Touch pen

Abstract

The touch pen comprises a pen tube and a pen point, a flat support and a circuit board are arranged in the pen tube, an element containing groove is formed in the flat support, the circuit board is contained in the element containing groove, the pen point is located at one end of the pen tube in the length extension direction, a first electrode is arranged in the pen point, and a second electrode is arranged in the pen point. The first electrode is electrically connected with the circuit board; according to the touch pen, the flat support is arranged to reduce the thickness of the touch pen, meanwhile, the element containing groove is formed in the flat support, so that part of elements needed by the touch pen can be arranged in the flat support through the element containing groove, and simplification and thinning of the overall structure of the touch pen are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of input device technology, and in particular to styluses. Background Technology

[0002] A stylus, also known as a touch screen pen or electronic screen pen, is a portable and easy-to-use input device that is widely used in 3C electronic products such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.

[0003] Currently, most styluses have a relatively bulky structure, which takes up a lot of space when carried. As portable electronic products such as smartphones and tablets gradually become thinner and lighter, how to achieve a streamlined and lightweight structure while ensuring the stylus's usability has become a key issue in the field of stylus design. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a stylus that addresses the problem of the aforementioned stylus being relatively bulky and taking up a lot of space when carried.

[0005] A stylus, comprising:

[0006] The pen tube contains a circuit board inside.

[0007] The pen tip is located at one end along the length extension of the pen tube, and a first electrode is provided inside the pen tip. The first electrode is electrically connected to the circuit board.

[0008] A flat support is disposed inside the pen tube, and the flat support has a component receiving groove.

[0009] In one embodiment, the flat support includes an elastic element, a first flat frame, and a second flat frame. The second flat frame is slidably connected to the first flat frame along the axial direction of the pen tube. The elastic direction of the elastic element is parallel to the axial direction of the pen tube, and both ends of the elastic direction of the elastic element are connected to the first flat frame and the second flat frame, respectively.

[0010] The pen tube is also equipped with a pressure sensor electrically connected to the circuit board. The pen tip is disposed on the second flat frame. The pressure sensor is disposed between the first flat frame and the second flat frame and is configured to trigger an electrical signal when the pen tip moves along the axial direction of the pen tube.

[0011] In one embodiment, the component receiving slot is formed on the second flat frame, the pressure sensor is disposed in the component receiving slot, and a portion of the first flat frame extends into the interior of the component receiving slot and is connected to the pressure sensor.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first flat frame has a first connecting portion, the second flat frame has a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are slidably connected, and the elastic element is a spring, which is sleeved on the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first connecting portion has a plug, and the second connecting portion has a slot, the plug being inserted into the slot to allow the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion to slide together; or...

[0014] The first connecting part has a slot, and the second connecting part has a plug rod. The plug rod is inserted into the slot so that the first connecting part and the second connecting part are slidably connected.

[0015] In one embodiment, the spring is a flat spring.

[0016] In one embodiment, the stylus further includes a second electrode disposed inside the pen tube and housing the flat support. The second electrode is electrically connected to the circuit board and configured to emit a signal for determining the tilt angle of the stylus.

[0017] In one embodiment, a portion of the pen tip is disposed inside the second electrode.

[0018] In one embodiment, the stylus further includes a flat mounting bracket disposed inside the pen tube and connected to the flat support, and the circuit board is disposed on the flat mounting bracket.

[0019] In one embodiment, the pen tip is detachably connected to the flat support.

[0020] The aforementioned stylus reduces its thickness by incorporating a flat support. Furthermore, by providing component receiving slots on the flat support, some of the necessary components can be housed within the support, thus simplifying and thinning the overall structure of the stylus. This addresses the problem of existing styluses being bulky and taking up too much space when carried. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a stylus according to some embodiments of this application.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a stylus according to some embodiments of this application.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of the stylus in some embodiments of this application.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure between the pen tip and a partially flat support of a stylus according to some embodiments of this application.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure between the first electrode of the stylus and a partially flat support in some embodiments of this application.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure between the second electrode of the stylus, the pen tip, and the circuit board in some embodiments of this application.

