Different types of stylus are used for graphics tablets, and resistive and capacitive touchscreens. Capacitive screens are very widely used on smart phones and multi-touch surfaces, where simultaneous use of several fingers is detected; a stylus cannot replicate this.[6]
CapacitiveEdit
Capacitive [also called passive] styluses emulate a finger by using a tip made of rubber or conductive foam; or metal such as copper. They do not need to be powered and can be used on any multi-touch surface that a finger can be used, typically capacitive screens that are common in smart phones and tablet computers. Stylus tips made of rubber or foam are often large so it's difficult to get precise notes or drawings.
Capacitive styluses work by distorting the screens electrostatic field.[7] Screens that receive input from a capacitive stylus [as well as human fingers] can't register pressure applied by the pen; tilting of the pen; and can't distinguish between a capacitive stylus, your finger, or a resting palm as input - it will register all of these touches as marks on the screen.
Capacitive styluses are made of a conductive material [typically as a metal rod or barrel] to transmit electrical charge between your hand and a rubber/foam[8] or metal tip such as copper. Being free of any digital components, capacitive styluses can be cost effective to manufacture. DIY capacitive styluses can also be made with materials found at home.[9]
Capacitive styluses tend to work on any multi-touch surface that accepts input from a finger.
Active [also called digital[1]] styluses include digital components or circuitry inside the pen that communicates with a digitizer on the touch device. This communication allows for advanced features like pressure sensitivity; tilt; programmable buttons; palm detection; eraser tips; memorizing settings and writing data transmission. In order for an active stylus to function, its digital component protocol must match the digitizer technology in the touch screen it is interacting with. Active styluses are powered by a removable or chargeable battery, or operate passively by inductance.
Active styluses use different protocols by different manufacturers in order to communicate with the digitizer of a graphic tablet or multi-touch device. The digital protocol of the pen must match the device digitizer, otherwise input from the pen will not register on the device.
Common active stylus protocols are:
- Microsoft Pen Protocol [MPP] [formerly N-trig]
- Wacom AES 1.0 and 2.0
- Wacom EMR
- Universal Stylus Initiative [USI]
- Apple Pencil Active Projected Capacitive [APC]
- Bluetooth
Examples of active styluses: