Patent Description:
Electronic devices (e.g., mobile terminals, smart phones, or wearable devices) may provide various functions. For example, in addition to a basic voice communication function, a smart phone may provide a short-range wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or near field communication (NFC)) function, a mobile communication function, a music or video playback function, a photographing function, or a navigation function.

Also, the electronic device may include various input sensing panels. For example, the electronic devices may include an input sensing panel such as a touch screen panel (TSP), a digitizer panel, or a force touch panel. The input sensing panel may be laminated or adhered to a display panel. The digitizer panel may support an input using a stylus pen.

With the digitizer panel which may interact with the stylus pen installed on the electronic device, the stylus pen may be used as an input means. For example, with the stylus pen and the electronic device positioned within a specific distance (e.g., a hover state) and in direct contact (e.g., a touch state), functions related to the stylus pen may be executed at the electronic device.

Reference is made here to closest prior art document <CIT>, which discloses a color display terminal and a corresponding method. Further prior art documents bearing at least some relevance to the present invention include <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses to provide color information of an electronic pen to the color display terminal via RFID. <CIT> discloses to charge an electronic pen while inserted into a storing groove of a mobile terminal, and to perform wireless communication concerning pen color information between the pen and the mobile terminal. These documents do not disclose a stylus pen transmitting an advertising signal in response to receiving a charging signal, wherein the advertising signal contains color information.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a new user experience (UX) to a user by processing an input according to characteristics of a stylus pen.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a system as defined in any of the appended claims <NUM>-<NUM> is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an operating method as defined in appended claim <NUM> is provided.

An electronic device according to various embodiments, may provide a new user experience (UX), by processing a proximity input using a stylus pen based on unique characteristics of the stylus pen or the electronic device.

Hereinafter, various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a sound output device <NUM>, a display device <NUM>, an audio module <NUM>, a sensor module <NUM>, an interface <NUM>, a haptic module <NUM>, a camera module <NUM>, a power management module <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, a subscriber identification module(SIM) <NUM>, or an antenna module <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an electronic device of an embodiment, including a digital pen.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> may include the configuration shown in <FIG>, and may include a structure into which a 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 a portion of the housing, for example, a portion of a side surface 110C. The electronic device <NUM> may include a receiving space <NUM> connected to the hole <NUM>, and the digital pen <NUM> may be inserted into the receiving space <NUM>. According to the embodiment illustrated, the digital pen <NUM> may include a pushable button 201a, for easily taking the digital pen <NUM> out of the receiving space <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, at one end. If the button 201a is pressed, opposing mechanisms (e.g., at least one spring) associated with the button 201a may work, to detach the digital pen <NUM> from the receiving space <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a digital pen of an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a 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 one embodiments, the processor <NUM>, at least part of the resonant circuit <NUM>, and/or at least part of the communication circuit <NUM> of the digital pen <NUM> may be configured on a printed circuit board or 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 include only a resonance circuit and a button.

The processor <NUM> may include a generic processor configured to execute a customized hardware module or software (e.g., an application program). The processor may include a hardware component (function) or a software component (program) including at least one of various sensors of the digital pen <NUM>, a data measuring module, an input/output interface, a module which manages a state or an environment of the digital pen <NUM> or a communication module. The processor <NUM> may include, for example, a combination of one or two or more of hardware, software, or firmware. According to an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may receive a proximity signal corresponding to an electromagnetic signal generated from a digitizer <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> through the resonant circuit <NUM>. If identifying the proximity signal, the resonant circuit <NUM> may be controlled to transmit an electromagnetic resonant (EMR) input signal to the electronic device <NUM>.

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

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 the resonant frequency. For example, for the signal generation, the digital pen <NUM> may use at least one of an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) scheme, an active electrostatic (AES) scheme, or an electrically coupled resonance (ECR) scheme. If the digital pen <NUM> transmits a signal by the EMR scheme, the digital pen <NUM> may generate a signal including a resonance frequency, based on an electromagnetic field generated from an inductive panel of the electronic device <NUM>. If the digital pen <NUM> transmits a signal by the AES scheme, the digital pen <NUM> may generate a signal by using capacity coupling with the electronic device <NUM>. If the digital pen <NUM> transmits a signal by the ECR scheme, the digital pen <NUM> transmits a signal including a resonance frequency, based on an electric field generated from a capacitive device of the electronic device. According to an embodiment, the resonant circuit <NUM> may be used to change an intensity or a frequency of the electromagnetic field according to a user's manipulation state. 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.

If the charging circuit <NUM> is connected to the resonant circuit <NUM> based on a switching circuit, the charging circuit <NUM> may rectify the resonant signal generated by the resonant circuit <NUM> to a direct current signal and provide it the battery <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the digital pen <NUM> may identify whether the digital pen <NUM> is inserted into the electronic device <NUM>, using a voltage level of the direct current signal detected by the charging circuit <NUM>.

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

The communication circuit <NUM> may be configured to perform the 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> using a short-range communication scheme. For example, the communication circuit <NUM> may transmit direction information (e.g., motion sensor data) of the digital pen <NUM> acquired through the trigger circuit <NUM>, voice information inputted through a microphone, or remaining capacity information of the battery <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the short-range communication scheme may include at least one of Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), or wireless local area network (WLAN).

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

The trigger circuit <NUM> may include at least one button or sensor circuit. According to an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may identify an input scheme (e.g., touch or press) or a type (e.g., an EMR button or a BLE button) of the button of the digital pen <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the sensor circuit may generate an electrical signal or a data value corresponding to an internal operating state of the digital pen <NUM> or an external environmental state. For example, the sensor circuit may include at least one of a motion sensor, a battery remaining capacity detecting sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, a geomagnetic field sensor, and a biometric sensor. According to an embodiment, the trigger circuit <NUM> may transmit a trigger signal to the electronic device <NUM> using the input signal of the button or the signal through the sensor.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a digital pen according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the digital pen <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> which forms an external shape of the digital pen <NUM> and an inner assembly inside the pen housing <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated, the internal assembly, including various components mounted inside the pen, may be inserted into the pen housing <NUM> through one assembly operation.

The pen housing <NUM> may have a shape extending long between a first end 300a and a second end 300b, and may include a receiving space <NUM> therein. The pen housing <NUM> may have an oval cross section including a major axis and a minor axis, and may be formed in a cylindrical shape on the whole. A cross section of the receiving space <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may be also formed in an oval shape 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 300b of the pen housing <NUM> may be formed of a synthetic resin material.

