At least one OPPO handset in the near future may come packed with a stylus pen that can also make calls. That’s based on a patent recently spotted by Dutch tech publication LetsGoDigital.
At a glance, the patent showcases a smartphone that doesn’t deviate too much from a standard flagship design. But a closer look at the stylus reveals a microphone and a receiver. The multifunction buttons built into the outer edge are described as working as volume buttons during calls.
Unlike other modern styli, the OPPO stylus here also packs a battery rather than a supercapacitor. That should mean it can last a reasonable amount of time in phone calls or when used as a Bluetooth-enabled stylus. The trade-off there would be charging time since batteries take longer to recharge.
The ability to make calls isn’t the only way the new OPPO stylus stands out
Even without the ability to make calls, the overall design of the OPPO stylus that’s shown in images is arguably already unique. That’s because the company hasn’t taken an approach that sets the stylus as a separate part of the phone itself.
Smartphone OEMs like Samsung, LG, Motorola, and others have each utilized a stylus in their own right. But those OEMs typically tuck that inside of the gadget itself via an appropriately-sized slot. Conversely, in tablets, the stylus is often held to the frame or the rear panel by magnets. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is a prime example of that other, more common design.
OPPO’s approach with its latest patent tosses that concept aside. Rather than treating the stylus as a separate device, the company makes it an integral part of the smartphone itself.
Overall, OPPO gave the patented device a modern smartphone design with ultra-slim bezels. That holds true for the left and right-hand edges, as well as the bottom of the device.
But OPPO designed the device in the patent to have a larger-than-standard top-bezel. That’s because the stylus, when attached to the smartphone, still appears to act as the phone’s receiver. It is, in fact, the top bezel, while attached.
Only a small square of top bezel remains when the stylus is removed. That segment houses the selfie camera module and related sensors. That gives the stylus an odd shape but that shouldn’t inhibit its use too much.
To attach the module, the pen-tip slides into housing built into the camera module. The rest of the pen then appears to link up via magnetic pins for charging. The buttons on the stylus face outward when it’s attached. Those are described as adjusting ring volume while the stylus is attached.
A final design won’t necessarily arrive too quickly
The patent for an OPPO phone with a stylus that can make calls is far more complete and descriptive than is typical with patents. To begin with, the company already appears to be actively testing prototypes of the stylus in question. More succinctly, the 'findings’ of the company’s researchers are mentioned.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the device will land anytime soon either. The company will announce the OPPO Find X2 just ahead of MWC 2020. But leaks surrounding that device haven’t indicated that there will be anything quite so special as a removable call-enabled stylus.
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Source: ndroidheadlines.com