Patent Description:
Styluses interacting with touch screen are known. Such styluses generally comprise one button allowing the user to interact with the touchscreen and/or software in the electronic device including the touchscreen.

However, such interaction is relatively limited and the ergonomics of the button are not well tailored and/or the precision of the positioning of the stylus lack accuracy.

The following references disclose styluses equipped with actuators of various forms and types installed along the barrel, representing prior art relevant to the present invention. <CIT> discloses a stylus with 1D-input cylindrical rotary actuators around the longitudinal axis. <CIT> discloses an electronic pen with simple switches and a 1D scrolling dial.

Therefore, according to the invention, a stylus for touchscreen, according to claim <NUM>, is provided.

By providing such a stylus, it is possible to have a multi-actuator stylus, the actuators being disposed on the second part of the barrel, i.e. not the part generally held by a user when using the stylus with a touchscreen.

The electronic tip being received at least in part in the barrel and being configured to have at least a in-use configuration in which the electronic tip protrudes from the first part of the barrel through the opening, the stylus may be a fixed tip stylus or a retractable tip stylus.

The actuators being disposed on the second part of the barrel, the unintentional actuation of the actuators is reduced, if not avoided. Moreover, the actuators may be actuated with the thumb while the user still holds the stylus in his/her hand.

Furthermore, the actuators being positioned in a circumferential direction relative to one another, to actuate one actuator in particular, the user may turn the stylus in his/her hand in the circumferential direction, so the actuator may be actuated with the thumb without interfering with the other actuator.

These actuation movements are relatively natural and the ergonomics of such actuation movements is very much improved.

The detector may detect the configuration of all actuator or each actuator may be connected, directly or indirectly, to one detector. Alternatively, more than one actuator but not all actuator may be connected, directly or indirectly, to one detector, i.e. one detector may detect the configuration of one actuator or the configuration of several actuators or the configuration of all actuators. It is understood that the detector detects the configuration of the actuators and not the end tip.

Thanks to the at least two actuators, it is possible to increase the interactions between the stylus and the touchscreen.

The actuators may be momentary actuators and/or permanent actuators. A momentary actuator is an actuator that, upon actuation, triggers a pulse, while a permanent actuator is an actuator that, upon actuation, changes from one state to another, for example from the "on" state to the "off"state.

In some embodiments, the actuator is a on/off actuator.

In some embodiments, the electronic tip comprises an end tip.

The electronic tip is an assembly of an end tip connected to electronic components. The electronic components are connected to the detector. The electronic components may improve the detection of the position of the end tip relative to the touchscreen.

The electronic components also may include communication components configured for communication with a device comprising a touchscreen.

The communication between the device and the stylus may be a wireless communication, such as electromagnetic waves, for example, WiFi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), or such as light waves, for example, LiFi, infrared, or mechanical waves, for example ultrasound waves or audible sounds. The communication between the device and the stylus may be done directly from the stylus tip to the touchscreen when the touchscreen is a capacitive touchscreen. The communication between the device and the stylus may be done directly between the stylus coil and touchscreen coil when the touchscreen is an inductive touchscreen. These communication means are given as non-limitative examples.

In some embodiments, the end tip is detachable.

The end tip may be detached from the stylus and may be replaced by another end tip. The other end tip may have a different end tip shape and/or size. The other end tip may be made of a different material and/or have a different density so the feeling of the user is different from the feeling with the previous end tip.

In some embodiments, the end tip is a conductive material.

The stylus may cooperate with a capacitive touchscreen or any type of touchscreen cooperating with a conductive end tip. The electronic components allow for the power supply of the end tip in conductive material. Thanks to the power supply of the end tip, the end tip may be smaller and have a better accuracy positioning compared to a conductive pad that is not power supplied.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises a pressure sensor tip unit.

The pressure sensor tip unit allows for recording the pressure applied by a user to the end tip of the stylus. This information may be transmitted to the unit comprising the touchscreen, so that a thickness of the line drawn on the touchscreen is proportional to the pressure exerted on the end tip, i.e., the greater the pressure, the greater the thickness of the line drawn.

In some embodiments, the second end comprises an actuator.

In some embodiments, the second end comprises an electric conductive pad or an end electronic tip.

In some embodiments, the second part comprises a clip, the clip being an actuator.

In some embodiments, the first part of the barrel comprises an actuator.

