Active stylus
By introducing the design of the trigger and microcontroller into the active stylus, the problem of increasing the force required when the pen core is tilted is solved, achieving more labor-saving operation and smoother sliding.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202310899891.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-21
AI Technical Summary
The existing active stylus needs to apply greater force when the refill is inclined to allow the pressure sensor to sense sufficient pressure, resulting in inconvenient operation and poor slippage of the refill.
An active stylus pen is designed, which includes a pen case, a pen core, a trigger, an elastic insulator and a microcontroller. The microcontroller sends a first signal to keep the touch panel in the detection state. When the pen tip is tilted relative to the trigger and contacts the trigger, the microcontroller sends a second signal to cause the touch panel to display handwriting.
It is possible to trigger the touch panel without increasing force when the pen core is tilted, making the operation more labor-saving and sliding smoothly, avoiding accidental touches and improving operation reliability.
Smart Images
Figure CN119336179A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a touch pen, and in particular to an active touch pen. Background Art
[0002] Currently, there are many electronic devices on the market that use touch panels as display interfaces and operating interfaces. Users can control the screen or execute applications by sliding or tapping their fingers on the touch panel. However, since the contact range of the finger on the touch panel is relatively wide, it is not easy to accurately tap, input quickly, draw or write, and it is also easy to make accidental touches. Therefore, the stylus pen came into being.
[0003] Taking drawing or writing on a touch panel with an active stylus as an example, when the pen core contacts the touch panel and the downward pressure is greater than the set value, the touch panel receives a signal from the active stylus to make handwriting appear on the moving path of the pen tip of the pen core. Generally speaking, a pressure sensor is provided at the end of the pen core. As the force of the pen core pressing down against the touch panel changes, the pressure sensor senses the pressure from the end of the pen core to generate a pressure signal. Once the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor is greater than the set value, the touch panel that receives the pressure signal will show handwriting, and can produce handwriting of different shades or thicknesses in response to the pressure change. For example, the greater the pressure, the thicker or thicker the handwriting, and relatively, the smaller the pressure, the thinner or thinner the handwriting.
[0004] Continuing from the above, the factory setting value of the minimum pressure for the handwriting to appear is set based on the usage state of the pen core pressing vertically downward on the touch panel. In actual use, the pen core is usually tilted towards the touch panel, resulting in the user having to apply greater force to make the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor greater than the set value. This is not only inconvenient for the user to operate, but the pen core will also be unable to slide smoothly on the touch panel due to the huge friction resistance. Summary of the invention
[0005] The present invention is directed to an active touch pen, which is labor-saving and smooth to operate.
[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an active stylus includes a pen case, a pen core, a trigger, an elastic insulator, and a microcontroller. The pen core is disposed in the pen case and has a pen tip extending out of the pen case and an end relative to the pen tip. The trigger is disposed in the pen case and surrounds the pen core. The elastic insulator is disposed in the trigger and is located between the trigger and the pen core, so that a gap is maintained between the trigger and the pen core. The microcontroller is disposed in the pen case, wherein the trigger is electrically connected to the microcontroller, and the end of the pen core is electrically connected to the microcontroller. The microcontroller sends a first signal to the touch panel via the pen core, so that the touch panel remains in a detection state. When the pen core is tilted relative to the trigger and contacts the trigger, the microcontroller sends a second signal to the touch panel via the pen core, so that handwriting appears on the touch panel.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering member is a conductive sleeve, and is sleeved on the pen core.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering member is a contact switch surrounding the pen core.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic insulator is an insulating ring sleeved on the pen core and is clamped and positioned between the trigger member and the pen core.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic insulator includes at least three insulating blocks, and is clamped and positioned between the trigger member and the pen core.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the insulating blocks are arranged equidistantly around the periphery of the pen core.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the active stylus pen further comprises a pressure sensor, which is disposed in the pen housing and electrically connected to the microcontroller.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the end of the pen core is aligned with the pressure sensor.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the active stylus pen further comprises a contact switch, which is disposed in the pen housing and electrically connected to the microcontroller.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the end of the pen core is aligned with the contact switch.
[0016] Based on the above, when the user draws or writes on the touch panel with the active stylus, once the pen core and the trigger element are electrically connected or the trigger element is triggered by the pen core, the corresponding drawing or writing will appear on the touch panel, so the operation is more labor-saving and smooth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Figure 1A is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of an active stylus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A A schematic top view of a trigger member, an elastic insulator and a pen core;
[0019] Figure 1C is a top view schematic diagram of a trigger member, an elastic insulator and a pen core of another example;
[0020] Figure 2A and Figure 2B yes Figure 1A A partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of an active stylus in use;
[0021] Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of an active stylus according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
[0023] Figure 1A FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of an active stylus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1B yes Figure 1A A top view of the trigger, elastic insulator and refill. Figure 1A and Figure 1B In this embodiment, the active stylus includes a pen housing 110, a pen core 120, a trigger member 130, an elastic insulator 140 and a microcontroller 150, wherein the pen core 120, the trigger member 130, the elastic insulator 140 and the microcontroller 150 are disposed in the pen housing 110, and the pen core 120 passes through the pen core 120.