[0027] Figure label:

[0028] 1. Pen tube; 11. Circuit board; 12. Pressure sensor;

[0029] 2. Pen tip; 21. First electrode; 22. Insulating pen tip;

[0030] 3. Flat support;

[0031] 31. Elastic components;

[0032] 32. First flat frame; 321. First frame body; 322. First connecting part; 323. Slot;

[0033] 33. Second flat frame; 331. Second frame body; 332. Second connecting part; 333. Insert rod;

[0034] 34. Flexible conductive components;

[0035] 35. Component receiving slot;

[0036] 4. Second electrode. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0038] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0039] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0040] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0041] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0042] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0043] Although styluses are widely used in mobile electronic devices, stylus storage has always been one of the design challenges for various mobile electronic devices. Increasing the space inside the device to store the stylus means reducing the space available for other hardware. Currently, most styluses are designed to be round, and the overall structure is relatively thick and heavy, which is not conducive to the current industry trend of making mobile electronic devices thinner and lighter.

[0044] Therefore, this application provides a stylus with a flat structure, which is thinner and lighter than existing circular styluses, effectively reducing storage space. Furthermore, by modifying the internal structure of the stylus, this application ensures that the stylus maintains its flat structure without compromising its normal function, thus guaranteeing optimal usability.

[0045] See Figures 1-3 One embodiment of this application provides a stylus, including a pen tube 1, a pen tip 2, and a flat support 3. The pen tube 1 houses the flat support 3 and components such as a pressure sensor 12, and provides a grip for the user. The pen tip 2 is located at one end of the pen tube 1 along its length and provides a writing surface for the user.

[0046] In the specific design, a circuit board 11 is installed inside the pen tube 1, and a flat support 3 is installed inside the pen tube 1. The flat support 3 has a component receiving slot 35. The component receiving slot 35 can accommodate some of the components required by the stylus, so as to effectively utilize the space of the flat support 3. While improving the overall structural compactness, it also simplifies and lightens the overall structure of the stylus, solving the problem that the existing stylus structure is relatively thick and heavy, and occupies a lot of space when carried.

[0047] The pen tube 1 has a flat structure. It is understood that a flat structure is a common concept in fields such as geometry, physical structure, or organizational structure, and its definition and characteristics vary depending on the specific application. In the embodiments of this application, a flat structure refers to a shape with a low height (thickness) but a large planar area. For example, the length of the pen tube 1 is greater than its width, and the width of the pen tube 1 is greater than its height (thickness).

[0048] The pen tip 2 is provided with a first electrode 21, which is electrically connected to the circuit board 11 so that the first electrode 21 can give a signal to the circuit board 11 when the pen tip 2 is writing.

[0049] In summary, the stylus of this application, by setting up a pen tube 1 and a flat support 3, allows the stylus to have a flat overall structure, thereby reducing the thickness of the stylus. At the same time, by providing component receiving slots on the flat support, some components required by the stylus can be placed inside the flat support through the component receiving slots, thereby simplifying and thinning the overall structure of the stylus and solving the problem that the existing stylus structure is relatively thick and heavy, and occupies a lot of space when carried.

[0050] It is worth mentioning that, see Figure 3 To further simplify the stylus structure, in the embodiments of this application, the flat support 3 is a conductive frame with conductive properties. The first electrode 21 inside the pen tip 2 can be directly electrically connected to the circuit board 11 through the flat support 3. Specifically, the elastic element 31, the first flat frame 32, and the second flat frame 33 are all conductive elements, and the first electrode 21 can be electrically connected to the circuit board 11 in sequence through the second flat frame 33, the elastic element 31, and the flat frame.

[0051] See Figures 1-3 In some embodiments, the flat support 3 includes an elastic element 31, a first flat frame 32, and a second flat frame 33. The second flat frame 33 is slidably connected to the first flat frame 32 along the axial direction of the pen tube 1. The elastic direction of the elastic element is parallel to the axial direction of the pen tube, and both ends of the elastic element 31 are connected to the first flat frame 32 and the second flat frame 33, respectively. The pen tip 2 is disposed on the second flat frame 33 and can move along the axial direction of the pen tube 1 when the user performs writing operations, causing the elastic element 31 to deform.

