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how does the button on the s pen work?

J

JohnB47

Well-Known Member
I could have sworn that I posted a question about this already but I can't see it anywhere.

What actually happens when you press the button on the s pen? There isn't a battery in there, is there, so how does the tab know that you've pressed the button?

Just wondering.
 
It also depends on the firmware you are on. In ICS it had gestures assigned by default. In JB you can assign them yourself AFAIR.
 
Thanks guys but I obviously didn't put my question properly.

I wasn't asking how you use the pen and what does it allow you to do, I was asking how the tablet knows when you have or have not pressed the button.

I other words, what is going on between the pen and tablet when you press the button and touch the tablet, as opposed to just touching the pen to the screen.

I know that there's some sort of capacitive effect going on but if there's no battery in the pen, how would pressing a button change that?
 
I believe it's a resistive effect. When you press the button it's changes the resistance in the pen causing the pad to read it differently and hence you know the pen has been pushed.

It functions the same as a wacom tablet (because it is the same technology)

Do some goggling on how a wacom tablet works to get the correct answer I'm just going on my knowledge of how they work.
 
Thanks for that. I'm sure you're correct.

Which brings me to another point - if the tab has wacom technology, does that mean the pen pressure can be read and can that effect be used during drawing/painting?

I've not tried that much but in playing around a little, I've not noticed that varying the pressure makes any difference. Perhaps it's down to the app. Must have a look at that youtube video - maybe it covers that.

Cheers.
 
JohnB47 said:
Thanks for that. I'm sure you're correct.

Which brings me to another point - if the tab has wacom technology, does that mean the pen pressure can be read and can that effect be used during drawing/painting?

I've not tried that much but in playing around a little, I've not noticed that varying the pressure makes any difference. Perhaps it's down to the app. Must have a look at that youtube video - maybe it covers that.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Pressure can be read and all that is stated i nthe online documentation.

In order for an app to read pressure, it has to be compatible with that.
 
I've just had a look at the youtube video that 'hbryder' posted about and it does mention pressure, although the effect is not apparent.

Must have a play with that.
 
JohnB47 said:
I've just had a look at the youtube video that 'hbryder' posted about and it does mention pressure, although the effect is not apparent.

Must have a play with that.
Click to expand...


Make your pen sizes thicker. Also try switching to a brush vs a pen. SNote definitely uses the pressure data.
 
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