The inner assembly may have a shape which is extended long to correspond to the shape of the pen housing <NUM>. The inner assembly may be divided into three configurations among a longitudinal direction. For example, the inner assembly may include an ejection member <NUM> disposed at a position corresponding to the first end 300a of the pen housing <NUM>, a coil unit <NUM> disposed at a position corresponding to the second end 300b of the pen housing <NUM>, and a circuit board unit <NUM> disposed at a position corresponding to a body of the housing.

The ejection member <NUM> may include a configuration for ejecting 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>, an ejection body <NUM> disposed around the shaft <NUM> and forming an overall exterior of the ejection member <NUM> and a button unit <NUM>. If the inner assembly is completely inserted into the pen housing <NUM>, a portion including the shaft <NUM> and the ejection body <NUM> may be surrounded by the first end 300a of the pen housing <NUM>, and the button unit <NUM> (e.g., 201a of <FIG>) may be exposed outside the first end 300a. A plurality of components not shown, for example, cam members or elastic members may be disposed in the ejection member <NUM> to build a push-pull structure. In an embodiment, the button unit <NUM> may be coupled substantially with the shaft <NUM> and perform a linear reciprocating motion with respect to the ejection body <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the button unit <NUM> may include a button having a latching structure allowing the user to eject the digital pen <NUM> using his/her nail. According to an embodiment, the digital pen <NUM> may include a sensor for detecting the linear reciprocating motion of the shaft <NUM>, and thus provide a different input scheme.

The coil unit <NUM> may include a pen tip <NUM> exposed outside the second end 300b if the inner assembly is completely inserted into the pen housing <NUM>, a packing ring <NUM>, a coil <NUM> wound multiple times, and/or a pen pressure detector <NUM> for acquiring a pressure change according to pressing the pen tip <NUM>. The packing ring <NUM> may include epoxy, rubber, urethane or silicon. The packing ring <NUM> may be disposed for the sake of protection against water and dust, and protect the coil unit <NUM> and the circuit board unit <NUM> from water or dust. According to an embodiment, the coil <NUM> may generate a resonant frequency in a set frequency band (e.g., <NUM>), and control a resonant frequency formed by the coil <NUM> within a specific range in conjunction with at least one element (e.g., a capacitor).

The circuit board unit <NUM> may include a printed circuit board <NUM>, a base <NUM> surrounding at least one surface of the printed circuit board <NUM>, and an antenna. According to an embodiment, a board receiving unit <NUM> for receiving the printed circuit board <NUM> may be formed on a top surface of the base <NUM>, and the printed circuit board <NUM> may be secured in the board receiving unit <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board <NUM> may include an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface may include a variable capacitor or a switch <NUM> connected to the coil <NUM>, and the lower surface may include a charging circuit, a battery, or a communication circuit. The battery may include an electric double layered capacitor (EDLC). The charging circuit is disposed between the coil <NUM> and the battery, and may include a voltage detector circuitry and a rectifier.

The antenna may include an antenna structure <NUM> such as the example shown in <FIG> and/or an antenna embedded in the printed circuit board <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the switch <NUM> may be disposed on the printed circuit board <NUM>. A side button <NUM> of the digital pen <NUM> may be used to press the switch <NUM> and exposed to the outside through a side opening <NUM> of the pen housing <NUM>. If the side button <NUM> is supported by a support member <NUM> and no external force is exerted to the side button <NUM>, the support member <NUM> may provide an elastic restoring force to restore or maintain the side button <NUM> at a specific position.

The circuit board unit <NUM> may include another packing ring such as an O-ring. For example, the O-ring formed with an elastic material may be disposed at both ends of the base <NUM> to form a sealing structure between the base <NUM> and the pen housing <NUM>. In some embodiment, the support member <NUM> may build the sealing structure by closely attaching in part to an inner wall of the pen housing <NUM> around the side opening <NUM>. For example, the circuit board unit <NUM> may also build a waterproof and dustproof structure similar to the packing ring <NUM> of the coil unit <NUM>.

The digital pen <NUM> may include a battery receiving unit <NUM> for receiving a battery <NUM> on a top surface of the base <NUM>. The battery <NUM> mounted in the battery receiving unit <NUM> may include, for example, a cylinder-type battery.

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

<FIG> is another block diagram of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a touch screen display <NUM> (e.g., the display device <NUM> of <FIG>), a first wireless charging circuit <NUM>, and a first wireless communication circuit <NUM> (e.g., the wireless communication module <NUM> of <FIG>).

The processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may control the overall operation of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> is disposed inside the housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, operatively or electrically connected with a memory <NUM>, a touch screen display <NUM>, a first wireless charging circuit <NUM> and a first wireless communication circuit <NUM>, and control the components of the electronic device <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a digitizer controller <NUM>. The digitizer controller <NUM> may transmit a position detection signal through the digitizer panel <NUM>, and receive a response signal from the resonant circuit <NUM> of a stylus pen (e.g., the digital pen <NUM> of <FIG>). The digitizer controller <NUM> may determine position information of the stylus pen <NUM> by analyzing the received response signal. Alternatively, the digitizer controller <NUM> may transmit a detection signal through a coil included in the first wireless charging circuit <NUM>, and receive a signal from the stylus pen <NUM> to determine whether the stylus pen <NUM> is physically or electrically coupled. Alternatively, the digitizer controller <NUM> may apply a charging signal of a higher voltage than the detection signal to the coil of the first wireless charging circuit <NUM> and charge a battery (or a super capacitor) (e.g., the battery <NUM> of <FIG>) of the stylus pen <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the digitizer controller <NUM> may be a separate configuration. The processor <NUM> may receive whether the stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM> of <FIG>) is inserted from the digitizer controller <NUM>, transmit a wireless communication connection command to the first wireless communication circuit <NUM> based on the received insertion, and transmit a charging signal and a control signal to the digitizer controller <NUM> based on data received from the first wireless communication circuit <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may be operatively (or electrically) connected with the processor <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may store pairing related data of the stylus pen <NUM> previously connected. Also, the memory <NUM> may store attribute information corresponding to characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the attribute information may be stored in a logical location indicated by a predefined value.

