Handheld writing implement form factor mobile device

Abstract

Presented here is a handheld writing implement form factor for a mobile device. The shape of the device can correspond to the shape of a whiteboard marker. Due to the small size, the device does not have a physical keyboard or an onscreen keyboard and instead relies on environmental cues, gestural input, voice input, and touch input to interpret user instructions. For example, when the device determines from environmental cues that it is resting on a tabletop, a touch input consisting of a single press from the user is interpreted as an instruction to scroll the display. In other embodiments, the device can be used as a handheld writing implement, such as a computer stylus, or to control the device by handwriting in the air. Other uses of the device are disclosed such as making a payment, communicating with other appliances enabled for electronic communication, recording images with a gesture, etc.

1 . A handheld device comprising:
 an elongated member extending along an axis, the elongated member having a girth substantially corresponding to that of a handheld writing implement;   a display extending along more than half a length of the axis of the handheld device at a surface thereof; and   a touch sensor layer integrated with at least a portion of the surface of the handheld device not occupied by the display, the touch sensor layer having a touch sensor surface outside the surface of the handheld device, the touch sensor surface to receive a user input to the handheld device.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , comprising a processor to determine a physical property of the handheld device and an environment cue surrounding the handheld device, to interpret the user input based on the physical property of the handheld device and the environment cue, and to perform an action based on the interpreted user input. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld device of  claim 2 , the physical property of the handheld device comprising at least one of a position of the handheld device, or an orientation of the handheld device, an acceleration of the handheld device, or a velocity of the handheld device. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld device of  claim 2 , the environment cue comprising at least one of surrounding electronic communication enabled devices, ambient sound, ambient light, or smiling faces. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a support member associated with the portion of the surface of the handheld device not occupied by the display and making the display visible to a user while the handheld device is resting on the support member.   
     
     
         6 . A handheld device comprising:
 an elongated member extending along an axis, the elongated member having a girth substantially corresponding to that of a handheld writing implement;   a display extending along more than half a length of the axis of the handheld device at a surface of the handheld device; and   a touch sensor layer integrated with at least a portion of the surface of the handheld device not occupied by the display, the touch sensor layer having a touch sensor surface inside the surface of the handheld device.   
     
     
         7 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a non-display surface disposed on the handheld device, the non-display surface and the display forming a chassis of the handheld device; and   the touch sensor layer to receive a user input performed on the non-display surface.   
     
     
         8 . The handheld device of  claim 7 , the user input comprising an instruction to scroll the display. 
     
     
         9 . The handheld device of  claim 7 , the touch sensor layer disposed outside the non-display surface. 
     
     
         10 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , comprising the handheld device without a physical keyboard or an onscreen keyboard. 
     
     
         11 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , a chassis of the handheld device comprising a substantially faceted surface. 
     
     
         12 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , a chassis of the handheld device extending to a rounded end. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , a chassis of the handheld device extending to a substantially flat end. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , a size of the handheld device corresponding to a size of a whiteboard marker. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , comprising a processor to determine a physical property of the handheld device and to interpret a user input based on the physical property of the handheld device. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld device of  claim 15 , the physical property of the handheld device comprising at least one of a position of the handheld device, an orientation of the handheld device, a velocity of the handheld device, or an acceleration of the handheld device. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , comprising a processor to determine an environment cue surrounding the handheld device and to interpret a user input based on the environment cue surrounding the handheld device. 
     
     
         18 . The handheld device of  claim 17 , the environment cue surrounding the handheld device comprising at least one of an ambient light, an ambient sound, other electronic communication enabled devices, or focal point of a camera associated with the handheld device. 
     
     
         19 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , comprising a processor to determine a physical property of the handheld device and an environment cue surrounding the handheld device, to interpret a user input based on the physical property of the handheld device and the environment cue, and to perform an action based on the interpreted user input. 
     
     
         20 . The handheld device of  claim 19 , the action comprising taking a picture, recording a message, sending an email, making a payment, or recording a handwritten text. 
     
     
         21 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a plurality of normal lenses disposed around a perimeter of the handheld device and beneath a non-display surface, the plurality of normal lenses to record a plurality of images; and   a processor to create a 360° image from the plurality of images.   
     
     
         22 . The handheld device of  claim 21 , the non-display surface comprising an optically transparent material. 
     
     
         23 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a support member associated with a chassis of the handheld device and making the display visible to a user while the handheld device is resting on the support member.   
     
     
         24 . The handheld device of  claim 23 , the support member comprising a plurality of substantially planar surfaces meeting at an angle, a substantially planar surface in the plurality of substantially planar surfaces operable to support the handheld device. 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 providing a handheld device comprising an elongated member extending along an axis, the elongated member having a girth substantially corresponding to that of a handheld writing implement; and   providing a display extending along more than half a length of the axis of the handheld device at a surface of the handheld device;   providing a touch sensor layer integrated with at least a portion of the surface of the handheld device not occupied by the display, the touch sensor layer having a touch sensor surface inside the surface of the handheld device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising:
 providing a non-display surface disposed on the handheld device, the non-display surface and the display forming a chassis of the handheld device providing the touch sensor layer to receive a user input performed on the non-display surface.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , said providing the handheld device comprising providing the handheld device without a physical keyboard or an onscreen keyboard. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising:
 determining a physical property of the handheld device, the physical property of the handheld device comprising at least one of a position of the handheld device, an orientation of the handheld device, a velocity of the handheld device, or an acceleration of the handheld device; and   interpreting a user input based on the physical property of the handheld device.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising:
 determining an environment cue surrounding the handheld device, the environment cue surrounding the handheld device comprising at least one of an ambient light, an ambient sound, other electronic communication enabled devices, or focal point of a camera associated with the handheld device; and   interpreting a user input based on the environment cue surrounding the handheld device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising:
 providing a support member associated with a chassis of the handheld device and making the display visible to a user while the handheld device is resting on the support member.