Steve Jobs may have dismissed the stylus for use with the iPad or iPhone, but Apple appears to have patented the concept anyway.
Apple has filed a patent for an "ActiveStylus", according to Patently Apple.
The patent application describes the stylus as having its own touch sensor panel, making it active, unlike the S-Pen, which VR-Zone notes is passive.
Apple's description states: "The Styluses can either act as a drive electrode to create an electric field between the drive electrode and the sense lines of a mutual capacitive touch sensor panel, or as a sense electrode for sensing capacitively coupled signals from one or more stimulated drive rows and columns of the touch sensor panel or both."
The patent was filed in the second half or 2011.
Apple has also been granted a patent for the method in which a SIM card is inserted into a device, according to Engadget. Apple's SIM Connector Patent related to a number of methods of inserting the SIM and a number of different types of SIM including the micro-SIM and the nano-SIM.
That patent was originally filed on 30 September 2010.
Related:
Apple wins 36 new patents, including the ability to connect iOS devices with sporting equipment
Apple relaxes Made for iPod rules, allows devices with Lighting and 30-pin connector
Apple vs Samsung patent wars: iPhone maker drops bid to add Galaxy S III Mini to lawsuit
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