The touch screen display <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may be exposed through a part of the housing <NUM>, and may provide an input function and an output function. For example, the touch screen display <NUM> may include a display panel <NUM>, a touch panel <NUM> and a digitizer panel <NUM>. The display panel <NUM> may be formed with, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, or a micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) display, or an electronic paper display. The touch panel <NUM> may detect (or recognize) a change of physical characteristics (capacitance, or frequency) by various touch inputs (e.g., tap, double tap, touch, touch movement, or multi-touch) using an input tool (e.g., a finger), and forward it to the processor <NUM>. The digitizer panel <NUM> may detect an electromagnetic change according to the input of the stylus pen <NUM>, and transmit it to the digitizer controller <NUM> of the processor <NUM>. The touch screen display <NUM> may further include a pressure sensing panel (not shown) for sensing the pressure. The input (e.g., hovering, touch input, etc.) of the stylus pen <NUM> detected through the digitizer panel <NUM> may be referred to as a 'proximity input'.

The first wireless charging circuit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed adjacent to the hole <NUM> formed inside the housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. The first wireless charging circuit <NUM> may include at least one coil. The first wireless charging circuit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may supply power for charging the battery <NUM> of the stylus pen <NUM> inserted into the hole <NUM>. The first wireless charging circuit <NUM> may be turned on for a first designated time (e.g., <NUM> seconds), and turned off for a second designated time (e.g., <NUM> second) under control of the processor <NUM> or the digitizer controller <NUM>. The first wireless charging circuit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may be turned on or off in an arbitrary pattern under the control of the processor <NUM> or the digitizer controller <NUM>, to identify or verify whether the stylus pen <NUM> currently connected for the communication is a pen inserted into the hole <NUM>.

The first wireless communication circuit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed inside the housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, and wirelessly communicate with an external electronic device (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM> of <FIG>). The first wireless communication circuit <NUM> may receive information from the stylus pen <NUM> through the antenna <NUM> during or after charging the stylus pen <NUM>.

The first wireless communication circuit <NUM> may support the Bluetooth protocol. For example, the first wireless communication circuit <NUM> may be a circuit for the BLE communication. The first wireless communication circuit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may scan the stylus pen <NUM> which is connectable if the insertion of the stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM> of <FIG>) is detected or the charging signal is applied. The first wireless communication circuit <NUM> may receive an advertising signal of the stylus pen <NUM>. The advertising signal may include at least one of identification information or characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may include a Bluetooth module <NUM> belonging to a Bluetooth (BT) framework, an air command application <NUM> belonging to an application layer, a setting application <NUM>, and a pen related application <NUM>.

The Bluetooth module <NUM> may be a block for communicating with the stylus pen <NUM>. The Bluetooth module <NUM> may perform the connection or the pairing with the stylus pen <NUM> according to the Bluetooth standard, and exchange information. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the Bluetooth module <NUM> may establish a wireless connection based on whether the stylus pen <NUM> is attached, and and perform the communication.

The air command application <NUM> is an application related to management of the stylus pen <NUM>, and may be executed by detachment of the stylus pen <NUM> from the hole <NUM>. The air command application <NUM> may include a remoteSpenService <NUM> as an activity which monitors a state related to the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, the remoteSpenService <NUM> may identify whether the stylus pen <NUM> is paired or inserted into the hole <NUM>, and notify to the air command application <NUM>. The air command application <NUM> may extract characteristic information from the pairing information received from the stylus pen <NUM>, and determine whether to store it as attribute information based on the pairing state.

The setting application <NUM> may record information in a database (DB) <NUM> and read the recorded information. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the setting application <NUM> may store the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> provided from the air command application <NUM> in a predefined area of the DB <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the setting application <NUM> may provide the attribute information stored in the predefined area of the DB <NUM> to the pen related application <NUM>.

The pen related application <NUM> may be an application for providing various functions using the stylus pen <NUM>. The pen related application <NUM> may perform a corresponding function based on the input of the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, the pen related application <NUM> may include a screen off memo application, a pen separation effect application, and the like. The pen related application <NUM> may read the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> stored in the predefined area of the DB <NUM>, and reflect the attribute information in executing the corresponding function. Since the attribute information is stored in the predefined area of the DB <NUM>, the pen related application <NUM> may read the attribute information stored in the DB <NUM> without separate information.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the attribute information may be determined from the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>, and the attribute information may be reflected in a function of a pen related application (e.g., the pen related application <NUM>). According to an embodiment, the characteristic information may be a color code stored in the stylus pen <NUM>, and the attribute information may be a color value corresponding to the color code. In this case, the color value may be used to determine the color displayed if the pen related application <NUM> is executed. Embodiments for using the color code are described below.

The present invention relates to a technique for receiving the characteristic information (e.g., a color code) of the stylus pen <NUM> paired with the electronic device <NUM> during the pairing operation, determining and storing the attribute information related to the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> based on the received characteristic information, and processing the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> based on the stored attribute information.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a concept of using the characteristic information of the stylus pen in the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is a conceptual diagram illustrating the characteristic information (e.g., a color code) based on a module layer based on an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> depicts an example where the characteristic information is the color code.

Referring to <FIG>, the stylus pen <NUM> may provide the color code to the remoteSpenService <NUM>. The remoteSpenService <NUM> may provide the setting application <NUM> with a color value corresponding to the color code. In other words, the remoteSpenService <NUM> may receive, analyze and manage the color code from the stylus pen <NUM>, and the setting application <NUM> may store the color value corresponding to the color code. A plurality of applications 636a, 636b, and 636c may request the color value from the setting application <NUM>, acquire the color value, and then execute corresponding functions using the acquired color value. In other words, the applications 636a, 636b, and 636c for processing the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> may process the proximity input using the color value provided from the setting application <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a stylus pen according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the stylus pen <NUM> may include a coil <NUM> (e.g., the resonant circuit <NUM>), a trimmer capacitor <NUM>, a button switch <NUM>, a rectifier circuit unit <NUM>, a first voltage comparison unit <NUM>, a charging switch <NUM>, a second voltage comparison unit <NUM>, a second wireless communication circuit <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, a booting switch <NUM>, a battery <NUM> and an OR gate <NUM>. The rectifier circuit unit <NUM>, the first voltage comparison unit <NUM>, and the charging switch <NUM> may be referred to as a second wireless charging circuit <NUM> (e.g., the charging circuit <NUM>).

The coil <NUM> may be the resonant circuit <NUM> for detecting an electromagnetic field signal applied from an external device (e.g., the first wireless charging circuit <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>) and transmitting a signal of a specific frequency. For example, the coil <NUM> may be an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) coil. The trimmer capacitor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may store an induced current applied to the coil <NUM>. The button switch <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may detect an input (e.g., press) of a button (e.g., the side button <NUM> of <FIG>) disposed in one side of a pen housing (e.g., the pen housing <NUM> of <FIG>) of the stylus pen <NUM>. A resonant frequency of the coil <NUM> may be changed if the button switch <NUM> is turned on. At this time, the electronic device <NUM> may detect the input of the button <NUM> through the change of the resonance frequency.

