Electronic Pen with Rotatable Casing and Twistable Cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic pens face challenges in adding or changing functions without rendering the existing circuit board and main body unit useless, leading to high costs and complex configurations with added operating units.
Innovation Solution
The electronic pen is designed with a first casing having a tubular structure and a rotatably coupled second casing, featuring separate first and second circuit boards connected by a flexible cable that can extend and twist, allowing for new functions to be added to the second circuit board without needing additional operating units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new function is added to the electronic pen by creating a new circuit board, then the new function can be implemented, but the existing circuit board and electronic pen main body unit become completely useless, causing high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board is divided into a first circuit board (containing the position detecting sensor interaction circuit) and a second circuit board (containing the additional function circuit). These separate circuit boards are connected via a flexible cable, allowing the second circuit board to be added without replacing the entire original circuit board assembly, thus maintaining the value of existing components while enabling new functions
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic pen main body unit is designed with universal compatibility to support both the original first circuit board and the additional second circuit board. The flexible cable connection system allows the same main body unit to accommodate different circuit board configurations, enabling multiple functions without rendering previous configurations obsolete
2Adaptability or versatility
If operating units such as push-button switches or slide switches are added for user operation instructions, then new functions can be controlled, but the configuration becomes complex and operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The second casing is designed to serve multiple purposes: it acts as both a protective housing and a rotational operating mechanism. By rotating the second casing, users can control the additional functions without requiring separate push-button switches or slide switches, thereby adding functionality while maintaining simple operation and avoiding increased device complexity
3Reliability
If a rigid connection is used between circuit boards, then electrical connection is stable, but the connection cannot accommodate rotation and extension movements
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible cable is used to connect the first circuit board and the second circuit board. This flexible cable can extend and contract in the axial direction and twist in the rotational direction, maintaining stable electrical connection while accommodating the rotational movement of the second casing relative to the first casing
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electronic pen including a tubular first casing having an opening on a pen tip side, and a tubular second casing rotatably coupled to the first casing with an axial direction of the first casing as a center to receive an instruction of a user, on a side of the first casing opposite to the pen tip side in the axial direction. The first casing includes a first circuit board having a first circuit including a circuit that performs signal interaction with a position detecting sensor. The second casing includes a second circuit board having a second circuit. The first and second circuit boards are electrically connected to each other by a flexible cable disposed in a state of having a surplus portion that can be extended is extendable or contractable in the axial direction and is twistable in a rotational direction about the axial direction.