Apple's new patent: Apple Pencil can change the brush to give tactile feedback that is indistinguishable from the real thing

　　Sina Digital News reported on the morning of April 24 that Apple recently obtained a new patent. In the future, the Apple Pencil stylus will be able to replace more diverse pen tips and become a brush style; it will also simulate the touch of different tools through tactile feedback.

　　The existing Apple Pencil is the most sensitive stylus on the market, but if it is used as an art tool, it has limitations. For example, the tip of the pen is very sharp. Although the effect of pens of different materials can be simulated by apps, the experience is still different. So this patent is probably prepared for this problem.

　　This is a solution that includes both the pen itself and the touch feedback part that matches it. According to the patent description, it uses a replaceable pen tip as a solution, each flexible contact member can bend independently of each other, and the vibration device on the pen body can generate feedback response according to the change in the curvature of the brush.

　　These sensors on the pen body can generate feedback instructions based on changes in brush deflection to output corresponding graphic displays.

　　Let's understand this in a simpler way. This patent means that the tip of the Apple Pencil may look like an oil brush in the future. Of course, it won't be a real brush. We estimate it to be something like silicone. But they all have force sensors. When you paint with force, the silicone brush appears, the sensor detects it, the pen shape changes on the screen, and the pen body will also give corresponding tactile feedback.

　　From a technical point of view, the scenario depicted in this patent is not too sci-fi. Apple is now using Apple Pencil to simulate the writing and drawing feeling of a real pencil as much as possible. The scenario in this patent simply brings this electronic simulation to a new level, making it more like a real pencil and paper.

　　Moreover, today’s laptop touchpads use vibrators to simulate press feedback, which is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

　　However, at present, these are just Apple's patents, and it is not certain whether they will be put into production. Such a large company may apply for patents just for technical reserves, and it may take a long time for them to be used in products.