The actuator may be disposed on the first part of the barrel. The first part of the barrel may comprise more than one actuator.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is configured to be actuated in the longitudinal direction.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is configured to be actuated in translation or in rotation.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is configured to be actuated in the circumferential direction.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is configured to be actuated in a radial direction.

In some embodiments, the actuation of the actuator is a displacement of the actuator.

In some embodiments, the barrel and/or at least one actuator has a touch sensitive surface.

For example, the surface of the actuator or of the barrel may be a capacitive surface or a resistive surface. In these embodiments, the actuation is a displacement of an external object relative to the actuator.

In some embodiments, the surface of the actuator or of the barrel is a two-dimension actuator.

For example, the surface of the actuator or of the barrel may have a capacitive matrix or a resistive matrix.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is a push button.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is a slide button.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is a rotating actuator.

In some embodiments, the rotating actuator is a ring.

In some embodiments, the rotating actuator is a wheel.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is a rocker switch.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is a time proportional selector.

The time proportional selector may be implemented with any type of actuator.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is stable in each configuration.

The actuator is stable in each configuration it may take.

In some embodiments, at least one actuator is not stable in each configuration.

The actuator has a default configuration which the actuator takes back after actuation without interaction with a user. The stylus may comprise a biasing element for returning the actuator in a stable configuration.

In some embodiments, the actuator is a proportional actuator.

The actuator is stable in each configuration it takes. For example, the actuator may be based on variation of electrical resistance, of electrical capacity or of induction.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises a battery.

The battery is the power supply source of the electronic components. It may also supply power to the detector. The battery may be that needs to be changed once used.

In some embodiments, the battery is a rechargeable battery.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises a connection for charging the battery.

In some embodiments, the battery is an induction rechargeable battery.

In some embodiments, the battery is a Near Field Communication rechargeable battery.

The battery of the stylus can therefore be charged when disposed close to a device with which the stylus communicates through NFC.

In some embodiments, the battery is a Qi rechargeable battery.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises energy harvesting device for charging the battery.

Example of energy harvesting devices are solar energy harvesting device, mechanical energy harvesting device, electromagnetic energy harvesting device, thermal energy harvesting device. Mechanical energy harvesting devices may be based on the piezoelectric effect. Thermal energy harvesting devices may be based on the Seebeck effect.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises an induction coil.

The stylus may cooperate with an induction touchscreen. The induction coil may receive power supply from a coil included in an electronic device comprising the touchscreen. As when using a battery, the induction coil, when being power supplied by the touchscreen may be the power supply source of the electronic components and/or of the detector.

In some embodiments, the first part and the second part are configured to move in translation and/or in rotation relative to one another from a first configuration to a second configuration and from the second configuration to the first configuration.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises a memory unit.

The memory unit is used to store information.

In some embodiments, the memory unit is configured to store information relative to at least a personalization of one actuator.

In some embodiments, the electronic tip has a retracted configuration in which the electronic tip is entirely received in the barrel.

The electronic tip is a retractable tip. It is to be noted that buttons for moving the electronic tip from the retracted configuration to the in-use configuration may not be linked, directly or indirectly, to detector detecting the configuration of the button.

In some embodiments, the barrel comprises a writing tip received at least in part in the barrel, the writing tip having a in-use configuration in which the writing tip is received in part in the barrel and protrudes from the first part of the barrel through the opening and a retracted configuration in which the writing tip is entirely received in the barrel.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises a haptic feedback device.

The haptic feedback device may be a piezoelectric device generating vibration upon receiving power supply.

For example, the haptic feedback device may give the user a confirmation that the choice or the action realised with the actuator has been detected. The haptic feedback device may also be used to create or to reproduce a certain feeling with the user, such as the feeling of writing on paper with a pencil.

In some embodiments, the stylus comprises a colour scanner.

In some embodiments, a length of the first part of the barrel in the longitudinal direction is equal to or greater than <NUM> (millimetre), preferably equal to or greater than <NUM> and equal to and smaller than <NUM>, preferably equal to and smaller than <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a length of the second part of the barrel in the longitudinal direction is equal to or greater than <NUM>, preferably equal to or greater than <NUM> and equal to and smaller than <NUM>, preferably equal to and smaller than <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the first part comprises a nose cone.

In some embodiments, a length of the nose cone in the longitudinal direction is equal to or greater than <NUM>, preferably equal to or greater than <NUM> and equal to and smaller than <NUM>, preferably equal to and smaller than <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the barrel comprises a flat portion.

