Patent Win Means Apple Pencil for Mac Could Debut in the Future

If you haven’t purchased an Apple Stylus… errr… Pencil yet, a newly granted Apple patent may make you reconsider. Well, sometime in the future, if Apple releases the patented upgraded Pencil and embeds the Magic Trackpad that is compatible with this enhanced stylus.

The US patent 9,400,570, published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today, — and spotted by Patently Apple — reveals that Apple may have big plans for the Pencil (released with the iPad Pro last year) and will possibly make it work with Macs as well.

The patent for a “Stylus with inertial sensor” describes a stylus which is equipped with force sensors on both ends and an “inertial sensor” which would allow it to switch between various operating modes: it could operate as a joystick, a rotational controller, an air mouse, or other input devices in addition to serving as a touch sensor input device, the patent abstract reads.

The description cites various examples to describe the operating modes the upgraded stylus is able to perform: it can be used as a “drum stick, xylophone mallet, a gong beater, etc.” As an air mouse it can be used to flick forwards and backwards through pages in a presentation document, the patent description reads.

Apple first filed for this patent in Q4 2014 and credits Ray L. Chang as inventor.