Electronic Pen Grip Sensing for VR Line Width and Transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic pens used in virtual reality environments lack the ability to control line width and transparency without an actual touch surface, as pen pressure sensors cannot detect pressure, impairing the writing experience.
Innovation Solution
A position indicating device with a housing, pressure sensors, and communication units that transmit pressure information to a device with electrodes, enabling control of line width and transparency in virtual reality spaces by correlating gripping force with pen pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pen pressure sensor is used to detect pen pressure on a touch surface, then line width and transparency can be controlled according to pen pressure, but the device cannot function in virtual reality environments without an actual touch surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gripping force sensor as an intermediary device that detects the force applied by the user's grip on the pen body. This gripping force serves as a proxy for pen pressure, allowing the system to function in virtual reality environments where direct pen pressure detection on a touch surface is not possible. The gripping force data is then used to control line width and transparency, maintaining the desired functionality without requiring an actual touch surface.
2Ease of operation
If a pressure sensor is placed on the pen tip to detect pen pressure, then writing feel can be enhanced, but the sensor cannot detect pressure when hovering in virtual reality space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of detecting pen pressure at the tip (the traditional approach), the patent inverts the detection location to the pen body where a gripping force sensor can measure the force applied by the user's grip. This inverted approach allows pressure detection to work in both traditional touch surface environments and virtual reality hover environments, as grip force can be measured regardless of whether the pen tip is contacting a surface or hovering in space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are added to detect both pen pressure and gripping force, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the gripping force sensor serve multiple functions: it detects grip strength for controlling line width and transparency in virtual reality environments, and can also provide feedback information for enhancing the writing experience in traditional environments. By making this single sensor multi-functional, the system achieves enhanced adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity, as one sensor component performs multiple detection tasks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively controls line width and transparency in virtual reality environments by detecting gripping force, replicating the writing experience of traditional pens.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor configured to detect a first pressure applied to the position indicating portion
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor configured to detect a second pressure applied to the housing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4
AI summary
[Object] To enable control of a line width and transparency in a preferable manner even when there is no actual touch surface. [Solution] An electronic pen 5 includes an external housing 5a, a pen tip 5b configured to indicate a position, a pen pressure sensor 54 configured to detect a pen pressure applied to the pen tip 5b, a gripping force sensor 55 configured to detect a gripping force applied to the external housing 5a, a plane communication unit 51 configured to transmit the pen pressure detected by the pen pressure sensor 54, and a spatial communication unit 52 configured to transmit the gripping force detected by the gripping force sensor 55.