<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001513162-13-000206.txt : 20130320
<SEC-HEADER>0001513162-13-000206.hdr.sgml : 20130320
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130320193907
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001513162-13-000206
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130320
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130320

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Titterton Lewis H jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001499254

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11254
		FILM NUMBER:		13706180

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 AUTUMN LANE
		CITY:			SARATOGA SPRINGS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12866

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COPYTELE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000715446
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				112622630
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 WALT WHITMAN RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5165495900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 WALT WHITMAN ROAD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000715446</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COPYTELE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COPY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001499254</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Titterton Lewis H jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O COPYTELE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>900 WALT WHITMAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.235</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 15, 2013, the reporting person was granted an option to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock. Options for 333,334 are immediately vested and the balance vests in two equal annual installments commencing on February 15, 2014.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-03-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
