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Apple Secures Patent for Stylus With 3D Optical Tracking and Trackball Tip

It outlines a stylus that uses optical flow and laser-speckle sensors to track 3D input on any material or mid-air, reflecting Apple’s latest spatial computing research.

Apple patent reveals stylus that draws in air, no screen needed

Overview

  • The USPTO granted Apple U.S. Patent No. 12,353,649 on July 8, 2025, for an “Input Device With Optical Sensors.”
  • The filing describes embedding optical flow or laser-speckle flow sensors in the stylus to detect motion, tilt and rotation in three dimensions without touching a screen.
  • One design uses a trackball at the tip monitored by internal optical sensors to measure displacement and orientation while minimizing surface wear.
  • The stylus can detect movement up to 100 millimeters above any surface, including non-capacitive materials such as wood or paper, enabling mid-air drawing.
  • Apple’s patent envisions combining optical tracking with inertial measurement units, force sensors and machine vision for gestures, handwriting recognition and 3D drawing, though no product launch date has been set.