Patent application filed by Microsoft takes a popular Surface Pro accessory to the next level

by Alan Friedman / Jun 16, 2019, 1:06 PM

Patent application filed by Microsoft takes a popular Surface Pro accessory to the next level

The Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Go tablets both are compatible with the company's Surface Pen stylus. A patent application filed by Microsoft with the USPTO (via Windows Latest) reveals that the company has plans to add new capabilities to a future version of its pen. The patent application is titled Dynamic Interaction Adaptation of a Digital Inking Device and was filed in December 2017 before getting published last week.

The patent reveals a Surface Pen (called a digital inking device in the documentation) with a status bar that "provides contextually relevant information." In the "first interaction model," a touchscreen status bar allows the user to select the width of the "tip" being used (creating thin or thick lines), the color of the images drawn by the pen and also provides other UI options. In addition, the pen also provides the user with email notifications. Once the pen is in contact with a Surface Pro, Surface Go or other compatible Windows 10 devices, it goes into the "second interaction model" and displays only email notifications and a battery status indicator.

Image from Microsoft's patent application shows a Surface Pen with a touchscreen status bar issuing email notifications

The patent application notes that the options on the pen's touchscreen will change depending on the way it "is held by the user, a fingerprint of a user, an angle and/or distance of a digital inking device with respect to a paired computer, a particular grip a user has on a digital inking device, an amount of pressure that is used to hold a digital inking device, a contact pressure between a digital inking device and a paired computer, and/or one more gestures performed by a user."

While many tech firms file a number of patents each year, not all of the technology protected will immediately make their way to consumers. However, we would imagine that a Surface Pen with a touchscreen status bar could become available in the near future.

Additional images from Microsoft's patent application

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2 Comments

1. Krjal

Posts: 431; Member since: Dec 19, 2013

Using Wacom stylii professionally and for personal projects I'm still a bit wary of those that need batteries and recharging just for basic functions. But this... being able to change the brush and functions of the tool you're using on the stylus might be the kind of game-changer to get me using a Surface.