Wacom announce tech collaboration for next gen digital pen

15 July 2022

Wacom has announced its latest partnership with STMicroelectronics and CEVA Collaborate to create an enhanced digital pen experience with a new, wireless sensor module that extends the digital pen’s functionality through advanced gesture, cursor, and motion control.

The combined effort leverages the capabilities of all three companies to create an advanced, sensor-enabled digital pen that can be adopted by OEMs for devices, enabling a wider range of controls, and potentially greater range of capabilities for designers.

The ‘Active ES (AES) Rear IMU Module’ combines Wacom’s digital pen technology together with a custom version of ST’s low-power 6-axis inertial measurement unit sensor and Bluetooth low energy System-on-Chip (SoC), along with CEVA’s MotionEngine Air motion-control software. The result is a low-power, highly compact design suitable for integration into any digital pen form factor.

With support for motion-based pointing, gesture control, and 3D motion tracking, OEMs will be able to customise the module reference design to enable a host of new applications, user conveniences, and features.

The sensor-enabled input device can also serve as a wireless presentation controller that can control the on-screen cursor with natural hand movements. It can also be programmed to replace complex series of menus and taps with a single gesture.

The software features CEVA’s patented orientation compensation and adaptive tremor-removal technology, ensuring a highly consistent and intuitive user experience across a wide range of applications.

Sayatake Komine, Wacom EVP heading technology solution business unit, said: “We’re consistently looking to enhance the digital pen experience for our customers and our collaboration with ST and CEVA expands the functionality of the pen in a myriad of powerful ways.

“Gestures, pointing, and motion control provide a natural user interface that perfectly complement our digital pens and our AES Rear IMU Module allows sensor-based features and applications to be seamlessly added to our AES pen lineup.”