New patents show that Apple's next-generation Apple Pencil will have built-in optical sensors to sample surface color and texture

CTOnews.com, December 30 (Xinhua)-- Apple has obtained a technology patent for Apple Pencil, according to a list of technology patents recently released by the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO). The patent indicates that the next-generation Apple Pencil will have built-in optical sensors to sample surface colors and textures.

In the patent, Apple outlines a color sensor system built into Apple Pencil, which can sample the surface color of external objects, as well as measure the appearance of objects in other aspects such as texture.

CTOnews.com learned that the next generation of Apple Pencil will be equipped with multiple color sensing photodetectors, each of which can measure light of the corresponding color. The color sensor can also be set up with a light emitter in the patent description for other purposes.

The inertial measurement unit can be used to measure the angular orientation between the stylus and the external object during color measurement. The texture can be measured using light that shines on the surface of an external object at a grazing angle. Measurements from the stylus, such as color sensor measurements, texture measurements, and related angular direction measurements, can be wirelessly transmitted to external devices.

More patent-related information can be found at US 20220413636 A1.