Apple may be working on a major upgrade to its Apple Pencil. A newly granted patent reveals a future stylus design that could allow users to draw or write on any surface, without the need for a touchscreen. This innovative Apple Pencil would feature a trackball tip and advanced optical sensors.
Currently, the Apple Pencil Pro, launched in May 2024, is the top-tier stylus from Apple. It offers custom haptic feedback, a squeeze function, a built-in gyroscope, and support for Find My. However, this new patent suggests Apple is planning something even more advanced.
The patent, filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office, outlines a stylus that combines a trackball with two optical sensors. These sensors could include an optical flow sensor or a laser speckle flow sensor. Placed above the trackball tip, the sensors would track movements and detect variations in image brightness as the stylus moves over different surfaces.
The optical flow sensor would detect light reflected from the surface being used, while the laser speckle flow sensor could estimate the motion of the stylus using speckle patterns from coherent light. This technology would let users draw or write on surfaces like tables or walls, turning them into input devices.
According to the document, these sensors can help detect key characteristics of the surface, including the stylus’s position, motion, and orientation. If Apple brings this patent to life, the next Apple Pencil could work beyond touchscreens and offer a more flexible and advanced drawing experience.
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