The flat portion may be used to support a display, a photovoltaic element and/or to fix electronic components.

It is intended that combinations of the above-described elements and those within the specification may be made, except where otherwise contradictory.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> shows a representation of an exemplary stylus <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The stylus <NUM> is configured to cooperate with a touchscreen <NUM>, such as the touchscreen <NUM> of a tablet computer <NUM>.

The stylus <NUM> comprises a barrel <NUM> extending in a longitudinal direction X.

In general, the longitudinal direction X correspond to the axis X of the barrel <NUM>, a radial direction R is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the circumferential direction C is a direction circling around the longitudinal direction X.

The barrel <NUM> comprises a first part <NUM> and a second part <NUM>. The first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> may be two different elements assembled to one another in the longitudinal direction X, the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> may be two different elements assembled to one another in the radial direction R, or a combination of thereof. The first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> may also be in one piece.

The first part <NUM> is to be held in the hand of a user. The first part <NUM> comprises a first end <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> having a hole <NUM> through which an electronic tip <NUM> protrudes.

In <FIG>, the electronic tip <NUM> is in a in-use configuration. The electronic tip <NUM> may be fixed or the electronic tip <NUM> may be retractable. When the electronic tip <NUM> is retractable, in the in-use configuration, the electronic tip <NUM> is received at least in part in the barrel <NUM> and the electronic tip <NUM> protrudes from the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> through the opening <NUM> whereas, in a retracted configuration, the electronic tip <NUM> is entirely received in the barrel <NUM>, see <FIG>.

The second part <NUM> comprises a second end <NUM>, the second end <NUM> being, in the longitudinal direction X, opposed to the first end <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the second part <NUM> comprises four actuators positioned in the circumferential direction C relative to one another, only three being visible. The actuators are slide buttons <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction X. The second part <NUM> also comprises a clip <NUM>.

A length L18 of the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> in the longitudinal direction X is equal to <NUM> and a length L20 of the second part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> in the longitudinal direction X is equal to <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a stylus <NUM> in which the first part <NUM> comprises a nose cone <NUM> and an intermediate barrel <NUM>. A length L34 of the nose cone <NUM> of the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> in the longitudinal direction X is equal to <NUM> and a length L36 of the intermediate barrel <NUM> of the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> in the longitudinal direction X is equal to <NUM>.

As can be seen on the cut away view of <FIG>, the electronic tip <NUM> is an assembly of an end tip <NUM> connected to an electronic printed board <NUM> comprising a plurality of electronic components <NUM>. The electronic printed board <NUM> may be flexible.

The electronic components <NUM> may improve the detection of the position of the end tip <NUM> relative to the touchscreen <NUM>.

The stylus <NUM> comprises four detectors <NUM>, each detector <NUM> detecting the configuration of one slide button <NUM>. For example, the detectors <NUM> may be microcontrollers programmed to detect the state of the actuators. The detectors <NUM> are connected to the actuators, directly or indirectly. Non-limiting examples of direct connection are pins, ribbon cables, cables, metallic conductive strips or Molded Interconnect Device (MID). Non-limiting examples of indirect connection through a communication protocol using a multiplexer/demultiplexer. The multiplexer/demultiplexer reduces the need for contacts and allows for space saving.

The detectors <NUM> may be on the electronic printed board <NUM> connected to the end tip <NUM>. On <FIG>, the detectors <NUM> are on the electronic printed board <NUM>. However, the detectors <NUM> may also be on a separate electronic printed board.

The electronic components <NUM> are connected to the detectors <NUM>. The electronic components <NUM> include communication components <NUM> for communicating with the device <NUM> comprising the touchscreen <NUM>. The communication between the device <NUM> and the stylus <NUM> may be a wireless communication, such as electromagnetic waves, for example, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, or such as light waves, for example, LiFi, infrared, or mechanical waves, for example ultrasound waves or audible sounds. The communication components <NUM> are configured to send information detected by the detectors <NUM> relative to the configuration of the actuators.

In some embodiments (not part of the claimed invention), the stylus <NUM> may comprise an inclination detector <NUM>. The inclination detector <NUM> may be a tilt switch or a gyroscope or an inclination detector comprising a moving part.