The rectifier circuit unit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may rectify and convert an alternating current power applied to the coil <NUM> into a direct current power, and transmit the converted direct current power to the first voltage comparison unit <NUM> and the charging switch <NUM>.

The first voltage comparison unit <NUM> may distinguish the position detection signal or the charging signal based on a voltage of the direct current power provided from the rectifier circuit unit <NUM>. For example, the charging signal may have a greater value than the position detection signal. The first voltage comparison unit <NUM> may determine the position detection signal, which is smaller than a reference voltage (e.g., <NUM> V), and determine the charging signal, which is greater than the reference voltage. If the direct current power provided from the rectifier circuit unit <NUM> is the charging signal, the first voltage comparison unit <NUM> may provide the second wireless communication circuit <NUM> with a signal notifying that the stylus pen <NUM> is inserted into the electronic device <NUM>. In addition, the first voltage comparison unit <NUM> may turn on the charging switch <NUM> for the charging signal, and turn off the charging switch <NUM> for the position detection signal.

The charging switch <NUM> may control charging on/off of the battery <NUM>. For example, the charging switch <NUM> may provide or cut the direct current power provided from the rectifier circuit unit <NUM> to the battery <NUM> based on the output of the first voltage comparison unit <NUM>. The second voltage comparison unit <NUM> may turn on or boot up the second wireless communication circuit <NUM> if the voltage of the battery <NUM> is greater than or equal to a specific voltage.

The second wireless communication circuit <NUM> may be disposed inside the housing <NUM> of the stylus pen <NUM>, and connect wireless communication with an external device (e.g., the first wireless communication circuit <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>). The second wireless communication circuit <NUM> may support the Bluetooth protocol. For example, the second wireless communication circuit <NUM> may be a BLE communication circuit. The second wireless communication circuit <NUM> may transmit to the first wireless communication circuit <NUM> data based on the state information (e.g., unique information, charging related information) of the stylus pen <NUM> and/or the input of the button <NUM> through the antenna <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may be electrically connected with the second wireless communication circuit <NUM> to transmit and receive a wireless signal.

The booting switch <NUM> may control the on/off of the second wireless communication circuit <NUM>. For example, the booting switch <NUM> may supply or cut the power of the battery <NUM> to the second wireless communication circuit <NUM> based on the output of the second voltage comparison unit <NUM>. The battery <NUM>, which is a rechargeable secondary battery, may be charged by the direct current power of the rectifier circuit unit <NUM>, and supply the power to the second wireless communication circuit <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> may be a super capacitor. The OR gate <NUM> may provide the second wireless communication circuit <NUM> with a signal according to a logical sum of the output of the first voltage comparison unit <NUM> and the button input.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) includes a housing (e.g., the housing <NUM>) including an inner space and a hole (e.g., the hole <NUM>) connected to the inner space, a touch screen display (e.g., the touch screen display <NUM>) including a first stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) insertable into the inner space through the hole and having an external surface including a selected first color, and visible through part of the housing, a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled with the touch screen display, and a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled with the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions for, when executed, causing the processor to receive a first drawing input using the first stylus pen through the display, in response to the first drawing input, display the first drawing output on the display, and set a color of the first drawing output to the selected first color.

According to an example not being part of the present invention, the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) includes a wireless communication circuit disposed inside the housing (e.g., the housing <NUM>), and a pen memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) disposed inside a pen housing of the first stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>), and storing information of the first stylus pen, and the instructions may cause the processor to detect insertion of the first stylus pen into the hole, in response to the detection, transmit a wireless communication connection request to the inserted first stylus pen, through the wireless communication circuit, in response to the wireless communication connection request, receive a wireless signal including the stored first stylus pen information from the inserted first stylus pen, and establish a wireless communication connection with the inserted first stylus pen, based on the received wireless signal.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the first stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) information includes the selected first color information of the first stylus pen.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the instructions cause the processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) to determine a color of the first drawing output, based on the selected first color information.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the instructions cause the processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) to store the selected first color information in the memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>). The selected first color information may be stored in a predefined area of the memory.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) may store an application program related to an input using the first stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>), and the instructions cause the processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) to, based on the selected first color information of the first stylus pen, provide a user interface of the application program which sets whether to determine the color of the first stylus pen input on the display (e.g., the touch screen display <NUM>).