[0052] The pen tube 1 also contains a pressure sensor 12, which is located between the first flat frame 32 and the second flat frame 33 and electrically connected to the circuit board 11. The pressure sensor 12 is configured to send a signal to the circuit board 11 when the pen tip 2 moves along the axial direction of the pen tube 1. That is, when the user performs a writing operation, the pen tip 2 can be subjected to external force and move towards the pen tube 1, shortening the distance between the first flat frame 32 and the second flat frame 33. The pressure sensor 12, located between the first flat frame 32 and the second flat frame 33, can transmit the detected pressure value to the circuit board 11, so that the circuit board 11 can control the line thickness when the pen tip 2 writes according to the detected pressure. Thus, while achieving a simplified and thinner overall structure of the stylus, the stylus's performance is ensured.

[0053] Understandably, in order to further improve the structural compactness and achieve a simplified and thinner overall structure for the stylus, in the embodiments of this application, the component receiving slot 35 is formed on the second flat frame 33, the pressure sensor 12 is disposed in the component receiving slot 35, and a portion of the first flat frame 32 extends into the interior of the component receiving slot 35 and is connected to the pressure sensor 12.

[0054] Specifically, the second flat frame 33 has a first surface and a second surface that are vertically connected. The lengths of the first and second surfaces are the same, and the area of ​​the first surface is larger than the area of ​​the second surface. A component receiving groove 35 is formed on the second surface and extends a distance into the interior of the second flat frame 33 along its width direction. This ensures that when the first flat frame 32 is partially inserted into the component receiving groove 35 to engage with the second flat frame 33, the overall thickness of the second flat frame 33 does not increase, thus effectively addressing the problem of the existing stylus structure being relatively thick and heavy. Furthermore, the component receiving groove 35 extends through the second flat frame 33 along its thickness direction to facilitate the installation of components such as the pressure sensor 12 on the first flat frame 32.

[0055] Specifically, to ensure that the pressure sensor 12 does not short-circuit after being mounted on the conductive flat support 3, in one embodiment, the pressure sensor 12 includes a first insulating part, a second insulating part, and a sensing part. The first insulating part is disposed on a first flat support 32, the second insulating part is disposed on a second flat support 33, and the sensing part is located between the first insulating part and the second insulating part and is electrically connected to the circuit board 11.

[0056] Specifically, the sensing element is disposed on the second insulating part and abuts against the first insulating part. That is, the sensing element has a sensing surface facing and abutting against the first insulating part. When the pen tip 2 is subjected to an external force and moves toward the pen tube 1, the second flat frame 33 can move along the axial direction of the pen tube 1 toward the first flat frame 32, so that the first insulating part adjusts the pressure applied to the sensing surface, and the sensing element can transmit the pressure value to the circuit board 11, so that the circuit board 11 controls the line thickness when the pen tip 2 writes according to the detected pressure.

[0057] See Figure 3 To improve the stability of the connection between the elastic element 31 and the first flat frame 32 and the second flat frame 33, in one embodiment, the elastic element 31 is a spring, with one end of the spring in the elastic direction sleeved on a portion of the first flat frame 32 and the other end of the spring in the elastic direction sleeved on a portion of the second flat frame 33.

[0058] Specifically, the spring is a flat spring. A flat spring is a spring with a flat cross-section, which can be rectangular, elliptical, or other flat shapes. This design gives it high strength and stiffness in a specific direction while maintaining good elasticity in the vertical direction. That is, compared to a circular spring, under the same load, a flat spring has greater elastic force, greater stiffness, more stored energy, and a lower compression height. Therefore, by making the elastic element 31 a flat spring, this application enables the elastic element 31 to effectively adapt to the flat support 3 with its flat structure, while providing the flat support 3 with greater elastic force and more stable performance, thus improving the performance of the flat support 3.