In some embodiments (not part of the claimed invention), the stylus <NUM> may also comprise a motion detector <NUM>, for example an inertial measurement unit ("IMU") allowing for measuring the orientation and the movement with nine degrees of freedom. Such an inertial measurement unit comprises accelerometer with three degrees of freedom, a gyroscope with three degrees of freedom and a magnetometer with three degrees of freedom. The motion detector <NUM> may be disposed on the electronic printed board <NUM>.

As shown on <FIG>, the electronic tip <NUM> may have a retracted configuration in which the electronic tip <NUM> is entirely received in the barrel <NUM>. Thus, the electronic tip <NUM> is a retractable tip, i.e., the electronic tip <NUM> has the in-use configuration in which the electronic tip <NUM> protrudes from the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> through the opening <NUM>, shown on <FIG>, and the retracted configuration in which the electronic tip <NUM> is entirely received in the barrel <NUM>, shown on <FIG>.

As also shown on <FIG>, the barrel <NUM> comprises a writing tip W received at least in part in the barrel <NUM>. The writing tip W may take a in-use configuration in which the writing tip W is received in part in the barrel <NUM> and protrudes from the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> through the opening <NUM> and a retracted configuration in which the writing tip W is entirely received in the barrel <NUM>, as shown on <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the second part <NUM> of the stylus <NUM>. In particular, the slide buttons <NUM> may be actuated in the longitudinal direction X, more specifically in the embodiment of <FIG>, the slide buttons <NUM> are actuated in translation along the longitudinal direction X by displacement of the slide buttons <NUM> in translation along the longitudinal direction X.

Each slide button <NUM> may be activated independently from the other slide buttons <NUM>.

Each slide button <NUM> may be stable in each configuration it may take or each slide button <NUM> may not be stable in each configuration it may take. There may also be a mix of stable slide button(s) <NUM> with non-stable slide button(s) <NUM>.

Each slide button <NUM> may take at least two configurations. Each slide button <NUM> may take more than two configurations. Each slide button <NUM> may take a different number of configurations than the other slide buttons <NUM>. One or more slide buttons <NUM> may have the same number of configurations.

For example, one slide button <NUM> is stable and has two configurations, i.e., the slide button <NUM> has a first configuration shown in <FIG> and a second configuration shown in <FIG>. When the slide button <NUM> is either in the first configuration or in the second configuration, the slide button <NUM> is stable, i.e., the slide button <NUM> does not move unless actuated by a user. To move from the first configuration to the second configuration, the user actuates the slide button <NUM> in the direction of the arrow <NUM> in Fig. <NUM> and conversely, to move the second configuration to the first configuration, the user actuates the slide button <NUM> in the direction of the arrow <NUM> in <FIG>.

For example, one slide button <NUM> is not stable and has two configurations, i.e., the slide button <NUM> has a first configuration shown in <FIG> and a second configuration shown in <FIG>. When the slide button <NUM> is stable in the first configuration and not stable in the second configuration, i.e., the slide button <NUM> has a default configuration, in this case the first configuration, which the slide button <NUM> takes back after being actuated in the second configuration, without interaction of a user. To move from the first configuration to the second configuration, the user actuates the slide button <NUM> in the direction of the arrow <NUM> in Fig. <NUM>, the slide button <NUM> takes the second configuration and, upon release from the user, the slide button <NUM> moves back to the first configuration, without interaction of the user. The stylus <NUM> may comprise a biasing element for returning the slide button <NUM> in the stable configuration, in this case, the first configuration.

It is understood that the first configuration may be a non-stable configuration and the second configuration may be a stable configuration, the second configuration is the default configuration.

Although, when not activated by a user, the slide button <NUM> is in the default configuration, the slide button <NUM> may have different status in the default configuration, for example, the slide button <NUM> may pass from a "on" status to a "off" status upon a first actuation and from the "off" status to the "on" status upon a second actuation. It is possible to have more than two statuses.

The slide button <NUM> may also be configured to be actuated in the radial direction R towards the axis X, as shown on <FIG>. Thus, the slide button <NUM> may also be a push button <NUM>. Typically, for such actuation, the push button <NUM> has a first configuration which is a default configuration in which the push button <NUM> is stable and a second configuration in which the push button <NUM> is pressed towards the axis X in the radial direction R in which the push button <NUM> is not stable. Upon release by the user of the push button <NUM>, the push button <NUM> moves back to the first configuration.