[0024] In detail, the pen core 120 is a conductor and has a pen tip 121 and a terminal end 122 opposite to the pen tip 121. The pen tip 121 passes through the pen housing 110 and is used to contact the touch panel 10. On the other hand, the trigger 130 can be a hollow cylindrical structure, wherein the pen core 120 is inserted into the trigger 130, and the terminal end 122 located in the pen housing 110 passes through the trigger 130. In other words, the trigger 130 surrounds the pen core 120. For example, the trigger 130 can be a conductive sleeve and is sleeved on the pen core 120, or the trigger 130 can be a contact switch surrounding the pen core 120.
[0025] Please refer to Figure 1A and Figure 1B , the elastic insulator 140 can be an insulating ring sleeved on the pen core 120 and located inside the trigger 130. Specifically, the inner wall surface of the elastic insulator 140 contacts the outer wall surface of the pen core 120, and the outer wall surface of the elastic insulator 140 contacts the inner wall surface of the trigger 130. In other words, the elastic insulator 140 is clamped and positioned between the trigger 130 and the pen core 120, so that a gap is maintained between the trigger 130 and the pen core 120. For example, the elastic insulator 140 can be made of silicone, rubber or other elastic insulating materials.
[0026] Taking the trigger member 130 as an example of a conductive sleeve, when the pen core 120 does not touch the inner wall surface of the conductive sleeve, the pen core 120 is electrically isolated from the conductive sleeve; taking the trigger member 130 as an example of a contact switch, when the pen core 120 does not touch the contact switch, the contact switch is not triggered.
[0027] Figure 1C 1 is a top view of a trigger member, an elastic insulator and a pen core of another example. Figure 1B The elastic insulator 140 shown, Figure 1C The elastic insulator shown may be composed of at least three elastic insulating blocks 140a separated from each other and arranged equidistantly or equiangularly around the periphery of the refill 120 or inside the trigger member 130. For example, the angle between any two adjacent elastic insulating blocks 140a is 120 degrees.
[0028] like Figure 1A As shown, the trigger element 130 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 150, and the end 122 of the pen core 120 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 150. When the pen core 120 and the trigger element 130 are electrically isolated or the trigger element 130 is not triggered by the pen core 120, the microcontroller 150 sends a first signal to the touch panel 10 via the pen core 120, so that the touch panel 10 remains in a detection state. At this time, the touch panel 10 can detect the position, touch behavior or sliding behavior of the pen core 120 for controlling the screen or executing the application, but the handwriting cannot appear.
[0029] Figure 2A and Figure 2B yes Figure 1A A partial cross-sectional diagram of an active stylus in use. Please refer to Figure 2A and Figure 2B The user can hold the active stylus pen according to personal operation habits or needs, so that the entire active stylus pen is tilted toward the touch panel 10 and the pen tip 121 contacts the touch panel 10, or the entire active stylus pen is perpendicular to the touch panel 10 and the pen tip 121 contacts the touch panel 10. When the pen tip 121 contacts the touch panel 10 and slides on the touch panel 10, the pen core 120 subjected to the friction resistance tilts relative to the trigger member 130 and contacts the trigger member 130, so as to be electrically connected with the trigger member 130 or trigger the trigger member 130.
[0030] In one example, the microcontroller 150 may have a built-in or external current or voltage sensing circuit. When the pen core 120 and the trigger 130 are electrically connected, the microcontroller 150 receives a current signal sensed by the current sensor or a voltage signal sensed by the voltage sensing circuit and generates a second signal. Specifically, the second signal is sent to the touch panel 10 via the pen core 120, and the touch panel 10 that receives the second signal displays the handwriting on the moving path of the pen tip 121.
[0031] In one example, when the trigger 130 is triggered by the pen core 120, the microcontroller 150 receives the trigger signal from the trigger 130 and generates a second signal. Specifically, the second signal is sent to the touch panel 10 via the pen core 120, and the touch panel 10 that receives the second signal displays the handwriting on the moving path of the pen tip 121.
[0032] like Figure 2A and Figure 2B As shown, when the user uses the active stylus to draw or write on the touch panel 10, once the pen core 120 and the trigger member 130 are electrically connected or the trigger member 130 is triggered by the pen core 120, the corresponding drawing or writing will appear on the touch panel 10, so the operation is more labor-saving and smooth.
