Great news for Surface users – Microsoft have patented some interesting new features for the Surface Pen.
Microsoft’s new patent, awarded Thursday February 15 2018, describes a new and improved Surface Pen with touch-sensitive retention clip designed to replicate the mouses scroll wheel. The touch-sensitive clip would allow users to simply roll their finger along the clip in order to zoom and scroll, enabling users to forgo using a mouse device altogether.
Surface Pen patent
The patent also includes a low-power mode, which would prevent the Surface Pen from running at full capacity until a touch is detected. This would see improvements to battery life, which is always welcomed when computing on the go.
Surface Pen patent
Microsoft have also patented a hapitc feedback system for the new Surface Pen, which is designed to make drawing on a screen a more tactile experience. The new design allows the pen’s tip to retract when pressed against the screen, which compresses a coil that functions as an electromagnet, and results in movement within the housing of the pen.
Surface Pen Haptic Feedback
While Microsoft are clearly attempting to create new ways for users to interact with their devices, patents are filed every day for new and exciting pieces of tech that unfortunately never see the light of day – fingers crossed this isn’t one of them!