The slide button <NUM> may also be actuated in the circumferential direction C, as shown on <FIG>. For example, the slide button <NUM> may be moved or pressed in the circumferential direction either in the direction of the arrow <NUM> or in the direction of the arrow <NUM>. Generally, the slide button <NUM> has a first configuration which is a default configuration in which the slide button <NUM> is stable and two configurations in which the slide button <NUM> is pressed towards the circumferential direction C, either in the direction of the arrow <NUM> or in the direction of the arrow <NUM>, in which the push button is not stable. Upon release by the user of the slide button <NUM>, the slide button <NUM> moves back to the first configuration.

It is understood that each slide button <NUM> may be configured to be actuated according to <FIG>. However, all the actuations may not be possible on each slide button <NUM>. Some slide buttons <NUM> may be displaced only in translation along the longitudinal direction X. Some slide buttons <NUM> may be actuated in translation along the longitudinal direction X and may be actuated in the circumferential direction C. Some slide buttons <NUM> may be actuated in translation along the longitudinal direction X and in the radial direction R. All combinations are encompassed. Moreover, one slide button <NUM> may have a configuration different from the other slide buttons <NUM>.

The slide button <NUM> may also have more than two configurations in the longitudinal direction X. As shown on <FIG>, the slide button <NUM> has three configurations. A first configuration which is a default configuration in which the slide button <NUM> is stable and two configurations in which the slide button <NUM> is pressed along the longitudinal direction X, either in the direction of the arrow <NUM> or in the direction of the arrow <NUM>, in which the push button is not stable. Upon release by the user of the slide button <NUM>, the slide button <NUM> moves back to the first configuration shown on <FIG>. The slide button <NUM> may also be stable in the three configurations.

It is to be understood that the configurations described for the slide button <NUM> of <FIG> are also possible options for the slide button <NUM> of <FIG>.

When the slide button <NUM> is stable in all the configurations it takes, it is possible to have more than three configurations for the slide button <NUM>. The slide button <NUM> may also take different configurations in continuous, i.e., the slide button <NUM> may be moved continuously from the configuration of <FIG> to the configuration of <FIG>, each position of the slide button <NUM> being a stable configuration. The latter slide button <NUM> is a proportional actuator.

The actuator may be a rock button <NUM>. The rock button <NUM> is configured to be actuated in the radial direction R towards the axis X, as shown on <FIG>.

The rock button <NUM> has a first configuration which is a default configuration in which the rock button <NUM> is stable, a second configuration in which the rock button <NUM> is pressed towards the axis X in the radial direction R in the direction of the arrow <NUM> in which the rock button <NUM> is not stable and a third configuration in which the rock button <NUM> is pressed towards the axis X in the radial direction R in the direction of the arrow <NUM> in which the rock button <NUM> is not stable. Either in the second configuration or in the third configuration, upon release by the user of the rock button <NUM>, the rock button <NUM> moves back to the first configuration.

The three configurations may be stable configurations. The rock button <NUM> may also have two stable configurations, a first configuration in which the rock button <NUM> is pressed towards the axis X in the radial direction R in the direction of the arrow <NUM> and a second configuration in which the rock button <NUM> is pressed towards the axis X in the radial direction R in the direction of the arrow <NUM>.

It is to be understood that the configurations described for the slide button <NUM> of <FIG> are also possible options for the rock button <NUM> of <FIG>.

The actuator may be wheel <NUM>, a shown on <FIG>. The wheel <NUM> is configured to be actuated in the longitudinal direction X in rotation either in the direction of the arrow <NUM> and/or in the direction of the arrow <NUM>.

The wheel <NUM> may be configured to take multiple discrete or continuous configurations.

It is to be understood that the configurations described for the slide button <NUM> of <FIG> are also possible options for the wheel <NUM> of <FIG>.

The actuator may comprise a touch sensitive surface <NUM>. The touch sensitive surface <NUM> may be for example a capacitive surface or a resistive surface. The touch sensitive surface <NUM> may be actuated along the longitudinal direction X, along the circumferential direction C and/or along the radial direction R, for example, by displacement of a finger of a user along the touch sensitive surface <NUM>. The touch sensitive surface <NUM> may be a proportional actuator.

The actuator may be a combination of the above non-limitative list of actuators. As described, the slide button may also be a push button. The sensitive surface may also be a push button, etc..

The actuator may comprise a display (not part of the claimed invention), such as a LCD screen display <NUM>, as shown on <FIG>. The LCD screen may display information related to the configuration in which the actuator is in, for example a colour (<FIG>) or other information related to a given actuator (<FIG>). Alternatively, the display may be a E-Ink display.

