Active pen

<p>Active pens are typically used for note taking, on-screen drawing/painting and <a href="/facts/Electronic_document/7ee80Ee4">electronic document</a> annotation, as well as accurate object selection and scrolling.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a>  When used in conjunction with <a href="/facts/Handwriting_recognition/RgdyWtDQ">handwriting recognition</a> software, the active pen's handwritten input can be converted to <a href="/facts/Electronic_paper/b3JWSLz9">digital text</a>, stored in a digital document, and edited in a text or drawing application.
</p>
<h2 id="active-and-positional-pens">Active and positional pens</h2>
<p>The electronic components generate wireless signals that are picked up by a <a href="/facts/Digitizer/RRdE9Ma9">digitizer</a> and transmitted to its dedicated controller, providing data on pen location, pressure and other functionalities. Additional features enabled by the active pen's electronics include palm rejection to prevent unintended touch inputs, and hover, which allows the computer to track the pen's location when it is held near, but not touching the screen.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a>  Most active pens feature one or more function buttons (e.g. eraser and right-click) that can be used in the place of a mouse or keyboard.
</p>
<h2 id="technology-groups">Technology groups</h2>

Active
<i>Active pens</i>, such as <a href="/facts/N-trig/T87LK23d">N-trig</a>'s DuoSense Pen, include electronic components whose signals are picked up by a mobile device's built-in digitizer and transmitted to its controller, providing data on pen location, pressure, button presses and other functionality.
Positional
<i>Position-based digital pens</i> use a facility to detect the location of the tip during writing. Some models can be found on <a href="/facts/Graphics_tablet/tydCnPqP">graphics tablets</a> made popular by <a href="/facts/Wacom_(company)/lWjyfaPU">Wacom</a>, and on <a href="/facts/Tablet_computers/6pGX2I7b">tablet computers</a> using Wacom's Penabled technology.
Capacitive (multitouch compatible)
<i>Capacitive pens <a href="/facts/Multi-touch/DP71Xsqj">multitouch</a> compatible</i>, generate a signal used by <a href="/facts/Multi-touch/DP71Xsqj">multitouch screen</a> to detect the location of the tip during its movement while writing or drawing. They are compatible with most smartphones and tablets with  <a href="/facts/Multi-touch/DP71Xsqj">capacitive-multitouch screen</a> as <a href="/facts/IPhone/h5WeKRl9">iPhone</a>, <a href="/facts/IPad/Ql67x0Dw">iPad</a>, <a href="/facts/Samsung/oNXUwDjn">Samsung</a>, <a href="/facts/LG/oRuwh8Kx">LG</a>, etc.
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Digital_pen/c0HUI5XU">Digital pen</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Pen_computing/7SrB0mhR">Pen computing</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Stylus_(computing)/j5e1x0vf">Stylus (computing)</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Graphics_tablet/tydCnPqP">Graphics tablet</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Tablet_computer/6pGX2I7b">Tablet computer</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Microsoft_Tablet_PC/rMu1N9w8">Microsoft Tablet PC</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Surface_Pen/T87LK23d">Surface Pen</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_series/AqvMzFYd">Samsung Galaxy Note series</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Universal_Stylus_Initiative/nBHCVIrD">Universal Stylus Initiative</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Hughes, Andrew (2011). "Active Pen Input and the Android Input Framework". M.S. thesis. California Polytech State University. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2014-06-11. <a href="http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1568&context=theses" target="_blank">http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1568&context=theses</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Cooper, Andrew (September 12, 2013). "N-trig Release Teases that Fujitsu's Stylistic Q702 will Come with Active Pen Support". Engadget.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2014. <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/n-trig-pen-fujitsu-stylistic-q702/" target="_blank">https://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/n-trig-pen-fujitsu-stylistic-q702/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Kendrick, James (September 28, 2004). "Wacom Digitizer for Smartphones". GigaOm.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014. <a href="http://gigaom.com/2004/09/28/wacom_digitizer/" target="_blank">http://gigaom.com/2004/09/28/wacom_digitizer/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Takahashi, Dean (January 7, 2014). "New Sensors Could Lower the Cost of Touchscreen Pens – and Make Them as Good as Pen and Paper". VentureBeat.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014. <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2014/01/07/new-sensors-could-lower-the-cost-of-touchscreen-pens-and-make-them-as-good-as-pen-and-paper/" target="_blank">https://venturebeat.com/2014/01/07/new-sensors-could-lower-the-cost-of-touchscreen-pens-and-make-them-as-good-as-pen-and-paper/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Gasior, Geoff (October 17, 2013). "Synaptics Intros Pressure-Sensitive Stylus Tech for Win8.1". techreport.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2014. <a href="http://techreport.com/news/25521/synaptics-intros-pressure-sensitive-stylus-tech-for-win8-1" target="_blank">http://techreport.com/news/25521/synaptics-intros-pressure-sensitive-stylus-tech-for-win8-1</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Shelly, Gary B.; Misty E. Vermaat (2009). Discovering Computers: Fundamentals. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-80638-7. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2009. <a href="978-0-495-80638-7" target="_blank">978-0-495-80638-7</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Linenberger, Michael (October 16, 2013). "The Importance of an Active Digitizer Pen". MichaelLinenberger.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014. <a href="http://michaellinenberger.com/blog/the-importance-of-an-active-digitizer-pen/" target="_blank">http://michaellinenberger.com/blog/the-importance-of-an-active-digitizer-pen/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>"Android Getting Native Active Pen Support in Ice Cream Sandwich". GottaBeMobile.com. Notebooks.com Inc. October 21, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2014. <a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/10/21/android-getting-native-active-pen-support-in-ice-cream-sandwich/" target="_blank">http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/10/21/android-getting-native-active-pen-support-in-ice-cream-sandwich/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:9"><p>Gartenberg, Chaim (2016-10-10). "Wacom's latest tablet PC has a pen with 8,192 levels of sensitivity". The Verge. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/10/10/13225680/wacom-mobilestudio-pro-tablet-pro-pen-2-4k-pc" target="_blank">https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/10/10/13225680/wacom-mobilestudio-pro-tablet-pro-pen-2-4k-pc</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:10"><p>"With Outstanding Technology, HUION Launches New Battery-free Pen Display KAMVAS Pro 13". Market Insiders. 2018-08-08. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/with-outstanding-technology-huion-launches-new-battery-free-pen-display-kamvas-pro-13-1027444608" target="_blank">https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/with-outstanding-technology-huion-launches-new-battery-free-pen-display-kamvas-pro-13-1027444608</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:11"><p>"What is Tilt?". Wacom. Archived from the original on 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2018-11-08. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184357/https://www.wacom.com/en/sitecore/content/shared%20data/support/faqs/popular%20faqs/what%20is%20tilt" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184357/https://www.wacom.com/en/sitecore/content/shared%20data/support/faqs/popular%20faqs/what%20is%20tilt</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:12"><p>Linenberger, Michael (October 16, 2013). "The Importance of an Active Digitizer Pen". MichaelLinenberger.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014. <a href="http://michaellinenberger.com/blog/the-importance-of-an-active-digitizer-pen/" target="_blank">http://michaellinenberger.com/blog/the-importance-of-an-active-digitizer-pen/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:13"><p>Bricklin, Dan (2009). Bricklin on Technology. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Publishing. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-470-40237-5. <a href="978-0-470-40237-5" target="_blank">978-0-470-40237-5</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Active pen open-in-new

Active pen