[0033] Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of an active stylus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 The active stylus of this embodiment is substantially the same in design and principle as the active stylus of the previous embodiment, with the main difference being that in this embodiment, the active stylus further includes a pressure sensor 160. Specifically, the pressure sensor 160 is disposed in the pen housing 110 corresponding to the end 122 of the pen core 120, and is electrically connected to the microcontroller 150. In addition, the end 122 of the pen core 120 is located opposite to the pressure sensor 160, and slightly contacts the pressure sensor 160 or has a slight gap with the pressure sensor 160.
[0034] As the force of the pen core 120 pressing down against the touch panel 10 changes, the pressure sensor 160 senses the pressure from the end 122 of the pen core 120 to generate a pressure signal and transmit it to the microcontroller 150. Then, the microcontroller 150 can generate a third signal based on the pressure signal and transmit it to the touch panel 10 via the pen core 120. If the touch panel 10 does not receive the second signal (i.e., the pen core 120 and the trigger 130 are electrically isolated or the trigger 130 is not triggered by the pen core 120), the touch panel 10 cannot show the handwriting to prevent the occurrence of the accidental touch, so it helps to improve the reliability of the operation. In contrast, if the touch panel 10 receives the second signal (i.e., the pen core 120 and the trigger 130 are electrically connected or the trigger 130 is triggered by the pen core 120) and the third signal at the same time, the touch panel 10 shows the handwriting on the moving path of the pen tip 121, and can produce handwriting of different shades or thicknesses in response to the pressure change.
[0035] In one example, the pressure sensor 160 can be replaced with a contact switch, wherein the end 122 of the pen core 120 is opposite to the contact switch and a slight gap is maintained between the end 122 of the pen core 120 and the contact switch. As the pen core 120 is pressed downward against the touch panel 10, the end 122 of the pen core 120 contacts the contact switch. The contact switch is triggered to generate a trigger signal and transmit it to the microcontroller 150. Then, the microcontroller 150 can generate a third signal based on the trigger signal and transmit it to the touch panel 10 via the pen core 120. If the touch panel 10 does not receive the second signal (i.e., the pen core 120 is electrically isolated from the trigger member 130 or the trigger member 130 is not triggered by the pen core 120), the touch panel 10 cannot show the handwriting to prevent the occurrence of an accidental touch, thereby helping to improve the reliability of the operation. In contrast, if the touch panel 10 receives the second signal (ie the pen core 120 and the trigger element 130 are electrically connected or the trigger element 130 is triggered by the pen core 120 ) and the third signal simultaneously, the touch panel 10 displays the handwriting on the moving path of the pen tip 121 .
[0036] In summary, when the user uses the active stylus to draw or write on the touch panel, once the pen core and the trigger element are electrically connected or the trigger element is triggered by the pen core, the corresponding drawing or writing handwriting will appear on the touch panel, so the operation is relatively labor-saving and smooth. In one embodiment, a pressure sensor or a contact switch is correspondingly provided at the end of the pen core. If the pressure sensor is squeezed by the end of the pen core or the contact switch is triggered by the end of the pen core, but the pen core and the trigger element are electrically isolated or the trigger element is not triggered by the pen core, the handwriting cannot appear on the touch panel to prevent accidental touches, thereby helping to improve the reliability of the operation.
[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.
Claims
1. An active stylus pen, characterized in that: include: Pen case; A pen core, disposed in the pen housing, and having a pen tip extending out of the pen housing and a terminal end opposite to the pen tip; A triggering member is disposed in the pen housing and surrounds the pen core; An elastic insulator is disposed in the trigger member and between the trigger member and the pen core, so that a gap is maintained between the trigger member and the pen core; as well as A microcontroller is disposed in the pen housing, wherein the trigger is electrically connected to the microcontroller, and the end of the pen tip is electrically connected to the microcontroller. The microcontroller sends a first signal to the touch panel via the pen core, so that the touch panel remains in a detection state. When the pen core is tilted relative to the trigger member and contacts the trigger member, the microcontroller sends a second signal to the touch panel via the pen core, so that handwriting appears on the touch panel.
2. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, characterized in that: The triggering member is a conductive sleeve and is sleeved on the pen core.
3. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, characterized in that: The triggering member is a contact switch surrounding the pen core.
4. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic insulator is an insulating ring sleeved on the pen core and is clamped and positioned between the trigger member and the pen core.
5. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic insulator includes at least three insulating blocks and is clamped and positioned between the trigger member and the pen core.
6. The active stylus pen according to claim 5, characterized in that: The plurality of insulating blocks are arranged at equal distances on the periphery of the pen core.
7. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The pressure sensor is arranged in the pen housing and electrically connected to the microcontroller.
8. The active stylus pen according to claim 7, characterized in that: The end of the pen core is aligned with the pressure sensor.
9. The active stylus pen according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The contact switch is arranged in the pen housing and is electrically connected to the microcontroller.
10. The active stylus pen according to claim 9, characterized in that: The end of the pen core is aligned with the contact switch.