Electronic Pen Force Feedback for Accurate VR Surface Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic pens are unable to be used effectively in virtual reality spaces due to the lack of small position sensors that can be installed in the pen tip, leading to a feeling of strangeness when force sense is generated without the pen tip being present on the virtual surface.
Innovation Solution
A position indicating device with a housing for an electronic pen, a force sense generator, and a processor that controls the generator to create a force sense when the pen tip is within a predetermined distance of an object in the virtual reality space, using position sensors to accurately determine collisions and generate tactile feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a position sensor is installed in the electronic pen to detect position in virtual reality space, then the pen can be used in virtual reality space, but the sensor size causes the pen tip position to not match the detected position when force sense is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The position indicating device is divided into two functional parts: the electronic pen that indicates position in virtual reality space, and the position indicating device that generates force sense. This segmentation allows the pen to remain lightweight while the force sense generation capability is provided separately, resolving the contradiction between virtual reality usability and position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The position indicating device acts as an intermediary between the electronic pen and the user's hand. It receives position information from the pen and generates appropriate force sense based on the distance between the pen tip and virtual objects, thereby resolving the position accuracy issue without adding weight to the pen itself.
2Ease of operation
If force sense is generated based on detected position, then tactile feedback is provided, but the pen tip is not necessarily present on the virtual surface causing a feeling of strangeness
Solution Approach 1:
The position indicating device continuously monitors the distance between the electronic pen tip and virtual objects, and provides force sense feedback accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that tactile feedback is generated only when the pen tip is actually near or contacting the virtual surface, maintaining user experience authenticity while providing necessary tactile feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates the distance between the pen tip and virtual object surfaces in advance, and prepares to generate force sense before actual contact occurs. This preliminary action ensures that the force sense is generated at the appropriate moment, preventing the feeling of strangeness while maintaining tactile feedback functionality.
3Weight of moving object
If the electronic pen is made lightweight for comfort, then ease of use is improved, but it cannot include a position sensor in the pen tip
Solution Approach 1:
The position sensing functionality is extracted from the electronic pen and implemented in the position indicating device instead. This extraction allows the pen to remain lightweight and comfortable while still providing full virtual reality functionality through the separate position indicating device that receives position information from the pen.
Solution Approach 2:
The position indicating device serves multiple functions: it receives position information from the electronic pen, calculates distance to virtual objects, and generates force sense feedback. This multi-functionality compensates for the absence of a position sensor in the pen itself, maintaining virtual reality functionality without increasing pen weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A position indicating device includes a housing in which an electronic pen including a pen tip is mountable, a force sense generator configured to generate a force sense, and a processor configured to control the force sense generator to generate the force sense when, with the electronic pen mounted in the housing, a distance between a position of the pen tip of the electronic pen in a virtual reality space and an object in the virtual reality space is equal to or less than a predetermined value.