[0059] See Figure 3 and Figure 5 To ensure the sliding connection between the first flat frame 32 and the second flat frame 33, in one embodiment, the first flat frame 32 has a first connecting portion 322 and a second connecting portion 332, which are slidably connected to achieve the sliding connection between the first flat frame 32 and the second flat frame 33.

[0060] Specifically, the first flat frame 32 has a first frame body 321 and a first connecting portion 322. The first connecting portion 322 is disposed on the side of the first frame body 321 facing the second flat frame 33, and the side of the first connecting portion 322 facing the second flat frame 33 has a slot 323. The second flat frame 33 has a second frame body 331 and a second connecting portion 332. The second connecting portion 332 is disposed on the side of the second flat frame 33 facing the first flat frame 32, and the side of the second connecting portion 332 facing the first flat frame 32 has a insertion rod 333. The insertion rod 333 is inserted into the slot 323 to achieve a sliding engagement connection between the first connecting portion 322 and the second connecting portion 332.

[0061] To further improve the structural stability of the flat support 3, in one embodiment, a spring is sleeved on the first connecting portion 322 and the second connecting portion 332. Specifically, both the first connecting portion 322 and the second connecting portion 332 are located inside the spring, and the two ends of the spring in the elastic direction respectively abut against the first frame 321 and the second frame 331. When the first flat frame 32 moves relative to the second flat frame 33 along the axial direction of the pen tube 1, the insertion rod 333 moves within the slot 323, and the spring deforms.

[0062] By fitting a spring onto the first connecting portion 322 and the second connecting portion 332, which have a slot 323 and a rod 333, the elastic force of the spring can be used to increase the contact pressure between the rod 333 and the slot 323, thereby increasing the friction and making the rod 333 more stable when sliding. For example, in the disassembly and assembly structure of a detachable ship cable rack, the elastic restoring force of the second spring allows the rod 333 to be tightly inserted into the slot 323, ensuring sliding stability.

[0063] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 To obtain the tilt angle of the stylus and further improve its usability, in one embodiment, the stylus also includes a second electrode 4 disposed inside the pen tube 1 and housing a flat support 3. The second electrode 4 is electrically connected to the circuit board 11 and configured to emit a signal for determining the tilt angle of the stylus.

[0064] Understandably, a first voltage signal can be generated by the first electrode 21, and a second voltage signal can be generated by the second electrode 4. The circuit board 11 detects the ratio of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal or the distance between them to determine the tilt degree of the stylus. For example, the greater the tilt degree of the stylus, the closer the ratio of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal is to 1, and vice versa; the distance between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal will also increase with the increase of the tilt degree.

[0065] To further improve the effectiveness of the interaction between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 4, in one embodiment, a portion of the first electrode 21 is disposed inside the second electrode 4. This allows the second electrode 4 to act as an electromagnetic shield, isolating a portion of the first electrode 21 from the external environment. When external electromagnetic interference exists, these interference signals are absorbed or reflected by the second electrode 4 and cannot directly affect the first electrode 21.

[0066] See Figure 4 and Figure 5 To facilitate the installation and replacement of the pen tip 2 and the flat support 3, in one embodiment, the first electrode 21 is detachably connected to the flat support 3. Specifically, the pen tip 2 includes an insulated pen tip 22 and a first electrode 21. One end of the first electrode 21 is inserted into the pen tip along the axial direction of the pen tube 1, and the other end of the first electrode 21 is detachably connected to the flat support 3 along the axial direction of the pen tube 1. This structure allows for a detachable connection between the first electrode 21 and the flat support 3, eliminating the need for complex welding or riveting operations by the assembler. It also allows for a detachable connection between the insulated pen tip 22 and the first electrode 21, enabling the user to replace the insulated pen tip 22 as needed.

[0067] To ensure that the detachable connection does not affect the conductivity between the first electrode 21 and the flat support 3, in one embodiment, the flat support 3 has a flexible conductive element 34, and the first electrode 21 is detachably connected to the flexible conductive element 34. Specifically, the second flat support 33 has a fixing groove, the flexible conductive element 34 is disposed in the fixing groove, and one end of the first electrode 21 is inserted into and fixed to the flexible conductive element 34.