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the wireless communication circuit may be configured to support a Bluetooth standard or BLE.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) includes a wireless communication circuit disposed inside the housing (e.g., the housing <NUM>), and the instructions cause the processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) to detect the insertion of the first stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) to the hole (e.g., the hole <NUM>), in response to the detection, generate a charging signal for the first stylus pen, receive an advertising signal transmitted from the first stylus pen in response to the charging signal, obtain information of the first stylus pen contained in the received advertising signal, and store the obtained information of the first stylus pen.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the instructions may cause the processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) to, after displaying the first drawing output on the display (e.g., the touch screen display <NUM>), receive a second drawing input using a second stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) having an external surface including a selected second color which is different from the selected first color, in response to the second drawing input, display the second drawing output, while maintaining the first drawing output on the display (e.g., the display <NUM>), and make a color of the second drawing output different from the color of the first drawing output.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the instructions cause the processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) to display an interface for controlling a function which applies the color of the first drawing output as the selected first color on the display (e.g., the touch screen display <NUM>), and enable or disable a function which applies the color of the first drawing output as the selected first color based on a user input inputted through the interface.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) may include a housing (e.g., the housing <NUM>) including an inner space and a hole (e.g., the hole <NUM>) connected to the inner space, and having an external surface including a third color selected, a first stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) insertable into the inner space through the hole, and having an external surface including a selected first color, a touch screen display (e.g., the touch screen display <NUM>) visible through part of the housing, a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled with the touch screen display, and a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled with the processor, and the memory may store instructions for, when executed, causing the processor to receive a first drawing input using the first stylus pen through the display, in response to the first drawing input, display the first drawing output on the display, and selectively determine a color of the first drawing output, based at least in part on the selected first color or the selected third color.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, if the selected first color is the same as a default color for displaying the first drawing output, the color of the first drawing output may be determined to the selected third color.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the color of the first drawing output may be determined to a fourth color which is different from the selected first color and the selected third color, if the selected first color and the selected third color are the same as the default color for displaying the first drawing output.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) may include a housing (e.g., the housing <NUM>) including an inner space and a hole (e.g., the hole <NUM>) connected to the inner space, a first stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) insertable into the inner space through the hole, and having an external surface including a selected first color, a touch screen display (e.g., the touch screen display <NUM>) visible through part of the housing, a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>) disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled with the touch screen display, and a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled with the processor, and the memory may store instructions for, when executed, causing the processor to display a user interface having a background of the first color on the display, receive a first drawing input using the first stylus pen through the user interface, in response to the first drawing input, display the first drawing output on the display, and set a color of the first drawing output to a selected fifth color which is different from the selected first color.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the first color may be black, and the fifth color may be white. According to other embodiment, the first color may be black, and the fifth color may be silver.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> for processing an input using a stylus pen in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. An operating entity of the flowchart <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or a component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) may determine and store attribute information related to the stylus pen <NUM>. The attribute information is a setting value which affects a function related to the stylus pen <NUM>, and may be defined variously. For example, the attribute information may include at least one of a setting value related to a visual effect, a setting value related to content of an algorithm, or a setting value related to the control of the stylus pen <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may process an input using the stylus pen <NUM> based on the attribute information. The electronic device <NUM> may execute an application (e.g., the pen related application <NUM> of <FIG>) related to the stylus pen <NUM>, and reflect the attribute information to a function provided by the application. Hence, a service which reflects the attribute information corresponding to the unique characteristics of the stylus pen <NUM> may be provided to the user.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> for determining attribute information corresponding to a stylus pen in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is a part of operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and an operation subject of the flowchart <NUM> illustrated may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or the component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) searches for the stylus pen <NUM> inserted into the electronic device <NUM> based on a charging signal. For example, the electronic device <NUM> is configured to detect that the stylus pen <NUM> is inserted into the hole <NUM>, and transmit a charging signal to induce the stylus pen <NUM> to transmit an advertising signal.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may receive characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> from pairing information of the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> which searches for the stylus pen <NUM> may perform the pairing operation with the stylus pen <NUM> according to the Bluetooth standard, and obtain the characteristic information included in the advertising signal received during the pairing operation. The characteristic information is information related to the characteristics of the stylus pen <NUM>, and may be related to the exterior (e.g., a color, a shape, a form, etc.) of the stylus pen <NUM> or other characteristics (e.g., a manufacturer, a production time, a model name, a rating, etc.) related to the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, if the characteristic information is related to the color, a data packet for pairing with the stylus pen <NUM> may include a stylus pen name (e.g., 'SPen') of bytes of a specific number and a color code (e.g., 'ZK') of bytes of a specific number. The characteristic information may be stored in the memory <NUM> of the stylus pen <NUM> if the stylus pen <NUM> is manufactured.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether the pairing with the stylus pen <NUM> is successful. If the pairing is successful, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine attribute information based on the characteristic information. For example, if the characteristic information is a color code, the attribute information may include a color value. The remoteSpenService <NUM> may detect that the pairing operation is completed, and determine the attribute information for a proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> based on the characteristic information, and the setting application <NUM> may write the attribute information to the DB <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may extract the characteristic information (e.g., the color code) from the data packet for the pairing, and store the extracted characteristic information in the memory <NUM> if paired with the stylus pen <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may determine the attribute information (e.g., the color value) associated with the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> based on the characteristic information. According to an embodiment, upon receiving the characteristic information of the color code 'KK', the electronic device <NUM> may determine the attribute information to RGB (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>). In addition, the electronic device <NUM> may store the attribute information in the memory <NUM>.

In the embodiment described with reference to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the characteristic information from a signal received during the pairing operation. According to another embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the characteristic information by using a signal received during the search operation. For example, the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> may be included in the advertising signal as an independent field or in a form combined with other information (e.g., name information).

As described above, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may detect the insertion of the stylus pen <NUM>, and perform a search algorithm to detect the inserted stylus pen <NUM>, to pair with the stylus pen <NUM> inserted into the electronic device <NUM> among a plurality of stylus pens. The search algorithm proceeds by controlling the charging signal generated at the electronic device <NUM>, and the stylus pen <NUM> transmit an advertising signal according to the Bluetooth standard, if there is no paired electronic device <NUM>, according to a resonance signal for the charging signal.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method of searching for a stylus pen in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is an example of operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and a method <NUM> is an example of the search algorithm of the electronic device <NUM> for detecting the pen <NUM> to search for the inserted stylus pen <NUM>, if there is no information of the paired stylus pen <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may verify or identify whether the stylus pen <NUM> connected for the communication and the stylus pen inserted and charged are the same stylus pen. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether they are the same stylus pen by identifying attribute information indicating a charging state of the stylus pen <NUM> in a notification manner. Hereafter, it is assumed that the stylus pen <NUM> connected for the communication is inserted into the electronic device <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, an insertion event of the stylus pen <NUM> may occur. If the insertion event of the stylus pen <NUM> is identified, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may control to start the charging by applying a charging signal to the inserted stylus pen <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may examine the charging state by reading the attribute information indicating the charging state.

If the stylus pen <NUM> communicatively connected to the electronic device <NUM> does not respond to a read command within a specific time, or if a response indicating no charging is received, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that the stylus pen <NUM> communicatively connected and the stylus pen inserted into the hole <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> are different. By contrast, upon receiving the response indicating that the stylus pen <NUM> communicatively connected is being charged, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of verifying whether the stylus pen <NUM> communicatively connected and the stylus pen being charged are the same. This is because the determination only with the charging state information may misrecognize the same although the stylus pen <NUM> communicatively connected and the stylus pen inserted into the electronic device <NUM> are not the same, if the stylus pen <NUM> communicatively connected is inserted into another electronic device in vicinity (within a communication range of the electronic device) and is being charged.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may register a notification in the attribute information for obtaining the charging state of the stylus pen <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may turn off and on the charging signal in an arbitrary pattern on a charging on period. By turning the charging signal on and off, the electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the attribute information is synchronized and changed through the notification. If the on-off change of the charging signal and the change of the value of the attribute information value indicating the charging state transferred through the notification are the same, that is, if the on-off change and the change of the attribute information value are synchronized, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that the stylus pen <NUM> communicatively connected and the stylus pen inserted and being charged are the same. By contrast, if the on-off change and the change of the attribute information value are not the same, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that the stylus pen communicatively connected and the stylus pen inserted and being charged are different. If the verification is completed, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may deregister the notification.

