stylus pen through the display, based at least on the information about the color.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>),
a display viewable through a portion of the housing;
a wireless communication circuit disposed within the housing;
at least one processor (<NUM>) disposed within the housing and operatively connected with the display and the wireless communication circuit; and
a memory (<NUM>) disposed within the housing and operatively connected with the at least one processor,
wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, configure the at least one processor to:
establish a wireless communication link, which is based on a short-range wireless communication protocol, with a stylus pen (<NUM>) inserted into an inner space (<NUM>) of the housing, through the wireless communication circuit,
receive a signal including information about a battery state of the stylus pen from the stylus pen, through the wireless communication circuit and the short-range wireless communication protocol,
measure a status of the wireless communication link,
detect that the stylus pen is detached from the housing,
display a graphical user interface (<NUM>), GUI, including a first GUI (<NUM>) indicating the battery state and a second GUI (<NUM>) indicating the measured status of the wireless communication link through the display, based at least on the information about the battery state and the measured status of the wireless communication link; and
no longer display the first GUI (<NUM>) and the second GUI (<NUM>) through the display in response to detecting that the stylus pen (<NUM>) is inserted into the inner space (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>).