The barrel <NUM> may comprise a display (not part of the claimed invention), such as a LED <NUM>, as shown on <FIG>. The LED <NUM> may be disposed close to the actuator and show the configuration the actuator is in.

As shown on <FIG>, the second end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> comprises a push button <NUM>. The push button <NUM> is configured to be actuated in the longitudinal direction X. Typically, for such actuation, the push button <NUM> has a first configuration which is a default configuration in which the push button <NUM> is stable and a second configuration in which the push button <NUM> is pressed towards the first end <NUM> in the longitudinal direction X in which the push button <NUM> is not stable. Upon release by the user of the push button <NUM>, the push button <NUM> moves back to the first configuration.

The push button <NUM> may comprises a display (not part of the claimed invention), such as a LCD screen display, a E-Ink display or a LED.

As shown on <FIG>, the second end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> comprises an electric conductive pad <NUM>. The electric conductive pad <NUM> may be an end electronic tip.

As shown on <FIG>, in some embodiments, the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> may be configured to move in rotation in the circumferential direction C relative to one another from a first configuration indicated by an indicator <NUM> disposed on the second part <NUM> and aligned with a first marker <NUM> disposed on the first part <NUM> on <FIG> to a second configuration indicated by a second marker <NUM> disposed on the first part <NUM>. The first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> may also move from the second configuration to the first configuration. The embodiment is not limited to two configurations. The number of configurations is only given as a non-limitative example.

As shown on <FIG>, in some embodiments, the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> may be configured to move in translation in the longitudinal direction X relative to one another and take different configurations indicated by markers <NUM> disposed on the second part <NUM>. The number of configurations is only given as a non-limitative example.

It is understood that the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> may be configured to move both in rotation in the circumferential direction C relative to one another and in translation in the longitudinal direction X relative to one another.

As shown on <FIG>, the clip <NUM> is an actuator. The clip <NUM> may be actuated in the radial direction R and/or in the circumferential direction C.

As shown on <FIG>, the clip <NUM> may comprise a touch sensitive surface <NUM>. The touch sensitive surface <NUM> may be for example a capacitive surface or a resistive surface. The touch sensitive surface <NUM> may be actuated along the longitudinal direction X, along the circumferential direction C and/or along the radial direction R. For example, the touch sensitive surface <NUM> may be a proportional actuator in the longitudinal direction X.

The clip <NUM> may comprise a display (not part of the claimed invention), such as a LCD screen display <NUM>, as shown on <FIG>. The LCD screen may display information related to the configuration in which the actuator is in, for example a colour or other information. Alternatively, the display may be a E-Ink display.

The clip <NUM> may comprise a display (not part of the claimed invention), such as a LED <NUM>, or a plurality of LED <NUM>, as shown on <FIG>.

As shown on <FIG>, the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> may comprise an actuator.

Any type of actuator describe in connexion with the second part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> may be also implemented in the first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM>, of which some non-limitative embodiments are shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the actuator is a ring <NUM> configured to be rotated in the circumferential direction.

In <FIG>, the actuator is a ring <NUM> with a touch sensitive surface.

In <FIG>, the actuator is a slide button <NUM> similar to the slide button <NUM> of <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the actuator is a touch sensitive surface <NUM> similar to the touch sensitive surface <NUM> of <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the actuator is a press button <NUM> similar to the press button <NUM> of <FIG>.

The first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> may comprise more than one actuator, and actuators of different types.

The first part <NUM> of the barrel <NUM> may comprise a display (not part of the claimed invention), such as a LCD screen display <NUM> or a E-Ink display, see.

The LCD screen display <NUM> may be disposed on a flat portion of the stylus <NUM>.

As shown on <FIG>, the end tip <NUM> is detachable.

The end tip <NUM> may be detached from the stylus <NUM> and may be replaced by another end tip <NUM>. The other end tip <NUM> may have a different end tip shape and/or size, as shown in <FIG>. The other end tip <NUM> may be made of a different material and/or have a different density so the feeling of the user is different from the feeling with the previous end tip <NUM>.

The stylus may comprise a pressure sensor tip unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). The pressure sensor tip unit <NUM> allows for recording the pressure applied by a user to the end tip <NUM> of the stylus <NUM>. This information may be transmitted to the unit <NUM> comprising the touchscreen <NUM>, so that a thickness of the line drawn <NUM> on the touchscreen <NUM> is proportional to the pressure exerted on the end tip <NUM>, i.e., the greater the pressure, the greater the thickness of the line drawn (see <FIG>).