In summary, the method for identifying the stylus pen <NUM> inserted into the hole <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is as follows. The electronic device <NUM> may scan a device of a name "SPen" received in response to the charging signal in response to the stylus pen <NUM> which performs advertising in response to the charging signal. As a result of the scan, two or more stylus pens may be detected. This is because other stylus pen inserted into other adjacent electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) may transmit an advertising signal in response to a charging signal of the other electronic device <NUM>.

If two or more stylus pens are detected, the electronic device <NUM> may stop generating the charging signal. According to stopping the charging signal, the electronic device <NUM> may identify at least one stylus pen which disappears from the scan, that is, does not transmit the advertising signal as the charging signal of the electronic device <NUM> is stopped. Next, if the charging signal is turned on, the electronic device <NUM> may identify the stylus pen which retransmits the advertising signal. Based on the observation result of the on-off of the advertising signal according to the on-off of the charging signal, the electronic device <NUM> may identify a stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) which performs the advertising operation synchronized to the charging signal.

According to another embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may randomly control the charging signal, repeat on and off of the charging signal until only one stylus remains, and thus identify the stylus pen <NUM> inserted into the hole <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> and responding in synchronization with the charging signal.

After identifying the stylus pen <NUM> according to the above-described method, the electronic device <NUM> may receive pairing information of the identified stylus pen <NUM>. The remoteSpenService <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may identify the pairing information, and extract the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> from the pairing information.

The embodiment described with reference to <FIG> may be performed to identify the stylus pen <NUM> inserted into the hole <NUM> if there is no information of the stylus pen paired with the electronic device <NUM>. However, there may be a situation in which a new stylus pen is inserted into the hole <NUM>, while already paired with any one stylus pen. For example, the user may insert the stylus pen <NUM> into the hole <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, to use a second stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) while using a first stylus pen. Hereafter, referring to <FIG>, an embodiment for performing the pairing with the corresponding stylus pen as the unpaired stylus pen is inserted if there is a paired stylus pen is described.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method for pairing if an unpaired stylus pen is inserted in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, as the stylus pen <NUM> is inserted into the hole <NUM>, in operation <NUM>, the stylus pen <NUM> may transit to a charge on (CHG_ON) state. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the digitizer controller <NUM>) may detect the insertion of the stylus pen <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may start reset charge. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may detect the hole <NUM> insertion of the stylus pen <NUM> based on the driving of the detection coil, and transmit a charging signal. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the scan on a target pen. Since the electronic device <NUM> already stores information of the paired stylus pen, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the scan operation on the paired stylus pen. During the scan operation, the electronic device <NUM> may continuously transmit the charging signal, until the scan for the connection with the stylus pen is successful.

In operation <NUM>, the stylus pen <NUM> may perform reset. If the stylus pen <NUM> receives a continuous charging signal for a time (e.g., <NUM> seconds) over a specific threshold, the stylus pen <NUM> may control to redrive by resetting a wireless communication unit (e.g., the communication circuit <NUM> of <FIG>, the second wireless communication circuit <NUM> of <FIG>). In operation <NUM>, the stylus pen <NUM> may transmit an advertising signal.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a timeout of the scan operation. As the scan operation is continued for a specific time (e.g., <NUM> seconds) but the information of the paired stylus pen is not scanned, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that the the stylus pen <NUM> currently inserted into the hole <NUM> is other stylus pen than the paired stylus pen, and terminate the scanning operation. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may search for the inserted stylus pen <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the search algorithm. For example, the search algorithm may be similar or identical to the method described with reference to <FIG>. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may discover the stylus pen <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may stop the reset charge, and perform normal charge. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may transmit a connection request. Next, according to the method defined in the Bluetooth standard, the electronic device <NUM> and the stylus pen <NUM> may be connected. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may set descriptors.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> for processing a proximity input of a stylus pen in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of a screen displayed in response to detachment of a stylus pen and an example of a screen displayed in response to a proximity input of a stylus pen if a screen off memo application is executed in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

<FIG> is a part of operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and an operation entity of the flowchart <NUM> illustrated may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or the component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) may operate in a lock and sleep state. The lock and sleep state may indicate a state in which a display (e.g., the display device <NUM>) enters an off or power saving state as there is no user input to the electronic device <NUM> for a specific time.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether the stylus pen <NUM> is detaching. The electronic device <NUM> may detect whether the stylus pen <NUM> is detached based on a proximity input of a detection coil (e.g., the first wireless charging circuit <NUM>) of the stylus pen <NUM>. According to an embodiment, if the stylus pen <NUM> is inserted into the hole <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may detect whether the stylus pen <NUM> is detached using the detection coil <NUM> which interacts with the resonant circuit <NUM> of the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether the stylus pen <NUM> is detached based on a signal received from the stylus pen <NUM> in response to applying the resonance signal.

If the stylus pen <NUM> is detached, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may execute the screen off memo application on the lock screen. The screen off memo application may be a memo application for providing a function of inputting a drawing without unlocking. According to an embodiment, upon detecting the detachment of the stylus pen <NUM> in the sleep state, the electronic device <NUM> may execute an application (e.g., the screen off memo application) associated with the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> on the lock screen.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a pen detach effect on the display <NUM> using the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may display on the display <NUM> a visual effect for providing a guide according to the detection of the detachment of the stylus pen <NUM> in executing the application. For example, a screen as shown in <FIG> may be displayed. Referring to <FIG>, before the stylus pen <NUM> is detached, if there is no user input, the electronic device <NUM> may display a first screen <NUM> in the lock and sleep state, and display a second screen <NUM> according to the detachment detection of the stylus pen <NUM>. A graphic user interface (GUI) <NUM> according to the detachment of the stylus pen <NUM> may be displayed on the display <NUM> at a lower right side of the second screen <NUM>. In so doing, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a color of the GUI <NUM> based on the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM> previously stored. For example, if the color value 'blue' is stored as the attribute information, the color of the GUI <NUM> may be displayed as the color of 'blue'. The shape of the GUI <NUM> shown in <FIG> is one example, and a GUI of another shape may be displayed on the display <NUM> according to another embodiment.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may set attributes of a drawing tool using the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM>. In executing the application associated with the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM>, a color value of the drawing tool for display corresponding to the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> may be set based on the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, the digitizer controller <NUM> may detect a proximity signal received from the resonant circuit according to the proximity of the stylus pen <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may display a movement trajectory of a vector type as a drawing output on the display <NUM> based on the movement of the proximity signal. In displaying the drawing output, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a color of the drawing output displayed on the display <NUM> based on the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, according to the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM>, the color of the drawing output displayed on the display <NUM> may be variously represented as shown in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, if a screen off memo application <NUM> is executed, drawing outputs displayed on a first screen <NUM>, a second screen <NUM>, a third screen <NUM>, and a fourth screen <NUM> may be represented in different colors, according to the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM>. The different colors may result from the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM>. According to an embodiment, as shown in the example of <FIG>, the color used to express the drawing output may be substantially the same as the exterior color of the stylus pen <NUM>.

