Last week the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Samsung revealing a new invention regarding a computer input system and a method of using a smartphone as an input device of a computer. The dock is shown as a smartphone and S Pen dock. The unique aspect of the dock is that a user's home computer would be able to provide the dock with sufficient power so that it could double as digitizing graphics tablet for art like a Wacom device. According to Samsung's patent filing, "The smart terminal-assisted input apparatus and method of the present invention makes use of the superior computing power of the computer and the diverse input schemes of the smart terminal, thereby improving the usability of the smart terminal."
Samsung's Invention In-Part
Samsung's patent filing notes that generally, a smart terminal differs from a dedicated tablet in respect to shape. For example, the smart terminal is typically smaller than the tablet in size. Since the smart terminal is designed with a focus on the portability, it differs from the dedicated tablet in many respects including design.
In cases where the smart terminal is designed to have a gently curved rear case, it may wobble or slip in performing a drawing on the smart terminal. As a result, this makes using the smart terminal as an input means inconvenient. Also, since the smart terminal is small in size, as compared to the dedicated tablet, it is difficult for a user to manipulate the smart terminal with his hands. A solution to this problem is to provide a dock for the smart terminal.
Samsung's patent figures 10A and 10C noted below represent diagrams of a dock for docking a smartphone and digital pen tightly in place so that it doesn't move or wobble while the user is using the pen for drawing.
In patent FIG. 10C, the dock is arranged aside a keyboard as one of the main input devices of the computer. The design is to be used as a tablet without the tablet cost.
Samsung notes that a smartphone-assisted input apparatus and method of the present invention is advantageous in using a smartphone to make various inputs to a computer. Using the smartphone (= smart terminal) as the input device of the computer, it is possible to reduce a user's economic burden of purchasing an extra input device.
More importantly, Samsung notes that "The smartphone (smart terminal-assisted input apparatus) and method of the present invention makes use of the superior computing power of the computer and the diverse input schemes of the smartphone, thereby improving the usability of the smart terminal."
Samsung filed their U.S patent application back in July 2014. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
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