The possible interactions between the touchscreen <NUM> and the stylus <NUM> are going to be described.

The stylus <NUM> may cooperate with the touchscreen <NUM> of the device <NUM> by having a specific application installed on the device <NUM> or by being compatible with the native operating system of the device <NUM>.

For example, when the second end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> comprises an electric conductive pad <NUM>. The electric conductive pad <NUM> may be recognised by the touchscreen <NUM> as an eraser (see <FIG>).

The actuators may be used to select colors or tools (highlither, pencil, mechanical pencil, brush) or functions, such as drawing thickness variation, opacity variation, saturation variation, pattern variation, application option setup, tools options setup, application shortcuts (copy/paste, save, zoom, etc.), etc. This list is non limitative.

IMU may allow for advances functions such as the thickness of the line drawn that may vary as a function of the speed of displacement of the end tip <NUM> on the touchscreen <NUM>.

The push button <NUM> disposed at the second end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> of the barrel may be used as an eraser, i.e., when activated, the stylus <NUM> would not make line on the touchscreen <NUM> but would erase lines and drawings on the touchscreen <NUM>. A LED disposed on the push button <NUM> may tell the user whether the "erase" function is "on" or "off".

The push button <NUM> may be a time proportional selector. Upon a short actuation, i.e., less than <NUM> second, the push button <NUM> switches between the "on"/"off" status, while upon a long actuation, i.e., more than <NUM> seconds, the push button may trigger another action. The other action may be an "undo" action, or a "save" action. The "save" action may be the action of saving the current drawing and/or text displayed on the touchscreen <NUM>. The "save" action may also be the action of saving the current status of all the actuators or the personalization of the actuators that has been chosen by the user. The "save" action may be related to one actuator at a time, in general the actuator for which the status has been changed the most recently or to a group of actuators. The "save" action may save the information in a memory unit <NUM>, which is part of the electronic printed board <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example of for two slide buttons 30A, 30B which are not stable and each have two configurations, i.e., the slide buttons 30A, 30B have a first configuration shown in <FIG> and a second configuration shown in <FIG>. When the slide buttons 30A, 30B are stable in the first configuration and not stable in the second configuration, i.e., the slide buttons 30A, 30B have a default configuration, in this case the first configuration, which the slide buttons 30A, 30B take back after being actuated in the second configuration, without interaction of a user.

The slide button 30A may have three statuses in the default configuration, for example, for selecting a tool in the part <NUM> of the touchscreen <NUM> and the slide button 30A may pass from one status to another upon successive actuations of the slide button 30A.

The slide button 30B may have height statuses in the default configuration, for example, for selecting, in the part <NUM> of the touchscreen <NUM>, a texture of the line to be drawn and the slide button 30B may pass from one status to another upon successive actuations of the slide button 30A.

<FIG> may also show an example of for two slide buttons 30A, 30B which are stable, the slide button 30A having three configurations and the slide button 30B having height configurations.

It is understood that each button 30A, 30B may be actuated independently from one another.

<FIG> shows the clip <NUM> having a touch sensitive surface <NUM>. The touch sensitive surface <NUM> of the clip may be used to select, in the part <NUM> of the touchscreen <NUM>, the thickness of the line to be drawn.

<FIG> shows the first part <NUM> having a push button <NUM> allowing, upon actuation, to switch from one end tip to another in the part <NUM> of the touchscreen.

The stylus <NUM> may also comprise a color scanner <NUM> allowing to sample the color of an object, such as an apple <NUM> for example, the stylus <NUM> may then be capable of communicating the scanned color to the device <NUM> and to display it in a part <NUM> of the touchscreen <NUM> and to allow the user to fill a form with the scanned color.

The stylus <NUM> may also comprise a battery <NUM> (see <FIG>) for power supply of the electronic printed board <NUM> and the components requesting energy.

The battery <NUM> may be a rechargeable battery. The stylus may comprise a connection <NUM> for charging the battery <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> may be an induction rechargeable battery, a Near Field Communication rechargeable battery and/or an energy harvesting battery.

The stylus <NUM> may comprise an induction coil <NUM> (see <FIG>). The stylus <NUM> may cooperate with an induction touchscreen. The induction coil <NUM> may receive power supply from a coil included in an electronic device comprising the induction touchscreen. As when using a battery, the induction coil <NUM>, when being power supplied by the touchscreen may be the power supply source of the electronic components and/or of the detector.