As in the embodiment described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the drawing output according to the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> may be expressed in a color designated by the attribute information of the stylus pen <NUM>. In some cases, the stylus pen may be replaced during the drawing by the user, and processing of the color applied to the drawing output before and after replacing the stylus pen may be problematic. According to an embodiment, the color of every drawing output may be changed according to the replacement of the stylus pen. According to another embodiment, the color of the drawing output inputted before the stylus pen replacement may be maintained. Hereafter, an embodiment in which the color of the trajectory inputted before the stylus pen replacement is maintained is described.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> for processing proximity inputs before and after a change of a stylus pen in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed in response to proximity inputs of a plurality of stylus pens in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

<FIG> is part of operation <NUM> and operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and an operating entity of the illustrated flowchart <NUM> may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or the component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) may display a drawing output on the screen <NUM> based on attribute information corresponding to characteristic information of a first stylus pen in response to a drawing input through the first stylus pen. For example, referring to <FIG>, if a drawing input occurs using a first stylus pen 1601a while a screen off memo application <NUM> is executed, a drawing output <NUM> may be displayed on the display <NUM> in a color indicated by the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the first stylus pen 1601a, as shown in a first screen <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the pairing with a second stylus pen. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may detect that the second stylus pen is inserted into the hole <NUM>, identify the second stylus pen using a charging signal, and then perform the pairing operation. During the pairing operation, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain characteristic information of the second stylus pen.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may update the attribute information stored in the memory <NUM> based on the characteristic information of the paired second stylus pen. The electronic device <NUM> may replace the attribute information of the first stylus pen with the attribute information of the second stylus pen. In response to pairing with the second stylus pen while being paired with the first stylus pen, the electronic device <NUM> may update the attribute information of the first stylus pen stored in a predefined area on the memory <NUM> with the attribute information of the second stylus pen. Hence, applications may access the attribute information of the second stylus pen.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the drawing output on the display <NUM> based on the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the second stylus pen in response to the drawing input through the second stylus pen. For example, referring to <FIG>, after pairing with the second stylus pen 1601b, if a drawing input occurs using a second stylus pen 1601b, the color of the drawing output <NUM> by the input using the first stylus pen 1601a may be maintained, and a drawing output <NUM> according to an additional input by the second stylus pen 1601b may be represented in a color indicated by attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the second stylus pen 1601b, as shown in a second screen <NUM>.

As in the above-described various embodiments, the color of the drawing output displayed in the screen off memo application may vary according to the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>. In some cases, the user may want to change the color of the drawing output to a color defined as a default value in the electronic device <NUM>. Hence, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may provide an interface for setting whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>. An embodiment using an interface for setting whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> in the drawing output is described below.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> for changing a screen off memo application related setting in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for a screen off memo application related setting menu in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

<FIG> is part of operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and an operating entity of the illustrated flowchart <NUM> may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or the component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) may determine whether a setting menu display command relating to the screen off memo application is detected. For example, while displaying the setting menu of the electronic device <NUM> on the display <NUM>, the user may select a submenu related to the setting of the screen off memo application.

If detecting the setting menu display command related to the screen off memo application, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display an interface for setting whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> on the display <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, an interface <NUM> for setting whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> may include a title phrase <NUM> indicating the setting menu for the screen off memo application, items <NUM> (e.g., a guide text and an on/off button) for setting whether to activate the screen off memo application, a guide phrase <NUM> for displaying an item relating to setting whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> and an item <NUM> (e.g., an on/off button) for inputting a setting of whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may set whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> if the screen off memo application is executed in response to a user input. If a user's selection result is inputted through the item <NUM> included in the interface as shown in <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify the user's selection result, and set a variable value indicating whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> according to the identified selection result. If setting not to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>, a predefined attribute information value in the electronic device <NUM> may be used, if the screen off memo application is executed.

As in the embodiment described with reference to <FIG>, the user may enable or disable the function for reflecting the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> in processing the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> through the setting menu which sets whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>. If the user changes the setting, the electronic device <NUM> may maintain the color of the drawing output created before the change, and the colors of the drawing output changed according to the additional input may be displayed on the screen of the screen off memo application. In addition, if changing the attribute information, the user may selectively control whether to change the attribute information based on the characteristic information of a newly paired stylus pen in re-pairing or not to change. Hereafter, an embodiment for processing the drawing input generated before and after changing the setting of whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> is described.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> for processing proximity inputs before and after changing a screen off memo application related setting in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed in response to a proximity input if a screen off memo application related setting is changed in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) may, if executing the screen off memo application, display a drawing output on the display <NUM> based on the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> in response to the drawing input through the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, in an execution screen of a screen off memo application <NUM>, as shown in a first screen <NUM> of <FIG>, a drawing output <NUM> may be represented in a color indicated by the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify a user input for disabling the characteristic information reflecting function of the stylus pen <NUM> in the setting menu if the screen off memo application is executed. The electronic device <NUM> may set a variable value indicating whether to reflect the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> to a negative value according to a user's selection. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may display a setting menu <NUM> such as a second screen <NUM> of <FIG>, and identify a user input for disabling the characteristic information reflecting function of the stylus pen <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a pre-input drawing output on the display <NUM> based on the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM>. If the setting menu is terminated, the electronic device <NUM> may display the execution screen of the screen off memo application back on the display <NUM>, and the displayed screen may include the pre-inputted drawing input. The drawing output inputted before the setting change may be represented according to settings at the input. For example, as shown in a third screen <NUM> of <FIG>, after the setting menu <NUM> is terminated, the electronic device <NUM> may display the screen including the pre-inputted drawing output <NUM> on the display <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the drawing output on the display <NUM> based on the default value of the attribute information in response to an additional drawing input. After the setting is changed, if the additional drawing input occurs, the electronic device <NUM> may display the drawing output on the display <NUM> based on the default value of the attribute information, according to the changed setting. For example, as shown in a fourth screen <NUM> of <FIG>, both of the drawing output <NUM> represented based on the attribute information corresponding to the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> and the drawing output <NUM> represented based on the default value of the attribute information <NUM> may be displayed.