[0068] Understandably, if the first electrode 21 is directly connected to the second flat metal frame 33, gaps may easily exist between the first electrode 21 and the second flat frame 33, thus affecting the conductivity and connection stability. This application uses a flexible conductive element 34 to assist in the connection between the two. The flexibility and high density of the flexible conductive element 34 effectively ensure the conductivity and connection stability between the first electrode 21 and the flat support 3.

[0069] More specifically, in the embodiments of this application, the flexible conductive element 34 is conductive silicone. The good flexibility and elasticity of conductive silicone allow it to maintain stable conductivity during detachable connections. Even with repeated disassembly and reconnection, the conductive silicone will not lose its conductivity due to deformation, making it suitable for applications requiring frequent disassembly and reconnection between the pen tip 2 and the flat support 3. Furthermore, when the volume resistivity of the conductive silicone is below 10 Ω·cm, it possesses electromagnetic shielding capabilities. Therefore, in the connection structure between the pen tip 2 and the flat support 3 of this application, the conductive silicone not only ensures conductivity but also reduces electromagnetic interference, improving signal stability and reliability.

[0070] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0071] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stylus, characterized in that, include: The pen tube (1) has a circuit board (11) inside; The pen tip (2) is located at one end of the pen tube (1) along its length extension direction. The pen tip (2) is provided with a first electrode (21), which is electrically connected to the circuit board (11). A flat support (3) is disposed inside the pen tube (1), and the flat support (3) is provided with a component receiving groove (35).

2. The stylus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flat support (3) includes an elastic element (31), a first flat frame (32) and a second flat frame (33). The second flat frame (33) is slidably connected to the first flat frame (32) along the axial direction of the pen tube (1). The elastic direction of the elastic element (31) is parallel to the axial direction of the pen tube (1), and the two ends of the elastic direction of the elastic element (31) are respectively connected to the first flat frame (32) and the second flat frame (33). The pen tube (1) is provided with a pressure sensor (12) electrically connected to the circuit board (11). The pen tip (2) is disposed on the second flat frame (33). The pressure sensor (12) is disposed between the first flat frame (32) and the second flat frame (33) and is configured to trigger an electrical signal when the pen tip (2) moves along the axial direction of the pen tube (1).

3. The stylus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The component receiving slot (35) is opened on the second flat frame (33), the pressure sensor (12) is disposed in the component receiving slot (35), and a portion of the first flat frame (32) extends into the interior of the component receiving slot (35) and is connected to the pressure sensor (12).

4. The stylus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first flat frame (32) has a first connecting part (322), and the second flat frame (33) has a second connecting part (332). The first connecting part (322) and the second connecting part (332) are slidably connected. The elastic element (31) is a spring, and the spring is sleeved on the first connecting part (322) and the second connecting part (332).

5. The stylus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first connecting part (322) has a plug (333), and the second connecting part (332) has a slot (323). The plug (333) is inserted into the slot (323) so that the first connecting part (322) and the second connecting part (332) are slidably connected; or, The first connecting part (322) has a slot (323), and the second connecting part (332) has a plug (333). The plug (333) is inserted into the slot (323) so that the first connecting part (322) and the second connecting part (332) are slidably connected.

6. The stylus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spring is a flat spring.

7. The stylus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stylus also includes a second electrode (4), which is disposed inside the pen tube (1) and accommodates the flat support (3); the second electrode (4) is electrically connected to the circuit board (11) and is configured to emit a signal for determining the tilt angle of the stylus.

8. The stylus according to claim 7, characterized in that, Part of the pen tip (2) is disposed inside the second electrode (4).

9. The stylus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stylus also includes a flat mounting bracket, which is disposed inside the pen tube (1) and connected to the flat support (3), and the circuit board (11) is disposed on the flat mounting bracket.

10. The stylus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pen tube (1) has a flat structure.

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