The stylus may comprise a haptic feedback device <NUM> (see <FIG>). The haptic feedback device <NUM> may be a piezoelectric device generating vibration upon receiving power supply.

For example, the haptic feedback device <NUM> may give the user a confirmation that the choice or the action realised with the actuator has been detected. The haptic feedback device <NUM> may also be used to create or to reproduce a certain feeling with the user, such as the feeling of writing on paper with a pencil.

<FIG> represent the electronic printed board <NUM> connected to the end tip <NUM> of <FIG>. The electronic printed board <NUM> may be flexible.

The electronic printed board <NUM> comprises electronic components <NUM> for improving the detection of the position of the end tip <NUM> relative to the touchscreen <NUM>.

The electronic printed board <NUM> may comprise the detectors <NUM>. Although only one detector <NUM> is represented on <FIG>, it is understood that the electronic printed board <NUM> may comprise as many detectors <NUM> as required.

The electronic printed board <NUM> may comprise the communications components <NUM>. The electronic printed board <NUM> may comprise the inclination detector <NUM> and/or the motion detector <NUM> (not part of the claimed invention).

The electronic printed board <NUM> may comprise the color scanner <NUM> and the electronic parts for the color scanner to communicate with the stylus <NUM>, the memory unit <NUM> and/or the haptic feedback device.

It is understood that each of the components represented with a dash line on <FIG> need not to be present on the electronic printed board <NUM> which is connected to the end tip <NUM>. Indeed, each of the components represented with a dash line on <FIG> may be disposed on separate electronic printed board(s). The separate electronic printed board(s) may be connected directly or indirectly. Non-limiting examples of direct connection are pins, ribbon cables, cables, metallic conductive strips or Molded Interconnect Device (MID). Non-limiting examples of indirect connection through a communication protocol using a multiplexer/demultiplexer. The multiplexer/demultiplexer reduces the need for contacts and allows for space saving.

Moreover, it is to be understood that not all of these components are requested to be present in the stylus <NUM>.

For example, the inclination detector <NUM> (not part of the claimed invention), the motion detector <NUM> (not part of the claimed invention), the color scanner <NUM>, the memory unit <NUM> and/or the haptic feedback device <NUM> may be omitted in the stylus <NUM>, depending on the desired functions of the stylus.

Throughout the description, including the claims, the term "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one" unless otherwise stated. In addition, any range set forth in the description, including the claims should be understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated. Specific values for described elements should be understood to be within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one of skill in the art, and any use of the terms "substantially" and/or "approximately" and/or "generally" should be understood to mean falling within such accepted tolerances.

Claim 1:
Stylus (<NUM>) for touchscreen (<NUM>) comprising:
- a barrel (<NUM>) extending in a longitudinal direction (X), the barrel (<NUM>) comprising:
∘ a first end (<NUM>) comprising an opening (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), the first end (<NUM>) and the second end (<NUM>) being, in the longitudinal direction (X), opposite one another, and
∘ a first part (<NUM>) and a second part (<NUM>), the first part (<NUM>) including the first end (<NUM>) and the second part (<NUM>) including the second end (<NUM>);
- an electronic tip (<NUM>) received at least in part in the barrel (<NUM>) and configured to have at least a in-use configuration in which the electronic tip (<NUM>) protrudes from the first part (<NUM>) of the barrel (<NUM>) through the opening (<NUM>);
- at least two actuators (<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>) positioned in a circumferential direction (C) relative to one another on the second part (<NUM>) of the barrel (<NUM>), each actuator (<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>) extending in the longitudinal direction (X), being configured to be actuated independently from the other actuators and having at least two configurations wherein the circumferential direction (C) is a direction circling around the longitudinal direction (X); and
- at least a detector (<NUM>) for detecting the configuration of the actuators (<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>;<NUM>) wherein the electronic tip (<NUM>) is an assembly of an end tip connected to electronic components (<NUM>) and the electronic components (<NUM>) are connected to the detector (<NUM>);
- communication components (<NUM>) configured to send information relative to the configuration of the actuators (<NUM>)
- wherein the second part (<NUM>) comprises a clip (<NUM>), the clip (<NUM>) being an actuator (<NUM>;<NUM>), wherein the clip is actuated in the radial direction (R) and/or in the circumferential direction (C) or comprises a touch sensitive surface (<NUM>).