According to various embodiments described above, the attribute information may be determined from the characteristic information stored in the stylus pen <NUM>, and the proximity input of the stylus pen <NUM> may be processed based on the attribute information. According to an embodiment, the characteristic information stored in the stylus pen <NUM> may be the color code, and the attribute information may be the color value corresponding to the color code. The color code may be stored during or after the manufacture of the stylus pen <NUM>, and may be determined according to the exterior color of the stylus pen <NUM>. An example of correspondences between the exterior color of the electronic device, the exterior color of the stylus pen, the color code, and the color value is shown in Table <NUM> below.

<FIG> is another flowchart <NUM> for processing an input using a stylus pen according to an exterior color of a stylus pen in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is part of operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and an operating entity of the illustrated flowchart <NUM> may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or the component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) may receive a drawing input using the stylus pen <NUM> through the display <NUM>. The stylus pen <NUM> may be inserted into the hole <NUM> connected to the internal space of the housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, and may have an exterior or an external surface including a selected color.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the drawing output on the display <NUM> in a color based on the exterior color of the stylus pen <NUM>. The color of the drawing output may be the selected color applied to the exterior of the stylus pen <NUM>.

<FIG> is yet another flowchart <NUM> for processing an input using a stylus pen according to an exterior color of an electronic device and an exterior color of the stylus pen in the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is part of operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and an operating entity of the illustrated flowchart <NUM> may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or the component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) may receive a drawing input using the stylus pen <NUM> through the display <NUM>. Th housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may have an exterior or an external surface including a first color selected. The stylus pen <NUM> may be inserted into the hole <NUM> connected to the internal space of the housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, and may have the exterior or the external surface including a second color selected.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the drawing output on the display <NUM> in a color based on the exterior color of the electronic device <NUM> or the exterior color of the stylus pen <NUM>. The color of the drawing output may be the selected first color applied to the exterior of the housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> or the selected second color applied to the exterior of the stylus pen <NUM>. Based at least in part on the selected first color or the selected second color, the color of the drawing output may be selectively determined.

<FIG> is still another flowchart <NUM> for processing an input using a stylus pen according to an exterior color of a stylus pen and a background color of a screen in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> is part of operation <NUM> of <FIG>, and an operating entity of the illustrated flowchart <NUM> may be understood as the electronic device <NUM> or the component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the digitizer controller <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may receive a drawing input using the stylus pen <NUM> through the display <NUM>. The stylus pen <NUM> may be inserted into the hole <NUM> connected to the internal space of the housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, and may have the exterior or the external surface including a selected color.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the drawing output on the display <NUM> in a color different from the exterior color of the stylus pen <NUM> on a background having the same color as the exterior color of the stylus pen <NUM>. The color of the drawing output may be a selected second color, which is different from the selected first color.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an operating method of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) may include, detecting insertion of a stylus pen (e.g., the stylus pen <NUM>) into a hole (e.g., the hole <NUM>) formed in a housing (e.g., the housing <NUM>) of the electronic device, pairing with the stylus using a wireless communication circuit, in response to the detection, obtaining information of the stylus pen received during the pairing, and processing an input using the stylus pen based at least in part on the obtained information of the stylus pen.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the input using the stylus pen may be a drawing input for a memo application executed on a lock screen, and the drawing output displayed on a display in response to the drawing input may be displayed in a color indicated by the stylus pen information.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the input using the stylus pen may be a drawing input for a memo application executed on a lock screen, and the drawing output displayed on a display in response to the drawing input may be displayed in a shape indicated by the stylus pen information.

In the various embodiments as mentioned above, the characteristic information of the stylus pen <NUM> is illustrated as the color code, and the attribute information is illustrated as the color value. According to another embodiment, the characteristic information may be defined as a value indicating a type of the stylus pen <NUM>. For example, the type may be based on a material of the exterior of the stylus pen <NUM>, and may indicate metal and plastic separately. In this case, if the drawing is input, a shape of the line may depend on the value indicating the type. For example, if the type value indicating the metal is stored, the line may be designed to give a more sharp impression (e.g., to make the end of the line sharper, to make a boundary of the line and the boundary sharper), compared with the stored type value indicating the plastic.

Claim 1:
A system comprising an electronic device (<NUM>) and a plurality of input devices, amongst which a first stylus pen (<NUM>), which comprises:
a pen housing (<NUM>) with an external surface having a first color;
a first processor (<NUM>);
a first wireless communication circuit (<NUM>);
a first memory (<NUM>) disposed inside the pen housing (<NUM>) and storing attribute information of the first stylus pen comprising first color information of the first stylus pen (<NUM>), and
a battery (<NUM>),
wherein the electronic device (<NUM>) comprises:
- a housing (<NUM>) comprising an inner space and a hole (<NUM>) connected to the inner space, wherein the first stylus pen (<NUM>) is insertable into the inner space through the hole (<NUM>);
- a first wireless charging circuit (<NUM>) configured to apply a charging signal for charging the battery (<NUM>) of the first stylus pen (<NUM>);
- a second wireless communication circuit (<NUM>) disposed inside the housing (<NUM>);
- a touch screen display (<NUM>) visible through part of the housing (<NUM>);
- a second processor (<NUM>) disposed inside the housing (<NUM>) and operatively coupled with the touch screen display (<NUM>); and
- a second memory (<NUM>) disposed inside the housing (<NUM>), operatively coupled with the second processor (<NUM>), wherein the second memory (<NUM>) stores instructions for, when executed, causing the second processor (<NUM>) to:
detect insertion of the first stylus pen (<NUM>) into the hole (<NUM>),
in response to the detection, generate the charging signal for the first stylus pen (<NUM>), receive an advertising signal transmitted from the first stylus pen (<NUM>) in response to the charging signal, wherein the advertising signal contains the attribute information of the first stylus pen (<NUM>) comprising the first color information,
receive a first drawing input using the first stylus pen (<NUM>) through the touch screen display (<NUM>) after it has been removed from the hole (<NUM>),
in response to the first drawing input, display the first drawing output on the touch screen display (<NUM>), and
set a color of the first drawing output to the first color determined based on the received first color information.